Chapter Twelve: Records, Cake and Being Prepared.

Darcy collapsed into Sam's car squished in with her family and Steve. Sam drove, excitedly describing how cute his daughter was. It was kind of endearing how jittery he was. Actually the whole family was happily chattering, Sam stopped and grinned happily.

" First stop, get out Steve, Darce." Marie leaned into the back and pulled out a large Eeyore tote. Handed it over to Darcy and all but shoved her out of Sam's Volvo. Steve looked just as stunned as Darcy. She had been joking about staying at his apartment but apparently her family had other ideas. Well when life gives you lemons, she slung her bags over her shoulder and looked over at a gob smacked Steve.

"Looks like I'm really spending the night babe." his face red Steve nodded and lead her into the building.

" Is your couch comfy?" she asked and Steve raised an eyebrow as he held open the lobby door.

" Yes, but why?" he asked as they headed towards the elevator. Darcy chuckled he didn't seem to understand, Darcy was sure Steve wasn't ready for anything more than kisses and maybe light groping on her part.

" Because you'll be sleeping on it." she said with a simple shrug, Steve laughed as he lead her to the elevator.

" Yes M'am." and he gave a jaunty little salute. Darcy almost groaned the salute paired with the fatigues he was wearing had Darcy wanting to jump on Steve and strip him out of them. The elevator binged and Darcy hurried out trying to hid her heavy blush. Steve opened his apartment door and held it so Darcy could enter first. Was it sad no man had ever treated her so well before? Sometimes Darcy wondered how Steve an army guy still ended up so innocent. Shaking her head she entered the living room and had to hold back a squeal. The whole place looked like it had been cut from a 40's magazine, from the furniture to the soft muted crochet throws. She wondered in further and gasped at the massive gramophone style record player resting on a low mahogany table. Behind it was a large shelf full of records and books.

" You have an amazing collection babe." she said as she carefully slid a Glenn Miller record off the shelf and Steve carefully took it from her and put it on the player and the upbeat notes of Chattanooga choo choo echoed out. Darcy grinned at him and tossed her bags on to his couch and kicked off her shoes and tugged Steve over to the clear space behind the couch.

" Do you know who to dance to this?" she asked as she put one of his hands around her waist and held the other. He smiled at her and shook his head and with almost sad smile

"No, Doll." she nodded and decided to try to make him smile and Glenn Miller must have decided to help because the next song was In the mood and Darcy knew a simple quick step would work with it. And with a little nudge she lead Steve through the simple steps with out uttering a word and by the time tuxedo junction started Steve had gotten the hang of it and they were dancing around the living room. And he was smiling brightly at her as he gave her a spin at the end of the song and then dipped her. Laughing as Steve pulled her up he pressed a long sensual kiss onto her lips .Darcy wrapped her arms around his neck pushing on to her toes to deepen the kiss and Steve let her slip her tongue into his mouth and the kiss became more passionate. They pulled away just when the need to breath became important. Panting Darcy lowered her self from her toes smiling up at Steve who was blushing slightly.

" That was Swell Doll Face" he whispered softly and Darcy smiled back then kissed his cheek.

"Sure was" she murmured back , blushing Steve pulled back hurrying to the other side of the couch.

" I'm just going to get some Chinese, Doll." Darcy figured he was just keyed up and needed air, she nodded.

" I want sweet and sour chicken please." he nodded with a small smile he left the apartment. She went over to pick up her tote and headed to the bathroom to take a warm shower and change into clean pajamas.

She headed into the bedroom and noticed Steve's huge king bed covered in a large handmade looking patchwork quilt. An open door lead to the muted blue bathroom with massive shower made sense Steve was huge buff guy. Darcy shook her head trying to get thoughts of a naked Steve out of her mind and unzipped the tote and took a look inside. She didn't know weather to thank Marie or curse her. The clothes were hers but some of her more tighter t-shirts and jeans and more fitted t-shirt weight hoodies to show off her figure. The underwear and pajamas all looked new and very skimpy there was even condoms and peppermint lube. Darcy shook her head at least Marie prepared her well that was the good thing about Marie.

Turning the shower to warm and striped then slipped into the warm spray and sighed with joy that Marie provided her favorite bath and bodyworks brown sugar and vanilla body gel. Trying to ignore it mixing with smell of Steve's old spice body wash and concentrated on her shower. Once out and wrapped in one of his fluffy blue towels she eyed the three pairs of skimpy pajamas Marie packed and tired to pick the most modest set. Which turned out to be a pair of pale blue cotton shorts and a fitted tank trimmed in lace the same blue. For Steve's piece of mind she tossed one of the thin hoodies over the tank and headed out to the living room.

