| I still remember the third of December, me in your sweater |

The snow fell softly on the ground and carefully piled up covering the once green field in a white sheet. The once clear blue shore was now covered in a layer of ice. The air was cold and nipped at the arms of those who dared walkabout.

While others choose to stay indoors with a cup of warm hot chocolate, Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff could, more often than not, be found outside taking in the cold scenery.

Met in high school, and going to the same college allowed them to become insanely close. They now both lived in Brooklyn and lived down the hall from each other. They'd end their day the same way, going to shore and watch the sunset. As they did on another cold afternoon evening.

"How was your day?" Steve asked as they both sat down on the bench, which he covered with one of the blankets he kept in his car. Natasha wore one of the hoodies she had stolen from him a long time ago. She was aiming in taking the new jacket he had one currently.

"You know how it is," She sighed. Natasha worked as a lawyer at one of the best law firms in New York. Steve, after college, began training to take over the company that his father owned. Both were doing extremely well. "Tony came in again with another lawsuit against Hammer. Had to deal with Hammer lashing out."

"Did cause you too much trouble I hope?" He asked, his eyes look at her.

"It's fine. Hammer is just a baby when it comes to this. You'd know I think Tony keeps suing him because he finds it funny. They are both rich a lawsuit for $5,000 is like a penny for them." She shook her head. "What about you? You think you can top my day?"

"I don't think anything can top that. A new member of our board came in today. She's actually my age! She's great."

"She?" Natasha asked. Natasha knew Steve like the back of her hand, she knew he couldn't talk to women to save his life.

"Yeah, her name is Margret. She's so easy to talk to. She doesn't think I am as awkward at all."

"Sorry to tell you this Steve but I think she's lying to you." Natasha laughed.

"I can talk to you can't I?" He questioned.

"Please. The only reason we are friends is that I talked to you! I kept talking to you even if you were a huge dork." She was right, if it wasn't for her persistence Steve wouldn't have had the courage to keep talking to her. He was glad she did.

"Okay you are right," He laughed. "But Margret is different I guess. I don't know." Natasha looked at his face as he stared at the lake. He looked happy, the look in his blue eyes. They sparkled in a way that she's never seen before, it almost made her heart clench.

Natasha had a secret. She's connected with Steve in a way she's never connected to anyone else. She's found herself falling deeper and deeper for him, how could she not? He's Steve Rogers. He's the best guy you've ever know. But she didn't want to tell him, she valued their friendship way too much. She couldn't lose that, she knew he didn't feel the same way hence why she kept her mouth shut. It was better this way.

If only you knew how much I wanted I liked you

"Are you gonna ask her out?" Natasha asked, silently hoping for him to deny his feelings.

"I don't know Nat. She's different." He smiled at that. Natasha wasn't smiling that same way he was, she smiled to keep up her act but didn't smile because he was crushing on some girl. She could only nod at his comment. "Oh my gosh." He said.

"What? Did you finally see the whale?" It was a long-lasting joke between them that whenever they came out (When the lake wasn't frozen of course) Natasha would see a whale but he never could, he was always too late.

"No, it's Peggy!" He said and before Natasha could say anything he got up and was walking to the brunette.

I watched your eyes as she walked by

Natasha watched as Steve walked over to her. His eyes practically screamed out joyful words. He never looked at her this way. What made Peggy so special? Even if didn't like her back, they were still best friends. He just met this woman and he's already left her to meet up with her.

Natasha sat there for twenty minutes like an idiot as Steve stood over their speaking with Peggy. She was never cold out here, the cold never bothered her when Steve was sitting beside her. But right now she was freezing. She wanted to go home. So she did.

She got up, leaving the blanket for him to retrieve whenever he came to their seat. She had work to do, she couldn't sit around waiting for Romeo over there to finish declaring his new love. She walked home and for the first time in a long time, she felt childish.

Her friendship with Steve was one that she was protective of. Maybe overly protective of. She didn't like people attempting to pull him away from her, believe her when she says this, many have tried. Hell Sam tried once and she stopped that right away. He's still scared of her.

It wasn't till around ten o clock, almost four hours after the sunset that Steve texted her.

What the hell was going on? He just met this woman! It hasn't even been twenty-four hours! How in the hell is he so smitten by her? Natasha really hadn't hated any of the women he's been on dates with, as few as there were, but she knew as well as he that none of those were serious. He never gushed over them. Why was he gushing over Peggy? 

