Chapter 15-
Steve and Emerson decided to leave right after the confrontation with Natasha. Neither wanted to stay as the room just felt awkward. Neither knew what to do, Natasha didn't come back into the dining room when she left after the talk. Emerson didn't know what to do, but everyone assured her that Natasha would come around. Well at least they hoped she would.
Now Steve and Emerson found themselves walking around Central Park, before they went back to the apartment. The city was still full of people, as it always was. But once they stepped into the park it was like they were the only two left in the city. Steve had one hand holding Emerson's while his other was holding a little black box in his pants pocket. He was planning on proposing tonight, but he didn't know if tonight would still be a good night. He would just have to wait for the right moment.
"Its going to snow." Emerson said pulling Steve out of his thoughts. The blonde women was staring up at the sky with a slight smile on her face. "I can feel it."
"So what is your deal with snow? You seem like the only person in the world that loves snow." Steve asked as he realized they were walking up to where they first met.
Shrugging her shoulders. "Ever since I was a baby, my mood would change. My parent's found it bizarre. But when a flake of snow would fall I would turn into the happiest baby. And I had a lot of good memories in the snow. Liam was born during a snow storm. On Christmas Eve. Best Christmas present I have ever gotten."
Seeing a snow flake fall onto Emerson's scarf, he smiled. "Well maybe we can create another good memory for you with snow."
"Oh and how are we going to do that?" Emerson asked smiling as she realized where they were.
"This is where we first met. And this is where my life changed. You are the most amazing person I have ever met and I've been around for a while." Steve said with a slight chuckle as he slowly sunk down to his knee. "You make me feel like I belong in this century. I want to be a father to Liam and a husband to you. Emerson Kathryn Rhodes, will you marry me?"
Raising her hand to cover her mouth as Steve opened the little black box, to show the most gorgeous ring Emerson had ever seen. It was a squared diamond sitting on a open curved diamond band. Realizing she hadn't said anything Emerson nodded her head as fast as she could. "Yes, yes I'll marry you."
Smiling ear to ear Steve stood up taking the ring out of the box. "Thank the Lord." He said slipping the ring on her left hand.
Taking his face in her hands, she kissed him hard mumbling on his lips. "I love you so much."
"I love you too." Steve said kissing her back as the snow began to fall. And the new happy snow filled memory was made.
On the cab ride back from the park, Emerson could not stop playing with her new ring. It was the only piece of jewelry she had on. She always thought of herself as a tomboy, never one to worry about her appearance, trying to be as natural as she could. But when she needed to dress up, she went all out. There was really no in between for her.
"Do you not like it?" Steve asked worriedly as he watched Emerson play with ring.
Looking over at Steve with wide green eyes. "No Steve I love it. Really."
"Good." He said kissing her softly. "Liam helped pick it out."
"Did he really?" Snuggling into his side while letting out a light laugh. "How did that go? Taking a 6 year old into a jewelry store."
"Oh he loved it. Had all the ladies all over him. He apparently had Jenson find a ring that you would like. So he knew what I should buy. As I had no clue." Steve said laughing. "So really thank Jenson, she picked it out."
"I really do love this ring Steve. But not as much as I love you." Emerson said kissing the corner of his lips.
"I love you too Emerson." Steve said as the cab pulled up to the curb. Paying the man the couple got out of the cab and into the building. "Do you know how much money we would save if we actually had a car."
"We live in New York City, we don't really need a car. But we can talk about it, if that'll make you feel better." Emerson said as they walked into their apartment to find an awake Liam and a sleeping Jenson on the couch. "Hey Liam can you wake up your aunt for me?"
Nodding his brown haired head, Liam shook Jenson until she woke up. "Aunt Jen mommy and daddy are here."
Emerson and Steve stood there in surprise as they watched Jenson wake up from the couch. "Daddy? Josh is here?" The sleeping blonde asked as she sat up to find Emerson and Steve standing there. No Josh in sight. "I didn't know Liam was calling Steve daddy."
"Yeah neither did we." Emerson said as she walked over to Liam. "When did you decide this?"
"Because Steve is more like a daddy then daddy was ever a daddy." Liam explained like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Did daddy ask you the question yet? I've been waiting forever."
"The will you marry me question?" Emerson asked watching Liam nod his head. "Why yes he did. Before we got here."
