~April 15, 2015~

When they both arrived at the restaurant, Steve held the door open like any gentlemen would do as he took her hand gently in his own, shutting the door behind him. Helen politely told him to remove his shoes and place them in the shoe rack beside the entrance as she removes hers before neatly puts them there. Steve follows her advice and did the same as hers while his eyes looking around this breathtaking Korean restaurant they went in, it's nice to go out like a normal couple without being watched. Since it's a Korean restaurant, most of the visitors here are Asian and Steve felt more comfortable visiting here. Not many people around him notice that it was Captain America walking into an Asian restaurant as both of them were greeted by a well-mannered waitress who respectfully bows at their presence.

The Captain leads Helen towards the selected table and pulled out a chair for her then moves onto his own seat as the same waitress came to give them the menus.

"Please take your time and I will come by when you're ready to order." The waitress instructed in her Korean accent before leaving them to pick their order. The two thumbed through their menus, trying to decide on their first course. However, Steve is somehow having a slight difficulty in picking one, all of the foods in this menu look delicious yet as a first timer in trying them, he can't help but wanted Helen to suggest these foods for him just to be sure if they are suited for his taste. Helen notices this and amusingly smiles at her date's slightly scrunched up face, realizing that Steve is having a hard time picking his choice of a meal. And so, the kind-hearted doctor decides to save him from having a hard time choosing.

"Need a little help with that, Steve?"

He looked up from the menu to see her smiling at him in amusement. The Captain felt his cheeks turning red and chuckled embarrassingly, knowing that Helen must've noticed his small situation he was having. "It seems I'm having a small problem in picking these Korean foods, I mean they're all delicious when I look at it but I'm having a hard time picking them."

"Well don't you worry there, Captain Rogers." She teased him a little.

Steve raised his eyebrow and can't help but grow a smirk at her playful tone.

"I'll save you from that small problem of yours."

He shook his head slightly while they both laughed at their silly yet an adorable flirting. Helen picks back up her menu and chooses the meal for the both of them while Steve just stared at the Korean woman who's looking through the menu she was going to pick as he began to admire the sight of her features.

With just her simple coral green dress that matched her two inch black shoes, Steve couldn't bring his eyes away from her. Her long dark hair was naturally waved and she had little to no makeup on except for some rosy pink lipstick stained on her soft lips. To put it simply, he loved the way she looked. In fact, anything the way she looks is naturally beautiful.

He was about to compliment her beauty but was interrupted when the waitress arrives quickly in time to get their order.

Helen settled on picking steamed vegetarian dumplings, tofu stone bowl rice with sesame leaves, organic zen bibimbap and noodles along with a set of soothing hot tea for the both of them. Once they had ordered, the waitress left to prepare for the couple's meal while the two were waiting for their food as Steve looked at Helen and smiled.

"I seriously don't know how to start the conversation."

She chuckled. "I know. This is a bit awkward, considering that this is my very first date."

"No, it's not awkward. It's just that I realized that I really don't know how to talk with women. I'm the least favorable man, I guess. Always the old fashioned, boring, dull guy from the 1940s."

Denying his words, she simply protested. "Well to me, you are not the least favorable. You are exactly the type of guy I like, you know. A sweet, kind and handsome gentleman like yourself is so rare these days." Helen didn't realize that she was staring at him ever so fondly when she describes his characteristics, causing Steve to gaze at her the same way she did to him before she shook her head from thinking out loud and shyly tucked a few strands of hair from her ear. "I mean, I'm sure there are a lot of women around here fawning over you."

"Only when it comes to me being Captain America, not the scrawny guy I was before I became like this." He points to himself with an honest smile on his face.

"Well, I think you are cute as a scrawny guy." Helen giggled softly when she sees his surprised expression as she continued. "I saw your old picture when Tony reveals to me of your medical records."

He shook his head and waved it off in denial, chuckling slightly when she said to those words. "No Helen, I'm not. Girls like you would just be chasing over muscular guys than a little guy like my former self."

"Steve, I'm being honest. I seriously think those girls are pretty stupid to think you are not worth of a guy they would go out with. And if you're like the "cute scrawny guy" you were once before, I would definitely love to go on a date with you if you asked me out."

The Captain found his heart skipping a beat when she earnestly complimented about him being his pre-serum self. She gave him that sweet smile of hers while fixing her hair from the mess that the bike ride created a while ago before saying another word.

"And as I said before, you are the type of guy I like. It's not because you are a handsome man with muscles and everything that most of the women saw would love…" She looks at him deeply into his eyes with a loving gaze. "It's because you are a good man with a golden heart."

