Timing is everything (Steve X Reader) - Final part

One years later, after the events in age of Ultron


A soft, cold breeze blew through the streets of New York. You took in a deep breath and smiled, looking around you. It had been over a year since you had set foot in the city, but you were finally back. 

While you were in your hometown you had worked your ass off. You were able to save up a lot of money and you broadened your knowledge and skills by taking courses and classes. You had done so greatly in your new job that just a few weeks ago they had offered you a promotion as a manager in their new office, which of course had to be in New York. 

You had accepted the offer right away and moved back to the Big Apple nearly a week ago. You had gotten a large apartment in the center of New York with a stunning few of the whole city. Today all your belongings had arrived and you had spent the whole Saturday morning unpacking everything. Now you were making your way towards one of the cafeterias you used to go to, to get yourself a hot cup of coffee and a bagel.

It was nice being back in the city you loved and even though you had liked living with your parents again, you had missed your independence. But above all you had missed Steve (even though you had only known him for a week before you left).

He hadn't been off your mind ever since you had left him on that airport wondering what he had done wrong. You had thought about calling him numerous of times, but you never had, and every time he had called you, you had thrown your phone under your pillow, hoping it would stop ringing quickly. You couldn't fall even more deeply in love with him. 

Eventually he stopped calling and you had thought you could finally put him off your mind. It hadn't turned out to be as easy as you had hoped and you had never really succeeded. Especially when you had heard about the events in Sokovia. You had been worried out of your mind, hoping Steve was alright. You hadn't slept for days, wondering if you could have helped him in any way. 

You knew you had made the right decision by going back to your hometown (otherwise you would have never gotten this awesome job), but a part of you had always wondered if it could have worked between Steve and you. You hadn't been with anyone in the past year and deep down you knew it was because of him. Being back in New York brought back everything from a year ago and you couldn't help but think you might be able to connect with him again. You felt really guilty for leaving him like you had. 

While thinking about Steve again, you made your way inside one of the subway stations. You quickly bought a ticket and waited for the first train to take you to Central Park. You couldn't wait to eat a real bagel again and you sighed, stepping into the train once it arrived. You had missed everything about New York. 

It was quite busy in the train and you took your position near the exit, holding onto one of the straps above your head. You looked around your quietly, seeing the typical people that were always on the subway. A few business men that were working even in the weekends, some art students carrying their sketch books, an old lady holding a cage which - judging by the smell - contained a cat,  a  homeless man begging for some change, a single dad with his daughter and son, and a young couple with a stroller. The woman lifted their baby from the stroller and handed the boy to her husband/boyfriend. 

You swallowed hard, looking at the man. His blond hair, blue eyes and genuine smile... It was Steve. 

He lifted the baby - his son - into the air. He smiled looking at the boy and said something to the woman beside him you couldn't hear. You bit your lip. Of course  he had moved on. Why did you even think that he might still be waiting for you - that he still cared. It was you who had left him at that airport and you who had ignored all his calls. You should just be happy he had found love again - a family. 

You wanted to turn around from him, leave him to his happiness, but before you could he turned his head, his eyes locking with yours. The smile disappeared from his face and you could see him swallowing hard. You smiled shortly, nodding at his beautiful wife/girlfriend and son (you guessed the boy was just a few months old).

When it seemed like he was about to say something, you quickly turned around and got out at the first stop you could. You didn't want to cry - you wanted to be happy for Steve (you had been just friends after all) - but somehow you couldn't stop yourself. You let the tears fall in silence, knowing you should get him out of your head once and for all. 

You were just about to walk out the subway station when someone cried out your name. 

'[Name], wait!' Steve panted, running after you. 

You quickly wiped the tears from your cheeks and turned around with a fake smile plastered on your face, tears still stinging in your eyes. 

'Hi, Steve,' you mumbled, fiddling with your subway ticket. 

'You're back...' he whispered, slowing his pace and stopping a few feet away from you.

You nodded. 'I got a promotion.'

'You never answered my calls,' he stated, clearly not interested in why you were back. 