Steve still wasn't back so Darcy put another record on this one Vera Lynn, tossed her purse to the floor and climbed onto the couch pulling one of the throws around her and yawned listening to Vera croon will meet again some day she was dozing off when she heard the door click. Sitting up to tell Steve she was to tired to eat and was going to go straight to bed she noticed it wasn't Steve that had come in. a tall man with long brown hair, black hoodie, cargos boots and gloves. At first she was sure he was a robber but he wasn't charging her. Was he friend of Steve's? She wasn't sure so as not to spook him she slowly laid back down. The throw was long enough to hide her hand slipping into her purse to dig out her taser. To distract him Darcy smiled slightly and in her brightest voice greeted him.

" Hi are you a friend of Steve's? I'm Darcy his girlfriend he went out to get take out were having a lazy night in. He'll be back in a couple minutes." she now had the taser in her hand and feeling braver she assessed the man and noticed things she hadn't before. For one he had keys in his hand robbers didn't use keys, he also had dog tags she could see them peeking out from his hoodie. So he really was a friend and from the look of him he was one of those veterans that had a hard time. He hadn't spoken yet and Darcy didn't want to spook him if he was having an episode so she slid the Taser into her pocket and sat up.

" Are you thirsty can I get you water or something?" that seemed to shock him out of his stupor or whatever had kept him just staring at her.

"Uh, I'm sorry Ma'am I didn't know Steve had an Old Lady now." his voice was raspy and he looked uncomfortable. So Darcy decided not to give him hell for the old lady comment.

"Its okay have seat ,coffee , water?" she said pulling on her more politer manners gestured to one of Steve's leather club chairs at least three feet from the couch and she slowly got up and carefully moved towards the kitchen. Steve's apartment had an open floor plan so it made it easy for her to get to the kitchen with out her really turning her back to him. The kitchen had a vintage feel to it too it was a sunny yellow and white ,the appliances all looked like retro reproductions and Steve had decorated with a cow motif. She loved it and carefully opened the fridge so she was still facing there visitor took a peek at its contents. It was surprisingly well stocked for a single guy there was tons of stuff, she guessed Steve liked to cook.

" We have water, juice, Coke, Pepsi, Doctor Pepper and Squirt." Steve seemed to like sodas who knew she quickly looked up at their guest who just shrugged.

" Anything's fine." not wanting to push if he really was unstable Darcy just stuck her hand in the fridge and pulled out a coke. She found a clean glass in the rack by the sink it was cute it had little cows all over it. She filled it with ice and opened the coke pouring it in the glass with out making a mess and brought it over to him. Mentally she was proud at how domestic she was being. He seemed to be just as wary of her as she was of him because he carefully took the glass and he'd been watching her like a hawk as she prepared it. She was about to sit down again when he said in the same raspy voice

" The records about to end." Darcy scuttled to the player and put on another which happened to be Judy Garland. Somewhere over the rainbow began to play and he smiled which looked quiet creepy if Darcy was being honest with her self. She was about to ask his name again when the door opened and Steve entered he was looking down.

" I Got a cake too Doll Face." he said as he closed the door still not noticing there guest he turned and almost dropped the bags in his hands.

" Bucky? What are you doing here, are you okay?" he asked his face a mask of concern he looked over at her as if to make sure she was okay. That wasn't comforting. Darcy carefully got up and went to take the bags from Steve who let her take them but not without running a hand from the top of her head down to her ass and pressing a quick soft kiss to her lips. As if to make sure she was okay, Darcy wasn't going to complain.

" Why don't you go ahead and eat Doll you've had an exciting day. Buck and I are going to talk in my studio." he kissed her forehead and lead Buck to the other side of the book shelf and through a door Darcy hadn't notice. She would have to take a look later she knew Steve drew but she didn't know he had a studio. She put the Chinese on the table and found the cake, it looked like Steve had gotten a chocolate cake getting a knife she cut a massive wedge. Ma always did say chocolate was good after a stressful or exciting day. And today was defiantly both, screw cutlery Darcy dug in with fingers. Sighing at the first bite, Wouldn't you know it Ma had been right.


Hi Guys and Dolls I hope you enjoyed the extra long chapter a lot happened Steve and Darcy had there first dance together. we got to see a bit of Steve's apartment at least how I imagined it.( He just seems like a guy that could rock a yellow and cow motif kitchen and still be manly). And Bucky made an appearance, next time Bucky and Steve have a little chat. Thanks for reading and the reviews they make me very happy - Love Dizzy