Gravity
Something always brings me back to you… it never takes too long.
Five Years Later
Tony woke up slowly, eyes barely sliding open. He took a deep breath and stretched, sunlight from the window nearly blinding him. He rubbed his face and slipped out of bed, feet slowly connecting with the cold floor before he headed to the bathroom to get ready for his day… and what a day it was.
As he stood in the kitchen finishing up breakfast, Tony heard the padding of small bare feet down the hallway. He smiled and set the eggs on the table, followed by some toast.
"Daddy?" the small voice asked.
Tony turned towards the noise and smiled the little girl with beautiful brown curly hair, eyes still a little tired.
"Hey baby girl." Tony walked around to her "You sleep good last night?"
She nodded and brushed her hair out of her face, using only her palm. "I think so."
"You think so?" He questioned as he picked her up and placed her in her seat beside his at the table.
"Yes. There were no monsters." She told him with a nod "And I was too happy about today to have nightmares."
Tony gave her another soft smile as he started to put food on her plate. "You know what today is then?"
"Yep!" She grinned at him and picked up her fork "Today I talk to mommy! and I can tell her about my friends and anything I want."
"That's right." Tony told her as he slowly ate his own food "Very good Lily. do you know what you're going to wear?"
"I think my new dress." Lily said after only a moment to think. "with the pink. Do you think she will like that? she never told me what colors she likes."
"I know." Tony leaned over and kissed her head "But yes I think that will work. As soon as breakfast is over we're going to get ready and then head out okay?"'
"Okay daddy."
Tony stood there, black suit and tie. Same he always wore on this day every year. He stared at the gravestone, attempting to hold it all together as Lily sat nearby, going on about her friends at her preschool and all the things she'd learned that year as she arranged the flowers she had bought to lay by the cold stone, giving it a spark of life. A spark that almost ripped the life from Tony himself. He bit his lip and took a short breath, rubbing his face and wiping his eyes before his hand fell back to his side.
"Hey." A voice said quietly.
Tony turned to see Clint approaching and he nodded "Hey." He replied, barely holding it together at this point.
Clint quickly brushed past Tony and left his own flowers before going to talk to Lily.
Tony watched the two of them a moment before Clint turned to face him and mouthed 'I'm going to take her out for ice cream. take your time'
Tony nodded to him again and shoved his hands in his pockets.
Lily set her flowers beside Clint's and took his hand before she started walking away.
"Bye mommy!" He heard Lily call. "I love you."
And with that he collapsed to his knees, letting the sobs shake him. He reached out and placed his hand on the stone. A stone that read Jenna Hope Stark, Warrior, Hunter, Lover, and Beloved Mother. He grasped it tightly as he cried.
"Oh Jenna I'm so sorry."
Something always brought him back here. And he knew he would miss her for the rest of his life. When he was here at her grave it felt like the closest he'd ever get to being safe in her loving arms again. He longed for her like he'd never longed for anything in his life. Sure Tony had tried to move on. To find someone else. but something always reminded him of her. And it never worked out. Maybe that history was holding him back. But he didn't care. He loved her. He always would.
He ran his fingers over the words again before whispering
"I love you."
Something always brings me back to you.
It never takes too long.
No matter what I say or do
I'll still feel you here 'til the moment I'm gone.
You hold me without touch.
You keep me without chains.
I never wanted anything so much
Than to drown in your love and not feel your rain.
Set me free,
Leave me be.
I don't wanna fall another moment into your gravity
Here I am and I stand so tall, just the way I'm supposed to be.
But you're on to me and all over me.
Oh, you loved me 'cause I'm fragile
When I thought that I was strong.
But you touch me for a little while
And all my fragile strength is gone.
Set me free,
Leave me be.
I don't wanna fall another moment into your gravity
Here I am and I stand so tall, just the way I'm supposed to be.
But you're on to me and all over me.
I live here on my knees
As I try to make you see
That you're everything I think I need here on the ground.
But you're neither friend nor foe
Though I can't seem to let you go.
The one thing that I still know is that you're keeping me down.
You're keeping me down, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You're on to me, on to me, and all over...
Something always brings me back to you…
It never takes too long.
Gravity- Sara Bareilles
The End.
(yes… I'm evil… and this was sadly my favorite chapter to write. yes. there were… vague bits and pieces in the previous chapter and I'm sure I could have drawn out this fic for forever. But that wasn't the point. And I am happy with what I wrote. No matter how sad the ending :)
PLEASE REVIEW :)
also- as I stated in the reviews if you read them or write them or whatever- THERE WILL BE AN EPILOGUE so be on the look out for that