They call her Human Torch! Chapter 30

1:00 am

Mostly everyone had gone to sleep but in the living room still remained Bella, Kitty, Tony, Piotr, Steve, and Clint. Peter and Aunt May had left a while ago and at some point Tony had offered to have his driver drive Clint to the airport and have his jet fly him home to his family. An offer Clint jumped on quickly, so now he was half asleep, just waiting.

Bella tried to ask and catch up as much as she could but there was only so much she could ask.

'It seems Ms. Potts is in the elevator.'

Jarvis' voice came out lowly in the speakers since a lot of people were asleep but still Tony jumped up and smiled as he went to wait by the doors and asking Jarvis to send the elevator straight to the second floor.

Across the living room, Steve watched on almost in amusement as the doors pinged open and a tall blonde woman strode out and stopped directly in front of Stark. Her breath hitched and her eyes watered but as Stark went to kiss her she pulled her hand back and brought it against his chest. He snapped his eyes open and stepped back bewildered.

"Wh-"

"What were you thinking?! Why would you go through a.. a- whatever that hole in the sky was! Do you know what I went through?! Watching the news and seeing how they pretty much said you committed suicide to save the city?! With Bella too! Where is she?!"

Stark smirked amused and copied her tone of voice.

"Oh Tony I'm so glad you're not dead! It was so noble of you to save all of New York! I love you sooo much!"

She finally let a tear slip out as she sighed and smirked back at him a moment before throwing herself on him and kissing him. Everyone looked away when they passed 6 seconds and were still locked together by the lips. Bella gently pried Kitty's arms off from around her and got up to clear her throat.

"Well I don't think I want that type of welcome back but I would take a hug."

Instantly Pepper let go of Tony and ran passed him towards me. I stood taller to brace myself as she hugged me. She cried softly for a minute before composing herself and whispering in my ear, Her voice shook and cracked as she spoke and my eyes spilled tears for the hundredth time tonight.

"He needed you so much. We all did."

I knew what she meant by that. I knew it was her way of saying that he had a hard time finding someone who tolerated him the way I did. The thought made me want to laugh and cry at the same time.

"I missed you too Pep."

She let go and looked around at the ones still awake and waved but chose to sit by Kitty and wrap an arm around her. Now that Pepper was here and Tony's driver had taken Clint to the airport, I could finally go to sleep.

"Okay, well, Sorry to cut it short but I really need some sleep. I know most of you won't wake up until midday but I will make breakfast at the usual time before getting ready to go start our end of the clean up. Anyone who wants to join is welcome of course."

Steve figured now would be a good time to try and sleep.

"I will go with you to help start the clean up."

"Great. We'll have to get some more clothes for you soon though. I didn't miss Logan's glare when he saw you and Bruce rocking his clothes!"

She said goodnight once more and turned to leave while still laughing.

Steve didn't like that he was wearing another man's clothes. Once he was properly introduced, the guy didn't seem that bad but he still didn't have a good read on him. It seemed he and Bella had a closer bond that she did with Stark but she spends more time physically with Stark. He didn't know what it meant or how that worked but there had to be more there than just friends between them.

Next morning. October 9, 2015

Bella woke up with a start and looked around frantically while her heartbeat calmed and her breathing regulated. She couldn't remember what her dream had been about exactly but when she saw Kitty curled up next to her still asleep she calmed down enough to relax her tense form. Kitty had stuck by her like glue and last night when I had announced that I was going to bed, she came running after and asked if she could stay with me.

She was in deep sleep and I saw it was only 7:40 and breakfast wasn't usually started until 9:30. I went into the bathroom and showered to start off the day, I made a conscious effort not to dress up since we were going to help the clean up after breakfast. I put on some black skinny jeans with combat boots and decided to put on my Marvin Gaye- What's going on t shirt. I put my hair up in a french braid twisted bun and did a quick eyeliner. Once I was out of the bathroom I noticed Kitty had curled up tighter and was slightly shivering now that my abnormal body heat was no longer next to her, I covered her with a thick blanket and figured she would probably sleep for another hour or maybe 2 since the smell of food wouldn't get up here to the 3rd floor.

What the hell? I could see some kitchen lights on before I even went in but as soon as I turned the corner I stopped short when I spotted Steve sitting at the breakfast bar with a glass of water in his hand. He looked to be deep in thought and I hated to bug him but at the same time I was worried if he was okay.

"Steve?"

He flinched slightly but swung his head around to face me.

"You okay?"

"Yes, sorry, I didn't hear you coming. Why do you ask?"

"Well, your sitting all alone with nothing turned on..."

He looked around and scratched the back of his neck in thought.

"Yeah, I didn't see any radio's and I couldn't figure out how to turn on the TV or any of those fancy screens. I didn't want to wander around or make it seem like I was snooping so I stuck to the kitchen and living room."

