Tony clapped Steve on the shoulder as he and Sam came into the gym, making Steve halt his boxing against the punching bag in the corner.
"Hey man, you know there are other ways to get rid of all that energy, you know." Tony joked. Steve started to remove the boxer tape from his knuckles and he turned to face his friends.
"What?" Steve ask, confused.
"Nothing, man. Tony's just being an ass." Sam said, giving Tony a pointed look. Tony shrugged.
"What are you guys up to?" Steve ask, sitting down on the bench. Sam and Tony sat down on either side of him.
"Just coming to talk to you. You know. About Jennifer." Sam said. Steve looked from one friend to the other.
"Are you two here to give me 'the birds and the bees'?" Steve ask, annoyed.
"Nooooo..." Tony said, looking over at Sam, eyes wide. "Okay, yeah. We are."
"I appreciate that. But Tony is a womanizer, and Sam, man, you're gay. Are you two sure you're the ones for the job?" Steve laughed, and Sam burst out laughing as well.
"Tony has the experience, and I'm black." Sam explained. Steve looked more lost than before.
"I'm confused." He confessed.
"She has things she will need if she stays in your apartment, ya know, when you two do get to that point. I think it would be nice for you to be prepared, so I'm just here to help you with that. I may be gay, but my mom and sister programmed me with all the needs a black lady may have, because I did date women a bit when I was younger before I realized and came out." Sam explained. "And Tony, well... He's here to make sure you at least know how to act like you're not a total hundred year old virgin."
"Gee, if only everyone had friends like you." Steve groaned.
"We're here because we care." Tony said, his voice soft and genuine. "I mean, this is a weird spot for you to be in. You need someone who you can talk to. Sam and I just want to help. Promise."
"Listen, guys. I love you both. But I- I'm not sure how, or when, ya know... That we will be to... That point." Steve confessed, his face burning deep red.
"Well, I got you these." Sam said, hanging him a shopping bag he had brought in. Steve opened it and began to look through the items inside. There were silk pillowcases, cocoa butter lotion, eyelash extension glue remover, silk hair wraps... Steve looked at his friend and smiled. "I know you don't know what or why all of that is, but she will, and she will absolutely swoon when she finds out you have it for her." Sam assured him.
"And I got you... These." Tony said, taking a small paper bag out from behind his back.
"Do I even need to open this to know what it is?" Steve asks, looking Tony over. Tony grinned.
"As easily embarrassed as you are, Cap, no. Its condoms." Tony confirmed. "And compatible lubricant."
Steve took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to fight back the horrible burning in his cheeks.
"This is actually really, really thoughtful. Thank you both." Steve admitted, thanking his friends. He put Tony's smaller bag down in the shopping bag Sam had brought, then wrapped his arms around his friends, pulling them both in to a hug. "I am really, really lost about... sex... And I know she, you know, isn't... Not that I'm saying anything bad by that..." Steve stammered, then put a hand over his eyes. "Heaven help me."
"You're a virgin and she's not, and you're nervous about it." Sam guessed. "Understandable."
"You worried you'll let her down?" Tony ask. Steve nodded.
"Been there." Tony and Sam both said, then high-fived over Steve's head and laughed.
"You have to communicate about these things. That is something I learned recently, being with Pepper. You can get so much more of a connection and have much healthier relationships when you have open dialogue." Tony explained.
"Talk about it as it happens. What feels good, what you want to try, ask questions. Make sure she's enjoying herself and let her know how you need to be touched, too. Its just a great way to get that deeper connection to someone you already care about." Sam added. "Have you and Jennifer talked about any of this?"
"Ah..." Steve cleared his throat. "We, um... We were you know... Necking and petting..."
"What?" Tony ask. Sam laughed.
"Making out and groping around." He explained.
"Ah." Tony said. "Sorry, continue."
"Right." Steve said, shaking his head. "And it was getting, you know, heated. She was in my lap, and started to unbutton my shirt... and I got nervous. Jennifer was so sweet, she told me that she would wait however long and for me to relax." She kissed my nose and we watched a movie."
"Awwe. Man that is so sweet. I just love her." Sam said, nudging Steve. "You're a lucky guy, man."
"I agree. I just... I think there is something standing in the way before we can get to that." Steve confessed.
"Oh?" Tony ask.
"Its complicated." Steve says. "But thank you both. So much."
Jennifer sat out on the stone pad, cross legged and silent. The late evening breeze blew gently across her face and she took a deep breath, the smell of pine pollen reminding her of her east Tennessee home. As the sun set, she sat a candle at each of the four corners of the carver stone circle that Thor had left for his coming and going at the compound. She carefully lit each candle and took a deep breath.
"Hi Thor." She began, a bit apprehensive at her latest idea to help Natasha. "Its Jennifer. Dr. Ford? The old books from the Norse mythos say that you can potentially be contacted this way, at sunset. So here I am, hoping I can get in contact with you. It isn't horribly urgent, but I do need your help if you have the time. I know you're a prince and you have a lot going on, but if you find time to stop by the compound, it would me a lot to me, and to Natasha."
