Kayla clung to Steve's arm tightly as he led her from the restaurant. They'd finished the bottle and Kayla's alcohol tolerance wasn't nearly as high as she'd promised him, so he was moments away from carrying her by the time they reached the elevator.

"I'm not drunk." Kayla slurred, blinking her heavy eyelids at the soldier, "I'm just tipsy, but I'm fine to go home."

"How about I get you some water, and then I'll take you home, how's that sound?" Steve offered as she leaned on his shoulder, squinting in the lights. He pulled out his wallet and pressed his room key against the pad, opening up the door for Kayla.

She stumbled forward a little, grabbing onto one of the bottled waters sitting on a table near the door, "Why is it so hot in here?"

"Sorry." Steve grumbled, quickly closing the door and turning to the thermostat that had been explained to him earlier, "I hate the cold."

When she didn't answer, Steve turned to find Kayla guzzling the water from the bottle until it was gone. She tossed the bottle over her shoulder onto the floor and giggled, collapsing onto Steve's cushy bed. "Mmm, this is comfy."

"If you want, you can sleep here. I'm sure Bruce or Clint wouldn't mind if I slept on their couch." Steve offered, unbuttoning his top button to breathe a little. Even he could admit it was too hot in the hotel room, especially with how hot his body felt being around Kayla. "Do you want to stay?"

"I do, but I don't want you to leave." She mumbled, shifting so she was laying on her back, her head sinking into the soft pillow, "I know you aren't going to sleep with me."

"Good, then you won't be disappointed." Steve said matter of factly, perhaps a little too teasingly because Kayla frowned at him, "Don't give me that look."

"I can look at you however I want, it's a free country." Kayla spat playfully, her lips breaking apart in a smile. "But seriously," she said quietly, taking a deep breath and looking at Steve clearly, "don't leave. You can stay... here with me."

Steve considered this. This was the biggest bed he'd ever seen. He could easily stay far on the other side and give Kayla space, not that she wanted him to stay away. "I want to be a gentleman. I promised your father I'd take care of you."

"Take care of me by staying beside me." She whispered, closing her eyes slowly, "I swear I'm not drunk, but this buzz will wear off soon. Then I can leave."

Steve sat down next to her stomach, reaching down and stroking her long blonde strands that splayed across the mattress beside her. They were even softer than he'd imagined. "I don't want you to leave, either."

"Why do you keep your room so hot?" Kayla blurted suddenly, and Steve noticed sweat dripping down her brow.

"It'll cool down soon, I promise." Steve stood and turned the temperature down even more, knowing he wouldn't sleep. But if he had to stay awake and sketch while Kayla slept near him, he wouldn't mind. "Give it a few minutes."

"But why do you keep it so hot?" Kayla repeated, opening her eyes and looking at Steve across the room, "Is it because of the ice?" Steve turned and nodded, unsure what to say. Kayla pat the opposite side of the bed, beckoning him to join her, "Come here."

Steve did as he was told, pulling off his dress shoes and sitting on the bed beside the woman with his back against the headrest. "Sometimes I feel like I'm still frozen. Like parts of me haven't thawed out yet. Worse, sometimes when I'm cold, I dream I'm still stuck in the ice and nobody can hear me. So I like to be hot. The cold wakes me up at night."

"But you turned the heat down." Kayla turned her head to look up at Steve from her pillow and he saw her eyes were beginning to clear, "You don't have to be uncomfortable on my account."

"Will you promise to wake me up if I-" Steve stopped, closing his mouth. Kayla sat up beside him, scooting closer. "If you what?"

Steve slammed his eyelids closed, feeling himself fall apart as he began to cry, "If I start having nightmares again."

Kayla enveloped the large man in her arms and he turned his head into her neck and cried, any embarrassment he might have felt overtaken by the overwhelming sense of relief that somebody cared about him. Kayla scratched his neck at the base of his hairline, using her other hand to rub his back comfortingly, "It's okay. I'll be here, I promise."

"I'm sorry." Steve sobbed out, feeling the past ten months come crashing down on him, "I'm not normally like this."

"Yeah, but this is what happens when you keep everything bottled up." Kayla told him, giving him a proper hug until he pulled away. He looked down, clearly ashamed of his breakdown, "Steve, look at me." He did as she asked, "It's okay. Really. You can talk to me. I won't judge you or ask anything of you. I'll just be here, I'll be whatever you need."

"I could really use a friend." Steve swallowed, regretting his words but knowing they were true. "I'm sorry, I'm just not ready for-"

"Yeah, I can kinda see that." Kayla admitted with a sad laugh, "How about we start with friends, then go from there, okay?"

"I'd like that." Steve said, feeling the air conditioning hit his skin. "Do you want to borrow one of my shirts to sleep in?"

