By ValerieRichards

Disclaimers: I don't own the Avengers, Captain America, any people, places, or things recognizable.

Author's note: I know Stephanie Rogers is not exactly a unique name since it's used for female Steve stories, but I thought it would be a good name for a sister. Also, I know Howard was a bad father in canon stories, but I like Dominic Cooper way too much. I looked up the timeline for the dates of Steve's birth, crash, and when he's unfrozen. Steve is frozen in 1945 and unfrozen in 2012, which is 67 years. Since I know people will ask, Joesph Rogers didn't die in 1918, but 1922 still in the military and before Stephanie's birth.

POV: Stephanie.

Chapter 1

I missed my brother, I really did, but it wasn't healthy to cling on to the fact that he was gone and probably never coming back. Steve was always overprotective of me and would kill me if I got hung up on it.

"C'mon! Don't go depressed on me, Howard! I need my mad scientist best friend" I chided Howard Stark. While Steve threw himself into trying to get into the army, I went the exact opposite and got into science and such.

"But..." Howard began, being cut off when I smacked him upside the head. I had known him since we were young and outcasts at school.

"Yes, Maria thinks you have a great butt. Steve would not be happy with you if you become depressed and mope. You're going to be a father soon" I reminded him. I had met Maria Carbonell while I had done some traveling after Steve went down. The three of us clicked with one another, being scientists and...unique.

"Well, I do have to run some tests on you and Peggy" he began. I smiled. That was the Howard I knew and loved. Peggy, Steve's almost girlfriend, and I had tried something akin to what Steve had been given and all seemed to be working well now.

"There's my Howard! Let's get to it" I said. Maria walked/waddled by and rolled her eyes at my words. She made a witty remark about regretting me being the godmother.

Years later

Anthony Edward Stark was an extremely smart kid. We all decided that, to keep Tony safe, the public would think that Howard was a neglectful father until Tony was old enough to learn to protect himself. At about two and a half to three years old, Tony understood he had to pretend.

"Daddy! I made a circuit" Tony chimed. Howard had his back turned to us and I knew he was hiding his proud smile. As soon as the door closed, Howard moved something on his desk.

"Howard" Maria asked keeping her face from giving away what was coming. Tony looked at us in confusion before jumping to his dad as he turned around. All the employees knew to keep quiet about the high, happy squeals of laughter coming from the office as dad tickled son mercilessly.

"I guess we'll just have to have someone's favorite meal as a celebration tonight. Or maybe breakfast" he began and watched Tony's face fall "Because I have to get THE best son a present".

"Daddy" Tony giggled giving Howard a hug. A few months later, Howard and I had a fight over something idiotic. It wasn't a major one and I sent him an 'I'm sorry' message before heading out on a SHIELD mission with Peggy.

"We're almost...AAH! Incoming! Shit! It's a Stark Industries missile" I swore. Soon after, the world went dark for me.

After what seemed like minutes, I came to...only to find a familiar looking man in the same room as me.

"Sir, I must inform you that Miss Rogers has woken up and is rather very alert" a disconnected voice informed the other person. I tensed and got ready to fight.

"Who are you? Where am I" I asked as he came closer. I threw myself off the bed I was in and ran for the door. I went to go reach for a handle or something, but it opened by itself and I took the opening. I reached the living room and realized it was Howard's new house.

"Thought I'd bring you somewhere old that you'd recognize a little. Well, new to you, old to me. Nene, it's me, Tony" the guy said. I shook my head. What? Was I stupid? Tony was only three!

"You can't be! Tony's only three" I retorted. He sighed and rubbed his face. He reached for a calendar and newspaper that had been near him. I read the date: June 10, 2011. I gasped and fell onto the nearby couch.

"You've been frozen for thirty-six years" Tony told me. He sat next to me and I hugged him. Then, I felt something metal in his chest and looked down at it. What the...? Howard would've never let this happen...unless. Some things fell in to place.

"How...did they..." I asked tearing up. Tony looked at me sadly. He knew I'd figure it out right away once I had some clues. JARVIS the AI, as I later found out, tried interrupting us, but we ignored him.

"Car crash. I was seventeen and away. Hydra infiltrators messed with the car. He blamed himself, you know. Mom and I knocked it outta him pretty fast" he informed. I clung to him as I cried. My best friend was dead.

"What happened to Peggy? She was with me" I asked. For the first time since we started talking, he smiled. She had been frozen along with me and was still unconscious after being thawed out by special heaters.

"Seeing as you are an honorary Stark, but a Stark none the less, you must be caught up to date with technology. JARVIS will alert me if Aunt Peggy wakes up" Tony announced.