She sat for a bit, enjoying the silence and the cooling of the night, remaining until the candles all went out. She stood and gathered her candles, turning to go back into the compound for the night when a crack of lightening in the distance light up the sky startled her. She stood, wondering if it was heat lightening on the summer air, but then thunder sounded and she smiled. It was a clear night, no reason for thunder, no clouds in the sky. Suddenly an immense light flashed, and Jennifer shielded her eyes as Thor landed on the stone pad where she'd just been.
"Greetings, Dr. Ford!" Thor said, arms extended and smiling. "I am glad to see the old traditions brought back. It is so nice! Been a long time since a Midguardian reached out to any of us like this."
"I'm so thankful it worked!" Jennifer replied.
"How can I help?" Thor ask. "I haven't much time at the moment, but I will be free soon and will be happy to help you in any possible way."
"Bruce is missing, as you are aware. But since you've left, we have learned that Natasha is with child- Bruce's, to be exact. She is greatly distraught, and we all miss Dr. Banner on the team. Could you, or possibly someone on Asgard help us look for him?" She pleaded.
"Ah. I was hoping Banner would've made his way home by now. Yes, Dr. Ford. I will be most happy to find some help looking for him. Heimdall can see everything in the nine realms. If he is to be found, we will find him." Thor promised.
"Thank you." Jennifer smiled. "Thank you so much. Do you want to come in and grab a bite or?"
"Alas, I haven't the time just now. But worry not, and tell the others I will visit soon." He assured her. He began to swing his hammer, getting up momentum to fly off.
"Thank you!" She called as lightening flashed and thunder crashed, marking his departure. Sam and Steve came running outside as Jennifer turned to head inside. Both men looked startled by the loud rumbling and flash of light.
"What was all the commotion?" Steve ask, running over and taking Jennifer's hand. "Are you okay?"
"Thor." She explained, nodding. Sam and Steve looked at each other, then back to the doctor.
"Thor?" Sam questioned, eyebrow raised.
"Mhmm." Jennifer nodded. "I called to him, using an old Norse technique. Ask him to help us find Bruce."
"That- that is actually a great idea." Steve said, smiling. "I love it. You're brilliant."
"What did he say, Doc?" Sam ask.
"The keeper of the Bifrost may be able to locate him." She explained. "Natasha needs him. She's coming back from Clint's tomorrow and I know being here without him is hard. I just thought it was worth a try."
"One of the best leads we've had." Sam agreed. "We need to get him home to Nat and their twins."
"Good job, Doc." Steve said, pressing a kiss to her temple.
"Thanks." She grinned. Steve looked over to Sam, and gestured with his eyes back toward the compound. Sam immediately picked up on the queue, and yawned.
"I'm gonna head on back in. Goodnight, y'all." He called. Jennifer and Steve returned the pleasantry and Steve tugged her closer.
"Are you busy tomorrow morning?" He ask. Jennifer shook her head.
"No. I'll need to be here around four or so in the early evening to meet Nat and give her a check up, but I don't have any other plans." She explained.
"Would you come into the city with me?" Steve ask. Jennifer nodded.
"Yeah, of course." She agreed.
Steve had her up and in the car early for the hour long trip into the city. They stopped and ate breakfast under the flash of paparazzi cameras, then continued on their way, discussing books and movies and tv shows, just enjoying each other's company. Before she knew it, he was pulling her car into the gates of an upscale nursing home. She sat up in her seat, stomach suddenly in knots.
"Steve?" She ask, her face paling. He looked over at her and stroked her face with the back of his hand.
"You okay?" He ask gently.
"Is this Peggy's care center?" She whispered out, her mouth dry and nerves suddenly feeling very tight in her neck.
"Yeah. Yeah it is." He nodded. "We don't have to do this. But... If you're willing, I'd love for you two to meet. Aside from my mother, you two are the most important women in my life. And she ask me if she could meet you, if I thought you'd want to meet her. I should've told you this is where we were going." Steve apologized.
"Peggy Carter wants to... to meet me?" She ask, and swallowed thickly, trying to steal her nerves.
"Of course. Peggy and I still visit, but she married. Had children, a life. We care about each other, but she insisted I should try the same, and without her I may never have gotten the courage to make a move with you. I'd been telling her about you for a while." He smiled. "Are you willing to meet her?"
"Yeah, yeah." She nodded. "I mean, I'm nervous. But yes, it will be an honor."
Steve beamed as he hopped out of the car and ran around to her side to open the door. "You don't know how excited I am for you two to meet." He confessed.
He took her hand and lead her inside and up to the second floor and down a long hallway, past several people who all knew Steve by name and greeted them, and they occasionally paused to allow Steve to introduce Jennifer to some of the residence as they made their way down the hall. They also caught the eyes of several members of staff, who whispered as they made their way down the hall.
