"HULK SMASH!" came the roar. Bella tore her eyes away from her one time mother and looked at the Hulk. He seemed furious. What had her mother said to get Bruce so angry? Steve pulled her back, away from the angry green superhero, just as Tony rushed forward.

"Hey big guy, what's up?" Tony asked with a smile, calm as if Hulk had been on the guest list. The screams of the guests died down, and everyone was on the far side of the room, as far away from Hulk as possible.

"WOMAN SAY BAD THINGS ABOUT BELLA! HULK PROTECT BELLA!" Hulk said angrily. Bella saw an angry look in Tony's eye now, putting two and two together, like Bella had. It must have been one hell of a nasty thing Renee said, to make Bruce loose control like that.

"Well Buddy," Tony said, still calm and collected. "I'm sure Bella's ok now, so why don't we just go get you home then, ok?" Hulk hesitated, and Bella walked forward, Steve allowing her to break free of his grasp, because there was no way she would have otherwise.

"Hey Buddy." Bella said once she reached them, stopping at Tony's side.

"Woman say bad things about Bella, Hulk protect Bella from bad things." Hulk told her. Bella smiled in what she hoped was a soothing manner.

"Yeah, I know big guy, but it's ok, I don't mind" she told him. Hulk frowned, but didn't make for the crowd on the other side of the room, where the remaining Avengers, and The Fantastic Four were at the ready, just in case.

"Ok?" Hulk asked her dubiously, and Bella nodded.

"Yeah, it's fine. So why don't we just go home, huh?" Tony nodded enthusiastically.

"Yeah, let's blow this joint!" Hulk laughed, practically shaking the room. Everything was fine.

Bella scanned the room urgently, looking for Renee.

She was nowhere to be found.

Ok, maybe not so fine after all.


The Avengers were gathered back in Stark Tower, none of them even taking the time to change into more suitable clothing. Bruce was wrapped in a blanket, explaining what had happened to the ones who hadn't seen, like Bella had.

"It's kind of ridiculous actually." Bruce said, embarrassed. "That blonde reporter was spreading some nasty rumors about Bella, and it set me off." Bella smiled at Bruce, and walked over to where he sat, and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you." She whispered. Bruce froze for a moment, before wrapping his arms around her in a hug.

"N..not a problem Bella." He said, still stuttering in surprise. Bella then turned to the group, doubtful, but determined.

"That wasn't a reporter." She told them. The entire group looked at her wearily.

"Who was it that was spreading rumors about you then, Sister Bella?" Bella looked at her feet, took a deep breath, and rushed the next words out.

"ItwasRenee." She took another deep breath. "My mother."


Déjà vu. That's what Bella's feeling now. This had happened before, and the result was the Epic Cullen Beatdown, as Clint and Tony had taken to calling it.

Silence.

Everyone was staring at her; Nat and Pepper once again in full out mother bear mode, everyone looking angry and protective. But this time they actually knew her. Intimately. She was family to them, and the woman who had caused her so much pain was within their grasp. They wouldn't stand for it.

But this was different, she was a different person, and this was a different problem. The same solution couldn't apply. Because, as much as she hated, and was afraid of Renee, this was the woman that gave birth to her, had raised her, albeit poorly. And by the looks on her family's faces, they were ready to kill. Bella knew what was about to come, as sure as she had gotten a vision like Alice. Sure enough, the yelling and ranting began presently.

"I can't believe it! That little bitch dared to come here!"

"That menace needs to go!"

"I say it's time for another beatdown!"

Tony, Clint, Thor and Nat were screaming, no allies there. Bruce was struggling to remain in control of himself, best leave him be. But Steve, Steve was quiet. He was furious, she could tell, but remained calm, and completely in control of himself. She made her way over to her best friend, and took his hand. He looked down at her, his blue eyes hard, angry, but softening a little once he locked eyes with her. He seemed to understand her pleading look at once.

"Please." She whispered to him, vulnerable and afraid for the first time since Charlie's death. He pulled her into his arms, reassuring her quietly, a hand stroking her hair. An overwhelming feeling of safety ran through her, and electricity prickled down her spine. She didn't know at the time what on earth had possessed her to do it, but she pressed her lips onto his cheek, clutching at him tightly, like he was her lifeline in the ocean, and she was drowning.

