*Warning: This chapter contains talks about child abuse

The Old House

(Iris POV)

I thought it was going to be a good day when I woke up this morning but that changed completely! I woke up to Steve planting a small kiss on my cheek and feeling the bed move indicating him getting out. I opened my eyes to see him getting dressed.

"Where are you going?" I sleeplessly asked.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." He quietly spoke, he leaned over and gently rubbed my cheek, "I have to go to the compound." He continued getting dressed.

"This early?" I confusingly looked at the clock, it's 6 am. He never goes to the compound this early.

"Yeah, I need to be debriefed more but I'll be gone for the day...Tony got a location on some more of his stolen weapons, Tony and the girls went and found some not too long ago and it went very well but they found those in New Jersey, these ones were found in Russia, so just to be safe from what happened last time with Perkins we thought it would be best to have more back up." He explains. "So, I won't see you tonight."

"Oh..." My mind was wandering to worry as I sat up, I didn't even bother covering myself.

He put both hands on my face, rubbing my cheeks with his thumbs, "don't worry, I'll be safe...I'll be back sometime tomorrow okay?" I nodded my head and he gave me as sweet kiss. "You better." Was all I could say as I caressed his face tenderly, he gave my forehead one last lite kiss before leaving.

After Steve left I took a shower and while I washing my hair the water went to freezing cold. I yelped and had to finish showering in that cold water and that was just the beginning of my horrible day. While I was blow drying my hair my phone rang, it was a number I didn't know so I didn't answer it. My coffee pot broke, I could have gone to the coffee shop that Steve and I went to before but I like a different place more and knew I needed a good cup of coffee, when I got in my car I realized my car battery was dead. "You have got to be shitting me!" I mouthed to myself. I didn't want to wait for someone to jump it for me so I took a cab, God I needed that coffee now more then ever! While going there that same number called again. I got my coffee and walked out of the cafe and while I am calling out for a cab my phone rings again, from the distraction I was a little slow on getting in the cab and some jackass pushed past me and knocked my coffee out of my hands, luckily it didn't burn too bad, mostly got on my pants. "Great how worse could this day get?" I thought as I walked back inside my apartment.

I changed my clothes and my phone rang again. I realized that it could be Steve, thinking maybe he was using someone else's phone or something, "Idiot!" I said to myself. I quickly answered it, "hello?"

"Uh hi, is this Iris Watson?" A unknown voice asked.

"Yeah, that's me."

"Hi, you don't know me and I am sorry to disturb you but I found your number and thought you should know that we live in your old house in New Jersey, we were cleaning out the attic and we found a couple of boxes that belong to your family and I was wondering if you wanted it?"

"Um..." I didn't know what to say, I was speechless. I wasn't sure if I wanted the damn stuff but a part of me wanted to know if anything belonged to my mom because I don't have anything from her. "Yeah, I do."

"Great, well you can come pick it up any time."

"Can I come right now?" I asked.

"Of course." She answered sweetly.

"Thanks, um, I live in New York now so it will take me a few hours to get there."

"No problem." I hung up and exhaled. I just wanted to get this over with, plus I had to go as soon as possible since I worked tonight.

I was able to get someone to jump my car for me and was emotionless the whole drive there, I felt absolutely numb. I pulled up and the house looked so different, the yard had nice kept up grass, flowers and the house itself was a different color. I'm welcomed in the house and it's also changed on the inside, completely remodeled...I stood there looking around at how homey and friendly it was now...whereas for me it was never that way...it was a house of terror. But Even though it looked different it didn't stop me from getting flashes of my father attacking my mom in the kitchen, the living room or in their bedroom, of him bashing my bedroom door down and storming to me with his belt with rage in his eyes just because I accidentally woke him up. "Are you okay?" The nice woman asked.

"Huh?...Oh yeah, I'm fine...it's just been so long since I've been here." I quickly responded.

"I can imagine, must have had some good memories." She replied with a smile, I knew she had no idea what went on or what happened in the house so I gave her a fake smile back.

She handed me the 2 boxes, they were pretty big. "Thank you...you could have just thrown these out so...this is really nice of you." I softly replied.

