Natasha never came home last night and that worried Steve to the extreme. She knew nothing about New York, or how to get around. She could be lost, something could have triggered a bad memory, or something worse! He didn't know what to do, and he didn't really want to tell Nick he lost his daughter after accusing her of pushing his friends away. 

Steve knew he messed up, he should have been more sensitive, this was all new to her and he was supposed to help her. Not get mad at her the moment she makes a mistake. She's human, everyone makes mistakes. With everything she's been through, she deserves to make a mistake every now and then. 

He didn't have time to search the city for her however, Nick wanted him to come in to talk about upcoming missions, and if he made an accuse of not going Nick would know something is up. When he finds out Natasha is gone, well Steve feared he'd take about the entire city. That would not be good. So he went over to SHIELD headquarters. 

"Captain Rogers," People nodded as he walked by. Steve gave them a nod, hoping he was hiding the worried look that most likely laced his face by now. Steve was early, the meeting with Nick was in about 20 minutes so he decided he would get some breakfast from the SHIELD cafeteria since he had skipped out. 

The moment he walked in, he noticed Barton sitting on top of one of the tables, legs up, with Agent Hill beside him, along with...Natasha. He almost ran over to her at the sight of her. She was okay! Taking his muffin he walked over to the back of the room where they were sitting. 

Natasha's eyes glanced over at him and she didn't smile like she did only hours before all the mess last night, nor did she look at him for very long. She turns her gaze back over to Clint and Maria, pretending like she didn't see him begin with. Steve sighed and took a seat beside her, his back to the table, but he turned his neck to look at her. 

"Can I talk to you?" He asked. "In private?" 

"I'm busy." Was all she answered. Steve looked down at her food, which was pretty much all eaten. 

"It will only take a second." He pushed again in hopes of changing her mind. 

"If you want to talk to someone go talk to Sharon," She said, Steve frowned and was about to press on but Natasha kept talking. "I am busy with my friends." Maria and Clint were trying so hard to not listen in on the couple. 

"Fine." He sighed. "Are you coming home tonight? I can make dinner for us and-" 

"I think it's better if I don't." She said. "Clint is going to help me get my own place." 

"What? Are you sure? Shouldn't we talk about this?" 

"Why? I have known you for a month, and you think there's something wrong with me." He frowned at her words. "Why would I want to live with you?" She asked him, and Steve didn't know what to do. They were moving REALLY fast, they have only known each other for a month, but he felt like based on what they went through, that it's been an eternity. 

"I don't know how to answer that." 

"It's quite obvious you have other priorities. and I... I have no clue how to actually live my life, I need someone to help me. I need someone to show me my firsts of everything because I had nothing." 

"And I said I'd do that for you!" He said Clint and Maria had taken a hint to walk away at this point, "I was going to take you out today to have ice cream, watch the sunset, have a chance to be normal." 

"I've seen a sunset, Steve!" 

"When?" 

"Last night, Clint took me out to get ice cream and took me to a great place to watch the sunset." Steve was shocked. He was supposed to do that for her! He was supposed to be the one who did that. 

"I was going to do that." 

"Steve, you are much too distracted. I don't know what I am doing. The man who I knew as my father is dead,  and I have literally lost everything. I don't want to add you to my long list of problems." She said. "I think it's best if we just don't do anything, with each other I mean." 

"If this is about Sharon-" 

"This is not about Sharon! Aren't you listening to me?" She began to stand up, Steve copying her movements. "I need a friend and right now that's not you." She walked away leaving Steve there alone speechless and almost afraid to move. His feet were glued to the floor as she just walked away. 

He was unsure of what to do. He knew that after everything she's' been through that he should push, that he should give her time. But he fears that if he gives her more time he'll lose her completely. Natasha was very important to him. He didn't know how it happened but she just weaved her way into his heart, and there was no way she could leave it without breaking it in two. 

"well that went as well as could be expected," Clint said walking toward Steve, back to the table. He had left something on the table that he had come back to reclaim. 

"Is she staying with you?" He asked, trying his best to mask his jealousy. He really did not want her to be around someone else. Living with another guy! 

