Birthday Boy

It was Steve's birthday today and you were left to make the cake for a party that was starting in a few short hours. Somehow time had escaped you and you were rushing to get it all done. It would be so much easier to just go out and buy the thing, but you knew it would mean more to your husband if you made it yourself. Now the challenge was to make it edible and look halfway descent.

Your first mistake was sending Nat out to grab the decorations for it; you should've known that she would return home with a bag full of Captain America candies and pictures to cover it in, even going to far as to find candles shaped just like him. Ok, those were pretty cool, but the rest was over the top, even for you.

Steve should know better than to sneak up on you, knowing that your reflexes were nearly as sharp as his, but prone to reacting a bit too quickly when you're focused on something. When he made the mistake of kissing your neck without announcing he was there, the normally endearing sentiment ended with you both covered in flour and a cake that would never be made in time.

"Steve! How many times do I have to tell you not to do stuff like that!" You angrily wiped the flour from your face and looked around at your now ruined attempt at baking. "Don't laugh, now you don't get a cake. How about that?"

"Well, it looks like I'm really missing out," he said as dug through the bag of decorations, pulling out the box of candles with a confused look. "What are these?"

"Captain America candles. That was Nat, not me, I swear."

His face shifted to a look of anxiety, pausing to set the box on the counter. "Nat's idea? Um...didn't someone say she was in charge of decorating?" His voice trailed off as he turned to leave without explanation.

"Yeah, is that a problem?" You set your apron on the table and followed him out and towards the common room, stopping at the door to take in the sight before you. The entire room was covered in red, white and blue balloons and streamers, with life-size cardboard cutouts of the Captain staged in various poses randomly placed across the party area. The tables were covered in tiny Cap foil cutouts, sprinkled everywhere you could see. You choked back your laughter and tried to hide your admiration at the job she had done, silencing when he turned to you in shock.

"Okay, so I may have given her a few ideas, but that girl can really commit, don't ya think?"

That's Not On The List

Taking Steve along for grocery shopping was a bit of a chore; within a half an hour he was usually complaining about the multiple lists you were sent with from the team and how none of it was on the diet plan that he had built for them. Now it was even worse for him, being only a few months after the battle of New York; he would have to stop and sign autographs and take pictures for countless kids and bored housewives alike. He would ultimately end up losing you in the store at least twice, but he was great when it came time to haul it all into the tower, so it was worth it.

"Woah, woah, babe, this isn't on the list." He held up a box of pop tarts adorned with the Avengers logo and a picture of Thor on the front. "Wait, when did he do this?"

"Last month. I guess they found out that he's a fan. He looks good, right?"

"Sure, I suppose he does," he pouted, still looking at the box. "But why is he the only one on there?"

"Steven Rogers, are you jealous?" you asked with a smirk, grabbing his arm to follow you to the next aisle.

"No," he sighed, throwing the box in the cart and following behind you. "But I like them too," he whispered, still a pout on his lips.

Dragging him along, you knew exactly where to go to get your husband to perk up and smile. Rounding the corner, you stopped and handed him a cereal box that thankfully was adorned with only his face, looking about as heroic as you've ever seen him. "Is that better, dear?"

His eyes brightened, and a small smile crossed his lips, even though he would never admit it if you asked. He regained his composure and threw the box in the cart. "Um, yeah sure, whatever."

"Okay, well I'm glad that's taken care of." You reached down into the bottom of the cart and pulled up a Captain America action figure, holding it up for him to see. "I can't have a grumpy Captain on my hands."

"Oh no, really? Where did you find that?" He picked it up and studied the details, now looking a little embarrassed by the attention that he was getting as his alter ego.

"Well, I had to wade through the Black Widow figures to find it, but I think it was worth the effort. He's kinda cute, if you ask me."

Steve stopped examining the doll to look at you, again a small pout forming. You grabbed the cart, deciding that the trip was over and it was time to take your boy home. He followed, again looking at the figure in his hands.

"How come she has more merchandise than me?" he whispered.

Put On The Suit

"We live in the most technologically advanced building in all of New York. How can the entire laundry room be out of commission?"

"Busted pipe," Tony called out from behind a row of machines. "I'll have it fixed by morning, sorry kiddo!" He always insisted on fixing everything himself, even if the job took twice as long and caused three times the inconvenience.

"Okay," you sighed, grabbing your basket and heading back to your room. Once there you realized that you were completely out of clean pajamas, having just returned from a long mission with only dirty clothes. Digging around in your closet didn't prove much for options, until you found a box that was still packed from when you moved in with Steve, filled with items that you no longer wore but couldn't bring yourself to throw out.

