Chapter 12-

Steve parked the Ford Explorer in the parking lot of the Smithsonian. He got out of the car and opened Emerson's door. Smiling softly at Emerson's confused face as she got out of the SUV. Taking her hand with his, they walked towards the big glass doors.

"So why are we here?" Emerson asked as she adjusted Steve's baseball hat. "And why are you wearing a hat? Is it so people don't know who you are? Because if so, it is a horrible disguise."

"There is something here I want to show you." Steve said wrapping his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. Ignoring her making fun of his hat.

Wrapping her arm around his waist, Emerson nodded her head. Looking around she enjoyed the walk to the exhibit Steve wanted to show her. The last time she was at the Smithsonian, it was in the 8th grade. She was more worried about the boy she had a crush on, then everything around her. There were many signs in her young that made sense that she had a baby at the age of 18. But now she pointed out things that interested her and Steve let her stop and read. Which Steve enjoyed as well, with him still learning about American history after World War II.

"Amelia Earhart is amazing." Emerson said as Steve took her to the exhibit he wanted to show her.

"Yes she was." Steve said standing in front of her, resting his hands on her shoulders. For the first 6 months of their relationship, Emerson had always wanted to know more about his past life. He only told her snippets of what he could handle. He told her all about his friendship with Bucky, but left out what it was like to turn into Captain America. From the Star Spangled Man with a Plan selling war bonds to saving the 107th and becoming the single weapon to take down HYDRA. "I hope that you are ready to realize the guy you are dating is old enough to have an exhibit here."

A smile grew on Emerson's face. "No way." Pushing his hands away, she ran to the next exhibit. Emerson's face turned into awe when she saw all the 1940s Captain America. The one she only every got to hear stories about. Turning around in circles,taking it all in she didn't know where to start. Until a small picture caught her eye. Covering her mouth as she gasped softly looking at the picture of Steve pre-serum. She never did help him unpack those boxes so this was the first time she saw what he looked like. Resting her hand gently on the picture, she studied it. He was beautiful, he was still her Steve. His face was still the same. The look in his eyes were full of passion, just like they are now. The only difference was instead of his body being all muscle, it was skin and bone. Feeling Steve's arms wrap around her stomach, she leaned into him.

"You were so little." She whispered still tracing the photo. "But I can tell you were the same person as you are now."

Nodding his head, he rested his chin on the top of her head. Something he wouldn't have been able to do at his original height. She would be the one doing it. If she would even consider dating him. "It was why I was picked. I promised Dr. Erskine that I wouldn't change."

"You are always one to keep your word." Looking over she saw a section dedicated to the Hallowing Commandos, but James Barnes had his own. Always wanting to know more about James, she walked over. Steve only told her about pre war things. Which she understood completely. And she never wanted to push him. "James was your best friend right?"

"Uh yeah he was." Following her over to the section. Letting out a deep breath, he reread everything about Bucky. Stopping here multiple times when he discovered this being here, he knew what the paragraph under Bucky's name said by heart. He knew he had to tell Emerson about Bucky still being alive and him being the Winter Soldier.

"He sounds amazing, the kind of guy you would want to have around when you are fighting a war. I'm sorry you lost him." Emerson said wrapping her arms around his torso.

"He's not dead." Steve mumbled pulling her in closer. "I don't know where he went. But he's out there, alive."

Resting her chin on Steve's chest, she looked up at the man she loved. "How do you know that he's still alive?"

"I fought him. Then he saved me when I fell into the water." Steve said looking at the wall in front of him. "He's the reason I'm still alive."

"Was he the Winter Soldier everyone keeps talking about?" Feeling Steve nod his head, she held onto him tighter. "I think you should let him come to you. He's probably gone through so much more then you have. If he was working for HYDRA, then he was what brainwashed? So now that his employers are gone, he can figure out who he is."

"Your right." Steve said after a few minutes of being silent. Thinking over everything Emerson was saying. "I'm still going to keep an eye out for him."

"You wouldn't be you if you didn't." Emerson said laughing as she pulled away from Steve. "Thank you for bringing me here. But lets go get some food, I am hungry."

The couple found themselves back at Steve's apartment packing Steve's things up. The empty box of pizza, from Steve's favorite pizza place, was sitting on the sheet-less bed. Emerson was folding clothes to put into the suitcases. While Steve was putting the clothes into the suitcase. The bedroom was the last place they decided to pack up. The furniture was staying, Steve not knowing what to do with it, as SHIELD was the one who got this apartment for him. Neither wanted to stay in D.C, the town that broke them up. They wanted to be back in New York, where their story began. And where they wanted to keep writing.

"Are you sure you are okay with me moving in?" Steve asked glancing over at Emerson. "We just got back together and I don't want to overstep."

Nodding her head, she handed him the last plaid shirt. "Yes I am. I wouldn't have suggested it if I didn't want you to. And after the Battle of New York, you basically lived at my apartment. Just now your stuff will be there too."

"Okay, good cause I don't want to live with Stark and the rest of the Avengers." Steve said smiling at Emerson. "But Pepper does want us to come over when we get all settled."

"We can do that." Emerson walked over to him as Steve zipped up the last suit case. Wrapping her arms around his waist. "Where are we going to sleep? We packed up the bedding. And we, I, promised Peggy we would visit before we left."

Turning around in a circle looking for the box he put the bedding in. Forgetting about their plans for the morning. Opening every box he could, he finally found the bedding. "I found it!"

