Chapter Ten:

Return of Toni Stark

Dinner went pretty well. Everyone was mostly silent, though they occasionally chatted with one another. Toni for the most part though just watched and listened, trying to understand them even more. She no longer had any doubts she was a member of the team and she didn't doubt they were her friends, though the thought was a bit alien to her still she was happy for it nonetheless.

"Toni, if you would, I could use you in the labs", Bruce told her, "I would like to run a few test on the reactor and see if we can't locate the stone. Also, some blood work would be nice to see if we can't somehow change you back or at least, try to find a way to regain your memories if nothing else."

"Of course Bruce", she replied smiling as the two headed for the elevator.

"Toni", called Steve.

She turned and he hesitated.

"Err…if you need anything, let me know, okay?"

She nodded and started to turn away before hesitating.

"Would you…would you keep me company in the lab?" she asked, "it may take Bruce a while to run his tests."

A bright smile lit up Steve's face. "Of course", he replied as the three went down to Bruce's lab.

"Alright Toni, strip for me", Bruce said as he went to grab his instruments. Steve beside her flushed at the word as Toni rolled her eyes and began stripping off her shirt and pants. Steve turned away, red faced.

"What's wrong Cap, never seen a girl's body before?" she teased.

Steve glanced at her, his face still a bright red when he took in her smooth skin, as well as her black bra and underwear.

She was truly gorgeous.

His eyes finally rested on her reactor which continued to glow a reassuring blue. He could still remember when she flew the nuke into space and reactor flickered off. It was not a memory or a time he enjoyed, but he now understood how important the device truly was. It kept her alive and therefore it held a special place in his own heart.

"You okay there?" Toni asked stepping forward.

Steve stepped back. "Yeah, uh…" he realized he was staring at her chest and turned away again, his face flushing crimson once more to Toni's amusement, "I was just…thinking."

"About?" she asked curiously, backing up a bit to give him space.

"The reactor. It…it really is important."

Toni glanced down at the reactor before shrugging. "Keeps me alive", she muttered.

"Yeah, exactly", he replied staring into her brown eyes. She noticed the intensity of it and felt her own cheeks blush against her will. She never noticed how beautiful his blue eyes were.

"Alright, ready Toni?" Bruce asked walking back towards them.

Toni nodded as she laid down on the table under a large hanging body scanner.

"No moving now", he replied as he turned it on. The scanner hummed as it began circling her, casting a green light over the reactor and the rest of her body. Steve watched from the side, hopeful that they would find a way to help her. He had so much to tell her and so much to apologize for.

"While it scans you, I am going to draw some blood samples", Bruce replied as he took out a syringe and started towards her. Toni watched him like a hawk as he, being as gently as he could, slid it into her vein. Several vials of blood later, he took it back out as the machine above beeped, indicating it was done.

"Alright, let's see what we found", he replied as he set the blood in the tester and moved towards the x-ray holographic board.

"Jarvis, show me her chest first", he replied.

"Of course Doctor Banner", Jarvis said as he brought up the scans.

"I don't see anything", Steve whispered.

The two glanced at him and he quickly shut up as they peered at it closer.

"Jarvis, enhance the shot twenty fold", Toni commanded.

The image enhanced and everyone standing there stared in surprise. Deep in the middle of the reactor was the stone, barely noticeable except for the foreign energy resonating weakly from it.

"Can we get it out?" Toni asked.

"I don't know. We could try, but you would probably have to go under for a bit. It would be nothing short of surgery, Toni."

Toni nodded, sighing.

"I think I can trust you Doc. When do you want to do this?"

"It's late now. How about we set it for tomorrow?"

"Alright", Toni nodded, "Tomorrow it is."

Bruce gave her a small smile as he gently patted her bare shoulder and then moved to the elevator, leaving the two alone. Toni stared at the scans, taking in every detail.

"Are you scared?" Steve asked.

She glanced at him. "Would you consider me a coward if I said a little?"

He frowned. "No. I would consider you human", he replied.

