This is the sequel to 'Neighbour' and I hope those of you who have read that will enjoy this?! I really do appreciate all the reviews you left and the favourite and follows; thank you very much indeed. Also, please let me know what you think of this because right now I think I've bitten off more than I can chew! It follows a much more 'comic book' storyline so bridging the gap between enjoyable 'long story' to read and enjoyable 'comic book' story to read has been a new learning curve for me, most notably writing for realistic characters as opposed to 'comic villains'.
"What've you got there?" Natasha asked Steve as the pair took time out from their relatively benign reconnaissance mission. Steve turned away from her slightly as he held the small package in his hands he'd retrieved from his trouser pocket.
"Nothing," Steve answered instinctively. Natasha smirked and craned her neck to look round him.
"Steve?" she said still trying to get a good look.
"What?" Steve pushed the bundle back into his pocket.
"What are you hiding from me?" the two of them stared at one another, one in hesitation and the other in amused intrigue. Steve knew Natasha wouldn't drop it until she found out what 'it' was. Sighing he pulled the paper wrapped parcel back out of his pocket and began to unfold it, Natasha looking on with keen interest. When three perfectly cooked Samosas were unveiled Natasha couldn't help but take in a short sharp breath. "You weren't going to give me one?!" she asked looking at Steve horrified. Steve blushed and held his hand out to Natasha who took one instantly.
"I only have three," came his reply and even to his own ears it sounded juvenile and ridiculous.
"I know I say it every time but she is the best cook ever, tell her I said that." Natasha mumbled through a mouth full of Samosa and Steve laughed.
"I have told her Nat," he started but was interrupted with a hand held up in front of him.
"Well tell her again and tell her to make some for me!"
"I don't think there's much room in that suit for a Tupperware box?" Steve deadpanned. Eyeing him up and down Natasha shook her head and popped the last bit of Samosa in her mouth,
"You're one to talk," she mumbled as they went back to work.
Caroline rang the doorbell of the large townhouse, glancing around she quickly noticed the impeccable topiary shrubs standing proudly either side of the large black double fronted door. She jumped when the door opened and smiled nervously when a smallish elderly man greeted her.
"Good afternoon Madam?" the man said to her rather formally.
"Hello, my name is Caroline Holland. I'm here to see Mister Fennhoff?" the man ushered her in quietly and Caroline had to stop her jaw from dropping at the grand foyer she found herself in. A large round table sat in the centre of the marble floor reception area, an elaborate arrangement of flowers sitting proudly in the middle. A sweeping staircase with rich emerald carpet framed the entire room and Caroline found herself gawking up at the numerous floors.
"Please wait here Madam," the man told her and Caroline nodded mutely. She'd worked for an array of families since moving to the US but this home was by far the most lavish. Straightening her coat and polishing her boots on the back of her legs she checked that her hair was still in its neat twist at the back of her head. Looking the part was an important aspect of what she did and it always made her chuckle how in contrast it was to her habitual uniform of old jeans and baggy jumpers she sported when at home.
"Ms Holland!" Turning Caroline smiled when she saw an impressively tall and rather imposing gentleman make his way towards her.
"Mister Fennhoff?" she replied.
"Yes my dear, it's a pleasure to meet you." Taking his hand Caroline was overwhelmed by his presence. He was an older gentleman but his square jaw and flawless suit which was clearly bespoke gave him an air of magnetism that Caroline had rarely seen before.
"You too Mister Fennhoff,"
"Would you like to follow me? I thought perhaps we should talk in the kitchen, I imagine you would be keen to see where you would be spending the majority of your time!" with a gentle chuckle Caroline followed him wordlessly.
"That's very kind of you Mister Fennhoff," as Caroline walked into the kitchen she couldn't help but suck in a breath at the spectacle of it all. Every reflective surface was made of the highest quality, marble, tile and glass reflected the light from the largest chandelier she'd ever seen.
"I never cook myself so I will have to bow to your judgement Ms Holland as to whether this kitchen is adequate." Caroline thought he was joking and was about to laugh but looking at his face realised he was being serious.
"More than adequate Mister Fennhoff, you have a beautiful home." She complimented.
"Excellent, excellent, well I have already read your references, all glowing as you can imagine I would dearly hope that you could provide me with some excellent home cooking from time to time? I'm in desperate need of a balanced diet!" Caroline turned her attention back to him and grinned.
"It would be a pleasure Sir."
"Oh look who it is, my favourite person in the entire world!" Sam held his arms out as Caroline walked towards him.
"You're only saying that Sam because I'm holding two pies!" Caroline laughed as she set them down and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Sam acted offended, holding his chest and looking at her aghast.
"I can't believe you think that?! What kind of monster do you think I am?" Caroline watched as his focus reverted back to the pies and giggled when he licked his lips. "What are they?" he asked her a moment later.
"Pecan and Pumpkin," she told him as he creeped closer. "And they're not for you." Picking them back up she rolled her eyes at Sam's sulking face and proceeded to the kitchen at the VA.
"Has anybody ever told you you're a mean woman?" Sam called after her, "Who are they for? Who's more important than me?" he asked following her into the kitchen. Caroline pulled her coat off and set to work setting up the teas and coffees.
"My new client," she answered.
"Which is?" Sam asked, making a motion with his hand for her to expand on her answer.
"A lovely gentleman who doesn't look at me like a Labrador whenever I have food around me." Caroline teased. Sam folded his arms across his chest and raised an eyebrow.
"Lovely gentleman?" he repeated, impersonating her accent. "Does he know you're dating the Cap?" Caroline scrunched up her face.
"Don't call him that Sam," Caroline berated him. "I'm not dating 'the Cap'." She repeated, air quoting as she spoke.
