Chapter 2: Crescendo Chapters: Brooklyn Baby


"Mom? I've got a question." More like, a million questions. Sarah sat up at the kitchen counter. It doubled up as a bar table. Sarah took a moment to look at her mother. Her black hair was long and she wore a gentle teal blouse. Whitney wore white pants and some gold jewelry. Her mother was always so "put together" and elegant. Stunning was the proper word for her mother.

Sarah went back and forth with the way she wanted to look. Most of the time she gave it zero thought and she just wore clothing. Other days she actually tried. She had her days when she would go out and steal her mother's clothes or perfume. She tried to look "elegant" too. It honestly was too much work for her.

"What is it Sarah?" Whitney poured herself some juice and she set a glass of it down for Sarah. Oh right, her question. Sarah smiled at her mother and she looked at the oven.

"Last summer, when we visited Grandpa Luchino, remember last summer?" She had a very serious question to ask. A comment was said at that particular time and Sarah finally started to put things together.

Thor's words wouldn't leave her mind.

"I remember." Whitney adjusted one of her bracelets and she waited. Sarah thought it through for a bit longer and she brought her body closer to the bar table. She swirled the juice around in her glass.

"Grandpa Luchino made a comment to you. He said, "you should have married the one I chose" and I was wondering, who is he talking about?" She even mimicked her grandfather's voice. Whitney felt her heart stop for a moment. She swallowed her juice and she noticed that the air-conditioned apartment felt a bit, hotter.

"I met someone a long time ago. My father wanted me to marry him. He still does actually. He reminds me every chance he gets." Whitney hated her father for doing it but, that's life.

Sarah stared at the glass of juice. She looked up at her mother and pressed the question further.

"But, who is the person? Did you want to marry him?" She wanted to point out an observation that started to hold weight on her young heart.

She could tell that there was no real warmth between her parents. She didn't see their connection. It felt... forced?

Sarah didn't even want to think about it. She observed them when they were both in the same room at times. She tried to figure out what happened between them. They had very separate lives but, they both had one person in common.

Tony Stark.

He always seemed to pop up in her mind. Her mother thought about the question. Whitney's mind swarmed with fun memories of, someone...and she had to drink more of that damn juice.

"Sarah, I don't want to marry anyone. That is why I'm not married to Roger and why I did not marry my father's choice. I thought about being married all the time when I was younger. I had this romantic image of marriage in my mind. Not anymore."

Whitney changed more than she expected. Three people in her life made that happen. One was Sarah. Would she give the other two people any credit? Nope.

"WHO IS HE?" Sarah wanted to knowwwwwwww gahhhh baustcjwndusiwh?!/-! She was about to burst at the seams. Whitney laughed. Sarah sounded humorous with her tone but she was very serious. She started to have suspicions and she was going insane. She began to think that her mother was, unfaithful? Was that why her parents weren't together?

If she was unfaithful with someone that resembled Tony Stark, then that would explain how her father would be able to be with Tony. Right?

She developed different theories.

BECAUSE, if she was unfaithful WITH Tony then how would her father be able to be WITH Tony?

Ohhhhh the struggle was real. Sarah heard her mother sigh and she put that glass in the sink.

"He's someone that was handpicked for me by my father. I actually hated him. I was stubborn and I didn't want him near me. Until I met him in person. My opinion changed quite a bit after that." Whitney admitted her thought and she wished that she could spike the juice. Meh, maybe later.

"Did you love him?" Sarah decided to be nosy. SHE NEEDED TA FRIGGEN KNOW, OK?

"Yes." Whitney answered honestly and Sarah almost fell out of her chair. Holy hell she couldn't believe what she heard. She immediately pulled her cellphone out of her pocket. She texted Sam because she needed to scream her head off.

He let her do that alllll the time so she wanted to know what he was doing. She looked at her mother and then she flipped her phone shut.

"Is the person still alive?"

"Yes."

"Do you still love him?" She knew that was probably a tough question. Sarah watched her mother's reaction. Whitney pulled a little inward when she planned her response ..

She thought about the person she met in the desert many many moons ago.

"I do. Yes." Whitney looked at her daughter. She knew that it was time to tell her everything. Unfortunately, she had to wait for Tony and Steve to get their asses in gear. (like always) She saw how puzzled and confused Sarah seemed. Whitney looked at that blonde hair.

They both heard a knock at the door. Uhh.. they both turned toward it and Sarah headed over. She opened the door and she smiled at Tony. She looked at a box of pizza that he had in his hand.

"I thought a celebratory pizza was in order?" The box was hot. Fresh out of the oven and delivered. Tony's grin was miles wide. Sarah led him in and Whitney tried not to stare.

"I wish I had a delivery boy outfit or something. That might happen in the future. You've been warned."

Speak of the devil. Whitney turned away and she got rid of that juice. Tony was bored and lonely. He had no friggen idea when Steve was supposed to show up, he concluded his project for the day, and he knew that Sarah was around. He decided to bother the girls and bring them food.