She's got you mesmerized

In the next few days, her time with Steve was limited. She got busy with her cases at the firm and he was spending all his extra time with little miss British. She found out the day they met that she was British. And when they sat down Natasha wanted to hate her so much... but she couldn't. There was nothing to hate about this woman. Their evening went like the following. 

"You must be Natasha!" Peggy said extending her hand to the redhead. "Steve's told me so much about you." 

"Wish I could say the same as you," She replied. She was sure that had she and Steve hung out at all this week then she would have heard about Peggy's, she's come to call her Peggy,  entire life story. "I haven't seen much of Steve this week." 

"I must admit that is my fault. His presence is just very addicting," She joked. How right she was. After that, they talked about her. THERE WAS NOTHING TO HATE. Even when Steve excused himself to answer a call she was still nice and polite. She wasn't putting up an act. What the actual hell. 

I'm not even half as pretty 

Natasha had to leave early after that because of an emergency at work, and if she was being honest she was overjoyed. Hanging around Steve and his soon to be girlfriend was weird. She didn't like it. 

When Steve had texted her later asking about her opinion on Peggy she replied with the truth, she was great. There was nothing wrong with her. Steve was, to say the least, overjoyed. From that point, their friendship began to simmer. Steve officially asked Peggy out the following day. Her annoyance leading up to the date was growing and it was very evident at work, where people tried their best to avoid her. 

There was of course one person who had hung out with her despite her outburst. He even drove her home since Steve was off with Peggy and she hated taking the subway. He was even walking her up to her apartment today. 

"You really didn't have to walk me up here Matt," She said as she searched for her key. 

"Can you blame me? I like spending time with you." He said, with his charming smile. She had met Matt in College as well, but Steve and he didn't get along for whatever reason so they didn't hang out, but now since Steve is always gone they've gotten pretty close. 

"You are as charming as ever," She laughed. 

"Nat." A deep voice caught her attention. Steve was standing at his door and he didn't look happy that Matt was here. 

"Oh hey, Steve." 

"Rogers," Matt said, Natasha imagined he would have rolled his eyes judging by his tone. His glasses made specifically for blind people, covered his eyes so she had no way of knowing.  

"What are you doing here Matt?" Steve asked. Natasha wasn't really sure what happened between Steve and Matt and she never really cared but Steve was being insanely rude at the moment. 

"I am dropping Natasha off," He smirked. "Someone had to, you know she hates the subway? I saw her walking there the other and she looked so annoyed so I offered to drive her home." 

"He's driven you home?" Steve asked raising an eyebrow. 

"Yeah, umm for the past week." She told Steve in an uncaring manner. She didn't feel like having a conversation with Steve when he was so on edge like that. Especially him dressed up so nice and his hair wet from the shower. She couldn't focus. 

"Well as fun as it is catching up Rogers," He turns to Natasha " I have to go. We still on for later tonight?" He asked with a  hopeful grin. 

"What's tonight?" Steve interjected, looking at Natasha. 

"Oh, Matt and I were going to go see the lost arch. They are playing in at the drive-in." She told him. Steve frowned at that. 

"I thought we were going to go see that." The moment they heard about it they wanted to go, Steve knew how much Natasha loved Indiana Jones. 

"We were," She said. "But showings end tonight. Tonight actually, but you made plans and I don't want my money to go to waste." She shrugged her shoulders.  His door was slightly open and she saw the sweater she's been trying to steal was gone. He didn't put it away, that was the thing about Steve he never actually hung up his sweaters he always put them on his couch. That could only mean he gave it to her. 

You gave her your sweater 

"Yeah Matt, I will see you tonight." She smiled, and Steve's frown grew deeper. Matt smirked, kissing her on the cheek and then left. Natasha watched as the elevator closed and then turned, she had to take a step back because Steve had gotten dangerously close to her. 

"Why are you hanging out with him?" He asked. 

"Because Matt's a good guy," She shrugged. She didn't have to answer to him. He has been ignoring her for the last week and all of a sudden he cares about her? She didn't believe it. "I want someone to hang out with." 

"Than hang out with Maria, or Carol," Maria and Carol worked with her, she actually met Maria through Sam as they were dating. 

"They are out of town on business, and since when did I have to approve my nights with you?" She questioned. 

"Matt doesn't deserve you." He said. "Why are you wasting your time with him. You wanna go to the movies? Fine, let's go!" 

"No." She said. "Don't you have a date?" 

"A date?" he gave her a questioning look.

"With Margret?" He made a face of realization. 

