Disclaimer: I don't own the Avengers. Marvel does and I own my characters that I've created on my own.

Chapter 5

Marie

Three o'clock came faster than I thought it would. I saved the schedule into the database making a mental note to print it out tomorrow to post on the wall. I gathered my things for the afternoon as I headed out on the floor. After I got everything settled, I left my store only to greet Steve as he was heading towards me.

We talked for a little bit on the way before we arrived at a small café near downtown. I ordered my drink and he just got regular coffee. I found us a table far from the other people but not too far. I was surprised that he pulled out my chair for me.

"Who knew chivalry's still alive?" I asked.

"Well I know better on how to treat a lady," he said.

"Believe me times have changed from how things were. I mean there are men who do keep the doors open for women but that's rare," I said.

"Why do you say that?" he asked.

"You're not from around here, aren't you?" I said, tilting my head to the side.

"Try ninety something years," he said.

"Crap I'm sorry I didn't mean to…"

"It's okay," he said with a sad smile. "I know that it's hard but I'm managing."

"That's good but I know that's why we're not here sort of," I said.

"Right sorry I have a feeling that you wanted to know more of what happened and why," Steve said.

"Pretty much," I said.

I paused for a minute trying to think of the different ways to ask my questions that formed in my head while I was working today. Of course now it had to be the perfect time for me to be brain dead with my question. I took a sip of my drink and calmed myself down a bit before I got started.

"How did you know where I was last night?" I asked.

"I was in the neighborhood returning back to my apartment," he replied.

"You live around in my area?"

"Maybe a few blocks over," he said instantly.

"Okay so if you were around that area, then how did you know where I was?" I asked.

"I was heading back when I heard your screams and your dog barking loud. I ran and I saw you trying to defend yourself and I recognized who those men were so I knew I had to bring you back to the tower," he said.

So that explains why I woke up there.

"Did the others know?"

"Well, Bruce was there working on an experiment so he didn't mind, Tony well…"

"He wasn't too thrilled?" I said.

"Don't worry he doesn't mind you here he was more worried about the dog," Steve said casually.

"Hey Hobbs is very smart and housetrained," I said.

He laughed a little at that. "And besides, he's one of my clients," I noted.

"For what?"

"That charity ball whatever it is in three weeks I'm designing the centerpieces. Pepper stopped by a few weeks ago and we're meeting up to see the venue," I said.

"You don't sound that excited," Steve said.

Since when did this become a normal conversation? One minute we were talking about evil people wanting revenge and the next my job? Boy this is an interesting day so far.

"I am it's just I've never done anything this big before minus weddings and sweet sixteens. Then again; it's Tony freaking Stark I'm talking about," I said.

"You'll do fine," Steve said.

"How would you know?"

"Believe me when I see you work, you know what you're doing," he said.

I got to hand it to him, though he didn't get what's going on, it surprises me that a guy is interested in what I'm doing.

"So is it hard? Transitioning from ninety something years until now?" I asked. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to…"

"It's difficult," he said, interrupting me. "Sorry I mean I'm trying to get use to everything changing around me. Probably some men from the army are already dead. I still even wonder about…"

"Who? Your parents?" I asked.

"My dad died when I was young and my mother passed when I was only a teenager," he replied.

"Then there's someone else is there?"

"Can we talk about it another time?" he said, getting nervous.

"Sure just you know I'm here if anything," I replied.

I couldn't get our talk out of my head when I got home. Hobbs was excited to see me of course and after I fed him and got changed into something comfortable, I sat on the couch while I flipped through the channels, landing on a real housewives episode of whichever. I never really paid attention to those but whatever.

I leaned back behind the couch on the small table to grab my IPAD and book as I got comfortable on the couch for the night. I turned on my IPAD and got to my documents and started to go over them. I felt myself stopping as a thought came to me.

Maybe Steve did had an old girlfriend back in the day. He could've married her but with him getting to be involved with that whole mission thing from what I understand prevented it. Maybe that could be it who knows?

Perhaps that she could've died by now. I really wish it wasn't that theory.

I sighed heavily as I tried to get back to work.

"Ugh this is so stupid," I said to myself.

I closed my IPAD for the night making a note to work on it tomorrow at work.

I went into my room, setting my alarm on my phone before I forget as I went to grab my book that I was currently attempting to read since I was so busy and made my way back to the living room. Just as I was sitting back down, I heard a soft whine.

I looked over to see the dog sitting by the door with his leash in his mouth.

"Really?" I asked exasperatedly. I was a little hesitant only because of what happened yesterday but I know I really can't hide forever now, can I?

He continued to whine a little before I gave in. I grabbed my sweatshirt along with my cell phone and keys and left, hooking him on to his collar. I stopped short in front of my mystery neighbor's door. I walked over there slowly and pressed my ear slightly on the door and I could hear muffles of the TV on the other side.

I decided that it was best that I would do is to leave and just finish taking Hobbs for his walk. As I walked around the block when I got outside, I kept thinking about this afternoon. Sure Steve is a nice guy. Handsome I may add as well. But I know he's hiding something also.

Now don't get me wrong I know he's the Captain America but something was there that I couldn't pinpoint.

I decided from then on I was going to figure out what is there that made him even more sad when I brought up his past.

A/n: I know I'm so late and this is crap but I'm trying!

More of the mystery deepens and I'm probably going to be watching Captain America and Avengers again just to refresh so I know what I'm talking about and I did research on the internet so that's how I know of what happened to his family.

Leave a review on the way out! I thank you guys for sticking around this far and I'll try to be on time with updating since I got a bunch of other stories going on and work is getting in the way a lot that I'm just flat out exhausted and only write a sentence or two and fix something up.

Until next time,
Spike

PS: I hope the chapters will be longer since I know what will happen in the next few for now.