Kayla nodded, sliding off the bed as Steve went to work digging through his suitcase. She grabbed her black bag and met him around the other side of the bed, taking the white shirt he passed her. "Thank you, and thank you for letting me stay."

"I think I need you to stay more than you do." Steve chuckled, grabbing his own undershirt and sweatpants to change into. "You can go get changed. Take your time."

Kayla locked herself in the bathroom, leaving Steve alone. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and sent a text to Natasha. If anyone her knew could give him girl advice, it was the Black Widow.

Things are not going well. I broke down and cried in front of her.

Steve pulled off his shirt and replaced it with the clean undershirt, then exchanged his dress slacks for grey sweats when his phone buzzed. He flipped it open and saw a text from Tony instead of Nat.

What's wrong Champ? Did it hurt when she sunk her fangs into you?

Steve furrowed his brow, not believing for a minute that Natasha would have texted Tony instead of him, so he decided to ask.

How did you get this message?

His phone buzzed again and another text from Tony popped up.

This is a group text Gramps. Learn how phones work.

Steve groaned loudly and massaged his temples as texts arrived from Natasha, then Clint.

It's okay Cap. Thanks for taking one for the team.

If it makes it any better at least Thor doesn't know you cried.

Steve snapped the phone closed and tossed it onto the desk by his sketchpad, wishing he could chuck it out the window instead. He looked up when he heard the bathroom door open, but he hardly recognized the woman who emerged.

"Are you alright?" Kayla asked as she approached, seeing how rigid he looked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Steve lied, studying Kayla's messy heap of hair on top of her head and the dark-rimmed glasses that shielded her eyes, "You look different."

Kayla ducked her head, but Steve hooked his fingers under her chin to lift her face so he could get a better view. Her face was devoid of makeup, and he could see slight flaws across her skin. Her bottom lip was pinker than her top, explained when she bit it while Steve studied her. As much as he loved her green eyes when they were ringed with dark makeup, he was infatuated with them now that they were wide and bare, staring up at him helplessly.

"You're so beautiful." Steve breathed, looking down at her in his white t-shirt. He realized she wasn't wearing her bra and quickly raised his eyes, too polite to stare. "I like you like this."

"You'd be the first." Kayla mumbled as she sidestepped Steve to drop her dress onto a chair by the window. When she turned back around she noticed Steve had his hands on his hips, looking almost offended by what she'd said, "You'd be surprised how often I get 'Oh. Wow. You look so different. I would have never known'. It's demeaning."

Steve caught her wrist as she passed him, gently pulling her to face him, "Thank you- for letting me see who you really are."

Kayla's mouth twitched, "What are friends for?" She breathed, staring at Steve's lips as she wobbled toward him. "Friends, right?"

"Right." Steve said firmly, but his brows were drawn together as he looked down at Kayla. Everything inside Steve told him to pin her to that bed and have his way with her, but she was the President's daughter. However... that didn't mean they couldn't take things slow. "I mean, we can start as friends."

"Start. Yes, we can start as friends and there's always potential for more. If we want." Kayla stammered, dropping her eyes to look at his broad chest beneath the thin shirt. "Friends is such a vague term."

"It is." Steve agreed with a wolfish grin, dipping his head low to reach Kayla. "We can be the type of friends who accept each other for who they are."

"Glasses and blemishes and PTSD and all." Kayla teased and Steve snorted as he snaked his hands around Kayla's waist to pull her close to him. She gasped and tilted her head back so her lips were inches from his, "I'll help you."

"And how exactly do you plan on doing that?" Steve moved one hand up her back to cradle the base of Kayla's neck while his other hand kept her body flush to his, "I want to kiss you so badly, but I don't want to rush into this."

"Kiss me slowly then." Kayla moaned, easing her lips up to brush against Steve's, "Kiss me."

Steve latched his lips onto Kayla, locking his palm to the back of her neck to keep her close to him. He ground his hips into Kayla and she wrapped her left arm around his shoulder to stay close to his lips while her right hand snaked up his neck to tug on his hair. Kayla hooked her right ankle behind Steve's, keeping her body pressed against him as he desperately shoved his tongue down her throat.

Finally Kayla needed to come up for air, pushing Steve away by the chest and staring at her hands as she panted, "Hot damn."

Steve laughed as she ran her hands down his chest to his abs, finding the bottom of his shirt and giving it a tug. Steve shook his head and grabbed her hands, "Slow, remember."

"Oh, you kiss women like that when you're moving slow?" Kayla asked breathlessly, "At this rate we'll be fucking by next Saturday."

Steve leaned forward and nuzzled her head with his, "I'm sorry, do you want to go slower?"

"No."

"Then stop complaining and get into the bed." Steve growled, leaning forward to kiss her lips once more before he left her to turn off the lights. He heard her climbing over the bed and plopping down into the mattress. Steve turned to see her fold up her glasses and place them on the bed stand, then she turned to where Steve was, smiling peacefully as she waited for him to join her.

