Welcome To New York (Steve Rogers AU) 18+

13

"Steve better not bring Piggy home to dinner tonight". Sophie says as she shovels some sand into her bucket.

I sigh. "Well if he does, please don't start making oinking sounds at the table. If you want to keep having fun this summer? That would be the wrong move".

Sophie continues to put the sand in the bucket. "My brother likes you, I can tell". She comes out with it so casually that it throws me off guard completely.

"He doesn't". I try and stop the panic that's rising inside of me. Is she about to just come out and say she saw me leaving last nights sleepover? I'm gonna need a hell of a good excuse to come up with about that one if so. "He's just being friendly".

"He looks at you when you're not looking. I've seen him". Sophie says, tipping the bucket upside down and beginning to pat the top with her spade. "When he likes a girl, he looks at her for a reeeeeeeal long time".

I shake my head. "And does he do that with Piggy too?" Now smirking as she looks up with a mischievous smile on her face.

"Nope. He always looks so bored when we have dinner with her and her family. I like her brother, he's nice to me. He always sneaks me sweets before we go home".

I laugh at this. "Well at least you like someone from the family. What's her mom and dad like?"

Sophie wrinkles her nose in thought. "They talk about boring stuff. Like dads work".

"Ok, so if I ever meet them, avoid mom and dad and make sure that the brother gives me sweets". I pretend to write it down on an imaginary bit of paper. Part of me is hoping that day will never come, but given that there are brunches amongst other stuff planned for while we're here - no doubt I'll be seeing them at some point.

"Can we go in the sea now?" Sophie asks and I get up.

"Come on".

She races down the sand and into the water, while I stand at the edge, letting it lap around my feet. It's nice here, I could certainly think of worse places to be for the summer.

"Come on! Come in!" Sophie screeches where she's splashing around.

Fuck it.

I go in, not caring about my shorts getting wet, and join her. She splashes me in a complete tidal wave and I shriek, now seeing her freeze as she thinks I'm going to scold her. "You're gonna pay for that Soph". I splash her back as she laughs and we both end up hurling water at one another.

I hear a sharp whistle, and turn to see Steve standing there with another guy and a girl. "Looking a little wet there, Copper". He calls, hands slung in his shorts pockets.

"Steve! Come iiiiiiin!" Sophie tries to beckon him over, but in the end she gets out and goes to hug him, getting him also wet in the process. "Bucky! Nat! This is Lu!" She now grins as she introduces me to Steve's friends. "She's my new nanny".

"New nanny eh? How long until you drive her away like the other one?" Bucky jokes before he looks at me. "She didn't, honestly - anyway I'm Bucky, this is my girl Nat". He extends his hand and I shake it.

"You mean, you're my guy". Nat rolls her eyes at him before she turns to me, "nice to meet you, Steve's told us a lot about you". Casually throwing that in as a sly move on her part. I like her already.

I bite my lip. "Don't know how as there's not much to tell".

The boys are now grabbing Sophie by the arms and legs and are swinging her from side to side, then launching her into the sea. In a tactful move she manages to trip Steve up and send him face first into the water.

"He deserved that". I smirk as Nat laughs.

"He deserves a lot of things - good and bad. Wanna go sit down while those two idiots act Sophie's age?" She suggests and I nod. Both of us heading a little way up the beach to sit on the blanket.

I pass her a can of soda I brought, and then crack one open for myself. "You know Steve through Bucky?" I ask.

She shakes her head. "Nah. We all grew up together. Bucky and I got together after a drunken night at college though".

I'm about to open my mouth before I see someone running up to Steve as he comes out of the water.

Oh great. Piggy jogs - and now they're walking up the beach to us, Bucky and Sophie trailing behind. Peggy is wearing some tight ass yoga pants and a crop top, body on show for all to see.

"Great..." Nat now says so sarcastically that it's obvious she doesn't like her either.

Sophie comes and sits next to me to have a drink while Steve and Peggy stand and talk a little bit away from where the rest of us are sat. Taking a cupcake from the bag I brought, I peel off the wrapper, right as I hear the mimicking snorts that are coming from my wonderful little friend,

I quickly stuff the cupcake into her mouth to silence her as Peggy's head whips round, eyeing the four of us on the blanket. "She certainly loves her cupcakes". I laugh nervously as Sophie still has the cake in her mouth. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Bucky's shoulders heaving up and down as he's laughing silently, Nat looking away with an amusing smile on her lips.

This kid is too much, and I choke a laugh out, covering it up with a fake cough.

Peggy rolls her eyes. "Can we at least do this where the help isn't listening?"

Steve simply gestures for her to lead the way, shooting his sister a disapproving look over his shoulder as he follows Peggy away from out spot.

Nat stares after them. "The temptation to punch her face is unreal".

"I'm guessing you're not fans of her then?"

"Fu..." Bucky starts as Nat then smacks his chest to stop him. "I mean, no way...Sophie sprout here said it the best though. Nice one kid". He fist bumps her as she looks triumphant.

I sigh. "You've upset your brother though. You're going to have to say you're sorry when he comes back". I revert back to work mode.

"I know.." she pouts in her sulky manner. "Sorry..."

"It's ok, but you're gonna have to save that for Steve". I put my arm around her to let her know I'm not mad.

I know who will be though, and the text I get later that evening summoning me to his room confirms that either I'm about to be yelled at, or disciplined in the only way that Steve Rogers knows how...