"America can finally rest easy, knowing the Mandarin has been defeated by none other than Tony Stark himself. After a harrowing several days, following weeks of attacks by the terrorist, the Mandarin was discovered to be an actor hired by Aldrich Killian, owner and creator of the company A.I.M. After infiltrating Air Force One and capturing the President, Killian attempted to murder President Matthew Ellis aboard the Narco, an oil tanker that several years ago dumped oil off the coast of Pensacola."

The receptionist changed the channel in the break room as another worker filed in, looking at the television curiously as another channel played the same news.

"President Matthew Ellis was safely returned to Washington late last night after an assassination attempt. His wife, First Lady Sandra Ellis, survived the destruction of Air Force One, alongside many staff members. However, this is no Christmas miracle, because also aboard Air Force One was the couple's only daughter. Socialite Kayla Ellis was said to still be aboard the plane when it exploded. Also missing is the famed Avenger, Captain America, who was traveling with the First Family at the President's request after an unsuccessful attempt to kidnap his daughter occurred at the Chinese Theater Bombing days ago. Authorities are searching everywhere in the hopes that Kayla Ellis and Captain Steve Rogers were somehow able to survive."

"Can you believe that? This all happened in Miami last night?" The first receptionist said to the newcomer, but when she turned to look, she found the woman on the phone, "What are you doing?"

The phone rang as the woman panted, waiting for the line to pick up. "911 what is your emergency?"

"I know where the President's daughter is."

Kayla Ellis heard knocking outside her hotel room door, but she didn't move. Steve stirred from the noise and she shushed him lightly, "Shhhhh, the world will still be there when we get up."

Steve tightened his arm around her, pulling Kayla back so she was pressed against his chest. He draped his right leg over her thigh, pinning her against him so he could feel her along the length of his body. He snuggled his face against Kayla's neck as his fingers toyed with his dog tags that she wore with the bathrobe, "I'm in no hurry to leave." His voice was deep with sleep and it rumbled through his chest, practically vibrating through Kayla's thick robe into her very soul. Steve, keeping his dog tags tangled around his hand, ran his fingertips softly along Kayla's collarbone. With every breath she took he stroked her, feeling her alive in his arms. Steve knew this could have been a very different morning if he hadn't been on the plane yesterday.

The knocking on their door continued and Steve dropped the dog tags and looked over his shoulder. Kayla rolled over so she was facing Steve, nibbling softly against the spot where his neck met his shoulder, "Kayla, I think I need to check it out."

The room's telephone began to ring and Kayla groaned loudly as she rolled across the bed to pick it up, "Hello?"

"Miss Ellis?"

"No. You have the wrong room. Bye." Kayla hung up and stretched as the knocking turned to banging. Kayla sat up and pulled her robe tighter around herself as she looked toward the door. "Steve?"

"It's fine, honey, I'll take care of it." Steve promised as he stood, leaning over to press a kiss to Kayla's forehead before grabbing his pants and pulling them on quickly as whoever was pounding began to yell.

"Open this door, right now!"

Steve crept toward the door, reaching for his shield before straightening to look through the peep hole. When he did, he quickly backtracked into the room, holding his shield up as the door came slamming to the ground in front of him.

A dozen armed guards rushed into the room, grabbing Steve and pushing his chest against the wall, "Where's the girl?"

"Let him go." Kayla snarled as a pair of female guards approached her, asking if she was alright. Kayla ignored their frantic questioning, addressing the men who held Steve again, "Let him go, now."

"Kayla!" Sandra shrieked as she sprinted into the room toward her daughter. Kayla sighed in relief as her mother embraced her, sobbing into her hair. "Baby, are you alright?"

"Let him go." Kayla and Sandra turned as Matthew swept into the room and the guards released Steve and stood at attention for their Commander in Chief. Matthew looked at them sternly until his sights landed on his daughter. Kayla started weeping and he opened his arms as Kayla charged into them, hugging her father tightly. "Kayla, I'm so glad you're alright."

"What happened?" Sandra asked, running her hand over Kayla's charred hair.

"The soldier tried to take her Ma'am. His hand burned through her hair and she fell out the side of the plane. He tried to catch her, but I stopped him." Steve explained, leaving out the little detail about how he saved her life. Matthew stared at Steve for a moment, taking in his bare chest and his daughter's state of undress without a word. Steve lowered his shield to the floor and saluted the President, "You asked me to protect her, and I did everything I could."