Clearing the pizza box off the bed, she reached for the sheet. "I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks." Steve said grinning like a child in a candy store, as he watched Emerson put the sheet on. "You are very good at that."

Nodding her head. "I used to be a maid at a hotel before I opened up the bakery."

"Really? I thought you worked at that ice cream shop." Steve said taking his shirt off.

"I did. I had 2.." Emerson stopped talking getting distracted as she watched his muscles.

Smirking, he walked over to Emerson. Wrapping his arms around her waist. "You had two? What jobs? Did something distract you?"

"Did you get toner? Your body did not look like this when you left New York." She said tracing his abs with her pointer finger. "God I want to sleep with you."

Widening his eyes, his mouth suddenly became dry. "Wh-what?"

"Oh my god." Pushing herself away from him. "I said that out loud? I thought I just said it in my head. Oh I'm so sorry. I know you are not the have sex before marriage kind of person. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. If you need me to, I'll sleep on the couch. So I don't take advantage of you, actually yeah I'm going to the couch." Grabbing another blanket out of the box, she began to walk to the living room. Steve stood in the room shocked about what he just heard. Steve would be lying if he didn't think about having sex with Emerson. He had thought about their wedding night, to when they reunited. And right now he could careless about waiting until their wedding night. He was going to be living with her before marriage, he could have sex, make love, with her before marriage.

"Emerson!" Steve said walking out after her. He found her sitting on the couch, staring at the wall in front of her. "I want to sleep with you too. I want you to be with you in every way possible."

Turning her head towards Steve, she smiled softly. "Really? But your beliefs."

"I have seen things I never thought I would see. I still believe in God. But I'm friends with a Demi God, I've fought against aliens. I was turned into this by a scientist. And my best friend is still alive after falling hundreds of feet. Trust me if my beliefs didn't change after all that. I don't know if they could ever change." Steve said as he watched Emerson walk over to him. "So what do you say? That sounded horrible. I don't know what to say."

Covering his lips with her hand. She looked at him with lust in her eyes. "Throw me over your shoulder and take me back to the bedroom."

"Yes ma'am." Nodding his head, he did just that.

Emerson pulled the comforter up as she slide off Steve. Smiling softly she kissed Steve's chest as she got comfortable. Steve ran his fingers threw her hair, kissing the top of her head. The two just sat in silence for multiple minutes, neither wanting to forget what just happened. Emerson looked up at the love of her life, just taking in everything. It was the most amazing love making she had ever experienced. She never had a partner like Steve. Finally understanding why her mom always told her and her sister, when the last person you were intimate with is terrible. Just know the right one is right around the corner.

"I love you Emerson Kathryn Rhodes." Steve whispered into her hair.

"I love you Steven Grant Rogers." Kissing his chest softly. "Don't regret it?"

Shaking his head. "No no I don't. That was amazing. You are amazing. I'm never letting you go ever again."

"Good." Emerson said burrowing her face into his neck. "I'm never going to let you go."

"Em can I ask you a question without you freaking out?" Steve asked as he continued to run his fingers threw her hair.

Nodding her head. "Of course."

Taking a deep breath. "Do you want more children? I know you already have Liam, but have you ever thought about it?"

"I have and I do." Emerson said rolling onto her stomach to look at Steve better. "I want more children. Maybe one or two. I'm not going higher then 3. 3 kids seems like enough. Was that the answer you were looking for?"

Nodding his head, he smiled softly. "Yes that was the answer I was looking for."

"Just please tell me twins do not run in your family." Emerson said smiling. "I can have babies one by one. But not at the same time. Not happening."

Turning onto his side, holding his head up by his wrist. "No I don't think they do. But who knows what can happen with the serum in my blood."

"Do you know what would happen? I mean would the baby be part super soldier?" Emerson asked tracing a scar that used to be dark earlier in the day but now you could barley see it. It amazed her how fast Steve could heal.

Shrugging his shoulders. "I don't know actually. Uh Dr. Erskine died before he could go into specifics. And I don't know how I could find out. Maybe I could ask Bruce."

"We should probably find out. Just so we know what we'll be dealing with." Emerson said sitting up pulling the blanket up with her. She thought about when Liam was a newborn. "I mean Liam was a handful and he doesn't have any super soldier serum in his blood. I was also 18 and Josh wasn't that much of a help. But still."

"I'll talk to Banner first thing when we get back." Steve said with a nod of his head. "Also if it helps, I will not be like Josh."

Snorting, Emerson shook her head. "Trust me I know. You are ten times better at being a dad then Josh ever was. And you aren't even Liam's dad."

"Liam is a great kid, its hard not to be a father figure to him. Especially when you are crazy about his mom." Leaning into Emerson, he rested his head on her lap. "Gotta win over the son."

"That you did. He likes you way more then he likes me." Emerson said running her fingers against his cheek.

Smiling softly. "Now that I don't think is possible. Your son loves you. I'm just the guy who feeds him candy when your not looking."

"As long as you don't feed him candy 2 hours before bed time, I'm okay with that." Emerson said laughing. "Or you can stay up with him until he falls asleep. And trust me on this that little boy knows how to stay awake."

"Deal." Steve said giving her lips a peck. "I love you."

"I love you too. Lets go to bed." Laughing as Steve pulled her down net to him.

"Sure, but lets do something else first." Steve said before he captured her lips with his.