You were awake when Steve quietly entered the room again. He was a little disheveled and looked shaken.

"Are you alright?" you asked with a yawn.

"Yeah, I'm good," he replied unconvincingly.

"Did you go talk to Tony?" You knew you didn't have to ask. Steve had proven before he would fight to defend and protect you. Although you didn't fancy yourself a damsel in distress by any stretch, it made you smile inwardly that he was so eager to be your hero.

Steve nodded, sitting down on the edge of the bed with a sigh.

"Is everything okay between you two, after what happened tonight?"

"He's, well..." Steve paused awkwardly.

You reluctantly decided to finish what you were pretty sure was his train of thought. "Is he in love with you?"

He raised his eyebrows. "How did you know?"

"Something he said to me earlier. Are you going to ride off into the sunset on his Iron Man suit and be Superhusbands?" You'd be happy for him, of course, but it would be tinted with overtones of disappointment that you’d never acknowledge aloud.

"Tony means a lot to me, but I don't like guys, at least not like that,” Steve reassured you. He toed off his shoes and climbed into bed next to you, pulling you close.

"You're sure that you really don't, and it's not because of how people were before, like back in the ‘40s? Not that I think you’re like that or anything, just the change in society has to be a major adjustment for you, and-”

"It's not that,” Steve interrupted, stroking your back. “There were men under me who were, and I looked the other way as long as it didn't interfere with the mission. Love is love no matter who it’s between. But Tony, he, uh, kissed me, and I didn't...react, not like I do when you kiss me." He pressed his lips against yours, slipping his tongue into your mouth, and sucked on your tongue tentatively, the way he knew you loved him to do.

“Mmmm...” You pulled back with a laugh. “I have sleep breath.”

“I couldn't care less.” Steve smiled and kissed you again and slid your hand down to the front of his sweatpants. An obvious erection was tenting his pants. “See, there’s the reaction I didn't have when Tony kissed me.”

You chuckled and absentmindedly squeezed his member through his pants, rubbing it periodically with your thumb. On some level that you chose to ignore, you were very relieved that Steve wasn’t attracted to Tony. "I hope things aren't awkward between you now. I know how close you two are.”

"I don't think they will be. He's good at pushing boundaries, but he wouldn't push this one. Underneath all the sarcasm, self-destructive tendencies and that rough exterior, he's a good man."

"You know, he said the same thing about you, minus the sarcasm, self-destructive tendencies and rough exterior part."

Steve half-smiled and ran his fingers through his hair.

"It's true. You probably do deserve better than either of us."

He pulled you closer to him and rubbed random patterns against your back. "You sell yourself short."

"I'm lucky you're my, well, in my life." You weren't sure what word almost came out of your mouth, but you were sure that you didn’t want to think about it right then, maybe ever.

"Me too." He pressed his forehead to yours.

"How does your schedule look this coming week?" you asked, changing the subject.

"Not particularly busy. Why?"

"My boss told me I could take my vacation any time this month, and I thought about taking it starting Monday. We could go to that amusement park and do...whatever else there is to do in Pennsylvania on the way there, take a road trip." Really, you just wanted to set some distance between yourself and Tony until he could calm down and things could return to as normal as they ever were for an Avenger.

Steve smiled. “I’d like that. Some time away from the city would do us both good. Don’t make reservations on the internet, though. We’ll do this the old-fashioned way.”

“And what way would that be?” you asked, curious. “I hope you don’t mean sleep in the car or in tents on the side of the road.”

“No.” Steve laughed. “I’m not going to make you sleep in a tent on the side of the road. We’ll see where our trip takes us. Maybe we’ll see something interesting on a billboard or exit sign. We have an entire two weeks.”

“Technically 18 days, if you count the weekends. We could do a lot in 18 days.” You really hadn’t explored the 400 or so miles you were going to cover across Pennsylvania. Usually, anything you could think of that you wanted to do was somewhere in or around the city. It was one of the things you loved about NYC. You hadn’t traveled without an itinerary and advance reservations before either. The thought of going on an adventure with Steve was surprisingly an appealing one.

“Are you feeling better?” Steve asked against your ear, burying his face in your hair.

“I’m excited about our trip. Did you want to leave tomorrow morning, or is that too last minute for you?” you asked, fighting back a yawn. He was warmer and more comforting than anyone had any right to be. It was easy to nod off in his arms.

“Tomorrow is good. We can get up early to pack and then head out.”

“Not too early. It’s Saturday. People sleep in on Saturday. Well, except for you. I don’t think you sleep in any day of the week, or ever,” you teased.

“You don’t seem to be complaining about the other...enhancements the serum has given me.” He slid the hand you’d forgotten was against his erection to emphasize his point.

“Yeah, I’m definitely not complaining about that.” Your body betrayed you, and a yawn escaped your lips.

“Sleep now,” he mumbled.

“But not-so-little Steve is ready to come out of your pants and play,” you objected.

“I was in the Army and didn't get much time alone to take care of his needs. He survived. He’s not going to mind that much if he doesn't get any attention this one time.” Steve kissed you sweetly. “Now, sleep. We have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow.”

You sighed contently, feeling warm and safe, as you rested your head against Steve’s shoulder. You nodded off into a peaceful, dreamless sleep in his arms.