Stark's jet landed in D.C. at 10:08, but luckily Fury wasn't there to berate them for the late start. Steve trotted off the jet first, finding a black limo waiting for them on the tarmac and the little brunette he'd seen with Kayla Ellis the day prior.

"Hi, I'm Tiffany Jones, I'm Miss Ellis's assistant." She greeted formally as the rest of the team and Pepper left the jet. "President Ellis had hoped to send his own aid to pick you all up, but Travis was caught up in some arrangements for the press conference this afternoon, so I will be accompanying you all to your hotel to make sure you get settled before we head to the White House." Tiffany opened up her black bag and pulled out a manila folder, pulling out several documents before addressing the Avengers again, "I have your schedules for today and tomorrow morning, as well as some waivers and disclosures that will need to be filled out before we reach the White House. Legalities and all that fun stuff, since you'll be going on the record alongside the President of the United States."

Tiffany handed out a packet to each of the five Avengers, with Pepper grabbing Tony's when he just stared blankly at Tiffany. Steve had to hide his smirk because the small woman wasn't fazed by Tony's standoffish attitude, in fact, she met it with a sort of indigence that Steve appreciated. Much like her boss, Tiffany Jones was a strong willed woman who wouldn't be told what to do.

Bruce paled a little as he flipped through the pages, and Tiffany seemed to notice his unease, "As I said, it is my job to make sure you all get settled and comfortable before we go to meet President Ellis and his family. You have me all day, my boss is busy with her parents, so anything you need, I'm here. I can help fill out the forms and make any adjustments if there are any issues." She looked from Doctor Banner to Nat and Clint who stared at her with focused, judgmental eyes. Tiffany chuckled a little, and in Natasha's sights the assistant showed nervousness for the first time, "I understand, you probably aren't as used to the attention as Mr. Stark."

As she gestured to Tony, he smiled and gestured to the car for them to go. Tony climbed in first, followed by the other Avengers as Tiffany rattled off details with Pepper Potts, seeing the strawberry blonde was her best bet for getting the details ironed out. Pepper slid in and Tiffany closed the door behind her, instead hopping in the passenger seat with the driver to give the team some space.

"This is a terrible idea." Bruce finally exhaled, looking to Tony expectantly, "I don't want to talk to the press."

"The munchkin said she'd help work out the details. You won't have to talk to anyone if you don't want, just stand there and smile." Bruce grinned painfully and Tony laughed, "Yes, just like that. Perfect."

"Miss Jones says that realistically only one or two of you will need to speak. She and I will work out what to do while you all get freshened up." Pepper handed out room keys to everyone except Tony, keeping his in her own purse, "We are expected at the White House by noon, we'll do a quick meet and greet with the President, then he's hosting lunch. Press conference on the lawn after that and then somebody is doing a special hour long interview with the President this evening before dinner."

"Well, it's either me or Capcicle." Tony shrugged, looking across the limo at Steve, "And since you got your start as a stage performer, I think you're best to handle it."

Steve ground his teeth together, not wanting to do a special hour long interview with the President. He wasn't even sure what he was allowed to say about his own life, let alone the rest of the team. Steve wracked his brain for an excuse, and smiled coyly when he remembered one, "But I thought I was supposed to have a date tonight? You know, for political gain?"

Steve grinned confidently at Tony and the billionaire narrowed his eyes, but he couldn't hide his smirk. "Well played, Rogers. I'd hate for you to disappoint your date."

Steve leaned back, stretching his arm up and over the seat backs behind Natasha as he looked behind himself out the window as the streets of D.C. flew by. He didn't necessarily want to go out with Kayla Ellis, but she'd offered and Tony thought it was a good idea. Plus, he'd much rather converse with one beautiful woman than pour his heart out on international television. Tony Stark was used to that.

The limo driver pulled up outside of The Jefferson hotel, and the paparazzi were already there, having been tipped off by the hotel about the White House reserving five rooms. Tony climbed out first, throwing up two peace signs toward the photographers as Pepper smiled beside him. Steve crawled out of the limo next, careful not to smack his head, and when he stood up tall the crowd erupted excitedly, as if realizing the whole team of Avengers were about to arrive.

