"I missed the way your brain worked, 13," Maria Hill said as she sat down at the conference table and slid over a cup of coffee to Sharon as she looked over the chaos that was tapped to the glass walls. "Care to explain what's going on here?"

"Over here we have things to watch out for but not necessarily an issue," Sharon said as she waved to the left. "Over here in the middle we have probably an issue that we should look into, and on the end is definite problem, send out a team."

"I saw Bucky and Sam heading out when I came in this morning," Maria said and Sharon nodded.

"Someone has been recreating the super soldier serum," Sharon said, sliding a file to Maria. "Karli Morgenthau stole the serum from someone called the Powerbroker and has used it on herself and her friends. They're part of a group called the Flag Smashers. They're fighting against the efforts of the GRC. I'm not looking to get into the politics of it, but we don't need more super soldiers running around."

"Fascinating, who's this charming fellow," Maria asked as she pointed to the right side of the wall.

"John Walker. He's the government's pet project for a new Captain America. Apparently there are many people who aren't pleased Steve handed the shield down to Sam."

"Racists," Maria muttered and Sharon hummed in agreement. "Does Steve know about any of this?"

"No, I haven't told him and I instructed Sam and Bucky to leave him out of it," she said. "He's retired, he needs to let Sam do the job he passed down to him. They're more than capable of it."

"He's going to be pissed."

"Can't say that I care," Sharon muttered as she taped another photo on the wall. "I'll handle it."

"You know that's not your job anymore - professionally and personally speaking," Maria reminded her. "How's that going, by the way?"

"He's stopped trying to make amends, in a good way," Sharon said and sighed when she saw Maria's confused face. "He's giving me space and he's trying to figure out his own thing."

"Sorry to break up this girl talk that I should definitely be a part of," Natasha said with a smirk as she entered the conference room. "Shar, you might want to move the Sovereign issue up from not an issue to probably an issue, maybe even to the final column after we meet with Carol and Rocket."

"Are they on the line yet?" Sharon asked and Nat shook her head. "To finish the girl talk, and hopefully this topic, Steve and I are in a neutral zone. He dropped off my stuff he had packed away and we text every once in a while. Mainly it's him letting me know he hasn't died and he's road tripping."

"He's on his way back," Natasha said and Sharon whipped her head around. "Sam may have called him freaking out asking if he knew about Isaiah Bradley and what the government did to him. Obviously Steve didn't know but he is pissed and coming back. Should be here in a day or two. Just in time to convince him to stick around for our Halloween party."

"I'm getting back to the Halloween party after all of this, but who is Isaiah Bradley?" Sharon asked. She had never heard of him, never came across him in any of the files that got leaked by S.H.I.E.L.D. or the ones she was able to get her hands on while she worked for the CIA.

"Government was trying to recreate Steve, Isaiah was one of those soldiers. He fought in the Korean War. Only person able to fight off the Winter Solider," Natasha explained. "He was repaid for his service by being imprisoned for 30 years and becoming a lab rat for the government and HYDRA. It's a dark mark for our history, it was hidden extremely well. I only know about it from my time in the Red Room."

"That's disgusting," Sharon said, appalled by what happened to this man.

"Hey Blondie, you ready for us," Rocket said as he appeared on the hologram call. "I got Quill and Thor with me. They've been fighting over who should get on the call for 20 minutes, so I decided your stuck with me. Good to see you too, Red."

"Rocket," Natasha said fondly. "I think we're just waiting on Carol."

"I'm here," Carol said as she appeared. "Raccoon, what did you do?"

"Okay, okay, to be fair, this was a while ago. I figured with everything that happened, people may have forgotten," he said with a shrug. "I may have stolen some batteries from the Sovereign that they paid us to guard, and they may have sent an entire fleet to kill us while we were on the planet Quill's psycho daddy created that we were trying to kill. It was a whole thing."

"Ayesha, the former leader of the Sovereign, has created this superior being named Adam," Carol said and Rocket nodded. "He's designed to destroy the Guardians."

"Sounds like a personal problem," Sharon said as she glared at Rocket. "I don't know you very well, but you seem like a headache."

"He is, hello friends," Thor said as he shoved Rocket out of the way. "Great to see you all. While rabbit is a pain, he is a great warrior and a dear friend. All the Guardians are. Now that I am captain of their ship ..."

"He's not the captain, I am," Peter Quill yelled from the background.

"Right," Thor rolled his eyes.

"Adam is a bigger issue than just going after the Guardians," Carol jumped in, growing tired of their antics. "Ayesha is training him by going after smaller planets to either destroy them or enslave them. It's has the potential of becoming a bigger problem than I can handle."

"What do you need from S.W.O.R.D.?"