'I know,' you sighed. 'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just didn't know what to do. I couldn't let myself...' you stopped, looking up at Steve, who swallowed hard at your words. 'Shouldn't you be getting back?' You decided to asked, pointing towards the subway trains. His family was nowhere to be found. 

Steve nodded, looking behind him. 'You're probably right... How long are you here for?'

You smiled shortly again. Maybe you could just be friends after all. 'Indefinitely...'

Steve finally smiled back at you and took a few steps closer. 'I never stopped thinking about you...'

You took in a deep breath, hearing him say those words. Your heart started to beat uncontrollably in your chest, but you knew you couldn't let yourself fall for him again. He had someone else now. Thinking about it... Why was he telling you this? 

'But what about...' you mumbled, nodding in the direction of the subway trains again, really wondering where his family had gone.'

'You mean Laura?' Steve frowned. 'Clint is taking his family to the zoo and since everyone else is away on a mission, he asked me if I'd like to join them.'

You felt tears sting in your eyes again as you realized Steve was probably still single and had been thinking about you as much as you had thought about him. 

'We have an extra ticket... If you'd like to come with us?'

You smiled and nodded slowly, biting your lip. 'I'd like that.'

Steve smiled back again and gestured you should follow him towards the subway trains. You talked all the way towards the zoo. It felt like it had a year ago and he told you about all the things that had happened in New York (and with the Avengers). You in turn told him about everything you had done in your hometown. 

Soon however you arrived at Central Park, where Clint and his family were already waiting for the both of you. Steve introduced you to all of them and you shook everyone's hand, including little Nathaniel's. 

'We've heard a lot about you,' Laura smiled at you, waking beside you with Nathaniel in the stroller as you made your way into the zoo. 'But don't worry, only good things. The Captain is very fond of you, even though you haven't seen each other in so long.'

You smiled back, nodding at her words. 'I hurt him, didn't I?'

Laura swallowed hard and lay her hand on your shoulder. 'You did what you thought was best for both of you. Steve knows that. Now, go talk to him. I bet you have a lot to talk about.'

She squeezed your shoulder and pushed you towards Steve, who was walking behind you together with Clint. 

'Clint, honey, I need your help,' Laura called for her husband over her shoulder. She winked at you and you nodded gratefully. Clint didn't let her tell him twice and made his way towards his wife, leaving you and Steve alone to talk - really talk.

You spent the first couple of minutes in silence, watching the animals around you, trying to come up with something to say. 

'I'm sorry,' you told him again. 'I truly am.'

'Don't be,' Steve quickly responded. 'You were right. It was better. The timing just wasn't right.'

'Maybe,' you whispered - you had been telling yourself that for the past year as well, 'but I hurt you and I never meant to.'

'I know,' Steve nodded. 'I wanted to be mad at you and just forget about my feelings, but I'm not that kind of guy. I learned a lot about myself the past year and I've come to realize that I wasn't ready back then,' Steve swallowed hard, turning his head towards you. 'But I still was an idiot.' He reached for your hand and looked at you seriously. 'No matter what happened, I'm not letting you go this time...'

You smiled at him, letting you hand slip into his. 'I'm counting on it,' you whispered, feeling him pull you closer to him. You walked through the zoo hand in hand the rest of the day, both not willing to let each other go. 

You had a great day, talking to both Steve and Clint and Laura. You went to dinner with them and by the end of the day Steve walked to home. 

'I never stopped thinking about you either,' you told him once you heb reached your apartment building. 'I care a lot about you, Steve...'

Steve smiled, stroking the hair from your face and letting his hand rest on your cheek. 'I care about you too, [Name]. I know it's been a long time, but I've already lost one woman I loved because of time... I won't lose you too.'

'Steve, I...' you whispered. 

Before you could finish your sentence, Steve pulled you into his arms and pressed a soft kiss on your lips. You slowly melted into the sweet kiss and his gentle touch. You lost all track of time, standing before your apartment. All had worked out in the end and you realized timing really was everything. 

'I would ask you in...' you mumbled with your eyes closed, feeling his lips linger and his forehead rest on yours, ' but I've only known you a week.'

Steve smiled, laughing softly and pulling you even closer to him. 'In that case... Can I have my jacket back?'



THE END