"I'm going to get so much crap for this," you mumbled to yourself, slipping on the matched set of pajamas and doing your best to sneak into bed before you were seen. You had just heard the shower turn off, so you hurried to get buried under the covers before Steve came out to see you.

"Wow, in bed already?"

"Yeah, long day," you said with your best fake yawn. "Can you get the lights for me?"

He turned off the lights to darken the room and slid into bed next to you. He always smelled so good after his shower and it was a struggle to not curl up next to him, risking your secret. It didn't take long for it to not matter anymore; he rolled over and pulled you in tightly, pausing at the unfamiliar texture of your clothing.

"Did you get something new?"

"No."

Steve rolled away and turned on the bedside lamp, turning back to pull the covers away with a quick snap. You could see him holding back a laugh, a smile winning the battle against his will to stay quiet. "Hot, babe," he said with a cough and a loud laugh finally escaping.

"Shut up," you whined, smacking him on the arm. "This was all I had left. They were in my box of old clothes."

"So how long have you been sleeping with Captain America?" His laugh hadn't waned and still filled the room as he continued to inspect the pajamas that bore his likeness wherever he looked. "I hear that guy's really popular with the ladies, and I guess it's true."

"Yeah, I think those days are over. That guy was nothing but trouble." You rolled away, pulling the blankets back up to fully cover you.

Steve slid closer to you, pulling you against him and leaving kisses up and down your neck. "Aww, come on. He can't be so bad, now can he?"

"Put on the suit. Let's find out."

He stopped at your words, his lips hovering just over your skin. "What?"

"Put on the suit," you said again, running your hand slowly along your thigh, "or this will be the only Captain that I'm sleeping with tonight."

"Yes ma'am!" He gave you one more quick kiss and jumped up from the bed, hearing your laughter as he ran towards the locker room.

That Old Poster

When the team moved into the tower, Tony wanted to give them each things around the building that would be theirs to make it feel more like a home. Everyone else had brought in items that represented them, but Steve's belongings from his past had been long since taken when he was thought to be dead, leaving him with little to offer. He had a few things that meant something to him, but they felt too personal to put on display.

A few days after you moved in with him you stumbled across an old poster from the Captain America war bonds tour at a small antiques store, still in near perfect condition. You snapped a quick picture and sent it to Tony, who promised to keep it a secret until the big party planned to celebrate their victory in Sokovia. He had it framed and hung in the lounge before everyone arrived, and it was your job to keep your husband distracted until the right time.

"Hun, what do you want me to wear?" Steve called out to you from the closet. "You know that I'm no good at this stuff."

"Just keep it simple and you'll be fine," you sighed, trying to focus on the finishing touches of make up and a final check of your hair. "I really like that blue shirt, how about that one?" A few minutes later he appeared behind you, looking at his own reflection past yours.

"This one?"

You turned around to admire how the shirt fit snugly over his muscles, and how the color accentuated his eyes. "Um, yeah...that's the one," you murmured, sliding your hand over his chest. "But here, roll these up." You reached down and helped with the sleeves, "there, that's perfect. It's a good thing I married you or I'd be worried. You're quite the catch, Rogers."

"I'm the lucky one, doll." He kissed your shoulder as you turned back to finish, pausing when his phone buzzed in his pocket. "Sam's here. You ready?"

"Yep, but come with me first. We have a surprise for you." You slipped on your shoes and took his hand, leading the way but refusing to tell him what the surprise was no matter how many times he asked you between your room and the lounge. "Okay, time to cover your eyes."

"Really?" he scoffed.

"Hey, (Y/N), you can use my tie if you want," Tony snickered, "as long as you kids can behave this time."

"Thanks, but I can do it myself, " Steve relented, looking at you as he covered his eyes and let you lead him to the other side of the room.

"Okay, you can look now," you whispered.

He didn't say anything right away, and you were worried that he didn't like it or that it brought up bad memories for him. He took a few steps forward and ran his hand slowly over the glass, studying every detail. "Where did you get this?" he said, his voice quiet and cracking just slightly.

You stepped up next him and put your hands around his waist, resting your head on his shoulder. "I found it at a shop a few days ago, and Tony had it framed for tonight. Do you like it?" You didn't realize you were holding your breath as you waited for his answer, as you still couldn't read his reaction.

"This is amazing, (Y/N). I don't have...I don't have much left from my past. This is the best gift I've ever gotten, and I don't know how to thank you."

Your body relaxed into his when he put his arms around you. "Just give me a kiss, and have a good time tonight. That's all I need."

Tony cleared his throat behind you, "Um, excuse me, but I helped."

Steve looked at you then to Tony with a smirk, "Don't look at me, I'm not kissing you."