How many people shed some tears in the last chapter? I know of at least one. Now, I am not that mean, that's a lie, I'm really mean, but I couldn't let Mady and Steve be apart that long. We're getting close to the Winter Soldier plot, won't be that long I'm afraid because I want to get to Ultron damn it. Actually, I think that might be the next chapter. Look at that. We're moving people.

SilverShadowWolf46 – It's eating at you isn't it? Way to go Steve. Way to fucking go.

Semper Paratus – Yeah, that might not be the best idea. I said you would hate me. Was I wrong?

BrazilWolf20 – It's a good thing I update everyday isn't it? Steve is a terrible liar. Everyone knows this.

CasuallyLazyKitten – Aw, I made you cry? Good, that was the goal. Where did that phrase come from I wonder, 'in the doghouse'? I want to know. I would think Steve would be in the doghouse, although, if I was in Mady's shoes, I would have listened to what he had to say.

WinterOrchid99 – I feel like most people would jump to conclusions. Horrible isn't it? Hmm, him might turn up again, he might not. You'll have to wait and see.

WolfSong – I am so glad you like Mady. I am always nervous when it comes to OCs, whether or not people will like them or not.

Sabina Mohammad – Thank you so much! I am glad you like it.

Chapter 21

Three days.

Steve hadn't seen Mady in three days.

He had also been in the gym for said three days.

His shirt clung to his sweaty body as he punched the bag in front of him for the millionth time. Every time he shut his eyes, he could see her face. The teary-eyed face that he caused. He knew deep down that she wasn't going to contact him. Why would she? Was she serious? Were they taking a break? Were they over? It hurt too much to think about.

"You need to get out of here, Steve. This isn't healthy. Even for you," Natasha entered the gym. "And you reek."

After two days of observation, Natasha knew something was wrong. Hell, after the first hour she knew something was up with the man. There was something was eating at him. "Let's go get something to eat. Clear your mind, relax, seems like you need it."

"Eating won't solve any of my problems," he grunted, continuing with his jabs and hooks. "Don't you have somewhere to be? Fury doesn't have a mission for you or something?"

"You screwed up big time didn't you?" she asked, leaning against the ropes of the boxing ring. "I don't want to know what's going on, but when your actions affect the team, I want to know. Was it Rumlow again? I know you hate the guy, but you two need to get over whatever feud you both have. Was it Tony? Did he send you another one of those pictures? He's such a child."

"I'm not going to tell you anything. It's between Mady and me. We're fine. We'll fix it. Keep your nose out of my business."

"Don't take your anger out on me, Rogers, and how are you going to fix it if you are spending all of your time in here punching your anger away when you're not with your girl, figuring out whatever it is you need to figure out. You're obviously not fine because you look like you're about to murder someone."

"Mady wanted space, so I'm giving her some," he said. "Is that good enough for you?"

"You are a terrible liar. What did she really say?"

The bag went flying.

"Mady thought it would be good for us if we took a break."

Natasha was not expecting to hear that. Not at all. A break? Them? No way! Mady and Steve were perfect for one another. What could have happened between them to cause the couple to take a break?

"What the hell did you do, Rogers?" she shouted.

"I said something I shouldn't have," he sighed, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "I tried to tell her that I was wrong, but she didn't believe me. I tried telling her what I really thought. She didn't care, so she left. Walked right out of my apartment three days ago, and I haven't talked to her since. No messages or anything."

"What did you say to her to get a reaction like that?"

"I told her that I didn't want a future, or a family. That it wouldn't be practical. What the hell, Romanoff!" he grabbed his right shoulder.

Damn, that woman could kick.

"Why the hell would you say that?" she asked. "Mady loves you! How could you do that to her?"

"You don't think I don't know that?" Steve shouted. "She caught me off guard, and I knew that if I said what I was really thinking, I would have freaked her out."

"So you didn't mean it?"