"Crap, Steve I'm so sorry, I should have given you some type of tour last night before I went to bed. I just figured everyone would pass out until midday. You agreed to live here though so this is your home now and you have the freedom to walk around anywhere without worrying if I would be okay with you being there or not."

I looked up and frowned when I saw the wall sensors were on. I started speaking once more but this time it wasn't directed to Steve.

"Jarvis? Why didn't you assist Steve when he entered the room and got near the TV?"

'My settings are preset by Mr. Stark to assist people with a resident and or visitor file. Would you like to change these settings Madam?'

"No, but Steve will be staying here from now on so I want a resident file made for his preferences. If he needs anything that you cannot do then you contact me, understood? Also, you know I prefer Bella over Madam."

'Yes Bella. Would you like me to input all of Captain America's and Steven Grant Rogers' files into the system?'

I raised a brow Steve's way.

"Grant? That's your middle name?"

He nodded but was still looking around in confusion.

"What system does the voice want to put my files under?"

"Oh, Jarvis is Tony's baby. He is a system that is in every electronic we have, he assists us in everything we need while also keeping our information safe from hacking, you know, that stuff. He wants to load your public files and videos you have been in so he can study your personality patterns in order to learn your interests and the best way to assist you."

His mouth fell open about midway through my explanation but he did manage to nod his approval.

"Would you like a tour before breakfast?"

"Thank you, I would appreciate that."

I nodded and smiled as he got up to follow me down the stairs.

"Okay well, this is the first floor, we use the first floor and second floor the most. This front part is pretty cold, it's very formal but that's how this whole floor is, every time we have visitors that we don't trust or want around too much, we pretty much keep them on this floor only because it doesn't have any personal items."

"I can tell the furniture and decoration is not as comfortable as it is upstairs. Why does everyone spend so much time here then?"

"Well because this first half is cold but down this hall way it gets fun. We have game rooms and movie rooms for when all of us are here and we don't all fit in the living room upstairs. Then we also have the gym, basketball court, and we have a track that we built in there. The danger room is done but we haven't used it much.. it was finished only 2 months before I got stuck in Asgard."

He nodded in understanding to the last part but scrunched his face in confusion.

"Danger room?"

"Yeah, it's to train. I'll show you right now, but first, here is the locker rooms, there's showers in here for when you use the gym and connected to the locker rooms on this side, here is the pool."

He stopped and looked around.

"That is yours?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do the rest of the residents in this building come up to use it or is it private?"

"Oh no, it's private. Between our 5 floors, there are 2 floors full of servers and equipment so no residents could get up here by accident and the elevator we used is only for our floors as well so whenever you use it from the lobby, only use that one."

"Wow, I mean, I'm still stuck on the pool, your private pool is as big as the public pool we had when I was a kid."

I smiled but looked down kinda embarrassed, I remember how grand it all seemed the first time I saw it and now showing it to him, I just hoped I didn't come off as materialistic.

"Yeah, when I first saw this place I remember thinking it was all so unnecessary."

He laughed but looked back at the pool. I think he was fighting against the urge to jump in. I led him back out to the hall and scanned my hand to open the next door. It opened up to the monitor room with the big window that looked down to the extensive white room.

"I'm guessing this is the danger room? What is so dangerous about it other than the opulence on the color white?"

I smirked and waved him over to the system. It had over 100 switches and nobs. He looked lost while I booted up the computer.

"Pick a setting."

"Excuse me?"

"A setting, anything. Give me a type of place."

"Well, since this is called a danger room, I'll go with a dangerous… alley at night."

"Hmm alright, I'll give you that one. Alleys can be dangerous."

"Spent most of my younger years getting beat up in them."

I cracked a smile his way while I worked on the computer.

"I take it happened when you were human? No one I know would try to get you in an alley now."

He laughed but shrugged.

"No I get it, I always make sure to tell Kitty not to be found alone in an alley. I've had my run in's there too."

His brow furrowed but he took on an almost angry stance.

"Don't tell me someone had the nerve to hit you in an alley?"

"No, it didn't get that far. I was still human at the time and got lost while walking back to meet my friends after separating from them to go to a bookstore, I walked away from the store fronts and somehow ended up in more secluded areas filled with warehouses, some drunks were walking my way and so I ducked into an alley to take a shortcut and get away from them, the group turned out to be bigger, they had split up and planned on me going through that alley."

I paused and looked up at him but he looked absolutely horrified, and pissed, his hands were balled up and he was close to shaking so I hurried to try and play it off.

"It's okay Steve, nothing happened. I didn't- you know. They didn't have their.. way.. with me."

He calmed slightly but looked more relieved.

"How did you get away?"

"Well, I was being circled by them when a car showed up and out comes the guy who would later be my boyfriend. He scared them off and being the young and clueless girl that I was, I though he was a hero. Not that I don't appreciate that I didn't get raped.. but I had thought it was romantic and mysterious that he was stalking me and that's how he knew where I was."