"Then you are dismissed." Mathew said and Kayla reached out to grab Steve's arm before he could move.

Steve's expression softened as he looked down at his girl, "You're still mine."

"Then come home with me and be the hero you are." Kayla replied, picking up the shield and holding it lovingly, "Captain America saved my life. I'm his girl, and I want the whole world to know it."

"Sure, great, let's all put on some clothes first, shall we." Sandra looked from her daughter to shirtless Captain America, but all they saw was each other. She looked to her husband and he addressed the security, "Wait outside the door. Have the car ready."

"Kayla." Sandra barked, but Kayla wasn't ready to leave their quiet little world quite yet. "We need to go home."

"SHIELD requested that you call as soon as we found you." Matthew said quietly once the guards left. Steve looked worriedly toward the President and Matthew added, "They will want to figure out what you can and can't tell the press."

"Kayla, clothes. Now." Sandra snapped her fingers and Kayla scurried to the bathroom to change, looking over her shoulder at Steve while the soldier took the President's cell phone.

Steve wandered toward the window, picking up his undershirt as the phone rang. "Director Fury?"

"Did you save the girl?"

"I did, sir."

"Good. Anything else you need to report?"

"Nothing business related, no." Steve answered, looking over his shoulder to the President and First Lady. "I'll be back in New York by tomorrow evening."

"You'll be back in New York this evening, we have to debrief you. Once the news realizes you saved the President's daughter you'll be getting a lot of press and we need to make sure we have your story straight."

"I do have my story straight, sir. I snuck aboard Air Force One to see my girlfriend." Steve explained, then waited for Fury to refute his story. "You said I could have my days off, remember?"

"Is she aware that she's your girlfriend, or do I need to make up a story with the White House press team?"

"Sir, I am in a relationship with Kayla Ellis. I saved her life, not only because it was my duty, but because I care about her. I don't care who knows it." Steve answered and he heard Fury sigh, but his tone was light as he asked.

"You sure about this?"

"I'm positive, sir."

"Then I'll see you tonight." Fury hung up the phone and Steve handed it back to Mathew Ellis.

The President eyed him with a smile, "So, you're dating my daughter?"

"Yes, sir. If you'll allow it." Steve added before pulling on his long sleeved undershirt.

Matthew looked to his wife, then studied the man before him, "Did you sleep with her last night?"

"Slept beside her, yes, but nothing else." Steve replied firmly, sitting on the bed to put his boots on.

"I find that hard to believe." Sandra muttered and Steve just shrugged.

"Ma'am, I can assure you, I will treat your daughter with the respect and adoration she deserves. I don't need anything from her except her company and her affection. I won't deny I find her attractive and would like this relationship to grow, when she's ready to take the next step with me." Steve clipped his boot and stood, moving to grab the outer layer of his stealth suit.

Sandra grinned, giving a single nod, "Then you have our blessing." Matthew looked to him, but didn't say anything. Sandra had spoken for them both.

Kayla opened up the door to the bathroom, looking around with a giant smile, "So you like him right? I think he's pretty great."

"The press are gonna love you two. You'll have to protect him though, they'll eat him alive." Sandra teased as Steve clipped his shield straps around him, then looked up to meet Kayla's eyes.

"We're gonna be just fine." Kayla promised, and Steve stood up straight, allowing them a good look at him in full uniform, ready for battle. Kayla smiled sadly, knowing he wasn't ready for what he'd have to endure. "Let's go home."

There were hundreds of news reporters waiting for the First Family when they landed back in D.C. Steve looked out the window as Kayla held his hand, rubbing her thumb over his knuckles comfortingly.

"You nervous?"

"I didn't think I would be." Steve chuckled, pulling down the window as the plane came to a stop. "What should I tell them?"

"Tell them you saved my life when I fell out of the plane." Kayla replied, smiling up at him. She'd gotten a clean set of clothes from her mother, and she'd redone her makeup so she looked like a porcelain doll. Her hair still looked burnt on the ends, but Steve guessed it was so she'd have proof of her tale when she told it.