Steve's eyes softened when she said the last sentence and begins to remember Dr. Erskine's words before he died. 'You must promise me one thing… that you will stay who you are. Not a perfect soldier, but a good man.'

Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted when Helen reaches his hand in the middle of the table then wraps her petite fingers around his larger ones, still smiling at him in the gentlest way that he had always loved as he locks his fingers around hers and smiled in return for a moment before separating as the waiter came back with their food and she neatly arranged all of them on the table before bowing again and excuses herself to the kitchen.

Once the food is on the table, Helen can completely see the look on his face staring at the food with a mixture of interest and amazement. God, he looks so adorable when he stares at the food like the eyes of an eager child. She begins to take a pair of silver chopsticks and prepares to pick one of the dishes selected on the table.

"Let's dig in, Steve." Helen grinned while taking a piece of dumpling.

"I don't know where to begin, doll." The Captain chuckled.

"Try this dumpling, it's very good." She places the piece in front of his mouth, waiting for it to be open. And Steve, not wanting to be rude of her offer, he then leans in and takes a bite of it. Helen could see his pure delightful expression when he continues to take another piece of dumpling. Watching his face with satisfaction, she proceeds on taking a piece for herself.

"You're right, this dumpling is really good." Steve pointed the dumplings with his chopsticks, looking so pleased.

"I told you." Helen giggled slightly while chewing her food. "Try the others, all of them are pleasantly good and healthy."

Without a second thought, the Captain begins to try each of these dishes one by one and amazingly, he was astonished by the taste of interesting ingredients and a few spices when it comes to Asian foods. Steve was supposed to try first the Thai food, one of the Asian cuisines that he had put it on the list a year ago. But since he had tried Korean dishes with Helen, he doesn't have a problem on waiting to try the next Asian cuisine.

Steve and Helen continued to dig into their dinner, both savoring the ethnic food on the table as the Korean doctor started talking about her new research when the super-soldier asked about the Cradle. Realizing that this is no time for her to talk about work, this is the time for her and Steve to get know more about each other.

"Enough about work. Tell me more about yourself, Steve." Helen said, smiling at him with a tint of curiosity in her features wanting to know about not just him being Captain America but him being his own-self. "Anything, big or small family… general region where you came from… favorite color… hobbies?" She listed in hopes of getting at least something out of him.

"You probably heard everything from the Smithsonian Museum by now."

She shook her head and slightly protested. "No, I want to hear it from you. In your own words, not from the museum itself. Please?"

He took a deep breath, eyeing at her softly. "Okay, I um… I grew up in Brooklyn and an only child to my parents, Sarah and Joseph Rogers. My mother was a nurse and my father was a soldier like me, who died before I was born." He can see Helen's saddened expression when he mentions his father whom he had never met, even though his mother told stories about him.

"I'm sorry…" Her words softly mumbled with an apology.

"It's okay, Helen."

"And your mother died before…" She nervously bit her lip before saying, "the accident, right?"

Steve nodded numbly. "Died of tuberculosis, yeah."

She sigh softly while looking at him with a hint of sadness in her dark eyes. "That must've been hard."

Never in his life, Steve had opened up deeply to anyone not even Sam and his Avengers team but when he was around with Helen, he felt at ease when he shares this part of himself with her. He never really talked about his past with anyone else before her. If he ever did, he had to get ready for the merciless jokes and teases.

But not with Helen. His past was just an important part of his life as the present, she already told some of her past to him two weeks ago so maybe it would be fair if he had told hers. In his mind and heart, he wanted her to know.

"It really was. My mom was my favorite person. I always looked up to her so much for she believed kindness made us stronger."

Helen gave him a gentle smile. "She would have been very proud of you, Steve."

"I hope you're right." He genuinely smiled a bit in return before continues to tell more about himself. "And my favorite color is blue… and my hobby is mostly about drawing, I've done it most in my spare time."

Satisfied of his information though was more interested in his hobby when her expression brightens as she asked. "You can draw? That's amazing, Steve. I would love to see all of your artwork sometime."

"I don't know, Helen. I honestly don't think you would be impressed with my skills."

"Steve, I'm sure that your art skills are good. It would be better if you would just show them to me, alright?"

Defeated by her kind words, he had no choice but to do so. "Alright, but promise me you won't laugh or anything if I show them to you?"

Giving him a sincere smile, she replied. "I promise."

Nodded in satisfactory at her words, he continued. "Okay, now that you know mine. How about yours, Helen?"