I shook my head and rolled my eyes at myself and my immature way of thinking back then. I changed subjects however when I saw Steve flinch at the casual way I said 'rape'. I knew it wasn't something that was talked about openly in the 40's but he will have to get use to how casually people talk about private things now.

"Alright, so alley, night time, lets say about.. 8 men? Half armed with knifes and other half great at hand to hand combat?"

He looked back at me again in confusion.

"What?"

"The scene we are making. Let's see, have them try to hide first and then all come out together but only have one fight at a time.. yeah, for now it'll work and be quick. I don't want to mess up my clothes and I don't want to change into one of my suits since we still have this tour to finish."

I pressed the set up button and Steve looked on in confused fascination and all the red sensors blinked to life and inch by inch the walls and floor spouted color until he was seeing a typical alley with garbage cans and crates scattered around randomly. The ceiling flashed until it was a dark blue with random shining dots as stars. A stunning night really. I got up and switched on the auto lever before going to the stairs that led down to the room. He didn't ask anything but he watched closely from the window as I walked in the middle of the scene. I kicked a crate out of the way to show him how the sensors created props with actual solidity. I looked around for a moment but felt a shift in the air behind me. I turned fast but there was nothing there. Suddenly men started coming out from shadows and around the corner and I heard a throat clear being me before feeling a knife pierce my back. Shit! That fucking hurt! I wanted him to see that is was all real and that there was a reason it is called the danger room. I turned and snapped the guys neck and the sensor made him fall in a glitching heap on the floor. I looked around wondering who was coming next but smelled spearmint body wash next to me and knew that wasn't replicated by the system.

"Hello Steve. Tired of watching my demonstration already? I just got started."

"Did you really expect me to stay up there after watching you get stabbed?"

"I did that on purpose, It didn't really pierce my skin or even rip my shirt, when a weapon makes contact with you, the sensors give you a shock that simulates the pain of whatever weapon you got hit with. It's only temporary pain."

He nodded but still looked around at the men.

"Why are they frozen?"

"The sensors felt you leave the room and a new player enter the set. It's waiting for my go ahead."

"Well? Let's finish them so we can finish that tour."

He gave me a boyish smile and I knew he was as excited as I was about testing out our skills here.

"Jarvis, resume the simulation and make some applicable changes to the setting."

The air began again and the men unfroze as they circled around. We nodded to each other and got back to back while taking on whoever came at us. In less than 3 minutes we were done and not a single hair out of place other than Steve getting hit by a knife right in the cheek. He was still rubbing at the sting but agreed that the pain felt real for only 3 seconds.

"This technology is the greatest thing I have seen yet. It can't get better than this can it?"

"It definitely can but not by much yet. There are only 2 rooms like this so the public is not actually aware of this advancement."

"This is better than any gym though. I would appreciate being able to use this room again."

"Yeah of course. We just have very strict rules in here. Other than Tony, Logan, and myself, no one is allowed in here without supervision. That's what the monitor room is there for. I know you probably don't want me hovering over you all the time so I would be glad to show you how to use it but the rules apply to you too until I see you make some scenes on your own and see you use the emergency break at least twice."

"Of course. Yeah I understand people could actually get hurt here."

I nodded and he seemed to have a slight skip to his step and we exit the danger room.

"By the way, those doors to the corner there are guest bedrooms. The 1st door there is Logan's room. He is the only one with a room down here so far but Nat uses that one there sometimes when she stays over."

He nodded and followed me up to second floor but I noticed his gaze linger on Logan's door.

"Here you already saw most of it. The second floor is our main floor. The elevator comes straight here usually and just passes the first floor unless, like I said, we have company. This floor has the biggest kitchen and the dinning hall, each floor has a small snack kitchen but this is the one where we make actual meals. Other than a bunch of guest rooms and the living room, the only things you have not seen is the bowling alley and the library."

I led him to the bowling alley first and he did a double take on everything.

"Even with the modern touches, it still looks like the bowling alleys I remember. I didn't bowl until prohibition was established though."

"Why's that?"

"Well just like you have a bar here, that's how they were back then too. Bowling alleys were full of drunk men, so family's or kid's were not welcomed really but without alcohol filling the bowling alley, it became a more family oriented game and it also brought forth more women bowlers."

"That's- wow. You are like my own Wiki."

"What?"

"Oh it's a.. website.. never mind, I'll show you later."

He nodded and looked around with a smile on his face until he froze and looked at the sign on top.

"Avenger Lanes? How long have you guys been together as the Avengers?"

"It was an idea that Fury had a long time ago. It was never needed but he did recruit Clint, Nat, Tony, and I. Tony was not overly fond of the idea, especially since he had to get along and play well with others but he built this alley and putting the sign up was like an acceptance, his way of telling me he would try."

"You two are very close."

