Chapter Fourteen

Steve was the only one who hadn't spent any time in town, save for passing through when he and Sam first arrived, and he watched from the backseat as Sharon maneuvered the SUV past a series of small shops. It seemed like a nice place, quiet, with only a few people milling about in the unseasonably cool temperatures.

It was cold enough even he was wearing a jacket, though that was more because Sharon insisted he and Bucky would draw more attention to themselves if they weren't bundled up like everyone else. He also wore the thick-rimmed glasses Black Widow had given him and, coupled with a scarf and cap, he figured no one would pay any attention to him.

Sharon had snorted at him when he'd said as much aloud. "They might not recognize you, but you're still going to attract attention."

Self-conscious, he'd looked in the side mirror before they'd all loaded into the SUV.

"You're a good looking guy, Cap," Sharon said assuringly. "Women can't help but look at you."

"It's the price we pay for being pretty," Sam said, clapping him on the shoulder in solidarity.

Honestly, Steve had never thought about the attention he drew having to do with anything other than women — and men — recognizing him as Captain America. He'd been so self-conscious after the serum, after what it had done to his body, that he'd shied away from any attention given to it. He was too big, too lumpy and he ate too much. He'd felt like a freak but accepted it because of what the serum helped him do for his country.

He looked at Sharon, watched her expertly park the large vehicle in a narrow spot on the street, and wondered if it was Captain America or Steve Rogers she'd had the crush on. He supposed it didn't matter at this point; they were together now.

Once the truck was parked, the quartet broke into pairs, Bucky choosing to walk with Sam while Steve volunteered to get groceries with Sharon.

As soon as Bucky and Sam turned out of sight, headed toward a movie theater Sharon had pointed out on their drive, Steve slipped his hand into hers. She smiled up at him, still a little surprised that the man she'd fantasized about for so long was now hers.

"If we didn't have the boys in tow, we could consider this a first date," she said, then laughed at the expression on his face. "What's the matter?"

Steve blushed, something Sharon still found remarkable and adorable. "I've never actually been on a date. Are you sure this counts?"

"I think a date is what you make of it," she said after a moment. "I'm walking around a picturesque mountain town with the man of my dreams. Seems pretty date-y to me."

She reached into her pocket when her cell phone beeped. "Better reception here in town," she observed as she read the message from Sam. "Sam and Bucky are going to watch a movie. I guess that means we've got time for that date if you're interested."

He bent down and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. "I'm very interested."

They started their date, as most do, with food. Steve spotted the small diner and suggested coffee and pie.

They settled into a rear booth and ordered, conversation flowing easily as she asked him questions about his old life, not just before he woke up but before the war. She cringed for him when he told her how he had gotten beat up a lot, cheered because Bucky always saved him, smiled when he talked about parents, teared up at their passing, and offered her own insights when he moved to his first year in the army.

"One of my favorite of Aunt Peggy's stories was at Camp Leahy," she said, stealing a bite of apple pie from his plate. "The grenade. You jumped on it without a second thought. I think that's the story that made six-year-old me fall in love with you."

"That was before the serum," he said, taking an even larger bite of the cherry cobbler from Sharon's plate. "I was still Skinny Steve."

"That's part of what was so great. All ninety-five pounds of you, taking a grenade to save your platoon. Selfless. Heroic. Isn't that why you were chosen?" She laid a hand over his, gave it a squeeze. "You're not Captain America just because of what you can do but because of who you are. I've read the reports, heard the stories. The serum took a good man and gave him the strength to do great things."

"Does that mean you'll give me get the rest of your cobbler?"

"Not a chance, pal," she said, lifting the last bite to her mouth. "But I'd be willing to order another."

And they did. After an entire apple pie and two cobblers, Sharon suggested they take their date on the road and walk off their dessert.

Hand-in-hand, they continued sharing stories and conversation.

"I knew when you were on missions," she was saying about his time as her special assignment. "I didn't know where you were going or what you were doing."

"Neither did I, most of the time," Steve said. "I wasn't given the mission parameters until we were enroute. Fury liked to play everything close to the vest - compartmentalizing, he called it. Even though I was leading the team, I often felt like Black Widow and Strike team knew something I didn't."

"Speaking of Black Widow, and you don't have to tell if it's betraying a confidence or anything, but what's up with her and Barton? I've heard rumors but..."

"Natasha likes to play that close to the vest, too, so I don't even really know," Steve answered. "Hawkeye was on a deep cover assignment for a couple months when the Triskelion fell. I haven't heard from either of them since."

"You're not exactly easy to find right now. The is the first time I've had decent cell reception in a month."

"If Natasha wanted to find me, she would."

As they passed a hardware store, Sharon said, "I'd like to stop in here, see if they've got any new games for Bucky."

Steve followed as Sharon led them to a narrow aisle of children's toys and games. "I hoped they'd still stock kids' items," she said as she picked up a couple of puzzles and another Sudoku book. "Having you and Sam around has been great for expanding Bucky's social interaction but he still seems to enjoy these."

She turned with her pile and noticed that Steve's attention was on another display.

"I..." Steve wasn't sure what to say as an army of small plastic hims stared back.

Amused, Sharon grabbed a Captain America action figure - complete with throwing shield - and added it to her pile.

"What are you doing?"

Her grin was cheeky. "What girl doesn't want a Captain America of her own?"

"You already have your own Captain America."

"Now I'll have two," she countered, picking the toy up and rubbing its torso with her thumb. "I wonder if he's as sensitive as the real deal."

Steve could have sworn his skin tightened under his sweater as she caressed the stupid toy. "Stop that."

"Oh, Steve," she said, putting the figure back down. "You're the only Captain America I want to tease." She shifted the pile of games so she could kiss him in an effort to wipe the scowl off his face.

"Come on, the boys will beat us to the market if we don't hurry."

Sharon and Steve walked back to the SUV with their purchases and drove to the grocery store, pulling into the parking lot just as Sam and Bucky were walking up.

"Perfect timing," Sam said.

"How was the movie?" Sharon asked Bucky.

"I didn't understand most of the jokes until Sam explained them."

"It helped that we were the only ones in the theater and we had good time," Sam said. "What did you two do?"

"Pie and hardware," Sharon answered vaguely.

"Sounds kind of kinky," Sam said, looking at Steve. "I'm impressed."

Steve explained, looking at Sharon. "We ate pie and then went to the hardware store."

"Where Steve played with himself," Sharon added, that cheeky grin back.

Sam smiled widely. "You're a new man in town, Cap."

"It was a Captain America action figure," Steve said defensively. "And Sharon was the one who played with it."

"Sure it was," Sam said as Sharon laughed.

Bucky looked at Sharon, then Sam and, finally, Steve. "I don't think I get these jokes either.

"You and me both, Buck," Steve said, putting his arm around his fellow man out of time and the two of them headed into the grocery store together, leaving a surprised Sam and Sharon behind.

"Do you think either of them realize what just happened?" Sharon asked.

"Maybe you were right about a trip to town doing us all some good," Sam said. "They almost looked like those pictures from the old days."

"Yeah..." Sharon wiped at a tear she didn't realize had formed at the corner of her eye.