Welcome To New York (Steve Rogers AU) 18+

4

While Sophie is at school a few days later, I set about doing some laundry and cleaning. In her room I notice a framed picture that's on the top of her dresser, and look at it. It's a family one, baby Sophie in the arms of her mother while Steve and Joe are also smiling at the camera.

I wonder whether Sophie can remember her mother. She looked classy but very warm from the picture, and to see Mr Rogers smiling? Well it's rare, probably more so now he's pretty much a single father trying to run a company.

I've settled in a little, slowly getting into a routine with Sophie. She'll come home, do any homework and then have dinner. Then it's a bath and bedtime. She has a beautiful book of fairytales that I read to her. It's nice we have some kind of bond already, and I feel good about the job so far. I haven't seen Steve since the other afternoon. He's been back and forth to Patriots so the chauffeur told me, as well as being out of an evening with friends. I'm usually asleep by the time he comes home so I don't hear him get back.

I place the picture back on the dresser and make for the laundry room, passing Mr Rogers study as I do and seeing that the door is open.

Steve is sat at the desk on the phone and scrubbing his face, but looks up and sees me, clearly sensing me watching like some kind of creeper. "Look, I'll call you back, ok?" He says and then hangs up. "Copper..." his voice stops me as I go to make a hasty exit, but instead I stop and turn back to him.

"You look a little stressed..."

"Yeah, dad's got me doing a few things while he's gone. Accounts and all that shit". He explains as he now gets up and walks over. I note the Harvard shirt he's wearing.

"You went to Harvard?"

"No, Yale". He smirks and then nods. "Yeah, Harvard - why?"

I shrug. "You weren't too far from me then.".

His face changes and he now leans against the doorway. "Is that so? Thought you had that Boston to your accent".

"It's obvious". I grin and look to the direction of the laundry room. "I need to get this done before I have to go and pick up Sophie".

"Think I could come with? My head is about to explode if I have to look over numbers and stuff? Could get pizza after? My treat".

I hesitate for a moment. "I should really be getting back here after. But if Sophie wants to go then...."

"I'm asking you, Copper. Think of it as an employee perk, but if you don't want to then it's cool". He shrugs it off without being offended or pushy.

Great, now I feel like an asshole when all he's doing is just being nice. "I mean...I guess I have some time before I need to get Sophie back to do her homework - I was just thinking that perhaps it would be better just you two, considering you wanted to spend time with her".

He nods at this. "Well either way, I don't mind. I just thought it would be nice to get to know the girl who's gonna be taking care of my sister everyday".

"Technically Sundays are my day off" I remind him but also sound rather pathetic at the same time.

"Sundays eh?" He looks thoughtful.

"I mean, unless there's an event happening that your father wants her to attend, I don't have to work it, but yeah...free". I trail off, knowing I'm just digging myself into a deeper hole of embarrassment by the minute.

Steve smiles. "What do you plan on doing on those days?"

I shrug. "Oh, I don't know - might try and familiarise myself with New York, parks and stuff. I mean, if I'm gonna be living here, running errands? I'm gonna need to know my way around".

"You need a tour guide? I'm a hell of a tour guide". He says and then shakes his head, raising his hands in defence. "Sorry, too forward - you might wanna just go it alone".

He really is trying to convince me he's not the kind of Harvard frat boy I may have him down as. "Well...perhaps I may need a little bit of help..." I decide to give him the benefit of the doubt.

"Cool, how about this Sunday? Dad's away until Tuesday so no events to be dragged to - Mrs Kemp can keep an eye on Soph".
I feel bad now, knowing Mrs Kemp will be annoyed by that and voice my concern. Steve thinks. "Well to avoid her eagle eyes seeing us leave together, how about you leave and then I'll meet you somewhere like half an hour later? Then we'll just return separately?".

"That could work". I say, still feeling a little bad.

Steve seems pleased by this and now looks a little hesitant. "Think I could...y'know...get your number? Obviously I'll need to let you know when I'm heading to the meeting point". He scratches the back of his neck.

"Give me your phone". I tell him and he passes it to me. I make a new contact and punch my number in, saving it under the name 'Copper' just for his amusement, and then pass it back to him. "There".

He looks at the number, probably counting the digits to make sure it's not fake, and then puts it into his pocket. "Thanks, anyway I'll let you get on - just let me know about later".

I pick up the laundry basket and look at him. "Going for pizza wouldn't hurt I suppose. But I am working, just to remind you".

"Of course, rule number 1 - don't distract the nanny while she's working, even with pizza". He says to himself.

"Rule 1 - don't distract the nanny full stop, however on Sundays it could be exempt".

His brow raises at this. "Well then Copper, Sundays could just become my favourite day of the week"