"For now, Nick and I are going to find her a place in DC," 

"DC?" He asked. "Why so far?" He asked. 

"SHIELD is moving down there and Nick wants me to go down as well, he thinks it would be good for me to stay close to her." 

"Is all she is to you a mission? Someone you only help because Nick tells you to?" He asked. 

"Of course not. I have known her a lot longer than you Steve, she's been through so much. She's my friend." Clint said. "I get you're upset but you have to give her time, this is new for her. She's lost and confused." 

"Yeah well so am I." Steve sighed knowing he was being unreasonable and that he needed to change his behavior if he wanted to apologize to Natasha. "I am just stressed, I care about her a lot and I don't want her to feel like there is something wrong with her. I never want her to feel that way." 

"Want me to talk with her?"

"No, I will figure something out." He sighed. "I have to go I have a meeting with Nick today." 

"Good luck he's in a mood," Clint said rolling his eyes. "Later Steve." 

"Bye Clint." 

*


When Steve arrived at Nick's he heard the writing of Nick's pen as he tried writing down facts and little notes. Steve came in and took a seat in front of his desk waiting for him to speak.
"Thank you for coming down today." 

"No problem Sir," He said. 

"As you have probably already heard, we are moving down to DC," He said, Steve wondered if he knew that Clint told him that. "And I'd like you to come with us." 

"Me?" He asked. As much as Steve liked his job, this was his home. New York. He couldn't really see himself living anywhere else. 

"Yes, due to some complications, the New York front is downsizing, and with most of our agents opting into retirement I am looking for a whole new set of people." 

"Why does this involve me?" 

"Because the group I am looking for is meant to replace the Avengers." Steve frowned he didn't know they were getting replaced. "Stark has informed me that he and Banner are leaving the team, and Thor is off-world too much to be reliable." 

"We haven't even done any missions, not really." He said. "They never told me of this." 

"They decided while chasing after you, decided that it wasn't for them, I heard Stark wants to start a family, he's even taken in mentoring some kid from Queens," Nick said. 

"Why can't the howling commandos replace them? They are a good team." 

"Because they aren't superhuman. They don't have any more to help us against major earth threatening threats." He said. "I already have a team in mind anyways." 

"Okay so again how do I fit into all of this." 

"I need someone to train them. Agent Barton will be preoccupied and I need someone I trust. As surprising as it is, I trust you." 

"You do?" Steve couldn't help but smile. 

"Don't push it." He said. "So what do you say, Rogers? Wanna go to DC?" 

"This is a big decision Nick, I am not sure if I can." 

"The work we do here is to help those in need. Can I tell you a story?" He asked, and Steve nodded his head. "There was an idea, called the Avengers Initiative. The idea was to bring together a group of remarkable people to see if they could become something more. To see if they could work together when we needed them to, to fight the battles that we never could. That idea will live on hopefully for generations to come." 

"Who's the team?" He asked. Nick pulled out a file with Avengers labeled on it. 

"Wanda Maximoff, she's gifted with highly effective gifts. Sam Wilson, you know him. Vision a being created purely from a stone with advanced powers. Lastly James Rhodey, his suit was created by Tony Stark, he's his best friend and with his military training we expect great things." 

"Impressive team." He noted. 

"They need to be put in line. They aren't ready as a team, and who better to help them with that then Captain America." 

"You expect me to train them all on my own?" He asked. 

"No, I have plans on giving you a co-leader, I just need to see where she stands on the matter." He said. Steve didn't know who he was talking about but this opportunity was tempting. He wanted to help the world. What better than giving them a new set of heroes? 

"I need time to think." Think about if leaving was the best thing for him. 

"Don't spend too much time on it. I leave soon and It will be very hard to find me afterward." Steve nodded and began walking away. "Oh and Rogers? Be careful around here, not everyone is who they say are." 

Steve didn't know what to think with that, but he already had too much on his mind. This was a big decision, but at least he'd be closer to Natasha right? But he'd be leaving his home. Was it worth it? He had no idea. He needed to sleep on it.