Chapter ten: The Perfect Day

"Whoa," Tony chortled. "go for it Cap!"

Steve felt the tips of his ears go red as Tony watched the footage of him and Annette on the roof. "Shut up stark."

Natasha frowned. "So, now what have we missed here? Is she faking us out?" but the minute that thought entered her head, she shook it off. "No, she's not that good an actress."

"Maybe Prince Charming's love wasn't enough to break the spell." Tony offered.

Natasha snapped her fingers. "That's it!"

"What's it?" Both men asked.

"She's not in love with you." Natasha said.

Tony blinked. "Explain."

"I think you have to make her fall in love with you again Steve. A real, honest and true love. What we saw, was her going along with her head, not her heart."

"How do you suggest I do that?"

She shrugged. "You know her better than I do."

"I thought I did, but then last night," he shrugged. "I guess there could be side effects."

"Definitely. You have to get her to fall in love with you, win her heart slowly."

"Within a period of five days," Tony said. "or you're dead meat."

"That's a possibility," Natasha said. "but considering it's Steve, it's more than likely that it'll take longer than that to happen."

Annette was sitting at the edge of the fountain looking at it. She'd been sitting there, drinking in the sun and feeling miserable. They'd been flown back to New York the following morning and she felt as if they all were holding something from her. Steve still slept on the couch in their suite, never with her. Tony stark, he was an odd one, he appeared to hate her and she had no idea what she'd done to him. Natasha and Bruce were nice to her and Hawkeye ignored her. Steve, well, he was Steve. Kind and dependable, always there for her and he didn't push her for anything.

"Excuse me?" she looked up to see a young man holding a sketchpad. He was tall, dark, and handsome. "Are you all right?"

She nodded. "Yes."

He sat down beside her. "Pardon me if I don't believe you." He handed her his sketchpad. She glanced at it and stopped cold at the sketch he'd done of her. She looked exactly as she felt. Sad. Empty. Miserable. "You've been sitting here for hours and look like you need a friend." He smiled, a friendly smile that put her stomach on edge. "You can tell me."

Annette bit her lip. He reached out and touched her face, cold fingers that caused her to jump up. She didn't know why, but she called out. "Steve!" the minute she did, she covered her mouth. Why'd she done that? The park was several blocks away from the avengers' headquarters. And he didn't have superhearing like superman did.

His eyes narrowed. "Steve?" A headache began to grow inside her head at his words. "Is he the reason you're upset?"

She backed away, shaking her head. "Don't touch me."

He nodded. "I won't. I just want to help. Did he hurt you?"

"No!" She said. "He's my husband!"

"I see. Are you afraid of him?"

"No!"

"You must be. Are you happy with him?" He stepped towards her. "Look, is there someone I can call for you? Anyone?"

"No!" Her headache was becoming unbearable. "Stop it! Stop talking to me!"

"Annette?" she spun around to see Steve jogging towards her. The sweat on his white T-shirt told her that he hadn't been following her. Annette turned and ran towards him as Steve's blue eyes narrowed with concern. "Are you all right?" she didn't know why she did, but she ran and launched herself into his sweaty arms. She felt him start at her reaction. "Honey? What is it? Was this man bothering you?"

"Hey," the man said. "I was just trying to help."

Annette trembled slightly. "He…wouldn't stop talking to me. Asking me, such ….personal questions about our…marriage."

Steve stiffened and addressed the man. "Get the Hell out of here, now."

"Hey look buddy," he said. "she was upset and I was trying to help."

Steve frowned at him as he ran his hand through her hair. "She is fine. Now, leave us."

"I was here first." He said. "It's a free country, didn't you know that?"

"No one knows that better than I." Steve groaned in aggravation. "Honey, do you want to leave, or shall I throw him out of the park?"

She smiled slightly. "I'll leave."

He took her arm and guided her out of the park. "Where to?"

She shrugged. "I-I'm not sure."

"You must be tired of the headquarters."

She nodded. "I am."

"So, why don't we go back there, change our clothes and spend the entire day on the town?"

