Hey, it's been a while hasn't it? Sorry about that, schools been keeping me pretty busy lately. So this little AU is kinda based of the one-shot I did a while back Dancing in the Rain, same deal as that. Only difference is it's a little later in the timeline, all this happens after the Avengers. So just go with me on this one. If you've requested something, I promise I will get to it...eventually. Thanks for reading, let me know what you think! =D

I'd always been able to ignore it, but today I'd had enough.

Junior high was supposed to be fun, before things got hard. I guess my school never got that memo. Peter was the only thing that made it better.

Peter Parker was a junior in high school and tutored me in science. We met when Midtown high (the high school I'd be going to) matched us up, extra credit for him and homework help for me. But it turned into something else entirely, we turned out to be friends. Even after I pulled my grade back up we still hung out, we were both kinda misfits and just clicked. Over time he became more like another big brother, Peter was an only child and said he'd always wanted a sister. Being adopted, I soaked up his brotherly affection like a sponge.

My dad, was really a distant relative, he took me in when my parents died in a car crash. It happened when I was like two and I couldn't remember any of it, or my parents so Bruce was the only dad I ever remember having.

Some said it wasn't a good idea or safe for a little girl to go live with a scientist, especially since he worked with such dangerous chemicals. Not to mention his green alter ego. But Bruce Banner wasn't one to listen to the opinions of others, so he proved them all wrong by being the best dad in the whole world. Not that the world would see it that way, several times people who had no right to butt into our lives tried to have me taken away. They said it was child endangerment but every time a court case came up Tony would shut them down with the best lawyers money could buy.

Tony was my dad's best friend, and he was always around. So I grew up with him around as an annoying older brother, even though dad said he was more of an uncle. Tony said that made him sound old and uncles have to be responsible, that goofy older brother fit him better. I can't really think of a time when he wasn't there, Tony had been there for me and dad since as far back as I can remember. Although dad was always getting onto him and Pepper for trying to spoil me, Tony would always pout and say he needed to share.

Of course I living in Stark Tower with my dad meant that my life was different from the normal kids. My family extended to the others that lived there as well. Even though they weren't there all the time, I had found a home with the Avengers.

Aunt Tasha and Uncle Clint were the coolest, they always brought me something back from their missions. And when I started taking an interest in archery a few years back Uncle Clint was so proud. He kept rubbing it in Tony's face, that I wasn't a nerd like him. Aunt Tasha would just roll her eyes at their antics. And when dad wasn't looking show me the best way to throw a punch to break someone's nose. The tiny smile she would get when I finally got it right was the best feeling.

It was always like that though, they'd try and outdo each other whenever I got curious about something like that, turning it into a competition. Of course the boys always lost, especially when Pepper and Tasha teamed up on them. Although, when Thor was around they had a better chance.

He wasn't around all that much, but I loved it when Thor came to visit. Dad was not all that happy with him when he gave me a dagger for my tenth birthday though. Thor just laughed and said I would be a mighty warrior someday, that almost started a fight between the two of them. Dad didn't want me to have anything to do with S.H.I.E.L.D., superheroes, or violence of any kind. It took a lot of convincing for him to let me learn how to use it.

The only one that never participated in their shenanigans was Steve. Our relationship was special, he was the one who encouraged me to keep drawing when I felt like giving up. We would go hang out in Central Park and sketch whatever came to mind, he'd point out things that would help my technique.

He thought my fixation with his shield was hilarious though, for some reason (much to Tony's disappointment) ever since I was little I thought it was really cool. When I was still small enough it was my favorite hiding place for hide-and-seek, behind Steve's shield. The first time he found me there, I'd fallen asleep waiting for dad to find me. I woke up to Steve cracking up, he couldn't stop laughing.

Tony's way of one-upping him there was to make me my own shield, of course it was red and gold instead and nowhere near as cool as the original. But I never told him that, it was Steve and I's secret.

Tony tried for the longest time to get me to call Steve gramps, but it never stuck (not for lack of trying though) he was just Uncle Steve to me.

For the most part I had a great home life if a bit weird.

School…not so much.

The bullying started in started when I was 12, now I was 14 and about to enter high school. At first I just ignored it, but only got worse over time. Since it was only ever verbal and wasn't physical I never told anyone about it, I didn't want anyone to know. I guess I just thought if I left it alone they would stop, I was wrong.

Today I hit my breaking point, and that was why I was sitting in the principal's office with Mark Johnson. He was twice as big as I was, but I'm not the one with a bloody nose now was I?

It was in between classes and Mark cornered me at my locker.

"Hey dweeb! Where do you think you're going?"

Sighing I turned around.

"To class, like I do every day. You should too. "

I really didn't want him to ruin my good mood, today everyone was at the tower and I was excited. Mark being a jerk was the last thing needed.

"Whatever freak, just thought I'd tell you what a loser you are."

Peter must be rubbing off on me because I slammed my locker shut and glared at him.

"I'm not a freak, so quit calling me that!"

His eyes widened, I usually never stood up to him. He grinned maliciously and knocked the books out of my hands.

"You're as much of a freak as your dad is."

A day didn't go by that without him or one of his friends saying something about my dad. Trying my best to ignore him, I started to pick up my books.

"Yeah, wouldn't surprise me if you turned out just like him."

As I stood up, I narrowed my eyes.

"What? A hero? Cause that's what he is."

He just laughed.

"No, a mistake that's all you are. And a monster, that's all he is."

That was the word I just wouldn't tolerate.

"What did you just say?"

"How stupid are you I sai-"

Something in me just snapped and I punched him in the face just like Aunt Tasha showed me.

