Chapter 13:

Steve's meeting the next morning went smoothly. The Avengers agreed to check out the lead, but since it wasn't an immediate threat, Tony convinced everyone to set out in two days after his important fundraiser he needed to make an appearance at. Everyone had rolled their eyes. Steve would rather get the job done, but it did free up his next two days. The first thing he did after the meeting was get the jet packed and ready to go in case they had to leave at a moments notice. Everyone grumbled their way through it. Next, Steve called Sharon. Sam gave him a corny thumbs up as the phone rang. Steve regretted not waiting until he was back in his room to call. She agreed to meet him halfway at a small diner off the highway around 8:00pm.

Steve was surprised when he arrived ten minutes early to find Sharon already waiting for him at booth in the corner. From what he could see, she was wearing dark jeans and a fitted black shirt. It was simple, yet she still looked beautiful in Steve's eyes. She smiled and gave a small wave causing his heart to jump into his throat.

"Hi, I'm glad you could make it. I'm sorry it was such short notice."

"I'm glad you called." She gave him the biggest smile.

"I'm sorry if the food is terrible, I've never been here."

"Are you kidding me? Diners off the highway usually have the best food. Don't get me started on the pie."

Steve smiled, he loved that she wasn't ashamed of having a big appetite. "Okay, so what looks good?"

"I'm thinking brinner."

"Brinner?" He was confused.

"It means breakfast for dinner. Brinner."

"Ah." He felt his cheeks go warm. "I have not heard that reference."

"Can I get you two lovebirds something to drink?" Steve's cheeks darkened as Sharon's smile widened.

"I'll take a water to start." She replied simply to the waitress.

"Water for me too. Thank you." The waitress smiled and sauntered off to the counter.

Steve felt Sharon's hand rest on his. "Relax Steve." He took a deep breath, not realizing his nerves were getting the best of him.

"So uh…" His mind was completely blank. Their date the day before had been great, but now Steve had no clue what to do. He couldn't remember a time he ever made it past the first date. His mind went back to the day before. How easy it was to talk. Her laugh, her smile. Kissing her.

A new set of nerves set in. So what were the rules on kissing her now? Could he kiss her any time he wanted?

"Hey." Steve snapped back to reality at Sharon's soft voice. "I can see your brain going a mile a minute."

She slipped out of her side of the booth and plopped down next to him. He was about to ask her what she was doing when she grabbed him by the back of the neck and kissed him softly. "I'm nervous too." His body relaxed at the warm press of her lips.

"Feel better?" She slipped back into her side of the booth much to Steve's disappointment.

"Yes, I'm sorry. I haven't… dated in a while."

She smiled. "I haven't either. Now, what looks good on the menu?"

An hour later, Steve couldn't remember why he had been so nervous. He hung onto every word Sharon spoke. She talked about growing up knowing she wanted to be a spy and how she got into the Academy without the Carter name. He told her about the many failed attempts at joining the army and how many laws he broke doing it.

"Either of you lovebirds ready for dessert?" The waitress had wandered back over. Steve looked at Sharon, her eyes lit up in excitement.

"Yes." She answered firmly. She met Steve's eyes. "I don't know about you, but I'm getting pie."

Steve smiled widely. "Pie it is."

"Blueberry please and a cup of coffee." Sharon smiled brightly at the waitress.

"And I'll take apple and a cup of coffee as well. Thank you."

"Apple? How traditional of you." Sharon teased.

"What can I say, I'm old fashioned."

Steve lost track of time after that. They slowly ate their pie and drank their coffee while talking and laughing. He couldn't believe how lucky he was to be sitting in this diner with Sharon across from him. At times he caught himself just staring at her. The way her eyes lit up, the curve of her smile, the way her curls bounced when she gestured wildly during a story. It reminded him of the times they would talk in the hallway of their old apartment. She was so beautiful.

"Oh my gosh, it's almost midnight." Sharon checked her watch. "I should really get going."

"Wow, I completely lost track of time."

"Me too." She smiled widely.

"Let me get the check." He hopped out of the booth before she could protest and paid at the counter. He walked her out to her car slowly, not wanting the evening to end. "Sorry I kept you out so late."

