It wasn't perfect but it was admittedly the best date Erin had been on in a very long time.

Sadly nothing good lasts forever.

Erin had first noticed the girls while she and Steve were dancing on the floor. There were three of them, all brunettes, who kept shooting Erin the stink-eye behind Steve's back. In matching sailor dresses it was apparent that these girls hadn't made much of an effort for the dance. Their hair was straight and swung lazily about their faces as they danced in a style not suited to the music. It was clear as day that these girls were here for attention and to prey on men rather to celebrate days long past.

Erin tried to ignore them but she was certain that they followed her and Steve as they left the floor and purposely sat at a table not too far away just to spite her. Jealousy was written all over their snotty faces as they saw Erin was joined by not one but three of the famous Avengers which made Erin feel a bit smug but not enough so that she let the little group know that she even noticed they were there. Erin didn't see them as a threat. She wasn't serious about Steve and Tony and Bruce weren't really her concern in that matter so she ignored the girls. She figured they were harmless.

She was wrong.

To Tony's displeasure Pepper had stepped outside to take an emergency work call and the group were weighing in on Bruce's chance of asking out the girl behind the bar while they waited for her when the group of morons – as Erin referred to them in her head – walked over and the ringleader asked them to dance. She was absurdly tall in her ridiculous stiletto heels and had baby bunny eyes than bulged out of her head slightly. Erin found her quite repulsive to look at but the men around her did not appear to feel the same way.

"There are three of us and three of you. You don't mind right?" She added to Erin, a smirk clear on her face. If Steve hadn't been present she would have smacked the bitch round the face but why? If they wanted to dance they could dance. She shouldn't feel jealous.

"Of course not." Erin replied graciously.

Steve looked torn but Erin sent him a look that said it was fine by her so the three men left. Alone, Erin had nothing better to do than to watch her friends dance with the morons. The bunny-eyed, stick-figure leader was getting very close to Steve as she danced and Erin couldn't suppress the anger rising up inside her. You don't just hit on someone else's date! It wasn't right. She shouldn't care but she did. Erin had been having a good time until she let Steve go. It was confusing because she felt like she shouldn't care but she did. She cared.

Erin watched and as she did something clicked. She had never planned to date Steve but the morons had just provided her with another justification for her choice.

When the song ended the girls held on to the men for another dance. Unlike Tony, Steve didn't even try to resist which infuriated Erin. She was trying not to overreact but it was just ridiculous. He was on a DATE with HER. She'd taken care not to abandon Steve for too long but he clearly couldn't afford her the same courtesy. Another two songs alone and she'd had enough. Grabbing her coat, Erin didn't even bother getting the stupid hat. She was done. She had been proven right about all men and now she just wanted to go home.

From the dance floor Steve glanced up and saw Erin heading for the door. He panicked and nodded to the others before following her. The morons protested but all of a sudden the men didn't have the time of day for them. Tony went to the table while Bruce followed Steve as he tried to head Erin off at the door. They were a little too slow though but they still managed to catch Erin up in the hall.

"Erin, wait!" Steve called after her.

Erin froze and Steve ran the rest of the way while Bruce hung back by the doors just in case the morons tried to interrupt.

"Wait for what? You to leave with little miss thing in there?" She tried her best to not swear although why was beyond her. She didn't care what this jerk thought of her anymore. Clearly he wasn't as interested in her as he had led her to believe.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone but you said it was okay." Steve apologised.

"Okay for one dance maybe but four? That was more than you danced with me!" Erin snarled. She was very controlled considering how easily she usually flew off the handle. Steve expected the yelling to start immediately and was grateful that it didn't.

"I made a mistake-" He began but Erin wasn't having it.

"Nope. I made a mistake. I thought this date would be easy but obviously I underestimated you." She shook her head, disgusted with herself. As much as she hated to admit it, Erin had let herself believe that Steve was different. She believed he wouldn't hurt her and she was wrong. She was hurt. She was selfish and hurt and stupid and tired. She had let him get one over on her despite her best efforts to lock him out and it was her own fault.