The satisfaction I felt as he fell to the ground howling and clutching his nose was immense. Of course it was short lived as the hall monitor rounded the corner and stopped short at the sight. Mark started sniveling and lying about how I just attacked him and that was how we ended up missing last period sitting in the principal's office waiting for my dad to get here. I could have been home by now.

When the door opened I looked up expecting to see my dad's disappointed face, but instead it was Peter. He glanced at me and then looked over at Mr. Smith with a smile.

"Anna's dad wasn't able to get away, so he called me. What seems to be the problem?"

After frowning at me and Mark, Mr. Smith turned to Peter.

"It seems Miss Banner attacked Mister Johnson, we think his nose is broken."

A look of pride flashed in Peter's eyes before smoothing his expression into a disappointed one.

"Anna, why did you hit him?"

I glared at Mark, not caring anymore as I answered him.

"I'd finally had enough of his bullying, today was the last straw."

Mr. Smith looked shocked, I don't think he thought honor roll Mark had it in him to be a bully.

"Is this true Mister Johnson?"

Caught he just nodded without looking up.

After a second of silence Mr. Smith looked over at Peter.

"Since this is the first time Miss Banner has ever acted out like this and apparently it was warranted…I'll let it slide."

Then he looked at me and Mark.

"Just this once, I expect not to see either of you in here again."

I jumped up and followed Peter out of the school. I was starting to get worried when he didn't say anything.

"Peter…are you mad at me?"

He looked down at me in surprise.

"Mad? No, I'm not mad Anna. I guess I'm just sad you didn't say anything about this."

I frowned.

"I didn't want you to know. I didn't want anyone to know."

He stopped and sat down on a nearby bench and ran his hand though his hair.

"Why not? You didn't even tell your dad?"

I sat next to him and sighed.

"It's embarrassing. And it would just make my dad feel terrible, he'd think it was somehow his fault. I can handle it."

He looked up with a frown on his face.

"How long?"

Mumbling, I answered him.

"Since I was 12."

"WHAT? Over two years?"

I crossed my arms and looked down.

"It's no big deal Peter, just drop it."

He got up and threw his hands into the air.

"Of course it matters! If someone is bullying you, tell me about it. I can't help you if you don't say anything."

Looking in his eyes, I didn't see the pity I expected but just concern. Unwanted tears started running down my face, as I thought about all that I hadn't told them about.

"Oh come here."

I squeaked in surprise when he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a hug. After a moment I relaxed and hugged him back.

"Thanks Peter, I'm sorry I should have told you."

He let go and smiled.

"It's okay, I just want to be able to help and I can't if I don't know about it. Now, you ready to go home?"

Wiping my face I nodded.

"Yeah, that sounds good. I think I need to talk to my dad."

He grinned and hopped on his skateboard.

"Well let's not keep him waiting then."

It was an accident, I just happened to overhear Bruce's conversation with the school. He looked upset and then called Peter and asked him to go to the school for him because he couldn't get away. And he couldn't, if he left what he was doing right now it might explode. So curiosity got the better of me, I hacked into Lisey's school security system to see what was going on.

"Hey Tony, Anna got called to the principal's office. What do you think hap-"

Of course Bruce would have the worst timing, he came over to my side of the lab just as I pulled up some kid knocking all her books to the ground.

I moved to turn it off, but he stopped me.

"Leave it, I want to see."

Sighing I let it play, if this made him hulk out…

We watched as she picked up her stuff and said something to the jerk. There wasn't any sound so I don't know what it was he said back to make her so mad but it must have been bad because she flat out socked him in the face. I started to laugh when he fell back and started crying but stopped short at the look on Bruce's face.

"Am a bad parent?"

Why did it always come back to this? If there was anything he was doctor of it was self-doubt and insecurity.

"What? Not this again!"

He frowned and looked back at the screen.

"She's obviously being bullied. Why wouldn't she tell me about this?"

I sighed.

"I don't know, she's a teenage girl. Why do they do anything?"

Taking off his glasses, he rubbed his eyes.

"I just…sometimes I think I'm not doing enough. I'm always busy, we never have time like we did when she was little. She spends more time with Peter than me nowadays, this is my fault."

Getting tired of the pity party, I rolled my eyes.

"This is probably why she never said anything. Lisey hates when you do this, go all emo on her. Everyone hates it, so cut it out! You are a great dad so stop thinking you're not."

A hint of a smile crossed his face.

"You think so?"

Exasperated, I went back to the security footage and looped the wonderful moment when she punched him in the face. Quickly e-mailing it to the rest of the team and Pepper, I deliberated on whether or not to plaster it all over the internet. Nah, I don't think that would earn me any points with her. But this is gold, I'm definitely keeping it.

"I'm not repeating myself Banner, now get back to that before it blows up the lab…again."

I heard him chuckle as he headed back over to whatever it was he was working on.

"Thanks Tony."

Turning back to my tinkering with the latest upgrade to my suits, I just smirked.

"Don't mention it, seriously don't. Can't have anybody thinking I've gone soft."

"I think you went soft when you let a little girl talk you into playing dress up Tony. Remember, you looked so good in a tiara."

I smiled, thinking of years gone by. And all the blackmail pictures I'd gotten that day. I mean who could forget Capsicle getting stuck in a tiny chair during a tea party? Priceless!

"Yeah, I seem to remember you just loving the feather boa. What was it king of the stuffed animals?"

At the same time we both burst out laughing.

"What's so funny guys?"

We'd been laughing too hard to hear Peter and Lisey come in. After we finally stopped laughing, Bruce got up and hugged Lisey.

"Nothing sweetheart, how was school?"

Her eyes grew wide and she looked back at Peter. He only smiled and nudged her forward.

"Well, I wanted to talk to you about that."

Talk to someone if you're being bullied, don't go through it alone. Not saying anything will only make it worse later on down the line. Keep your chin up, things always get better. =)