"Mr. Stark! Mr. Stark, how does it feel knowing you saved Manhattan from decimation?"

"What are we supposed to do now that we know there is life beyond Earth, Mr. Stark?"

"Where is the really tall guy with the hammer?"

"Who is the redhead? Are you single? Have you ever considered modeling?"

"Captain America! How do you feel about meeting the President's daughter given her experience with the super soldier serum that created Captain America?"

Steve perked up at that question and turned to see a tall woman with ebony black hair holding out a recorder to him. "What?"

"No comments will be made at this time, you are welcome to get a quote at the press conference at two-o'clock at the White House." Tiffany called to the press as she ushered the Avengers into the hotel lobby.

The dark haired reporter smiled wickedly and asked Steve quietly, "You don't know, do you?"

"Jenny! So great to see you! How far along are you?" Tiffany cooed as she approached the woman harassing Steve. The reporter gawked at Tiffany, her face turning beet red, so Tiffany added, "Oh. Oh my gosh, you aren't expecting. This is so awkward. I'm so sorry."

As Tiffany began to walk away, the reporter hissed, "Love what you're doing with your public relations degree, Jones. It's a shame you couldn't get a real job and have to ride on KD's coattails forever. How is she, anyway? I'm sure she has a hand in all of this." Jenny said as she swirled her finger in a circle, shooting one last glance at Steve Rogers as he held the door open for Tiffany. "Better get running along. She won't want her science experiments to be late."

Tiffany scowled at the reporter and pointed to Jenny's photographer, "You publish any of this, you'll never work in D.C. again. You both know I have that power."

The hotel security kept the reporters outside the premise, allowing Tiffany to exhale loudly once she was passed the doors. She followed the Avengers around the corner, where she was instantly pinned against the wall by the Black Widow.

"What the hell did she mean by that?" Natasha growled as she held her forearm against Tiffany's collarbone. "What experience does Kayla Ellis have with the super soldier serum?"

"She wrote her senior thesis on Doctor Erskine's work. She's been studying Doctor Banner since before he created the Hulk. She's a scientist, it's like the biggest scientific breakthrough that was lost to history." Tiffany gasped and Natasha released her. The small woman smoothed down her pencil skirt and readjusted her blazer, looking over her shoulder to make sure no one had seen the skirmish, "She's harmless, I promise. She's passionate about it, but she would never do anything to hurt any of you, especially Captain Rogers and Doctor Banner."

"This changes things." Tony said, side-eyeing Steve, but the blonde just tightened his jaw, looking down at Tiffany over his sharp nose. Tony smacked Steve against the chest to get his attention, "Cap?"

"This doesn't change anything." Steve looked from Tony, then gestured to Kayla's assistant, "She says Miss Ellis is harmless, we should take her word for it. From what I've gathered, nobody has even gotten close to cracking Erskine's formula. And if she has, we're safer having her on our side." Steve looked to Bruce, who didn't appear to share his ideals, "I'm sure she'll want to talk with both of us. Would you be comfortable with that?"

"I don't know..." Bruce stammered, but Steve continued speaking.

"I don't know the first thing about what runs through my veins, Bruce, I only know why Erskine wanted me to take the serum. You would understand what she's discovered so far, who knows, it could be helpful with... the Other Guy." Steve explained evenly.

Bruce considered this for a moment, then turned to Tiffany, "I want you to help me with the waivers, I'm not talking to the press, but I'll talk to her."

"That can be arranged. I'll set up everything." Tiffany looked down at her phone, then back to the Avengers, "Go to your rooms, get settled, we'll have to leave in about forty-five minutes for lunch. I'll stop by and make sure everyone is happy with the plan and then I'll have the car pick us up around back."

Pepper stretched out her hand to shake Tiffany's as she smiled, "Thank you for all your help. We appreciate everything you're doing for us."

"The pleasure is all mine, Miss Potts. I imagine this will be an... interesting afternoon." Tiffany shrugged and gestured toward the elevator, giving the heroes a head start to their rooms before she ripped the hotel manager a new one for tipping off the press.