"Yeah, I can't even explain why. I just find his antics funny. Others might get offended or annoyed but I understand and see a deeper level behind the things he does. He isn't one to show emotions and he will go out of his way to make people see him as a selfish asshole just as long as they don't see his weaknesses so they won't be able to hurt him with them. Don't tell him I said that of course, but I just see passed all of the walls he put around himself. He's loyal to the ones he values, he would do anything to protect them but he won't let anyone see that side of him."

He stayed quiet and looked to be deep in thought. I knew I said too much but I wanted them to get along and knew their personality's were not very compatible so they would both need to try until they grew some type of fondness for each other. I led him to the library door and opened it with a dramatic flourish, making him smile.

"And this! One of my favorite rooms. The Library. You're in luck too because Reed had this place organized by publishing year and I never changed the format when I added my own books to the collection."

"Reed?"

"The previous owner, he designed and built everything in here. We have only added some small things here and there. Like the danger room and bowling alley.'

He nodded but moved straight towards the shelves that were under 40's he read through some titles but paused in front of one that he was reaching to before looking to me for permission to take it out.

"Steve I am serious when I say this is you home now. You don't have to ask permission to be in here or to take a book. You know Tony started building the bowling alley without even asking me."

He laughed lightly but nodded in appreciation and took the book out.

"My friend gave me this book when it came out in 1937. I remember reading it half way but I never finished it.."

"Maybe you could now. Which one is it?"

He moved it away from his front and turned so I could see the cover.

"Ooh The Hobbit is still very popular till this day but I have never read it and I still haven't seen the movies."

"They made a movie?"

He looked both shocked and excited about it.

"Yeah, I think there's like 3 movies. They just came out in 2011 or 2012, I can't remember but like I said, I haven't seen them. I know we have all of them though because Kitty and Tony watch them."

He put the book back with a smile and told me he would have to finish it later before he watched the movie. We moved up to the 3rd floor and knew this one would be quick since there was nothing too interesting up here.

"This is my floor, I call it mine because no one else has a room up here. That door is to an office that Tony and Pepper use for business when they are here, this one is mine. There are only 3 bedrooms on this floor and so they are bigger but everyone chooses rooms on the second or first floor so they can be closer to the games and kitchen."

"So this is like a deserted floor."

"Pretty much. Everyone stays on the first and second floor, they don't really care for what is up here so it's very quiet but I enjoy it because of my advance hearing, there's no way I could sleep in the second floor, it's too loud. Logan has advanced hearing too so that's one of the reasons he chose the first floor."

"I did notice that last night. Doors are always shutting or locking and bathrooms flushing."

"Did it bug you? You could easily chose another room."

"It's okay, really."

"Steve you don't have any clothes or personal things in that room. It's so easy to just come to a room up here tonight."

He thinks it over for a second but smiles softly.

"Thank you. I really appreciate how out of your way you are going to make me feel at home and helping me out Bella."

"It's no problem Steve, everyone needs help once in a while. Come on, tours almost over, we have 2 floors left but I doubt you will want to stay in them very long."

He gave me a questioning look but I ignored it and went to show him the computer lab, the conference room, pointed him to the hall of storage rooms and closets, and finally, showed him the server room connected to the photo analysis lab.

"I have no idea what that is."

"Yeah, I gotta admit, we never really use this lab too much if ever but if this confuses you, wait till you see the next floor."

"What is on the next floor?"

"Nothing but labs."

We climbed up the stairs and as soon as everything came into view and the sensors turned all the lights on, he stopped breathing. He froze for a moment but slowly walked down the glass hall towards the L shaped couch in the middle of it all.

"There's a living room in the middle of this all?"

"Yeah and some cabinets in that corner with some snacks. It's if we need a break or if family wants to be with us without getting in our way, that was one reason we put a TV in front of the couch too. That is the robotics lab, Tony's favorite of course, biology, detoxification center, electronics, chemistry, even medical- an- what?"

I stopped talking midway when I realize he is just staring at me. He shakes his head and looks down at me with amusement.

"If you know what each of these machines and rooms do then your intelligence is definitely put to better use than mine is. You are very bright Bella, it's great to see that women have much more freedom to grow and learn in fields of study than they did in my day."

I smiled tightly at him but had to look down when I felt my cheeks smoking.

Steve looked down at her and noticed her cheeks flush for a moment before they started to smoke. He felt his smile get bigger at how endearing her fire was, it came out very subtly. He didn't think on what he was doing but he found himself lifting his hand and lightly touching her smoking cheek with the back of his fingers. Her skin was hot and the part of her cheeks that was smoking almost burned his finger but when she felt his touch she gasped and stepped back.

"I can burn you Steve."

"No, it's okay. You didn't burn me, It's actually soothing."

She snorted and looked down almost upset.

"It's soothing to be burned?"

"Yes. Bella, I think you forget that I wasn't just asleep all those years, I was frozen. I feel cold constantly. You are very warm all the time so yes, it's soothing."

She looked up at me and smiled with glassy eyes.

"Well, in that case, you are welcome to cuddle anytime!"