"Yeah, no problem. I know if I had missing stuff I wouldn't want someone throwing it away like it was trash." She responded, I smiled at her again.

At first I didn't realize it but it dawned on me that I was standing right where I found my parent's dead bodies. "Thanks again...I don't want to disturb you any further...and I have a long trip back." I forced myself to choke out, she nodded her head, it was so difficult to get my words out without breaking down, I was trying so hard to sound normal and not let her see how upset I was...I have no idea if I was successful with that or not.

As I walked out of the house with the boxes in my arms I couldn't breathe, my mouth was so dry and I got into my car as fast as I could. I was shaking and I felt like I was starting to have a panic attack, it took me a few seconds to put the key in the ignition and when I finally started it up I took a deep breath and dashed off. I wanted to get out of that city as fast as I could, again emotionless the whole drive. I got back to my apartment and set the boxes on the floor. I paced back and forth before taking a deep breath to mentally prepare myself, I sat on the floor and the first thing I see in one of the boxes was my old stuffed bunny Ella. I took it out and hug it so tight to my chest and sobbed into her remembering how my mom gave her to me when I was very little for Christmas, she told me to hold on to it when my father would either attack her or me and I would do just that, I would hold her so tight especially when my father came into my room at night...I would cling to her while he touched me...maybe me touch him...threatened me...told me how worthless I was but at the same time would say how much he loved me...only he could love me this much. I couldn't look through it further, I pushed the boxes away from me, I sod even harder into my knees.

Suddenly my phone rang, it was Steve. I couldn't let him know I was upset so I dry my tears, inhale and exhaled and answered normal. "Hey" I spoke out.

"Hey, I was just checking in, letting you know I'm okay." He reassured me.

"Oh yeah...thanks...I always like to hear that." I responded while choking back my cries.

"Are you okay?" He asked me.

"Yeah...I'm fine. I've just had a bad day is all." God I wanted to tell him so much but I can't...I'm just physically unable to.

"Is that it?"

"Yeah." I lied.

"Okay, well I'll be back a little bit later then I thought, so it might be more like tomorrow night sometime, I'm not quite sure yet." He informed me.

"Yeah okay, I understand, I'll see you when you get back." I said and hung up quickly and took a deep breath before putting the boxes in my closet.

I go to work and try not to show what a horrible day I've had and fake it...it's so difficult though. They didn't ask me anything but Amber and Renee could tell I was genuinely upset about something. They knew me well enough that if I was in this can of mood to not ask questions. Of course of all nights was asshole night. After turning down a drunk patron who was asking me out he threw his drink at me. I'm so done and that was the end of my shitty horrible day! I'm just waiting for my day to be even worse now, I'm expecting it by this point, to put the final pin on it. When I get home I'm just going to crawl into bed and cry all night.

Later That Night

I walk into my apartment and the first thing I notice is rose petals on the floor and they made a trail. I follow it and right in my dining room is Steve standing there, he's wearing his Captain America suit! He has a candlelight dinner set up, champagne with strawberries and more rose petals around the table. I inhale and put my hand over my heart, "surprise." He very softly grinned.

"What are you doing here?" I ask walking up to him and immediately draping my arms over his shoulder, going onto my tiptoes.

"Well, you sounded upset on the phone and I just felt like something was wrong...so I came home."

"But what about your mission?"

"Well, I just told Tony that I had to leave."

"You did that for me?" I asked with my eyes starting to water.

"Yeah, of course I did." He answered like I just asked him a stupid question. "...I don't know something just told me you needed me more then Tony right now, he had plenty of people with him." He sweetly explains. "Now, come on, eat before the food gets cold." He pulls out my chair and I sit down.

"But I look like shit, I smell like sweat and beer...and you look...amazing." I complain.

He leans behind me and puts his lips on my cheek, "you look beautiful." He kisses my cheek, I turn my head to look at him with tears forming in my eyes.

"Oh, I almost forgot." He walks away from me and I quickly wipe my eyes so he doesn't see my tears. He soon comes back and puts red roses in front of me.

"Oh Steve, they're beautiful, thank you." I smile and smell them.

He sits across from me at the table, "and you may think I look good but trust me I am sweaty and dirty too." I giggle a little.

