Stark stood and watched as Banner stared at the sceptre's gem, both men had already discussed the possibility of using it to complete Stark's 'Ultron' global defence program.

"Are we doing this?" Stark asked Banner with a raised brow.

"I don't know Tony…" Stark held a hand up.

"What could go wrong?" Banner opened his mouth to speak but stopped short.

Alice sat at her desk and typed away, lifting her foot onto her chair she wrapped her arm around her leg and finished the obituary she had been working on. Checking over her notes she sat back and stared at the wall in front of her, it was full of cards and letters from all the families she had written for. Pictures of flowers and italic font saying thank you merged into one great collage of memories. Saving her work she went to her kitchen and poured herself a glass of wine, looking around she really didn't want to cook dinner. Pulling her phone from her back pocket she went to ring Steve but hesitated, her thumb frozen above his name. Finally taking the plunge she tapped the screen and held the phone to her ear, when it went to voicemail she ended the call and threw the phone on the counter beside her. Opening the fridge she pulled the leftover Carbonara out, her phone ringing made her jump.

"Hi," she said smiling.

"Sorry I missed your call," Steve told her.

"That's alright, how are things?" propping herself up on the counter Alice looked at the discarded carbonara and scrunched up her nose in disgust. "Are you busy? Do you want to have dinner? You're busy?" Steve laughed at Alice's onslaught of questions.

"Things are fine Alice, I am busy and I do want to have dinner." He answered confidently as he imagined her messing with her hair and pushing her glasses up her nose as she always did. For someone so smart and confident she did fidget a lot he thought to himself.

"Oh no! If you're busy I don't want to…" she started and he could hear the embarrassment in her voice.

"Like I've told you before Alice, if I don't make the time I never will, plus you're a welcome distraction."

"I am? Well, I'll take that. Do you want to go out, or come to mine?" Alice gritted her teeth, she hadn't invited him to her home before. They'd had day dates and evening dates but nothing more, long kisses at the end and then reluctant walks away. She heard him stutter.

"I can, come to yours?" he answered and Alice beamed.

"Fantastic, come over around eight?" Steve smiled and looked to the floor before sticking his chest out and answering.

"See you then," he told her before hanging up. His mind started racing, his shoulders were heavy with what was happening with the team and the sceptre they'd found and all that that meant but he knew he wanted to see Alice and he had promised himself to make time for her.

Alice flittered around her home quickly, stuffing socks in the washing basket and stacking magazines on the coffee table. She was a pretty neat person most of the time but the idea of Steve coming over drove her into a slight frenzy. Lighting a candle and deciding which lamps to turn on and off Alice combed her hands through her fringe nervously. A boef burgineon she had made a few weeks ago and put in the freezer was currently in the oven and she'd quickly made potato dauphenois. It was times like this that she thanked her Mother for teaching her the basics of cooking. All through university and beyond she had always known enough to whip together a good dinner, her friends would all come over and she would cook as they sat and chatted. It was a skill she didn't underappreciate, especially after some of the nightmare dates she'd been on where the man had tried to cook or not even bother and had served take-out straight from the cardboard containers! That one had been specifically magnificent.

Plenty of smudged espresso coloured eyeliner, some lipstick and a spritz of perfume made her certainly feel better about herself. The floaty navy trousers and matching equally floaty blouse were smart but casual enough when having somebody over for dinner. Alice rolled her eyes and cringed at herself when she looked at herself in the mirror. Her internal monologue never let up and sometimes she would even find herself talking out loud, practicing what she was going to say, how she was going to greet him at the door in a super nonchalant way.

"Get a grip!" she told herself. With that her doorbell rang and Alice had to stop herself from running to her front door. As she opened the door she could smell soap, seeing his neat shirt and trousers, the way his hand held the bunch of flowers by his side. Alice grinned and breathed in once more, he really did smell like soap and fabric conditioner. Steve creased his brow, Alice hadn't said anything yet. She'd just opened the door and grinned at him.

"Hey?" he stated which seemed to snap her from her thoughts, blushing she invited him in. "These are for you," he told her as she took the bunch of flowers from him.

"They're beautiful Steve, thank you." They both fell into an easy rhythm, Steve followed Alice through her house to the kitchen where he leant against the counter whilst she flittered around. He liked the way she chatted to him whilst she opened a bottle of wine, the way she handed a glass to him whilst sipping on her own. He liked the way she kept pulling at her blouse to try and cool down.

