DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the Avengers except the little children in the story. They are all part of my mind.
Back at Avengers Tower, Tony prepares himself for a spa day…which to his dismay was suggested by Pepper.
Bruce gives a devious smile to Tony while snacking on some raisins, "You excited for your relaxing day?"
Tony rolled his eyes, "I'm only going to this ridiculous place because Pepper is forcing me to…she thinks it will 'help me come to terms'".
"Ah," shrugged Bruce, suddenly serious. "You know I had a hard time coming to terms with the big guy…but sometimes a little relaxation can really help!"
Tony chuckled sarcastically, "Hey I know when you get angry and whatnot, you turn into the Green Giant from the green beans can…but this is a slightly different situation."
"Ha...ha. You gotta come up with some better insults than that…one might say you've lost your way! Maybe the spa can help." Bruce's annoying laugh echoes down the hallway as he trots out of the room.
Ever since he found out the truth about the death of his parents, everyone around him deemed Tony "broken." Tony thought he had kept a tough exterior after his falling out with Cap, but inside he really did need help. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the image of his mother and his father being brutally murdered. His anger towards Bucky and the death itself welled up so much he could punch a wall. He brought himself back down by taking the deepest breath he could.
He told Pepper about these thoughts of anger and depression and agreed that he wanted something to help them subside. But he had serious doubts that a "spa day" at the Nature's Healing Center would help with anything other than his newly found lower back pain.
…
As Tony neared the building, he had an overwhelming feeling this was going to be a total disaster.
"FRIDAY, if I die in here…tell Pepper it's her fault."
"Sir, the chances of you dying during a healing treatment are extremely low. One might say one-in-million," FRIDAY stated.
"Sometimes I wish you would keep your statistics to yourself," Tony sighed as he slowly slinked out of the car.
As he entered the building, Tony was smacked in the face with the overwhelmingly heavy scent of lavender and vanilla. The receptionist at the front desk gave him a smile so large it actually looked painful.
"What have I done to deserve this?" Tony asked to himself looking up at the ceiling.
"I'm sorry?" asked the receptionist.
"Oh, I said how are you doing today?" Tony tried his best to hold back some of his sarcasm. He agreed to come…he never agreed to enjoying the experience.
"My name is Shara, and I will be your healing guide for the day. Follow me to your room!" She led the way to a room that looked like it came straight out of a movie.
Clair de Lune by Debussy played over a Bluetooth speaker in the corner. The room was covered with fragrant flowers and trees of all sizes. An overwhelming smell of tea tree oils and eucalyptus plants filled the air. There was a single massage bed in the middle and a mini hot tub in the corner opposite of the speaker.
"Wow…this is actually kind of impressive" Tony said aloud, surprising even himself.
"Here at Nature's Healing Center, we strive to provide comfort and healing not only for the body, but for the mind and spirit. Whatever your past has dealt you, we want you to let it all out in this room." Shara spoke in a timbre so calming it could even make the Hulk fall asleep.
"I've gotta be honest with you, Shara. This place is wonderful, but I highly doubt anything you make me smell or massage you give me is going to help the fact that my parents are dead…and were killed by a man whose friend I thought was one of my best." Tony tried to choke back tears.
Shara stared dumbstruck by Tony's words. She softened her face and brought back her calming demeanor, "You might be surprised by the power of nature and self-reflection. Take your time in the hot tub and in about 30 minutes I will come back to start your massage. If you would like to talk it through with me, I would love to do what I can to help you heal."
"Sure thing," Tony sighed with a forced smile on his face. As Shara left, he stepped into the bubbly hot tub.
Immediately when soaking into the hot tub, Tony saw flashes of his parents. Any time he attempted to relax...his mind refused to let him. All his anxieties, fears, and flashbacks continued their never-ending haunt. He tried to think of anything else, but it always came back to that night. Well, that day actually. The day he found out that one of his closest friends became what seemed like an enemy.
Tony thought he would never forgive Cap. To be honest, he still really hadn't. He had agreed to keep everything civil. But every time he saw his face...he felt nothing but betrayal.
The longer he soaked in the almost boiling tub, the longer Tony became angered. He was angry with Steve, with the soldier, with his parents, with himself. Honestly, the list could go on.
"I have to get out of this hellhole."
Right as Tony stepped out and wrapped the warm towel around himself, Shara quietly opened the door behind him.
"How are we doing in here, Mr. Stark?"
"Wow, Shara. You know, that's definitely a loaded question. It's hot as hell, the smell of eucalyptus is incredibly overwhelming...like seriously do y'all own a factory? It's so 'calming' in here it makes me want to gag!"
Shara remained completely stone-faced, "Do you think the reason you are having such a strong and negative emotional reaction to this room is because it is making your body so relaxed and your mind so open that all you are able to think about is your past trauma that you spewed all over me earlier?"
"Um…well I don't even know how to respond to that, Shara. I think my charming demeanor is really rubbing off on you." Tony just sat there. Almost in shock of the response.
"Well, I can assure you, Mr. Stark, that's definitely not it. I think it might be the fact that I might possibly be right."
Tony couldn't think of anything to say. Not even one of his sarcastic quips. "I never planned to come here and talk to anyone. Honestly, I didn't plan to come here at all. It was kind of forced upon me. I definitely thought I would just be making fun of it the entire time."