She laughed it off and turned away from me but I had to work on keeping from groaning at the visual in my head of me holding her. What is wrong with you? I have never been a man to get random erections just because I saw a pretty girl. I didn't even act this way around Peggy! Did I? No, I don't remember ever being inappropriate with her like I am with Bella. Thinking of Peggy made my chest hurt. I wondered if I could ask Bella to help me look into what became of her, I've been wanting to know for sometime but as the same time, I am afraid of what I'll find.

"Steve?"

"Hm? Oh, sorry. I'm coming."

Bella turns and keeps walking towards the last floor, her cheeks still smoking from the embarrassment she felt. She couldn't believe she actually told Steve he could cuddle with her anytime, he didn't laugh or even smile so I don't know how he took it. I shook it off and led him up the stairs and straight into the big hangar that actually had the space to hold 2 Quinjets or 3.

"Wow, what is the use of this?"

"Well it's a hangar so I guess it would be handy if I had a helicopter or a Quinjet but since I don't.. there's no use to it other than when I fly out to the store or somewhere. I usually use this roof access more than I do the elevator. This is the only thing up here other than the amazing observatory."

"Observatory? Here?"

"Yeah, Through these doors. It's my favorite place in the whole apartment, I come here when I need to think or if I just can't sleep and want to stargaze."

I showed him the basic switches to open the dome without the telescope interfering.

"This is automatic so if it is raining, you don't have to worry about water coming in, it will open but keep the glass layer closed so you can still see out."

He nodded but when I pulled the switch and the dome started moving he looked up for a moment and moved to lay down in the middle of the floor. I gasped as he put his hands behind his head, causing his biceps to flex. That's it! I'm in love. I must have stared too long because he sat up and looked at me confused.

"Bella? Is everything alright?"

"Y- yes, it's just.. everyone always sits on the chairs and they laugh at me for laying down on the floor like a kid… It's just nice to see someone else do the same."

Steve tilted his head in confusion at that.

"Well that doesn't make sense. If I sat on a chair then I would have to crane my neck to look up."

She smiles and bounced up to balance on her toes for a second before giggling beautifully and laying down next to me and exclaiming.

"Exactly! That's what I've been saying for the longest time!"

She rolls onto her side and uses her elbow to raise her body enough to rest her head on her hand. Her curves are put on display just 3 feet away from me and I can feel her body heat from here. Stunning.

I could honestly say I was in awe of the apartment but mostly of her for this place to be all hers. It made me wonder how she achieved all this.

"Bella? I hope this question is not too personal or offensive in anyway-"

"It's okay Steve, ask away."

He took a deep breath and I noticed he looked hesitant about asking or maybe over how to say it.

"How did you get here? Natasha told me last night that you adopted Kitty. I was just wondering how you achieved all this?"

I sighed and looked to him seriously before trying to come up with the shortest explanation since it was already 9:07 am.

"I assume you saw my file correct?"

He nods and tells me what he knows of the cosmic cloud and of the trial.

"The trial was really long and extensive, I didn't know what I would do with my life after it though. I had lost my father and going back to Washington just wasn't an option. It no longer felt like home, not really. I didn't want to go to university as planned, it suddenly wasn't a priority and I didn't have control of my flames yet so I didn't trust myself at all. The end of the trial finally came and all the victims ended up getting a great lump of money but while the bank managers and lawyers decided how to split the money, my lawyers asked me if I wanted to request anything, I was going to say no but suddenly I remembered that the suit I wore to the space station had been exposed and it was the only clothes I owned that conformed to me and didn't burn. I asked for that solution and how to make it, it was given to me even though it was supposed to be protected by the company rights. The next thing I asked for was Reed Richards lab. I knew he had one in his apartment and I wanted it, I knew my DNA was different, I knew I was no longer just human but I didn't think I was a mutant either even though everyone was calling me that. I couldn't trust anyone to study me or try doing experiments on me so I needed to do them on myself and I would need a lab for that. They agreed to giving me the apartment and it solved the problem of where to live after the trial as well as the lab. The trial was over but things were still confusing for me because I had an apartment in New York but I still had nothing to do. One day there was a knock on my door, it was Phil and Fury, they tracked me down and told me about the Avenger initiative and how they would train me to be an Agent. Suddenly I had a purpose. I could use this new gift or mutation to help people. I agreed and a few days later I finally came here with an insurance guy to see the place."

I had to laugh thinking back on that day.

