Chapter 3-
The two weeks after Liam broke his arm and Emerson had a cried on Steve's shoulder, their life had slowly turned back to normal. Steve could tell that Josh moving away was still harder on her then she let on. Even though he knew that Josh didn't help out as much as Emerson wanted, it was more of Liam asking when his dad was going to call. So Steve found himself after school hours spending time with Liam, while Emerson was baking down stairs. Liam was even asking Steve when he could see his father. Luckily within the two weeks the questions about Josh had subdued. And Liam was back to asking questions about firetrucks, firefighters and how did they know where a fire was.
Today Steve found himself sitting at the kitchen table, while Emerson was cooking dinner. Liam was sitting across from him working on his spelling homework before dinner and Steve was trying to figure out how to use the tablet in front of him. Emerson convinced him to get a Facebook, so he could keep in touch with his old war buddies. The only problem was he didn't think any of his old war buddies had a Facebook. Or wouldn't even believe that it was actually him. Making Emerson his only friend. In the real world and in the Facebook world.
"Steve?" Liam asked waiting for the older man to raise his head. "How do you spell your name?"
"S-T-E-V-E." Steve said with a smile on his face. "Why?"
Writing the letters Steve told him to write making sure they all fit in the lines. "Ms. Kelly told us we had to write the names of people that we see every day. And I see you every day."
"Well what other names do you need help spelling?" Steve asked forgetting about the tablet. He will figure that out later, even ask Emerson if he had too.
"Mommy's name. She has a weird name." Liam said adjusting in his seat. "Does it start with an E?"
Nodding his head, he spelt out Emerson before adding. "And yes she has a very weird name."
"Hey my name is not weird. Its different. And I didn't pick it, my parents did. But I happen to like my name. Even if I will never have anything with my name on it." Emerson said setting the plates down on the table. "Can you put your homework away Liam and wash your hands please?"
"Okay mommy." Liam said grabbing his notebook hopping off the chair and running to his room.
Getting up to help Emerson get ready for dinner. Steve asked, "So where did you get your name from?"
Handing him the silver ware. "Its my mom's maiden name. So I have both of my parents last names. Emerson and Rhodes."
"Well your son might think your name is weird but I don't think so. Way better then Steve Rogers." He said as he set the table making sure to put Liam's plastic silverware with his fire truck plate.
Nodding her head, she put her hands on her waist. "Isn't it weird that you have the same name as the guy who basically ended World War 2."
"Yeah that is weird." Steve said trying not to make eye contact with her.
Signing loudly, Emerson brought the lasagna to the table. "Steve come on, tell me the truth. You're Captain America. The Steve Rogers. I'm not an idiot. Once Stark said that you used to work with his father, I Googled Howard Stark to figure out what he was talking about. He helped make you, well you. I kinda feel like an idiot for not putting two and two together."
"Okay fine, yes I am Captain America. You can't tell anyone." Steve said as he realized there was no way to turn this around. "I'm not even allowed to tell you. At least that is what Director Fury told me."
"Well then you can tell this Director Fury that I figured it on all on my own. I'm a very smart person and I get that its a secret, I won't tell anyone. I'll even keep it from Liam if that'll make you feel better." Emerson said looking at Steve with a smile on her face.
Shaking his head. "No I don't want you to keep a secret from your son. We just have to make sure he knows that its a secret."
"Alright we will tell him at dinner." She said as she filled the cups up with water.
Looking at the women in front of him, he couldn't help but feel relived. He no longer had to lie to her when she would ask about his past. But there was one thing he still had to make sure of. "So you aren't mad at me for keeping this from you?"
Shaking her head, she walked closer to the man who she decided was going to stay in her life forever. "No I'm not mad. I get that you had to keep that a secret. But I do want to hear all about the 1940s. I have always wished that was the decade I was born in."
Smiling softly, he tucked a strand on hair behind her ear. "I can do that."
"Good." Emerson said leaning into his touch. "And now that I know your deep dark secret you are stuck in my life forever."
"I think I can manage that." Steve said softly as he rubbed his thumb on her cheek.
The two were leaning into each other, but were rudely interrupted by the 6 year old boy who lived in the apartment. "Mommy my hands are all clean! Can we eat now?"
Jumping away from Steve, Emerson turned her attention towards her son. "Yes of course we can."
The three sat down at the dinner table and began to eat. Steve and Emerson kept stealing glances at each other, as they were thinking about their almost kiss. Neither knew if the other liked them or if it was just the way Steve was touching Emerson. It had been a year since Emerson had anyone in her life relationship wise. The longest relationship she had after her and Josh broke up, was a 3 month relationship where the guy never wanted to meet Liam, which made Emerson break up with him. Ever since that relationship she hadn't been on a second date
Watching Steve and Liam interact always made her smile. The two became close after meeting at the park. Liam was always talking about whatever popped into his little mind, and Steve was there to listen. Catching every word he says and responding at the proper times. And now that he was going to find out one of his favorite people was a superhero, the very first superhero in fact. She knew that there were going to be a lot more things for Liam to tell or ask Steve and hoped that he was prepared.
"Steve." Emerson said waiting for the blonde male to look up at her. "Do you think we should tell him?"
Nodding his head, Steve set his fork down on his plate. "Hey Liam, I have something to tell you but you have to promise me that you can not tell anyone. You can only talk about it with me and your mom. Can you promise me that?"
"I promise." Liam said holding out his pinky towards Steve.
