The summer weather had finally crept back into the year. The hot sweltering heat scorched Steve's bare skin as he ran back to his apartment. Pop Smoke in his ears and the sweat running down his flush face as he makes a quick turn ending in front of his building. His morning run was his ritual, it was early enough that not too many people were out, but still enough to weave around some when needed. Steve climbed the steps of his 30-story brick building in Brooklyn. He had officially moved back three weeks ago after living in Buffalo for two years with his ex. After that crashed and burned, he decided to come back home and refocus on his life and himself. He jogged up 15 flights passing a beautiful redhead on the way. He gave her a soft glance while she nodded back to signal a courtesy hello. Soon he was on the 16th floor and entering his newly furnished apartment. The sun through the double-paned  windows filled the apartment with an orange-yellow hue. Steve wasted no time grabbing a cool water from the top of the fridge and downing it.

"Alexa, What time is it?" His baritone voice yelled out.

"The time is 7:30 am. Have a good day." The android replied.

Steve had roughly an hour to get out for work. He quickly made some eggs and bacon before hopping in the shower and heading out for work. He headed downtown to Shield Law Firm. He entered the Metro station a block from his apartment, snagging the morning paper on the way. It was rush hour and the train was packed per usual. He had gotten used to that since he's been back. No matter how much he loved his city, that was the one thing he didn't miss. He found a spot after a few people got off on the next stop and he quickly snatched it and began reading his paper. His body rocked as the train rocketed down the track. Sudden jerks weren't uncommon, which is probably why he didn't freak when a woman fell into his lap spilling some iced coffee on him in the process.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry." A husky voice resounded from the red-haired woman whose head was down trying to regain her balance as the train kept going with little regard for her slip.

"It's fine. To be expected when we're practically racing to our deaths." He lightly chuckled. Finally her head lifted and her green eyes meet his blue. He had seen her multiple times on the train on his way to work, but never really paid any attention to her.  "Yea I guess so. I am sorry though." Her eyes trailing to the decent sized coffee stain from her Iced Caramel coffee. "Damnit, I spilled coffee on your shirt." She tried to clean it with a small napkin, dabbing it gently. "Oh it's fine. I have another shirt in the office."

"I can at least get it dry cleaned." She said standing up realizing she was still in his lap.

"It's really not a big deal." Steve brushed off her suggestion as he helped her stand making the mistake of standing too, causing him to lose his spot.

"See now I've made you lose your seat too. I insist, please? I can get it done right after work." She pleaded.

"Alright if you really want to. What's your number? I can text you the address." Steve pulled out his black iPhone 11 and began to type in her number as she rattled it off.

"Got you locked in and texting you my work address." He finished giving her a soft smile.

"Ok. I'm Natasha by the way." The fiery red head said holding onto the iron pole in front of them.

"Steve Rogers." His tone carried confidence and something else Natasha couldn't quite pin point.

"Well nice to meet you Steve, no matter how embarrassing it may have been. I'll see you later." Natasha stepped off the train immediately merging with the flood of people that were coming and going. Steve followed the red hair until the doors closed and the train sped away. A couple more stops and Steve was getting off and at work.

"Good Morning Steve."

"Good Morning Wanda." He spoke to his receptionist, who doubled as his best friend/ fake little sister. "Any messages?"

"Nope, but Sam stopped by and asked about the Wilkins case, I said you'd call him."

"Ok Thanks."

"Steve, what happened to your shirt?" Her eyes widened at the stain. He was always put together so seeing a stain on his shirt was definitely out of the ordinary.

"Oh this woman spilled some coffee on it while I was on the subway today." He glanced down at his shirt again remembering to change. "I'll just throw on the extra in my office. She's gonna come by later and take it to the dry cleaners."

"What a way to start your morning. Hope it wasn't too hot." Wanda said with a concerned face.

"It was actually cold." Steve chuckled before slipping into his office.

He closed the door and locked it, immediately taking off his blazer, tie, and shirt. As a lawyer, he always had a spare suit in his office because you needed to look your best at all times. He changed in 5 minutes flat and began his work. First, calling Sam.

"Morning Sam."

"Morning Steve." His friends calm voice coming through the other line.

"Wanda mentioned you came by to discuss the Wilkins case."

"Yea, he said he was pleading guilty, wants to take the plea deal."

"That's great. When did you want to go down and get the paperwork done?" Playing with the pen in his hand.

"We can go at 11. I have a few things I'm doing right now, so I'll have an opening. I already called and asked if that would be good for them."

"Ok, I'll be ready."

They exchanged goodbyes and Steve focused on his work until it was time for the meeting. It went fairly smooth, no complaints from either party. By the time, he checked the time it was nearing close to 5pm. He heard his phone ding and read the text that came in.