Shaking her head a bit after eating a piece of bibimbap then replied. "Mine's not that compelling as yours."

"Oh, come on." Steve chuckled slightly, not quite believing that her personal life is not that compelling as she says it claims to be. "You are a scientist who knows how to cook delicious foods like tamagoyaki and read classic novels. I doubt mine is more interesting than yours."

Helen rolls her eyes slightly in amusement before finally talking to him about her life. "Okay, um… just like you, I'm also an only child to my parents, Ariana and Stephen Cho. My mom was an English teacher and my dad was an electrical engineer. My favorite color is green, because I honestly love Mother Nature so much. Aside from reading classic novels, my main hobby is actually… cooking." She can see Steve's grin brighten when she mentions cooking as her main hobby then continued to say.

"And my Korean name is Cho Soo-hyun."

Hearing her native name gives him the lighthearted sensation that he cannot explain why for only God knows what the Captain is feeling right now.

"Your name's beautiful... What does it mean?"

"My name means 'idealistic' and 'kind'."

"Just like you… Soo-hyun."

Helen can feel her cheeks turning rosy when he says her native name and she can't help but feel undoubtedly pleasant and just so right. She tucked her hair again once more while her dark eyes stared down at the food, shyly avoiding his tender gaze. Steve noticed her bashfulness and continues to compliment her name with a soft smile.

"I would prefer calling you your native name than most people called you often. If that's alright with you?"

She looks up to face him then nodded genuinely. "I don't mind, Steve."

They both stared at one another with their eyes never leaving each other's sight for a tender moment until Helen decides to break off the silence unexpectedly.

"So um, anything more interesting about yourself?"

"Well, as far as I'm concern, there's nothing more interesting about me that is worth knowing." Steve gave her an apologetic smile.

"Then can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

It took a short second for her to take a quiet deep breath before asking.

"Do you want to continue being an Avenger? I mean, like if you want to retire and have a normal life… Build a family like Clint and be happy with your wife and children." Her last words murmured out softly.

"Yeah, I would very much like that." He wistfully smiled and absentmindedly nodded with his eyes averted down. What Helen said about it is true. He does want all of that. He had been thinking of quitting the Avengers as well after knowing that Clint retired right after the battle of Sokovia ended in order to spend more time with his family. He deeply respects him so much because that man is willing to give it all up to make his wife very happy. During his time at the world war, Steve have always wanted to have that kind of life with Peggy back then. Yet in this era he lived in for the past few years, he's not sure anymore. The battlefield feels like his only home to him and he can't really tell whether he's going to be alright not surrounding himself with anything army-related. Yes, the Avengers are almost like a family to him but every time his fellow teammates would be with their significant others, deep down he feels lost and lonely.

But now, Helen unexpectedly came into his life and somehow the entities of fate gave him another chance of happiness to live for. However, the question is… Does she really want to be with him? And so he says something that he shouldn't have said in front of her.

"And I guess that's the reason why I'm still single."

"What do you mean?" She asked, her eyebrows furrowed with a mix of confusion and curiosity.

He looks up to face her with a doleful smile. "No living person is willing to be with me, Helen. You know this better than anyone else. And, I guess I'm alright with that. I've lost people that I cared about so many times and I don't want that to happen again."

Helen didn't say a word though her eyes say it all in one glance, pity as he continues to say with a hint of solemnity.

"It seems I really am "the man out of time" pretending that I could live without war."

"Steve…"

All of a sudden, there was a deafening silence between them and he knew from the moment he says all those words, had just ruined their first date by talking something he shouldn't have said. He stares at her who gave him an awkward smile and a hint of a frown on her features. It was hard to read her because there was sadness, disappointment, and sympathy all mixed in one feeling that he couldn't describe.

'Steve, you blew it very hard tonight! What the hell?' He scolded himself in thought.

The Captain wanted to say something, to apologize if he could but the Korean doctor just softly patted his hand before she held her arm out to call for the waitress. Steve sighed and felt disappointed in what had happened tonight as he took out a few amounts of cash and gave the waitress who arrived quickly to receive the payment.

"Let's take a walk." She stood up and gestures him to follow her with a small wisp of a smile. Confused as to wonder why she suddenly wanted to walk with him after what happened just now. And so with no choice, he decided to follow her as she requested then they both left the restaurant to take a walk on the city streets.

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~o~

"Helen?"

