The house was still and settled. The night that encased the world in deep shadows, had spread it's calming darkness within the secure walls. Leaving each room dormant and quiet for the night, and even with the pale white hue of the moonlight that shone through the thin linin drapes, it wasn't enough to wake the beings inside from their peaceful slumber. Remnants of the day still lingered on the living room floor in the form of strewn dress up clothes and arts and crafts that would surely be dried out come morning. And the kitchen counter tops still stuck slightly from the residue left by the spilled orange juice that morning and the dishes of a family cooked dinner lay climbing like vines in the sink. But the house that hadn't stopped bustling since the early morning hours, finally rested. 

Steve Rogers slept soundly in the queen sized bed he shared with the love of his life. His hushed snores blowing softly out into the calm and silent air of the small but cozy bedroom. And his fingers, that had been dyed glittery red by a certain someone's favorite glitter glue, were entwined loosely with hers as his arm wrapped her in his warm embrace. Even in sleep, he held onto her. Protecting her even when there didn't seem to be a single threat to be protected from. The home was at ease for the night, and Steve enjoyed the long but beautiful days that had him passed out the second his head touched his pillow. 

But with a house so consumed in silence, it made any source of sound seem ten times louder. For a sudden crash startled Steve straight out of his dreams, causing his immediately tense body to jerk at the noise, and his blue eyes to flash open. Looking down, he saw that the sound hadn't woken the woman slumbering sweetly beside him, and he ever so gently slipped his hand from hers. Making sure the movements were slow and delicate as not to wake her, and carefully lifted from the bed. His bare feet touched the cold hardwood in a swift movement; and the chill was a slight shock to his skin after being wrapped in a nestle of warm blankets for the past few hours. But he rose fully to his feet as he waked quickly to the nearby chair where a plain white tank top lay folded out for him, and slipping the thin cotton fabric over his head, Steve exited the bedroom while closing the door closed quietly behind him. 

The hallway was dark, just as the bedroom was. But as Steve Rogers ventured the short path, that was lined with family and school pictures in bold frames against the pale walls, he spotted a faint glow coming from a single room at the very end of the hall. The door was never shut completely, which allowed the light to dance in a thin line across the wall and it bathed over Steve's bare foot as he reached it. The light oak wood door was covered with 3-D paper butterflies that gave a clue who's bedroom this belonged to. Pressing his hand gently against the door, Steve pushed it open. Allowing the rich light to fall over him, causing his eyes to squint faintly at the sudden burst of light to his sight, but regaining vision as his blue eyes landed on a single image.

The bed, dressed in princess themed sheets, that was usually filled at this time of night was empty. The sheets crumpled and nearly pulled off the twin bed. And the overhead light that covered Steve in more light than normal at such early hours, was shining brightly from the ceiling above. But it was the sight of his shield standing in the corner created by the meeting of two right angles, covering the space in between that truly drew his gaze. It stood on it's side, completely upright, and covered the small spot his daughter enjoyed to sit when she pulled out her books to read. 

With a deep breath exhaling past his lips, as the realization that there was no mortal danger threatening his family at the moment, Steve leaned his right arm against the doorframe. A small smile played at his lips as he stared for a brief moment at the sight of his large and very distinct piece of armor surrounded by such bright and lighter themes. The smile grew as he heard the slight sniffle of his little girl coming from what seemed like the vibranium itself. 

"Isn't that a little heavy for you?"

Steve pushed his weight from where it rested against the entrance to his daughter's room, and began to walk in slowly. His feet leading him around her bed into the corner that was blocked by his shield. And in one swoop, Steve lifted the otherwise heavy armor to reveal his daughter crouched hidden in the cramped corner. And the smile that had found it's way to his face suddenly faded at the sight of tears that streaked her precious face, as she was a ball of pink pajamas and sadness. 

Placing the piece of metal on top of her blankets, Steve crouched down to meet her at eye level. "What are you doing out of bed ladybug?"