Hi, it's Natasha. I am on my way. I'll be there in 15.

Steve smiled at the text. He was a little happy to see her again. He couldn't deny how beautiful she was. It had been 7 months officially since his split with Sharon and he figured it was time to start to move on, it was clear she had. He shook the thoughts from his head, considering he didn't even know this woman yet. He did some more work and true to her word, Natasha was at his office in 15.

"Steve, Natasha is here." Wanda said opening the door.

"Thanks Wanda. Hi, Natasha."

"Hi Steve." She gave him a small smile.

"How was work?" He inquired standing up and making his way over to her.

"It was good. It always is, you?"

"Eh, Alright, What do you do?" Leaning against the front of his desk.

"I have my own foundation called Guardian Mothers. I have women who volunteer their time to be mother figures to children who have lost their moms for whatever reason. It's like the Big Brother/ Big Sister program."

"Thats amazing. I didn't know organizations like that existed. I wish I had that when I was younger."

"Yea we've been around for three years and we have about 500 kids now. I lost my mom when I was young and I wanted to do something, so other kids could have what I didn't. We offer counseling and a few other things to help."

"I lost my mom when I was young too, so I get it. I'd love to help out sometime, sounds really great to get into."

"I'd love that." Nat chuckled at how it sounded. " The kids would love it."

"Good, I'll let you know when I'm free to help."

"Ok." As the conversation came to a slow halt, Natasha figured she'd get to the point of her visit.

"Um.. do you have your shirt?"

"Oh yea, I do." He quickly retrieved it from his bag and handed it her, where she put it in hers.

"So where will you be taking my prized possession?" Steve laughed.

"Just a dry cleaners in Williamsburg. It's off Lee Ave."

"Seriously?" Steve was completely surprised.

"Um yea." Natasha let out a small chuckle, confused at his surprise and possible excitement?

"That's my dry cleaning place. I go there all the time."

"So I guess I'm not the only woman to spill coffee on you." She teased.

"Nah you're still the first, but I don't mind." Giving her a schoolboy grin.

"Yea yea, I am sorry about that."

"It's really no problem Natasha." He waved it off.

"Well I'll get it back to you as soon as possible. I'll let you get back to your work." She said slowly turning to leave.

"Actually, I'm getting ready to go home. I can accompany you to the cleaners, if you want." He said beginning to pack up his stuff.

"I don't want to put you out of your way." Hesitant of his offer.

"You won't. It's on my way home."

"Alright then." Natasha stood by the door and waited for Steve to come.

It wasn't long and the pair were leaving, bidding Wanda a farewell.

"So you're a lawyer." It was more of an observation that Natasha had noted.

"Yes, I'm a prosecutor."

"How long have you been doing it?"

"About 7 years. Wouldn't trade it for the world. Hard work but it's fulfilling." He answered as he opened the door for her. She thanked him before continuing her line of questioning.

"Are you from here?"

"Yea Brooklyn, Born and raised."

"Ahh a Brooklyn man. I should stay away."

"Hey, we are by far the best people out there. Where else are you gonna find people with our unique personalities?"

Natasha laughed out and shook her head. "You got me there. I guess I should stick around."

Steve chuckled. "Where are you from? Your accent definitely is not from New York."

"You are right. I'm from Russia." She gave him a toothy grin.

"Ooo so you traded one cold for another."

"You can say that." She said as she swiped her metro card to enter the station.

"Why'd you move here? If you don't mind me asking." Steve followed behind, swiping his card.

"It's fine. I just wanted a fresh start. Russia was nice and it will always be my home, but I got lonely. I don't have any family and I didn't feel fulfilled. People always say New York is the place to be, so when I decided to come to America. I figured why not the Big Apple."

"That's good. You're fresh start...not the lonely part."

"Yea, it's not all bad. I've been here for four years and I've made a friend or two here."

"Well you can make me number three. I'd love to get to know you."

"I'd like that too."

It wasn't long before they were entering the cleaners together and dropping off the shirt.

"Well thank you for accompanying me to the cleaners."

"No problem. It's the least I can do since you're getting it cleaned.

"You're unbelievable." Natasha laughed.

"What'd I do?" Steve playfully rolled his eyes

"Nothing. You're just so humble. Here you are saying it's the least you can do, when I'm the one who made the problem. It's the least I can do."

"It was an accident. Ma always taught me to never get too worked up over things that you can't control or change."

"She was a very wise woman then."

"That she was." Steve smiled softly.

"Well thank you again. I'm going to grab some food and crash. I'll see you around?"

"Yea, see you around."

They went their separate ways with smiles on their face. Spilling that coffee is the best thing that could've happened to them.