Steve called out to her quietly beside her while still walking on the street surrounded with a few people pass by. She didn't take a glance or even spoke to him as they continue to walk together in silence. His words a while ago kept on replaying in his mind. Did he just unexpectedly reject her after confessing their feelings towards one another? Steve cursed to himself of his stupidity as he proceeded to walk beside her until suddenly, Helen immediately took his hand a bit tightly and pulled him towards the nearby park where he saw a banner standing high up in front of him that says "Golden Age Dance Ball". And there he saw a group of senior couples slow dancing together with a few bright hanging lamps high above them along with the band group on the stage where the speakers of a slow beat of a romantic 1940s jazz music surrounding them.

"Dance with me."

Helen begins to face in front of him while still holding his hand, smiling. This was unexpected, Steve was wondering why she decided to dance with him all of a sudden after the ruined moment of their date. And worst of all, he doesn't know how to dance. He was afraid that if he does, he will step on her tiny feet or make himself embarrassed of his lame dance moves.

"Helen, I… I-I don't know how to dance." He whispered nervously.

"Don't worry, I'll show you how." The Korean woman giggled softly while trying to assure him.

His blue eyes widened when she said those words… the words he reminded someone he once loved. Steve then begins to remember the exchange words when he and Peggy last spoke to each other on the transmitter before he was about to crash land.

'You know, I still don't know how to dance.'

'I'll show you how, just be there.'

That memory still stays in his mind every time he thinks about Peggy after he got out of the ice three years ago. It's been too long… too late to have a chance to dance with her. But that was history now, them being together was never meant to be. And he accepted that fate of being in a new world with newfound friends and family as his home… including someone who makes him feel alive and happy again after seventy years.

Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted when an old man beside him called out while dancing with his partner.

"Young man, just dance with this lovely lady already."

Steve can feel his pale cheeks turning red with embarrassment when this old man just tells him on what he needs to do right now as the Captain scratches at the back of his head. God, he feels like a sixteen-year-old kid again from Brooklyn. And that old man right there, is possibly his age tells him like a father encouraging his teenage son to man-up already.

He can hear Helen chuckled amusingly as the old man spoke again towards him.

"You might not want to keep your lady waiting for you, young man." Smiling encouragingly at Steve, he continues to say. "If she really wants you to dance with her, then do it. No matter how crappy your moves are, she will guide you there. Okay?"

The Captain bashfully nodded at the old man and smiled in return, understanding his words.

"Thank you for that, Mr…?"

"Ah, call me Stan. Stan Lee." The old man grinned. "And this amazing dance partner of mine right here is my lovely wife, Joan."

"I have to say, you two would make an adorable couple." The old woman complimented at the two, looking awed at the sight of the young couple.

Steve was about to protest when Helen surprisingly spoke out to her. "Thank you, Mrs. Lee. I honestly didn't expect that we would be together like this."

The old couple chuckled as Joan replied. "Oh, that's what love is supposed to be. Love works in mysterious ways, child. No matter the difference between you two are, it will always find a way that you both are meant to be together."

"That's what I always thought since the day I fell for her." Stan looks at his wife ever so lovingly then faces Steve and Helen with a supporting smile. "As I said before, kid. Dance with her, alright?" He winked at the blonde-headed Captain before he moves away and continues to slow dance with his wife, leaving them to just stand in the middle of the dance floor.

Steve made a deep sigh then turns to face Helen who stares at the old couple dancing with a soft expression on her face. Deciding to man himself up, he raises his hand in front of her and begins to ask.

"Can I have this dance?"

Her eyes drift away from the old couple to face him then glances down at his waiting hand before looking at him again. It took a short moment for Steve to wait for a reply when she finally places her hand on top of his and gave him a soft smile.

"Of course."

"But remember, I still don't know how to dance." He smiled a bit nervously.

"It's okay. And as I said, I will show you how." Helen took his right hand and places it on her side then laid her left one on his shoulder as she gazes at him who still seems to be a bit tense on how he is going to do right now. And so with this, she begins to guide him slowly when the music called "You made me love you by Harry James and Kitty Kallen" continues to play smoothly.

"Just take a breath, Steve."

He closes his eyes then inhales and exhales slowly as he followed her words while his blue eyes staring down at her with adoration.

"And take one step."

He immediately looks down at his foot to check his steps but felt her fingers touching his chin to face her again then touches strokes his face affectionately.

"Keep your eyes, locked on mine."

She places her left hand back on his shoulder as their eyes gaze at one another with intense passion.

"And let the music be your guide."

