"You and (Y/N) are looking nice and cozy tonight."

"It's been great Sam, I think she's finally starting to trust me," Steve smiled following Sam through the crowd and up the long staircase that led to the indoor balcony overlooking the living room still overflowing with Tony's guests.

Steve didn't like the idea of leaving (Y/N) all alone, knowing she didn't really know anyone here, but figured he would be able to at least keep an eye on her from this new view of the ongoing party. With the exception of Tony, (Y/N) seemed to fit in well with most people he introduced her too. He knew she had some kind of strange bond he didn't quite understand with Peter already, and from what he could tell, she seemed to be clicking with Nat as well. He had watched as (Y/N) made an effort to get to know all of his friends. She had smiled, laughed, and even cracked a few jokes. He couldn't help but feel a small sense of pride knowing that (Y/N) had taken an interest in his personal life.

"I have to say it's nice seeing you have to work so hard for a girl," Sam chuckled as Steve leaned on the railing of the balcony, "it's a good change of pace from watching most of them fall at your feet."

Sam continued to laugh and smirk, clapping Steve on the back.

"I don't mind the work, I'm just glad she's finally starting to let me in," Steve replied.

"Are you going to talk to her about changing the whole 'just friends' thing? Don't get me wrong, I can see why you want to take things slow and not pressure her but I mean come on. Friends don't look at friends the way you both look at each other."

"Honestly, I don't know..." Steve sighed, turning to face Sam directly.

"After everything that happened last time I started dating someone, I didn't see myself getting back out there anytime soon. When I saw her in that bar the night we met she looked so sad and I just wanted to give her some company, maybe make her smile again. But the more I talked to her the more I began to see how amazing she was and then one thing led to another..." Steve trailed off a little and Sam turned to face the crowd of party goers, while nodding at Steve in understanding.

"When she left that morning, I thought it was over for sure. But now she's back and with everything that's happened I can't help but feel like we are meant to be more than friends. I know it sounds stupid when I say it out loud..." Steve shook his head sadly.

"I don't think it's stupid. You've gotta fight for what you want. Anyone with eyes can see that you are both starting to care for each other, but you and I both know nothing is ever going to happen if you don't take the first step. Sometimes people need a little... push," Sam stated, poking Steve's shoulder, emphasizing his last word. He paused for a moment, taking a sip of his drink and scanning the living room and taking in the scene before continuing.

"And I know things didn't work out so great the last time you tried dating in the twenty-first century, but that doesn't mean things will end badly this time around. Speaking of you-know-who... have you told (Y/N) about what happened with that devil woman yet?"

"No, why?"

"Because she's over there talking to her right now."

-----------

"I can't believe Steve brought her here."

Turning slightly to hide your face from the group's view, you listened as the blonde girl continued to talk about you to her friends.

"I heard that when they first met she pretended like she didn't know who he was and then pitied him into letting her stay the night. It's pathetic, really."

You heard a few of the other girls murmur in agreement while others just laughed. Not wanting to cause a scene by going up to them, you remained seated at the bar with your backs to the gossiping girls. Your fists clenched on the glass in front of you so tightly it might break.

"Apparently, she ran out the next morning, and then she just showed up one day, weeks later and told Steve that the baby is his. She convinced him to let her move into the tower and everything and he didn't even question it at all."

This was exactly why you hated and distrusted new people. These girls had never even spoken a word to you and here they were making all of these snap judgements about you. Who even was this girl? How did she know so much about your situation? Why does she even care? You normally considered yourself a decently patient person but after overhearing this particular conversation your limits were being pushed to the breaking point.

"There's absolutely no way that baby is Steve's, I just can't believe he's falling for her act. First she moves into the tower, who knows what she's going to take from him next. It's only a matter of time and she'll start going after his money, just wait and see."

Maybe it was the fact that you were exhausted, maybe it was the baby hormones, or maybe it was just pure rage coursing through your veins but before you could stop yourself you had hopped off the bar stool and made your way over to the group of girls. The water in your glass sloshed a little as you walked to where they were sitting, and you clutched it tightly. A few of their eyes grew wide as they saw you approach the group, but you kept your eyes on the blonde girl who had turned around to face you seeing the look on her friends' faces.

"Oh hey (Y/N), didn't see you there," the girl smiled arrogantly.

"You know it's kinda funny... you seem to know who I am and apparently everything else about me when I don't even know your name. I guess Steve didn't think it was important enough to mention."

You watched the girl's eyes narrow and the smile disappear off her lips as you raised the glass of water to yours.

"I'm Sharon Carter, I met pretty much everyone here through S.H.I.E.L.D, now I work for the C.I.A, maybe you've heard of it?"

Agent Shmagent, who gives a crap.

You could tell she was trying to intimidate you but you were way too angry at this point for that to work. You were seeing everything in red. Every word that came out of her mouth was making it ten times harder for you to resist the temptation of throwing your drink in her face.

"Well Sharon," you said through gritted teeth, trying to grasp on to whatever calm you could. "I'm not sure why on earth you think my personal life is in any conceivable way your business but I would appreciate it if you would keep your incorrect opinions to yourself."

Sharon laughed while the other girls watched the interaction nervously.

"I could care less about your personal life (Y/N). I've known Steve for years, and just because he may be too nice and understanding to see who you really are doesn't mean the rest of us can't see right through you."

You couldn't help but notice the possessiveness in the way Sharon said Steve's name. It was obvious they had some kind of history, and you really didn't have the patience to be ridiculed and scrutinized by some jealous, maybe ex-girlfriend of a guy you weren't even dating.

"You don't know me. And I don't know what your problem is, but I have enough going on in my life right now without having to deal with an uptight, jealous, popsicle bad-mouthing me for no reason so, kindly back off."

"Popsicle?" Sharon asked in confusion. You chuckled quietly, knowing you shouldn't have egged her on but you couldn't help yourself.

"Yea a popsicle, you know? Cause you have a stick up your ass?"

Some of the other girls watching tried to hold in laughs, one's mouth hung open in shock but you focused on Sharon, refusing to break eyes with the furious ones glaring back at you.

"Say what you want, but we both know the truth. You may have fooled Rogers into thinking that the baby is his, but every other person in this room doubts that it's true, it's all anyone's been talking about tonight. Now it's only a matter of time before Steve realizes your true intentions, and he'll toss your attention-seeking, money-grabbing ass back out on the street. I'd watch your back if I were you."

You were out of straws. Any ounce of whatever was keeping you in place vanished leaving only a need to vent all of your anger in any way possible. Before you could even recognize what your body was subconsciously doing you had closed the half distance between you and Sharon. You didn't know what you were going to do when you got to her, you couldn't even process how stupid it was for you, a pregnant civilian, to be charging a trained agent.

You were only a few steps away from her when you felt a pair of strong arms wrap around your waist, lifting you off your feet momentarily and swinging you away from Sharon.

"Really Sharon?"

Steve stood in between the two girls, his arms still around your waist. He looked at you with worry as you were still struggling to try and to get to the smirking girl only feet away but Steve's grip was firm. When it became quickly obvious that you weren't getting anywhere you gave in, the anger being replaced with hurt and embarrassment. Was what Sharon said true? Did everyone here think you were a liar? Did they really think that you would trick Steve into believing you were pregnant with his child just for money? Did Steve think so too? Turning away from Sharon, you pulled yourself out of Steve's arms and walked as fast you could out of the living room. You just wanted to be alone and as far away from this mess as possible. But Steve had other plans, jogging after you, catching up to you and wrapping an arm protectively around your waist as you left the party.