"What should I tell them about us?" Steve asked softly, looking at her painted lips wistfully.

Kayla let out a laugh, "Well, I was planning on telling them the truth, unless you have a different idea?"

"No." He muttered, rubbing the base of her neck and staring at the chain holding his dog tags, "We can tell them the truth."

"Just stand there and look handsome. Stoic even. Two hours tops and we can go back to the big white cottage to rest. Pick up where we left off." Kayla leaned forward, eyelids low as she brushed her lips against Steve's, "How long can you stay?"

"Fury wants me back tonight." Steve winced, practically feeling the anger emanating from Kayla's dark expression. "I know. I'm sorry."

"It's fine. We're great at long distance. We've been doing it for months, and it's been just fine." Kayla mumbled to herself as her lower lip jutted out. "I was really looking forward to spending more time with you."

"It's a priority. I'll see you as much as possible, and I'll come to you whenever I can. I know SHIELD has a D.C. headquarters in the Triskelion. I can talk to Fury about moving down here."

"But New York is your home." Kayla argued softly, not wanting Steve to give up what little he held of his old life for her. "I have work here in Washington, but I can move some things around. It just might take some time."

"We'll figure it out." Steve promised, taking her lips with his, "I love you."

"I love you, too." Kayla whispered, feeling a sense of calm before the storm. She turned to the pilot as he informed them that they were clear to disembark. "Thank you." She said, then unbuckled her seat belt to leave. "Let's go."

Steve stood and followed Kayla as she met her parents at the door to the private jet. Her mother hugged her and whispered something in her ear, causing Kayla to nod affirmatively. Matthew straightened his tie and took a deep breath before Travis opened the door. Steve was blinded by the flashing lights that erupted alongside the screams of the reporters.

Sandra and Matthew walked down the stairs hand in hand and Kayla followed alone, keeping her head held high and her smile meek as questions about her survival were hurled at her before she even got down the stairs. Steve anxiously watched her from just inside the doorway, staying out of sight as long as possible. Perhaps the press would leave before he got there and he could avoid the attention. Steve didn't want to become a propaganda puppet again.

"Captain Rogers, they're ready for you." Travis told the soldier. Steve strapped his shield to his back and stood up straight, puffing out his chest as he stepped into the doorway to head down the stairs.

The crowd fell silent when the soldier appeared, as if they didn't believe he'd actually be apart of the situation. A stray camera flash set off the rest of them as Steve approached Kayla and her parents. When he reached them, he hooked his thumbs into his belt and looked out, devoid of any emotion. It wasn't until Kayla snaked her arms around his waist and grinned up at Steve that he broke his stance to drape his arm around her shoulders.

"Miss Ellis, are you and Captain America dating?" A reporter cried out as they all pushed forward to hear Kayla's answer.

She smirked at the crowd, then looked up lovingly to Steve, "Yes."

The crowd went wild with more questions but Kayla didn't even look away, her green eyes captured in Steve's gaze until he leaned down and kissed her softly. She leaned up on her tiptoes to bump noses with the soldier before breaking away.

Steve was the first to look away, grinning like a fool as the cameras captured his elation. Before any more questions could be asked, secret service parted the reporters and led the First Family into a private car. Steve helped Kayla in and hovered for a moment, unsure of whether or not he was supposed to join, but Kayla patted the seat next to her to give him his answer.

As the car sped away, Kayla turned to Steve as Sandra answered a phone call and Matthew spoke with Travis, "So you survived your first big press conference."

"I hope not to make them a habit. Tony's better at the press than me."

"That kiss was a good move. I'm impressed." Kayla sighed as she leaned her cheek against Steve's arm. "When are you leaving?"

"Soon as I get my bike back. Fury wants me in New York tonight for a briefing." Steve rested his chin on top of her head, "It's about a four hour drive, but I can make it in three."

Kayla laughed and Steve wrapped his arm around her so her head rested against his chest. He stroked her arm as he pressed his lips to her hair, gazing out the window at the people who stared when they drove by. "Will I still see you for New Years?" Kayla mumbled something unintelligible into Steve's suit, but from what little he understood he guessed she said 'I don't know'. Steve rested the side of his lips to her head, closing his eyes, "I understand."

