"Okay, remember, our biggest goal tonight is to keep you away from Tony," Steve cautioned, standing with you on the sidewalk in front of the tower. Your fingers were intertwined tightly with his, squeezing harder with each step you took closer. "Hey, you're shaking. You okay?"

"Am I?" You looked up at the massive building before you, feeling a little vertiginous at the height of it. Stumbling back on your footing just a bit, you looked back down and quickly closed your eyes to regain your center and to give yourself another moment to gain some composure from your growing nerves.

"Don't worry, doll. They're going to love you just as much as I do."

"You...you love me?" You stammered over your words, but suddenly the vertigo and uneasiness were gone.

A wide smile crossed Steve's lips and he turned to look at you face-to-face, taking both of your hands in his now, "Yes, of course I do. Haven't I ever said that before?"

"Nope," you whispered, slightly in shock, "that was the first time you've said that."

"Well then, I must be a terrible boyfriend. Why do you put up with me?"

"Probably because I love you too," you smiled, pushing up on your tip toes for a quick kiss. "And because I love you so much, I'm going in." He held the door open and waved you inside, with a gentlemanly bow as you passed by, gently pressing his hand against the curve of your back to lead you towards the elevator.

"Stay away from Tony, stay away from Tony," you mumbled under your breath with a curt nod of agreement as the lift doors closed to take you to your first Avengers after-mission party.

~~~

"Hey, I'm Tony."

When the doors opened, there he was; a wide smile, a hint of mischief, and his hand out and ready to take yours. He looked unassuming enough, not nearly the problem that Steve had made him out to be. "Hi, I'm (Y/N). Pleasure to meet you." When he took your hand, he brought it to his lips, then wrapped it around his arm to lead you into the waiting group.

"Now that formalities are out of the way, let's meet the gang, shall we?" he pulled you from Steve's grip, ignoring your boyfriend's grumbling and hushed requests to leave you at his side. As you expected, he followed behind the two of you, much to Tony's chagrin. "Cap, you don't have to follow like a lost puppy. You know your way around."

"But that's my girlfriend," he mumbled in reply, seeing Sam across the room and hurrying to get him to help and pointing back towards you as he arrived. "Sam, Tony took (Y/N)."

"And?" he simply laughed in reply. He tipped his glass back and took the last of his drink, pausing to let the flavor sit on his tongue for a moment as he regarded his friend. "You're scared."

"Am not."

"You are," Sam gasped, poking Steve teasingly in the arm. "Would ya look at this turn of events? I never thought I'd see the day. Captain Chickenshit."

"Well, that's uncalled for," Steve huffed, turning back to watch you. Tony had taken you to the bar to refill his drink and get one for you before making his way towards Clint and Nat. "I was supposed to do the introductions and he just...took her."

"Come on, man, you know that Stark's not the kind of guy to steal your girl, so calm down. What's the worst that could happen?"

"Yeah, I suppose you're right," Steve sighed, his eyes never leaving you as he spoke, "it's just...ugh, I just don't want anything to mess this up. I can see this being...she could be..." he stopped, coyly running a hand through his already-messy hair. "I know, I know, I'm being an idiot."

Sam stood with his mouth agape at the revelation of what Steve was saying. He reached his arm back to set his empty glass on the table, but without looking at his aim, he missed completely, sending it to the floor with a crash and spray of broken glass. "Shit!"

"Jesus, Sam, watch what you're doing!"

You turned at the commotion on the far side of the room, seeing Steve and Sam moving frantically to clean up the floor, though your boyfriend kept pausing to look up to find you in the crowd. "Excuse me, Tony, I'll be right back."

"Here she comes, here she comes, here she comes, dude, she's right there," Sam whispered harshly at Steve, trying to hurry and cursing under his breath at the small cuts he was getting from the glass he was so desperately trying to collect. "Be cool."

"You first," Steve hissed back, standing with a handful of shards and no where to put them. "What am I supposed to do with this?"

Sam held out his hand hesitantly and let Steve tip his collection into it, grimacing at the sound of crunching glass landing in his palm. "I'll take care of this, you just focus..." he stopped, standing and stupidly closing his hand when you appeared in front of him, "...on this beautiful woman right here, you lucky man!"

"Hey, Sam, good to see you again." You smiled and leaned in, leaving a quick kiss on his cheek. "You might wanna clean up that hand, though. No one around here thought to use a broom?"

"Right! Right...yeah...um, I'll be back," he stammered, scurrying to the bar to empty his hand. He washed his hands in a rush and looked to find Tony; he threw the towel aside and crossed the room quickly, pushing his way through party goers and teammates until he reached his target. "Abort."

"I'm sorry?" Tony smiled, politely excusing himself from his conversation. "That's not gonna happen."

"Tony, listen, Steve's freaking out that you're up to something-"

"He knows what we're up to."

"Yeah, I know that. But I also know you, and that you tend to color outside the lines. Look at him," Sam turned, grabbing Tony's arm to face him towards you, standing in your soldier's arms and laughing, both of you looking almost sickeningly blissful to them. "He said she might be it. We can't do anything to screw it up, okay?"

"You need to calm down, my friend. Maybe throw a little trust my way while you're at it."

