See if you can catch the non-Avengers fan reference!

Steve immediately shushed me and dashed down the stairs. "My neighbors cannot know, especially not Helen," he whispered, slipping an arm around my shoulders to warm me up. "Come upstairs, you're freezing."

I followed him up to his apartment, where he turned on the record player and disappeared into the kitchen to put a kettle on to boil.

"What the hell were you thinking, Dani? Going out in late fall in New York in the middle of the night in your night things?"

"Don't deflect, Steve," I said. "How did you do it? Travel time? Can S.H.I.E.L.D. do that?"

"No, not really," he said, emerging from the bedroom with a blanket that he wrapped about my shoulders. "If I could travel time, don't you think I'd have gone back to find someone? To come home to? To care about?"

"Tell me everything."

"I can't do that."

"Of course you lied to me."

"I never lied to you, Danielle. I only omitted the things that were too difficult to believe."

Technically, it was true. But omission was just as bad as lying… right? "Then tell me what you can."

"Alright. I was born in 1920 to a war widow. My father was killed in action during World War I, I guess that was a part of why I wanted to serve so badly: to honor his memory, to serve during a war, I got in by a miracle, and that miracle was because a particular scientist liked me. After a science experiment, I was turned into a super soldier. When I told you I was a wimpy kid and had a growth spurt after age 18, it was true: it was because of the experiment. I got onto the front lines, that's where I learned tactics and strategy. But Hydra was the organization behind the Nazis in World War II. I was part of a task force that took it down. They located the Tesseract and I managed to capture a Hydra plane containing it and it didn't get a chance to bomb America because I crashed it. It's bombs were meant for the US mainland, and I crashed it into the Arctic. I was expecting to die in the crash, but I was frozen instead, and last spring, S.H.I.E.L.D. was doing an Arctic expedition and they found me in the plane, and I was alive in the ice, just in a deep state of cryogenesis. I woke up in what looked like an Army hospital room, but it was a setup. They were only trying to ease me into the truth: it had been almost seventy years since that crash."

I was stunned.

No wonder he hadn't known all those pop culture references, yet seemed like such an expert on World War II. And to hear about successful cryogenesis on a human being was pretty much unheard of. The kettle whistle went off, and Steve went to the kitchen to pour a hot tea for me.

The apartment was bare because he had woken up, his identity assumed dead, and all of his things had probably been dealt with by the Army, disposed of and destroyed.

And if he had told me, without my own curiosity sending me to research his identity, I'd have run screaming from him and called the police. Of course, he couldn't tell me. How hard had it been to carry such a huge secret that he was unable to tell me since we had met?

It really had been him, not me.

I was furious at myself for running away like I had this afternoon on the Empire State Building.

I could only imagine how harsh was on himself today. The idea of being forever alone because of a freak accident…

"Have you been trying to tell me this?"

"Yeah."

"I guess this is difficult to believe."

"I wanna know where we're going, Dani," he said. "I thought maybe I could trust you. I lost an entire life, seventy years. I've got a second chance at it. Can I trust you?"

I bit my lips together and tears welled up in my eyes. I looked into my heart of hearts, could I accept that Steve occupied a realm of life that was beyond imagination, but real? He was older than my Nanny but had the smooth face of man seventy years younger than he chronologically was. What did this mean for his future? He came back and felt personally responsible for the good of humanity, and that meant sacrifices on my part, too. I thought about all the times I had seen Daddy pack up his military field gear while Momma shouted and screamed at him for re-enlisting and being dragged out for weeks at a time in the field. I hated him leaving, but this was military life. It was even more terrifying when he was sent out in combat. But deep down, I had had faith he'd always come back. "Of course."

I had to keep that kind of faith with Steve. I couldn't blame him for omitting the cryogenesis. Or leaving out chunks of the story all this time. I could tell it killed him to do so as the tears slid down my cheeks. "Are un-breaking up with me?" I asked.

"If you'll have me."

I stood up, dropping the blanket and rushed into his arms. It felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders, his too.

"It felt like you didn't belong in this time," I admitted.

"I don't think I've belonged in any time," he muttered, stroking my back.

Steve and I stood together, holding each other, in the middle of his apartment for what seemed like an hour or so. After the weight of this cloud had lifted between the two of us, I felt ravenous suddenly. I had forgotten to eat in my anger, and now that it was evaporated, I realized I was a little lightheaded, now.

"Can we get something to eat?" I asked. "I was so upset I haven't eaten since that food truck in downtown."

"I haven't either," Steve said. "Let's see what I've got in the fridge."

Steve fridge had a few items in, not much. He had a dozen eggs, so he got out the sole pan in his dish drain and made some scrambled eggs for us. It was amazing watching him when it struck me what a different time in America that he had been alive.

"Tell me about your life in the 40s."

"Not much to tell. I worked as a scrap metal collector and lived in a room in a boarding house before I got into the military. I didn't have much going for me."

"You must have gotten really strong that way, pulling scrap metal," I rubbed my eyes. I was suddenly so tired.

"No, not really."

"What?"

"I was 4F-ed six times before they let me enlist."

