Steve was happy. He hadn't been this happy in...

He couldn't remember. He was finally going to date Natasha! They were on their way to becoming a couple. He was glad that she could understand where he was coming from. God, he loved her and wanted everything with her, but he wanted to take it slow. He knew that he would never feel this way again for someone else, he wanted his first and only relationship to have everything. And he wanted Natasha to have everything. She deserved to get courted and now he finally had the permission to do so. He was going to woo and spoil her like he'd wanted to for years. He finally didn't have to hold back anymore.

He was coming home from his morning run, he'd actually asked Natasha if she wanted to come with him after they had woken up but she'd only said "Fuck no" and left for Manhattan after a coffee. She didn't want Yelena to get home before her and ask questions. Steve knew that she wasn't hiding their new development from her sister, but that she was rather trying to stop Yelena from getting involved. They were both pretty sure that Yelena was trying to set them up, and why not have a little fun with that?

Mr. Williams, his 84 year old neighbor, was passing by him in the hallway and nodded at him. He wished him a great morning and stopped in front of his door. Someone had put a bouquet of flowers on his doormat. That was odd. He picked up the bouquet and looked for a card. He smiled when he found the little note.

Who decided that men shouldn't get flowers? That's unfair. Thank you for letting me sleep in your arms last night. Nat.

Steve unlocked the door and looked for something that he could use as a vase. He used his water pitcher in the end, maybe he needed to expand his home decor collection.

He decided to call Natasha to ask her on a date. It was time. He had waited for this moment for years. She picked up after the fourth ring. Yes, he counted. He was a bit nervous, okay?!

"Hi."

"Hey. Thank you for the flowers."

Natasha chuckled. "You're welcome. Why should you be the only one who gets to do the courting?"

She was so sweet and good to him. He was a very lucky guy.

"So..."

"Yes?" Natasha asked softly.

"Would you like to go on a date with me?" He rushed out before he could chicken out.

"I'd love to."

"Yeah?"

"Yes."

"Today?" He asked eagerly. He wanted to see her as soon as possible.

"I'm free after noon."

"Are you the whole day free after noon?"

"Yes. Why? What are you up to?"

"You'll see. Wear something warm. I'll pick you up at 2."

"Okay. I'm really looking forward to our date."

"Me, too, Nat. Me, too." He told her truthfully. He ended the phone call and opened his browser app, he had things to do.

Natasha was already outside when Steve parked in front of her apartment building. He'd rented a car because it would have been way too cold for Natasha to take the Harley. Maybe he should think about buying a car...

Nat waved and smiled at him happily, causing his heart to flutter. God, she was so beautiful. And she looked so cute in her winter jacket and hat. He quickly got out of the car to properly greet her.

"Hey!" She walked over to him and hugged him. She fitted perfectly into his arms. She always had.

"Hi." He smiled down at her. "I could have picked you up at your door."

Natasha blushed. "I was so nervous, so I came down already. This is my first date. Ever. I'm sorry, should I have waited upstairs?"

"No, it's okay." He kissed her temple. "I'm nervous, too, sweetheart."

"Really? You've been on dates. Didn't James take you on double dates?"

He groaned and pressed another kiss to her forehead because Natasha had snuggled closer when he'd kissed her temple.

"There were not real dates. Not to me. I never asked them out and I didn't really have-" He stopped and Natasha raised an eyebrow. "I never had real feelings for them."

Her sweet smile took his breath away. She rose to her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I'm honored it's me. So, so honored. And really happy."

"I'm really fucking happy, too."

"Language!" Natasha chided playfully and pressed another soft kiss to his beard. "I love your beard."

"Yeah?"

"Mhm-hm." She whispered and brushed her cheek against his. "I'll share my thoughts about it another time after we've taken a few more steps."

Jesus. Steve gulped and had to collect himself. "Okay,so...Are you ready for our date?"

Natasha looked at the car behind him. "Where exactly are we going that you got a car for it?"

"Out of town. That's all I'm telling you for now." He walked her to the passenger side and opened the car door for her. "A car is warmer and more comfortable than my bike."

Natasha smiled when she saw the box of truffles sitting on the car seat. "My favorites! Thank you!" She picked up the box and sat down, popping a truffle into her mouth.

He grinned at her and closed the door. He walked around the car and got into the driver's seat. Natasha turned her head to look at him. She seemed happy and he was the reason for it. It was the greatest feeling in the world. Her hand came closer and she fed him a truffle, her finger tracing his lip. She was a little tease. He gave her a look before he started the engine and she smirked at him in response.

Natasha kept looking at him while he drove away from the city and he used every stoplight to look at her. He hoped she was going to like where he was taking her. He wanted them to have a date to remember and not just go to dinner, even though they were going to do that later tonight.

"Okay, where are we going?"