Toni sighed and hopped up on the table, continuing to stare at the scans. She was scared, though she expected him to laugh at her a bit for it. Either that or bark at her to man up. That's what her father would have done. What Toni didn't expect was to be hugged by the super soldier. She stiffened as she felt his arms encircle her and his hands glide over her bare back.

"I won't leave your side Toni", he whispered, "I won't let anything hurt you."

Toni couldn't explain the sudden surge of emotion she felt right then. It was like someone had flipped a switch. All at once she was crying, burying her face into his shoulder sobbing as he held her. She couldn't seem to stop it, but she also didn't really want too. It was weird. She couldn't explain why, but she felt like something inside her had broke at the words he whispered so sweetly into her ear.

"Why", she cried, "Why are you…so kind to me", she huffed out, tears sliding down her face.

Steve frowned, tightening his grip on her.

"I'm not", he whispered, "I wasn't", he said again.

Toni didn't understand, but she felt like somehow, he wasn't talking to her but rather himself. She just nodded, listening to him as he spoke.

"You told me once that you loved me", he whispered and she stiffened a bit involuntarily at his words, "you told me and I didn't say anything back. I couldn't because I was an idiot. I was a moron who couldn't move on from the past and it hurt you. Badly. I wanted to tell you before this accident happened, that I finally figured things out."

Toni frowned, confused. "Figured out what" she asked, sniffling.

Steve smiled. "I love you Toni", he whispered, "I love you, so, so much."

Toni couldn't help it, she laughed. Steve frowned, drawing back from her a bit as tears continued to stream down her face, but laughter spilled from her mouth. Toni noticed his face darken a bit as he started to turn away. She grabbed his sleeve and pulled him to her, kissing him. She didn't know what came over her, but when she kissed him, it was like her memories spilled forth. She could remember the hulk-out room. She could remember kissing him and then how he stared at her. She could remember the breakdown she had here in the lab with Bruce and then the accident that occurred after. She could remember everything.

"Steve", she whispered out, "I love you too, Capsicle."

Steve blinked at the pet name, as he stared into her eyes that no longer looked foggy or lost. It was truly his Toni Stark looking back.

"Toni", he whispered as he pressed his lips once more to her own. Their mouths continued to lip lock each other, before his tongue asked for entrance. Toni was more than willing to give it as she opened up, allowing entrance. His tongue swept through her mouth as her own tongue reach out for his. When they both finally drew back, neither one could breathe very well.

"Your back", he whispered, leaning his forehead against her own, "I am so sorry. So sorry…"

"Shh", she whispered, "It's okay. Not your fault Steve. None of this was your fault. I'm here. I'm alive."

"I won't ever leave you", he whispered, staring into her eyes, "I love you."

The two once again fell into an embrace, caught up in one another and unaware of the eyes of five others watching them from the doorway.

"She's back", Bruce whispered, smiling.

The others nodded, all relieved.

"Now we just need to make sure she stays that way", Clint whispered.

"Working on it", Bruce replied.

"Let's give them some space", Pepper whispered as she pulled the door closed.

Things were finally looking up.

AVNGRS

Bruce pulled the latex gloves on as he grabbed some pliers and a scalpel. Toni laid on her back on the table, watching him. Steve stood beside her, gently rubbing his hand over her bare arm.

"Ready?"

"As I will ever be", she replied.

The rest of the avengers, plus Pepper stood off to the side, watching with trepidation. Bruce was also feeling the nerves of working on one of his best friends with no assistance aside from his own two hands. He knew the others would help if he asked, but honestly, there wasn't much else they could do at the moment besides wait and see what might happen. He didn't even know if he could reach the stone or not, considering how deep it went.

"Here we go", Bruce replied as he turned the reactor and then gently popped it out. Toni hissed in pain as it came lose, but Bruce was being as gentle as possible. He handed it to Steve who stood beside him, also wearing gloves. Steve held it so that the magnet wasn't disrupted as Bruce began looking deep down into the holding of the reactor. Toni winced at the feel of someone's hand going into her chest, but tried hard not to move, knowing this had to be done.

