Chapter 8-

Screams and cries were coming from Liam's bedroom, waking Emerson and Steve. Emerson jumped out of bed and ran to her sons room. Liam just got his cast off and she was worried he fell off the bed, only to have them get a cast back on. Opening the door she found him holding onto his stuffed Yankees bear, tears running down his face.

"Oh honey what's wrong?" Emerson asked climbing onto the bed.

Snuggling into Emerson, Liam quietly said. "I had an bad dream."

Pulling him close, she kissed the top of his head. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No." He mumbled into her chest.

"Do you want mommy to stay with you?"

"In your bed." Liam said looking up at her with his big sad green eyes. "Please."

Nodding her head she picked him up. "Of course." She felt Liam wrap his arms and legs around her and she walked back to her room, where Steve was. She knew Liam knew about her and Steve being together, but this was the first time Steve actually slept in Emerson's bed while Liam was one bedroom over.

As Emerson walked into the room holding Liam, Steve's worrying stopped. Just by looking at Emerson's face. Her face was much calmer then what he was picturing it would be. "What happened?

"A nightmare." Emerson said laying Liam down. Climbing into bed so Liam was in-between her and Steve. "He's already out cold again. He just likes being with me after a nightmare. Something I'll probably have to stop soon. But I don't want too, I like that my son still needs me."

Looking down at the sleeping boy laying next to him. "I think he'll grow out of it on his own. He is only 6 after all. You still have plenty of time."

"Yeah I think your right." Emerson said smiling at Steve, as he began to run his fingers threw her son's brown curly hair. Steve was a better father figure in the 2 months he's been around then Josh ever was in the 6 years. "Steve did you ever think about having a child?"

Nodding his head. "Yes I did. I wanted the white picket fence American dream."

"Well if anyone deserves it, its you." Emerson said smiling. "You would be an amazing father."

Looking up at Emerson's beautiful smile. "You think so?"

"I know so." Emerson said nodding her head. "I see the way you interact with Liam and you defiantly know what your doing. You treat him like he's your son, you discipline him but you don't do it too harshly, you listen to his crazy stories, you comfort him. You act like you love him like he's one of your own. At least I think you do."

Glancing down at the little boy who wrapped his little arms around Steve's bigger arm. He thought about everything Emerson said. "You know what, I think I do. Just like how I love his mother."

Widening her eyes, she stared at Steve. Did he just say that he loves her? Does she love him? She spent every hour she had free, talking to or spending time with Steve. He was the first thing she thought of when she woke up and the last thing she thought of when she went to bed. But does that mean she loves him? She loves the way he is around Liam. She loves the way he makes her feel.

"Em?" Steve asked looking at her trying to hide the fear in his eyes. He wasn't planning on telling her that he loves her. It just slipped out, before he knew what he was saying. "Em, you don't need to say anything. We can act like this never happened."

Raising her eyebrow, she rested her hand on his cheek. "Did you mean it?"

"I mean it." Steve whispered. "But I also want you to mean it. I don't need to know right now. Take your time."

"Are you sure?" Watching Steve nod his head, made her feel better. He truly does love her if he is willing to wait for the three words to be said back to him. But watching him get out of the bed confused her. "Where are you going?"

"To my apartment? Don't you want to figure this out without me staring at you?" Steve asked turning towards his girlfriend. "Unless you don't want me to go."

"I don't want you to go and besides its late. I don't want to be worrying about you on your ride over to your apartment." Emerson said sitting up in the bed. "And I sleep better with you here. But if you feel like you have to leave."

Shaking his head he climbed back into his side of the bed. "Lets go to sleep then."

Laying back down on the bed, she pulled the blankets over the three. "Good night Steve."

"Good night Emerson."

Weeks began to fly by since Emerson was busy in the bakery. She hadn't spent that much time with Steve but he still spent the night every night. Emerson couldn't help but think that he was more invested into her, then she was into him. Maybe she was only with him because of how close he was with Liam. Liam loved Steve, that was all he talked about. Maybe she didn't love him. She liked his presents, maybe she shouldn't be in a relationship with him. But there were days she just wanted to have her alone time. With or without her son. She may be attracted to him but does that mean she should be in a relationship with him. He was more into the relationship then she was. She would have to break up with him, but how.

