Hey, can you watch Denny tonight? I'm going on a date.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Dallas groaned as she tossed her hair back and threw her phone against the couch cushions beside her.

"What's wrong?" Adam asked as he handed her a beer bottle from his fridge, "Is it Denver? Is she alright?"

Dallas shook her head and grumbled, "No, her father. He has a date tonight. Of all days. Who the fuck goes on a first date on Valentine's Day? That's for people who are actually in relationships."

Adam sighed and plopped down next to Dallas, throwing his arm around her shoulders as she leaned her head against his cheek, "It's okay. He's gone on, what? Two dates since I've met you? You said you want him to find somebody nice."

"Yeah, I don't mean that. He's my dead sister's baby daddy, I don't want him to replace her." Dallas mumbled and turned to look at her new boyfriend, "Plus, I was really excited to have dinner with you."

"I was excited too, but I can reschedule. Denver is important."

"Denver is his daughter, and he shouldn't rely on me to pick up his slack."

"Then tell him that."

Dallas pulled back and gaped at Adam and he just shrugged, "Listen, I get that you're close to him because you love your niece and want to take care of her, but you need to set some boundaries. I'll support you no matter what, but you need a life, too."

"You're right!" Dallas stood quickly, "I'll tell him that I have a life outside of babysitting his child and I deserve to spend tonight with my boyfriend!" She grabbed her jacket and slid her arms through the sleeves as she stormed towards his front door before stopping and spinning around, "In fact, I'm going to go tell him right now- in person."

Adam chuckled and picked up her discarded beer to tip it back and sip. After a moment he asked, "What does this guy even do? I feel like he's never around to watch his own kid."

"He's, uh," Dallas paused, hand on the doorknob as she considered bolting and ignoring the question, "security. Like- high level stuff."

"Oh yeah?" Adam asked sweetly, looking her up and down obviously while she stood rigid as a board, "Like, how high level? The Mayor's office? UN? Stark Industries?" He laughed and Dallas didn't realize how wide her eyes grew until he gasped, "Wait, shit, does he work for Tony Stark?"

Dallas blinked as she took a slow breath, "He would tell you adamantly that he does not work for Tony Stark…" Adam raised his brow and Dallas shrugged, "But he does. He's security for Pepper Potts, but it's Tony Stark's company, you know?"

"Well, if you ever need a computer programmer to be your backup, I'll gladly stand behind you." Adam laughed, beaming up at Dallas before turning on the television, "If you need to babysit, you can bring her back with you and we can do Valentine's Day the three of us. Order a pizza. Maybe go to a movie. You know I'm flexible."

Dallas nodded and left, muttering to herself as the breeze fluffed out her jaw-length brown hair, "That's why I feel so bad."

Meanwhile, across town at a little pizza joint, Bucky Barnes sipped on his Coke while the perky blonde across from him chattered happily without taking a breath.

"It's so nice to meet you! You know, my sister used to work with Tina, I think her name is Tina, she works at Avengers Tower and she said you seemed really nice and so my sister got Tina to get me in touch with Javis? He kinda sounds like a robot, but he gave me your number and I was so tickled that you allowed me to take you out! I used to work here in high school, which was, like, eight years ago now, where does time go? But, like, I don't need to tell you that, because, well, I did my research. You've had quite a life." She paused only to raise her darkly painted eyebrow at Bucky, but he didn't understand what she was asking, so she continued on, "I mean, I'm sure the stuff on the internet is an exaggeration, being a terrorist assassin and everything, but you were in the army, right? You knew Captain America and kinda had the frozen thing happen to you too, right?"

Bucky cleared his throat and rubbed his hand over his cleanly shaven face as he tried to come up with a suitable answer, "Yeah, it's complicated. But I knew Steve way back when, and I'm with the Avengers now, so-"

"Oh my GOSH, that's so amazing! I love the Avengers, I think they are so cool, and I'm just obsessed with Black Widow, her style is amazing and…"

When the twenty-six-year-old fashion blogger got his cell number, Bucky wanted to pretend he hadn't gotten the message and ignore her. Steve, of all people, insisted that Bucky try, because, worst case, he'd get back out in the world. He had his nano-sleeve, and could more or less blend in, and Steve could see Bucky was especially lonely now that Dallas was becoming more serious with her neighbor and spending less time with the Avengers.