"Oh my god. You are getting married?" Jenson exclaimed as she hugged her sister, then Steve. "This is so exciting. I'm going to be your maid of honor right? Or are you going to give it to Sean?"
"Jen, you are going to be my maid of honor. Sean would kill me if I did that to him." Emerson said hugging her sister for the second time. "You know he only likes weddings because of the drunk single women."
Nodding her head in agreement. "This is true. Oh Emmy I'm so happy for you. I'll be there for you every step of the way. I am really good at planning weddings. Its almost like its my job or something."
"I thought you do do that." Steve said confusingly looking between the sisters.
Smiling softly, Emerson wrapped her arms around Steve's torso. "Sarcasm babe. I thought they had that in the 1940s."
"Its been a long night." Steve said as he picked up Liam. "Come on bud lets get your ready for bed."
"Okay good night mommy. Good night Aunt Jenson." Liam said resting his head on Steve's shoulder.
"Good night Liam." The two sisters said as the boys walked down the hall.
Jenson turned toward Emerson and pulled her to the couch. "So tell me everything. How did he do it?"
Emerson told her the story of how they left the dinner party early and ended walking to Central Park when Steve proposed. And then began to tell her what made them leave the party early.
"So Natasha has a thing for Steve?" Jenson asked questionably. "Are you sure? Is she sure? Why would she call you to D.C if she wanted Steve?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Emerson sighed. "I don't know. I guess Natasha will come to us when she is ready to talk."
"Huh. When you find out I want to be the first to know."
"Of course Jen." Emerson said smiling softly. "Its late, do you just want to crash here? Or do you want to go back to your apartment?"
"I'll spend the night, you have a very comfy couch. And if I go to to my apartment I'll just see all the unopened boxes. Then I will start crying and drinking. Make drunk phone calls to Tucker. I know its been months since the divorce has been finalized but.."
Cutting her sister off. "Say no more, stay the night."
"Thank you." Jenson said as she hugged her sister. "I just need to get back into the game. God I hate dating."
"Next weekend we will have a lady's night. We will get all dressed up and find you a rebound." Emerson said rubbing circles on her sister's back. "Or at least a lot of numbers for you to call. Whatever you are feeling that night."
"That sounds exactly what I need." Jenson said pulling away from the hug. "I should get some sleep. Go cuddle with your fiancé."
"Will do." Emerson said standing up from the couch. "If you need anything just ask."
"I will. Good night Emmy."
"Good night Jenny." The younger blonde said as she walked back to her bedroom. Steve was sitting up in bed, his back pressed against the head board, reading a book. "What are you reading?"
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Steve mumbled while he continued to read the book. "Why wouldn't the Dursley's want Harry to go away to a boarding school? If they hate them that much shouldn't they just send him away?"
"Well he would be learning magic there. And the Dursley's hate magic. They want all of 'freakishness' to stop." Emerson explained while she changed into her pajama's.
"Got it." Marking his page, he watched Emerson do her night time ritual. First she would put on her pajama's, which have turned into his old army shirt and a pair of very short shorts. She said that they were called boyfriend shorts, and they were more like underwear. Steve didn't care what they were called, he just liked looking at her when she wore them.
Next she would brush her teeth, rinse with mouth wash and floss. She was the only person Steve knew that would floss every night. When he asked, Emerson told him that she had horrible teeth when growing up. So after she got braces, she decided that her teeth were going to be her top priority. Then she would wash her face, but not before putting her hair in a braid.
Once she was done with her ritual. Emerson climbed into the bed. "So what a night huh?" She said snuggling into Steve's chest.
Wrapping his arms around her, he nodded his head. "Yeah what a night. First I find out one of my friends has a crush on me. Then I proposed to my girlfriend."
"Natasha will come around. Who knows maybe she'll be here bright and early tomorrow morning." Emerson said yawning into her hand. "I mean I'm too perfect to be mad at. She even said so."
Scooting down so he was laying down on the bed instead of sitting, Steve nodded his head. "Knowing her that is exactly what will happen. So lets get to bed, we all know how you are in the mornings."
"I own a bakery, I have to get up early." Emerson said turning her back to Steve.
Pulling her closer so they could spoon, Steve kissed the spot where the shoulder meets the neck. "I know, but Sunday's are your sleep in day."
"True." Emerson said melting into his touch. "Good night Steve."
"Good night Em. I love you."
"Love you too."