Linking his pinky with Liam's tiny one. "I'm a superhero."
Widening his green eyes in surprise. "Like Iron Man?"
"Uh a little different then Iron Man. He as a suit that he controls, I have a shield that I use to beat the bad guys. Along with my fighting skills." Steve explained. "Maybe the next time you are at my apartment I can show you the shield."
Nodding his head excitedly. "Yeah! So what's your superhero name?"
"Captain America. According to the super secret organization that found me, you will be learning about me in school soon." Steve said smiling at the little boy. Here come's the hard part to explain. "I am actually 90 years old."
"You don't look 90 years old." Liam said poking at his skin. "You should have wrinkles like great grandma Rhodes. And have white hair. Or no hair, most old guys don't have hair."
"Oh this is the part I wanted to hear." Emerson said with a teasing smile growing on her lips. "Did they find you trying to get in a nursing home, but they were tuning you down cause you don't look your age?"
Throwing a piece of garlic bread at the blonde. "Be quiet this is my story." Watching her stick out her tongue and turned back to Liam. "I was found frozen in ice. Before I became what I look like now, I was actually a little guy. I was only 5'2" and weighed 90 pounds. There was this doctor called Dr. Erskine and he had a super soldier serum, he wanted to create an army of all super soldiers. But he was very picky about who he wanted to receive the serum. But I wasn't the first person to get the serum, there was another guy named Johann Schmidt. So the serum makes you stronger and enhances everything about you. So since I am a good guy it enhanced."
"The good in you. Did Schmidt turn good or bad?" Liam asked getting really into the story. The little boy was no longer paying attention to his food, but the the man in front of him. He was finding out how superheroes are made.
Smiling sadly at the memory of Schmidt, Steve replied. "Schmidt turned very bad. So bad that his body turn red and he lost his nose."
"Just like Voldemort?"
"Just like Voldemort." Steve said with a nod of his head before he looked over at Emerson, who gave him an encouraging smile. "So I had to fight Schmidt because he was going to try and blow up the world, starting with New York. We were on a plane when the last big fight happened between the two of us and once I won the fight, the plane was almost to New York and the only place I could land was in the icy water. And that is what I did I put the plane in the water and I frozen."
"Like when you put water in the freezer and the next day it in ice cubes?" Liam asked with a raised eyebrow, before breaking out into a huge smile. "You are like a popsicle!"
Steve once again threw a piece of garlic bread at Emerson as she broke into laughter. "So I was stuck in ice, but the serum continued to regenerate my cells and that is how I survived being frozen for almost 70 years."
"Wow that is so cool!" Liam exclaimed before he asked the most important question. "So do you have an outfit?"
Nodding his head, Steve smiled making his blue eyes shine. "Well of course, what kind of superhero would I be if I didn't have one?"
Shrugging his shoulders. "Not a very good one."
"Exactly."
"Alright you two, Liam its time for bed." Emerson said smiling. "Go put on your pjs, brush your teeth then call me when your ready."
Nodding his head. "Okay mommy." Jumping off his chair he ran into his room.
Steve began to clear the table as Emerson turned the water on in the sink. Putting the left over food in tuber ware, he set the pan in the sink. "So any questions?"
"You mentioned a girl you were interested in the army." Emerson said as she began to scrub the pan. "Uh have you tried to contact her?"
Snorting, Steve shook his head as he grabbed a dish towel to help dry. "And see the life that could've been? No I haven't."
Emerson nodded her head in response and went back to scrubbing the dishes with a slight smile on her face.
"Mommy I'm ready!" Liam yelled from his bedroom.
"Okay be there in a second." Turning towards Steve. "I'll just be a moment, you remember where everything goes right?" Watching Steve nod his head she went into her son's bedroom. "Alright. Are we reading a story tonight?"
Shaking his head. He snuggled deep into his comforter, letting out a big yawn. "No I don't want a story."
Kissing the top of his head. "Alright, I love you Liam. To the moon and back."
"Love you mommy. To the moon and back." Liam said after letting out another yawn.
Turning his nightlight on and moving to stand next to the door. "Goodnight Liam James."
"Night mom." He said right before she closed his bedroom door.
Walking back out to the kitchen she noticed all of the dishes were dried and put away. Peeking into the living room she found Steve staring at the tablet he was holding. Smiling softly she finally realized why Steve didn't understand technology. Everything to him was new.
"So me forcing you to get a Facebook so you can keep in touch with your military buddies was probably a bad idea huh?" Emerson said as she walked into the living room.
Raising his head up when she sat next to him on the couch. Steve let out a soft sigh. "Yeah it probably wasn't that good of an idea. They probably won't believe it even if they saw me."
"Then I'll just be your only friend." Emerson said taking the tablet out of his hands. "So do you have a picture of little you?"
Shrugging his shoulder. "Uh I might have one. I'll check in the boxes I have yet to go through."
"What boxes?" She asked getting comfortable on the couch by crossing her legs over each other.
Sighing, he slid his hand down his face. "The boxes of my stuff from the 40s when I was in the military. Peggy and Howard apparently told everyone not to throw it away. They never stopped looking for me."
"I don't blame them one bit.." Emerson said putting her hand gently on his back. "I could help you, you know. Going through the boxes, whenever your ready."
Looking over at her smiling softly. "Thank you Em."
"Your welcome." She said looking between his eyes and his lips.
Leaning in closer to the blonde, Steve intertwined his hand with her free hand. The two continued to lean into each other until their noses were brushing against each others.
