AN: So I am in my final year of MBBS (India) I would be an intern next year. The situation is really bad with CoVid. I wrote this to get out of the anxiety it is causing me. Please wear your masks follow CoVid appropriate behavior. Get vaccinated if it's available (India is facing a Vaccine shortage).

July 4th, 2011.

Steve groaned as Rhea dragged him out of the bed. "Happy Birthday," She beamed at him with a cake in her hand. Steve huffed when he noticed candles say Ninety-three. Rhea chuckled, "The bakers thought I was ordering for my grandfather and asked if I wanted it to be delivered outside the nursing home," Steve looked at her hurt. She continued laughing. She felt something cold against her cheek, she realized he had spread the frosting on her cheeks. Steve grinned at her cheekily.

"You know they cause me acne," She looked at him betrayed. He scooped another and spread it across her face. She glared at him.

"I really don't want to waste this which is the only reason you aren't covered in the cake but," She placed the cake on the side table and looked at him evilly. Before Steve could even realize he was covered in shaving cream.

"Rhea Durga," She giggled and ran out of the room. Steve followed her out of the room. Rhea ran into the kitchen without realizing that she didn't have an escape.

"Gotcha," Steve caught her waist pulling her towards his torso.

"Steveeee! No!," She tried to squirm out of his hold as he tried to bury his face in her hair.

"No… Steve… Steven!" Rhea realized her hair was full of shaving cream.

Steve clutched his stomach as he doubled over as Rhea pouted at him angrily. He booped her nose, looking down at her. She stuck her tongue out.

"You are a big bully Rogers,"

"I am anything but a bully,"

"Whatever makes you sleep," She huffed as she stalked to his bedroom going into his bathroom to clean her hair.

"I am taking your T-shirt,"

"Or stealing?" She giggled before she ducked into his bathroom. Steve smiled softly as she closed the door.

Rhea felt her heart flutter as she noticed the soft smile grazing Steve's lips. "No, you imagined that,"

"Rhea he is your grandfather's friend, your friend doesn't let your mind and heart wander," She told herself as she started washing her hair.

Steve wondered what was she mumbling to herself, "Abe paglait chori, kuch bhi soch rhi h. chup kr. tikk h…"

"So what have you planned for the day," Steve asked after she stepped out of his bathroom her hair wrapped in a towel.

"I am going to take you somewhere. You will love it. Watch the fireworks and some barbeque."

Mrs. Harrison's Orphanage.

Steve read the board before him. "They are going to love it." Rhea smiled as she handed him the box of firework she took out of her Car's trunk.

"Finally, the car saw the light," He teased her, "Okay I am a really bad driver, I don't want to crash thousands of dollars," She looked at her Audi and huffed. "I told my old man, don't get me this I will rather drive a Honda," She adjusted her beanie and sunglasses. Steve chuckled as Rhea tried to put the best impression of her father, "No, you are a Stark you aren't driving a box of metal,"

Steve grunted as she placed one more box. "Sorry old man," She gave him a cheeky smile. "Too bad that I like you Stark,"

"Or else,"

"I wouldn't be here carrying these," She elbowed him to the side. Steve pulled off her beanie.

"Hey, you are ruining my hair," She pushed Steve though he didn't budge.

They walked into the orphanage to see the kids. "I come here whenever I am in New York. Grandma Peggy brought me here when I had first come to America. Mom used to take me to a homeless shelter back home on my birthday. Always share your joy but never let anyone see your pain, which was my mother's motto."

"She sounds great,"

"She was strict but at the same time, she was the most nurturing person. After meeting Dad I always wonder how chaotic it would have been if they brought me up together." Steve chuckled, "I sure he would have driven mom mad," She smiled wistfully.

Steve was taken back as the children tackled Rhea. She laughed as she scooped one of the girls up. They all were excitedly telling her about their day. He was scared that he would lose her among the kids. Just then a small boy not more than six came up to him assessing him. "Are you Di's boy friend?" Steve knew Di meant elder sister in Hindi

"I am just a friend,"

"But you are a boy?" The boy stressed.

"Jon," He heard an older lady admonish the child, "Grandma Betty, he is a boy,"

"I can see that young man but you can't talk like that to people,"

"Hi, I am Elizabeth Harrison,"

"Steve Rogers,"

The kids were curious about their Didi's boyfriend. They drowned him with questions. Rhea chuckled as Steve looked at her for help.

"Guys leave him alone. No, he is not my boyfriend," Rhea tried to pry Lara an eleven-year-old away from him. "But Di, he looks like prince charming," She whined. Rhea coughed and turned away to hide her blush.

Rhea was playing with sparkles, Steve smiled at the child-like excitement in her eyes. The younger ones looked at her in awe. Rhea turned to him and flashed a bright smile before she started making shapes and alphabets with the sparkles for the younger children's amusement. He felt his heart flutter.

"Thank You," Steve said as they parked outside his apartment.

"I wanted you to have fun,"

"I did," He hummed as he looked at her, his hand rose to cup her face. Rhea slowly nuzzled into the warmth of his palm.

'What the fuck are you doing?' Rhea's brain screamed at her. Her phone pinged breaking them from the moment. Steve's hand fell from her cheek. He scolded himself, 'What were you thinking Rogers?' They sat in her car staring at the empty parking lot. The awkwardness between them was too much for Rhea to take in.