It was a bit quiet in the apartment. Tony hugged on the squish machine with his free hand and then he fully entered the space. It was waaaaaayyyyy too quiet. He looked over at Whitney. Sarah was texting up a storm. Tony's eyebrows almost connected together because Whitney wouldn't even look at him anddd. What the eff?

"I might be back later. Not sure. Love you all, gotta run." Sarah BOOKED IT OUT OF HER OWN APARTMENT. She had her keys in her jacket and she grabbed it on her way out. The door closed and Tony's jaw locked itself to the floor.

UHMmm..

...

... WHAT?! He turned his focus to Whitney. She stared at the door and nothing else.

Sam agreed to meet Sarah for food. She didn't want to talk to her mom any longer. The news that she received put her in a mood. She felt bad about dipping out on Tony's company and the pizza, but...

Sarah was frustrated. She headed out and Sam agreed to meet her half way.

Back at the apartment, Tony still stood in shock. He heard Whitney sigh and he headed in her direction. She refused to look at him.

"What the hell was that?" Tony was officially in the kitchen. Whitney and Tony were in the same room. Gasp-ville.

"I answered a question. Sarah overheard a comment to me from my father and she has questions."

"What was the question?" Tony glanced around the kitchen. It was such an interesting day for him. His tech got scorched, he assumed a fire-breathing dragon on Asgard did it, he was threatened by Thor, and Sarah was full of questions.

Whitney adjusted her gold bracelet. It always slipped to a place on her arm that annoyed her.

"She wanted to know who my father wanted me to marry. She overheard one of his many comments about his favorite person.." Whitney still wouldn't look at him. Tony found it easy to look at Whitney. Friggen Luchino and all his insanity. Tony exhaled and he tried to imagine the scene. Poor Sarah. He figured she was all sorts of confused. That was NOT what Tony wanted.

"What did you tell her?"

"I told her that he was just someone I met. She asked me if I loved him. My own daughter asked me if I was still in love with him. Can you believe that?" Whitney had to laugh a little. It was humorous.

Tony stared at Whitney. His amazingly interesting day continued. She finally turned her head and she looked at him. She looked at the person that she was still in love with. That kitchen got a bit warmer as they both stood silent. Whitney studied his face.

Tony finally matured. It took him an eternity but he lost that doe eyed baby face that he used to have. Tony was very handsome, fierce, playful, and she hated it. He stepped closer to Whitney. She took in a sharp breath because he was also unpredictable. He tossed that pizza box right on the counter top beside her and he continued to stare. Whitney stared right back at him.

"I told her yes. You knocked on the door and then she left. Just like that." Whitney finished her response and she stared at the brunette mute. That wasn't Tony's style. She smirked and looked at the box of pizza. Whitney received a text message. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and she checked it out. Her people gave her some information.

"Sarah is at Momma Louisa's with Sam. I answered her questions but I don't know how that all translated in her mind. I don't know what my daughter is thinking and I don't like it. She needs to be told everything. Tonight. If she even returns. OH and like always, we have to wait for Steve."

She had to point that out. Whitney got rid of that phone. She crossed her arms and pressed her weight against the counter. She wanted to lean more toward Tony but she resisted. It was still torture. Always a torture. She felt the warmth from the pizza on her arm.

She also felt the warmth from Tony as he stood in front of her. He was still silent. Tony opened the pizza box and he fished out a slice. He took a bite out of the pizza and he continued to stare at Whitney.

She rolled her eyes and tried not to react to him.

"Don't touch that pizza. It's for Sarah." He used the pizza slice to point at the box. Whitney laughed at his stupid face and she turned awayyy. Tony smiled at that beautiful woman and he took another bite. He headed for the door. Tony needed to think a bunch of thoughts.

Out the door he went. He walked to the elevator, stepped inside the elevator, waited, walked out the door, ventured down the hall, traveled through the door, turned to the left, went through his old room, climbed out the window, went up the stairs, then sat down on the roof. Tony made it to his destination just as he finished his slice of pizza.

He thought about what Whitney said to him and he tried to focus on shit. What a mess. Tony did have a smile regardless of the gigantic mess they all were in. He scanned the rooftops of Brooklyn and he got lost in thought.

At Momma Louisa's deli, Sarah and Sam got a table. He congratulated her on getting into MIT and filled her in on his latest mission with her father.

"Tomorrow I'm heading back out with Bucky Barnes. His approach to missions is way different compared to Steve's... he's more of a survivalist? I guess?" Sam had to laugh because he knew how it was going to be for the entire mission.

Sarah was curious. She sipped her soda through a straw and she smiled at Sam.

"Uncle Bucky is a survivalist? What does that even mean?"

