Little Star // a Steve Rogers, Captain America, Avengers story

Lunch At Aprillia

Ellie took a shower, got dressed, and was feeling refreshed when she came downstairs. To her surprise, Steve was replacing the handle and mechanism on the back door. She began to ask him where he had found the supplies when she noticed a bag from the local hardware store. She knew he must have 'run' into town while she was upstairs.

"Did you cause a fuss at Nelson's Hardware?

"Not really. Henry, who helped me, is a vet. Vets are my biggest fans, a fact that makes me proud. He showed me a shrapnel scar on his side. It was a monster; I'm surprised he lived. He wouldn't have when I... Does this bore you? Army and war talk?"

"No. I can't say that I enjoy it, really, but I appreciate it. War is how you became you. How you found your way to this little town and this little woman and her little life. Steve, what if my skills can help men like Henry, and you? What if I could tour VAs and improve the lives of veterans? Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Steve rubbed his thumb beneath her eye, catching a single tear. "Your eyes leak a lot. Is it because you feel things more deeply?"

"I suppose. Or I just have weak tear ducts. Is that a thing?"

"I have no idea. But I do know that I like your idea about visiting VAs. The older vets especially would go wild if you and I appeared together. Promise me that we'll make it happen."

"I promise."

As a treat for Ellie, Steve had arranged with Pepper for them to have lunch and a tour at Aprillia.

Rosie, the house manager, met them at the front door and asked if they would like the guided tour or preferred to explore on their own. The couple chose the latter and Rosie excused herself to prepare lunch, which would be on the main terrace.

Ellie had never been in a home that could reasonably be called a mansion, and she was awestruck. It was an older home, probably built in the nineteen twenties and added onto over the years. She liked the traditional layout and furnishings peppered with modern amenities and pieces. She wondered how much reflected the former occupants' taste and how much was Tony – or more likely Pepper's – doing.

There were large formal living and dining rooms, a glass-walled conservatory that Ellie knew from town gossip held almost two hundred people for parties. A music room, study, and long library finished out the main floor. The garage and kitchen extended in wings on either side of the house.

They counted six bedrooms, two with separate dressing rooms, as well as a family room in the central block upstairs. Doors at either end of the central hall led to guest suites. Every bedroom had its own bath and there was a powder room off the family area.

The master bedroom was astounding. An entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows faced the river. Under a vaulted ceiling was enough space for a king-size bed, an entire seating area with sofa, two chairs, and a coffee table, and a massive entertainment center. Steve looked like an average sized man in the large space.

He whistled. "This is bigger than my whole apartment. I know families used to be larger, but this is excessive. What do you think?"

"I think I'll bet you that the master bath is bigger than my living room."

"I'm not going to take that bet because I'm sure I'd lose. Let's go see."

Behind an unassuming door they found a small hallway. To the left was the dressing room which, in itself, was larger than Ellie's guestroom. Hanging space, shelves, built in dressers, and shoe storage for hundreds of pairs. All this surrounded two large ottomans in the center of the room.

In the other direction was a double bathroom. Each side had a small room with a WC, a walk-in shower, and sinks set in wide vanities. At the far end was a jacuzzi tub big enough that both Steve and Ellie could share it.

Ellie had never seen such extravagance. "This is kind of disgusting, isn't it? Who needs to live this way? You said Tony actually lives kind of modestly, right?"

"I'm not sure modestly is the right word. Everything in their home is the best money can buy, and there is a substructure twice the size of the house beneath it. But they don't live ostentatiously. This house is not subtle, but I wonder if a different kind of family lived here, they might make it feel like a home instead of a showplace."

Back in the bedroom, Ellie, distracted, gave a noncommittal "Maybe..." before exclaiming, "Oh, look, that middle one's a door, not a window. There's a terrace! Let's go see the view."

From the rooftop they could see all the way out the river and beyond to the Chesapeake Bay. Under the cerulean sky dotted with bright white fluffy clouds, the water sparkled, and small waves lapped at the dock in the breeze. Ellie saw a few houses she recognized across the river and pointed them out to Steve.

"A few of my friends growing up lived over there in that community. We would look at this place and imagine all sorts of ridiculous things about the family here. Their kids went to private school so none of us really knew them. I wonder if they knew about their parents' deal with Tony."

"Probably not. He insists on complete discretion. I'm sure no one in the area has any idea how many people are actually employed here, and certainly not that it's anything more than a big estate that has a working farm. You didn't."

"I guess I wasn't at the top of my sensing game when I drove by."

Steve laughed and they went back downstairs for lunch. They enjoyed delicate cold lamb with mint sauce, a salad of mixed spring greens, pears, and feta cheese, and freshly baked baguette with herbed butter. Chocolate mousse followed, accompanied by a cherry cordial.

Ellie, after her indulgence the night before, had one small glass. To her surprise, Steve had two. When she asked him why the change from his usually abstemious ways, he said that it had been his mother's favorite and brought back happy memories. She wondered if Pepper knew this and made sure it was on the menu. Her money was on yes.

As Rosie walked them to the bike, she asked if they had enjoyed lunch, and they both said yes.

"It's so nice to prepare a meal for guests. I hope there will be a new family in the house soon."

Ellie nodded, "I imagine it's a little sad with no one here. A family would make the place seem alive again."

"Exactly, my dear. And what did you think of the house itself?"

"Beautiful, but more than I can imagine ever needing. Maybe for a family of six with social obligations, but even then... But it is lovely; some of the artwork is fantastic and the second-floor terrace would be my favorite spot, if I were to live here. What do you think, Steve?"

"It's certainly a beautiful home in a beautiful spot."

They gave Rosie their thanks and said their goodbyes. Steve remained silent as they rode home. She wondered what was wrong.

"Steve, you're quiet, and I can't figure out why. You're not angry. Or sad. Will you tell me what it is, or do I need to hold you down and delve deep into your mind?"

That brought a smile. "Would you excuse me for a few minutes? I think I want to change out of these jeans; they got a little dusty on the ride. I'll take my bag upstairs and be back down shortly."

Ellie wasn't worried, just very curious. She thought he might have been purposefully trying to hide his feelings from her. Thinking that she'd like to change as well, she went up to her room. She found the guest room door shut, and heard Steve speaking low to someone on the phone. Curiouser and curiouser, as a girl named Alice once said.