First of all, thank you for the reviews; they really ma my day!

A bit of a fill-in chapter...was kinda stuck in an author's block and the massive headache didn't help. Hope you'll still enjoy it!

I'll Be There For You

The Asgardian was unusually empty that morning, and Maria was okay with that. In about five minutes or so, Jerry Woods would step in the bar, and in no way she wanted the son of a bitch to make a major drama when she would be done with him. Because that guy, afterthought, was such a whinny...

"Morning sweetheart!"

Speak of the devil. The dark-haired green-eyed man sat across the counter and smiled at her. She felt her heart skip a beat; his smile is one of the little things that made her agree to go on a date with him. That, and the charmer he could be when he put the effort into it. She replied with a sharp nod, turned around and prepared his usual espresso. She slid it to him, he thanked her and she waited until he has taken a sip to attack:

"So, I heard Tania is a lovely girl. Congratulations."

Jerry spit out his coffee and stared at her wide-eyed.

"How do you know about Tania?"

Maria's jaw and fists tightened. He wasn't even bothered denying?

"Phone call, yesterday evening. You were under the shower." She turned around the counter for a face to face. If she was breaking up with him, she wanted him to remember what it was like to piss off Maria Hill. "Is Tania the reason why you are so 'busy' sometimes? How long have you been screwing her?"

Jerry swallowed hard.

"Not long, I swear Maria. But Tania is just a lousy mist-"

BAM

Her fist hit his stomach then his jaw full force and Jerry tumbled back and fell over a table. The three customers stared wide-eyed. Maria was still glaring and ready to strike, and still didn't move when Thor, her boss, showed up from the kitchen.

"Maria? What's going on?"

"Are you crazy!" Jerry shouted, holding his jaw, stumbling up and holding on the closest table -that tilted and fell under his weight too. "You bitch!"

Thor frowned and stepped forwards.

"Careful, I will not tolerate this language in my bar."

"She hit me first!" the man protested, successfully standing up this time and staying at a respectable distance of his now ex girlfriend.

"He should know not to cheat on a girl." Maria muttered. Thor raised an eyebrow at her, then turned towards the man. A slow smirk grew over his face.

"I'll let it go this time. Lad, believe me, she's letting you off the hook easily. And I don't want to see you in my bar again. Got it? And Maria, next time, you can have the back yard, all you have to do is ask. In the meantime, you get to clean up your mess" he added nodding towards the fallen tables.

"Yes sir." the young woman replied, lowering her fists and reaching for the rag tied at her apron. Without sparing a second glance to Jerry, she headed towards the first table and leaned forwards to pick it up...

"You bitch" was all the warning she had. Her ex boyfriend had started a move on her, ready to strike from behind. But Maria merely stood up and gave the look she usually kept for troublesome customers. The look that even made Thor, twice her size and way stronger, back off any day. Expectingly, Jerry froze mid-movement.

"You heard my boss. Out."

And out he was.

The clock was heading towards three when another familiar visitor stepped in the Asgardian and sat at the counter. Virginia Potts -also known as Pepper among her coworkers and friends- gave her a solid elbow in the ribs and nodded towards the newcomer. Maria looked up from her current task -wiping the glasses, and recognized Steve. The man smiled at her and she smiled back, remembering how they had parted two days ago: sweating, bruised, feeling grateful for his proposition of sparing after all. Maybe she should put whatever he'd order on the house, as a thank you gesture...

"Look at this one! He's a cutie! And he's looking at you..."

Encouraged by the saucy smile from her coworker, Maria sighed and reluctantly went to take his order.

"Hey" he said as soon as she approached. The smile on his face made a funny thing to her mind, but she pushed it back in a far end corner. Jerry's smile had been the first thing to catch her attention, and she didn't need to flash on a guy that soon. Especially one who never liked her that much. Didn't matter if he was goddamn cute either. Maria restrained another deep sigh; back in high-school, Steve Rogers was a...she wouldn't say ladies' man, because his gentle manners and kindness were legendary -and he was completely devoted to his girlfriend, but there was something in his behavior, perhaps he did involuntary, that made every girl swoon each time he looked at them. And she had to admit, she counted herself among them. But that was a long time ago.

