"Darcia! There you are! What an absolutely fabulous cake! Come here, I've just run into the most unexpected person in the world and you're being asked for! Plus, Tony just ordered a new case of rum. It should be here any minute, so come on!" Hayley shouted, pulling Darcia out of Bruce's arms, the heiress looking heated and unsatisfied, Bruce confused and twitching. When the girls were just out of reach of the scientist and in the midst of the crowd, the actress spun around, grabbing Darcia's forearms tightly, a glare on her face. "Now when in the world were you going to tell me you had a boyfriend! I should know these things! Or am I not your friend?"

Darcia blinked through the alcohol-induced haze, finally figured out that her friend was mad at her and started speaking through a rush. "Oh I'm so sorry, Hayley. I was going to earlier but then I was pulled away from you and things got so hectic that I completely forgot. You are my friend and a very good one at that. I won't let it happen again. Promise. Scout's honor." To emphasize her point, she made a 'cross your heart' sign and grinned.

Hayley sighed, relenting. "You weren't even in the Girl Scouts. But all right, all is forgiven. Just let me know! Jeeze. Celebrities these days..." The girls laughed loudly, the sounds drowning in the crowd. "Now let's get smashed. I spy a cutie and I'll need a lot more courage to talk to him."

"Liquid courage?"

"Of course," Hayley replied, a sly grin on her face.

"Well tell me, who is this lucky man?" Darcia said, looking around for anyone good enough for her friend.

The actress grinned, pointing across the room to a corner where a man stood. Darcia had to stand on her tip-toes and squint her eyes before she made out the familiar sandy blonde hair and forlorn expression on the Captain's face. "Steve? You've got a thing for Steve?"

Hayley nodded, smiling. "He's a hero. Well, all of them are, but he's different. My grandfather always talked about the 40s and how inspiring he was to everyone. But I'm sure every girl says that," she giggled. Woah. Giggling. That was new.

Darcia was silent as she thought. "All right," she said after a moment, all decisive. "Let's get smashed. I heard he's still a virgin, you know." She winked at her friend, who's grin grew even more malicious.


"The virgins are always the best," Hayley slurred through her fifth (or was it sixth?) shot of vodka. "I was the best when I was a virgin, still the best. But I had a good teacher, y'know. They're so much...fun! The raw expressions get me."

Darcia nodded, hugging a bottle of tequila to her chest. "I 'gree. Tonight, tonight I'm going to show Bruce the...the time of his life! He hasn't had sex in-in forever! And I'm...I'm good, y'know? 'Course you do. That one time..."

"Shhhh!" Hayley laughed, pushing her manicured finger to the heiress' lips. "We're not 'sposed to talk about that. The three of us agreed."

Darcia nodded, laughing loudly. "Sorry, sorry! You know, Tony brought it up the other week. It took me forever to shut him up. Bruce doesn't need to be hearing about our wilder days."

"Wild, but fun. That was a great night." Hayley looked like she was reminiscing and Darcia sighed, a small smile on her face. "Too bad we can't try it again!"

"Oh no. No, no, no. We agreed. One time. Plus, Tony's with Pepper now. And I'm with Bruce. And you're going to get with Steve in about five seconds."

"Five?" the actress asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Three," Darcia quipped, standing up.

"Darcia, I don't und-"

"Two." The heiress walked backwards, grinning. Hayley looked more confused than she should've been. "One!" And with that, Darcia was lost in the crowd and Steve was getting a drink at the bar.

Hayley looked over and grinned. "Captain Rogers," she said smoothly, holding her shot glass out to him. He looked down at her, confused but topped off her glass.

"Miss Atwell, was it?" Seeing her nod, he allowed the smallest of smiles to come to his face, all problems forgotten in the moment.


"Guess who!" a voice sighed in Bruce's ear, small hands covering his eyes. The person controlled her giggling and only swayed twice by the time the doctor answered.

"I have a feeling," he said with a smile, taking her hands off his eyes and kissing the fingers. She flushed. "That it's a Miss Darcia." She moved in front of him, a smile on her face.

"You're right. As always."

He smiled, holding her hands in his and keeping her steady. "You've had a lot to drink."

She laughed. "And you didn't, 'pparently." She stepped closer to him, feeling the heat of his body radiating onto her. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, her perfume wafting up to him. He wrapped his arms around her, resting his forehead on hers. "Do you want to go back to my room?"

His eyes flew open, shocked, and stared into the heiress' eyes. She stared back confident, if only slightly nervous, and let a smile tug at the corner of her lips. They stared at each other for a few minutes in silence, a thousand thoughts running through their minds. Finally, Bruce opened his mouth and started speaking very slowly. "I...don't think that's a very good idea, Darcia. So many things could happen. I could...the monster could...and then there would be..."

"Bruce, please. For me," she whispered, looking up at him with unshed tears. He looked conflicted, staring down at her with furrowed brows. She needed to pull the last card. "It's my birthday."

He then looked at her with this emotion she would never be able to decipher; self-hatred, desire, pain...she didn't know. His gaze seemed to smolder her, burning her down to ashes. She wanted him so bad, had for so long. She's thrown herself at him and he's constantly turned her down. But his guard is falling. It's her birthday. The birthday girl always gets what she wants. She started silently praying, the countless years of Catholic boarding school coming forth in her thoughts. "All right." Her thoughts stopped dead in their tracks. She stared up at him, eyes wide and mouth slightly opened.

"Wha-"

"All right. It's your birthday. I'll try...for you. But I'm not...this isn't a good idea. It really, really isn't, Darcia. I wish you would see that."

She blinked, the flashing lights and serious talk making her dizzy. She was too gone. "You'll do it for me? You're so wonderful. This is why I'll fall in love with you so fast. So, so fast."

He sighed, closing his eyes briefly. After a minute, he allowed a smile to come to his face as he looked at his girlfriend. His beautiful, successful girlfriend that only wants him. Just him. He leaned down, kissing her smartly. "Let's go celebrate." She grinned up at him, lacing her fingers with his and pulling him along through the crowd; weaving, dancing, moving with the others here for her. But she only wanted him and that's what he focused on as they walked down the hallway and into her room.


(A/N: Omg omg omg omg omg. You guys have no idea how sorry I am. I am so so so so soooo sorry I haven't posted in two weeks. And I know this chapter sucks but I've got plans until Sunday and I've been so busy since I last updated that I couldn't have written anything. And then my internet went out and it only just got back up yesterday. Sigh. Sunday's chapter will be great, don't worry. I'll post two. Yeah, two. Woo! I love you all. Thanks for being so patient with me.)