When the limo went through the White House gates, Steve raised his head and shifted, but Kayla didn't want to move. "If I stay latched onto you, then you don't have to go, right?"

"I wish." Steve chuckled and Kayla stretched her head back to look at him, "I'll see you soon, I promise."

When the car parked and the door opened, Steve helped Kayla out but didn't let go of her hands until the President himself called for Steve's attention.

"Captain Rogers, I owe you my daughter's life. I'm so thankful you broke the Vice President's orders, or else my Kayla wouldn't be here today. Thank you for everything you've done for my family and this country." Matthew thrust his hand forward and Steve shook it.

"Sir, it's been an honor. I only ask that you'll support me dating your daughter. She's very important to me, and I want to get to know her."

Matthew chuckled, "I can't imagine there's much more for you to learn as often as you two talk, but I give you my blessing to find out. Just promise you won't hurt her."

"I swear on my life." Steve said looking over to where Kayla was speaking with her mother, "She thinks I'm different."

"You are, Son, and that's why she's obsessed with you." Matt pat Steve on the back and strode into the White House to continue his work cleaning up the mess caused by Aldrich Killian. Sandra gave her daughter's hand a squeeze, then followed her husband into their home.

Kayla jogged to Steve, jumping up to throw her arms around his shoulders. He caught her waist and held her easily as she wrapped her arms around his neck, "I hate that I finally get to hold you and you have to leave."

"You could have had me this whole time, but you wanted to be friends." Steve teased, hoisting her up to hold her under the ass so she looked down at him. "I'll call you when I get home."

"Okay." Steve reached up to kiss her, then carefully set her down. "I love you."

"I love you too." Steve told Kayla, straddling his motorcycle. He revved it to life, then turned and leaned far to kiss her again. "See you next week."

"I'll do my best." Kayla said, but Steve didn't stay to hear her reject him, already tearing out of the gates of the White House to head back to Manhattan. Kayla leaned against the side of the building, biting the side of her cheek. She watched until he was out of view before she sighed happily, "I've got it bad."

Christmas Day turned to New Years Eve quickly and Steve got a call from Kayla's assistant saying she wasn't able to make it up to see him. Steve wasn't necessarily surprised, because he saw the President on the television all week long giving information about the Mandarin debacle, and Kayla was often by his side to explain her side of the story.

As per usual, questions about Kayla's love life followed, because the general public was much more interested in Kayla dating Captain America than her almost dying.

"We're taking things slow." She told the reporters with a sweet smile, not the coy grin she often gave the press. They took notice too.

"Miss Ellis," the reporter for TMZ gushed as she sat across from Kayla, "You look absolutely smitten."

Kayla bat her eyelashes as she looked down, toying with the metal chain around her neck, "It's because I am."

The reporter's mouth opened in a wide smile, "Tell me, what makes him so special?"

"He saved my life." Kayla recounted slowly, meeting the woman's eyes, "He dove out of a plane and crashed into the Gulf of Mexico from several thousand feet just to make sure I wasn't taken hostage. Nobody is ever going to care about me more than that."

Steve blushed as he watched the interview on the desktop computer in his newly furnished apartment in Avengers Tower. He watched Kayla talk while he sketched, trying to keep himself busy and avoid the house party happening several floors below. He wasn't in the partying mood. Unsurprisingly, after getting the shrapnel removed from his chest, Tony wasn't in the partying mood either. He invited everyone they knew and then informed them he and Pepper wouldn't be attending his party. They'd be spending a quiet New Years Eve alone in their private suite.

The super-soldier had hoped his own girl could spend the holiday with him. He would have actually gone to the party if Kayla had come, and he wanted to show her off to his teammates. Instead, Steve opted to spend New Years sulking alone.

JARVIS's voice echoed through Steve's room, "Captain Rogers, Sir, Mr. Stark insists you join the team down on the party deck. He's making a brief appearance and would like to see you."

Steve grunted, looking to the computer screen to see the interview ending. "Let them know I'll be there in a few minutes."

"I shall let them know." JARVIS answered and Steve leaned his cheek against his fist as the reporter asked Kayla if her plans for New Years involved a certain Avenger.

Kayla's smile faltered for a moment and then she inhaled quickly to answer, "Unfortunately, not this year. I have an early morning appointment that I can't miss tomorrow, so I wasn't able to make the trip to Manhattan as planned."