"Hi. So, did you place your order?" Okay, awkward move. In the corner of her eye, Maria saw Pepper pull a face. For some reason, Steve grinned in amusement.

"Still professional no matter what." The comment made the corner of Maria's lips tug up.

"That's what I'm paid for. Take orders and be pretty."

"And you do it pretty well." he replied with a wink. That was it, Maria thought, why did he have to play it charming? "Fine, I'll take a latte. Oh, and I came to give you this."

He pulled out a tissue from his pocket and gave it to her. Maria unfolded it with puzzled eyes. Inside...She stared at him in disbelief.

"Teeth?"

"Jerry's teeth, to be precise."

"You beat up Jerry?"

"Actually, you have to thank Clint for that. The kid left me nothing to deal with. Sheriff Fury took him in, and his adoptive father picked him up a few moments ago. Just thought you'd like to know."

For a few seconds, Maria said nothing. Then she sighed and shook her head.

"I'm going to kill him." Steve smirked.

"Well there's not much left to kill honestly..."

"I'm not talking about Jerry. I'm talking about Clint. I don't need protection." The young man frowned. Maria caught his puzzlement and asked: "What is it?"

"Clint said you'd say that; and he wanted to add that he beat up Jerry because he spoiled the bologna sauce. Does that makes any sense to you?"

The smirk on her lips informed him it did. Too busy plotting how she'd get her revenge on Jerry, Maria had completely messed up her usually perfect spaghettis. And obviously, Clint had been too polite to point it out. Or point out her sour mood afterwards, even though she had attempted to be cheerful for him. Apparently, she had perfectly failed. She hoped it hadn't dampened his mood, especially since Natasha had agreed to go out on a date with him...Thinking about it, Clint's adoptive father would definitively ground him for three months. Or one week. When Clint wanted something, he always had his way; and Phil was too forgiving for his own good.

"He's just being a brat." she replied with a shrug, but barely containing the pleased grin. "Thanks for playing the messenger."

"My pleasure."

She left to get him his coffee, and was ambushed by Pepper. The young woman stared at her pointedly, her fist on her hip.

"That's how you flirt? Girl, you need to relax! I know you just got rid of that dumbass" she added before Maria could object: "But I'm sure he's worth it."

"Steve's not..."

"And you already know his name! C'mon, live up a little!"

"Whatever" she muttered, knowing how persevering Pepper could be when she had an idea in mind. She returned to Steve and slid his drink in front of him. He picked it up with a grateful nod, before freezing mid-gesture.

"Why is your coworker staring at us?" Maria glanced over her shoulder and spotted Pepper not so discreetly ogling them.

"She wants me to use you as a rebound to tend me broken heart." she replied deadpan. Steve grinned mischievously.

"And will you? Use me as a rebound." It was Maria's turn to smirk.

"Depends. Are you offering?"

"I am single." he replied with a shrug. Maria leaned forwards, resting her elbows on the counter and frowned.

"Really? I thought you and Peggy had made it after high-school."

"Not really. She enrolled in the navy and I went to art school. We broke up, but we're still friends. She's actually engaged to a guy from her promotion."

"That's nice" the young woman said with a sincere smile. Although Peggy and she had not been good friends -Maria would always remember the harsh slap she had received at the funeral of Steve's mom because of a stupid misunderstanding- the girl had been someone to be respected. "Wait, you said you were in art school?"

Since the clients seemed to have deserted the bar, their conversation carried on. The subject of their respective studies turned into a conversation about books and then about art and about politics and movies and sports and a whole bunch of other stuff until Thor stepped out from the kitchen and called:

"You're not paid for chatting with the clients Maria!"

Only then, the young woman glanced at the clock and realized over an hour had gone by and the bar, previously quiet, was starting to get crowded again. And no matter how good Pepper was waitressing, she couldn't handle everything. So Maria threw him an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, duty calls."