By eleven-thirty, Steve was dressed in a button-down dress shirt as he combed his shaggy blonde hair back to the side. It kept falling toward his face and he huffed, feeling frustrated by how nervous he was. He'd been thrown into a thousand situations he felt uncomfortable in, but after what that reporter said, Steve was starting to think this was more personal.

He looked up from the mirror as he heard a light knock against his hotel room door. He opened it to find Tiffany standing outside, and when he opened the door she squished her face uncomfortably, "Is your air broken? I can call and have that fixed for you?"

"Oh. No, no Barton helped me turn up the temperature. It was a little cold in here for me." Steve explained, remembering that most people liked their rooms ice boxes, "I have all the paperwork filled out already. I really didn't have any questions."

"Not even about what was said earlier?" Tiffany asked quietly, holding onto the doorframe. Steve looked at her and considered it for a moment, then shook his head.

"No. I think I know what I need to." He said slowly, turning around to grab his wallet from the dresser.

Tiffany hadn't paid much attention to their bags as they were brought up by the driver, but she now noticed a brown leather bag in the shape of a circle resting next to Steve's bed. She hummed thoughtlessly, then looked up to the soldier as he tried to comb back his hair one more time. "I'll, uh, I'll put the Do Not Disturb sign up, so nobody comes in to clean your room. They might turn down the thermostat."

Steve nodded, catching the lilt of her voice that said she didn't want anyone coming in and taking anything of his. He followed her out the door and found Tony and Pepper waiting outside by the elevator.

Pepper wore a professional black dress and her hair pulled back into a simple ponytail, but Tony wore a black suit that almost had a sheen to it with a hot-rod-red tie and sunglasses. When he saw Steve, he gently tapped Pepper's arm, "See, I made a good call with the red, we're trying to emulate our hero personas."

"Some of you are, but some of us just want to get through this in one piece." Natasha called as she approached, wearing a red dress that stopped at her knee with black kitten heels. Her hair was pulled back tightly and she wore very natural makeup, giving her a sweet appearance that didn't fit with her Black Widow alter ego. Clint wore a black button down shirt with black pants and a white tie, looking like he was going to be a waiter somewhere, while Bruce arrived in a green checked shirt and khakis, looking around nervously.

"I feel under dressed."

"You're fine, Doctor Banner. Really, whatever you are most comfortable in." Tiffany assured him, mild panic hiding behind her practiced smile. "Shall we?"

"Lead the way Ma'am." Steve said and Tiffany looked up at him incredulously, so he amended his wording, "Miss?"

"That's better." She teased, her smile genuine as she held open the elevator for the Avengers. "Now, when we get to the White House, you'll need to go through security, then we'll be taken to meet with President Ellis. After about fifteen to twenty minutes of pleasantries you'll be served lunch with him, and his wife and daughter. At two-o'clock you'll be expected out on the main lawn for the press conference, in which President Ellis will do most of the talking, but then at six this evening, Mr. Stark will meet with President Ellis again for a special interview regarding the attack yesterday." Tiffany rambled off from her phone. She looked around at the Avengers, making sure they were prepared, "Any questions?"

"So after the press conference, we're free to go?" Banner asked nervously and Tiffany nodded.

"Yes. The press conference should be done by three, three-thirty at the latest depending on how many questions are allowed. At that point only Mr. Stark will need to remain. If you'd like to do anything specific, let me know, I'll arrange it. Tours of the White House, tours around D.C., whatever you'd like, I can make it happen." Tiffany smiled grandly as the elevator doors opened and they filed out into the lobby once more. She led them to the back entrance of the hotel, then ushered them into the limo.

Steve was the last to enter, wondering if he should ask Kayla's assistant about her offer from the day prior, "Miss Jones-"

"Please, call me Tiffany. Miss Jones was my mother." She said easily, but it wasn't a joke.

"Tiffany." Steve said, his throat suddenly dry, "Miss Ellis had mentioned dinner yesterday at the tower..."