"Can I do anything?" he asked as Alice opened the oven door and turning to look at him burst out laughing when her glasses steamed up from the heat of the oven.

"No I think I'm good!" she told him giggling. "Right, come and sit down. We have a little time before dinner's ready." Steve sat down on her sofa as Alice took the seat beside him. "Oh!" she said suddenly. "I forgot!" tucking her legs under her Alice leant towards him and pressed her lips against his. Closing his eyes he hummed and when he opened them again Alice was sat back and watching him. "So, tell me what you've been up to?" Steve opened his mouth but clamped it shut again, Alice tipped her head to one side. "All that saving the world must be tiring?" she said with a light laugh but when she saw his eyes darken she shifted her weight. "Can I tell you about my day?" she said quickly and when she saw relief on his face she quickly started telling him all the mundane things she'd done. She made a mental note to never joke about what he did again, what had he called her? A welcome diversion, well she was going to be just that because for her, he was a welcome diversion as well.

Alice played with a lock of Steve's hair as he traced circles around the freckle on her collarbone as they lay in bed.

"She sounds like she is an amazing woman," Alice commented.

"She was, is." Steve looked up at Alice who had listened intently as he had told her about Peggy.

"You will always love her Steve, you should always love her." Steve smiled.

"I think you two would have got along," he said quietly.

"Well we obviously have the same taste in men!" Alice grinned and Steve couldn't help but laugh.

Twelve Weeks Later

Steve smiled and took a swig of his beer, leaning against the bar he caught Banner's eye.

"It's nice," he said.

"What is?" Banner asked as he raised his brow at Steve.

"You and Romanoff," Steve clarified as he watched Banner turn red which was always better than green.

"No, we haven't... That wasn't..." Bruce started to try and explain but Steve interrupted him.

"It's okay, nobody's breaking any bylaws. It's just she's not the most open person in the world," he watched as Banner looked to the floor sheepishly. "But with you she seems very relaxed," Steve grinned.

"No. Natasha, she's just... She likes to flirt." Banner shrugged unconvincingly.

"I've seen her flirt, up close." Steve stepped towards Banner and leant towards him. "This ain't that. Look, as maybe the world's leading authority on waiting too long, don't. You both deserve a win," Banner creased his brow again but found himself nodding slowly.

"Hey, I heard you had a win yourself?" Banner asked and it was Steve's turn to blush.

"Yeah, yeah I do."

"That's great man, I'm happy for you!" Steve grinned and thanked Banner. "She's not here?" he asked as he looked around.

"No, we're keeping this separate?" Banner understood and waved a hand between them.

"Alice?"

"Yeah, Alice. She's… she's special." Banner saw something in Steve's eyes he'd never seen before. "Hey! What do you mean "up close"?"

"Wouldn't have been my first call. But, down in the real world, we're faced with ugly choices."

"Who sent you?"

"I see a suit of armour around the world."

"Ultron,"

"In the flesh. Or, no, not yet. Not this chrysalis. But I'm ready, I'm on mission."

"What mission?"

"Peace in our time."

The banging at Alice's door only registered when she heard splinters of wood and a large thudding sound. Jumping from her bed she ran to her hallway where she saw her front door hanging from its hinges and the lock on the floor. Steve was stood with his hand still held in the air as if he was about to knock once more.

"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to…"

"What the hell?! Steve? What's wrong?" Alice asked as she rushed to his side and he stepped over the door apologetically.

"I'll pay for that…" he mumbled as he looked at Alice. "I have to… I have to go and I don't know when…" Alice smiled and squeezed his hand, inside her stomach was turning.

"I'm fine, go!" she told him quickly. Steve shook his head and closed his eyes.

"I just needed to see you, I don't know when I'll be back?" Alice felt the colour drain from her face, taking a deep breath she kissed his cheek and ran her thumb along his jaw. "Keep your phone on, I'll contact you as soon as I can." She nodded silently.

"You need to go," she told him quietly.

"I err, I'm falling in love with you Alice." Steve cupped her cheeks and pulled her towards him, as their foreheads rested against one another he took a deep breath.

"Me too Steve, but that can wait. Go, do what you have to." Alice pushed him away knowing that if she didn't she would never want to let him go. Reluctantly Steve left, not before turning and giving her a smile. He now had more to fight for.