Steve started to speak again but Erin didn't bother listening. She'd already given him the money in the cab for the previous night and gone on the date as agreed upon. It wasn't her fault if he screwed up. Erin felt entitled to go home so she did. She just turned and left Steve in the middle of his pathetic apology. She wasn't even going to try any more.

"Look, I filled my end of the agreement. I did what we agreed upon and now I'm going home." Erin cut Steve off again.

"Let me make it up to you." Steve tried but Erin snapped.

"I don't want you to! Can't you see that?" Erin yelled, losing her temper.

"Why not? I made a mistake. It's not the end of the world!" Steve raised his voice too, more angry at himself than at her.

"Does it matter what my reasoning is? I gave you your chance and I say no more!" Erin asked heatedly, glaring daggers at him. She was done.

"Yes it does actually," Steve surprised himself with his response. "I want to know on what grounds I'm being rejected because we were having a good time just now."

"No, we weren't. You were off dancing and I was on the side lines." Erin retorted.

"I said I'm sorry. Why won't you let me make it up to you?" Steve asked, making sure to keep in line. She may be angry but Erin was still a lady and ought to be treated with respect no matter what her faults.

"It's because you're desirable!" Erin shouted. She hadn't meant to say those words but they slipped out before she could really think about it.

"I'm what?" Steve asked, taken aback.

"You're desirable," Erin calmed a little bit, taking deep breaths and closing her eyes briefly before elaborating. She was in the pit anyway so she may as well dig deeper. "Since the Loki incident girls have wanted you all over the world! That back there is a perfect example of why I can't date you! Even if I was interested in you I'd constantly be worried about girls trying and succeeding in taking you from me. Falling in love in dangerous business because you open yourself up to a world of hurt. I'm not doing it! I won't let my heart be broken again! This was anoter mistake; a mistake that I never intend to make again."

Without another word Erin stormed away, head bent to hide the tears forming in her eyes. She had been so stupid. Why had she let herself get nervous over that night? Why had she agreed? Erin berated herself in her head as she left, wishing that she had taken Tony up on his offer to find another way.

"I can confirm that she is not a lesbian if that makes you feel better." Tony said out of the side of his mouth, sidling up to Steve. The captain hadn't even registered his friend's arrival until he spoke

"For some reason that doesn't make me feel better at all." Steve replied glumly, staring after her. He didn't know how to proceed. He'd tried to be polite and ended up ruining all his hard work. He was such an idiot.

"May I make a suggestion here?" Doctor Banner piped up, joining the other two. He hadn't moved or spoken since Steve began apologising.

"Go ahead." Steve kept staring down the hall, sighing as the door slammed shut behind her.

"Go after her." He said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I don't kn-" Steve started to protest.

"Just do it." Banner told him.

Taking a deep breath, Steve ran down the hall and out of the front doors after her. Once he was outside he had to pause to see which direction she went in. He quickly spotted her and chased her down the road, calling out her name. When she heard him, Erin sped up walking without breaking into a run but she knew it would be useless so instead she quickly dried her tears before he could see them and prayed the dark night would hide the redness of her eyes. She was so stupid. Why was she even crying? She didn't care. It wasn't like she liked Steve or anything. Sure, they'd had a fun evening but despite her better judgement he had turned out to be just another man, just another disappointment like her father. How had she let herself get nervous over this date? She shouldn't have even said yes. She had done the wrong thing again.

"Erin stop!" Steve ran in front of her so she couldn't walk any further.

"What?" Erin asked, masking the hurt in her voice with malice.

"What just happened back there?" He asked.

"I told you. It's not my fault if you don't listen." She reminded him bitterly, failing to side step him.

"This… this tantrum is because I was dragged off to dance by a few girls?" he asked disbelievingly. That was what it seemed like on the surface but he knew Erin and it was more than that. It had to be.