"Oh." Tiffany replied, her eyes wide as she registered what the soldier was asking. "Yes, I mean, she meant what she said, it's just that was before- and things being what they are-"

"It's quite alright, I just wanted to make sure she wasn't expecting me." Steve realized how sad his voice sounded, even though he'd tried to play it off as if he was happy to be off the hook. "How is Miss Ellis?"

Tiffany tilted her head back and forth, grimacing a little, "Uhh, she's alright. We, uh, we didn't realize that the nuke Mr. Stark carried into the wormhole was meant to destroy New York. She's a bit shaken by the fact that she almost died, especially because her parents had left her in the care of superheros to protect her." Steve nodded slowly, hearing Tony call him from inside the limo. Tiffany put her diplomatic mask back on, smiling grandly up at Steve, "None of that matters now. She's safe, we're all safe, and it is because of you all. Today is about all of you and what you've done for us." Tiffany gestured to the door and Steve slid in, deciding not to mention how he'd still like the chance to talk to Miss Ellis.

Tiffany guided the Avengers through security and down the halls of the White House toward the Oval Office. Several of the staff members whispered as they went by, but she was quick on her feet, briskly leading them away from prying eyes to meet the President. When she reached the door, Tiffany pulled it open and gestured for them to go inside.

"If you need anything, anything at all, just let me know. I'll check in before the press conference after lunch." Tiffany told them, holding the door open for them to enter.

Steve took a deep breath, meeting the eyes of the older man who rose from his desk as they entered. "The Avengers." President Ellis said with a wide grin, "I can't thank you all enough for everything you did yesterday. I'm sorry to ask you to travel here on such short notice, but I just had to meet you."

"The pleasure is ours Mr. President." Steve reached out and shook the man's hand, smiling softly before turning to the tall blonde next to him.

"This is my wife, Sandra, and my daughter, Kayla." Mathew introduced, watching Steve's expression as his gaze shifted from his wife to his daughter.

Everyone else's greetings to the President were lost to Steve, because the only thing he could hear was the thumping of his own heart. Kayla tried to hide her flirtatious smile as she looked down at her folded hands, but Steve couldn't take his eyes off of her. Part of her long hair was pulled back into a red bow that made her look like a present. Her hands clasped together in front of a flowing black dress that was belted around her middle, leaving little about her shape to Steve's imagination. And those red lips and big doe eyes that fluttered up up to meet his gaze- Steve was smitten.

"It's nice to see you again, Captain Rogers." Kayla finally said, reaching her hand out to take Steve's. When he grabbed it, he realized she was shaking ever so slightly, but her smile never faded, "Thank you for everything you did. Not only yesterday, but for this country years ago."

It hit Steve that maybe she hadn't realized who he was when they met before. Perhaps when she realized he was over ninety years old, she decided not to pursue him anymore. Steve couldn't really blame her, it was an odd situation. Steve was in an odd situation. The love of his life was in her nineties, as was he, but he couldn't be with Peggy. She'd lived her life. But Steve didn't really feel like he was young either. After the things he'd seen and done, he didn't know if he could really see himself as twenty-six anymore.

"You're welcome, Miss Ellis." Steve answered softly, his smile faltering. He quickly stepped aside so Tony could introduce himself to the woman, standing near the windows behind the President's desk as the First Family greeted the other Avengers.

When Bruce reached Kayla, her demeanor changed completely, and her smile lit up the whole room, "Doctor Banner, it is the greatest honor to meet you. I'm a huge fan of your work."

Bruce nodded a little, his lips drawn into a tight line as he smiled weakly, "I've heard."

Kayla drew her brows at that and tilted her head curiously, "Really?"

"I'd love to hear your thoughts about my work. I've heard from your assistant that you're a scientist." Bruce said, calming the blonde.

"Yes. I double majored in Chemical Engineering and Public Relations. Your work with Gamma Radiation is amazing! I studied you a lot in college, however, as you can imagine, I didn't have access to gamma rays."

"Lucky you." Bruce chuckled and Kayla smiled wider. "But you studied Erskine's serum? That's what my studies were based off of when I created- when I was asked to see if Gamma Radiation could unlock the missing piece of the formula... It didn't."