"That means you were rejected?"

"They rejected me because I was too much of a medical risk. I told you I was weak growing up, right? I also was about 5'1" on a good day, ninety pounds soaking wet, and wheezed like an accordion because of my asthma. I had a whole mess of things wrong with me. You probably would have stepped on me before dancing with me."

"Hey, two inches is not a big difference," I said, pointing to the top of my head.

"You'd have walked right past me."

"No, I wouldn't. I'd have tried to be your friend first."

"I wasn't good at talking to girls. I'm still not. Dr. Erskine didn't fix that."

"I saw the mention of a Dr. Erskine."

"You ran across that in your research?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I'm a grad school student, I do a lot of research."

He got two plain white plates out of the cabinet and put a spatula full of eggs on one. "Is this enough?"

"A little more?"

He scooped some more in and brought the plate over to me at the little kitchen card table. I started shoveling my food into my mouth.

"Do you know how nice it is to be able to unload this on somebody who isn't part of the initiative?" he sighed. "There were moments I felt like I did when I had asthma when I couldn't tell you the whole story: I can breathe again."

"I'm glad," I muttered. "No really, I am."

"You know, I had the perfect evening planned last night," he said. "I found a ballroom where a twelve-piece orchestra was playing."

"You're kidding!" I cried, disappointed. He was thoughtful and noticed the things I liked. I had almost run away from a relationship where we actually could have worked it out, and cared. "And I'm leaving tomorrow."

"You mean this afternoon."

"Ugh," I groaned. "Too soon."

"Do you want to go lay down? You look tired."

"I am," I said softly, eating my last bite of eggs.

"You can have the bed."

I put my plate in the sink and held out my hand to him.

"Come on," I whispered. He stood, eyes never leaving mine, and I tugged his arm toward the bedroom.

"Don't you think it's a little too soon to… you know… share a bed?"

"Not at all. We don't have to do anything. I just want to hold you." I pulled back the covers and sat down. "Which side of the bed do you like?"

I saw him smirk, that smirk that drove me crazy. "The center."

"I'm taking the right side," I said, untying my boots. I unhooked my bra through my t-shirt as he rounded the other side of the bed and climbed in with me. I snuggled up beside him, resting my head on his chest. He kissed my hairline and squeezed me. I buried my face in the soft, warm t-shirt fabric covering his chest and sighed.

My time traveler.

My relic.

I couldn't be angry with him for breaking up with my stop the Empire State Building: I couldn't say I'd have done any differently if I were in his situation. I hated to think about it, but I might have lied if put on the spot. He didn't. He had never lied to me. That was incredible.

He didn't belong in my world, but I wasn't going to let him go. I certainly didn't feel like I deserved him.

I dozed off and when I woke up, I was alone in the bed. I saw a note on the nightstand with my name on it: Steve went on a run and assured me he'd be back soon. I heard the radio on in the other room, and it was light outside. I went to the bathroom and squeezed out a little toothpaste onto my finger and brushed my teeth. He had a giant porcelain claw foot bathtub and I groaned. I missed having a good, hot soak in a tub. The next time I came here, I was going to do nothing but take a hot bath and read my textbook and drink a glass of wine.

After I got the wet sock taste out of my mouth, I saw Steve was standing at the kitchen sink, looking out the window to the skyline, and was sketching the buildings as the sun rose on a sketch pad.

"You're up?" he asked, not even turning his head

"What time is it?" I asked.

"Quarter of seven."

"Come back to bed?" I suggested, thinking about doing dirty things to him.

"I don't sleep that much. It's a beautiful morning, too. Can I make some coffee for you?"

"Okay."

He poured coffee for me as I sat down at the tiny card table in the kitchen. He made it as I liked it: creamer, no sugar. I accepted it as he sat across from me, taking my free hand, kissing my fingers.

"Who was that one friend you didn't lose?"

"Her name was Peggy."

"Oh?" I asked, surprised. A woman?

"Peggy Carter."

"What, really? No kidding?" I asked, stunned. We had just been talking about her last night. He had known a legend? Well, he was a legend.

"We've spoken. She doesn't mind writing me and remembering things, but she doesn't want to see me, now. She doesn't want to ruin my memories of her. I had no idea she had continued her work in Hollywood, though. She's in a nursing home in England, now, her mind is sharp as a tack, but she's gone through some cancer, a few other things. I happy she went on with her life after the war. She married, had kids, and now grandchildren and great-grandchildren. That's more than I could have asked for with my friends from… it feels like only a few months ago, but it was seventy years..."

"Was she your girlfriend?"

He shook his head. "No. We kissed once, right before I crashed and was considered KIA. I was the worst thing that ever happened to me when I woke up. We had a date. An actual date and I was looking forward to it. But now, if the crash hadn't happened, I wouldn't be here with you."

I noticed the way his eyes danced over me, the playful his lip corner unintentionally curved up when he looked at me. It made me squirm a little bit, but I liked it. I liked the way he was looking at me, and it wasn't objectifying or lustful. I made him happy. And he made me happy. What more did you need?

He took me home so I could get dressed for the day.