"Because you were dragged off to dance and you didn't come back. After weeks of you asking me out you decided to ditch me halfway through a date that I was actually enjoying." Erin hissed.

"Erin, I-" Steve started.

"Enough Steve! I have had enough! I knew I shouldn't have done this but I did because I thought it would get you off my back!" Erin shouted.

"What?" Steve went quiet. He didn't want to believe her but he knew she was telling the truth. He should have known but he didn't want to believe it.

"I'd like to thank you, you know," Erin went on, ignoring him. "For proving me right. All men are the same. I knew I was doing the right thing not dating you."

"Why? What do all men do?" He was trying to keep up but his mind was full of things he wanted to say if only she'd give him the chance.

"All men hurt you! It's what you do!" Erin spat. She went to turn away again but Steve caught her upper arm with his hand and turned her to face him.

"You're wrong," He told her gravely, not letting go. This was his chance. "I read that book you know. The one that made you late for coffee and then again to our first meeting."

"What?" Erin was thrown off by the very sudden change of topic.

"I read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Don't you remember what he says? "You cannot choose if you get hurt in the world but you do have some say in who hurts you." Men only hurt you because you let them. You let your father and others hurt you but I won't do that. And if I do, you can choose not to let me. Letting me in isn't the same as letting me hurt you. There is a choice Erin, there is always a choice. I may have messed up but it was a mistake. Just a single mistake. It will never happen again." Steve told her earnestly.

Erin was silent. Tears welled up in her eyes but she didn't stop staring straight into his, not even for a second. When the first tear tumbled down onto her cheek she remained still. She didn't wipe it away, she didn't sniff or push Steve off of her. She stared him out and she did so because he was right. So completely and irreversibly right. And she hated it. She hated him. One of the worst things about hate though is that it is the other side of the coin to love. There was no way in Hell that Erin could love Captain Rogers in that moment – it was too soon – but she realised that it wasn't impossible to love in the future. Not the near future of course but still, at some point, if she let him, Erin could love him. She could forgive him because nothing she held against him was really his fault. They could have a happily ever after if she put the effort in.

What a terrifying thought.

But he wouldn't love her. He didn't know anything about her and the common phrase was very wrong. What you don't know can hurt you. In fact, it can hurt you twice as bad when it comes to light.

"You don't know me," was all she could say. The lump in her throat restricted words.

"Not yet," Steve said gently. He could see the look in her eyes soften. She was peering out from behind the many barriers she'd built up for herself over the years. It was crucial at this point to be extra caring and understanding, to draw her out. "But I want to know you."

"No you don't." Erin choked the words out, shaking her head.

"I do." He insisted.

Unable to resist himself, he let go of her arm and lifted his hand to lightly brush her glistening cheek. Erin's eyes fluttered closed and she trembled beneath his touch. She needed help but not him. He had done so much to hurt her and he hadn't even known. Could her destruction really be her salvation? No, surely not.

"Please." The moment the words left his lips she was lost.

She opened her eyes again and looked up at him. There was a cautious look on his face, not one of expectancy or desperation as she might have anticipated from any other man. He truly didn't want to hurt her.

Not yet at least.

The battle raged on inside her head, each argument counterbalanced by the opposition in some way. It was so confusing. She needed to be alone. She needed space to think.

"I have to go," She whispered. She tried to take step back but Steve's strong arms were around her waist, holding her close to him.

"Let me walk you home." He requested. Steve hated the idea of offending her but he didn't dare leave her to her own devices at night anymore. Not after the weekend she'd had so far.

"I want to be alone." Erin kept her voice low although she didn't know why. It just seemed appropriate to remain quiet.

"And I want you to get home safely." Steve replied.