"Eventually, I think we'll need a fleet. Right now, I just need agents briefed on the situation and on standby when things get hectic. I don't want anyone going into this uninformed, especially when we have the time. For now."

"So moving this into the middle column," Sharon muttered as she walked back over to her wall. "I'll let Director Rambeau know and she'll be in contact, if that's okay."

"I think it is now," Carol said with a short nod. "I'll let the children get back to their fight. I'll be in touch."

"Rocket," Natasha yelled, trying to get the focus back on the mission and not the pissing contest between Thor and Quill. "Are you guys able to handle this with Carol or are you going to fuck things up?"

"No promises on the latter, Red," he said. "But we can handle it. I'll be in touch when shit hits the fan. Also, we'll be in town for the Halloween party. Nebula promised Morgan she'd be there."

"What is this Halloween party?" Sharon asked once they hung up.

"Just a good reason for everyone to get together, hang out, drink, maybe rekindle a romance or two," Natasha said, mumbling the last part as she walked out of the room.

"Nat, what are you doing?" Sharon asked, following her out.

"Meddling, I have too much time on my hands," she said with a shrug. "Also, I spent five years trying to get everyone back together. I'm going to make sure we all get together for holidays, birthdays, random weekend getaways."

"Retirement doesn't suit you. Can't you just build a farm like Clint did?"

"Nope," Natasha said with a smile as she popped her 'p.' "How was that date you went on last week?"

"Terrible," Sharon sighed as she walked into her office and sat down on the couch, Natasha following suit. "All he could talk about was how he met the Hulk at a taco truck earlier that day and how he was pretty sure he could lift Thor's hammer if given the opportunity."

"Did this guy know who you are?"

"No! That's the worst part, I used an alias," Sharon exclaimed. "I swear, I was about to text Banner for an assist to put this guy in a state of shock so I could escape. Luckily, I told him I thought the Avengers were kind of full of themselves and he got so appalled he left the restaurant."

"Wow, well, I have no words," Natasha said, trying not to laugh.

"Yeah, so I think I'm done with the random dating for a while," she said with a shrug. "Maybe I'll go back to dating people I know. Bucky seems like a catch."

"Oh he is," Natasha said. "I was thinking the same. Steve is looking pretty good in our FaceTime chats. Maybe I'll give that one a go."

"I'd love to see Captain America try to keep up with you," Sharon laughed and Natasha joined her. "I'm not angry anymore."

"Good, I didn't want to see that consume you," Natasha said sincerely. "You're willing to give it another chance?"

"Maybe," Sharon said, unsure of herself. "I was thinking about what we had and it feels like a fever dream sometimes. I wonder if we really knew each other, that if we had the luxury of time like a normal couple if we would have worked."

"I disagree with you on that. I think in those rushed moments, in that fever dream, you really got to know each other. I think that if you both didn't care so much about each other, you wouldn't have made the efforts to be together on the run. Steve, Sam, and I would be countries away from where you were many times and he'd always map it out so he could see you when the time came."

"I didn't know that," she said quietly.

"Plus, I remember you constantly trying to figure out where we were so you could stay closer to make it easier on him, and so we'd have a spot to crash too. The two of you wouldn't have risked so much if it didn't matter."

"You're not wrong."

"I'm never wrong," Natasha said happily. "Now what's your next move?"

"I don't know. I do know I gotta pack my shit out of his room here though since he's coming back tomorrow."

"Wait, that's where you've been sleeping?" Natasha yelled with a laugh as she followed Sharon out. "Just wait for him to show up in his bed, that's your next move!"

"I hate you."

Steve showed up the next morning, very much in a mood as Sharon expected. After dropping his bags in his room, his first stop was Sharon's office. She glanced up and saw him in the doorway, his arms crossed and his face unable to hide his anger - as usual.

"Shut the door and sit, please. I picked up your favorite coffee and a bagel for you as a peace offering. I figured you haven't had a decent bagel outside of New York," she said. He looked surprised but did as she asked. "I'm sorry your trip got cut short."

"Did you know?"

"About the Flag Smashers? Yes. I sent Sam and Bucky out, I told them not to bother you. It's their job to handle it and they're more than capable in doing so," she said firmly before she softened. "About Isaiah Bradley? No. I'm horrified by that whole thing."

"I just don't understand," he said with a sigh. "Maybe I should have never agreed to the super solider program. It just led to destruction and pain. People saw what it could do - what I could do - and wanted to use it to further evil."

"You had no control over what people would do with the knowledge of the serum," Sharon reassured him, placing her hand on top of his. "You are a good man, Steve Rogers. You were chosen for that reason alone. As much as these people want to recreate the serum, to recreate you, they can't. You are one of a kind. Sam and Bucky will complete their mission, and then we can figure out what we can do to help Isaiah Bradley. I am more than willing to do anything that man wants or needs, but I have a feeling he'll just want to be left alone, and if that's the case we should respect it."