Steve couldn't get the visions out of his mind, Peggy. He had been with Peggy. He knew it wasn't true.

"The news is loving you guys," Steve tried to focus on what Hill was saying but he couldn't get the vision of Peggy out of his mind, the feel of her in his arms. "Nobody else is, there's been no official call for Banner's arrest but it's in the air." Hill continued as Steve's thoughts went to Alice.

"The Stark Relief Foundation?" Stark asked.

"Already on the scene, how's the team?"

"Everyone's... We took a hit. We'll shake it off." Stark answered slowly.

"Well, for now, I'd stay in stealth mode and stay away from here." Hill continued.

"So, run and hide?" Stark replied.

"Until we can find Ultron, I don't have a lot else to offer." Hill had never seen the look of defeat on Stark's face.

"Neither do we," ending the call to Hill Stark walked up to Barton. "Hey, you wanna switch out?"

"No, I'm good. If you wanna get some kip, now's a good time because we're still a few hours out." Barton answered.

"Few hours from where?" Stark asked as he watched Steve approach them.

"A safe house."

"Hey Barton? Can we do a pick up?" Steve asked.

"I don't see why not, who are we picking up?"

"How are you feeling?" Steve asked Alice as she clutched her coat and bag against her chest.

"Like I just flew to the bloody moon!" she answered as she desperately tried not to throw up. The knock on her new front door had pulled her from her work. She had not expected to see Steve at her door, not after what she'd witnessed on the news. She had not expected to be escorted to a jet where she was quickly introduced to the Avengers and strapped into a seat. She was now walking up to a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere, Steve by her side with a guiding hand at the base of her spine. He hadn't let her utter more than two words since she'd walked from her house.

"How come she gets to use bad language?!" Stark threw their way.

"Steve, you didn't need to…" she started.

"Shh, I wanted you to be safe." He whispered to her.

"I wasn't safe?" she asked as Steve looked down at her and pressed his lips together.

"I wanted you to be with me," he told her. "Is that alright?" Alice nodded as they took the steps up to the porch.

"What is this place?" Thor asked.

"Safe house?" Stark answered as Barton pulled Nat into the house.

"Let's hope," Barton said. "Honey? I'm home," Alice watched as a woman appeared from the kitchen. "Hi… Company, sorry, didn't call ahead."

"Hey," Stark turned to Thor as Barton kissed his Wife.

"This is an agent of some kind," Stark muttered confused.

"Gentlemen, this is Laura." Barton said as he looked at the team.

"I know all of your names," Laura said as she waved and her eyes fell on Alice.

"Nice to meet you," Alice said quickly. Footsteps from the hallway made everyone look away and as two children ran towards Barton Alice could see the look of confusion on everybody's faces.

"Incoming!" Barton said as he grabbed his kids.

"Dad!" the little girl shouted.

"Hi, sweetheart! Hey, buddy. How are you guys doing?"

"These are smaller agents," Stark muttered once more which made Alice laugh softly.

"Sorry," she apologised to no one in particular.

"Look at your face! Oh, my goodness!" Alice was distracted and turning she watched Steve follow Thor from the room, she didn't go herself knowing that Steve most probably had enough on his mind.

"So, Alice?" Stark rubbed his hand over his jaw as he spoke still clearly wrapping his head around what he'd just discovered. "You and the Cap huh?" Alice smiled politely. "Given the fact I've just found out that Barton has a whole life none of us knew about you wouldn't be an agent or fell in ice and now are some kind of super-soldier yourself would you?" he asked her seriously.

"No, Mister Stark." She answered as she pused her glasses up her nose nervously. "I write obituaries for the Tribune." Stark's face fell.

"Well that was the last thing I expected you to say," Alice laughed.

"It usually is Mister Stark, excuse me." Alice put her coat and bag down and walked from the room. Steve looked back into the house from the porch. 'We can go home,' he heard her say.

"Steve? Is everything alright?" Alice asked as she walked towards him, he looked like he'd seen a ghost. "Hey," taking his hand she watched as his eyes flickered to her but he wasn't looking at her, he was somewhere else. "Steve, what's wrong?" she asked. Steve suddenly realised he had a woman stood in front of him who he loved, not some vision. Not some nightmare. Alice loved him and she was stood right there. "Do you want me to leave?" she asked him.

"No," he told her sincerely. "I'm glad you're here."

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