"You're doing great" whispered Steve, "you are amazing Toni."

Toni smiled at his encouraging whispers before once again focusing on Bruce.

"I see it" he whispered out, "but it's pretty jammed in to the casing. I am going to try and pick it up. This may hurt a bit Toni."

Toni nodded, knowing how sensitive the reactor casing was to touch. To say she wasn't excited about the idea of him touching it was an understatement. She doubted he even understood just how much pain it would really give her.

The feel of someone sliding their hand along her ribs and organs nearly made her gag, but she calmed her breathing, trying to relax as Bruce's hand slipped, striking the side of the casing. She whimpered which cause Steve to begin stroking her hair in an attempt to help as Bruce cursed and sent her an apologetic glance.

"I can't get a real handle on it. It's like it's there but…" he paused unsure how to explain, "It's nearly intangible. I…"

He stopped, his eyes widening. Steve noticed and was about to ask him what was going on when Toni started screaming. The shrill sound of the scream startled everyone, especially Banner.

"The stone is activating!" he yelled.

The others didn't have time to do much else but shield their eyes as a bright golden glow filled the room, but just as sudden as the light appeared, it vanished.

"What just…" started Clint before he stopped, staring straight at the bed.

The others turned to follow his stare and took in the sweating, pain filled huffs of Toni Stark. Eighteen year old, Toni Stark. Her dark straight hair was now more on the lighter side, shoulder length, and wavy in appearance. Her skin was darker, more tanned, and her body looked stronger and younger. Her eyes however were wide with fear as she began thrashing against the bed.

"Hold her down!" Bruce yelled as Clint, Steve, and Thor all rushed to hold her legs and arms. Natasha took the reactor from Steve, waiting for Bruce to vacate the casing before sticking it back in and turning it, so the device was once again glowing a strong blue color. Toni however continue to thrash, her eyes lost in a horror that only she seemed able to see.

"Yinsen!" she screamed, "Yinsen!"

"Toni, it's alright!" Steve called, "You are safe. Your home!"

Toni began to calm, listening to the voice at her side.

"Yinsen", she whispered, tears running down her cheeks, "I miss you."

The others were silent as Toni fell into unconsciousness.

"What just happened?" Clint asked in a whispered tone, obviously as stunned as the others.

"She de-aged again", Bruce stated, sighing.

"I get that, but… who is Yinsen?"

"No idea", Steve stated, "we can ask her when she wakes up. For now, mind if I take her to her room?"

"No, please do. I… I need to run some tests."

The others didn't say anything as Steve swept her into his arms, a blanket tightly wrapped around her. Natasha made sure the doors were open for them as they made their way to Toni's bed. There he laid her down gently, moving the hair from her young face. She was so beautiful, even at eighteen.

"Rest easy my love", he whispered, "we will figure this out. I promise."

No one in the tower slept easy that night, thinking about their friend and what the future held for her and all the members of the Avengers. They could only hope that they would find a way to fix this and soon, but then, nothing was ever that easy; for as they laid asleep, tossing and turning, several shadows made their way through the tower, hacking into Jarvis who would have alerted the heroes to their presence.

One particular shadow leaned over the eighteen year old newly transformed girl. She didn't look like Toni Stark and yet she did. Either way, he wasn't going to be blamed by his boss if he had missed the chance to take the Ironman in her sleep. Carefully, he swept her into his arms as the others moved through the tower. They had come for the Avengers and the Avengers were who they were going to have.

Down in the basement, Bruce yawned as he made his way to the elevator. He hadn't been able to find much of anything yet, but he decided some sleep would do him good. Pushing the button for his own floor, the elevator door opened and he had just enough time to make out three figures in his room before a gas was sprayed into his face.

"Nighty night Banner", a voice laughed, "not so dangerous without your monster showings its ugly face."

Bruce struggled to stay awake. He noted the silent roar of Hulk within his mind, but even he seemed to be struggling against the gas and before long, darkness overtook him.