Kayla shrugged lightly, her expression softening, "You did something though. Something great." Kayla looked like she wanted to reach out and hug Bruce as she swayed back and forth in her red heels, "I don't think I'd be here today if it wasn't for what you did yesterday."

"I didn't do anything, The Other Guy did. But I appreciate the sentiment. Let's talk at dinner, would that be alright?" Bruce asked, and Steve didn't think he'd ever seen the doctor so at ease. He'd been guarded and tense since the moment Steve first met him, but with Kayla he seemed relaxed.

Tiffany knocked on the door and pushed it open, calling into the Oval Office, "Lunch is ready!"

As the Avengers filed into the dining room, Mathew Ellis gestured for Tony to sit on his right hand side with Pepper, while Sandra sat on his left. Natasha took a seat next to the First Lady and Clint stayed by her side. Kayla situated herself at the opposite end of the table with Bruce taking a seat next to her. Steve hovered for a moment, unsure of where he belonged in the situation. If the plan had been for him to woo Kayla Ellis, he feared Bruce would have better luck than he would at this point. There was an empty seat next to Pepper and and empty seat next to Kayla Ellis and he wondered if he just excused himself to the bathroom they'd notice if he vanished for the rest of the day.

"I don't bite." Kayla said softly, and Steve realized she was speaking to him. She gestured to the chair next to her and he silently took a seat, feeling his cheeks heat up. At least she'd been quiet enough that only Bruce heard her words.

Steve turned his head to look at the opposite end of the table, finding Mathew's expression cold as he gazed across the table at his daughter situated between Steve and Bruce. Things were starting to come together: Kayla studied the serum. Kayla left the Fantastic Four to find Captain America and the Hulk, because they were both attempts at Erskine's serum. She met Steve. She got sent back to D.C. She was informed that Steve was the first and only true Captain America, and most likely told to stay away from both Steve and Bruce.

That would explain why she looked so unsure when Steve had approached her earlier, and why Tiffany had blown off their would-be date. Kayla was almost certainly warned to stay away, but judging by the way her features lit up when she talked to Doctor Banner, Steve realized this was worth whatever trouble she'd be in. He halfheartedly listened to her prod Bruce for answers and quickly respond with her own theories and findings. Steve wished she'd look at him with half as much excitement as she looked at Bruce.

When Steve's steak dinner was placed in front of him, he shook himself back to reality. He was jealous of Bruce, because of how excited Kayla looked to speak with him, but Steve had to remind himself that the President's daughter was meeting her idol. It wasn't like Bruce was going to steal Kayla away from Steve.

Steal her away?

She was never Steve's to lose, but as he ate in silence, he began to sort through the feelings that had plagued him since yesterday afternoon. Steve didn't know what was so special about Kayla Ellis, but he knew it had to do with those green eyes of hers. Like sparkling emeralds or evergreen trees glistening after a summer rain, whenever he found himself in her sights, Steve wanted to take her into his arms and never let her go. She had such life to her, like there was so much bundled up inside just bursting at the seams to get out. Steve wanted to unravel all of her layers and know what made the woman behind those green eyes tick.

"Captain Rogers?"

The idea of learning everything about the blonde's mind led Steve's imagination to unraveling that flowing black dress that skirted against her calves. He imagined running his hands along her side and feeling the dip of her waist where she was belted. Pulling off those red heels and seeing if her undergarments matched that bow in her hair...

"Steve?"

The soldier jolted back to reality, accidentally slamming his foot against the floor loudly. Everyone at the table stared at him questioningly, and he shook his head, blinking quickly as he tried to come up with an excuse to explain his behavior. It was Kayla, the unknowing temptress, who gently placed her hand against his forearm and whispered, "Are you okay?"

Steve took a deep breath, willing the heat in his cheeks to go down. He grabbed his ice water and downed it quickly, the cold waking him up from his fantasies, "Yeah, I just- I got distracted. I was just thinking about-everything. It's been a crazy couple of days. Months really. I think being here just made everything finally hit me." Steve looked back toward the President, who no longer looked angry, but genuinely worried, so Steve added, "I'm sorry."