The soldier carefully pulled back the covers, hating how many blankets were on the bed, but he figured Kayla would want them. He didn't know if he'd sleep, considering how he sank into the mattress, but worst case he could lay beside Kayla and not feel alone. Although his initial plan was to give her space, he couldn't stay away now. He'd had a taste of this woman and she would be his. Steve just had to figure out how to win her over long term.

"Come here." Steve ordered gruffly, lifting his arm for Kayla to snuggle into. She wiggled closer to him and snaked her arm under his to drape over his back, pressing her face to his chest. Steve shifted a little, resting his chin above her head, "You okay?"

"Mmhhmm." Kayla purred, closing her eyes as she rested against Steve, "You okay? Are you too cold?"

Steve smiled, shifting to look down at the crown of her head, "You'll keep me warm, right?"

"Of course." Kayla hummed, and Steve felt her hot breath through his thin shirt.

Steve closed his eyes, tightening his grip around her, "Then I'll be just fine."

"How's Capcicle?"

"Pretty good I'd say, she's curled up in his arms."

Tony spit out his coffee at Natasha's words as she settled in a chair across his suite. Pepper appeared with a washcloth, dropping it off before going back into the bathroom to continue getting ready.

"What do you mean? She's still there? He said he blew it!" Tony yelped and Natasha just shrugged.

"Listen, I snuck in, took a look around and found them sound asleep."

Clint looked to Tony, then at the clock, "It's nine o'clock."

"So?" Natasha asked, keeping her eyes trained on Tony for the billionaire's response.

"I just didn't take Cap as the sleep in kinda guy." Clint admitted, looking to Bruce who sat in a chair near the window. "What do you think?"

"I don't really care what he does, and neither should any of you. Can you even imagine what he's going through? He's only been awake for ten months and he's already had to fight aliens. Let him have this." Bruce scolded, taking a sip of his green tea.

Tony pouted, looking back to Natasha, "You're sure it's Ellis?"

"Who else would it be, Tony?" She groaned, taking a bite out of an apple. "I'm not breaking in again."

"I'm ready to blow this popsicle stand and get back to work, so somebody is gonna need to go wake them up." Tony mumbled, looking up as Pepper approached with a new cup of coffee. Natasha looked to Clint, who in turn looked to Bruce, but they all just sat silently, causing Tony to groan, "Fine, I'll do it."

Tony finished his coffee and walked down the hall to Steve's hotel room, rapping on the door loudly, "Cap! Rise and shine, Buddy!" After a few moments, when Steve didn't answer, Tony began pounding again, "Steve, we're heading out soon, are you up?"

The door swung open and Steve huffed at Tony, "What time are we leaving?"

"Wheels up at noon. We'll roll out of here around eleven." Tony said, leaning to look into the room, but Steve just placed both hands on the frame, his broad shoulders blocking Tony's view.

"Is there anything else you need?" Steve asked curtly, and Tony realized Natasha was right.

"I wanted to check on you, after your text last night, you seemed upset."

"I'm fine Tony."

"Don't be embarrassed, Old Man, I'd cry too if I couldn't get it up."

"Tony." Steve warned as he clenched his teeth together, his sharp jaw a threat to Stark to stop talking. "I'll be in the lobby at eleven."

Tony grinned and saluted Steve, then turned on his heel and left the man alone.

The moment Steve closed the door, Kayla erupted into a fit of giggles from the bed, "You texted Tony about last night?"

"I thought I was texting Natasha. I didn't realize it was everyone." Steve grumbled as he sat on the edge of the bed. Kayla walked on her knees over to him and draped her arms around his shoulders from behind. "I'll never hear the end of it."

"If I were you, I'd probably break down too." Kayla murmured into Steve's cheek. She squeezed his shoulders and pressed her cheek to his, "I don't want you to go."

"I don't want to go either." Steve admitted, turning his face to kiss the corner of Kayla's lips, "Thanks for keeping me warm last night."

Kayla sighed happily, "I wish I could stay in bed with you all day. We could continue moving slowly." Kayla pulled Steve back by the shoulders and he allowed it, pinning her onto the mattress with his back. His chest rumbled deeply as he chuckled, carefully rolling over to lay on his stomach beside Kayla. She ran her fingers through his hair and he closed his eyes, finding peace in her touch.

"Will you come visit me in New York?"

"Whenever I can." Kayla promised, looking over her shoulder at Steve as he rested his face on his forearms. She continued to brush through his hair as she raised her free hand to her mouth, chewing on it nervously. "Steve? Do you- are we-" Kayla huffed, sitting up in bed and leaning over her knee. Steve flipped over to look up at her with a look of pure contentment on his face. Kayla swallowed hard, looking down to play with the hem of his shirt that reached halfway down her thighs, "Do you want us- expect us- to be exclusive? Are we dating, or are we just... friends?"