"I'll take care of it Bella." He told her, setting her down on the couch they always shared and wrapping a blanket securely around her. "Don't worry, everything's going to be fine."

And she believed him. He would make things alright for her, she was sure.


(Steve POV)

Steve looked at Bella, who had gone into shock from the events of the evening. She had fallen asleep, exhausted. Not that he blamed her, it was incredible that she had managed to hold on this long. The team, all screaming profanities behind him had probably set her off. Speaking of which, it looked like he had an unruly team to call to order.

"Quiet!" He commanded, cutting through the racket. Everyone immediately silenced. They all spotted Bella sleeping, and had the decency to look sheepish.

"Listen," He said. "This isn't just some vampire that Bella dated, this is her mother you're talking about killing." Their sheepish looks grew. "Now, before you start Tony," Steve gave Tony a firm look. "Yes, Renee was awful to Bella, but she's still her mother. Imagine what it would do to Bella if we did anything to her, especially killed her?" Everyone nodded glumly, accepting their Captain's words.

"Besides." Natasha pointed out in an irritated voice. "We have no idea where she is."

"And no way of finding her." Pepper concluded, also annoyed at that fact.

"So it's decided." Steve said. "We don't do anything to Renee." Everyone nodded.

Tony frowned.

"Bella has a tough time ahead of her." he observed. Everyone looked gravely at the sleeping youngest member of the family.

"And that's why we're going to be there for her." Bruce says. "As much as we possibly can." And with that, the meeting adjourned.

Steve looked down at Bella again, considered leaving her on the couch for the night, but decided that she would be better of in the comfort of her own bed. He easily lifted her form, not the delicate toothpick she was when they first met, but still incredibly slight to him, and brought her up to her room, just a floor beneath Tony's. The floor that had been off limits to the Avengers the entire time they had been living in Stark Tower, but it had never been known why.

They all had been shocked when Tony came in one day, saying that his goddaughter was coming to live with them, and all but Natasha had been even more shocked to find out that this had been the floor specifically reserved for Bella.

Bella was Tony's world; he had learned that fact very quickly. She was his weak spot, the only person he cared about more than Pepper.

He reached Bella's room then, and gently laid her down on her bed, pulling the blankets up around her. He looked at her for a moment, remembering the feeling of her lips on his cheek, and the burning sensation it had caused. He softly pressed his own lips to Bella's forehead.

Bella had difficult times ahead of her, but he would stand at her side and help her through it. They all would. She was family, and she was his… friend.

He wasn't sure why bitterness filled his heart at that, or the image of Bella dancing with so many men burned behind his eyes. But he put that aside. Bella needed him, and that was the most important thing.

When Bella woke, the room was brighter than it should be. She yawned and glanced at the clock, and sprang out of bed like a fire had been lit under her. 9:00? She had missed half of her training with Natasha! Why hadn't anyone come to get her? The events of last night flashed to the forefront of her mind. They must have left her in bed because they thought she needed it. Warm contentment filled her heart. For once, people were actually taking care of her. The weight of the world had been lifted off of her shoulders, and now they shared the burden equally.

The moment she set foot on the correct floor she knew. Tony had been cooking. He was, quite simply the best cook in the entire world. And he knew her weakness for blueberry flavored things, which was proven in full when he set and enormous stack of blueberry pancakes in front of her.

"There you go Ella, breakfast of champions." He said, placing blueberry syrup on the table as well. There was no one else in the room with them, but Bella had a sneaking suspicion that the ventilation system was currently employed for something other than what it was created for.

"You're the best Tony ever." She told him, in a serious tone. She was still half asleep, absolutely no energy in her whatsoever. Tony sighed at sat down next to her, pulling her into a hug.

"Don't let her get to you Ellie." He said softly, holding his precious goddaughter close. "If you do then she wins before this even starts." Bella nodded noncommittally, but Tony was having none of that. He pushed her away slightly, just enough so that they could make eye contact.