Finally, Steve paused outside a room.
"You ready?" He whispered. Jennifer nodded and he gave her a quick kiss on the forehead before knocking on the door.
"Yes?" a woman's voice with a polished British accent replied. "Come in?"
"Hey Peggy, it's me." Steve said, cracking the door. Peggy smiled as Steve stepped in and Jennifer behind him, still holding his hand. "Peggy, I'd like to introduce you to Dr. Jennifer Ford."
Peggy sat by the window in a large, soft looking armchair, an open book in her lap. She was dressed like she was headed to church, and had her hair fixed perfectly in a bun.
"It is an absolute honor to meet you, Ms. Carter." Jennifer said, taking the hand Peggy held out.
"A pleasure to meet you as well, darling." Peggy smiled. "Forgive me if I don't stand. My degenerative joint disease gets me some times, it gets awfully hard to move."
"Oh, let me help." Jennifer said, her nerves leaving her as she entered what the Avengers called 'care mode', and she took both of Peggy's hands in hers. Jennifer's hands began to glow, and the gentle golden light crept out of her hands and up Peggy's arms and shoulders, into her back, like luminescent ivy vines. Peggy gasp and flexed her hands and shoulders. Jennifer drooped a bit, her eyes showing she looked a bit tired, but she smiled at the older woman.
"Oh, wow." She said, smiling brightly. "How'd you do that?"
"Born with it." Jennifer shrugged. "It won't last forever on chronic things, I'm afraid. But it will give you a few weeks relief."
"This is the best I've felt in a long time." Peggy said, standing from her chair and pulling Jennifer into a tight hug. "Thank you."
"Oh, of course!" Jennifer smiled. She felt weak in the embrace, the healing she'd just done had taken a lot of her energy. When Peggy let her go, she stumbled a bit and Steve caught her and eased her down into the chair opposite Peggy's.
"You okay?" He ask, kneeling next to her. Jennifer nodded.
"Fine, just got a little light headed." She answered, taking a deep breath. Steve looked concerned but nodded and rose to take a seat of his own.
"That takes part of you to do, doesn't it?" Peggy ask, sounding a bit saddened. Jennifer smiled, but nodded.
"Yes, but only temporarily. I can recharge with rest and be fine." She confessed. "I used to try to save animals too close to death when I was a kid. My dad is a mechanic and his shop was by the major roadway in our town. Sometimes animals would get hit and I would try to fix it. I would make myself sick trying. Sleep for days. I learned my limits that way."
"That's amazing." Peggy said. "You are every bit as special as Steve said."
"Oh yeah?" She ask, looking over to Steve, who gave a coy little smile and wink.
"Absolutely. I'm so glad he has you. When he first got thawed and he found me here, I was worried about him, you know? He was so scared and alone. I felt so bad, because I'd missed him for a long time, but I'd had a full and happy life. But he work up looking for me. It was horrible." Peggy looked over at Steve sadly, then she looked back to Jennifer and smiled. "Then one day, he comes in and he tells me, 'Peg.' He says, 'Tony found this girl. She's the most beautiful, kind thing', and he just talks and talks about you. Watching you help civilians, heal people. He was so enamored. So I ask him, When he plans to tell you about his feelings. The boy looks at me like I've grown a second head." She chuckled and gestured between them. "Look at you now."
"Your friendship means more to me than you will ever know, Peggy." Steve says quietly.
"And yours to me." Peggy replied. "Seeing you happy with such a beautiful and kind girl does my old heart happy."
A knock sounded on the door, and a nurse poked her head inside.
"Sorry to interrupt, Ms. Carter. Dr. Denski is ready for your appointment." The young nurse said. Peggy waved a hand and smiled.
"Of course, dear." She nodded. The nurse entered the room and started to help Peggy stand, but she stood on her own, and the nurse's eyes grew wide. "I'm right behind you." She said, waving the girl off. She stopped and kissed Jennifer on the cheek, then Steve. "Come and see me soon, you two." She said following the nurse from the room. Steve stood and helped Jennifer to her feet.
"What did you do?" He ask, his voice ringing with concern.
"I just healed her arthritis the best I could. Well- not healed it. Backed it off. Took some of the inflammation down." She explained.
"You hurt yourself doing it." He accused. Jennifer laughed.
"No, it just took a lot of energy. Calm down." She said, leaning on him as they headed down the hall. "Come on, take me home now and I'll have time to nap before Nat gets home."
"Okay, doll." Steve laughed. "Let's head back."
Jennifer was asleep before they'd even gotten into traffic, and Steve looked over at her and grinned. "You don't know it yet, Jennifer Ford. But I am going to make you so happy. Thank you for being in my life." He whispered, shifting gears. Jennifer didn't stir, but Steve promised himself that as soon as she felt better, he was going to tell her exactly how he really felt.
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