AN: I was working on "Risks" (Please read and review if you haven't), trying to get Nick and Maria to make up, when Steve wandered into my head. 'You know, I'd be a pretty good match for her, too,' he told me. 'Yes, but I'm working on a story with her and Nick and I'm not really interested in writing a triangle.' 'You don't have to write a triangle, you can give us our own story,' he told me. 'If I do, will you leave me alone and let me continue my other story?' He smiled at me. 'Maybe.'

Never saw Captain America, so all I know about him was what I remember from the Avengers. Hopefully, this isn't too out of character for either him or Agent Hill.

An Evening Stroll

Maria Hill shifted again, but still couldn't get comfortable. She sighed, admitting to herself that her discomfort had much more to do with the situation than it did with the inoffensive wooden chair. She looked around the table at the Avengers team, all talking and enjoying themselves.

Why was she here again?

Oh, yeah. Orders. Fury had insisted she attend this gathering. "Go," he said. "Liaise. Get to know everyone outside of a crisis."

"That's Coulson's job," she had argued.

"Then you can be his back up. I need you to function as part of the team. Besides, you might actually enjoy yourself," he told her.

She gave him a doubtful look.

"Also, it's an order."

Now, she found herself sitting in the dimly lit bar with earth's greatest heroes and the closest thing she had to a friend and feeling very alone. To her right, Phil leaned across the table discussing something with Tony Stark. At the other end of the table, laughter drowned out the end of someones story. She took another small sip of the beer that she had been nursing all evening, then focused on setting it back exactly in the water ring it had left on the table.

After a few more minutes, she stood up and leaned over to Phil.

"I'm going to step outside for some fresh air," she told him.

He nodded and returned to his conversation as she grabbed her lightweight jacket off the back of her chair. She shrugged into it, then weaved her way through the tables and chairs to the front door. Looking back at their table, no one seemed aware of her departure.

Except for the drunk leering at her from his perch by the bar. His gazed traveled up her shapely legs, clad in well worn blue jeans to the snug fitting red v-necked sweater that did little to conceal her curves. His smile grew...until he met her icy glare. Suddenly, his drink once again required his full attention.

Maria pushed the door opened and stepped out onto the sidewalk. She took a deep breath, appreciating the cleared air, stuck her hands in her pockets, and started to stroll down the sidewalk. She had only taken a few steps when she heard the door open and close and footsteps approaching her from behind.

Apparently, she hadn't discouraged the drunk as well as she thought she had. She put a hand on her sidearm and turned to face him.

"Captain Rogers," she said, surprise evident in her voice.

"Agent Hill," he nodded as he walked towards her. "I saw you get up and leave. Is everything alright?"

"Everything's fine," she assured him, "I just needed to get a breath of fresh air."

"Oh. I thought you might be leaving."

"No. I rode over with Agent Coulson. Guess Fury wanted to make sure I didn't bug out too early."

"You don't want to be here," he stated.

She shrugged. "I'm not really much of a party person. Figured I'd take a little evening stroll."

"Okay," he replied, offering her his arm, "Let's go."

"Alone."

He looked puzzled. "Alone? But it's late...it's going to be dark soon."

"Yes..."

"And you're a woman."

"Yes, I am well aware of that..."

He looked down at the ground, then back up at her.

"In my day, a lady didn't walk the streets alone. It's just not safe."

She stifled a laugh. "You're offering to protect me?"

He shrugged.

"That's very kind of you, Captain Rogers, but I'm a well trained SHIELD agent and am perfectly capable of protecting myself."

His face fell. "Of course you are," he finally mumbled. "I keep forgetting how much things have changed." He sighed.

The statement tugged at her heart and she sighed, too. When he glanced up at her, she rolled her eyes, then told him, "Well, come on then. Can't have me walking these mean streets on my own."

A smile broke out on his face and he stepped over and offered her his arm again.

"Don't push it, Captain Ice Cube."

As they started down the street, he bumped her shoulder with his. "Yes, Agent Hill. Not pushing it, Agent Hill."

After a couple of blocks of comfortable silence, she glanced over at him. "So, what's it like? Waking up in a world totally different from everything you've ever known?"

He looked off into the distance. "I don't even know how to start to answer that, Agent Hill. So much of what was science fiction in my time is now obsolete. Things that were just accepted have now been tossed on the trash pile. People's roles are no longer what they once were."

"Like women?"

"Exactly. Used to, men worked, took care of their families. The women stayed home, raised the children. Now, women are doing everything. You get yelled at for simple courtesy like opening a door for someone."

"I know. And we have probably lost some in the area of courtesy. But don't you think it's a good thing for people to be able to do what they want...what they're good at? Not be limited to certain jobs because of their sex or their skin color? Take Director Fury. He worked hard to get to where he is and he is very good at it, but back in your day, he wouldn't have even had the chance."

He nodded, acknowledging the truth of her statement.

She continued. "As for women...there weren't a whole lot of options. Women usually went from their parents home to their husbands home without ever learning to fend for themselves. When their husbands went off to war or died, they had to find a way to provide for themselves and their children. They were with a man because they needed to be. The needed someone to provide for them, to protect them. When and if I ever get involved in a relationship, it will be because I choose to be with someone, not because I don't have any other choice."

He thought for a few minutes as they continued to walk. "When you say it like that, it sounds like something even more special."

"I like to think so," she agreed, "though that may just be because I don't plan on getting involved with anyone."

"Ever?"

"Ever."

They reached a corner and he pushed the button to cross the street. As they waited for the light to change, he offered his arm again. Maria laughed and shook her head.

"You're very persistent, aren't you?"

"One of my best qualities."

She finally threaded her arm through his and together they crossed to the other side.

