A/N: Hey guys! The response to the last chapter was great—you're all the best. The response to this story still blows my mind. 363 story alerts, 158 reviews. 218 of you even favorited it! It means the world to me. 28,000 hits—holy crap. I'm seriously in love with all of you, so here's another chapter for you guys—and I'm pretty sure you're going to love it.

My eyes fluttered open and sun was streaming into the room, forcing me to squint my eyes. My head was against something warm and firm that was rising and falling every few seconds. I lifted my head up, my eyes meeting Steve's.

"Good morning," he whispered, rubbing my shoulder with his arm that was wrapped around me. "Did you sleep well?"

A sleepy smile stretched across my face, and I took my hand out of Steve's across his chest and stretched, giving him a nod. "I figured you'd be hungry, so I got that JARVIS-thingy to send up breakfast," he said, gesturing toward the coffee table in front of us. I moved to sit upright and reached for the cup of steaming coffee, taking a long sip.

"Thank you," I whispered, my voice still groggy. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep, you should've woken me up."

Steve gave me a crooked smile, picking up a piece of bacon from the plate in front of us. "You looked so peaceful, and I knew you hadn't slept in awhile. It was no problem, really."

I offered him a grateful smile as I continued to eat the food in front of us. "So what do you have lined up for today?" I asked.

Steve folded his hands, leaning on his knees. "Uh, well, I have a meeting this morning with Director Fury and the rest of the squad, just to finalize some things. You?"

I munched on a piece of bacon, thinking over my schedule. "Nothing, I think. Are you doing anything after your meeting? We could go to Central Park again or something—I'll show you around what's left of New York. I'm guessing it's pretty different than how you remembered it."

Steve nodded, offering me a smile. "I'd like that. How's three o'clock sound?"

I grinned back, rubbing my hands on my shorts. "Sounds great. I should be letting you go, you have to get ready for your meeting. Thank you again for letting me stay—I'm really sorry I fell asleep on you," I said, with a nervous chuckle.

"Don't be," he insisted, standing up and walking me to the door. "I didn't mind in the slightest," he added, a blush painting his cheeks.

I chuckled, walking out the door. "Alright, I'll see you later then." Steve waved one last time before closing the door. I walked into my room, quickly showering and changing into a pair of jean shorts and a light floral blouse.

"JARVIS?" I asked, slipping on a pair of pink flip-flops. "Do you think it'd be ok if I took a look around the building?"

"That would be fine, Dr. Andrews," the AI replied. "I believe Miss Potts is on the 79th floor—I'm sure she'd be glad to show you around."

"That sounds great, JARVIS," I replied, walking out the door and toward the elevator. "Thanks." I headed up to the 79th floor, slightly nervous that I'd be disturbing Pepper. She had seemed nice enough in the little time I had gotten to speak to her last night, and I hoped that would continue into today.

The elevator slid open, revealing Pepper sitting at one of the bar stools sipping a steaming mug and looking at a holographic screen, showing images from the battle that ravaged New York City just a few days ago. I cleared my throat, hoping not to startle her. She spun on the bar stool to face me and gave me a smile. "Dr. Andrews! It's great to see you—can I help you with something?"

"Oh, you can call me Rebecca—and actually, JARVIS told me you were up here, I was going to go look around Stark Tower, and I think he said you were free," I told her, suddenly embarrassed that I had interrupted her.

"Oh, I am!" she exclaimed, jumping off the stool and walking over to me, a smile taking over her face. "I'd love to show you around, but I want one thing in return," she said, grabbing my wrist and pulling me back over to the elevator.

I chuckled at her excitement. "Anything you'd like."

"You have to tell me everything about you and Captain America," she demanded as she punched the down button.

I laughed, a blush creeping up my neck as we stepped onto the elevator. "Well, nothing's really going on…yet," I began, not really knowing how to describe it. "I don't know…he's such a sweet guy, and we spend a lot of time together, but I'm not entirely sure he feels the same way about me as I do about him."