Steve reached up and took Kayla's hand, bringing it to his lips, "What do you want?"

"I want to get to know you, and do more of this." She giggled as he continued to pepper her palm with kisses, "I'm just not sure if we are in the right place to commit to a relationship right now."

"Huh." Steve said, surprised by her answer. He held her hand tightly as he sat up, "So, you want to be free to see other people?"

"I mean- no, not necessarily, It's just you'll be in New York, and I'll be in D.C. and I think you have a lot to figure out. I'm just not sure if you're ready for a girlfriend right now."

Steve released her hand and Kayla felt like he'd socked her in the gut as he said, "You said you would help me."

"I will! You know I will, I just don't want to rush into this and screw it up, you know?" Kayla shoved her hand to her face, smushing her glasses harder into her nose. "I know it sounds like I'm making excuses, but I want you to be something that lasts longer. You aren't a one night stand Steve, you're the kind of man I would marry-"

Steve's eyes lit up before he could remind himself not to get excited about that prospect. The idea of courting this woman for a while and then marrying her quickly made sense to Steve. He didn't need to shop around, he'd found the woman he wanted. At his smile she pursed her lips thoughtfully and Steve cleared his throat, understanding he'd gotten a little too excited. Kayla Ellis wasn't ready to settle down just yet.

"Do you... kinda get what I'm saying?" Kayla asked, pulling the sheets up around her bare legs. "I think you're amazing and I want to get to know you, but I think we should stay friends for now. Keep our options open until we're both in the same place, you know?"

"I guess." Steve mumbled, climbing out of the bed to begin getting ready. He stopped by the mirror and brushed back his hair, looking over to Kayla as she let her long heap of hair fall around her shoulders in messy waves. "If I had slept with you last night, things would be different, wouldn't they?"

"Yes." Kayla answered bluntly without looking up, "We would have had sex several times, probably spent a few months together, and then broken up to the heartbreak of the American public." Finally Kayla met his gaze, her green eyes wet behind her dark glasses, "Instead you were something more, and you treated me well. I want to keep you in my life, and I know I'm not ready to be what you're looking for. Let me stay in a capacity I can fit into. Friends."

Steve sighed, but shrugged and added, "Friends is a very vague term."

"Friends can be friends with benefits. It's just keeping expectations low while we figure some stuff out, okay?" Kayla prodded from the bed, seemingly not in any hurry to get up.

Steve grabbed his suitcase and pulled out a button-down shirt and a pair of jeans, mumbling, "Yeah, we can figure it out." He locked himself in the bathroom and Kayla heard the shower begin to run.

Kayla scratched her eyebrow, not happy with how the conversation went, but knowing it was necessary. In the late hours of the night in her wine fueled stupor, Kayla Ellis believed she could be what Steve Rogers needed. In the morning light she realized what he actually needed was, in fact, a friend. It may or may not have had to do with the amount of times he mumbled Peggy Carter's name in his sleep. Kayla knew when she was a rebound, and she didn't want to be a rebound for this man. He was too special to waste on a fast-paced fling. No, Kayla wanted to know Steve better than anyone had ever known him in his life. She wanted to know everything that made him laugh and made him cry and know how to turn the latter into the former. Until she could do that, she had no business in his arms or in his bed.

Kayla slipped out of Steve's shirt and back into her dress from the night prior, slipping into a pair of sandals before pulling a baseball cap over her messy hair. She reached into her bag, pulling out Erskine's journal, and against her better judgement, she ripped out a blank page and wrote a scrawling letter to the man in the shower. When he turned off the water, she set the journal down on the mattress, where she knew he'd see it, along with the letter she'd left him. Kayla scooped up her bag and quietly snuck out the door, careful not to let him hear the door latch as she dialed Tiffany's number to come pick her up.

Steve came out of the bathroom to find his hotel room empty. He noticed the journal on the bed and a hastily written note beside it. He picked up the letter and sighed, feeling like Tony had been right: he'd fallen prey to the infamous Kayla Ellis, same as everybody else. Steve's blue eyes scanned the letter, adding more confusion to his heart as it ached.

Steve,

Thank you for being a gentleman, and for doing everything right. You are such an amazing man, and I meant what I said, I want to get to know you. I'd like to help you adjust to this new world, and help you through the transition that you've clearly struggled with over the past few months. Believe me when I say, I had an amazing night. I don't need anything else from you, except maybe your patience.

Call next time you're in D.C. If I make it to New York- I know where to find you.

Kayla Dawn Ellis

Steve folded up the letter and shoved it into his pocket, then finished packing up his suitcase, tossing the journal in haphazardly. At least his secret was safe, and he made the woman happy. He'd accomplished what he set out to do, and his team would be pleased. Steve just wished he hadn't fallen under her spell.