Chapter 38: Meant to be Mine

*** Enjoy the next chapter!***

***Alexis P.O.V.***

Cold. It was deep into my bones. As I take another breath on my way to waking up, I feel a sharp pain shoot up my side. 'My ribs', the thought floats into my hazy mind. Groaning, I struggled to roll onto my back, so I could stop putting pressure on them. Moving my arm to push myself over, I swore I heard my bones creak at the effort of moving. 'Must've been asleep for a long time' I shrug internally. Placing my hand down, confusion races around my mind as I feel something hard. 'What the…'. Struggling to open my eyes, the first thing I am met with is grey.

"What?" I whisper, blinking rapidly, trying to dispel the blurriness from my eyes. I was looking at a grey wall in a grey room. "Where..?" As I slowly push myself up, I feel something fall off me. I see a ragged brown blanket, or rather a scrap of fabric, looking down at my lap. Staring around the room, I struggled to place together what was happening. 'What? I don't understand...Why aren't I at the tower?!' I think to myself. "Wait. The tower…"

Images flood into my mind. 'Shattered windows and a helicopter landing outside...watching Loki and Bucky fight the men back...hiding in the kitchen...hand clutching at my hair...pain searing through my scalp...Loki and Bucky staring at me in horror as I am held from them...Loki using magic to try and get to me...Bucky getting held down, trying to get out of the men's grip...Loki calling out to me...Getting shoved into the helicopter...A cloth getting held to my face...then nothing…'

"I…no...no..no no no no!" I mutter, hands gripping my hair. "I was taken," I whimper as I bring my knees to my chest. "Why was I taken?" Tears blurred my vision as I struggled to stay calm. The vice of panic was tightening around my chest as I struggled to get air into my lungs. My mind races as everything else just seems to fade to static. 'Why was I taken?! Where am I?! I want Tony. I wanna go back. I wanna go back home. Please. I just wanna feel safe again. Where...Why was I taken? Why can't I breathe!'

'Breath!' I yell at myself internally. I tighten my grip on my hair, trying to ground myself. 'Please let this be a dream. I just wanna go home. I just wanna go home. Let me go back to Papa. I wanna go home!'. Dizziness started to overwhelm me as panic had taken my ability to breathe. Soon, darkness overcame my mind, and I knew nothing more.

Jerking awake, I quickly sit up. Hissing at the pull on my ribs, I frantically look around. 'Maybe it was a dream..' My thought dies down as I see that I was still surrounded by grey. Forcing myself to stay calm, I make myself take in my surroundings more. 'Panicking won't help me. I can't do that. I need to stay calm.' Closing my eyes, I force myself to take a deep breath, even with my ribs protesting the action. 'Okay. You're okay. You just need to stay calm.'

Brushing a hand through my hair, I finally start to become aware of the throbbing that seems to be surrounding my skull. Hissing in pain, I gently remove my hand from my head. 'When did that happen?' I wonder. 'Oh, right.' Memories of getting pulled by my hair from the tower and then gripping my hair during my panic attack. 'That probably explains that.'

Tears burn in my eyes as I finally take in the room that I was in. It reminded me of a cell. Concrete walls, floor and ceiling. A single lightbulb in the centre of the room casting a low cold light. I shiver at the eerie feeling it gives. In the corner of the room was a door. Standing up, I creep over to the door and push on it. It moved under my weight, and it opened to reveal a bathroom with just a shower and toilet. 'Well. At least that's one thing I don't have to worry about.' Letting the door fall shut, I turn and look around the room some more. There was only a thin mat on the floor in the corner. It had that scrap of fabric which I imagine was meant to be my bed, as well as no windows.