"Of course" Steve nodded with understanding. Then, he took a deep breath and asked: "Would you like to spare after your shift?" Maria's questioning eyes laid upon him, and this time, he blushed. Last time he had made the offer, he wanted to comfort her in his own way, distract her from any gloomy thoughts. This time, even though he knew she had broken up with her boyfriend the very morning, he was sort-of asking her out. In a friendly way, of course; he wouldn't dare making a move on her without trying to ...court... her first. "I mean, a rematch after last time? We weren't quite sure who beat the other, really."

And he was being truthful. Steve had never expected her to have a decent boxing training or such strength in her arms and legs -he still had the bruises to prove it. And after the past hour-or-so they had spent chatting and debating and exchanging, he had come to realize they might have more in common that he originally thought. A full minute ticked -not that he was counting- before something changed in her eyes and she shrugged carelessly.

"Works with me. Meet at 7 at the gym?"

Steve left the bar incredibly pleased with himself.

The phone rang twice before Phil Coulson picked up. While the voice on the other line was not familiar, the name did ring a bell. So he turned towards the staircase and shouted:

"Clint! Got a phone call from a Romanoff girl." His adoptive son was down within seconds. "Maybe I should use that name more often." Phil pointed out casually, handing him the phone. "You know, when we have visitors."

The teenager threw him an odd sideway glance before taking the phone. Phil wasn't particularly angry at Clint for beating up Jerry Woods; he knew Maria personally, and didn't think she deserved to be cheated on; hence he left Clint get away with a few weeks grounding and no cell phone. Although, he would have preferred that his adoptive son found another way on getting revenge; or had beaten up the man in an empty alley instead of a public area.

So when he walked away, his thoughts were mainly occupied on wondering when did his boy had gotten himself a girlfriend, and if he'd have to lay out the dating rules inside the house soon.

"So I heard about your exploits" Natasha started for greeting. "Right in the parking lot of the guy's college? Seriously? The message was a bit too obvious."

"Hey, the guy had it coming" Clint replied with nonchalance. "He hurt Maria and made her screw up her bologna sauce."

"What an unforgivable sin." she mocked in response.

"Wait till you taste it. Then you'll understand."

Natasha chuckled then fell silent. There was a momentary pause before she carried on softly:

"You are really protective of her."

"I'd say we're even. You didn't see what she did to Bobby when she broke up with me." The girl laughed.

"Actually, I heard the rumors. Did that bitch really check her food for worms till she moved out of town after she broke your heart?"

"I swear I have no idea how Maria did it."

"Damn, you two are tight. I better watch my back then."

"Nah, she likes you; you don't have to worry about her." Clint joked, but knew that Maria would make Natasha's life hell if she ever hurt him. "She's the kind that would rather give me condoms than glare at me with a 'don't even think about it' face."

"Remind me to have a little chat with Maria next time I see her." Phil called from afar. Clint was torn between glaring at his adoptive father for eavesdropping or looking decently embarrassed, and nearly missed Natasha's next words:

"Must be nice to have someone to trust like that."

"Oh believe me Tasha, there are only that many people I trust. Three actually."

"Three? That many?" her voice sounded surprised. "I take one is Maria, but who are the two others?"

"Well there's Phil, and you know the last one is you." She didn't reply. He cleared his throat and added awkwardly: "Uh...well I guess my grounding means our date is canceled."

"Yeah" she sounded relieved to be lead on a safer territory. "It's the price for living up to your reputation and defending your sister's honor."

"I take it you don't mind getting involved with a guy that will be tagged 'brainless brute' for a while?"

"Better that than a show off like Stark or an antisocial creep like Loki." she teased. "Don't worry Clint, you had a good reason. Actually, I didn't expect any less from you."

"So you figured I'd just go and beat the crap out of that guy?"

"That's your way of defending your family, to show you care for them. Not sure everyone agrees with it, but that's who you are; and I wouldn't like you as much if you didn't."

There was another silence, not quite heavy but still uncomfortable.

"You still there?"

"Yeah, yeah. Thanks, I guess."

"Uh...you're welcome."

"Okay, so, date for the date." Clint cleared his throat and went on: "I'm grounded for a few weeks here, your recital is sometime next month and winter's showing up..."

"Clint" she interrupted with a hint of amusement in her voice, "let's just cancel paintball and find something else to do."