Author's note: I am sorry its taking so long to update. I am trying to finish writing the end of the story and I want to make sure all of my details match before publishing more. Not entirely sure how much longer this story will be but I don't really want a very abrupt ending. So bare with me. Thanks. Once again please REVIEW. I love reading them and they help me write my story.

Also I do not own the Avengers.


When Steve came back, Emma was the only person left in the room. The others had excused themselves for various reasons to work in the Lab, to talk to Shield. In the end they left Emma standing in the room by herself. She took a seat on the couch. That was when Steve came in.

He handed her a pillow and several blankets.

"Thanks," she told him.

"You're welcome," came the reply. He was standing there not quite sure what to do. He didn't appear to want to leave her by herself but couldn't seem to find an excuse to stay.

So Emma told him, " You don't have to stay. I am quite capable of staying out here by my self." Emma forced her self not to wince when it sounded harsh.

She could tell Steve was relieved for an excuse not to stand there awkwardly. He said good night and left.

Emma stretched out on the couch. She put the pillow behind her head and threw a blanket on top of her. She told Jarvis to turn off the lights. She rolled over to her side and could smell Steve on the pillow. The pillow smelled so nice. She regretting sending him away like that. Wishing he would stay with her. Maybe even hold her.

No. She couldn't focus on that. She wouldn't let her self be side tracked when their were more important matters to think about. Like her father for one. The problem was Emma liked Steve. A lot.

The next morning Emma woke up to the sound of people eating. She sat up and saw that the kitchen had been cleaned and Natasha, Bruce, and Tony were already eating.

Tony looked up at her from his plate. "Good morning, Sunshine," he said with way to much enthusiasm.

She glared at him, "The earth says hello."

Bruce gave Emma a questioningly look.

"Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," she said simply.

"Anyway, Pepper told me to tell you that your room is clean." Tony said bringing the conversation back to him.

"Tell her I said thanks." With that Emma left the room and went to her own in search of a shower and clothes.


When Emma returned to the kitchen for breakfast, Tony and Bruce had left. Natasha was waiting for her. She began to tell Emma any news from SHIELD. Emma wasn't really listening after she confirmed her father was still missing.

Emma began to pour a bowl of cereal as Steve walked in. He seemed to have already been to the gym and had just showered. He hair was wet and didn't lie perfectly flat.

No, she will not think about him like that. At least not until her father is found.

She began eating her cereal.

Natasha was talking about hoping to have her father back by Christmas but she wasn't sure if that would happen now. Wait. What did Natasha just say? Christmas?

Something in Emma's brain just clicked into place and the memory came flooding back to Emma.


It was Christmas day. Six year old Emma had just ran down stairs to the Christmas tree. Presents! She ran back upstairs to her father's room and jumped on his bed. She yelled at her father to wake up. Together they went back downstairs

Emma had wished for a certain doll from Santa, one with a beautiful purple dress and long brown hair. The doll would have brown eyes just like Emma's.

Ever since Emma could remember, Santa would leave lots of presents but only a few would contain a gift. It was always a hunt to find any presents while the rest of the boxes were filled with air or sometimes packing-peanuts.

Emma loved it. She enjoyed seeing many presents under the tree even when it meant only a few toys. She loved all bows and wrapping paper.

Emma could pretend that she had a normal family. Not one where she only saw her dad a few times a year. The rest of the time Emma had lived with her uncle and his family. He would pick Emma up and they would spend a week to a month together. They stayed in the house where Emma would have grown up if Emma's mother hadn't died when Emma was young. Christmas was a guaranteed time with her father.

Soon Emma had torn open all but one present. She had received several toys that she also really wanted, but not the doll.

Her father passed her the last present. It was fairly big. It had sparkling silver and green paper, with a big green bow on the top.

She removed the paper and open the box only to find another box underneath. This box was black and in a perfect cube shape. She removed the shiny black cube from the box. It was just a filler like the packing-peanuts. She didn't get her doll. She tried to not look disappointed when she turned to her father.

He smiled down at her. He took the cube. He said, "Now Emma this is a special present." She had asked why. "Because this is a special container that only you can open. You see, only your fingerprints can open it when you press on it here, here, and here. Its similar to one the Japanese Puzzle Box, also called a Secret."

He gave the cube to Emma and showed her where to press again. The cube clicked open. Inside was the doll Emma had wanted. The one with the long purple dress and hair and eyes that matched Emma's. She had squealed with delight as she hugged her father.

Her father then told her that he may not be around for the next Christmas but promised to send her present in a black cube. The cube she received the next year was considerably small but it opened the exactly same way.


Natasha's phone rang, sending Emma back to the present. Emma excused her self as Natasha answered the call.

Emma went back to her room, closing the door behind her. She went over to her desk and picked up the cube. She wasn't entirely sure but somehow she knew which way was the front and which way was the top.

She pressed her thumb of her right hand on the lower left corner of the front of the box. Extending her pinky to the middle of the right side wall. With her left hand her thumb found the middle of the left edge on the front and her pinky finger found the middle lower edge on the left side wall.

Emma took a deep breath at the box grew slightly warm to her touch. Then it clicked opened.