Glancing down at the hard concrete floor, I was glad for my socks as I could feel the chill of the concrete through them. 'Imagine how cold my feet would be without the socks,' I chuckled to myself. Looking around, I notice another door with a small barred window near the top. 'I'm guessing that this is the door that leads out of this room and is locked'. Trying the handle on the door, I was proven right when it didn't budge. 'Suppose that I was hoping for too much for this to be open.' Taking a step away, I sigh and make my way back to the thin mat on the floor. I could still feel the overwhelming panic in the back of my mind. 'I am strong. I will not let the panic consume me again.'

Taking a deep breath, I sit down in the corner of the room and lean back against the wall bringing my knees up to my chest. Wrapping my arms around my legs, I notice the hoodie that I'm wearing. 'I never gave Bucky back his hoodie,' I realise as I stare at my arms. "I forgot that I never gave it back," I mumble as I pull the sleeve over my hands. 'Sweater paws. Nice and cosy...well as cosy as one could be while having been taken,' I shake my head at the thought and burrow my face in my knees. 'Just wish I had something warmer on my legs than black tights.'

'Bucky...Tony...Loki...Steve...Nat...Clint...Bruce...Thor...Pepper…' I clench my eyes shut as I feel tears start to burn in them. 'I hope that Loki and Bucky are okay. They got hurt because of me.' Biting my lip, I try to keep the sobs bubbling out as the tears begin streaming down my cheeks. 'I wanna go home. I just want to go back. I want my Pa...I want Tony.'

"I just wanna go home,' I sob quietly, wishing with all my heart for someone to come and save me. 'I just want to be safe again.'

After a short while, I had calmed down and realised that no one had come to see me yet. I couldn't even hear any people nearby. 'I could try yelling and see if anyone answers me, but then they would know that I was awake if they don't already. Then who knows what will happen.'

As if my thoughts had summoned them, I began to hear footsteps. 'More than one person. Possibly three judging by the amount I am hearing.' Lifting my head, I stare at the door as the footsteps get closer. I tried to shuffle further into the corner, as I could feel my hands start to tremble. 'I can't panic now. I need to be strong. I will be strong like Tony, Steve, and Bucky. When they faced the Man in Black. And like Loki when he and Bucky were fighting for me.'

Closing my eyes for a moment, I take a deep breath. 'I will be brave. Like the Avengers.' Opening my eyes, I keep my eyes locked on the door. Tightening my grip on my legs, I try to stop my body from trembling as the footsteps draw nearer.

"Up and at 'em, Princess," A voice calls out as the door is unlocked. It opens to reveal three men in a dark uniform. "Boss is waiting."

Staring at the three men, I must've taken too long to get up. Two of the men came in and grabbed my arms, hauling me to my feet and began dragging me out of the room. "No. please." I whimper as I try to get rid of their harsh grips.

The three men laughed before the one that spoke before said, "Oh, keep begging. I just love it when they beg."

The look in his eyes made my skin crawl as I bit back any other sounds. "Awww, you're no fun," he smirked as I was dragged past him. I tried to ignore him as I focused on getting my feet under myself so I could walk. Tripping a few times, I finally managed as I heard the door shut behind me. Looking up, I could see that we were in a long hallway, but we were heading to some metal stairs. 'We must be in the basement level,' I think as I am forced to climb the stairs.

Going through the door at the top, I found myself being led down multiple different hallways with many twists and turns. Everywhere I looked, I saw many people, men and women, dressed in the same uniform. 'I wonder if the new recruits are given a map, so they don't get lost,' I think to myself, 'I feel like these guys wouldn't take well to tardiness or excuses.' I smile mentally at that thought before looking ahead and seeing a large set of metal guarded doors. Fear suddenly gripped at my entire being. 'I don't want to do this. I just want to go home.' Biting my lip, I hold back the whimper of terror as the doors seem to loom over me. Tears began stinging my eyes as the doors opened. 'I don't understand what's happening. I don't want to be here.'

Holding back my sobs, I concentrate on trying to keep my feet under me as I am taken through the doors into what looks to be a large office. I look up to get a view of the room, but a hand is placed on my head, shoving me roughly to the floor.