I exhale, "you couldn't look bad if you tried...I've never seen you in your suit before...you look good." I reply with a soft smile.

"Thank you." He simply smiled at me.

We mostly ate in silence, the food was delicious. I am at loss for words, after the day I had this was the last thing I thought would happen. In this moment I know I love this man, it's absolutely terrifying but I feel so warm. I don't know what I did to deserve him but I'm going to try to make him feel what he was doing for me. The fact that he didn't ask any questions, knowing me enough to know that I was upset on the phone amazed me.

We're done eating, "come here, I have another surprise for you." He tells me.

"Another one?" I ask confused.

"Yep, close your eyes and follow me." He instructs. I do as he says and he guides me to where I'm suppose to go by my hand. "Okay, now open them."

I do as he says and we're standing in the bathroom and he already has set up a bubble bath, I put my hand over my mouth to hold back more tears. The room is dimmed with a bunch of candles as the only light in the room and of course more rose petals around the tub. "It's just for you." I hear him whisper behind me.

"I can't believe you did this for me." I say still in shock. "Well, you need to join me." I smile back, he nods his head.

We slowly undress each other, he helps me get him out of his suit and he ran his hands slowly put my sides as he takes off my shirt, our eyes never disconnect. Steve takes my hand and helps me get in the bath, he follows after me and I lay my back against his chest and he washes my shoulders and back, he ever so often kisses where my neck and shoulder meet. No one has ever kissed or touched me so gently. I close my eyes and tears again run down my face, I can't control it! There was no point in trying to hide it now, I just let them fall down my face. "What's wrong?" He asks me sweetly in my ear. "You like this right?"

"Yes, I love it!" I strongly clarify. "It's nothing...I'm just happy," I grin as I hold his hand that's on my shoulder. "No one has ever done anything like this before...thank you." I told him as I slightly turn my head to look at him.

"Your very welcome." He kisses my cheek sweetly before I straighten my head back and continue enjoying feeling his hands on my skin, he runs his hands down my arms and intertwines our fingers for a few seconds before bringing them back up.

He kisses my neck while he massages my shoulders as I lay my head back on his chest loving every minute of it. He gently turns my face to the side with his hand and kisses me. I reach back with my arm and caress the back of his head and neck using my fingers. I stop kissing him for a second to look at him. "Steve I...I...I want you to make love to me. Please?" I couldn't say it, I couldn't say I love you but I did say the next best thing which was true.

"As you wish." He smiled and that made me smile knowing what he's referencing...he knows how much I love that movie!

He gives my cheek a soft kiss again before he gets out of the bath and helps me stand up. He lifts me out of the bath bride style. Before we even walked out of the bathroom I began leaving lite kisses anywhere I could whether it was his neck, chin, face and finally his lips, I just have to kiss him somehow! He lays me on the bed gently and went on top of me. He put his hand under one of my thighs, lifts it up and wraps it around his hip and goes slowly inside me. His thrusts were slow but with the way he and I continue to raise my leg it causes him to go really deep inside me. We kiss each other sweetly but also passionately as we hold each other, one of his hands cradling the back of my head his fingers through my hair while he continues to hold up my leg/thigh with the other hand to keep up with this position. He turns us around and I go on top of him, we just continue to hold each other without letting go. He gently ran the tips of his fingers up and down my back that caused me to get goosebumps all the way down to my toes...I know this is going to sound corny but it feels like he's in my soul! I can feel every muscle in his body, I turned us back around soon after because I love his weight on me, I feel so protected and it just feels so good. Again I'm kissing anywhere I can, I just need to kiss him somehow while he just holds me as tight as he can without hurting me and I love every minute of it!

This was different from all the other times we've had sex. Sure it could get sweet like this but it always started out being hot and heavy and us showing our animalistic side but this was different, something so special. We made love all night it felt like, we just fall asleep in each others arms. After the day I had and having to literally relive my past that was filled with so much pain, sadness and violence...and ending it with someone being so gentle and making me feel like I was the most precious and fragile thing was something I never thought I would experience. I need to tell him I love him but how without scaring myself again?


A lot happened in this chapter! Were you shocked like she was he came home early and surprised her? She admits she loves him! But how could she not after what he did for her!