A/N: Very very sorry about the late update. Didn't realize exactly how busy I was going to be. Thank you, Arla Logan and Writing-Forever-A-Passion for leaving reviews, I really appreciate them and I also appreciate all of you taking the time to read it.

For the story, I wanted a little push forward to get to the Avengers plot but I will be adding a lot of flashbacks that will cover some Captain America ground in future chapters. I hope you all enjoy!

2010

Tony Stark was dying.

It had been a couple of years since he had been captured by the Ten Rings on the order of his backstabbing family friend. A little over a year since he had publicly announced his alias at that fateful press conference, following the fight against his so called mentor, which also happened to be the time when Nick Fury approached him about the Avengers Initiative. Then just months after, he had found his kid sister on the brink of death at the main entrance of his Malibu mansion.

He didn't think he'd ever get that memory erased from his mind, a chill running down his spine as his mind raced to that day. Skin that used to be a healthy golden brown had been tinged purple, bright brown eyes hidden behind large bruises that covered her lids. Her black curls had been longer than he had ever seen them, reaching down to her back and covering the ripped cloth that was her shirt. The large lacerations on her skin had been so raw he swore he saw muscle.

He remembered the corners of her lips lifting as much as possible when she had laid eyes on him before her body crumpled into him. At that moment, he had no idea a coma eclipsed her mind as her skin had become cold to the touch. It hadn't taken long for panic to ensue, yelling at the top of his lungs for Pepper.

The woman's screams had filled the air when she ran to see what the commotion was all about. Her strawberry blonde hair in disarray as she commanded JARVIS to get an ambulance dispatched. Fortunately, he had programmed the AI unit excellently enough that JARVIS had already deduced the situation and contacted a dispatcher upon Semira's arrival.

Now here he was sitting beside the kid, his tanned hand gripping her brown fingers as she laid unconscious on the luxurious bed in the spacious room. The steady and constant beep from the heart monitor was the only noise in the pristine room. It was the only sound that mattered to him at the moment, the sound that reminded him that his sister wasn't truly gone.

She was just in a coma.

She'd wake up soon.

Even if she's been in said coma for months on end.

His eyes traced her arms and face, still marveling at the impossible rate her injuries had healed in a matter of days back in February. The results from the blood work he had the doctors administer were normal. Nothing that showed any physiological abnormality.

Though he was certain something was happening.

For one, Nick Fury knew something about his sister and more importantly knew her condition with the way during his discussion with him after his disastrous birthday party. No one knew besides him, Pepper, Happy, and Rhodey knew that his sister was found and in a coma.

Tony didn't know what scared him more; what happened to her or what might happen to her if he were to die.

"Come on, Semi. There's so many things you've missed out. You'd get a kick out of half of them. Rhodey's kicked my ass and took my suit... I let him obviously. Pepper's pissed off at me for fuck knows what. Then there's this guy who looks like he's stepped out of the Matrix, telling me I have x amount of days to live. Wonder what movie he stole that from. Oh, and my new assistant turned out to be some wannabe Charlie's Angel," he muttered, lightly squeezing her fingers.

The lack of response made his heart tighten slightly as he looked down at her, realization sinking in on the man's face. This could possibly be the last time he will ever see her if he couldn't figure out his problem. The last time he'd see his baby sister's face. "You are the best person I've ever had in my life, you know. You've always been there for me. From the moment mom and dad brought you home, and I couldn't be any luckier to have you as a little sister. Yeah, I might've been kind of jealous cause you were daddy's little girl, but you should know that I'll always love you, Semi."

Leaning down, Tony Stark placed a final kiss to the young woman's forehead before heading towards the door. His fingers mechanically punching in the numbers in the keypad for the door to hiss open.

"Tony?"

He almost had a heart attack.

The voice was so soft, like a whisper, that he thought it could be the wind. Which would be highly unlikely considering he was still inside.

Slowly, the broken and dying man turned around to see brown eyes open and staring at directly at him. The upward tug at her lips revealed a smile on her face that he hadn't seen in years. He didn't wait a second as he practically rushed to her side and swept her up into a hug.

He didn't know how long he was holding her, but he guessed it was a little too long for her when he heard her wheezing.

"Jeez, Tony. Since when did you get so sentimental?" she joked, laughing slightly.

"I don't know what you're talking about kid, but I've always been with you," he said, a mixture of solemnness and endearment in his tone.

It wasn't necessarily a secret that he didn't like the jokes she made about his sentimentality towards her. There were times when he felt that she thought he never cared, and he couldn't help but feel as though it were only his fault. But he was going to change. He was going to make sure he nearby. Never again would he go so long not seeing her in person.

Especially after everything that's happened in the last couple of years.

"I – Tony, why the hell am I here – what happened?"

The confusion at the situation was written all over her face.

"Semi, you've been missing for two years. You don't remember anything?"

The billionaire saw her brow furrow in thought for several seconds, eyes cast down. Several seconds passed before he saw the shake of her head and her eyes were on him. The worry and confusion was unmistakable.

"I….I can't remember anything."