"I told him he had the wrong place when he told me it was a penthouse. He even double checked his papers to make sure he was right. No one, and I mean no one ever told me that his lab was in a penthouse. I thought it would be a small 2 bedroom place with one room converted into a lab but oh surprise surprise.. This place was huge and I was just one person alone with no family or friends in a new city I knew nothing about. I started training at HQ a few days after I moved in here and after a few weeks, I became good friends with Clint and Nat. A few months after that I had to go on a mission with Clint, we finished early and we split up since his family home was nearby. I got a rental car and on my way driving back here, I had stopped for food when I heard 3 kids arguing about being jumped by some guys and not having any train tickets to get home, no way to call their school to come pick them up, and no money to eat. They looked about ready to cry but I heard them make a comment about being mutants and having their things taken by humans. I knew we were not in a state that was very.. tolerant to us so I had to help them get home or at least buy them food. They recognized me from the trials on TV and felt better to be with another mutant. Long story short, I bonded with Kitty on the way home but I then dropped them off at the academy, which is a school for mutants, she asked me to go back and visit her and I promised I would. Then the disaster at the Stark Expo happened, Tony and I bonded as well and after the fight was over, he and Pepper stayed here for a while in the aftermath and clean up. After that I finally went to the Academy to visit Kitty, I met Logan properly and talked to him but when I touched him, he snapped, my shield had covered him somehow and he remembered some things that made his claws come out, they went t-"

"Claws?'

"Yes, he is a mutant as well and teaches at the academy. Anyway, he lost control and punctured me with them, I was dying in his arms when I passed out. I woke up and it turns out he had transferred some of his blood to me and that is how I have enhanced hearing and healing, as well as strength and a whole bunch of side effects that made me have more of a temper and bad control over my flames. After a few visits, I decided to mentor Kitty and be her guardian but in the end I adopted her and after a few months I saw the file Shield had on Bruce, I figured he could teach me a thing or 2 about control so I went looking for him and ended up being great friends with him, I went back at the same time every year. Slowly, accident by accident I have made the big family I always wanted and made this a home. That is how I achieved all this. Accidents."

He laughed lowly but looked around.

"That's amazing. Thank you for telling me all that. I know you didn't have to trust me but I'm glad you did. And it makes sense now, the bond you have with Logan. I couldn't figure it out."

"Yeah, we are all family but us being so similar because of our blood, it's strange, we really are family by blood. He is still a grouch most times though."

He laughed softly and I laugh harder knowing he might be straining to hear since he is so nosy but we are too far up.

"I should have known you would be here!"

We jumped and saw Tony leaning on the far wall. What the hell? How did I not hear him?!

"Were you looking for me?"

"Uh yeah!"

He pouted and gave me puppy dog eyes.

"It's been 8 months since I've had your food Bells, I lost weight! Can't you tell?"

He put his hands up and turned in a circle. I had to laugh and get up before offering Steve my hand.

"Shut up you baby! I'm coming."

"Yay!"

He looked at Steve and then back at me smirking.

"Sorry for interrupting your moment by the way, I'm just hungry..."

"Mmhm, sure. What do you want?"

"I want your hollandaise sauce.. oh or your German crepes."

"How about.. crepes filled with eggs and ham, topped with hollandaise sauce?"

He stopped walking and looked back at me before looking at Steve and smirking.

"You see? You see how easy she makes it?"

He went towards the elevator muttering 'Amazing' under his breath, followed by a laughing Steve. Once in the kitchen, Steve sat in the breakfast bar, near the stove and Tony came around to the screen that he had installed into the counter for music.

"Come on Bells, where is the music? We always cook to music. How about some Marvin Gaye?"

"Who is Marvin Gaye?"

"Oh my friend, the music that is waiting for you! He was a singer mostly popular in the 60's and 70's."

"Um, I always cook to music, you do no cooking unless it's for an experiment which doesn't count since it's not edible."

"Yeah yeah. Be quiet, we are about to educate Capsicle!"

I looked over to Steve and saw him smirk so I knew he was at least not offended at the nickname.

"Alright let's start with something slow."

3 seconds later the first voices started talking in the beginning of the song 'What's going on' but they got quieter and finally the actual lyrics started. I almost started laughing at how closely Steve payed attention to the lyrics. He leaned in and tilted his head a little but slowly a little smile played on his lips at particular lines.

We don't need to escalate

You see, war is not the answer

For only love can conquer hate

You know we've got to find a way

To bring some lovin' here today

At the end of the song Tony paused it so the next one wouldn't play and we both stared at him expectantly.

"Well? What did you think?"

"It's a good tune. It's a different rhythm I hadn't heard before."

"But did you like it?"

"It was okay."

We nodded, pleased with the answer since we weren't too big on it either but it was an okay song.

"Yeah for me his best one has to be the classic 'Ain't no mountain high enough'"

"That's a good one, we'll play that one next."

I laughed as he started looking for it while I finished up the crepe batter.

"Do you need help Bella?"

"Oh no buddy, rule number one, no one helps Bella in the kitchen. Only Pepper or aunt May can help her on special occasions. You get in her way in the kitchen and she will get grumpy, you do it a second time or you take too long to do a task? You get a part of your body lightly burned. Logan heals so he actually does get fully burned."

Steve widened his eyes while I blushed but he nodded in understanding. I couldn't even accuse Tony of lying because it was true. I relaxed as the bells started chiming in the beginning of the song, Steve even seemed to enjoy it immediately. Why wouldn't he? This song is awesome and classic. From the music to the lyrics. I started swaying my hips and Tony started singing. I joined for some lines but I mostly concentrated on cooking.