"Ahh!" I cry out as I stumble and fall onto my side. The tears I was trying to hold back stream down my face as I whimper softly and slowly push myself to my knees. Raising my head, I saw that I had been thrown in front of a large desk. Raising my eyes further, I see a man cloaked in shadow sitting behind it. 'Who is this man? I can't see who he is. I guess he's the boss.' Raising a shaking hand, I try to wipe away the tears spilling from my eyes to see the man.

"And there she is. The little runaway." My eyes widen as I stare up at the shadowed man. 'No. It was him?!' His voice caused my blood to turn to ice in my veins. "I thought you would be happy to see me." He chuckled darkly as he stood up.

'Dad…" I whimper as I try to shuffle away from him.

"You thought I would just let you get away?" He sneered at me as he rounded the side of his desk.

I didn't take my eyes off him until my back hit the legs of a soldier behind me. I jerk at the sudden stop and look up. The soldier just smirked at me before slamming his foot into my side, kicking me off him. Pain ricocheted throughout my body, making me cry out as I landed on the ground.

"Ugh. Still, as pathetic as always I see," my father says, stepping closer to me as I curled up on my ground. I bit my lip to keep from crying out again. 'You know the rules. Don't cry out. It just makes things worse.'

I feel him, rather than see him, crouched over me. Trembling, I raise my head and look at him. His face still held the same sneer as I remember with dark eyes that seemed to find joy in my pain. "You seemed to be having fun on 'trip' away. Living it up with the 'Mighty Avengers,' he mocked as he grabbed my arm and hauled me to my feet. Stumbling, he dragged me over to the wooden chair in front of his desk and forced me to sit. Trembling in place, I wrapped my arms around myself as I watched him walk back around his desk and sat down.

"Well, I suppose you are wondering what I am doing here, seemingly to be in charge of a small army, oh dearest daughter," He said as he leant back in his chair and smirked at me. "You see, I was a retired marksman from a small group called Hydra."

'Hydra? Why is that name familiar to me?' I wonder.

"I just made a few calls to my old comrades, and then they were more than willing to help me with my plan. You see, because there is something that you don't know, my dear," He smirked at me as I just stared back at him. "You see, I've been lying to you for years, Alexis. Both your mother and I. Would you like to know what the lie is?" He asked, as his eyes seemed to stare holes into mine.

I hesitate for a moment. Unsure whether to answer my fathers' question or not. I paused for a moment too long. "ANSWER ME!" My father raged at me, standing up.

"Yes, Sir!" I squeak out, flinching away from him.

"Ugh, now was that so hard?" He smiled at me as he sat down. 'He flips his personality just like before.' I observe as he settles back down. "Really, Alexis. I would have thought that you would have learnt by now that I want an answer when I ask you a question. You are still as stupid as ever I see."

I flinch away from those words that I have heard over the past few years.

"Now, before I was interrupted by your stupidity, I was saying how I had kept a secret from you. However, before I tell you my little secret, I am going to tell you a story. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Sir," I say softly.

He nods. "Good, good. Seems you can learn fast. Now, once upon a time, there was a lady called Elena. She was the most beautiful thing on the planet. One day, she and a man met at a park. This man had just returned from fighting for what he believed in. When he saw this woman, he fell in love with her. So he asked her out on a date, and she agreed. They went out on several dates. The man had a few flaws, but so did the lady, but they were happy together. It had been a few months, and the man knew that she was meant to be his.

One day, they agreed to meet at a bar for dinner in L.A. It was a bit of a rough patch for them at the moment in their relationship. Anyway, the man had gotten there first and was just chatting to a few people. He may have had a few drinks before she showed up, but you can't blame a guy. Then this gorgeous woman starts talking to him and, well, I just had to have a taste of her. I hadn't seen Elena for a week, so I was a little pent up, so I kissed this other woman. Sadly, Elena shows up and sees me and gets the wrong idea."

