A/N: I haven't abandoned the story. I have been so busy with college. I am not satisfied with this chapter but still posting.

Chapter 8

She jumped awake. She was all sweating. She saw Clint rushing into the room. "Ri kid shake it off its just a nightmare." Rhea hugged Clint and sobbed. "They killed him." She said in between her sobs. "Rhea kiddo, it's just a nightmare." Clint hugged her as she went back to sleep.

The next morning Rhea was avoiding Clint and Laura. At breakfast, she was looking down at her plate. Laura sent a worried glance to Clint who nodded at her. As soon as she finished the breakfast she went out of the house to the barn.

She was feeding the horse when Clint came in. "You know there is nothing to be ashamed about having a nightmare. I get them all the time. Laura has the habit of being woken up in the middle of the night."

"How did you even figure out that I was thinking all that?"

"An educated guess. We have a guest who would like to talk to you."

Rhea entered the house. She saw a nervous looking Laura leaning to the kitchen counter she found the said guest sitting on a chair near to the dining table.

"Miss Rajput I am Director Nick Fury SHIELD. I am here with a proposition for you?"

"And what that might be?" Rhea asked. She cringed at the arrogant tone that came out of her mouth. If her mom was there she would have given her a swat on her head.

"You are indeed Stark's daughter." After a brief pause, he continued. "I heard you were able to take down your attacker alone."

"For that, I was rather fortunate to have an opponent less competent than me. If it had been someone as trained as Clint here or any of your other agents then I would not have survived."

"That can be overcome by properly training you." Rhea raised her hand. "Director I assume your proposition earlier was about my involvement with SHIELD. If it is so let me inform you that i am least interested in this. I don't want a target to be stuck behind people I love because of the job I have. I don't want to live each moment of my life fearing someone to kill me. And it's rather insensitive of you to ask a teenager something this crucial. Its national security Mr. Fury, not a child's play of hiding and seek to recruit me into the mess." With that, she returned to her room with Cooper at her tow.

Nick gave a smile. "I think Director Carter was right about her she is more of her mother than her father. Future of shield is safe with her than anyone else Phil and you would have to drill her hard."

"But director she hadn't agreed yet.

That's where I need you. You have seemingly built a strong friendship with her."

"Sorry director, Rhea Rajput is her own person it should be her own decision," Laura interjected. "We cannot manipulate a confused teenager to take such a big decision."

"I agree with Laura over the matter director. We should give the kid time to think."

Rhea stayed with the Bartons for around two weeks. She had spent most of her time playing with Cooper and watching over Lila when Laura was busy with the farm. By the time Rhea had to leave for California, she had become Cooper's best friend. Rhea bent down to a crying Cooper. "I promise to call Cooper." "Every day?"

"Every day." Rhea gave him a kiss on the cheek and turned to the waiting car. An hour later Rhea found herself in quinjet heading to California. Clint shook awake Rhea. Ri kid we have reached. Rhea got out of the quinjet. She saw pepper waiting for her. She ran towards her and hugged her. Rhea broke down again after days. "I miss him." she sobbed. "Me too, honey," Pepper said as she pulled closer and pressed her lips to her forehead. "Miss Potts we are ready for you." Rhea turned to see a rather cheerful agent around his forties. "Agent Phil Coulson." He introduced himself. "Miss Potts shall we?" "Yeah. Let's go home Ri."

Rhea spent half of her time going through her dad's stuff browsing through them trying to get to know the man who she knew as her father for a few months, someone who she might never get to know ever again. Rhea felt so empty. She came across one of his journals. She opened it.

Mom,

I know I rarely write these days to you. The last time might have been fifteen years back to tell about Durga. Today I got a letter from her. Someone very special is waiting for me, mom. I can start my life now. I am getting back my family. I am sad that I missed her first step to the very first of her very first day at school and everything. I can't afford to lose any more moments in her life. She loves music and plays veena. She looks so beautiful mom. I am going tomorrow to get them here.

Tony

Rhea sobbed clutching it to her chest. She felt someone coming and sitting next to her on the floor. She knew it was Pepper. "I don't think he would love the idea of you moping around here."

"I will never know him. I can't lose him Pepper like mom. I will be no one without them."

Pepper pulled her into a hug. "You are their daughter. No one can steal that from you, honey. They will be always there in your heart."

Rhea sobbed harder. Pepper held her till her sobs subsided. "Did you have lunch?"

"No."

"Let's go upstairs and have something."

Soon after having her lunch rhea ran into her room she vomited out all she had. "Ri honey. Are you alright? Do we need to see a doctor?"

"I am fine Pepper."

"Miss Potts, Miss Rajput was skipping her meals for many days now." Quipped in Jarvis.

"Is that so?" Pepper was standing at the doorway of her bathroom with arms folded across her chest. Rhea glared at nonexistent Jarvis. "Ri honey, answer me."

"I did have chips and coke. I am not starving."

"Rhea they don't count to be a proper meal, honey."

"STOP going all mother hen over me. I know what to do. GET OUT."

"RHEA, stop it this instant." For the first time, Pepper yelled at her.

"I don't want anyone to take care of me. Now stay away from me." Rhea slammed the bathroom door at Pepper's face. "Rhea Durga, open the door this instant."

"Who are you to me? My mom? Or dad's girlfriend no you are no one. I don't want to see you. You remind me of her... go away, Pepper."

Rhea curled into a ball in the bathroom floor. She sobbed herself into sleep.

Rhea woke up to find herself in her bed. She looked around to see a figure dozing out in a chair.

"AAAAAAAAAA" she screamed.

A/N: constructive criticism welcomed