He picked up their conversation again. "I'm not saying that all the changes are bad. I'm just saying that it's a major adjustment. Some days I think I'm doing okay and some days I want to stay in bed and pull the covers up over my head."

They both looked up as a few raindrops started to fall.

"Maybe we should head back," he suggested.

"No, a little rain never hurt anyone."

They continued a few more minutes and suddenly the sky opened up and it began to pour. They quickly ducked into a doorway, but the wind drove the rain in after them. Steve pointed at some lights down the block. She looked up at the sky, then nodded. He grabbed her hand and they made a run for the coffee shop. Moments later, they pushed through the door and stood dripping in the entryway. The young waitress and the three young ladies studying at one of the tables took one look at the handsome hero and immediately started primping.

"I'm going to the ladies room to see if I can dry off a little," Maria told him, heading towards the back of the shop.

He started to follow to find the men's room when he found himself surrounded by a group of girls. One of the students offered him a handful of napkins.

"Here, let me help you dry off," she offered.

"He's going to need more than that," the waitress retorted, reaching out with a hand towel.

Another young woman grabbed him by the hand and led him over to a table and pushed him down in a chair. She started pulling his jacket off. "You really should get out of those wet clothes."

The third member of the studious trio came over with a duffel bag. "I was planning on heading to the gym but never made it." She pulled out a towel and started drying his hair.

As he stammered and tried to escape his admirers, Maria came out of the bathroom, as dry as the weak hot air dryer in the bathroom could get her in a few minutes. She bit her lip to keep from laughing at his predicament as he threw her a panicked look. Finally, she took pity on him.

She smiled broadly and in her best girly voice said, "Steve! I took the test in the bathroom! It's positive! We're having a baby!"

The girls all turned to her, their looks ranging from disappointed to utterly hateful.

Maria watched him, silently urging him to pick up his cue. After only a moment, he did.

He jumped up. "That's great...Maria." He took her hand and led her over to the table. As he pulled out the chair and helped her sit, the other four wandered off with a couple of muttered 'congratulations' and a few other words that they were probably better off not hearing.

He sat down next to her, his face still reflecting fear. "Those women..."

"A little like being the rabbit in the midst of a hyena feeding frenzy, huh?"

"Something like that. Looks like I'm the one that ended up needing to be protected. Thanks," he told her.

"My pleasure."

He looked up as the waitress came over with the coffee pot and a single mug. She filled the mug and set it down in front of Steve.

"Anything else I can get you, handsome?" she asked.

He handed the cup to Maria and smiled at the waitress. "I'd like some coffee as well, it it's not too much trouble."

She threw Maria a dirty look, then filled another mug and handed it to him. "If you need anything else, I'll be right over there at the counter. My name's Sherri."

After she left, Steve leaned over to Maria. "Are they all so...forward?"

"Not all. Even back in your days, a woman knew how to let a man know she was interested. Now days, she's just a little more...aggressive about it. Sometimes they feel the man is moving too slowly, sometimes he's too shy to make the first move, and some men just like being chased, I suppose."

She grinned at him. "Just part of the price you pay for being such a hunk."

"You think I'm a hunk?" he teased.

She studied him, running her eyes over him, then reaching out to squeeze his forearm, then his bicep.

"I suppose you could fall into that category."

He grabbed the hand she had laid on his arm.

"You're freezing," he exclaimed, suddenly noticing her shivering.

He took his jacket from the back of his chair and wrapped it around her. She started to push it away, insisting that she would be fine.

"Hey, I've got to take care of my...what is it they say?...my 'baby momma'"

She burst into laughter. "I never imagined those words coming out of your mouth, Steve Rogers."

"Just trying to get with the times," he shrugged.

"You're just fine just the way you are," she reassured him.

"Thanks."

They finished their coffees, noticed that the rain had stopped and stood to go. When he went up to pay, the waitress waved off his money. "It's on the house, hon. Just remember, I'm here most evenings...just in case you need a break from the little woman," she told him with a wink.

They stepped outside and started back towards the bar.

"You'll probably need your jacket back," she told him, starting to take it off. He reached over and pulled the zipper up to her chin.

"No, I'm fine. Besides, it looks much better on you."

She looped her arm through his. "Thanks. It's cooler out here than I realized."

A car came along, splashing water up onto the sidewalk behind them. He grabbed her and pulled her into a doorway, covering her with his body to keep her dry. When the car had passed, he looked down to find her watching him.

"Would you think me too forward if I kissed you?" she whispered.

"I was just about to ask you the same question," her answered, then leaned down and touched her lips with his own.

He finally stepped back. "We should probably be getting back."

She nodded, unable to make her voice work. Hand in hand, continued back to where they left the rest of the team. When they arrived back at the bar, the table they had occupied had acquired new residents.

"Guess we were gone longer than we thought," Maria commented, pulling out her phone to check the time. "Looks like Phil sent me a text," she said pulling it up.

::Had a little much. Crashing at tower for the night. Call Stark for a limo if you need a ride. Be gentle with Cap::

She realized Steve was reading over her shoulder and quickly closed the message out when she got to the last part.

"Guess I'll catch a cab over to the tower," she told him, focusing on the task of pulling up a cab company on her phone.

He took the phone out of her hand and tucked it in her pocket, then took her by the hand. "I've got a better idea."

He pulled her to the parking area heading straight towards the vintage motorcycle. He threw his leg over the seat and started the engine.

"May I offer you a ride, Agent Hill?"

"You'd better," she answered enthusiastically, climbing on behind him and wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.

He revved the engine a few times, then pulled into the street.

Leaning forward, she shouted in his ear, "This isn't the way to the tower."

He glance over at her. "I thought I'd take the long way. If that's okay with you?"

She settled close again.

"That's very okay with me, Captain."

Feedback, please. I'd like to know what you think.