"It's a surprise, doll."

"I like that." She whispered. "I like it when you use endearments."

"Yeah?" He looked over to her before he had to look back at the road and she nodded and almost seemed embarrassed. "Then I'll keep using them. I like calling you sweetheart. And doll."

"Can we..." Her fingertips brushed the back of his hand that was resting on his thigh. "Can I hold your hand?"

"Of course, I'd love that." Natasha was being open and he wanted to be the same. "I always long to hold your hand." He turned his hand and Natasha slid hers into his. The perfect fit. He lifted their intertwined hands up and kissed the back of Natasha's.

"This is already the best date I've ever been on."

"I thought this was your first date?" He had to stop at a stoplight and could look at her.

"It is, and it's perfect."

"We're not even there yet."

"I don't care. Even if we drive around for the rest of the day, it's the perfect date. Because it's with you and we're together. And alone."

"How's Yelena by the way?"

"Good. She's doing pottery at the community center today. She's trying pretty much every class there. She's having fun and meeting people."

"That's good."

"Yeah. And she's not up in my business. She's way too noisy!"

"She's a little sister, I think it's part of the job description."

"Yeah, I guess so." Natasha grumbled and looked through the window. "Where exactly are we? I've never been here before."

Steve drove down a small road that lead to their first destination. He parked the car in front of a little ice stadium. "I know we've just been ice-skating, but today it's just us. No one else is here."

Natasha smiled at him. "That's a great idea! I love it. Will you toss me into the air?"

"Sure." He laughed, happy that Natasha liked his idea. "I'll even catch you!"

"Smart ass!"

They got out of the car and the owner of the ice-rink greeted them and left after he let them inside. It hadn't been cheap to book it on such short notice, but Steve didn't mind to spend money on Natasha. She deserved everything.

"Wow." Natasha looked around. "It's really nice here." She was right. The rink wasn't that big, but it was decorated for Christmas with lots of fairy lights. "Thank you for that. It must have cost you quite a lot. That's not necessary, I don't need-"

"Don't, Nat. I wanted to do that for you. I want to spoil you and I have the means for it." He cupped her cheek and she leaned into his touch. "Let's find our ice-skates, okay?"

She nodded and pressed a kiss to the inside of his wrist. He was sure that she could feel how his pulse picked up. Judging by the flush on her cheeks, she knew what she was doing to him.

The ice-skates were easily found and Natasha connected her phone to the sound system so that they had music.

This time he reached for her hand and they skated together around the ice-rink. He sped up and Natasha trusted him to keep her safe and he raced with her around the rink. He threw her a few feet into the air and caught her easily. She laughed and told him to throw her again.

Natasha was a little show off herself, and did a triple loop jump. His jaw almost hit the ice. He knew he shouldn't be surprised that she could do something like that, but it was still extremely impressive.

He tried to do a single loop jump and well...his landing wasn't quite graceful. Natasha bit her lip, trying not to laugh, and skated over to him to help him up.

"I'm still a hopeless little punk."

Natasha smiled before she put her hands on his shoulders to make herself taller.

"God, you're so cute!" She scrunched her nose in an adorable way. And then she pecked his lips! It was over before he completely processed what was happening. "Oh, I'm sorry-"

Oh no, she was not going to apologize for kissing him!

Steve pressed his lips softly against hers and he wrapped his arms around her waist when he heard her sigh.

It was a sweet kiss, a kiss that melted his heart.

Natasha kissed him gently, her hands coming up to cup his face. Steve couldn't tell how long they kissed, but he knew that nothing would ever compete with this. Not even lifting Mjolnir came close to kissing Natasha.

They rested their foreheads together after they pulled apart. "Hm, finally." Natasha whispered. "I wanted to do that for years."

"Me, too." He admitted and leaned in for another kiss. Natasha smiled and closed her eyes.

They kissed and kissed until Steve noticed that Natasha's hands were getting colder and colder. "We should get going, sweetheart. I don't want you to freeze." He took her hands and blew air onto them.

"You're so sweet and good to me."

She cuddled into his side and they skated off the rink. He knelt down in front of her and helped her out of her skates, stealing kisses every chance he got.

"I can't stop kissing you." He whispered against her lips.

"And that's a bad thing?" She chuckled and kissed him. "I love it. Never stop."

"I won't, I promise." He mumbled into their kiss and Natasha smiled against his lips.

They left the ice-rink and Steve opened Natasha's car door of her. He made sure to turn on the seat heater so she would be warm and cozy.

"Thank you. That was a great date. The kissing was my favorite part."

"Date's not over yet, Nat. But I'm glad you like the kissing part." He grinned at her and he got a happy grin in return.

"Where are we going next?"

"You'll see."