"It means I'm literally going to be in a dirt hole for days. Eating berries and roots in the trenches. I'm dreading it but very excited at the same time. It's crazy. We'll be in trees for.." He couldn't even finish because all of it was insane. Bucky Barnes was like Rambo but cooler.

Sarah tried to imagine the scene. It made her laugh and she just focused on her soda. She looked at all the bubbles from the carbonation. He could tell that her mind was swamped.

"Ayo Sambino." A voice called for Sam and they both looked up. Their food was ready and Sam went to get it. The people that worked at Momma Louisa's were so polite and kind. Sam loved the place.

They both had no idea that they all worked for Whitney. Very distant cousins. Everyone in that deli would give up their lives for the young woman at the table. Sam brought over the food and he sat back down.

Sarah gave him another smile and she began to unpack the food. It was wrapped so nicely. She grabbed the knife and started to cut the sandwich in quarters.

"I have something for you. Don't freak out it's just something that I've had with me for a while. I saw it the other day and I thought that you should have it." Sam reached into his jacket pocket and he set a simple silver necklace on the table.

Sarah looked at the gift. She set down the utensil and she picked it up. It had a silver sunflower and a small pressed piece of silver with the letter "D" engraved on it. Sarah felt very emotional when she stared at the entire gift.

She knew that the "D" was for Darlene Wilson. Sam had just lost his mother a few years ago. Her father explained the entire situation to her so she knew that Sam was in a rough place. He lost his father and his mother to violence. Right out there on the streets.

Sarah wanted to cry about the whole thing. She looked at Sam and smiled instead. No crying.

"Thank you. I love it more than you even know." She gave a simple response and she pulled her hair up. She locked up that blonde hair in a twist and then she put on the sunflower necklace. Her favorite thing on the face of the earth was placed around her neck and then she released her hair from it's hold.

Sam just smiled back and he started to eat. He didn't really want to discuss the gift because it was too much for him.

His father gave that necklace to his mother. He had to get the thoughts out of his head so he looked at Sarah.

"So what's up? You're texts were just streams of frustration symbols." Most of it didn't make sense to Sam. He gathered that she was angry about something. Sarah sighed and she sipped down some soda.

"Do I look like my father? Seriously, look me over and tell me what you think."

"UHHh.. when I'm looking at you I only see you. Don't ask me to look at you and try to see your father or something. Come onnn." Sam had to laugh. HELL NO. He refused to even go there. Whaaaatt ?! Sarah laughed and she thought about throwing something at him.

"I'm not seeing any Steve Rogers at any time. Hell no. I see Sarah Rogers only. Goodbye." He was not the one to bring that up to. Nope. Sam shut it down. Sarah crossed her arms and huffed out her response. She just exhaled. That's all..

"I'm starting to detect some shenanigans and I don't like it. I keep hearing these comments and it's driving me nuts. I wanna scream. Seriously. Just look at me and tell me that I look like my dad."

"Bye." Sam pretended like he was about to leave. He stood up and grabbed the jacket and everything. Nooooo Sarah pulled him back over to the table. She friggen laughed and Sam sat back down. He decided to give his opinion on the other stuff she said.

"Don't snoop around in your parent's past and drive yourself insane. That is their past and it's done. You're here now and your father is your father. Even.. if he isn't? It doesn't matter. Steve Rogers is your dad."

He really meant that. It was end of the story for Sam Wilson. He drank his soda and he started to eat his sandwich. Sarah just stared at him for a moment.

What a dork.

She went back to her food too and she started to chow down. She didn't plan to hang out with Sam for much longer. She had something else in mind for the evening. Sarah kicked her feet a little as she ate and their discussion began to change to MIT.

Steve Rogers opened the door to his apartment. It was unlocked and all the lights were on.

Steve stepped in and he set down his keys. He immediately looked around and he started to peel out of all his excess work stuff. He heard nothing to his right and he heard nothing to his left.

Steve closed the apartment door and then he heard a clunk or two above his head. Steve's eyes wandered upward. He sighed and headed to his left. Steve climbed out the window of Tony's old bedroom and he headed to Tony's thinking spot.

Up he went. Tony saw that blonde hair pop up and his whole body burst into flames. Ma gawdddd his hubbie arrived. Tony whistled at him for awhile. Cat-called that hottie. It made Steve laugh immediately.

He made it to the roof and he took his seat beside Tony.

"Hey Tony."

"Ello Steve."

"How are you?" Steve knew something was up. Something was very up. He gave Tony a kiss and just prepared himself for it.

"I'm good. It's time to tell Sarah good. Which is good? I think.." he looked at Steve. Tony was afraid that Sarah would be upset. That's what always held him back because he never wanted to upset his daughter.

He thought that HE would upset her. Because he wasn't..him. Tony looked at the "him" that sat at his side.

"When she told me that she got into MIT I knew that we were doomed. Soooo very doomed." They both had to laugh and Steve's logic. That laughter built up. It built up hard and they both just laughed at all their misery.

Christ.


Chapter End:

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