"That's a shame, I hear Tony Stark is throwing a victory party at the newly minted Avengers Tower. Have you seen the inside yet?"

"No, not yet. I'll visit soon though. January is always very busy, but we're working on making the distance work." Kayla strained to stay positive, her polished smile unable to stay intact when talking about missing Steve. The reporter smiled sadly at Kayla and finished up the interview.

"Well hopefully you'll be able to make the trip soon. I'm sure you two are very busy, but from what we saw last week, you are very cute together. We wish you all the best."

"Thank you. I really appreciate that." Kayla replied, forcing forward one of her famous Kayla Ellis smiles as the screen went blank.

Steve set down his pencil and closed up his sketchbook, pushing it to the side of his desk. Natasha had sent him a framed magazine cover showing Steve kissing Kayla on the tarmac with a note reading 'About damn time'. He had responded to all the congratulatory texts with a simple 'Thanks', not really wanting to pour his heart out to his teammates about his new girlfriend. The Avengers were elated, Fury was mildly amused, and the press were having a field day at his expense. He was thankful that SHIELD refused to comment about his relationship and Kayla kept tight lipped about it for the most part.

"Captain Rogers, Mr. Stark is requesting your presence on the party-deck. He says he has something important to ask you regarding Miss Potts."

Miss Potts?

"Tell him I'm on my way down now." Steve told the AI, straightening the neckline of his maroon button-down shirt. He entered the elevator and requested to be taken to the party-deck, wondering what the hell Tony wanted to ask him about Pepper.

The elevator doors slid open to reveal a bustling party. Bottles upon bottles of champagne lined every flat surface of the room, and the guests were taking advantage of the free booze. A scantily dressed woman in a black bodysuit and bow tie approached Steve as he stepped farther into the party-deck, "Glass of champagne, sir?"

"Might as well." Steve took the flute and downed the drink, then put it on a passing tray as he crossed the room to Tony Stark.

"About damn time you showed up, Rogers." Tony yelled over the music. He turned dramatically to the crowd he was entertaining, "Look who finally decided to grace us with his presence!"

"Hey Cap!" Clint Barton called as he raised his beer in greeting. "Where's your girl?"

"She's busy." Steve answered shortly and Tony snorted. Steve side eyed him but decided not to say anything. "How are you feeling, Tony?"

"I haven't slept this well in years." Tony admitted and Steve faced him fully. He hadn't heard Tony Stark so sincere.

"You said you wanted to talk about Pepper?" Steve asked quietly and Tony nodded, finishing off his water and handing the glass to Barton.

He gestured toward the windows overlooking Manhattan and Steve followed as Tony began to explain, "So, your girl, she's a chemist, right?"

"She studied chemistry, yes. Why?" Steve didn't mean to be short with Tony, because he could see the billionaire was trying to be serious for once, but Steve wasn't in the mood for his games tonight.

"Because, you know that exploding guy we fought on Air Force One? He was infected with something called Extremis, created by an old acquaintance of mine. The man behind the Mandarin. He gave Pepper the Extremis, and now I have to fix her." Tony clamped his hands together in front of himself, looking down as he stiffened, "I think I can do it myself, but I could use some help. So I want to know if you think she can help me. If she can figure out Erskine's theory, she'll probably know what to do with Extremis. It's why they wanted her in the first place."

"I don't know Tony, you'd have to ask her. She's really busy." Steve told Tony, looking out over the crowds of people in the streets.

"I just need to know if you trust her to help save Pep's life. She's my everything, Rogers, I need to know she's gonna be okay." Tony placed his fist to his mouth, and Steve saw real fear in the man's face for the first time.

Steve nodded a little, "You should ask her. Her work is solid, and I trust her completely."

"That's all I need to know." Tony said as he smacked Steve on the arm. "Now you can go back to your sulking."

"Thanks." Steve grumbled, turning from Tony to head back toward the elevator to go back to his apartment. He offered a short wave to Natasha and Bruce, and the former wrapped her arms around him in a hug before he continued on his way.

Steve's head was pounding by the time the elevator doors closed, and he massaged his temples as it rose higher. When the doors opened to his apartment, Steve looked at his cell phone, realizing he'd missed a call from Kayla.