Pepper smiled as the elevator opened up to a bustling cafeteria with hundreds of employees and construction workers grabbing breakfast. "And how do you feel about him?" she questioned as we got in line behind a man in a pinstriped suit. Pepper picked up a travel cup of coffee, and I did the same.

"Well," I said, squeezing the cup in both my hands. My face turned pink and the smile that always appeared whenever I thought of Steve crossed my lips. "I'm…I'm crazy about him," I whispered, looking around to make sure the coast was clear. Pepper's face lit up and she let out a squeal, making me laugh.

"I knew it!" she shouted, leading me to a table in the far corner of the room. The entire wall was a window, looking out into New York City. Everywhere the eye could see, construction workers were mingling about, getting ready to start the day. "The way you two look at each other…and he definitely feels the same about you. I mean, did you see how he defended you last night, about you being a healer? He jumped right in, bragging about how amazing you are. He looks and talks about you like you're the only thing that matters in the world."

I let out a nervous laugh, my face turning scarlet. "He's a good man. He'd do that for anyone."

Pepper shook her finger at me, nearly spilling her coffee. "He may defend people, but not like how he talked about you. I mean, damn, I've talked to the man for ten minutes, tops, and I could already tell he was in love with you."

"I wouldn't say that," I said, looking out the window with a nervous smile. "He's…he's a great man."

"And an attractive one," Pepper continued, causing us both to laugh. "I mean, have you seen him? God, if only Tony would work out like he must…" I shook my head, chuckling, as she continued. "And don't tell me you don't appreciate that ass. There are very few men who are blessed with an ass as gorgeous as his."

My eyes bulged and my jaw dropped as I burst out laughing, Pepper soon following suit. "Pepper!" I shouted, shaking my head. "I can't believe you!"

"Don't even deny it!" she shouted back, wagging her finger at me. "You know you've checked it out! And you know you like it!"

We both laughed, my face blushing horribly, as we continued to chat about Steve and I. I told her about how he had saved me during the explosion and gave her the details on my healing power. It was nice, getting to really talk to another female for the first time in awhile. My life had become a crazy action movie lately, and it felt good to get to have some girl-time again. She showed me around the rest of Stark Tower, including the rooftop party room, different lounges, first aid center, and a variety of labs.

Right before I was supposed to meet Steve, Pepper and I went back up to my floor and she walked with me to my room. "Have any plans for the rest of today?" she asked as we reached my door.

"I'm actually meeting up with Steve in a little bit, I think we're gonna go to Central Park," I told her, fishing my key card out of my back pocket.

Pepper lifted her eyebrows suggestively, and I laughed. "Sounds romantic," she commented. "It's time to make a move, sweetheart. Steve's a shy guy—he probably wants this as badly as you, he just doesn't know how."

I sighed, running a hand through my curly hair. "I don't know. I don't wanna just assume he feels the same way about me, and then get burned—I don't think I could handle that."

Pepper put her hand on my shoulder, shaking her head. "Sweetie, please—you two were made for each other. I haven't seen two people so right for each other in a long time. Don't worry. Everything will turn out fine."

I gave her a smile, turning to open the door to my room. "Thanks Pep, I appreciate it. I'll see you around, ok?"

She smiled back, turning to walk back down the hallway. "I expect a full recount of tonight's activities in the morning!" she yelled over her shoulder. I shook my head, chuckling, and went to sit down in my room, waiting for Steve.

After about fifteen minutes of me wringing my hands nervously, thinking over what Pepper had said, when I heard a knock at the door, making me jump. I ran to open it, finding Steve wringing his hands as well, wearing dark washed jeans and a blue collared shirt. "Hi," he said, his brows furrowed, eyes glued to the floor. "Y-you look nice."

I smiled, closing the door behind me. "Thanks, you too. I kinda forgot I don't have a car…can you drive?" I asked, slightly worried by his shy demeanor.

