"Don't bad guys ever take time off?" (Y/n) grumbled, rolling her aching shoulders as she and the others made their way out of the back of the Quinjet and into the compound. The latest mission a little harder on the whole team than it really should have been.

"Maybe we just fight the ones that aren't in the union, or don't get paid when they take a holiday......." Sam chuckled, as he came to join her; throwing his arm around her shoulders and ignoring the sound that came from Bucky behind them.

"You know, they should really ask for better working conditions; then we might get some peace. I swear that they always start this stuff when I am busy........"

"Busy......? And what were you busy with given we got the call at midnight........?" The Falcon giving her a suggestive smile and wiggling his eyebrows.

"That is for me to know, and you to never find out. All I am saying is that one day it would be nice for the bad guys to let us in on their plans beforehand. You know, send Stark an email or something, saying 'Dear Avengers, just to let you know we are planning on taking over the world a week from Wednesday. Hope that doesn't cause you any trouble. See you there, the bad guys.......' I mean, how hard is that, and it would only be the decent thing to do. That way I could better plan my week......" Sam unable to stop himself laughing at her, as they made their way into the common room; all of them dropping themselves, unceremoniously onto the sofas.

"Sounds good to me. That, and we could arrange for these things to start at a respectable hour." Tony agreed, as he propped his feet up on the coffee table.

"You know, say at about two in the afternoon. Give lunch time to settle before we had to start fighting........."

"You really shouldn't be talking so lightly about what we do........"

"Oh jeez, Rogers. For once will you pull that stick out of your ass." Tony countered, interrupting the captain's interruption.

"It's a joke, you know......a joke. We are trying to lighten the mood. If we didn't make fun of what were go through, occasionally, we would probably lose our minds. So, crack a smile Cap, and maybe join in with the fun for once in your goddamn life..........."

"Tony........."

"No, (Y/n). I get sick of the Star-Spangled Banner thinking that he is better than the rest of us, because he always takes everything so seriously. Well, I can't do that, and I don't need to be judged by Captain super serum, because I can't........" Tony said, as he got to his feet. (Y/n) rolling her eyes as the billionaire glared at Steve.

"Tony, you are just tired........"

"Yeah, I am. Tired of Rogers........" Tony countered gruffly. (Y/n) and the others watching as he made his way out of the room. The rest of the team knowing that he would probably be headed for his workshop and not bed.

"Well..........." (Y/n) letting out a soft grunt as she got to her feet.

"That didn't go as I had expected." She continued, stretching out her back and hearing all the pops from her spine; sometimes sure that she was getting far too old for all this.

"So, if you all will excuse me, I hear my shower and my bed calling my name." (Y/n) added, before making her way out of the room, giving Steve a look, as she passed.

                                                           >>---------------------------------<<

(Y/n) didn't move from her spot on the bed, when she heard the door to her room open and then close; for she didn't need to even look to know who it was. When she had got through the door, she had taken one look at her bed and just dropped herself onto it; telling herself that she would move in a minute. Which was now about fifteen minutes ago. A smile coming to her lips, as she felt the mattress dip and her visitor's arm touch hers.

"I didn't deal with that too well, did I...........?"

"No, you certainly didn't. But all he has to do is calm down, and he will be fine. It has been a hard couple of days on all of us, and you just rubbed him up the wrong way.............." (Y/n) replied, as she and her guest continued to look at the ceiling.

"Though he is right about one thing........."

"What..........?"

"That you do have a stick up your butt........." (Y/n) chuckling, as she finally turned her attention to the man next to her. The look on Steve's face making her laugh all the more.

"Hey, you are supposed to be on my side........"

"I am on your side, Steve. But I really do have to agree with the tin can on this one. A joke once in a while, a laugh at a difficult situation doesn't mean that we aren't taking things seriously. It's a coping mechanism. A way to deal with all the stresses and strains of what we do. And the lord only knows that you and Buck could do with smiling a little more often. I mean, I don't want you dying of something stress related just because you seem to have forgotten how to laugh............Although.........."

"Although, what.........?" Steve asked, as placed a kiss to her forehead.

"Well, I was just thinking that if you don't want to laugh to relieve some stress, I know of something else that might help........."

"And what would that be........." The captain now smiling down at her.

"I haven't had my shower yet, and we both know from experience that there is plenty of room in there for two. So, why don't you join me, and I will give you a demonstration, rather than explaining." (Y/n) told him, before kissing his lips; quickly getting up from the bed and making her way to the bathroom. Steve propping himself up on his elbows and watching as her clothes came flying through the bathroom door into the room where he was. The captain sitting up and smiling at her antics, promising himself that from now on he would laugh a little more. But for now, this kind of stress relief, was the only one that he wanted. Steve getting to his feet and peeling off his uniform, before joining his girl in the shower.