Remember the day I set you free

I told you could always count on

me, darling

And from that day on I made a vow

I'll be there when you want me some

way, some how

I got more into the dancing but my favorite part came on just as the elevator pinged. I knew it had to be Kitty since she was the only one on another floor and Logan used the stairs. I started singing as she came into view and pointed the spatula at her playfully as I sang louder.

If you ever in trouble, I'll be there on

the double

Just send for me, oh baby

Ha!

My love is alive

Way down in my heart

Although we are miles apart

If you ever need a helping hand

I'll be there on the double just as fast

as I can

I don't know if it was just seeing me cooking breakfast as casually as I did all those months ago or if it was the lyrics but she stood frozen in the doorway until her eyes filled with tears. She blinked and ran to me as soon as her tears spilled over. I opened my arms right on time for her and did my best to rock her to soothe her strong emotion. It did get to me, the emotion over such a simple thing that happened everyday here but now seemed different after so long.

"It's okay baby girl, I'm here now okay? That will never happen again. It's actually something I can promise."

My promise seemed to have calmed her dramatically and she was able to pull back and smile back at me while she wiped her tears.

"Come on, sit down and introduce yourself formally to Steve, you ignored a lot of people yesterday young lady."

She smiled shyly Steve's way and walked right through the kitchen counter to get next to him while she extended her hand. I saw Tony cover his mouth and his shoulders shake as he laughed. I glared his way but the look on Steve's face did make me laugh lightly. I know she did it on purpose to throw him off and it certainly worked.

"Hi, I'm Kitty."

He nodded her way but lightly put his hand in hers, like he thought it would go through her but he relaxed when his hand was able to shake her now solid one.

"Kitty, nice to meet you. I'm Steve."

She smiled at him easily and I relaxed. Why I cared if they got along? I don't know. Yes I did but I could ignore that part of me for now.

"So mom, where is Bruce? I'm looking forward to meeting him after so many years."

"Oh you probably won't meet him today honey, he gets really tired for a day or two after the big guy takes over, he is going to need a lot of sleep."

"But why? I thought you guys practiced his control all the time when you visited?"

"There's a difference to him choosing to transform, and him losing control and having Hulk take over without his permission. When he loses control like that, it takes a lot out of him."

She nodded slowly, still thinking about it but eventually as I kept cooking, person by person woke up and joined us. Piotr came over with his pajamas and came straight to me to give me a kiss on the cheek.

"Good morning Piotr. How did you sleep?"

"Better than I have in a long time."

He smiled and went over to introduce himself to Steve before sitting next to Kitty and putting an arm around her. What? It's just a support hand.. right? I looked to Tony and found him studying them as well. Well if anything was going on there, which I doubt… I guess Tony would already know.

Pepper came in next showered and dressed already and she automatically started juicing oranges and chatting with Steve and Tony. Nat and Logan came in at the same time, which caused me and Pepper to smirk at each other.

"Kitty, Piotr, can you guys go set the table please?"

They nodded quickly and left the room. I turned to Nat and tried starting up conversation.

"So if no one was coming here while I was gone, where would you guys meet up? Or actually most importantly who cooked for the whole group?"

I laughed, thinking of the amount of take out they needed to feed all of them but quieted down when I looked around and realized everyone was remaining quiet.

"Natasha? What do you know?"

She was looking at everyone oddly but looked at me almost guilty for a second.

"I haven't seen any of them since New Mexico."

"What? What do you mean you haven't seen them?! Why not?"

She shrugged and looked down.

"We were all in New Mexico when you disappeared, looking at every angle just trying to figure out how it happened but you vanished into air. Eventually Fury needed me on other missions and.. no one came here on weekends for dinner because you weren't here. There was just never a time for me to see them."

I was confused as it was but that didn't answer much. I turned back to Pep, Tony, and Logan.

"One of you has to explain what the fuck happened because if you all just drifted apart like we are not a family, I am going to get pissed off."

Pepper sighed and looked at the 2 men before she started talking.

"We had some bumps along the way. Hours after you disappeared, Jane and Darcy were waiting to see if you would come back, they didn't know what would happen but eventually they had to start making calls. They called Tony first, and I was there when they did."

She looked to Tony and I saw her eyes begin to get glassy.

"He didn't take it well, I didn't either but.. I mean, we flew to New Mexico right then and there and we knew someone had to tell Kitty in person but we didn't know what to say! Jane said that Thor told her he would come back for her! We didn't know if it was an accident and you were standing too close or if they had taken you on purpose. He said he would come back and all we could do was wait for you to come with him…. We called Logan and told him what happened but we told him not to tell Kitty yet. We didn't want to tell her you were gone because there was still a chance you would come back and we would have put her through that pain for nothing."

