Winter's Nightmare

Getting ready

Steve's POV November 2nd

Trying to think of romantic date ideas to do at the compound was proving harder than Steve initially thought. Not that he didn't have ideas, he had plenty. It was proving hard to come up with something without someone else's input or them taking said idea. Tony. He eventually decided on dinner and a movie at Lia's house. The only problem was Steve couldn't cook.

Well, not a romantic meal anyway. Take out food wasn't an option because not many places would deliver this far out and the ones who did couldn't keep the food warm enough by the time it got out here. This is how Steve found himself searching out Tony in his lab. Steve knocked on the door as he opened it.

"Tony, you in here?" Steve called out when he didn't see him even though FRIDAY had said he was here. Tony's head popped up from under his desk.

"Oh good. You can help me. Get over here and help me look for the earring that looks like this." He held up a small silver and black earring shaped like a full moon before ducking back down to the floor.

Steve cocked an eyebrow at the man with a smirk as he walked over. "I don't think that's really your style, Stark. Clashes with all of the red and gold."

Tony's head popped back up with annoyance. "Ha ha, Capsicle, your wit knows no bounds." Glaring up at him he motioned for him to hurry up. "They're the new and improved tech jewelry for Aurelia. Now get down here and help me find it before she gets here." Sighing, Steve got down on his hands and knees searching around for the small piece of jewelry.

Embarrassingly that's how Lia found two of her favorite men when she walked in a few minutes later. "What the heck are you guys doing?" Lia's voice calls out. Tony hit his head on the desk trying to get up off the floor.

"Lia! You're early."

Steve heard him say. Lia laughs at him. "Nope, right on time. What exactly are you guys doing crawling around on the floor?"

He was very aware that he looked completely ridiculous on all fours, butt sticking up in the air as he was trying to find the earring Tony had dropped.

"Found it!" He called out a moment later. Standing up and brushing off his pants. Steve handed the earring back to Tony carefully. "Don't drop it again, Stark." He looked over at Lia who eyes were shining with amusement. "Hi, doll." He says with a smile on his face.

She blushed, but smiled at the nickname. "Hey, Steve." Looking at both men with eyebrows raised and hands on her hips she said, "Neither one of you have answered my question."

Tony walked back over to his desk putting the earrings in a medium sized box. "I dropped something small and Rogers helped me find it. A gift for you actually."

She cocked her head to the side. "A gift for me? Tony, you've given me more than enough. You don't have to keep giving me things." She chided him as she walked over to stand next to Steve. He noted that she stood much closer than she usually did with a pleased smile on his face.

Tony shrugged. "It's what I do to show people I care. Besides, I think you'll like this. Go ahead and open it, Sweetness."

Tony looked like he was the one who had just gotten the unexpected gift as he watched Lia open the box carefully.
She let out a small gasp. "Oh Tony, they're beautiful!"

Steve looked over her shoulder. There in the box with the pair of earrings was a silver necklace with a moon pendant and two beaten silver bracelets that had the phases of the moon etched into them. Tony gave Lia the soft smile reserved just for her.

He had been amused and a bit shocked at first by the depth of Tony's affection for Lia. Steve hadn't even known the man had a softer side until the petite young woman came into their lives. Tony could be egomanical and selfish to a fault at times, but Steve knew without a doubt that Tony would do anything for her. Even die for her if he had to.