After two days of constant nagging from Steve, Barnes made his best friend a deal: he'd meet up with the blogger if Steve called back the woman from the toy store who he'd gone out with the first week of February. Steve had grumbled about not being ready to get close to anybody, but Bucky had argued if he'd gone out with Madison once, and had a good time, he should give her a second chance. Plus, she'd brought Denver a stuffed kitten to their date, which Cupcake had immediately destroyed, but it was the thought that counted.

So, Steve agreed to call Madison back, and Bucky texted Taya the fashion blogger and set up a pizza date on Valentine's Day afternoon, because that was the soonest she was free. The sooner he went on the date, the sooner the date would be over and he wouldn't have time to dread it.

He'd shaved, cut his hair, and bought a new shirt to look more presentable, surprising the other Avengers far more than his date, who seemed more intrigued by his biceps the size of her head than his strained smile.

"So, how do you like the pizza?" She finally asked and took a huge bite of her slice as she gestured with her free hand to his, "When we go out next time, we can go to the sandwich shop I worked at in college. I got the hookup. Small prices, big sandwiches."

"Mhmm." Bucky hummed through his pizza, wishing he could crawl under the booth and die so he didn't have to finish this horrible date. Taya was nice. She had a lot of qualities that he liked in a woman, but she wouldn't shut up. It wasn't like Bucky had much to say, but he liked to have the opportunity. "This is delicious. Very good… very-"

He felt his phone vibrating in his pocket and set down his slice of pizza quickly, putting his finger up to Taya, "Excuse me," he said as he pulled out his phone, seeing it was Steve, "Hey, Punk."

"She wants to see me tonight. I said yes, that's okay, right? Like, it seemed really soon, and it's you know… She's not going to make it a bigger deal than it is? It's just a second date, but it's Valentine's Day. We aren't dating… right?"

Bucky smiled sweetly at Taya and laughed, "Steve, you know I'm on a date right now, right? Kinda thought this might be an emergency."

"Steve? Steve Rogers? Captain America? Oh my gosh, are you on the phone with Captain America? Do you mind if I post this on my Instagram? I'm just gonna- I'm just gonna take a photo of you and post it on my Insta, that's okay, right?"

"Sure, Doll, whatever you want." Bucky said, making his voice sugary sweet to make Steve believe he was having a good time, "Listen, I'll talk to you when I get back to the tower, I have more important things to do right now." Bucky winked at Taya, immediately regretting it when her smile curved up, causing the dimples in her cheeks to deepen as she stared him down seductively.

Had anyone else called, Bucky would have pretended to be needed, giving Taya a sorrowful excuse about how the world needed him and that he'd call her and beg for her forgiveness before being sent away for the foreseeable future. But he wasn't about to let Steve Rogers realize he wasn't actually trying.

At Avengers Tower, Steve rode the elevator down to the Party Deck to find Natasha reading a book while Denver carefully brushed out Cupcake's thick hair, "Nat. I need your help. I think I've made a mistake."

"In wearing that? Because it makes you look like somebody's grandpa? Glad you finally realized it." Natasha said without looking up from her page.

Steve looked down at his khaki slacks and tan plaid button down shirt, "I wear this kind of thing every day."

"And that's why the woman you're going out with is going to call you Daddy if you drive her home. Because you look old enough to be her father."

"Daddy?!" Denver shrieked, looking up in alarm as Cupcake raised his head, "I'm getting a sister?"

"No, Honey. You are not." Steve said dully as he stared down Natasha with narrowed eyes, seeing her expression morph into a smirk as her green eyes raked across the page, "How did you know I had a date?"

"You put it on the Avengers' joint calendar instead of your personal one." Natasha closed her book and gave Steve her full attention, "Valentine's Day, huh?"

Steve sighed, sitting down cross-legged on the floor beside his daughter and her dog to scratch Cupcake behind the ears as Denver drug a dog brush down his spine. Steve looked up at Natasha and grumbled, "I told Bucky I'd call her back if he went out with the fashion reporter."

"He's having a terrible time. I hacked the security camera. She won't shut up."

This revelation made Steve snort and shrugged, "At least he kept up his end of the bargain. I'm just afraid that by going out on a second date on Valentine's Day she'll think it's more serious than it is."

