The Lakes (Steve Rogers AU)

10

"So how was your date?" Steve asked when he stopped by Nell's the next day to give her back her scarf.

"It was...nice..." she said. "I mean I like him, but probably best as a friend if I'm honest. Does it make me sound like I'm leading him on?"

Steve frowned. "No? Leading him on would be like me keeping agreeing to go out on dates and not actually telling the poor girl I don't like her".

Nell smirked, "you seem too much of a gentleman to do that - fancy a walk along the trials? My head's spinning from grading homework all morning".

"Gonna need your scarf". He threw her a knowing look.

"As are you, let me grab my coat". She said and came out into the porch minutes later, locking up. "Okaaaay, what one? Coz I only know the one I run along".

"You been on the one that goes right past deer creek? It comes out by the lake. There's a cafe there if you wanted to sit in and warm up?"

Nell agreed. "Lead on".

"So...can I ask what made you realise that John's not boyfriend potential?" He asked as they took one of the paths off the side of the road and headed into the woodland.

She shrugged. "I don't know...guess I just couldn't feel or see any connection of sorts between us. Conversation is ok, but it doesn't flow as easily as it has with other people in the past".

"Fair enough reason". Steve said, and it was. "I remember when I first met my wife, I couldn't even ask her out, instead she just figured that's what I was trying to ask and gave me her number anyway".

They both laughed. "Think there would be any change now? If you were to ever get back in the dating game again?"

"Oh geez, I'd like to think I've improved but I haven't had a date since I was with her". He chuckled to himself. "Never really been good with girls, it was always Bucky who had date after date, and then he'd try and set me up and they'd just be terrible".

Back then he'd been a skinny little runt before he'd actually begun to work out to get the physique he had now. He'd always wanted to join the police department, and getting into shape was the first step in achieving that.

"You'd have probably laughed if you'd seen me back then". He now said

"I don't think so, now me? I wasn't always this drop dead gorgeous". She joked. "I was the ugly duckling in my class".

"Oh c'mon! I don't believe that".

She nodded. "I was that. Didn't have any friends, I was the kid who would just sit by herself at lunch. But I didn't care. I had my books".

"Favourite author". He quizzed.

"Austen".

He nodded his approval. "Could never get into it. Sure I read Pride and Prejudice but that's as far as I got".

"You a classics man?"

"Read a few - I try and read on my days off but never quite get around to it. I think now autumn and winter are hitting I will be a lot more".

Nell sighed. I literally was curled up under a blanket when I got back last night, fire on and just spent the last hour or so before bed reading. Honestly I felt relaxed".

"Did you not feel that when you were out?" He asked

"Is it bad if I say no?" She winced

He grinned. "No - watch yourself here, bit of a slope". Now turning back and taking her hand, so as she couldn't slip.

"Thanks". She said, leaves and twigs crunching beneath their feet as they carried on along the trail.

It was quiet, the only sounds being that of nature. If you were here alone at night then it would be creepier, but in the day it was beautiful. "You walk the trails a lot?" She asked.

"Helps me think. Plus if one isn't safe then I can report it". He said, stuffing his hands into his coat pockets to warm them. "least you've invested in some sensible footwear".

"Yeah thankfully! Now I can hike along the trails a little easier. Another reason to cross John off the 'dream man' list - doesn't really like being out here. He told me he'd much rather be indoors doing stuff than getting dirty in the woods".

Steve chuckled "ouch...I'll be sure to have Phil put him on the calls that come through from hikers and whatnot then".

"Now that's cold". She threw him a devious look

"But entertaining that's for sure". They came out to the road and crossed over to the lake, walking the path along it round to where the cafe was on the far side, facing the direction going into town. "I think we've earned a coffee break".

"Aaand, it's my turn to buy". She reminded him. "What can I get you".

"Hot chocolate will do for me, please".

She grinned, "coming right up".

Steve leant against the fence that had been erected around the lake to mainly stop young kids from falling in. It still pained him a little to see the site where Sharon had died, everyday, but it also was proving to be helping in the healing process. A kind of 'face your fear' thing so his therapist had told him".

"We also earned whipped cream marshmallows". Nell's voice broke his train of thought as she returned.

He chuckled. "Now that's something I never think to get".

Her mouth fell open. "How can you not have whipped cream and marshmallows?"

"Probably coz I don't know how to live".

Nell now looked seriously at him. "So perhaps now is the time to start".

Steve only wished it were that easy.