And there they slowly dance to the melody, perfectly guided by the soft beating music. Steve and Helen continued to look at each other with longing, both savoring the feeling of their touch. Growing a bit confident in his moves, he slowly wrapped his arm around her waist and brought her body close towards his, making them press slightly up against each other as another music came out that Steve recognizes the song he favored called "It's been a long long time by Kitty Kallen" starts to play smoothly.

"I love that song…" Helen murmured.

"You do?"

She nodded, smiling gently at him. "I was a little girl back then… I always hear it every time my parents dance together in the living room every night. My mother told me that this love song they have always played is the first one they have danced since they first dated. I would always watch them and became entranced on the way they look at each other, looking so in love that I wish I wanted to experience that when I find a man who looks at me the way my father looked at my mother."

Steve smiled at her in return. "And did you find what you're looking for, doll?"

"Maybe the man I'm looking for is standing right here, dancing with me so perfectly." She said a bit mischievously though her dark eyes are filled with yearning and love when the female singer of the band begins to sing.

Never thought that you would be standing here so close to me

There's so much I feel that I should say…

Steve struggled to swallow as he slowly tightened his hand on her waist, never letting go from their slow dance. He felt his heart flutter when he looks into her beautiful obsidian eyes.

But words can wait until some other day…

They could feel each other's hearts beating wildly from their touch than before as they gaze into each other's eyes like the ocean sea against the earthly land.

Kiss me once, then kiss me twice

Then kiss me once again, it's been a long, long time…

Helen's eyes lowered as she felt her fair cheeks blushing red. Before looking back up into his sapphire eyes to see him smiling at her gently and she smiled back while he begins to lead her now slowly to the beat of the music, getting used to dancing with her in his arms no longer nervous or afraid.

Haven't felt like this, my dear

Since I can't remember when, it's been a long, long time…

He span her in two gentle turns so she stood with her back against his chest as he looked at her with such longing, he held his left arm for her to take whilst his right one snaked around her waist bringing their bodies closer together.

You'll never know how many dreams, I've dreamed about you

Or just how empty they all seemed without you…

Helen looked to his free hand and gracefully put her hand in his in time with the music. Completely absorbed in their own magical moment, they failed to notice the senior couples glancing at them in awe for it is rare but also beautifully romantic for them to see the young couple dancing so perfectly and both so in love in the middle of the dance floor.

So kiss me once, then kiss me twice then kiss me once again

It's been a long, long time…

Helen leaned into him and closed her eyes for a brief moment as she placed her hand on top of his that was stayed on her waist and she caressed his fingers with hers in a subtle move.

Steve maneuvered their arms in a quick motion and he span her out to the side sending her dress to whisk around her. He brought her back and took a hold on both of her hands as they stood arms length away from each other and he took in the sight of her as he brings her closer to him back into their usual dance's stance, only a lot closer than before as they looked at each other so passionately and his eyes flickered to her soft plump lips then backs up into her eyes. He leaned down, and slowly kissed her soft luscious lips, slowly and tenderly.

She melted within their kiss, slowly raising her arms to wrap them around his neck while he wraps his around her waist never caring if they are many people witnessing this around them. They kissed ever so lovingly, moving against each other's lips and their noses nuzzling together.

When their lips slowly parted, they looked through their half-lidded eyes back at each other with their forehead resting together.

"Steve?"

He hummed softly in response, still mesmerized by their kiss.

"Thank you for coming into my life and loving me."

Smiling affectionately at her words, his blue eyes gaze up into her dark ones. For the past three years, he thought he felt lost and alone in this new century he lived in even though he was surrounded by a few people he befriended. He thought the battlefield will forever be his home for the rest of his life. But God finally gave him a gift when he felt like he will never love again is this woman right here in his arms, within his grip.

"No, thank you for coming into my life, Helen. And giving me the love I feel like I don't deserve."

She gave him a gentle smile, staring at him fondly.

"You deserve to be loved, Steve. You always will.

Hearing this, he then again leans in to kiss her lips once more and smirked when returns his kiss so passionately before they pulled away and rested their foreheads against each other's, both smiling with love and adoration.

"Saranghaeyo, Soo-hyun."

She giggled softly at his pronunciation though very proud of him learning her native language and speaking "I love you" in Korean so well.

"I love you too, Steve."

The two grinned happily as they continued on dancing at the next romantic music, moving on from the past behind them and ready to start the new adventure of their lives together as a couple.

Phew! I finally posted this chapter of them having their very first date together ❤️! It took me three tries to think of the better moments for their date and honestly, it was kind of hard but at least I finally got it in the end. I hope this satisfies you, readers ;)br /

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See you soon for the next chapter ;)

Review (^u^)❤️?