"You're going on a second date." Natasha argued, "That looks like you're interested in continuing the relationship. One date is a fun time. A second date, on the holiday dedicated to romance, says that you are leaning towards being exclusive. Especially when you were able to squeeze her in day of."

"Well, shi-rts are required."

"Nice save." Natasha said as she looked down at Denver, seeing the girl ignoring them in favor of harassing her dog, "Do you like her?"

Steve shrugged, trying to look nonchalant, "I mean, yeah, I like her enough."

"You kissed her yet?"

"No." Steve said quickly, running his palm over Denver's hair, "There was a moment when I walked her home, but it just didn't feel right."

Natasha nodded, letting out a huff, "Steve, Brooklyn is gone. You deserve to be happy and loved."

"I am both happy and loved." Steve argued as he grabbed Denver and held her close to his chest while she squirmed, "We don't need anyone else, do we Denny?"

"No!" She shouted as she tried to get away, clearly yelling about her confinement and not agreeing with her father, but Steve gestured to her in a 'I told you so' way nonetheless.

Natasha leaned back against the cushions and opened her book back up, "You're lonely. You need more than that little girl can give you, and that's okay to admit. She's been gone almost a year. You don't have to move on yet, but you need to accept that someday you'll have to."

"Captain Rogers, Mr. Stark is requesting your presence in the lab." JARVIS announced and Steve knelt down kiss Denver's cheek as she played with her dog, then turned to Natasha and spread his arms, "Duty calls."

Unbeknownst to Steve, Dallas was only a few minutes behind him, going through the private entrance just as he arrived at the lab, "JARVIS?" She called once inside the elevator, "Where's Steve?"

"He's in the lab with Mr. Stark and Doctor Banner."

"Take me there, please."

"As you wish, Miss Wells."

When the doors opened, Dallas found Tony, Bruce, and Steve hunched over several boxes on a metal table, "Rogers!" Dallas snapped and they looked up at her in surprise, "I can't babysit tonight."

Steve's brows squished in confusion, looking to Tony and Banner for some explanation as the woman strode towards him, "Why not? You aren't working."

"That doesn't mean I'm not busy!" She clenched her fists and glared at Steve from across the table, "I have a life Steve, you can't just text me at noon and ask me to babysit in the evening. I have a date tonight."

"But it's Valentine's Day."

"Exactly, that's why my boyfriend and I are going out." She said, not understanding why he was confused about this concept.

"But you don't do holidays." Steve answered earnestly, and Dallas just tilted her head to show her confusion before gasping in an 'ahhh'. Steve raised his brows and murmured, "What?"

Dallas chuckled and shook her head, placing her hands on the table and leaning her weight against it to get closer to the soldier across from her, "You're confusing me with my sister. Brooklyn didn't do holidays. Doesn't mean I don't." Dallas looked to Tony and Bruce, "I'm sure, if you're determined to go on your date tonight, that somebody in this tower can watch Denver. She just wants to play with the dog, it's not that hard. You'll be gone, what? Three hours?" She paused, thinking before a short laugh erupted, "Unless you're gonna take her home? Steve Rogers, are you looking for a rebound from my dead sister?"

"You're just trying to guilt me into not going."

"Is it working?" Dallas asked slyly as she pulled her hand back from the table, shaking it for a moment before she shoved both her hands into her back jean pockets, "Seriously, I'm not watching her. Whenever you have to drop everything and run off to save the world, I'm always there. The least you can do is let me go on a Valentine's date. I really like Adam. He's a good guy."

"Fine." Steve grumbled, crossing his arms across his chest, "I'll figure something out. Have fun on your date."

Dallas lifted her chin and bopped her head back and forth triumphantly, "I will. I actually do plan on getting lucky tonight with Adam, because it's been a long fucking time. Your girl needs to get laid."

Tony snorted and tried to cover it with a fake cough while Bruce smacked him on the back, giving them both a reason to look busy while Steve stared down Dallas, "Yeah. Sure. Whatever you need. Dates all around. You. Me. Bucky."

"Bucky?" Dallas said, her smile falling as her brows drew together. For a brief moment she looked upset, but surprise overtook it, "He's dating? The Hydra assassin?"