"Right. I umm.. I forgot." 

"You forgot?" She questioned. Like hell he forgot, he's been pretty much over the moon excited. "I am going to go." She said after Steve didn't say anything and was only staring at her. 

But you like her better
I wish I were heather 

"To get ready for Matt?" he asked bitterly. 

"What the hell is your problem Rogers?" She hasn't called him Rogers in such a long time that it sounded so foreign coming from her. Steve's frown, if possible, grew even deeper at the sound of his last name. What the hell was happening between them? "You have a date, and guess what? So do I!" 

"With Matt of all people?" He interjected. "Are you fucking stupid? He wants you in his bed, Nat! That's the only reason he asked you out!" Natasha sent him a cold look. 

"you know some people actually like me, Rogers. Is that why you hung out with me? Because you wanted to fuck me!? Well, guess what, not everyone is like you." 

"Oh yes because I was friends with you for over ten years because I was trying to get you into bed!" He yelled at her sarcastically. "If that's what you thought then maybe you are an idiot!" 

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" She yelled. "You acting so horribly!" 

"Me? What about you!" He yelled back. "You're the one going on a fucking date with Matt when you know damn well that I can't stand the man. You are being a bad friend." 

"I don't even know who you are anymore Steve. You ditched me, remember that!" She screamed. "You left me alone so you can go talk to your new British friend! You skipped out on this movie night to go out with her! You don't drive me home anymore so you can be with her! You let her watch the sunset at our spot! You've been avoiding me! You're the one who's being a bad friend!" 

Before Steve could say anything else Natasha shook her head, closing her eyes and rubbing her temples. 
"nat-" 

"Just go on your fucking date, Rogers. I don't even care anymore." She said. She stepped into her apartment and slammed the door shut. Steve stood out there staring at her door. He and Natasha had never fought before. 

Steve felt terrible, he wanted to rip her door down and just hug her. There was a pain in her eyes that he had never seen before, and it made him so angry that he was the cause of it. He hated that he was the cause of her pain. It tore at him, threatened to breakthrough. 

He couldn't even focus as he was on his date with Peggy. His plan was to start to get dinner at a diner and then head out to coney island, however while they waited for their food he saw Natasha walk in with Matt. She didn't see him. 

Put your arm 'round her shoulder, now I'm getting colder. 

Steve was honestly surprised he didn't stand up and pull Natasha away from Matt when he wrapped his arm around her. She was wearing his jacket. His heart couldn't bare watching them. 

"Why are you on a date with me?" Steve was pulled out of his haunting thoughts when Peggy asked him that question. 

"Excuse me?" 

"Steve." She said softly and then turned her head over to Natasha who was laughing at something Matt had whispered into her ear. "Why are out with me and not her?" 

"I liked you." He said softly. 

"I think you were just using me to forget about someone else." 

"Peggy-" 

"It's okay Steve." She said. "I'd hate to admit it but I think I am doing the same thing." He laughed gently. "His name is Daniel." 

"Maybe you still have a chance with him." 

"I think you still have with her." She said nodding to the door. Matt was no longer at Natasha's side but standing at the door outside on the phone, with a huge smirk lacing his face. "Just go, Steve. I mean it." 

"I don't want to leave you alone-" 

"Steve" She gave him a pointed look. "Just go. I think I too should find some courage and go talk to Daniel" He nodded his head, wishing her luck and went to stand up. He was going to meet them outside as to not cause a scene. He walked out and Matt was still on the phone. 

"Yeah no, I will be there in five, let me tell her something came up." He laughed. Steve frowned further. "See you in a bit?" He asked whoever was on the phone. Steve watched as he hung up and turned to face Steve. "What are you stalking me now Rogers?" 

"Do you know that you are a fucking idiot?" Steve asked. 

"Excuse me?" He asked. 

"Do you understand how wonderfully amazing Natasha is? You should be fucking grateful to ve able to go out with her! Yet here you are fucking making plans with someone else while you're out with her? You are a fucking idiot if you think someone else is better than her." 

"Your one to talk Rogers, aren't you on a date?" He asked. 

"Aren't you?" He challenged. "You're out here making plans with another woman. I suggest you leave right now. I am in no mood to deal with the police right now." He hissed. "You leave and you give her a good ass reason for leaving because if you so much as hurt her in the slightest bit I will kill you. I don't ever want to see you around here again. Do you understand?" 