Her eyes were full of tears as she spoke but towards the end it sounded and looked like she was pleading for me to understand. I got a heavy feeling in my chest as I braced myself for the worst.

"What did you tell her?"

Logan spoke this time.

"We came up with, we- I told her that Fury had sent you on a mission and that you couldn't use your phone."

I put my elbows on the counter and cradled my head in my hands, knowing Kitty would not take that well once the truth came out. Pepper started speaking again but I was only half listening.

"After a few more days went by, we had nothing and, we had to tell her. She didn't take it well that we lied to her and… Logan told her in person but Tony and I called constantly but she never answered her phone and with me having to go back to work and Tony was obsessed with finding you.."

"You stopped calling?"

Their silence was enough but Tony's words only served to get me from upset to angry.

"I tried calling her every week Bella, she never answered. We called Logan every week too just to get updated but she wasn't speaking to him either, only if it was needed at the school… I tried to fill in for you with Peter but she wouldn't even take his visits when he went to the school, not after he told her that I had taken over his mentoring and given him an internship.. She blocked us all out. We hashed it out after a few months, it's fine now-"

"Months?!" I scoffed and turned to him as I glared.

"So that's it? She didn't answer a call so you washed your hands of her?! Why didn't you go yourself? Charles would have let you into school grounds for her, you could have tried harder Tony! How could you of all people give up on her? You are her self proclaimed 'godfather'! How am I suppose to let that be when I could die in any battle that I go into? I thought this whole time that if the day came and I were gone, she would still have you! She would still have this family! How did you all let it go to shit just because-"

I saw his hands ball up and his eyes narrow before he finally exploded.

"YOU WERE GONE! You were gone and I didn't know if you were coming back! Every freaking myth that even had the name Thor in it is engraved into my mind from all the damn research we did, all the reading, all the money spent on building stuff, all the calls, nothing got us even a theory of what could have happened! I didn't, I couldn't give up on you but everyone around me was! I couldn't- I"

He couldn't finish talking when his throat was closed up and tears streamed down his face. He put his head in his hands and I saw Pepper start crying. I started crying from the strong emotion he was showing but also just thinking about what both he and Kitty had gone through.. I felt like shit for telling him he could have done better but for Tony, taking my place with Peter was the best he could do while trying to hide how affected he was. I went up to him and embraced him while he held on tight to me as well.

"I know I messed up. I knew I should have been trying harder but I just-"

"I'm sorry Tony, I know you did what you could. I'm so sorry you had to go through that with everyone. We are a family though, we can't fall apart or turn our backs to each other like this. Why did it take so long to fix things over?"

I heard crying from the dinning room but soon after Piotr was guiding Kitty into the kitchen. She looked to Tony and cried harder.

"I'm sorry for shutting you out. I knew I shouldn't have, and I knew mom wouldn't be happy with me about it but I just got mad and I didn't want to think about the possibility that I would never see her again and I held onto that anger because if I let go of it.. I couldn't. I'm so sorry uncle Tony, I was such a bitch to you and I was worse to Logan and to everyone that even looked at me wrong… I'm so sorry It took so long to snap out of my own head."

Logan was closer to her and wrapped his arm around her.

"Kid, we aren't mad at ya, Xavier told me exactly what was going through your head, I understand it was your way of protecting yourself, you hurt a lot of people for it, but I explained your reasons to the rest of the family and that is one of the reasons they stopped calling for a while. I know that hurt your feelings too, you felt like we gave up on you but we didn't kid. We all love you and your mother, these passed 8 months don't mean nothing. We will get through it and all will be like it was before. One big happy fuckin' family."

Kitty let out a small giggle through her crying but I had to hold back my laugh.

"Logan! Don't you speak like that in front of my daughter."

"Bella darlin' I am with her at school when you're not around, she talks worse than I do. Little sailor mouth."

I look to her incredulously and know he couldn't be lying because she blushes bright red and tucks her head while pushing at Logan. I wasn't really upset, I swelled with emotion at seeing both of them. I would still have to talk to her privately but this was a step forward in getting back to what we were before… I heard a beeping noise one second before hearing the cabinet above me open and out come a fire extinguisher tube. Maybe my swell of emotion had made my body heat go up but before the thing could be sprayed on me, I ducked and rolled right on time.

"NO! Oh god Bella what did you do?!"

I looked up confused at Tony's reaction and saw that the foam from the tube had landed in the Sauce and he was currently trying to scoop it out. I looked at him for a moment in silence but burst out laughing the next and when he looked up to glare at me, the rest of the kitchen joined in on the laughing, much to his displeasure.

"Tony I can start another one, it only takes like 10 minutes."

He sighed but nodded while taking the pot to the sink and rinsing it out. I smirked and looked around at my crazy, but happy… fuckin' family.

"Alright, we need to get breakfast in our stomachs so we can get going. Who is coming with Steve and I?"

Steve and I both smiled proudly when every single one raised their hands. Now I just hoped Bruce would not wake up while we were gone…