Steve shrugged and sighed, "Yeah. The secretary's sister's friend or something. I told him he should. He told me he'd go if I called Madison back. So, it's actually his fault that I'm going out tonight."

"Look at us all." Dallas cooed as she sidled up to Steve and threw her arm around his shoulder to give him a tight squeeze, "Maybe next year at this time, we'll be on a triple date."

Bruce cleared his throat to get their attention, but he pushed his glasses back up his nose and continued to unpack the boxes as Tony explained, "If you don't mind, R2, we have some work to do. We were able to track down some old SHIELD tech, and Cap's gonna help us go through it all before he gets all dolled up for his big date tonight. We'll make sure Denny is taken care of."

"Really?" Dallas asked doubtfully, and Stark added, "Romanoff doesn't have any plans. She'll watch the kiddo while you two go out and have your fun. Separately."

"As long as she's safe, I'm happy. I trust Romanoff." Dallas said pointedly at Steve, "See, wasn't that hard, was it?"

She strode out of the lab and Steve grumbled after she disappeared, "Could have just told me no when I texted."

Several hours later, Steve stood outside of Madison's townhome in Queens with a bouquet in his hand while he knocked with the other. He wore a nice black shirt with red tie and slacks, smoothing back his growing blonde hair against his head. He looked around, suddenly feeling nervous that she was cooking him dinner at her place instead of going out to a restaurant. Being in her home, just the two of them, in private… Steve knew she'd have expectations that he'd inevitably fail to live up to.

When she answered, she was wearing a lacey red dress with her long brown hair pulled into a messy braid off to the side of her neck, "Hey! Welcome!" She leaned back and gestured for Steve to enter, but first he thrust the flowers towards her with a smile. "Thank you so much." Madison said gently as she smiled up at Steve.

Despite her being forward at their first meeting in the toy store before Christmas, Madison was more reserved in real life than Steve expected. She was short, curvy, terribly sweet, and she was easy to talk to. In a different life, she would have made a wonderful companion for Steve, but she was too good to live in Brooklyn's shadow, yet here was Steve anyway.

"You look beautiful." Steve said as he leaned forward and kissed her cheek, then looked around her townhouse while she locked the door, "This place is nice!"

"Thank you! Would you believe me if I said I owned it?" She said excitedly as she scurried past him with the flowers in her hands, "It's a family home. My great-grandmother left it for me in her will. I could never afford such a place working at FAO."

Steve smiled gently as she placed her bouquet into a vase of fresh water and turned to him, "I hope you're hungry! I didn't have time to go shopping, so I just whipped something up from what I had around, and that's pasta."

"Pasta sounds great!" Steve assured her, taking a seat at the small table she gestured to, "Thanks for making dinner."

"I felt bad having you take me out to dinner again on such short notice. Thought I'd repay the favor with a home cooked meal." Madison said as she sat down a salad and a couple wine glasses, "Not sure how often you get that."

"Barely at all to be honest. Contrary to popular belief, the Hulk doesn't cook in his downtime."

Madison giggled as she sat a massive pile of fettuccine noodles in front of Steve, genuinely amused by his comment, "Please don't take this the wrong way, but I didn't expect you to be funny."

Steve's lips quirked up into the tiniest smile but he didn't say anything for a moment. Once Madison had set before him a bowl of Alfredo sauce and another bowl of meat sauce for him to choose from, he asked, "What did you expect?"

She froze in place for a second, meeting his gaze as she held a bottle of red wine over his glass. When he nodded, she began to pour, "You always look so guarded on tv. You are confident, yes, but not necessarily happy. You seemed strained at the toy store with your daughter. I guess… I thought you'd be serious. I also didn't think you'd call, but I wanted to tell my friends I'd given Captain America my phone number in a burst of bravery." She chuckled to herself and sat beside Steve, smiling hopefully, "I'm really glad I did, because you're so much better than I imagined. I really liked getting to know you at dinner the other week, Steve."

His smile grew until it overtook his whole face, "Really?"

"Why do look so surprised?" She laughed, raising her glass to clink against Steve's, "You're a really nice guy. A gentleman, but not at all boring. I have fun with you."

Steve reached over and took Madison's hand in his, "I have a lot of fun with you, too."