"Thank you," Steve said, shifting so he was holding her hand.

"You're not mad?"

"Fuming, but not at you," he said and noted her surprise. "Why would I be mad at you?"

"I ordered your two best friends to not tell you about there being new super soldiers out there created by newly formulated serum."

"You were doing your job, Deputy Director," he smiled at her. "Congrats, by the way."

"Took a lot of convincing, I still regret taking it a little," she said. "Where were you before you came here?"

"Chicago. Deep dish pizza still has nothing on a regular pie from Brooklyn," he said.

"For sure," she nodded. "You staying put for a while?"

"Yeah, I think so. Depends, really. Are you up here permanently?"

"No, I'm usually here Monday through Thursday, unless things are busy then I'm here until the fire is put out. I don't have a room set up here yet so I may have been crashing in your room while you were gone. I hope you don't mind. It's on the list to clear out Vision's old room, but with Wanda M.I.A. it didn't feel right."

"Of course I don't mind. You're always welcome," he said, smiling at her in a way that made her feel like jelly. "I can sleep in Sam or Bucky's room until you head out."

"No, I'm actually leaving tonight."

"Oh," he said sadly.

"Um, I know you just got back, but if you wanted to come back into the city with me," she said awkwardly. "I know you have a key to Bucky's place. Maybe we can get some pizza, cross off another movie from your list?"

"That'd be great. I-I have some things to settle here. Maybe I can drive down tomorrow and meet you?"

"Sounds like a plan," Sharon smiled as she stood up. "Oh, by the way, Nat is planning a Halloween party. Be prepared for her to rope you into planning it while you're here."

"Great," he grimaced.

"So then I tell him I need his eye, and the idiot gives it to me," Rocket said as the punchline to some story that had the group laughing. Steve wasn't fully paying attention to it. He, once again, had his eyes on Sharon. Her costume was a Brooklyn Dodgers jersey with jean shorts that he's both grateful and mad that they aren't longer, and blue knee high sock with white sneakers.

They had started to hang out again. With Bucky out in the field with Sam, Steve had taken over his friend's apartment. It made it easier for him to see Sharon when she wasn't working, and it freed up his room upstate for her to stay in when she was. He liked the idea of her still being comfortable enough to do that. Every Friday, he'd go to her place and they'd order pizza and watch whatever movie or TV show he was told was a must-see.

Last week they had watched one of the newer Superman movies and he felt ridiculous being jealous over a made-up superhero when he saw how into the movie Sharon was. He was trying to be nonchalant when he asked Natasha what he should be for Halloween and if he should get a Superman costume when his friend smirked at him and rolled her eyes before pulling up Amazon and ordering what he needed.

"Trust me," she had told him. "This will get Sharon's attention."

He made a mental note to buy Natasha something nice because he noticed Sharon kept staring at him as well, and every time he caught her she'd quickly turn her head and start to blush.

"How's hunting down the Flag Smashers going," Steve asked and immediately regretted it when he saw the look on Bucky and Sam's faces. "Never mind, answer was loud and clear."

"We've hit a few dead ends," Sam said.

"Every dead end you could hit, we hit," Bucky said grumpily. "We're going to talk to Zemo next week."

"Zemo? As in Zemo who reactivated the Winter Solider, who purposely tore the Avengers apart," Steve said, almost spitting out his drink.

"Trust me, I've been trying to avoid this," Sam said with a sigh. "Anyway, it'll be fine. Sharon's running the op and Bucky called King T'Challa."

"You have the King of Wakanda on speed dial now, look how far you've come," Steve smirked.

"He deserved a heads up if we have to go to our back-up plans," Bucky muttered. "Anyway, you've been spending a lot of time in Brooklyn. I'm considering making you pay this month's rent."

"You don't pay rent," Steve rolled his eyes.

"Are things going well with Sharon?" Sam asked. Bucky had gone over to the bar to get some more drinks, so Steve took the opportunity to talk with Sam. He knew him and Sharon were close, and he was hoping he'd be able to give some insight on their situation.

"I think so, I hope so," Steve said with a small smile. "We've been hanging out, as friends. It's been slow, which is great. I don't want to push her, I just want to be with her in anyway she'll have me."

"That's great," Sam said sincerely. "I'm happy for you both."

"I think she had gone on a few dates while I was away, which made me nervous. I'm told they all went horrible for various reasons, but I thought I was losing her again," he confided in Sam.

"Oh they did," Sam snickered. "You should ask her about the last one she had. Dude was a big Avengers fan."

"How would that end up bad for her?"