He redialed her number, holding his breath as he cursed himself for going down to the party. The line clicked alive and Steve gasped, "Hey Kay, how are you?"

"I'm okay." She sighed, her voice melancholy, "I miss you. I wish I was there."

"I wish you were here, too." Steve looked around his empty apartment. "I saw your interview today."

"Oh yeah? What did you think?"

"You looked sad." Steve said honestly as he walked to his bedroom. "I feel bad for not seeing you. Everyone's been teasing me about missing my New Years kiss."

"It's just about that time." Kayla said softly and Steve pulled away his phone to see it read 11:30. "Are you at Stark's party?"

"I stopped by. It was too loud. Plus, that's why I missed your call. I could have been talking to you instead." Steve turned on the lamp beside his bed, looking through those floor to ceiling windows. The lights glittered brightly as camera flashes illuminated the streets. "You have an early meeting? I don't want to keep you if you need to sleep."

"No, I want to ring in the New Year with you." Kayla told Steve and his heart clenched, "If I were there, what would we do?"

Steve's blood ran hot at the question, because he immediately thought of her in his arms, legs twisted together as he learned every hill and valley of her body. "Honestly, I would just want to hold you. Kiss you and touch you. If you were here-" Steve swallowed, considering telling Kayla all the dirty details his mind would conjure. "if you were here, I'd-"

"You'd what?"

Steve looked up, his phone dropping from his hand when he saw Kayla standing in the doorway to his bedroom. She wore a long black jacket and red kitten heels and her white hair was trimmed in a pixie cut. Her lips were bare but her eyes shimmered with glitter as she fluttered her lashes at Steve in the lamplight.

"Kay?" Steve gasped as he strode along the massive windows to reach her, "I thought you couldn't come?"

"I wanted to surprise you." Kayla admitted coyly, looking up at him as he grabbed her arms, "But you wouldn't go downstairs."

Steve laughed, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her lips, "What about your early meeting?"

"It's with Tony Stark. He needs me help with an Extremis victim."

"Pepper." Steve corrected, realizing Tony's questioning was just a rouse to get him out of his apartment. "Tony helped you?"

"He asked for my help. I told him my price: a night with you." Kayla reached up and began to undo Steve's buttons on his maroon shirt, "Which leads me to your New Years present."

"You didn't need to get my anything." Steve stammered, not realizing New Years was now a gift giving holiday.

Kayla finished with his buttons and slid the long sleeved shirt down Steve's arms, "I think you're gonna like it." She slurred, lusty eyes sparkling as she tugged on Steve's belt. "There are a couple of rules though."

"Directions?" Steve asked, not understanding what was happening. He allowed Kayla to unbuckled his dress slacks and he kicked out of them before she tugged gently at his undershirt, wanting him to remove that too.

"No. Rules." Kayla stated as she looked Steve up and down before lifting her wrist to check the time. "For the next twenty-five minutes, you aren't allowed to use these," Kayla pulled Steve's face down to press a kiss to his lips, "or this." She trailed down his stomach to his boxers, grazing her fingers lightly against his hardening cock.

"Okay." Steve's breath was shaky as her fingers ran up and down his side.

"From now until midnight, all you can use are these." Kayla took his large hands in her delicate ones, lacing their fingers together as she took a step forward. "Any questions?"

Steve's body felt like it was on fire, his mind abuzz with a thousand questions, but only one escaped his breathless lips, "What happens at midnight?"

Kayla smiled wickedly, running her tongue along the bottom of her teeth playfully, "Then I get to do the same to you."

Captain America watched as the blonde unbuckled the thick belt around her jacket as she stepped out of her red heels. She kept her eyes locked onto his as she opened her jacket and let it slide down her arms to the floor.

Steve swallowed down the anticipation that blocked his ability to breathe as his blown out blues studied the task at hand. Kayla stood before him in a deep red corset with white ribbons tying it together. It pushed up her breasts and accentuated her hourglass figure, stopping at the start of her thick hips. Steve realized she was wearing a pair of those tiny underwear again, the ones that covered enough. His job was to get her out of it.

"Well," Kayla said with a bright smile, standing between Steve and the picture windows with her hands on her hips, "You better start unwrapping your present."