~~~

"I'm sorry that Tony ambushed you."

"He didn't, don't worry. He's actually a perfect gentleman," you replied with a smile, but it was dashed when Steve's lower lip slowly turned to a pout. "Oh, stop it. I meant besides you," you cooed playfully, reaching up and tracing your thumb gently over his lip and accepting it when he bent down to press it against yours.

"Okay, that's better."

"I never knew the Captain to have such a fragile ego," Thor interrupted. He took place next to Steve and held out his hand in greeting, "my lady, I'm Thor. It is an honor to finally meet you after Steve has told us so much about you."

"I don't have a fragile ego?" Steve replied. You snickered and shook your head, taking Thor's hand in return while Steve watched. "What? I don't."

"Well, Thor, I'm so glad to finally meet you too." When he released your hand you raised it up to his bicep and slowly ran it down his arm with a quiet whistle, "Steve told me what to expect, but I didn't realize...you're so...big."

"Okay, that's just great," Steve growled, pulling you back and away from his friend. "I think you can move along, Thor. You've met her."

You threw a quick wink to the Asgardian before he was out of your sight, smiling up at Steve with a mischievous glimmer in your eye, "no fragile ego, my ass."

~~~

Once the party had begun to die down, and it had left only the team still there, Steve began to relax and enjoy the company rather than worrying about anything that might ruin the night for either of you. Tony had been on his remarkably best behavior, you had convinced him that you were just playing when you ogled Thor's massive muscles, and even Sam had looked visibly calmer. The group had gathered in the common room when you realized that it was nearly 3am.

"Babe, I think we should get me home," you yawned, comfortably on Steve's lap with your head resting on his shoulder. "It's almost time to wake up for the day."

"You know, we have several guest rooms here," Bruce offered. "At this point you may as well just stay."

"I do make one hell of a pancake," Clint added.

"And I just picked up the best coffee from this tiny shop in Little Italy," Nat smiled, leaning forward excitedly, giving Steve quick glance before looking back to you.

"I can make bacon."

"Girl, I can make any kind of eggs you want. Just call it."

"I refrained from burning the toast yesterday."

You looked around the group, now filled with faces of anticipation of your answer, acting as if they wanted you to stay almost too much. "Okay, you guys are the worst at this stuff, do you know that? What are you up to?" Pushing up and away from Steve, you turned to face him with a curious expression that was met with a shrug. "So, what about you, Steve? What can you make?"

"Keys?"

You opened your mouth to reply but your words were halted when he scooted you forward on his legs, lifting his hips slightly to reach into the pocket of his jeans. He smiled shyly and held up a key hanging from a small shield, now looking at you with a pleading for you to take it from him.

"Are you serious?"

"Sweetheart," Tony broke in, "let me break this down for you. This group of weirdos has been practicing that breakfast for a week now, just so we don't accidentally give you salmonella or feed you burnt toast."

"Come on, man, I'm not gonna give her salmonella-"

"Anyway," Tony broke in again, this time standing amongst the group with a hand up to keep them silent, "I've saved the best for last. Or at least I think so." He took the few steps to cross the room and close the area between you, pulling a phone from his pocket and extending it for you to take. "Full access to the tower, biometric control. This phone is exclusive to the Avengers, giving you planet-wide tracking so you can keep track of your boyfriend when he's away, and secured channels for those special times that we're probably better off not breaking into. I figured this would be a pretty secure selling point. Oh, and we don't actually need keys..."

"It was a sentimental gesture!" Steve groaned, still holding the key and waiting for you to answer. "Can't let me just have the moment."

You looked up from the phone, a slight haze of tears glossing over your sight. Your mind flashed with what it must have been like for the Avengers, of all people, to be struggling to practice something as routine as breakfast, all just for you. All for you because you meant so much to Steve that they would go out of their way to keep him happy.

"I like sentimental gestures," you whispered, taking the key from his hand. "The moment's all yours, Steve." You let out a small yelp when he grabbed your waist and spun you back against the couch, pressing himself against you with a kiss that left the team grumbling and visibly uncomfortable.

"Alright, get a room," Clint snorted, covering his eyes.

Still held down by Steve, his lips still on yours, you held the key in the air in response, breaking the moment with a laugh that he couldn't help from joining in on before lifting you to him and carrying you towards the elevators. "Now why didn't we think of that?"