All previous chapters have been updated and tweaked. I have worked pretty hard making this fic cleaner and (character-wise) realistic. I would recommend you reread it but you don't need too. SO sorry about the long update. I promise it won't take that long again.

1100 Hours- Darcy's aprtment

It wasn't often that Steve felt the urge to completely lose all sense and smash the face of his friends. Today, however, seemed to be a day for experiencing the new and unexpected, in all its forms. From making love to a beautiful woman who was practically a stranger to having itchy palms when it came to her seemingly adoptee brother. Darcy had managed to convince both tense men to sit at her round dining table as she hurriedly made a pot of coffee.

Steve watched her out of the corner of his eyes as Thor rambled on about what all went into a courting feast. His dark-haired dame was listening intently, her face open and honest, but Steve could tell something was off. Her fingers started to pull at the bottom of her sweater sleeves as she tiptoed around her kitchen.

He was unaccustomed to seeing her this way. Her normally confident glow was dimmed. The light that had danced in her eyes as they sat in her bed just that morning, talking about nonsense, had nearly gone out completely. Had the idea that they would be separated truly made her this upset? Surely it had to something else.

He was by her side in a second, grabbing the sugar and creamer off the counter behind her. His hand brushed hers and she finally smiled. A small one, but the deep breath and the thank you in her eyes was enough to calm his own jittery nerves. Mostly.

Thor was watching them intently, his face thoughtful though still concerned as Steve instead watched his girl. She glanced at both men ruefully.

And then he saw it. A tiny little spark deep within her night blue eyes that quickly grew to a flame. Her smile was slow and cat like but still managed to knock the breath right out of his chest and he found himself smiling too, though confusedly. She reached up and kissed his check as Steve stood still, unable to move. She was mesmerizing.

"So let me get this straight. You are whisking Jane away, showing her the wicked cool sights, and history and blah blah, mooshy mooshy things of Asgaurd…" Darcy asked, turning briskly to Thor. The bulky man nodded, leaning back in the dwarfed seat.

"And the big question won't be popped until the feast, three days from now?" Again, he nodded though now his brows were scrunched in confusion.

"SO having me be there beforehand, when the plans were supposed to be just the two of you would be suspicious. If I go to Asgaurd I don't plan on hiding in a broom closet for three days. So I think it would be safe to say I should remain here until the Godly shin-dig. Yea?" She smiled brightly to the slack-jawed men. Her hands were still as they perched solidly on her hips. The pose of victory. Leave it to Darcy to wiggle her way out of an over protective (and frankly intimidating) brother's scheme. Steve looked to his teammate, seeing the realization that he'd been bested sink in.

Thor's booming laughter could be heard several halls way, where Stark was paying Bruce an absurd amount of money as the scientist quietly laughed.

"Didn't even throw him out of a window…" Tony mumbled.

With Thor having to admit defeat in Darcy's battle of wits, the warrior decided to leave the two of them alone and Steve could not be more relieved. Darcy, in her way, celebrated the win by nearly pouncing on him, forcing his back against the closed door. Her mouth was everywhere on his face, playful little kisses making his cheeks warm. His arms tightened around her bottom as his deep laughter mixed with her bright giggling.

Eventually they had to separate, though he kept his arms around her waist. She smiled up at him, palms splayed across his chest. He hoped she could feel his heartbeat, the way it thrummed for her.

"So we have three days." She sighed happily, little tendrils of dark curls danced across her flushed cheeks.

"Seems we do." He whispered back. Fingers gently massaging her lower back, thumbs rubbing in slow circles.

"I think it's about time you finally showed me the town." She began to wiggle beneath his hands and his mind was beginning to wander.

"Sure thing, doll." He mumbled huskily, leaning down to kiss those irresistible red lips…. When Darcy opened the door behind him and pushed him out leaving him stumbling back into the hallway. She stood in her doorway, wicked smile and giddy eyes giving her the appearance of a modern day goddess.

"Good. Got myself a new dress and mama needs some time to get ready. Pick me up at 5." And with that, she closed the door solidly leaving Steve staring.

Had someone told him a week ago that he'd be getting ready for a first date with a woman he's already slept with, Steve would have had their head checked. Today, however, was beginning to shape to be one hell of a day.

No sooner did he get to his floor, a mere two doors away from his own, did the grinning face of Sam Wilson appear. Steve had been offered an entire separate floor with private elevator and what-have-you but had opted for the shared living space with his trusted friend. Two apartments, one floor. Separate but close enough for them both to feel a little bit of comfort. Besides, he felt the other man wouldn't have taken to living in the intimidating tower had it not been for Steve's offer. It was, even with all the gadgets and nonsense, the safest place for all of them. The world's mightiest or whatever the people were calling them.

"Hey buddy. How was your night?" The young man asked, his grin saying he knew exactly how Steve's night went. He felt the twist in his gut as he thought about Darcy. What did this other man think of her now that he knew what they had done?

"Steve?" Sam's face became serious. His normally cheerful eyes held concern. "You don't have to say anything, man. I'm sorry-,"

"It's ok… I just…" He sighed, opening his door and waiting for the other man to take the signal. Take a breath. Think of peaches and coffee. He repeated this over and over in his head as the two men seated themselves in their usual spots. It was similar to when Steve visited Sam's apartment, though the furniture there was less stiff. Lived in.

"I just don't want you to think anything bad about her." He began, eyeing the other man's face. A flash of confusion and a second of realization and the grin was back, just softer.

"I sometimes forget it wasn't that long ago for you… Your time, I mean." Sam began, his voice low and steady like how he has it when he speaks for the vets. "This is a whole new world for you and it's hard to separate that from the way you were raised." He paused, waiting for Steve to nod before continuing. "Now, I can't say that the whole world shares this belief, but I can say that most people in western world don't think any less of a woman because of her night time activities."

Steve took a deep breath, opting to just listen and ride this anxiety out. Just let Sam's words sink in.

"And Ms. Lewis doesn't seem to be the type of girl to let anyone judge her in any way." Sam said knowingly. There wasn't much Steve knew about Darcy but he knew his friend was right. He chuckled, some of the tension easing from his body.

A whole new world indeed. His mind was still reeling from his out of character behavior last night and though he could say that it wasn't how he would have liked it to go, he couldn't bring himself to regret a single thing. Something about the girl made him forget how out of place he felt. Here, with his 1940's imitation apartment, surrounded by replicas and things that were better off left in the past, Steve began to realize he really didn't know a damn thing about how this new world works and that it's about time he tried too.

"You seem to know a lot about how modern women work-," Steve began but was cut off by Sam laughing deeply.

"Hey man, I play both fields, but that don't mean I know anything about how they work." He smiled brightly. Play both fields?

Clearly Steve's confusion must have egged the other man on because he sat back and sighed, rubbing his stubbly face.

"Well, now or never, eh?"

"Sam?"

"Look, I didn't tell you earlier because it wasn't something that came up. I also wasn't sure how you'd react with your raising, but if you are going to ask me about dating you're going to have to know I like both men and women." Sam stated quickly. He hadn't moved a muscle except his hands which were clenched at his knees.

Steve thought for a moment. He had known plenty of men during his time in the army who turned to other guys for comfort. Some stayed with men. Others went on to marry women. One or two actually became women, if the old files were correct. Some things were different about this time. Others weren't.

So he looked to his friend and put on his best not bothered/I'm not an idiot face. Hard to do but somehow he managed it because Sam grinned and leaned back, all charm and optimism once again.

"Ok good. Now tell me why you exited that elevator looking like someone kicked your puppy."

This one he could answer, though it didn't make the situation any less dire.

"I've got a date."