"Steve, she actually knows all of us. We annoy the shit out of her, she doesn't idolize any of us. Her date got pissed when she politely told him we suck," Sam laughed. "Listen, it's normal and definitely a good thing she tried to move on. There's a reason why a second date never happened."

"Because she hates the Avengers," Steve smirked.

"Because she only loves one," Sam said and Steve blushed. "Just continue to not push. I know that's not in your nature, but this will work out. Just gotta keep the faith."

"Thanks Cap," Steve said as he tapped his glass against Sam's.

"It is really a shame the Dodgers went out to L.A.," Steve said when he finally approached Sharon and sat next to her. She was sitting on the stools at the end of the bar. He had noticed she was alone and wanted to take his chance to speak with her before someone else did. "Baseball really went downhill after that."

"I don't know, the Yankees are pretty great," she said with a smile as she grabbed his suspenders. "I can't decide if you're suddenly a Superman fan or if Natasha told you I always had a crush on Clark Kent."

"Neither actually, but good to know," he said as he scooted the barstool a little closer to her. "All I did was ask for costume help. Halloween is a bit of a new experience for me."

"I guess running around in a Captain America uniform makes it Halloween every day for you," Sharon said with a laugh. "Well, you pull this look off very well. The glasses are pretty hot."

"Are you drunk?"

"A little tipsy," she said with a shrug. "How's that Asgardian beer treating you?"

"Pretty well, actually," he said, slightly tipsy himself. "So, I'm told you pissed off an avid Avengers fan on a date."

"Oh god," she moaned as she leaned her forehead on his shoulder. They were slowly inching closer to each other. Her hands were still on his suspenders, his were toying with the ends of her jersey, lighting brushing against her thighs. "He yelled at me that I clearly didn't know the Avengers at all after I told him you all reminded me of a bunch of children."

"Didn't want to bring him here on a second date? I'm sure he would have provided so much entertainment for Groot and Rocket."

"No, I'm glad I didn't," she laughed. "Kind of had my eye on someone else."

"Anyone here?"

"Yeah," she smiled as she pulled slightly on his suspenders. "You want to be my wingman so I can flirt with Thor?"

"Seriously," he said, his face dropping as he moved back from her. "Thor?"

"He is a god," she said, unable to keep a straight face for long. She grabbed his forearm to keep from put, his hand landing on her thigh. "I'm kidding, Steve."

"You're the worst," he said, taking the opportunity to start to tickle her as his revenge.

She tried pushing him away, but he just moved closer until his hands were on her hips and she was practically in his lap from all her squirming. She rested her hands on his shoulders and his hands stayed put.

"So, as you know I still don't have my own room in this place," she said, her hands reaching up to play with the ends of his hair.

"You should fire someone."

"I should, but in the meantime I've become quite comfortable in your room, and I was hoping that maybe I could stay the night."

"Of course, you don't have to ask to do that."

"Well, I feel like I kind of do since I also don't want to kick you out of your bed."

"Oh," was all he could say. He let his hands fall a little lower so they were resting on her behind as he pulled her a tiny bit closer.

"I'm pretty tired," she whispered as she moved her hands down to his chest.

"Me too," he said as he kissed her neck, and then her cheek before he stood up.

He grabbed her hand and they snuck out the back way to go upstairs to his room, hopefully not drawing a ton of attention to themselves. Steve held open the door for Sharon and made sure to lock it when he shut it. He stood awkwardly by the door for a minute until Sharon sat down on his bed and patted the spot next to her.

"So, I'm going to be honest with you because we're friends and we're trying this again," she said and then looked as him nervously. "We are trying this again, right? That's something you'd want?"

"More than anything," he quickly reassured her.

"Okay," she nodded. "As much as I'd like tonight to turn into more, I really do just want to sleep in a bed with you. I hope that's okay. I'm just not ready to jump into doing that again. I think we should take it slow, like slower than slow."

"I didn't expect us to do that tonight," he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pressing a kiss on her temple. "I figured I'd be asleep on the couch before you decided to leave the party and sleep in here. I'm okay with slow. Tonight ended so much better than I could have imagined because I got to spend it with you."

"Really?"

"Really," he said sincerely.

He stood up and grabbed a t-shirt and boxers for her to change into. She smiled as she took the clothes and headed into the bathroom to change. He quickly changed out of his costume and into a pair of sweatpants. They both climbed into bed and hesitated before he heard her mutter 'fuck it' and she cuddled into his side. He wrapped his arm around her and pressed his lips against the top of his head.

"I'm not angry anymore. Still a little hurt and confused, but not angry," she whispered.

"Will you be here in the morning when I wake up?"

"I'd have to wake up pretty early to sneak out before you get up."

"Will you stay?"

"I think so," she said, leaning up to kiss his cheek. "For tonight."

"I'll take it."