Sup. It's only been two years since I've updated. Is this the best chapter? No. But it is the one that needed to be written since I've had the plans for it this long. Marvel is a tricky thing when you want to walk the lines of the remaining somewhat inline with the MCU. But you know what? Fuck that. It's my AU now, bitch. I'll still borrow heavily but I really would like to just finish this and get to the next arc. This story is primarily based on the healing of both Tony and Stella from their past traumas. It also shows a bit of Steve's development as a father and what it does for him. And if I have to Thanos snap this bitch to fit what I want to do as a writer, then so be it. It should help with the anxiety I feel with this fic and Salvation anyways. Because Marvel fans are scary. Scary enough that it literally paralyzes me when I want to write sometimes. I won't promise another update soon. But I will try. Because sometimes it is finally quiet around here and I can actually muster the courage to finish my outline and let the story come out of my head. Sorry for the wait.

Growing Up

Stella sat on the floor of the bathroom, not caring for once that the beat-up vinyl was uncomfortable. It was likely also disgusting due to not being clean since she had left, but she couldn't muster the strength to care. Her head was throbbing, a stress headache trying to make it's way to a full blown migraine. The acrid taste of vomit still remained on her tongue from earlier and was made worse as she grew more thirsty. Still, she couldn't be bothered. She knew she needed to pick herself up, needed to drink some water and calm down. Stella didn't want to, though. She wanted to wallow in self-pity and cry. Didn't she deserve that? Life had been plenty cruel to her in the past and she wasn't allowed to shed a tear. God, or whatever controls the universe, owed her that much.

What was she going to do if she was pregnant? She couldn't afford a child. Babies cost thousands just by being born and she had no income. She hadn't worked since she had become an Avenger, instead depending on Tony to meet her basic needs. She supposed she was at fault for that.

A thought crossed her mind. She could… She forced herself to call it by what it was. An abortion. It was a medical procedure, nothing more. But that was as far as she could allow it to go. She couldn't imagine going into the clinic, signing and allowing them to do what they needed to do to rectify the situation. For her, that wasn't an option. She didn't have the resolve for it.

But could she really raise a child on her own? She thought about going back for a moment but it burned her to the core. She could imagine how it would be. She would walk in, having to admit how foolish she had been to run and leave Bruce at the store. Having to look her father in the eye and tell him she was pregnant. Seeing the disappointment and worry creep on his face. Facing Tony with Pepper and ruining their reunion with the news. She would become an obligation to them, someone they had to check on and deal with because of a mistake.

She couldn't do it. Her pride would not allow her to ever be called a mistake again. She was Jennifer Allison Greene's daughter. She came from the strongest woman she had ever known, a woman who raised her own daughter on her own. Stella couldn't remember a time when her mother had complained or let Stella feel like a burden to her. Her mother worked hard, but Stella was always taken care of, and more importantly, Stella always felt loved. If her mother could do it then she could as well. It would be difficult but so was raising a child with a partner. Slowly, Stella wiped her face and rose to her feet. Her test was still waiting on the sink and she figured that she spent enough time feeling pathetic. She was a grown woman- it was time to start acting like one. And that meant finding out how she was going to support this hypothetical baby if the test was positive.

Just as she reached for the test, Stella heard a creak come from the floor. Her heart began to pound as she strained her ears to listen. Her fingers wrapped around the test as she began to move as silently as she could for the closet. It would be just her luck that someone would show up in this shitty apartment. It could be another trespasser like her, she reasoned, or it could be a cop that would have no problem arresting her. Oh, wouldn't that be perfect? The daughter of the beloved Captain America pregnant and in jail for breaking-and-entering. She was batting one-thousand now. The click of the closet door was quiet enough but to her anxious ears it sounded like thunder. Footsteps that had been previously been echoing softly in the main room stopped suddenly and Stella knew that the other entity had heard that quiet click. She swore silently as she remained as still as possible. What would she do if they found her? She couldn't possibly knock out a cop. That would be wrong- but it would be better for her. Sharp teeth worried her bottom lip as she worked to control her breathing, listening and feeling the footsteps nearing her. The floor creaked as the person stopped outside her closet and her hands began to shake. She almost began to pray when the door opened, dim light filtering into the nearly pitch-black closet.

