"And we don't want that," Taylor said. She held onto his hand, squeezing it a bit as she smiled at him.

"It'll be fine, I promise," Bucky said as they walked. "You have nothing to worry about."

Steve grinned. "Well, it wouldn't be the first time they came looking for me, but the first time I'd be with a dame," he said.

"You keep saying that like you know they'll like me," Alissa said, shaking her head a bit. "And you don't know that."

"Seriously the first time?" Taylor asked. "I mean, it was a long time, there really weren't any others...?"

"They will like you," Bucky said. "I know they will. Even Stark."

"No others," Steve agreed. "Not even a dalliance. I was content to wait."

"You really can't know that, they don't know me," Alissa said, shaking her head.

"That's really impressive," Taylor said, looking at him.

"But I know them," Bucky pointed out. He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss. "Just relax. It'll be okay. And if it's not, for whatever freak reason, we can leave."

Steve shrugged. "I've had friends throughout the years," he said. "And Bucky. I always had Buck."

"Okay." That did actually make her feel better, and Alissa tucked herself in against his side.

"Well, that's something, at least," Taylor said. "I'm glad you weren't alone."

Bucky held her closer, and kept their pace easy.

"If you want, I can see about getting Stark to let you use the kitchen at the Tower," he said, grinning. "It's a really big kitchen."

"Don't think I woulda managed if I'd been alone," Steve said with a little shrug.

"I... we'll see," Alissa said hesitantly. "How things go when I meet them, and all."

Taylor slipped her arms around him.

"I'm glad you didn't have to," she said. She grinned. "Now come on, we're moseying."

"Alright," Bucky said. He led the rest of the way to the tower, and ushered Alissa directly into the elevator.

"Buck's gonna get there first," Steve said with an amused/exasperated sigh. "He's never gonna let me live it down." He paused. "Not that I care, but he's horrible."

Alissa stiffened a little in the elevator, and outright jumped when Jarvis greeted them.

"Good afternoon, Sergeant Barnes. Sir has been wondering when you would arrive."

"That's okay," Taylor said. She grinned teasingly. "Tell him we got distracted making out in an alley. We don't even have to make it a lie."

"Hey, Jarvis," Bucky replied easily. "We decided to walk back instead of take the car, that's all. This is Alissa."

Steve snickered a bit. "Well, if we come across a likely alley..." he teased a bit with a grin.

"Good afternoon," Jarvis greeted.

"Hi?" It came out more like a question than she really liked, and Alissa cleared her throat.

"I'm sure we will," Taylor replied. She looked up at him, grinning. "I wouldn't mind a slight... detour."

"Jarvis controls most of the building," Bucky said as they got out of the elevator on the proper floor. "He's cool."

Steve grinned and found a slight detour for them, though he did keep it slight instead of longer.

"Okay." Alissa nodded, adding that to list of things she'd have to adapt to.

Clint looked over at them and grinned. "Aha, she does exist!"

Alissa wasn't sure whether to blush and hide or punch him. She settled on half-hiding behind Bucky and glowering as impressively as she could at the archer.

Taylor definitely didn't mind the detour.

"Course she does," Bucky replied, turning and giving Clint a friendly punch on the arm with his good hand. "Alissa, this is Clint. Clint, Alissa."

Steve ended up leading her to the tower a little bit after Bucky and Alissa got there, and he walked right over with her to an elevator.

"Ready?"

"Hi," Alissa said with a nervous little grin.

"Hey. 'Bout time Barnes brought you around. Seriously, he's been going on about you for forever." Clint rolled his eyes. Alissa leaned over Bucky to punch him in the shoulder too.

"Oi, no making fun of him."

"I wasn't making fun of him!" Clint defended, pouting and rubbing his shoulder. "I can see why he likes you, though."

Alissa huffed.

"As ready as I can be," Taylor said, squeezing his hand a bit. She was definitely still a bit nervous.

"Where's everyone else?" Bucky asked, glancing around. "I figure Stark's in his workshop, he's always in his workshop, but where are Nat and Bruce? And Thor, for that matter?"

"Don't worry, we can leave if you need to," Steve said. "But you won't, they'll like you."

"Kitchen," Clint said, just as Natasha looked over at them.

"Thor's making Poptarts and requires supervision," the redhead said with a faint quirk of her lips.

"You seem very certain of that," Taylor said as she walked with him.

Bucky couldn't help but snerk and roll his eyes.

"Of course he is," he said. For as wise and knowledgeable as Thor was on some topics, there were others where he was woefully inept, and Earth cooking was one of them. "By the way, Nat, this is Alissa."

"I know my team," Steve said with a little grin. "Besides, they've been pushing to meet you."

Natasha nodded to Alissa, who managed to nod in return.

"There's coffee," Nat said to both of them before she returned to keep an eye on Thor and his Poptarts.

"What have you been telling them?" Taylor asked, grinning a bit. "I hope some of it's good."

Bucky nodded.

"Coffee sounds good," he said. He looked at Alissa. "Want any?"

"I told them you used to work with Howard, and you two fascinated him with your cell phones." Steve grinned. "Only the good stuff, I promise."

"Sure." Still a little cautiously, Alissa made her way into the kitchen. Bruce was sitting drinking tea while Thor was rather impatiently waiting for his pop-tarts.

"You'd better have," Taylor teased.

Bucky grinned when they went into the kitchen.

"Hey, guys," he said as he grabbed down a pair of mugs.

Steve grinned at that and stepped out into the main living floor. "Buck beat us here," he said, grinning a bit.

Alissa looked over at them and grinned. "What, did you two take the scenic route?" she asked, clearly teasing.

"We got distracted," Taylor replied, grinning and turning a bit pink. "Leave us be."

Bucky snickered.

"Really, Stevie?" he said.