"Be very quiet on the way down the stairs. I have this creepy neighbor in this building named Helen, and she's um…"

"She comes on too strong?" I asked.

"Yes, basically," he grimaced, getting his coat on.

He shut the door behind us and started to lock it, and I realized I didn't have my iPad. "Crap, I forgot my iPad."

"Here," he said, handing me the key. "Lock up, and I'll hail a cab."

I had left my iPad on the couch. I tucked it into the inside pocket of my coat, and locked up the door, only to hear some woman who sounded like she had clogged sinuses and couldn't control the volume of her voice, saying, "STEPHEN!"

"Oh, hey, Helen," Steve said, his voice a little strained. "Nice to see you."

I peeked over the railing to see Steve's path being blocked by a blonde woman with an incredibly square chin. "How are you, Stephen? How are you doing? Your hair looks all ruffled, are you sleeping okay?"

"I was just heading out for the morning," Stephen said, looking terrified of her. I saw him grimacing.

I swallowed my laugh and came downstairs. "Hey, honey!" I said. "Who's this? Hi, I'm Steve's girlfriend, Dani."

Her bulbous eyes widened and a look of pure hatred flashed across her face.

I held out a had innocently to shake. She didn't take it. I slipped an arm around Steve's waste instead. "Hey, you found your iPad?"

"I did."

"This is Helen Horbach, my neighbor," Steve said.

"Hi," Helen muttered, mouth-breathing. If looks could kill, she'd have killed me.

I smiled sweetly and serenely. "It's nice to meet you," I repeated. "We're going to go get some breakfast."

"Nice to meet you too," she muttered.

"It's good to see you," Steve said, guiding me past her to go down the next flight. "We've got to go."

I patted his back, understanding what he meant by a weird neighbor.

" I wish you were my calculus homework because you'd be hard and I'd be doin' you all night long, " I heard her mutter as we walked out the door.

"She was so creepy!" I cried as Steve stepped forward to hail a taxi.

"Tell me about it! She just doesn't understand when I tell her no," he said, opening the door to the cab for me. "She gives me the heebie-jeebies."

I laughed.

After we stopped off at Natasha's apartment for me to get dressed and some makeup on, he took me on a tour of Brooklyn with a lot more history. He pointed out every alley he remembered being beaten up in back in the 40s that were still standing, where shops had once been, where the State Fair had been held where he saw Howard Stark's hovering car prototype.

"That was where a speakeasy had been in the 30s in the basement when alcohol was banned. It's nice to see that they put a new bar in there recently."

"Did you ever go to speakeasies?"

"A few times to fetch my mom's boyfriends," he said. "And that was the spot of a speakeasy gay bar."

"Really?" I asked my eyes growing wide.

"It was whispered. The fuzz busted it a few times that I remember. Homosexuality was illegal back then, they considered it a location where lewd acts were being performed."

"Like prostitution?"

"No, I got the feeling they were all just having a drink and a good time, being themselves. That shouldn't be a crime."

"No, it shouldn't," I agreed.

"There was a toy shop there," he pointed. "They always had the best model train display in the window when I was a kid. Man, I wanted that train. And that used to be the cafe where I'd go if I had a few extra dimes to buy a pork chop or something. You know what I loved on my vegetables back then? Molasses."

"Ew!"

"I actually got used to the taste. It helped with vitamin deficiencies. Oh, there's where a Hoovertown was before the police cleared it out a few times."

"You said you were homeless a few times in your life."

"Yeah, Mom and I lived in these twice. I hated each time. They could be frightening. But living with her newest bastard boyfriend was exponentially worse."

I squeezed his hand through my glove.

We went back to Natasha's apartment so I could pack up the last of my things. "I'm going to have a hard time seeing you off at the train station," he admitted while I gathered my makeup. "When can I see you again? Thanksgiving?"

"I've already agreed to fly home to Nashville. Daddy bought me a plane ticket home," I said. "Maybe I can bring you along?"

"I wouldn't want to intrude on your family time."

"I think they'd like to meet you," I said going to the guest bedroom to pack my suitcase. He watched me from the doorway. "I want you to. You'll love them. I know they'll like you."

"I'm not sure I'm ready for that," he said, cautiously. "But I'm on call all that week. I could get called out at the drop of a hat."

"I'm only staying about a day and a half," I said. "I have to be back for work on Saturday that weekend."

He sighed. "I just want to be myself around someone and just relax."

I reached for his hand and drew him into the room and I backed up until the back my thighs met the mattress. I laid back slowly, bringing him down on the bed on top of me. I felt his nerves, his want, and his embarrassed smirk. His hand cupped the back of my head. "We've got an hour," I told him, lifting my head to meet his lips.

The non-Avengers fan reference was Helen Horbach from Help Helen Smash. Incredibly silly videos done by a very talented comedienne. Her character Helen has a crush on a teacher too old for her and his name is... STEPHEN! Every time I hear her say "STEPHEN!" I start thinking of Cap, lol! Go watch it!

And thank you to Cash1122 for sending me that review, it reminded me to update here. Sorry I've slacked! If you like smut, it's coming soon, though!