Wanda starts the matchmaking.

Natasha took a shower in a record seven minutes and dried herself off as quickly as she could. To say that she was excited to have lunch with Steve and Wanda was an understatement. She honestly thought they were two of the sweetest people she'd ever met.

Meeting them on the airplane had been a happy coincidence and now, they were living right next door? That brought a smile to Natasha's face. Of course, she wasn't extremely affected by them. Nobody got under her skin in such a way and this was probably her way of reacting to the unknown. Perhaps in a few days, they'll hardly be on her mind.

After slipping into her bikini underwear, she grabbed a white peasant blouse and a pair of bootcut jeans from her closet. Her hair was still wet from the shower, so she twisted it into a bun at the top of her head and kept it in place with a scrunchie.

She was just going to be next door, nevertheless, Natasha pocketed her cell phone in case someone called. The extra copy of her house key was in her front pocket and once she slipped her feet into a pair of her favorite brown flats, she was out of the door.

Wanda came over and met her halfway. "When you said you'd get here in fifteen minutes, you weren't kidding!"

Amused, Natasha asked, "Did you time me?"

"No, but I paid close attention to the clock. It was either that or help dad and he chased me out of the kitchen because I ate some chips when he wasn't looking."

"You're a mischievous young lady, aren't you?"

"Mmhm. Dad says I'm incorrigible, but I think I just need maternal influence."

They stopped at the front door of the Rogers' house, but Natasha didn't go inside. Wanda's words surprised her, so she drew back and looked at the girl with brewing curiosity.

"Maternal influence? You mean you don't have any women in your life?"

Wanda shook her head and absentmindedly - or so it seemed - kicked at a small rock on the stone path. "No. I mean, a couple of my teachers back at Brooklyn were women. They took an interest in my education and they liked me too. But you can't expect a teacher to develop a relationship with every single student when they have to teach twenty five of them, right?"

"I guess not," Natasha agreed. Her brow was furrowed and she looked through the screen door. She could see Steve moving around in the kitchen. He was preoccupied, so he didn't notice them talking at the front door.

"What about family? You don't have any women in your lives at all?"

"Not really. My dad's parents were Irish immigrants who came here all by themselves. Dad was their only son and when he adopted me, they'd been dead for ten years, I think."

"That's right...he told me about that on the plane, but he never mentioned any aunts and uncles."

"The family on his mom and dad's side disowned them both for getting married and that's why they came to America. A visit wouldn't do any good. They don't consider dad to be kin and if they don't accept him, they definitely wouldn't accept me."

"That's horrible." Natasha couldn't fathom what it'd be like to be cut off from family over a marriage. It was so cruel. "And what about your dad? Has he ever dated or anything?"

"I think there was someone he liked once, but nothing happened between them. He was shy for a long time and he's not anymore, but I think women make him nervous because they flirt with him a lot. He isn't like that around you, though. Maybe you're good for him."

"Hm." Natasha didn't reply because she had no idea what to say. She felt a sense of sadness for this girl because every growing child needed a woman's voice in her life.

Wanda observed Natasha silently and grinned. No doubt she was taking her words to heart. Good.

I won't say anything else now. That was enough push to get her to ask dad some questions.

They walked through the screen door together and entered the house. Steve turned his head and his face lit up when he saw Natasha. Or she was reading too much into that expression.

"Wow, you look beautiful."

The redhead felt her cheeks heat up and she batted her eyelashes. "Thank you, Steve."

"She smells nice too!" Wanda added. "Are you wearing perfume, Ms. Natasha?"

"I'm wearing body butter. It's mint and lemongrass."

"Good combination. Take a whiff, dad!"

"Wanda," Steve admonished, shaking his head at her behavior. "You're not supposed to go around smelling people."

"Well, it's too late because I just did it." The girl put her hands on her hips defiantly.

"Don't do it again. It's not polite." Steve's voice had that parental tone.

"Okay, but if you smelled her, you wouldn't regret it." Wanda hopped on a stool that was at the edge of the kitchen island. There was a single plate in front of three stools, each with a sandwich, potato chips and a bowl of pre sliced fruit. A stack of cups was in the middle of the marble with two bottles of soda and a couple bottles of water next to them.

"Wow, what a spread. I'm getting hungry just looking at everything." Natasha sat down in the middle chair on Wanda's right.

Steve went to the fridge and said over his shoulder, "If you like sandwiches, I promise you will love these."

"Cocky."

"Nah. When you take a bite out of that sandwich, you'll be begging me to make you lunch every day." Natasha laughed and Steve smiled at her as he handed Wanda a juice box - she frowned at this, but he wasn't paying attention.

"What do you want to drink?"

"Hm, I can never say no to Cherry Pepsi."

"Cherry Pepsi it is." Steve picked up two empty cups and filled them with ice out of a bag that sat in the sink. When he poured the soda into their cups, he joined Natasha and seated himself on her right. Their thighs brushed against each other and she felt a little thrill rush down her spine.

Okay, I guess I'm affected by him much more than I believed.