Back in Midtown, Bucky was sprawled out on the couch in the living area he shared with Sam. Once Sam had alerted him to his growing presence on social media after his date with Taya, Bucky had to see what kind of damage she'd caused.

He'd been cordial at the end of the date, pressing a chaste kiss to her cheek and thanking the blonde for giving an old war veteran a chance. She'd giggled and said she couldn't wait to see him again with a wink. Bucky was just thankful he'd managed to weasel away before she tried to take him home to bed.

She'd posted a photo of him on the phone with Steve, the caption reading Hot date with an Avenger. Can't be mad when Captain America himself interrupts.

The photo wasn't unflattering by any means, as he had a coy grin on his face as his piercing eyes stayed locked onto the photographer when he cradled the phone. Despite the photo, and even caption, being innocent enough, the commenters hadn't been so kind to Bucky.

When you said you were going on a date with an Avenger, we didn't think you meant sidekick.

Isn't that the Winter Soldier? The guy from the leaked government files who killed all those people?

That's the guy featured on the Captain America museum? Didn't realize he wasn't dead. At least he's still hot.

Bucky turned off his phone and set it aside. His stomach churned at their written words, reminding him that he was hanging onto his new life by a thread. He may have been able to piece his memories back together, but it didn't erase what he did. And, regardless about whether Steve saw him as his equal or not, Bucky was still living in the shadow of Captain America after all these years.

While Bucky was sulking and Steve was beginning to hope again, Dallas was painting deep red lipstick over her plump lips when a text arrived from Nat.

She picked up her phone and smiled at the photo of Natasha Romanoff and Denver. The little blonde was brushing through Nat's fiery red curls while the woman took a selfie of them with a bright smile on her face.

The photo caused a twinge of guilt in Dallas's stomach, and part of her wished she was with Nat and Denver instead of going out with her neighbor, but she needed something from Adam that Nat just couldn't offer.

She smiled to herself and typed, Lookin good you two! Miss you guys.

That was the truth. She missed the Avengers. Things weren't strained, but they weren't easy either. Nobody in that tower seemed alarmed that Dallas was in a constant state of tension and frustration and bitterness, most likely because the Avengers had more important things to do than to deal with the conflicted sister of Steve's old flame.

There was a part of Dallas, deep in her soul, that wanted to experience what Brooklyn had just once. Beyond the physical aspect of having Earth shattering sex with Steve Rogers, she wanted to know what it felt like to be loved despite all her flaws. When Brooklyn was alive, even knowing she lied to him left and right, Steve worshiped the ground she walked on because he loved her with his whole heart. Dallas wondered if he had it in his big heart to do that again, and if he had the capacity to give Dallas even a fraction of the affection he'd given her older sister.

But she knew that was wrong.

It was wrong to want her older sister's love, because Steve was so much more than her boyfriend, he was her everything. Once she was gone, it became inescapably clear that everything she did was for Denver and Steve, because she wanted him to have everything he could ever want. Even hiding Denver from him, as selfish as it was, was done in an attempt to make sure he didn't die feeling guilty about leaving his daughter.

Dallas couldn't compete with what they had. But she knew that if anybody had a chance, it was her. Steve saw Brooklyn in Dallas, that was clear on his face, and no other woman would get a fair chance.

Steve leaned back in his chair as he finished his dinner, laughing as Madison told him a story about her nephew coming to her work, thinking it was Santa's workshop, and calling her Aunt Elf ever since.

"I mean," Steve learned forward on his elbows so he was closer, "you are pretty tiny. I'd believe you were an elf."

"Umm, no," she argued with a playful glare, "I'm only short to you because you're a giant."

Steve shook his head, eyes darting to her lips for just a moment, "Naw, it's more than that. There's something elf like about you."

She tiled her head and smiled weakly, showing her confusion and a little bit of offense. Before she could ask, Steve added, "There's just something magical about you."

At that, Madison gazed at him in surprise and wonder, as if he'd said she was the most perfect woman in the world. He quickly sat up straight and cleared his throat, "Can I help with the dishes?"

She watched him as he stood, and he realized something in her gaze had changed. At first, he feared it, but slowly, as she led him to the kitchen sink, he began to welcome it. It was affection, and it was nice.

Steve Rogers hadn't realized how much he missed being cared about by someone outside of his Avengers family.