"Em?" Steve said popping his head into the bakery's kitchen. "Uh I need to talk to you privately."

Washing her hands free from the dough. "Okay I'll meet you up stairs." Turning her head she watched Steve out the door. Wondering what he wanted to talk to her about. He sounded like upset about something, and hopefully it wasn't that she hasn't said I love you. Telling Noel to hear for the oven, she walked up the stairs to find Steve sitting on her couch.

"So whats up Steve?" Emerson said sitting next to him.

Turning his head towards Emerson. "I'm going to D.C."

Pulling her hair tie out of her hair. "Yeah? That'll be fun. Just for a mission or something else?"

"Something else." Steve said running his fingers threw his hair. "I'm moving to D.C., effective immediately, to get back into the game. I can't just sit around and not save the world."

"Oh. Uh then how long are you going to be living there?" Emerson said turing to face the man. If he is moving then she could use that to break up with him. She can't be in a long distance relationship and if he is going to be on missions they won't be able to talk as much.

"I don't know. For a while." Steve said facing Emerson, surprised that she didn't look as upset as he was. "What should we do?"

"We break up. I can't move to D.C with a guy I have only know for a few months and dated for only a couple." Emerson stood up and crossed her arms. "My son goes to school here, all his friends are here and I have my bakery. My source of income, to have the life Liam and I have. I won't have any of that in D.C."

"Why can't we try long distance?" Steve asked standing up to walk towards her. His heart breaking the more Emerson talked. She didn't want to make it work, but he did. "We could make it work."

Shaking her head. "No we couldn't. You will be on missions who knows where. And you won't be able to talk to me. So no we can't do long distance. I won't have time to go the three hours it takes to drive to D.C. No we can not do long distance. And I can't afford to close the bakery when I'm out of town."

Steve went to reach out for Emerson's hand but she pulled away. "Emerson I love you. I don't want to break up with you. I want to still be in this relationship with you. We will figure it out."

Shaking her head, trying to hold back the tears that were surfacing. She could show how much this was hurting, she needed to be tough. She didn't, doesn't, need a man in her life. To make it complete. "I don't. I don't love you. Its not that I don't think we would be able to make it work. Its I know I won't want to make it work. I can't be with you anymore Steve. And its my fault that I let this go longer then it should. Because now Liam will have two men father figures walk out on him. So no I won't move with you or have a long distance relationship with you!"

"Emerson you don't mean that." Steve said trying to reach for her again. He wanted to convince her that he needed her and she needed him.

"I do Steve. Just get out of my house." Emerson said walking towards the door. "I am breaking up with you."

Shaking his head. "You are just being stubborn."

"No I'm not being stubborn. You are the one being stubborn." Emerson said turning towards the super soldier. "I can not be with you. You need to get that through your head."

Taking her face in his hands, he kissed her. "Tell me you felt something."

Taking in a deep breath. "I don't feel anything. We are better off as friends."

"Nothing? You felt nothing? Then why have we been together for 3 months Emerson! Why did you let me fall in love with you only to break up with me, because you couldn't 'feel' anything when we kissed. You should have realized that the first time we kissed!" Steve took a step away from her closer to the door. "Remember how worried you were about that kiss? You wanted to be with me then, so clearly you felt something or else we wouldn't be in a relationship right now."

Shaking her head. "Things change."

"No you just wanted an out, because you are too afraid to admit your feelings." Opening the door, he kept his back facing Emerson so she wouldn't see the tears that were falling. He didn't want this to happen, he wanted them to figure it out. "So I'm going to make this easier on you. I'm leaving. Call me when you figure it out. OR don't I don't care!"

Sliding down the door Steve slammed behind him, she let the tears she was holding fall. Wondering what she just did.

Knocking on her sister's new apartment door, Emerson waited for her it to open. She left Noel and Kylie in charge of the frosting of the cupcakes, after making sure they knew how to do the design. She didn't need to be reminded of Steve every time she frosted a new cookies 'n' creme cupcake that a bride wanted. Right now she wanted to drink her weight in wine, maybe something even stronger, and watch rom-coms.

"Em hey. What's wrong?" Jenson said as she answered the door to find her sister with tear tracks on her face.

"I broke up with Steve."