"Yeah, of course. Let's go." Steve didn't reach for my hand, just began to walk down the hallway. He was breathing deeply, his hands shoved in his pockets. We went down the elevator in silence, walking over to the parking garage and sitting down on his bike. I hesitantly stretched my arms to wrap around his stomach, and he stiffened at my touch. He drove in silence, never once looking back at me.

Steve parked the bike and helped me off it, and I attempted to hold onto his hand, but he snatched it back like I was on fire, once again shoving it into his pocket. "Um, we can head this way, I guess," I mumbled, jerking my head toward the path into Central Park. He walked beside me, far enough away that there was no chance we would brush against each other.

What was his problem? I thought…I thought things we're going great. What about this morning? He was so kind to me, and now…I was planning on…

"What the hell's going on?" I demanded, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk. We were surrounded by trees, people walking their dogs, kids playing in the grass—a happy setting—but Steve had completely ruined it with his strange behavior.

"What do you mean?" he asked, being betrayed by the guilty look that crossed his face.

"You know damn well what I mean," I retorted, calmly but angry. "What's wrong with you? Why are you being so distant? I thought…I thought that you and I, we were in a great place, and now? What, am I not good enough for you?" I shouted, my hands starting to shake.

Steve's face fell, his hand reaching out for my arm, but I flinched away. "Becky, no, it's nothing like that—"

"Don't call me Becky, not now," I demanded. A look of pure hurt overtook his face, and I almost felt bad—almost.

"Rebecca, please, you just have to understand, I can really explain—" he insisted, but I cut him off.

"Then explain, please. Because I don't want…I don't want us to be like this. We've come too far. I care too much about you, Steve," I begged, my anger fading, the hurt beginning to settle in.

"Rebecca, no, it's…I…I care so much about you," he whispered, and I could feel the wall I had put up crumbling to the ground. "It's just—I…I lied to you, this morning, because I wanted it to be a surprise, and I didn't want to get your hopes up, but I had to go—"

"Go where?" I murmured back, taking a step closer to Steve.

He fished around in his pocket for a second, before pulling his clenched fist back out. "You were just so upset, and I wanted to make it better, so I went to your apartment, and I…" Steve shook his head, and opened his fist. There, lying in the palm of his hand, was my mother's wedding ring.

I could feel my jaw drop and all the air inside of me rushed out of my lungs in a flash. My whole body went numb, and I just stared at that little band of gold with the one diamond lying in the center.

"I didn't want to tell you, in case I couldn't find it. I tore apart what was left of your apartment, searching through every piece of debris within a half-mile radius. I had just about given up, when I saw it poking through a hole in a ripped sock lying under a piece of foundation. A real diamond in the rough," he whispered, looking glumly down at the ring. "I shouldn't have lied to you, Becky. I know that, but I had to. I'm not a liar—I never lie to anyone, ever. I felt horrible about it all day, but I had to do it."

Regaining feeling in my fingers, I reached out to his still outstretched palm and picked up the ring, turning it around in my hand. It was exactly the same—not even bent. I thought I'd never see it again—I hadn't even given myself time to truly mourn the loss of the last thing I had of my mother. And yet, here it was, sitting in my hand, thanks to the man I was falling in love with.

"I'm so sorry, Becky," he repeated, looking at the gold band in my fingers.

I looked up at his face, his eyes meeting mine, and for what seemed like the millionth time, his face was so close to mine. His clear, vivid blue eyes, so full of hurt, gazed into mine with an intensity that turned me to pudding. However, unlike the last few times, his face did not move closer to mine—he just continued to stare at me, waiting for my reaction.

I think he was utterly surprised when I snaked my arm around his neck and pulled his lips down to mine.

A/N: I'M JUST SO HAPPY I CAN'T EVEN STAND IT. I'm actually mad at myself for cutting it off right there, but I had to—I couldn't resist. Gah, I'm just so happy! Go Becky! I swear, characters take on a life of their own. In my outline, I hadn't planned for a kiss in this chapter—it just sorta…happened. But I'm extremely happy with it. I hope you all have just a marvelous day now, and I'll talk to you all real soon(: