You were supposed to go out tonight, but when you got the call from your daughter’s preschool teacher at 2:00 it abruptly changed those plans to a night in with your sweet brown-eyed five-year-old. From the moment you’d gotten her home all she’d wanted to do was snuggle with you in your dad’s old leather chair and watch movie after movie. You’d gotten her into her jammies, made some toast, got her some Gatorade and a bucket, just in case, before you’d texted your date, Steve letting him know that your little girl was sick. The fact that you were a mom was something you were very upfront about, and he hadn’t been bothered by the fact, rather seemed to kind of be happy about it. That you had a daughter since he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to have any of his own.
She falls asleep halfway through the second movie. Your phone buzzes and to your surprise Steve has sent you a text back. You hadn’t expected to hear from him since you’d texted him so long ago.
Hey Doll, sorry it took me a while to get back to you. I was on a work trip. I’m sorry to hear your little girl isn’t feeling well. Could I bring you over some dinner?
You usually wouldn’t want someone you’re seeing in your home so soon, but Steve is different. He’s sweet, charming and genuinely a good man so after a couple minutes of thinking it over you look down at the sleeping girl in your lap and shoot him back a text.
No worries on the delay. It’d be great to have you over for dinner, I don’t want you to get sick though.
While Lara hasn’t thrown up she’s been running a high fever since you picked her up from preschool.
I wouldn’t worry about it. I’ve got an amazing immune system
Steve texts back and you can’t help the grin that crosses your face.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
You tease before sending him your address. It only takes him a half hour to show up, you’d just gotten Lara into bed when he’s knocked.
“Hey.” You greet him with a smile pulling open the door.
“Hi doll.” He says softly, “How’s Lara doin’?” It touches you that his first question was about your little girl.
“She’s sleeping.” You tell him shutting the door behind him. He’s got a plastic bag in his hands and something smells fantastic. “How was your work trip?”
“Pretty typical. I hope you’re hungry, I’ve got burgers.”
“Sounds good.” You pass him a couple plates then grab the ketchup for the fries he’s pulled out of the bag.
You sit together and talk quietly, he asks more about Lara and you tell him some of your favorite stories. You’re halfway through the one where she told her Nana that she wanted to be a puppy when she grew up when you hear a soft noise from the hallway.
“One second Steve.” You stand and head toward the hallway when a little pair of eyes peek around the corner. “Hi baby. You okay?” She nods and tries to peer around you. You press a soft kiss to her forehead, her meds have kicked in and she feels much cooler. “Wanna meet momma’s friend Steve?” She nods again so you scoop her up and bring her to the table. “Steve, this is my daughter Lara. Lara this is momma’s friend Steve.” He stands slowly and her eyes widen as he gets taller.
“Hi Lara.” He smiles softly and Lara waves. His smile widens and he waves back.
“Momma.” She says very seriously, studying Steve, “I know him already.”
“You know him already?” You ask, confused. She must have seen a picture of him on your phone when you’d been chatting on the app your best friend had forced you to use. You’d already thanked her.
“Yea. He’s my friend. He’s Captain ‘Merica!” She exclaims proudly. You look up at him in surprise. His smile frozen on his face.
“Is Lara right?” You ask softly, she’s gotta be mistaken. Why in the world would Captain America need a dating app to meet someone? And why would he choose you, a suburban single mom of average looks, to spend his time with?
“Yea.” He mutters, one hand rubbing the back of his head, he looks past you and you can see the insecurity in his eyes.
“That’s pretty cool huh Lara, we get to know Captain America’s secret identity!” You tell your daughter, watching Steve’s face as his eyes once more meet yours. “So if you see him here or we’re out with him somewhere we only call him Steve. But if he’s in his Captain America suit then that’s what we call him okay?” The relief you see on his face is enough to break your heart and you suddenly understand why he didn’t tell you.
Here he just gets to be Steve.
As weeks turn to months and months to a year Steve comes over more and more often, practically living with you and Lara when he’s not on missions. Lara loves playing with him and for a man with super strength he’s so gentle with her. You found yourself in love with him, even with the time he’s gone being Captain America everything is pretty wonderful. Maybe a little worrisome with what he does for a living but he’s open and honest with you about the job which you appreciate.
You had a tough conversation the week that had followed Lara’s outing him but had come to the understanding that his life as Captain America and his life as Steve Rogers were two completely (as much as they could be) different things.
Steve is over one night, playing with Lara as you cook dinner, when someone knocks on your front door.
“Hey doll you want me to get that?” Steve calls from the living room.