Erin bit her lip and bowed her head which resulting in her resting her forehead on Steve's chest. He was much taller than she and it hurt craning her neck up to look at him from this close. Despite the cool night air Steve's body was so warm. She liked being this close to him. It reminded her of a long-lost intimacy that she'd not had in seven years. She'd not had anyone in seven years but now someone was trying. What real reason did she have to push him away? Her father ruined her childhood, not this man. He was good and kind and while she didn't deserve him, the least Erin could do would be to let him walk her home.

"Okay," Erin looked back up at him. "Can we go now?"

"Of course, I just need to grab my coat from inside." Steve nodded. He was so relieved that she wasn't fighting him on this.

Placing a protective arm around her back, Steve led Erin back along the street and into the club. As they walked around the edge of the floor Erin spotted the girls who had asked Steve to dance glaring at her from out on the floor. Knowing her date had his eyes fixed on their friends at the table Erin discreetly flipped the bird at those vultures and revelled in their little gasps of shock. Had she thought she might get away with it Erin probably would have kissed Steve right in front of them, just to send the girls into a tizzy of course. She didn't actually want to kiss Steve. Of course she didn't.

"Are you okay?" Tony asked as Steve released her to put on his jacket and say goodbye to the others.

"He's taking me home now." Erin nodded with a weak smile. She was tired and this was all getting to be a bit too much.

"Okay, I'll call you when we get to LA." Tony smiled. He and Pepper were headed home for a while because Pepper needed to be at the main office.

"Sure thing boss." Erin joked even though she didn't really feel like it.

With an awkward hug, she said goodbye to him and then waved at Pepper and Bruce before Steve wrapped his arm around her again and walked her out.

"So was it as terrible as you thought it would be?" Steve asked when they emerged outside.

"I'm not going to lie: I didn't expect to get date poached which definitely made it worse than expected." Erin admitted wryly.

"But before that, was it a good date?" He pressed, hailing down a cab.

Erin pretended to consider it carefully but she already knew that it was. The thing was, she couldn't give him false hope. She was still torn and it wouldn't be fair.

"What did you think?" She asked, turning the question around.

"It was definitely the best date I've ever been on." Steve decided. His mind cast back to all those awkward double dates with Bucky where the girls were never really into him and how he'd never had the chance to go out with Peggy. That didn't matter now though. They were all long gone and Erin was here beside him, shivering slightly from the cold. Wordlessly he slipped off his jacket and draped it about Erin's shoulders. It swamped her which made them both laugh. That laughter was short-lived though. Erin was still distracted and that was fine. As they got into the vehicle Steve left her alone with her thoughts for a minute while he gave the driver Erin's address.

"Steve?" Erin said finally, her voice quiet.

"Yes?" He leant back and gave Erin his undivided attention.

"I don't know what I want. I'm so confused." She admitted. She had wanted to be good to him and failed. Maybe there was no point in trying to try and be nice again but Erin felt like she owed him still, especially after the mess she'd made.

"How can I help?" Steve was serious again. If he could do something to bring her round to his side he would do it in a heartbeat. He was determined to get a second date.

"When you drop me home can you just wait until I call you?" Erin requested carefully.

She needed time to think, to get herself together. It meant a few days of solitary confinement where Steve had to keep his distance.

"Yes," Steve understood. He didn't want to but he would do what she asked because she asked. It may be stupid after all the hassle she caused him but Steve didn't like her any less after that weekend which must have been some sort of miracle.

Erin stood in front of her apartment door, key in hand. Steve stood behind her, hands in his pockets. He didn't know where to look or what to do. This wasn't exactly a conventional end-of-date experience.

Erin opened the door and paused before wedging it open with a book she snatched from the table by the door. Then, against her better judgement, Erin turned and hugged Steve goodbye. His arms were as warm and safe as they had been the previous night which made it harder letting go. For the second time that night she considered kissing him but thought better of it. She was in a confused place right now and it wouldn't be smart. Instead she whispered goodnight and vanished into her apartment.

So began the long process of figuring out what the hell it was she wanted.