'What a horrid man,' I think to myself as he continues with the story.

He shrugs as he says, "Now I know I should've gone after her to straighten things out, but she was mad at me, and I just hated dealing with her when she was like that. She was such a pain, so I stayed with this girl. I figured that she would be back when she had cooled off, and I could explain it all to her. But she never came back!" His fist smashed against the table, making me jump back, rocking my chair a bit. He slowly stood up as he continued, "Instead when I start looking around for her, I see that she has cosied up to Tony F*cking Stark. That arrogant bastard."

I felt anger rise at those words before it quickly dwindles to fear as he slowly walked around his desk. "Now I thought that he would get sick of Elena eventually, so I waited, but then that bastard got Elena pregnant. I wanted to get her back, but Stark didn't seem to let her go. I waited and waited, but no opportunities came. And then, one day, I heard the most devastating news. Elena had died. She was dead, and no one told me until a month after her passing. But then I had a brilliant idea. You know what it was?"

I shake my head. "No, Sir."

He was standing right in front of me now, leaning back against his desk. He threw his head back and laughed. "I had the best idea. I was going to find a girl, settle down, and then I was going to get Elena back. You see, she had died in childbirth, sure, but her child was still alive. And Stark had her."

'Tony had a daughter?' I suddenly remember the photo of the little girl in his room. 'Mio Angelo. She was his angel? But where is she?'

He continued his story, "I had some old Hydra friends do some digging, and I then proceeded with my plan. I found a good girl, and I loved her, but she wasn't my Elena. So we settled down. After a couple years, I hatched my plan. I went, and I stole his little girl right out from under him."

"What?" I whisper in disbelief. 'But my dad never had any other children. What happened to her?'

"Oh yes. I stole Tony Stark's daughter and raised her as my own.

My mind stopped. '...I stole his daughter and raised her as my own…' His voice just went round and round in my head. 'I don't understand. I was their only child. I was... I don't.. How…'

He leant forward, capturing my attention. "Do you understand what I am telling you?... You were never mine. But you were meant to be. Your mother was Elena, and, sadly, your father was Tony Stark. But you were meant to be mine."

"I…" I shake my head, trying to make sense of what I was just told. "You stole me?" I whisper.

"Yep." He said, popping the 'p' on the end. "And just think. You have been living with your dear old dad, and you didn't even know it. Better yet, he didn't even know it."

"Why did you love me...and then hate me?" I ask as I think back on my life. Confusion clouding my brain.

He let out a sigh. "Well, you see. I thought that seeing you grow up would be enough. Besides, it was easy to pretend when you were younger. I had my Ellie to keep me company after all. But then, Ellie died, and suddenly you were starting to look a lot like my Elena, and I just couldn't stand it when I could see Stark in your features. It was like he was mocking me about how he got Elena. So I hated you. Hated how you looked like her. Still do."

Tears were streaming down my face. "You…Mr Stark. He's my dad. You stole me from my dad."

"Yes, I did. Actually, I'm still rather proud of it." 'You arrogant horrid man.' "But anyway. Now that that secret is out of the way. You slept for a really long time, but now that you are awake. I need you to make a call for me." His grin sent chills down my spine.

"What...what do you mean?" I whisper, trying to focus my mind. 'Tony is my dad. I'm his daughter. I'm his missing daughter. Does he even want me? Is Alexis even my real name?'

"Well, I am going to hand you the phone, and you are going to greet whoever answers on the other end. Then I will take over. Okay, sweetheart?" The way he said 'sweetheart' made my stomach turn. I watched as he dialled a number on his phone before handing it over to me.

Shakily, I grabbed it from him and raised it to my ear. My father...Andrew was still grinning at me. It rang for a moment before the voice that answered it sent more tears streaming down my face. I stare at Andrew's face in shock.

"Hello?" Tony's voice rang in my ear.

"Mr-Mr S-St-Stark?" I sob, "Papa!"