Chapter One:

Losing Everything

December 14th, 1991 was a normal day for Alexandria Stark, the excited 8 year old sat in a rented Range Rover, as they drove down a dirt road in the outskirts Buffalo, New York.

"Mommy how much longer until we are at Aunt Peggy?" Alexandria asked excitedly, Maria Stark smiled at her daughter's eagerness.

"it's only a few more minutes away, Lexie." Maria told the little girl who grinned and contiuted to fidget in her seat. They finally made it to Peggy Carters Home in the states, the car barely stopped when the young blonde flew out of the car and raced to the front door, where Peggy and her adopted daughter Bev stood grinning.

"AUNT PEGGY!" Alexandria shouted jumping into the seventy two year old's arms, Bev reached out to steady her mother as she swayed slightly.

"I'm alright, Bev." Peggy told her daughter, after the hug Peggy sat her on the ground and the Alexandria Jumped into Bev's arms with a loud 'Aunt Bevy'.

"I'm afraid Tony gave her some candy this morning." Maria said as she reached her friend with Alexandria's Backpack. Peggy took it from her friend and smiled. "Thank you so much for letting her stay, I would have had Tony watch her, but things between Howard and Tony have been strained and I want him to have fun while we're gone."

Peggy nodded knowing that Howard was being too hard on his genius son, She glanced at Alexandria who was telling Bev a story.

"Maria," Peggy beamed, "You know it is never a problem as long as I get to see my girl."

Maria smiled softly and turned to Alexandria, Tears filled the eight year old's eyes, in the pit of her stomach she had a bad feeling.

"Mommy has to go now, Lexie." she smiled softly, "You be good for Aunt Peggy and Bevy" Alexandria pulled her mother into a hug and nodded, Maria smiled and hugged her back.

"You and Daddy are coming back right?" Alexandria whispered; Maria laughed and told her daughter that she would be back before Christmas. That made Alexandria grin, "I love you, Tell Daddy I love him too."

Her mother nodded and walked to the car, Alexandria smiled and turned to face Peggy.

"Where's Maggie?" she asked, The two Carter women laughed and opened the front door letting the girl inside, Alexandria squealed when she saw her cousin and ran to her.

The young girls life changed completely, two nights later, Peggy was deep into a story about Captain America, She was telling Alexandria about her last moments between her Steve. Alexandria listened intently, she knew the story by heart as well as her favorite Captain America story about how he stormed the HYDRA base, by himself, to save his best friend, Bucky.

"And then the plane fell into the ice and that was the last anyone heard from Captain America." Peggy whispered tears in her eyes. Alexandria got up out of bed and hugged Peggy.

"Don't worry Aunt Peggy, I'll find him and you'll get that dance." She whispered, Peggy smiled at the girl's impossible dream, even if they found Steve he would have been frozen for too long. She kissed Alexandria's head and pulled the covers up to her chin. When she left the room she found Beverly on the phone, Her face pale and tears streaming down her face.

"Bevy what is it?" Peggy asked; Bevy shook her head not be able to answer, she handed her the phone and rushed off. "Hello?"

"Hey Aunt Peg." the void of emotion in Tony's voice made Peggy scared for him,

"What's going on Tony? Are you okay?" She asked quickly, Tony took a deep breath before answering his surrogate Aunt.\

"Mom and Dad were in a car crash today, Aunt Peg they're gone." Tony told her, Peggy Gasped and looked towards the room where Alexandria slept.

"I'm so sorry Tony, Do you want me to get Lexie?" Peggy asked; Tony sighed again knowing that telling his sister wouldn't be pretty.

"Is she sleeping, already?" Tony asked; Peggy informed him that she had just put her down. "No Peggy I'll be by tomorrow, there's something I need to ask you though."

"Anything Tony." Peggy told her nephew, Tony let out a shaky sob.

"Could you take Alexandria in? You're the only one who's mature enough to raise her right, I'm a mess." Tony told her, Peggy smiled. "I just think mom and Pop would want you to raise her."

"It would be my honor Tony, and you are always welcomed here."

"Thanks Aunt Peggy. Don't tell her yet, let her have one more night." Tony said before saying goodbye. Peggy hung up and walked over to Alexandria's room and watched the young girl sleep. Beverly walked up to her and rested her hand on her mother shoulder. Peggy looked at her and Bev pulled her into a hug as Peggy began to cry.

The Next afternoon Alexandria sat at Peggy's kitchen table eating her lunch and talking with Maggie on their plans for the day. The young girl could tell something was wrong; Aunt Peggy and Aunt Bevy looked sad but wouldn't tell her why. The doorbell rang, Bevy stood, a sad look on her face, left the room to answer the door only to return with Tony.

"BIG BROTHER!" Alexandra yelled causing the hung over 21 year old to flinch at the noise before he picked her up and for a second, having his innocent younger sister in his arms made him momentarily forget the terrible new he had brought with him. "what are you doing here? Where is mommy and Daddy?"

"There's something I need to tell you, but you have to promise you'll be strong for me, okay?" he began, His younger sister nodded and grinned, Tony sighed before sitting her down on the couch."Mom and dad went somewhere Lexie."

Alexandria rolled her eyes and frowned at her brother.

"I know Big Brother, that's why mommy dropped me off here. Sheesh, you are supposed to be the smar-" she stared before Tony cut her off.

"Alright Sassy pants, new promise, No interrupting." Alexandria rolled her eyes again before nodding. "Mom and dad went somewhere and they aren't coming back."

Alexandria's eyes widened, confused on why her mother and father were not returning.

"where did they go?" she whispered, "why did they leave?"

Tony felt tears fill his eyes as he watched his sister hug her knees, he pulled her into a hug,

"they went to heaven bug." he replied; Alexandria froze, looking up at her big brother

"Like my really mommy?" her voice was so soft Tony barely heard her question, he nodded and told her the he was sorry. Suddenly a loud scream came form her small form as she shoved Tony away and ran outside and into the Tree house in the backyard. Tony went to follow but Peggy put her hand on his shoulder and told him to wait for her to calm down.

Ten Minutes later, Tony, Manned with some juice and some strawberries, walked to the tree house. He looked up at the tree house that his father had build for her, and couldn't help but feel jealous at how much his father showed her love. He put the bowl and cup in the pulley system and began to climb the ladder to his sister. He found her sitting in a bean bag chair looking at a picture.

"Am I bad?" she asked as he sat down on the second bean bag and began pulling up the basket. He turned to her, shocked. He asked her what she meant and she finally looked up tears in her eyes. "Ms. Cooper says that bad things happen to bad people."

"What does that have to do with you sweetheart." Tony asked still not understanding what she meant.

"Carl and I were playing and he said something about you, and I was angry at him, I wanted him to fall off the slide and it happened, He said I pushed him but I didn't touch him Tony."

Tony mentally put the fact that she had made a boy fall from the side without touching him to the side, that wasn't the issue right then. He felt his heart break, he pulled her on this lap and wrapped his arms around her,

"It isn't your fault that mom and dad died, Sometimes things just happen. Look at me, Alexandria." she looked up at him Her blue eyes connecting with his brown. "It will never be your fault. You were here, not there, so it will never be your fault."

She nodded before Tony Finished pulling up the Strawberries and juice causing the young girl to smile, Tony returned the smile as she grabbed a strawberry.

"I love you big brother." she said after taking a bite, Tony grinned and looked down at his sister.

"I love you too, Kid."

I'm rewriting Moments Away, i'm up to chapter 4 and i will be posting them momentarily.