Sam laughed and shook his head, he'd never met anyone less interested in the Avengers and members thereof in his life. He knew Caroline to be immensely proud of Steve Rogers but he knew as far as she was concerned the Steve Rogers that wore slacks and a plaid shirt, volunteered downtown and helped her deliver mince pies to their neighbours at Christmas was the true hero in her book. He'd overheard her once telling him to be careful when he'd ridden his motorbike somewhere; even with the knowledge that Steve was superhuman Caroline Holland worried about him in midday traffic, it was adorable in Sam Wilson's book. She was also immensely private and very few people knew of their relationship, Sam thought it was perfect, peanut butter and jelly.
"Don't you have somewhere to be?" Caroline asked him, shooing him away as she spoke.
"No, I don't think so?" Sam replied, resting against the counter beside her.
"You're impossible you know that?!" Caroline placed two cups and saucers in his hands. "Go and make yourself useful," she told him.
"Yes Ma'am." With a curt nod and a smirk Sam left the kitchen leaving Caroline quietly laughing not before shouting out, "Wait till Cap gets back and I tell him you've been neglecting to provide pies to his best friend!"
One Month Later
Caroline walked down the street quickly, it was late, dark and cold and all she wanted to do was get home and put her feet up. Lugging her handbag over her shoulder she ran up the stone steps of her apartment building and rushed through the door. Taking the rest of the stairs in twos the brass number three on the door next to hers caught her eye and she found herself smiling a tight lipped smile. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts Caroline fished for her key and finally got into her apartment. Dropping her coat and bag she left them where they fell and went straight to the bedroom, falling onto her bed she didn't bother getting under the covers but simply pulled the blanket that lay at the foot of the bed over her and turned onto her side. Her eyes were closed and she was asleep before she'd even had a chance to take both her shoes off.
Steve shouted into his earpiece but there was no response; looking around he knew he was pinned down.
"Nat?!" he tried again but all he heard was static. Growling in frustration Steve hunkered down and then set off running only to be immediately surrounded by a group of soldiers. As they closed the gap around him Steve looked for a way out. Shouting an almighty primeval growl he didn't see the gun being pointed to the back of his head. Natasha rounded the corner just as Steve Rogers' body fell to the floor.
"Nooo!"
Caroline shot up in bed screaming, scrambling at the blanket twisted around her she fell from the bed and stumbled to her bathroom. Staring at herself in the mirror she watched as the tears still fell down her cheeks. She was hyperventilating and it took her a while to calm down, turning on the tap she splashed her face with cold water and continued to take long, deep breaths.
She'd never had a dream like that before, she'd never worried about him before like that, always confident that he would be alright but it had felt so real! Knowing there was no way she would get back to sleep she went to her kitchen and put on the kettle. Now all she wanted was for him to be home.
"Mister Fennhoff?" Caroline peered round the kitchen door as she fastened her coat the next day.
"Yes Caroline?"
"Your dinner is ready when you are, let me know what you think alright?" giving Johann Fennhoff a quick smile she bid him goodnight and walked to the front door of the large townhouse.
"Thank you Caroline, I don't think I've ever eaten as well as I am doing now!" he said laughing heartily. "Although I'm not sure my tailor will be happy with the results?" Caroline rolled her eyes.
"Now now Mister Fennhoff, everything in moderation. Tonight's dinner is perfectly balanced and the desert is two servings not one!" giving him a small wave she opened the door and bid him goodnight before closing it behind her. It didn't take her long to travel across the city and as she walked briskly towards the front of her apartment building she could see that someone was sat on the steps outside.
"Steve!" she shouted as she neared knowing it was him instantly. Steve looked up to see Caroline running towards him, standing up just in time to catch her Caroline flung herself into his arms, hers tightly wrapping around her neck. Picking her up he twirled her around, burying his face into her neck. "Oh god I've missed you!" she mumbled into his leather jacket.
"I've missed you too," Steve replied as he set her back down. Caroline looked him over quickly with a concerned face.
"Are you alright?" she asked, the nightmare from the previous night coming to mind.
"I'm fine, I'm fine." Steve took her hand as the pair started up the steps.
"Were you waiting long?" Caroline asked feeling an overwhelming sense of relief.
"No, not long." Caroline looked back up at him apprehensively.
"Are you really alright?" she asked again and Steve laughed, slightly confused by Caroline's behaviour.
"I'm fine really, what's wrong?" he asked her as she unlocked her door.
"Nothing, nothing's wrong. I guess I just missed you a little more than usual." She told him smiling. "Are you hungry?" she asked and Steve's shoulders relaxed.
"Starving," he told her and Caroline grinned.
"Go and get washed up, I'll make your favourite." Steve closed the gap between them and gave her a long loving kiss.
"I'm glad to be home," he told her as he rested his forehead on hers.
"Me too," she whispered back. As Steve made his way down the hall, shirking his jacket as he went he turned and caught her attention.
"Oh Nat has requested more snacks, you know, for next time." He told her laughing.
"More snacks, got it." Caroline gave him a thumbs up before he went into the bathroom, her smile faltering when he was out of sight.
As Steve sat and twisted a lock of Caroline's hair around and around his fingers Caroline let her eyes close lazily.
"Anything to report?" he asked her, shifting in bed so that Caroline could rest her head on his chest.
"Not really, busy at work and Sam had me helping out with a few things downtown. Business as usual," she told him her eyes opening and closing at ever increasing intervals. "Are you going to be home for a while?" she asked him and Steve gave her a kiss on the top of her head, seeing from the slow rise and fall of her chest that she'd already fallen asleep.
"I hope so," he whispered.