"Isabella." He said firmly, startling Bella into attention. He never used her full name. "I'm not going to stand for this. You are not taking this lying down. You are going to stand tall and take no shit. You're a Stark now Isabella, and you're going to handle this mess like one." Bella felt a smile wash over her face. They spoke in unison.

"A smirk and sharp phrase, with middle finger raised." The family motto.


Everyone was in the living room when Bella and Tony entered, though Bella thought that Clint's nonchalant attitude might be a little forced.

"So, what's on the agenda for today?" Bruce asked as soon as they were all gathered.

"You are all going to do whatever the hell you want, as long as my Tower stays in prime condition. I am taking my goddaughter out for some quality bonding time." Tony said simply. He turned to Bella. "You might want to wear something nice. The press follow us like bloodhounds wherever we go, and I have a surprise for you later."

And so Bella found herself in a knee length white eyelet lace sundress, brown gladiator sandals, and a pair of $300 sunglasses that Pepper and Natasha had insisted on buying.

Tony looked handsome in a black suit, with no tie. And from the looks Pepper was sending his way, she thought so too. He walked over to Bella and handed her two small boxes.

"I realized yesterday that I hadn't spoiled you nearly half enough recently, and felt that, as my duty as your godfather, that was completely unacceptable. So, I fixed that yesterday before the party. He gestured for her to open one of the parcels, the long rectangular one.

Nestled inside was a silver necklace, a cresset moon pendent hanging off of the end. Set just inside the curve was a bright blue stone. And, knowing Tony, it was probably a blue Diamond. Or quite possibly a Dodo egg. Neither was impossible for Tony Stark. He helped her put it on, and opened the other box, small and square.

It ended up being a silver charm bracelet, and Tony had taken the liberty of adding the first few charms himself.

The first was a tiny diamond swan, catching the light and casting small rainbows. The second, much to the amusement of everyone in the room, was a tiny silver Taser, to celebrate her win against Rosalie. And lastly, the Stark Industries logo, a silent reminder of who she was, and where she had come from. All thoughts of protestation left her mind, and she hugged Tony tightly.

As it turned out, the jewelry wasn't the only gift Tony had bought her.

"Tony!" She screamed, torn between being furious and wanting to hug him again.

"What? It was practical, you needed one."

"You have about twenty! Besides, I wouldn't end up using it all that much." Bella said, not letting it go.

"You should have your own, your 18, and you should start using it, you spend all your time training or studying, live a little Ellie!"

"Still, an Audi R8? Any car would have been fine!" Yes, Tony had bought Bella a car. A white Audi R8, as Bella had been quick to notice.

"Starks only have the best." Tony pointed out. Bella shook her head, and gave in.

They went to Coney Island, and spent the rest of the day laughing and talking. Eating candy and playing games. Just as Tony said, the press was following them everywhere, but she couldn't bring herself to mind. She hadn't spent time with Tony like this in years.

He took her out to dinner, to an incredibly fancy restaurant that Bella was sure you needed a three month reservation too to even look at it. And it was there that Bella had her first real run in with the Press.

It was stressful, uncomfortable, but Bella handled it perfectly, a smile in place and her voice smooth. She answered the questions they posed, smiled for the cameras, and it was done.

"That wasn't so bad." She commented at they took their seats.

"That was amazing Ellie!" Tony said, impressed. "You handled that perfectly. I knew that they were going to love you. Just watch, you're very nature will have you as America's Golden Girl before the end of the summer."

And lastly, came Tony's surprise.

"Wait, so you're saying that the car wasn't the surprise?" Bella asked incredulously.

"I'm making up for not spoiling you as much as I should have over the past few years." Tony said, pulling the car into a parking place.

When Bella found out where he had taken her, it took all she had not to jump up and down and squeal like she was a little girl again.

Tony had taken her to see Beauty and the Beast on Broadway.


It was just like when she was little, Tony watching Disney movies with her. She knew that she meant more to him than every one else in the world put together, and maybe that was a bit unhealthy, but she couldn't judge, because she felt the exact same way. She loved Tony more than she had loved her own father, because it was with Tony, and only with Tony, that she had been able to be an actual child, not the little middle aged girl.