"Nothing to be sorry about, I had a great time."

"What are you doing tomorrow afternoon?"

Sharon quirked an eyebrow. "A third date in less than 48 hours?"

Steve gave a nervous laugh and scratched the back of his neck. "We don't leave for our mission for another day and I just figured while we both have the time…"

"I'd love to. What do you have in mind?"

"We could try other flavors of pie?"

"The pie was really good… and I did have a hard time choosing between the blueberry and banana cream." She said in mock seriousness.

"Three o'clock?"

"It's a date." Her eyes watched him for a long minute, calculating whether he was going to make the first move this time.

He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear before leaning down to kiss her. Her hands came to his neck, pulling him closer as his hands slipped around her waist.

"I should go." She murmured against his lips just as they were on the verge of a full make out session. Steve pulled back, not wanting to be anything less than a gentleman. "Thank you for tonight. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Good night Sharon." He gave her one last smile before turning toward his car.

"Fuck it." Before he could fully turn at Sharon's quiet cursing her arms were around his neck and lips on his. He stumbled in surprise causing Sharon to fall back against the car.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." And she was pulling him in again. He wasn't sure how long they stood there making out like a couple of teenagers in the parking lot. He didn't really care either, he was loving every minute of it. He was almost disappointed when Sharon finally pulled away, giggling and apologizing profusely for jumping him. They said their goodbyes one last time before separating for the night. Steve was giddy the entire way home.

The next morning Steve attempted to avoid Sam, Wanda, and Natasha by hiding out in the jet and 'checking' that it was ready to go. He took as many back hallways as possible to avoid them. He should have known he couldn't escape it when he found Natasha waiting for him in his room.

He sighed. "I know I locked this room."

"Well you better tell Stark the living quarters are a little too easy to hack." She smiled coyly. "You got in pretty late last night."

"What do you want to know?" He swatted her feet off of his desk.

Natasha smiled. "How did it go?"

"It went well."

She quirked an eyebrow. "And?"

"And it's none of your business."

She put her hands up in defense. "Okay, okay, just one question."

Steve sighed and leaned against the wall. "Shoot."

"Any funny business?"

"Jesus Nat, we just went for dinner and dessert."

"You do know dessert means something different nowadays?" She smiled widely.

Steve frowned. "Yes, I learned that a while ago. But it was just dessert, I was a complete gentleman."

"And was she a lady?" Steve thought back to Sharon cursing before practically jumping him to kiss him again. Natasha smiled wider at his silence.

"Yes." He finally answered. "Yes, she was. No more questions."

She got up, the smile never leaving her face. "Fine. Let me know what color I should wear to the wedding."

"Nat." She had already stepped out of the room.

A few hours later Steve found himself back at the diner, this time sitting at the counter with Sharon next to him. Only a handful of people were there and none seemed to recognize who he was. However, this time he did wear a baseball cap to help hide his face.

"Alright Cap, branch out. Try a new flavor." Sharon teased as she sipped her coffee. "I'm getting banana cream… and maybe a slice of their Boston cream pie as well. No judging." She quipped before he could comment, he only smiled instead.

"I'm thinking Key Lime and whatever Cookies & Cream pie is."

"Good because I wanted to try those as well." She smiled innocently. "Just a bite, I promise."

They spent the next two hours sharing bites of pie between coffee and conversation. Every once in a while one of them would lean in for a quick kiss and a shy smile. Steve's heart raced every time Sharon's hand rested casually on his leg as she leaned into him.

They spent a good amount of their time going through Steve's notebook. Sharon explained certain shows and movies, giving him enough of an explanation to know if he would be interested it in or not. He wasn't sure where she found the time to be a film fanatic, but she apparently was. She gave him a whole new list of movies with a promise to help him check some off his list.

The diner started to fill up around 6:00pm meaning their date was at an end. Neither of them needed Steve to be recognized and start a news headline. He held her hand as he walked her to her car.

"I promise not to jump you today." She laughed. "Thank you for the last few days." They both knew they may not see each other for a while with Steve's mission and their crazy work schedules.

"I'll call you when I get back." He kissed her softly.

"I'll answer."

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