Kayla huffed in frustration, her sculpted brows drawn together in worry, "PTSD is a real thing. Have you... talked to anybody? About everything since you... since they found you?"

Steve realized she thought he was having war flashbacks, which made sense, and it was a much better excuse than whatever he was trying to come up with. He had to keep the table from realizing he'd been imagining ripping her clothes to shreds. "No." He said honestly, realizing that SHIELD had done what they could to get him acclimated to the 21st Century, but had only given him materials to understand what he'd missed, not deal with what he'd done. "Not really."

Kayla opened her mouth to speak, then realized the other end of the table was still staring at them, "Go back to your talking! I've got this under control."

"Hmmm, sure you do." Mathew Ellis hummed, looking to his wife for her opinion, but Sandra just smiled knowingly down at her salad as she scooped up a bite. Mathew turned back to Tony to continue asking him about his clean energy initiative and his plans to turn Stark Tower into a home for the Avengers team.

With the others preoccupied, Kayla turned her attention back to Steve, "You sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine, I promise." Steve told her as she reached out and sat her hand on his. He turned his hand so her palm sat in his, and she curled her fingers around his hand. "I wish I had someone to talk to." He admitted truthfully, so swept away in the moment that he didn't consider the implications of what he was muttering.

Steve heard Kayla inhale slowly, as if she was building up to ask him something, so he looked to her eyes and she released her air in a whisper, "You can talk to me." She looked down at their entwined hands, knowing she should pull away but deciding not to, "I, uh, I work with a charity for homeless veterans. Obviously that's not you, I would hope. You have a home, right?" Kayla asked quickly, suddenly wondering if anyone was taking care of Captain America.

He chuckled, "Yes, I have a home. I have a gym I like to go to, and there's this nice cafe I like to sit outside of and have my morning coffee. Although, I don't know what shape any of that's in since yesterday." Steve said sadly, realizing he hadn't even been to his own home since they'd fought the Chitauri. He suddenly didn't know if he had a home or not.

"Well," Kayla said quietly, finally pulling her hand away from Steve's, "The reason I brought it up was because, since I work with the charity, I spend a lot of time with the veterans. I've learned a little bit about listening, if you ever want to talk."

Steve missed the feeling of her hand in his and wanted it back, so he decided to take a leap of faith and see if maybe she hadn't given up on him after all, "You mentioned dinner. Does that offer still stand?"

Kayla's head snapped up to look at her parents, and seeing them focused on their conversation with Pepper and Tony, she turned back to Steve to whisper, "I'm not allowed to leave the White House for the foreseeable future. Until things calm down, my parents want to keep me close so I don't get into any more trouble."

Steve's heart plummeted at her words, and his expression must have followed, because she looked to her parents again, "I'll talk to them. Perhaps they'll make an exception. Since it's you."

"If they don't want you to leave, I'll respect their wishes. I understand, your safety is of the utmost importance." Steve assured Kayla, but she was already determined.

"No, I really want to get to know you. And... to be frank, I think you could use a friend." Kayla said softly as dessert arrived. She hummed happily as a piece of chocolate cake was sat in front of her, "You're at The Jefferson, right?"

"Yes." Steve answered, picking at his dessert as he watched Kayla's mind churn. Ten minutes ago he'd been drowning in self pity because she was more interested in the Hulk than him, but now Steve was going to go on a date with the President's daughter. Steve wondered what Fury would say when he found out.

"They have a couple of nice restaurants, I could meet you there. If it gets too crowded, or if you're uncomfortable, we could always go back up to your room." Kayla suggested, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she realized what she'd suggested. "To talk. We could go to your room to talk."

"What else would we do?" Steve teased quietly and Kayla tilted her head to the side, her mouth agape as she watched Steve eat his cake. He looked up at her from under his thick, dark lashes, "I'm ninety-three, I'm not dead." Steve added with a smile, knowing full well Kayla Ellis would be disappointed if he took her back to his room. He wasn't ready for that yet.