Their next destination wasn't that far away. It only took them twenty minutes to get to the lights park. Thankfully it was already mostly dark, so they could enjoy the Christmas lights in all its glory.

"Oh, it's so pretty." Natasha gushed. "I had no idea that this existed!" She leaned over and pecked his lips. "Thank you, Steve! No one has ever planned such a great day for me before!"

He poured his love for her into the next kiss. Natasha looked almost dazed after he pulled away.

"I just want to treat you the way you deserve. You deserve everything that is good and beautiful."

"So do you." She kissed him softly. "I promise to always cherish you."

They kissed a little more and then got out of the car. Steve went to buy the tickets after turning down Natasha's offer to pay for them. It was a sweet gesture, but today he was going to pay for everything. He'd asked her on a date after all. Natasha reached for his hand after they walked through the entrance and he was probably grinning like an idiot. She was holding his hand in public! And no one cared. People were admiring the lights and not looking at them.

"Oh, wow. Look at those reindeer! I'll have to take a photo for Yelena!" Natasha got out her phone and took photos. She turned to look at him. "Can we take a selfie?"

"Yes!"

Natasha handed him her phone and he wrapped his other arm around her shoulder. She kissed his cheek when he tapped the screen to take a photo.

They looked like a couple. A normal, happy couple that was taking selfies.

"Can you send that to me?" He gave her back her phone. He wanted to use that photo as his new background.

"Of course." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "All I wanna do is kiss you, Steve."

They walked around the lights park, his arm around her shoulder, and stopped every five minutes or so to kiss. He truly was in heaven. Natasha felt so good and right in his arms, and the happy little sighs coming from her sweet mouth went straight to his heart, and another part of him if he was being honest. But they were in public and still taking it slow.

"Ew, get a room!" A girl screamed when she ran past by them.

Natasha chuckled and pulled away. "Public displays of affection makes people very uncomfortable."

"I've heard that before." He pecked her lips. "I personally love it!"

She grinned and took his hand. They took another stroll around the park, this time paying more attention to the light figures. They had hot chocolate and shared a piece of cake at the park cafe. Natasha hadn't looked too happy when he'd suggested to share a piece of cake, but it'd changed when he'd told her that they had dinner plans.

The place he was taking Natasha to next was practically around the corner and he suggested to walk there. She snuggled into his side and it made him feel so special that he got to see this side of her.

"So where are going?"

"Up that hill. There's a restaurant with a great view of the lights park." He kissed her forehead when she looked up at him.

Once they arrived at the restaurant, they were led to a private room with a giant window front. That way they could overlook the valley and see the lights, and had privacy.

"It's perfect." Natasha said when Steve pulled out her chair after beating the waiter to it. "You're perfect."

Natasha looked at the menu that the waiter had given her. "You ever tried fondue? I only like the one with cheese."

Steve blushed and Natasha raised an eyebrow. He was still embarrassed about the whole fondue thing with Peggy and Howard. Later he mouthed at her while the waiter listed what kinds of cheese were used for the fondue.

"We'll have the fondue, please." Steve told the waiter and he nodded and left.

"So what about fondue makes you blush?"

"Well...Peggy and Howard were talking about having fondue and I thought they were talking about having sex. I never heard the word fondue before."

Natasha laughed, but it wasn't at him. She was laughing with him. "Oh, Steve! That's cute! I'm sure Peggy was smitten."

"Probably thought I was a dork."

"A man being a dork is a good thing! Trust me." Natasha smirked. "You're adorable and sexy. It's a very dangerous combination."

"I think you're super sexy. And so cute!" He blurted out like an idiot and the waiter came into the room with their drinks, saving Steve from rambling more embarrassing things. You're super sexy?! And so cute?! Really, Steve?!

"I'm super sexy and so cute?" Natasha asked once the waiter was gone.

"Yeah, I could have phrased that better."

"No, it's nice to hear. From you. I only want to hear that I'm sexy from you. You're the only one who means it without objectifying me."

They talked and flirted over fondue and baguette and it was perfect. It felt natural to do this with Natasha. There were no awkward pauses and they didn't have to put on a show for the other one. Natasha was only interested in Steve, not his Captain America persona, and he saw more in her than what other people had tried to make her be.

It was quite late when they came back to the city and Steve drove to her place. He parked the car in front of her building and walked her to the door.

"Thank you for today." Natasha said, reaching for his hand and started to play with his fingers.

"You're welcome, sweetheart. I had a great time!"

"I like that we're taking it slow, Steve. That we're taking these steps. Thank you for giving me my first date. It was perfect."

He smiled happily. "I think it was perfect, too. And I can't wait to go on more dates."

"Me, too. Do I get a good night kiss?" Natasha teased.

"Of course, sweetheart." He bent down to kiss her softly.

"Goodnight, Steve." She gave him another sweet kiss.

"Goodnight, Nat."