It wasn't a date, we were just two new friends' going out to dinner. There was no need in me changing dresses three different times, or my palms sweating like they were. However, it wasn't every day the womanizer Howard Stark went out to dinner with you. I bite my lip nervously as I gazed at how the red dress looked on me. I however didn't have time to change again before there was a knock on my front door. I sighed softly, this was as good as it was going to get. I walked to the door to revile a very dressed up Howard Stark.

"Good evening Ms. Collins, you look beautiful as ever." He smirked.

I felt the blush rise to my cheeks as I meet his dark gaze looking down at me.

"You don't look so bad yourself Mr. Stark. Now are you going to tell me where we're going tonight?" I asked.

He gave me a look before handing me his hand to take. I knew right then and there he wasn't giving up his secret's. I sighed softly as I followed him to the car.

"Where's Jarvis?" I asked curiously.

It was a rare occasion to see Howard going or doing anything without his butler Jarvis by his side, so the fact he came to get me alone, was rather odd indeed.

"It's his and Anna's anniversary so he's out of town for the weekend. So, you get me all to yourself, doll." He winked.

I felt a not in the pit of my stomach, I didn't know if that was a good thing or not. Part of me should've ran right then and there, it would've said myself and my future son a lot of heartache, but I didn't. The womanizer did the womanizing and I couldn't help but go along with it.

"Howard, you said this was a friendly dinner?" I sighed.

He got into his side of the car a ridiculous grin on his face as he started the engine.

"Just a friendly dinner with a beautiful woman, you are expecting too much of me Maria." He smiled.

I knew right then and there it was going to be a very long night.

We drove for a long time, to the point I was pretty sure he was leaving New York, and I was getting concerned to say the least. Where exactly was this man taking me?

"And were here."

We were literally in the middle of nowhere. The only thing around us was about one hundred pine trees. I must have looked like I felt, because he busted out laughing, causing me to hit his arm playfully.

"I'm not going out with you in the middle of the woods! You have lost your mind, Mr. Stark."

"Your face, I honestly was trying to kill some time till the restaurant I booked cleared out, so I figured I would take you out here."

I honestly had no idea what to say to this, I mean what did this forest have in it that he wanted me to see? Or was this all another joke till he could get me to the restaurant.

"You been to this forest before or you just picked a random area to take me too?" I asked softly.

He shrugged his shoulders before starting the car back up, I knew there was probably a lot more to tell or maybe not, but he headed back to town for our dinner reservations.

"Honestly surprised you didn't make me take you home after that." He said.

I looked over at him and then back straight ahead towards the road. I wasn't exactly happy with him, but the man could've died I owe it to him to at least give him a chance, or so I thought.

"I was serious when I said I wanted a friendship with you. Besides Peggy gave me enough warnings, I think I knew what I'm getting into." I stated.

He smiled softly over at me and for a while the only noise was the sound of the radio as we headed back to New York to go to dinner.

Of course only the best for Howard Stark, the place was rather fancy looking from the outside, it over looked majority of downtown and you could see basically all of Manhattan from the upper floor surely.

"This is incredible, you rented this huge of a place out? I would've been perfectly fine with take out." I stated.

This was way over price range, I just graduated college, I just got a job, a white table cloth restaurant wasn't exactly in the cards for me at the moment.

"I rented the upper floor out for us, everywhere else is open for business".

This man was unbelievable to say to the least, but I couldn't hide the grin on my face as he walked in the restaurant together. Apparently, all the staff knew Howard, because they began running around like crazy when they sawn us walk in. We were quickly shown to our upper reserved seating area, and just like I said from the window you could see all of Manhattan.

"The view is breath taking. So, what do you recommend here Mr. Stark?" I asked as the host brought us a menu.

"Wine is fantastic, we're getting a bottle, and I normally do Italian, however I think you might be too harsh of a cretic."

To be fair he was right, I normally didn't eat Italian ever expect for when I was home or back in Italy home. So, I wasn't going to order Italian because the Americanized version just wasn't the same, however I wasn't giving Howard Stark a reason to gloat so I just nodded.

"And what would you say if I didn't like wine?"

He gazed up at me from the menu in his hands before smirking slightly as he rested the menu back down on the table.

"I would say that's your loss doll, and I'm still getting a bottle."

The waiter came and took our order and like promised Howard ordered a bottle of wine for us, and I ended up going with the chicken Cesar salad while he went Spaghetti and meatballs, not the choice I figured he would go with, but hey we didn't know each other that well.

"So, astronomy is an odd minor, why do you like the stars?"

He honestly caught me off guard bringing up what I studied in school, I figured of man of science like himself would respect me going into another field of science, but guess I was wrong.

"It isn't just stars, it's space itself. Don't you want to know what is all out there? Beyond earth that is? It's fascinating, nor exactly fascinating to make a career out of these days, but fascinating." I shrugged.

He looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language, he obviously had no idea what I was talking about or cared to anyhow.

"No, it's not practical to wonder about what's out there. I don't believe in aliens, Maria."

Why were we having this discussion over dinner? I sighed softly shrugging my shoulders at his comment.

"This wasn't about aliens, Mr. Stark."

Before he could say anything, God must've known I wanted a way out because the waiter came with the wine that Howard was raving about.

"I don't care if you don't like wine or not, you're trying some." He said popping the bottle and filling my glass.

I of course was joking about not liking wine, but I figured I would let it go for the time being.

"To future friendships." I said raising my glass.

He held his up likewise as we gently clicked them together.

It was late, super late when we left the restaurant. Due to all the wine, and the laughing, I was pretty sure the staff would've let us leave even if we had wanted too. Nevertheless, the place was pretty much already closed by the time we left. We were now arm and arm as Howard walked us back to the car. He held open the door and I got in with a huge smile on my face.

"I hope you tipped them well for having to put up with us."

"Don't worry I took care of them." He smiled.

When we got back to my house, he insisted of course on walking me to the door, even though it wasn't necessary.

"I had a nice time tonight, Howard. Thank you." I replied.

"I did too. Maria, may I ask you a question?" He asked.

I looked at him curiously before nodding.

"Yes."

"May I kiss you goodnight without you hitting me?"

Before he could say anything else my lips gently brushed agaisn't his, and the knot that was in my stomach now felt like butterflies as I slowly pulled away.

"I take that as a yes." He whispered.

I laughed softly as I pulled away from him.

"Goodnight." I whispered.

"Goodnight, Maria." He replied.

I stood there like an idiot watching him walk into his car, and I continued standing there till he drove away. After he did so I went rushing inside to grab the phone. I didn't care what time it was I needed to talk to Peggy.

I honestly was surprised when she answered, I didn't think she would even bother this time of night.

"Peggy, it's Maria, I got a problem! I think I'm falling for Howard Stark."