Matt may hate Steve but he isn't stupid enough to get into a fight with him. Hell, look at the man, he could break a man in half if he wanted to. He did not want to go to the hospital. He huffed in annoyance, but before he can even go inside to say something to Natasha they both turned to see her standing at the door. Matt didn't even bother to excuse himself, he simply left. 

Natasha stared at Matt as he walked away. She didn't say anything for a good minute, until she was sure Matt was way out of distance. 
"You gonna scare away every date I get?" She questioned, although there was humor in the question, there was no humor in the look she was giving him. 

"Nat-" 

"What gives you the right?" She hissed. "You can't just follow me around and scare away people that I'm interested in!" 

"First of all, I didn't follow you anywhere." He said. "I happened to be here. And second of all, I think I was doing you a favor, he's still the same asshole he was when we met him." 

"Don't ever say you are doing me a favor. Maybe I didn't want you to do that.  Did you ever think of that? Did you ever think that just maybe I didn't want you to drive him away? What if I actually liked him?" 

"Did you miss the part where he's a total asshole?" He questioned. Natasha could only roll her eyes and began walking away. Steve was quick to follow, but Natasha made sure with her pace he couldn't walk side by side with her. 

"Don't you have a date?" She yelled out to him, as he was a few steps away. 

"You're more important to me than any date Nat." 

"Oh, now I'm important? Wow lucky me." She said trying to walk further away from him. Why was he acting like this? One minute he's ignoring her the next he's practically shadowing her? What was wrong with him? It wasn't until they reached her apartment that Steve was able to speak again. 

"Nat give me a chance to apologize" 

"Stop calling me Nat, my friends call me Nat, and right now I don't think that qualifies as you." Steve could have sworn his heart broke at that. But he also knew he deserved it. 

"Okay I know I messed up." He stopped and despite her better judgment she stopped walking as well. "I ignored you and I shouldn't have. I was just so caught up on something that wasn't even meant to be. I disregarded your feelings, I tried distancing myself from you because it hurt to be around you when I couldn't be with you." He sighed and he saw Natasha look down to the floor. "Nat I think it's pretty clear that I have feelings for you. I think I have for a very long time. But I know that you don't feel the same way as I do. I know that's no excuse but it's how I feel. I feel horrible that I hurt you, believe me, I do. Because above everything else you are my best friend, you are the one person in this fucked up world who's been there for me since day one. I don't want to lose you. I will not stop calling you Nat because you are my best friend, and it's just another way to show how close we are. I don't want there to be any problem or situation that we are in that will ever be too much for us." 

Natasha didn't say anything, her mind was still clouded. If she was being honest, she didn't even hear what he had said after he admitted his feelings for her. No Steve it wasn't obvious! Had she known she wouldn't be wasting her time with assholes like Matt. No. It can't be true. It just didn't make any sense. 

"Nat I am really going to need you to say something." 

"Why are you doing this?" She asked. "You're messing with my feelings like that and I can barely control them as it is." 

As she walks by

What a sight for sore eyesBrighter than a blue skyShe's got you mesmerized

"I am not messing with you Nat, I really am falling for you. It's impossible not to fall for you. You're literally the funniest, smartest, coolest, most beautiful woman I've ever met. You were there for me before the muscle, before the height. You didn't suddenly start liking me because I grew. That means so much to me. Nat...I know my words mean nothing to you right now but they are the total truth. If you need time away from me-" Before Steve could finish speaking Natasha was wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him into a hug. 
 (Haha I know you got excited right there) 
"I am sorry Nat," he mumbled as he tucked his head into her neck. 

"I am sorry too." She told him. "Steve please don't leave me again," 

"I won't nat. If this week has taught me anything it's that I can't be without you. You are my world Nat." Steve lifted her chin slightly so she was looking at him 

Why would you ever kiss me?

Steve carefully begins pulling her chin so their lips meet, he let go allowing her to move away if she chooses. But she didn't. Instead, she connects her lips with his. Fireworks went off in their heads as they connected. Natasha and Steve moved smiled in their kiss. 

"You know we are both idiots?" She mumbled. 

"I will forever be an idiot if it means I get to be with you." He laughed. "Wanna take this idiot inside and watch a movie? I can order pizza considering both of our dinners were fails." 

"Oh, you really do know the way to my heart." They both smiled at each other. This week was crazy to say the very least, but they wouldn't have changed it for anything. Here's to the future, and thank god Peggy Carter knew Steve Rogers was hopelessly in love with Natasha. 

|Heather by Conan Gray|