“No, I got it.” You call back sliding the chicken into the oven. You make your way to the door and pull it open then freeze, mouth open in surprise as you stare at the man on your doorstep.
“Hey beautiful.” He coos, oblivious to shock on your face he tries to come into your home.
“Davis.” You says, planting your foot on the ground behind the door holding it firm to keep him out. “What do you want?”
“I’m here to see my daughter.”
“Absolutely not. You don’t get to just walk back in here like nothing happened. You don’t get to decide that you’re a part of our lives now.” You hear Lara shrieking with laughter and Steve’s voice after.
“Whose in your house?” Davis asks attempting to shove his way past you. “You got a new man to whore around with?”
“Go home Davis.” You demand, holding your ground but you know you can’t keep him out forever.
“This has never been and will never be your home. You gave up that right when you walked out on day three.”
“Let me in!” He snarls then you feel the warmth against your back.
“Doll?” Steve asks gently. “I asked Lara if she wanted to play hide-n-seek so I could come check on you. Everything okay?” The door hasn’t budged since Steve added his hand to the top of the door.
“Who the fuck are you?” Davis sneers, clearly not recognizing the superhero standing in front of him.
“Someone who’s welcome here. Something that I’m pretty sure you’re not.” Steve growls back, his hand is gentle on your back but his voice could freeze water.
“I have the right to see my daughter.” Davis says again, he pushes against the door but it doesn’t even wiggle this time.
“She doesn’t even know who you are. In this last year Steve has been more of a father to her than you ever have. Just go. I don’t want you to come around ever, ever again.” You snarl.
“No! You gave those up. I could have you arrested for not paying child support for the last five years. I don’t want that, I just want you to leave us alone.” When Davis doesn’t move Steve gently moves you back.
“‘Scuse me Doll.” He says, “You heard her. Go.”
“Fuck off Steve.” Davis snarls before throwing a punch. It hits Steve right in the eye but he doesn’t even move.
“Momma?” You close your eyes, horrified that Lara has come to see what’s going on. You pick her up and hold her tightly to you. “Whose that?”
“I’m your daddy Lara.” Davis cries before you can come up with anything to say.
“No you’re not.” She argues. “He is.” She points at Steve and you’re not sure how to respond. “He loves me and momma.” She says proudly and your heart swells.
“You heard her. I love them, you’re not welcome here.” Steve says pushing the door shut and locking it. Davis pounds on the door, screaming profanities through it you rub Lara’s back as she hugs your neck tightly. Steve lifts his watch toward his mouth then says, “F.R.I.D.A.Y. Please send the police to my location.”
“Yes Captain.” The AI responds and you look at him in surprise.
It doesn’t take long for the police to show up, you take Lara to her room while Steve stands guard in the kitchen.
Once Davis is gone Steve comes back to Lara’s room with dinner all stacked on a couple of plates.
“Thank you.” You tell him softly, and he nods, understanding that the thanks is for more than just grabbing dinner.
You don’t get the chance to speak with him alone until after Lara has gone to bed. She’d asked for Steve to put her to bed, he read her a book and then tucked her in and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
“Night daddy.” She mumbles sleepily as you watch from the doorway. He pauses and then whispers back.
“Goodnight sweet girl.” He turns and sees you standing there, a smile on your face and he slowly crosses the room toward you. You take his hand and lead him back to the living room. He sits down on the couch and pulls you to his lap, you wrap your arms around his neck and kiss him softly.
“Thank you.” You whisper.
“No need Doll.” He murmurs back, holding you tightly to him as you run your fingers through his hair. “Do you wanna talk about it?”
“I loved him once.” You say not looking into his eyes. “Once he was kind, and I thought he loved me. When I found out I was pregnant things were okay, until Lara was born. I wasn’t prepared, neither was he but instead of stepping up with me Davis bailed. That’s the first time I’ve seen him since then, I can’t believe he just thought he could waltz back into our lives like that!” You’re angry now, how dare he? Who did he think he was? Steve runs a hand up then down your spine, trying to calm you. His fingers ghosting along your back does wonders to soothe your frayed nerves.
“I’m sorry Doll.” He soothes, “Can I suggest something?” You nod, “Can I have Stark come over and reinforce your place? I might not be here next time he comes and I want to make sure that you and Lara are safe.”
“I’d like that.” You agree, you were lucky that Steve was here tonight. “How do you feel about what Lara said?”
“About how I love you both? She’s right. I do.” You give his chest a gentle swat and give him a mock scowl. You’d both exchanged ‘I love you’s a few months back and it was something you said freely and often now.
“The other part, about you being her dad.”
“Honestly Doll, someday I’d like to be.”