"No!" he breathed heavily. "Of course I didn't mean it! I used to think that, when I woke up and when we were in New York, but then I came here and things changed. I've dreamt about our future together, Natasha. Our house, our kids, everything, and what did I do? I screwed it up! What if I can't get her back? What if she doesn't want me back? I don't know what I would do if I never get to see her again. She means the world to me!"

"Mady may be pissed at you right now, but I think if you apologize and tell her what you really feel, you'll get her back. You put doubt in her mind. I know you have a great track record with women, but funny enough, we think about family, what our future will be like. I don't, but most do. When you told her that, her world came tumbling down. You just need to build it back up. Be romantic, tell her you love her. Whatever it is that you do."

Something romantic, yeah, that usually worked, but if Mady was still pissed at him, would that be enough?

She turned the final corner, sprinting the final leg of her five mile run only to come to a screeching halt when she saw him sitting on the stone steps leading up to the apartment complex.

"What are you doing here, Steve?" she wiped the sweat off her forehead. "Don't you have something important to do?"

"I asked Billy if you were in. He told me that you left your place a while ago and hadn't come back yet. Do you know what time it is, Mady? Who goes running around Washington D.C. at two in the morning? Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?"

"Calm down, Rogers. This isn't the first late night run I've done," she said. "Now I'm going to ask you again, why are you here?"

"I think that's obvious," he got to his feet. "We need to talk."

"I'm done talking to you," she made her way up the steps, but he grabbed her arm before she could enter the building. "Let me go."

"Not this time," he exclaimed. "I shouldn't have let you go before, but for some stupid reason I did. We need to sort this out."

"You've made your point perfectly clear the other day, Steve. We don't want the same things in life, so I did the best thing for the both of us. I walked away."

"You didn't do the best thing for the both of us. Walking away was the worst thing," his eyes softened. "I lied all right. I didn't tell you what I really wanted because I thought that I would scare you away."

"Right," Mady rolled her eyes, trying to break away from his strong hold on her. If he didn't lighten up he was going to leave marks. Not the fun kind either. "You really expect me to believe that?"

"It's too soon to be thinking about this."

"We've been together for over a year now, Steve. We've been friends much longer than that. How the hell is it too soon to start thinking about a potential future together? Obviously we're not going to get married and start pumping out kids tomorrow, but having some idea or plan of some kind wouldn't hurt. Why does this topic make you act-"

"Because you deserve someone who will give you exactly what you want," Steve exclaimed. "You deserve someone who you know will be home every night. You deserve someone that doesn't make you worry day in and day out. I can't give you that, Mady. I go away for weeks, months at a time. If we have a future together, I don't want to put you through that. I don't want to put our kids through that."

"Kids huh?"

"I've dreamt about them," he added softly. "Our kids, the life we build together, what it would be like, what our kids would look like. I want that. I want that with you, but the chances of us having that, it's so unlikely."

So she wasn't the only one to imagine such things. Maybe Kelly was right, maybe she did spring the question on him a bit prematurely. But this was a good sign. A good start.

"Who told it was unlikely?" she asked. "I'm going to go kick them in the face."

"Mady, think about it."

"I have, and it looks like you have too," she replied. "Like I said, I don't plan on having everything tomorrow. It can be years away down the road. Plans can change. I don't care how long it takes. I just want to be with you, you dummy. I love you." Those words; they made his heart swell. He hadn't screwed everything up.

Mady let out a small squeal when he pulled her into his arms, spinning the both of them around like a crazy person, apologizing over and over again, telling her he would never do something to stupid ever again, and if he did, she was allowed to punch him in the face.

"You might regret saying that," she smiled. "I'm glad you came after me."

"Me too," he replied, kissing her passionately. "I missed you so much."

"So did I," she whispered into his shirt. "Don't let me be stupid ever again."

"Deal," their heads shot up when they felt scattered rain drops land on their cheeks. "Maybe we should go inside. We don't want to get sick."

"Afraid of a little rain, Rogers?" she laughed as the heavens opened up above them, drenching the couple within seconds. "Besides, you can't get sick."

"But you can."

"Spoil Sport," she pulled him into the complex. "Come on, I have some hot chocolate that is calling our names."