Steve had wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into him before she even had a chance to comprehend what was going on. Slowly, as he felt her cover her face to hide her tears from him, Steve rocked her in his arms. "It's going to be okay, Stella. I promise, it is going to be okay. Just take your time." He kissed the top of her head as he waited for her to calm down, his face softening and worry beginning to bubble up. He had been terrified for her when she was missing. Now, seeing her like this, he was worried she would grow sick or if she was causing herself more pain. He rubbed her back. "Stella, listen to me. No matter what, I will always be there for you. I lost out on the first twenty years of your life. I'm not missing out on another day. If you ever have to run, you run to me, okay?"

"Even if I messed up really bad?" Stella croaked, her face still hidden. She felt him stiffen as she continued, "Even if it isn't just me anymore?"

"Stella-"

"Because there's a good possibility it is. And even more, I've been lying to everyone." Doing the right thing for her child meant owning up to everything. She also owed it to Steve. He didn't have to be her father. He sure as Hell didn't owe it to her and yet he tracked her down and promised to be there for her. She needed to tell him the truth. "I was never Tony's girlfriend. Not really, anyway. I was only supposed to be there to make Tony get over Pepper and for Pepper to get jealous. Depends on which one of them you were asking. But I guess I forgot that somewhere along the line." She looked up at him then. "Would you still want me to run to you?"

Steve felt his blood boil. He had never been a fan of what had been happening between the two, but to learn that Stark had used her? And he had taken advantage of her? Stella was young, naive. Stark should have known that. But like a predator to prey, Stark had used it to his advantage and struck, taking what he wanted. "I'm going to kill him." He then looked to Stella. "No matter what, you come to me, Kiddo. I'll fight the world for you. You're my daughter and I will always love you." He then added. "You know for certain? That you're pregnant?"

Stella shook her head, "No, I took the test but I guess you came in and I just stuffed it in my pocket." She pulled it out. "I'm still scared to look." She looked at him as he nodded.

"I'll do it." Steve watched as she turned the result panel to him. He looked at the little symbol before he looked up at her. "It's negative, Stella." He watched as mixed emotions flashed across her face.

Negative. Stella knew she should be relieved. Her first child wouldn't be born in the midst of drama, wouldn't be regarded as an accident. And yet, for a brief moment, the idea of a little baby in her arms filled her with such love that when it was ripped away she felt a dark hole in her chest. She didn't even have to say anything to him. She could tell Steve knew what she felt then. Silence remained as Steve walked her out, staying close but giving her enough space. She was hardly surprised when she saw Natasha standing by a car. Of course she would be there. She was close to Steve and if Steve was upset then Natasha was ready to make someone pay. The door was opened and Nat spoke in her soft, raspy voice, "Mind your head, Stella. And the seats are heated so that should feel nice." Stella felt her lips quirk in a small smile before she slid in.

"Sir, I would like to remind you that is still highly reactive-" JARVIS' voice chimed in his ear.

"Can it," Tony muttered, going to land. He watched as the door shut and he landed by Natasha who blocked him from the door. "Romanov, can you move aside. I need to talk to her."

"Actually, you've done enough, Stark. Let her go." Natasha looked at him before she moved to open the driver's door. "Go back to your other playthings." With that, Natasha slipped in and started the car, taking no time in pulling away. She glanced back in the rearview at the sullen woman and the equally agitated man. "I could still bust his kneecaps."

Tony felt his heart sink as he watched the car go. He opened his helmet and strained his eyes to see if she even looked back at him. But there was no movement and soon the car was gone. Every time a woman left in a car, his life hit rock bottom. His mother left and never came back. His last words to her were calloused, his constant need to validate himself and put his father down the way he felt Howard did to him. He would never get the chance to make that right, not really. Then when Pepper left, Tony thought he was being punished again, that if he had the chance to do it over he could make things right. Now Stella was in the back seat of that car, leaving him behind. And why not? He fucked things up royally with her. He had been so pissed at her for wanting him to get back with Pepper, but did he ever tell her how he really felt? He expected so much out of her, for her to practically read his mind, but he had not been there for her in return. But she had still cared for him despite it all.

Tony was done being the one that always lost. He would give his entire fortune and everything else he could to make things right with her. Money couldn't buy happiness but maybe hard work would save this thing between them. He had plenty of it cut out ahead of him but the thought made him smile. He could do it. He could win Stella back. And when he did, he would do everything in his power to make sure she knew where his priorities lie. He wanted her to know that she wasn't a kid to him. He could see the woman beneath the youthful exterior, see the old soul that tried to heal others despite its own trauma. He could see the woman who wanted to give the world to those who always felt like they weren't meant for it. The woman who wanted to give her children the life she had always wanted for herself. And he wanted that, too. He wanted that and so much more. He would win her back and he would marry her.