"I need to go," She coughed. Steve looked at her apprehensively, "It's night, and your navigation and driving skills are pathetic,"

"I managed to reach here in one piece in the morning, didn't I?"

"In the morning the number of drunken idiots were almost zero but now, call your dad's driver or you stay with me here,"

"Okay I will text Happy and ask if he is still in New York," She grumbled. Steve chuckled. Rhea texted Happy. She turned on her car's stereo as they waited for Happy to arrive. An old Hindi song started to play. Steve smiled as Rhea started to sing along the song.

"It's my mom's favorite she would always sing this," She said as the instrumental began. She smiled before joining back. Happy texted her confirming he was still in New York with her dad. Steve changed the songs to country music. "You have a wide range of music taste." He said, "What can I say music is music," She shrugged before slowly swaying to the song. Steve smiled at her before he leaned against the seat.

A sleek Ashton Martin pulled up in front of them in the parking lot. "Okay that's my ride, I am leaving my car here," He nodded, Steve helped her out of the car and hugged her. She was grinning like an idiot as she got into the front seat of the car. "Should I be worried?"

"Oh my God Dad!" Rhea screamed as she saw her Dad in the back seat. She felt nervous. She made a mental plea that her father didn't recognize Steve.

"Who is he?"

"A friend," Tony's Eyebrow shot up. "It's not like what you think, I am not going to say anything, and don't snoop around me."

"Is he good?"

"Yeah, old school, but better than the douches out here."

"As long as you are safe Kid,"

"I am, Dad,"

"What's his name?"

"Grant," She noticed him taping into his Stark Phone, "No…"

"I need to know,"

"Dad, please,"

"Captain Grant Stevens 26, from Brooklyn, discharged due to PTSD" Rhea sighed her Dad found details about Steve's cover. "He looks familiar," Rhea's breath hitched, 'Please don't ask don't ask,' "He is 26 Rhea, he is older than you,"

"Dad I am not dating him," Rhea snapped, "Grant is a great guy, and I know when to spot a douche,"

"My daughter is in a world of adults and she is friends with a man who is almost eight years her senior I think I have every right to be scared," Tony spat back.

"Happy drop me at my place, I am not coming to the tower," Rhea avoided Tony for the rest of the ride.

Rhea slammed the door shut as she walked out of the car. Tony sighed, "What do you think I should do Hogan?"

"Maybe let her test the waters, just be there for her if anything goes wrong,"

"You sound like her mom,"

Tony remembered reading the second letter Durga left for him.

"She is stubborn Tony she got it from both of us; if she does something that could probably hurt her, don't try to prevent it. Let her test the waters, let her learn her lesson. You need to fall before you finally stand."

Rhea grumbled as she opened her apartment door. Was she making a mistake? Tony had always been on the fence about her living on her own doing her own thing.

July 23rd, 2011

Rhea inhaled before she stepped into her father's Malibu house. She hadn't spoken to her father since that day. Pepper had been acting as an unwilling messenger between them.

"Welcome home Miss Stark," Jarvis greeted her.

"Thank you, Jarvis"

Rhea was in her room when she heard Pepper call out for her. She walked into the living room to find her dad sitting on the couch sulkily. Rhea wanted to roll her eyes at her dad's childishness. Pepper looked at the two of them, her feet tapping against the tiled floor.

"Are guys going to talk?" Pepper asked exasperated after five minutes as the father-daughter duo stared down each other.

Tony huffed, "Mr. Stark, it's your daughter's birthday tomorrow,"

"The said daughter is being impulsive,"

"The said daughter is not dating anyone definitely not her friend," Rhea snapped back.

"The said daughter is too naïve and oblivious to men,"

"The said daughter is an almost anti-social to today's standards,"

Rhea could feel steam coming out of Pepper's head, "Both of you stop!" Rhea huffed, "As much as I want you to be independent I don't want you to be hurt kid," Tony said softly, all of Rhea's anger dissipated as she saw the defeated look on Tony's face, "I don't want you to make mistakes I made. Being a kid in an adults' world is both a curse and a blessing. You can be lured into anything,"

Rhea sat down next to him and hugged him tightly. "I know your fears Dad, I am cautious. You know that I won't let anyone in. Grant, is a great guy. I feel safe with him. Sharon knows him." Tony's shoulders dropped at the mention of her surrogate cousin. "So he is Carter approved,"

"One hundred percent,"

"I know there is more to the kid because I can't find more about him. His file is deeply encrypted,"

Rhea tried to hide her smug smile, she had taken Kichu's help to encrypt Steve's file. She didn't trust SHEILD's encryption. Kichu's talent was amazing.

"Now that you guys have patched up can we talk about tomorrow?"

"No party," Rhea said, "But Ri," Tony protested

"No Dad nope, I want to spend some time with you and Pepper."

Tony nodded before he hugged her, he planted a soft kiss on her forehead. "I can't lose you, kid," He whispered softly.

AN:

Abe paglait chori, kuch bhi soch rhi h. chup kr. tikk h…"

Translation: Stupid girl, you are overthinking. shut up,. Okay.