She could love Disney, she didn't have to cook for herself, she could spend the day playing tea parties, or princess. If she was honest with herself, Tony and Pepper had raised her. They were the ones that played with her, that she always went to when she was sad or scared. Charlie was a good man, but he lived for his work, he loved Bella, but was always too busy to play with her, whereas Pepper, who could never be seen without her phone, had almost always put the phone down without question when little Bella had come to her.

No one but the three of them ever knew this, but Tony had given Bella a special three way device that could let them talk, anytime. Bella as a child had often used it after a nightmare, calling up Tony or Pepper in the middle of the night, and they were never upset at her.

It was through that very same device that Bella had contacted Tony, afraid for what might happen to her at the hands of Renee.

The end of the show came, and true love won out. Bella and Tony walked hand in hand, before Bella suddenly stopped, in need of what the Vampires had called a 'Human Moment'.

"Be right back." She told Tony, and made her way to the little girl's room. She went about her business, and made to leave. All of a sudden pain blossomed in the back of her head, and she fell to the ground, the world going black.


There was a musty scent filling her nose when she regained consciousness. She stayed still, eyes closed, not wanting her kidnapper to know that she was awake. A sharp blow landed on her ribs.

"I know when you're awake, you ungrateful little wretch." He eyes flew open. Yes, it was Renee, with a cold, manic gleam in her eyes. Hatred surged up for the woman before her, and she lunged. Or tried to, as she suddenly realized that she was tied to a chair. Unfortunately, now the chair was on it's side, cracking Bella's head on the floor. Renee's cruel laughter filled the abandoned warehouse.

"So, my dear daughter." Renee said with an evil smile. "How was England?" another kick to her ribs. She felt something give way, and she knew she at least had a broken rib.

"I was so heartbroken when I found out that you 'came back', and hadn't come to see me." A kick went to her face then, breaking her nose. "You little bitch." A knife was suddenly in Renee's hand. She lashed at Bella, breaking skin, causing her to bleed onto her white dress, onto the floor, making her lie in a pool of her own blood. She cried out in pain.

Hopelessness filled her entire being; she wanted Tony, to save her, to tell her it's ok. Wait, no, it wasn't Tony that she longed for, she wanted Steve. She wanted the security that he provided. She wanted him to put his arms around her, for him to hold her. She remembered the electrical tingles that she felt whenever he touched her now. She knew what the electricity meant, but she had pushed it to the back of her mind, reluctant to feel the things that she was for her best friend. Now that she was once again facing death, she couldn't deny it.

She was in love with Steve. She loved him, and she had to escape.

Bella watched her one time mother, and, just as the knife was about to pierce her again, she wiggled out of the way, just right. Renee had cut through her bindings. The months Natasha had spent training her in combat were paying off. Renee lunged, letting her anger control her. Bella neatly dodged to the side, grabbing the woman's arm, and brought her leg out in a sweeping motion, knocking Renee's legs out from under her.

Renee recovered too quickly, rolling up and attacking again. And so it went on, for what felt like hours. Bella had the advantage, from her long hours of sparring with Natasha, but she was weakening, blood loss taking it's toll. Renee swung at her with the knife, and Bella dodged again and grabbed her mother's arm, this time bringing her fist into her arm, and the feeling of something giving way. Renee screamed in pain, dropping the knife. But she still kept coming, clawing at Bella's face, leaving four bloody trails across her face. Without thinking Bella grabbed the nearest object, the knife and tried to defend herself with it. They grappled for another few minutes. Bella couldn't last much longer. Without thinking she swung her arm up, trying to push Renee off. The knife met flesh, soft and yielding. She felt her mother's blood splatter onto her face, mingling with her own. She rolled her mother off of her, gasping. She started struggling for the door, wincing. She fell to the ground, black spots dancing across her vision. There was suddenly an explosion above her, and in the doorway several yards in front of her. The last thing she saw before the darkness closed around her once again, was the horrified face of Steve Rogers, rushing forward.

"Bella!" He shouted, his voice fearful. And black enclosed her vision.