Her head perked faintly at the sound of his nickname that he'd been using ever since the day she was born, and soon a pair of lighter blue eyes were staring at him with red rims that made his heart break. His wife said she looked exactly like him, with blue eyes that were a little piece of the sea saved just for them. And with blonde hair that brightened her as though the sun had gifted her such honey bright locks. She always said that their daughter's unwavering optimism was all Steve, but as he looked to their little girl, all he could see was her mother. 

"The monster came back."

Her voice was soft, and he knew she whispered in fear that the "monster" could hear her. And although the lisp in her words usually brought a soft smile to his face, he couldn't do anything but sit fully on the cold ground and brush a strand of her golden hair out of her face. That's why she had his shield in here, somehow dragging it into her room without his knowledge. She was trying to protect herself, just as her father did, with the round timeless piece of vibranium that had managed to help him all of these years. 

"What did the monster look like?"

Steve bent his left knee and loosely wrapped his left arm around it, as his right hand soothingly stroked through his daughter's straight strands in an attempt to calm her down. Her cries has slowed and fresh tears had since ceased, but the fear in her voice was far from gone.

"He looked like the man who hurt mommy."

And with those words, Steve felt his heart shatter and cut up the inside of his chest as all of the little pieces fell. She was a young little girl, just starting in school and only barely beginning to read short chapter books on her own. But she wasn't a naïve girl, and she wasn't blind to the world around her. This was only proof of that. 

Steve's life came with collateral damage; it was a fact that he had to try and live with and accept. But it didn't make the reality of it coming true any easier. The knowledge of having people in his life that he loved, at risk of getting hurt, didn't make it any easier when his wife was attacked a few months back by Hydra thugs. It didn't make the guilt that still sat within his gut today, subside when he tended to her wounds after she woke up from her week stint in intensive care. It didn't ease the pain of seeing his little girl's worry for her mother as she had been home when it happened. 

With a sigh, Steve rested his leg down against the floor and reached for his daughter. "Come here."

Her body was small as she climbed into his lap and found herself surrounded by his safe and muscular arms that nearly swallowed her in size. She was warm, from the soft touch of her skin against his bare arms to the soft fleece of her pajamas that rubbed against his feet. And she smelled of her lavender lotion she wore after her nightly bath and her hair smelled faintly of her mother from where her goodnight kiss had been pressed hours prior. 

"That monster is gone," Steve spoke softly. "I promise sweetheart, that monster isn't coming back."

Steve would give anything to go back to that day and prevent it all. He would give anything to go back and save his wife from an attack that would still leave her scarred in more ways than one, today. And to keep his daughter from having to witness such evil at such a young and impressionable age. He wished that those images weren't trapped in some locked door in her head. And that the monsters she feared, hid in her closet and under her bed, and resembled those in fairytales that were soon slain by the heroic price. But fairytales were rarely reality.

She listened to his words for a short moment, before asking him a question that caught Steve by surprise. "What about the next monster daddy? There's always more monsters."

And it was then that Steve realized that it was easier to protect his baby girl from the monsters under her bed and the nightmares in her head, than the actual horrors that waited for her out in the real world. 

"Well, brave girl, it looked to me like you were well protected." Steve joked softly as he gently lifted his daughter into his arms as he got up from the hard floor. And carefully laid her down under her blankets, as he laid on top of them beside her. His feet touching the cool metal of his shield that still sat at the end of her bed, and brushing strands of her soft locks out of her blue eyes, Steve continued to assure his little girl that there wasn't anything to be afraid of tonight.

"I don't want you to be afraid of the monsters, alright? I don't want you to be afraid that they're going to come back. Because that's my job. I keep all the fear and all the worry and all of the nightmares. And if they return, I fight them off before they can even reach the foot of your bed. Because that's my job."

Bringing his lips down upon her forehead, he kissed his daughter softly. "It's my job to protect you, from the monsters. And that's what I'll always do. I promise."

A/N: I loved this idea when it came to me. The image of a little girl hiding behind Steve's large shield as protection. It's a shorter one and a little fluffier, but I thought you guys deserved a little lighter one today! I hope you liked it!❤