Chapter 3

It took two more weeks for the team to find them and they were immediately taken to med bay.

"They suffered from nothing worse than severe sunburns and slightly malnutrition. Dr. Cho is going create a diet for Steve, but I figured you'd want to contact Andy's personal nutritionist." Bruce told Tony.

"Yes, I'll call him immediately." Tony confirmed. Andy had started seeing a nutritionist when she was younger and had trouble with her weight. Tony would have been fine with her being a little heavier than most, she was his daughter and he loved her, but when she started getting made fun of in the papers he had to step in.

"So other than the sunburn and malnutrition she is alright?" Tony questioned.

"She is fine Tony, you can go see her if you'd like." Tony walked into the medbay where a nurse was applying burn cream to Steve and Andy. Tony gave Steve a sideways glance before looking back at Andy.

"I knew I should have gone with you."

"Dad if it weren't for Steve I would have died, I think you should apologize to him." She said. Tony scowled and looked back over at the super soldier begrudgingly.

"I'm sorry Spangles, I was wrong. Thank you for taking care of Andy."

"It was no problem Tony, but you need to give your daughter a little more credit. She is a good, strong, intelligent woman that you've made feel small because she is different and that's really wrong." Steve snarled.

"Steve don't." Andy sighed.

"Is this about the mutant thing, don't let her rope you into that. She doesn't have to be this way, none of them do, they have injections to fix it. I tried to get her to take the cure, to be normal, but she wouldn't." Tony said and tears gathered in Andy's eyes.

"You don't love me Tony Stark! You don't love me and you never have! You say you don't want to be like Howard, but you're just like him! When things got too hard for you, you sent me away, just like Howard did you. You care more about your image than you do me. You care more about Stark industry than you do me! You got drunk and called me a freak when I was 13, do you have any idea how bad that hurt?" Andy said and stomped off.

"There is nothing wrong with her, but there is something wrong with you." Steve said and went after her. Steve found her sobbing in his room.

"I took the injections, it didn't work… so I lied and told him I never took them. I thought telling him they didn't work would just make me seem like more of a freak." She cried.

"Hey Shh…. it's ok, you aren't a freak, Tony is just an ass." Steve soothed her.

"Cap said a bad language word." Andy joked and giggled, Steve smiled and chuckled.

"Yeah, well I do that when people are mean to nice dames." He said and kissed her forehead.

"I need a drink." She sighed and wiped her face. Steve grabbed a bottle of whiskey off of his shelf and a couple plastic cups. Steve gave her enough to settle her nerves, but not enough to get her drunk.

"Steve?"

"Yes doll?"

"Can I stay with you tonight?"

"Of course." Andy laid awake in Steve's arms as he ran his fingers through her hair.

"I just realized we never showered… do you mind if I?"

"No I don't mind, go ahead." She got up and walked towards the bathroom Before turning back.

"Do you want to come with me? I think I might be a little tipsy." She lied. The two had gotten used to doing everything together, Steve didn't blame her for wanting one last shower. The two undressed and stepped under the warm spray. Steve massaged her scalp with shampoo and she sighed happily.

"Steve, this isn't something friends do is it?" She asked.

"I don't know… I mean I've showered with Bucky before, but I didn't help him scrub his back." He joked. She turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck. They drifted closer as they were interrupted by Jarvis.

"Miss Stark, your father would like to speak with you in the lab." The AI announced.

"Tell him I'll be there in fifteen minutes." The two finished cleaning up and Steve let Andy borrow some clothes.

"I'll see you in the morning."

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"

"Yeah, I'll be ok." Andy kissed his cheek and left. She nervously made her way to the elevator. She sighed and breathed in Steve's scent. She knew she was falling for him, and she felt as though Steve was falling for her as well. If Tony wouldn't accept her, at least she knew Steve would. The elevator opened and she saw Tony sitting at his desk while Bruce tinkered with a piece of machinery.

"Hey sweetheart. Come sit down, Pepper brought down some snacks." He offered as she walked over. There was a plate of frosted sugar cookies on the desk, she took one and nibbled on it.

"Look I want to apologize, I know I wasn't the best father, and I'm sorry I couldn't accept you. After you left the med bay I listened to some of your speeches, I should have been listening all along. I'm so sorry I called you a freak, you're not a freak. I love you, I'm so glad you're home and I will do anything to make this up to you." Tony told her.

"Attend a mutant rights convention with me next Saturday."

"Consider it done, I'll have Jarvis put it on my calendar and clear my schedule for that day." Tony told her. "Now… I haven't seen you in a month, can I have a hug?" He questioned. Andy stood up and hugged him tightly.

"It's good to have you back."