She gasped. "Really? You'd do that for me?"

"I'd do anything for you." He nodded with sincerity in his eyes. "On my run, I realized that I haven't done anything with you. I've been neglecting you and I'm sorry."

"It's alright...I did need space. Can we go…bowling?"

"Yes." He walked alongside her. "Then we'll eat out, go dancing, stay and watch the stars or something. Anything you want, snap your finger and you'll get it."

Annette giggled lightly as he wiped away a streak of ketchup on the corner of her mouth. She smiled. "Oh, this has been such a wonderful day. I loved it." Her eyes shown with sincerity. "Every moment of it."

He laughed. "You should have seen the look on the owner's face when I shattered the bowling pins."

"I did!" She squealed. "And then you did it again!"

"Don't remind me." He groaned.

"Five times." She leaned into his side and wrapped her arm around his waist. "And then a shopping spree, even if we didn't buy anything-"

"That you know about." He interrupted her with a laugh.

"Dinner at a jazz club."

He made a face. "It was just burgers."

"I know they were burgers!" She said. "But they were the best burgers I've had in a long time."

As they got into the elevator, Jarvis spoke, causing them both to jump. "So sorry to interrupt," he said in his oh-so-polite, proper English voice. "but Mr. Stark asks that you stop and see him before retiring."

"Both of us?" Annette asked.

"No. Just Mr. Rogers."

Steve groaned. "Jarvis, once we're in our room, lock the door, and don't let Tony up. This was a perfect evening…and I don't want Tony to wreck it."

"All right sir. I perfectly agree there."

"Jarvis," Annette asked. "could you play the chorus, of Lady Antebellum's 'Perfect Day' please?" She begged. "I've got that song pounding in my veins."

"As you wish."

The moment the song came up, Annette started bouncing, laughing and spinning her head. Steve laughed as he watched her 'dance' in the elevator to the song. He studied her, memorizing the picture perfect moment, taking a mental picture of her. All too soon, the elevator door dinged open and she moved towards him.

"Thank you Jarvis." Annette exhaled deeply. "I appreciate it."

"You're welcome Mrs. Rogers."

Annette twitched slightly, but she remained by his side. "Mrs. Rogers." She whispered quietly. "Mrs. Annette Rogers…I like it." They moved towards their suite. Annette paused by the door and said. "Aren't you going to carry me over the threshold?"

"Why?" He asked, taken a little off guard by the absurd question.

"I don't remember it." She said. "And…I don't know really, I'd like to re-remember it."

He laughed as she scooped her up. She let out a faint squeal before wrapping her arms around his neck. "All right." He stepped through the door, kicking it close after making sure that they were inside properly. Jarvis silently turned the lights on for them. "Perfect timing. Jarvis," he asked as he set her down on the ground. "can you tell Tony not to disturb me unless it's an emergency? I'd like to sleep well tonight."

"Yes sir. But I cannot guarantee that he will listen to me."

"Steve," Annette asked slowly. "I'm not sure how to ask this but…are you sleeping on the couch again?"

"Yes. Why?"

She bit her lip. "I-I was hoping that….you'd," she began to blush. "sleep with me tonight." He stared down at her. He'd suspected that she'd ask that, but he hadn't thought that she'd actually ask that of him! "Well, what I mean is," she stammered. "not actually, you know….just, share the bed with me."

He bit his lip. "I don't know Annette. I don't think that's a good idea at the time."

"It's all right. We are married after all. You can trust me Steve." She said softly. "We, won't do anything but sleep."

Steve felt undone as he stared into her eyes. But then, she'd said something that caused him to pause and think. You can trust me Steve. Trust was a key in the myth of the past that had gotten lost. Did he trust her and himself not to do anything stupid in that bed when they got under the covers? But then…that's what trust was, wasn't it? Trusting in yourself and in your partner.

As Steve reached out and took her hand, he made his decision to trust in Annette. He went towards their bedroom, softly shutting it behind them, prepared to face the night ahead.