Shara nodded in agreement. "I figured that, Mr. Stark. Now how about we talk about why you are really here? Think it has something to do with forgiveness from what I picked up on earlier."
Shara sat down gracefully on the cushioned chair next to the door. "I don't need details, Mr. Stark. I just want to help you in any way that I can."
"I don't know what makes you think that you can help me when I can't even help myself." Tony hated that he felt open enough to talk to anyone about this.
"Basically, I have a friend. Well, I had a friend…I do not really know. It's complicated. He decided to keep something very important about my parents to himself. Thought he was honoring his other 'friend.' It involved life and death. It involved my mother…my father."
Tony could barely speak as he felt a ball well up in the back of his throat. Was he really saying all this aloud?
Tony continued, "I want to talk to him. Trust me, I want to forgive him. But there is such a big part of me that hates him. That is so angry I could scream." At that moment Tony did what he said. He screamed.
"HE KNEW!" Tony sank to the floor and just stared straight ahead at the eucalyptus plants. Why did those damn plants make him so angry? He glanced up at Shara in her chair. She looked at him with understanding, not pity.
"Mr. Stark. I obviously have no idea what you are going through and what your friend has gone through. But I do know a thing or two about forgiveness. It's not easy. It's the furthest thing from easy and it's so often completely misunderstood. You are not forgetting what happened. You are not justifying that the pain your friend has caused you is no big deal. Forgiveness simply means that you are choosing to let go of your anger, your hurt, and your deep desire from what might seem like vengeance."
Shara stood up from her chair and sat on the floor next to Tony.
"I don't ask that you leave here completely happy and forgetful about what your friend did to you." Shara handed Tony a tissue, "but I do ask that you think about beginning to heal. The emotions, the anger, the anxieties that you have are deep scars. The way that you can help those wounds to heal is to forgive him. Move on. Become better than you even were before…talk to him, Tony."
Shara stood up and walked out of the room, leaving Tony on the floor next to a pile of unused tissues.
As Tony walked out of the building, opting out of the scheduled massage, he thanked Shara and found a way to make one more joke about eucalyptus before he closed the door behind him. He got into the car and just sank into the seat.
"Are you alright, Mr. Stark?" FRIDAY calmly asked.
"You know what…I think I might be." Tony felt a slight weight lifted at the thought of actually moving on. He could never forget what Cap did. But he might actually be ready to forgive. Besides, making fun of him is so much more fun.
"Shall I let Ms. Potts know it was a successful spa day?" FRIDAY asked blankly.
"If you say anything to anyone, you're going to be replaced with R2-D2…. he's more fun any way." Tony quipped.
"Affirmative, sir."
While Tony is heading to the Spa, Steve is in the kitchen the next morning just making coffee and preparing to start making breakfast for everyone when he hears a small noise to his left. He looks around to say hello to the person but there is no one there.
Next thing he knows there is someone tapping him on the shoulder, without looking he knows it is Natasha. Only her and Clint can truly sneak upon him but Clint most of the time likes to hum a song, Steve does not know if Clint does that to show that he is respecting Steve's space or if he really does always have a song playing in his head.
Steve: Hey Natasha! Do you want to help me with breakfast? I do have coffee ready, and I am waiting for the kettle to finish heating up before I get the tea ready, but you can get the tea bag ready if you want.
Natasha: Dang it Steve! How did you know it was me, all I did was tap you on the shoulder? Since you started breakfast, what are you making for us?
Steve: Well, since I really wanted bacon so we have bacon with some waffles, you can't forget
to have some fruit to go along with the waffles. I even stocked up on that syrup that you like.
Natasha: NO WAY! you were able to obtain French Lady bourbon Syrup. How the stores have
been sold out for weeks. I completely hate you!
Steve: oh, since you hate me then I guess I get to keep all this syrup for myself. I spoke to the manufacturer of the syrup and bought a case of it just for you. Well technically Tony did but he won't notice the charge on his card anyway.
Speaking of Tony, has anyone seen him today? I assumed he would have been the first one to arrive in the kitchen because he loves the smell of bacon in the morning.
Bruce walks into the kitchen and says that Tony may be gone for a few hours, Pepper is making him go to a spa to help him relax and maybe sort out his problems. As Bruce says that last part, he looks at Steve directly. Steve looks away knowing that he has caused so much tension in the Tower. He starts thinking to himself that it may be better for everyone if he leaves the tower for a few months. That way Tony can relax in his home without being constantly bombarded with the betrayal that he did to him.
Natasha looks over at Steve and can see him slowly wallowing in his despair and turns to Bruce and says you really had to mention Tony's problems, didn't you? I know you didn't mean for it come out like you are blaming Steve but that is exactly what it sounds like.
Natasha turns to Steve, elbows him, and says Don't do that! don't think you don't deserve to be here with us! Tony knew what he was doing when he said that you can still live here. If Tony still harbored any bad feeling towards you, then you would not be here right now in the tower.
Steve looks so broken down and replies, Tasha how can he not be mad at me, I mean I kept this secret for so long and even though I planned to tell him, it all blew up in my face. I completely destroyed both him and his trust in me. I still feel like he should not forgive me.
Both Natasha and Bruce come over to Steve and hug him, Bruce gets Steve's attention and says when Tony gets back you two need to have a heart to heart with each other because it seems to me that you both are still skirting around the big issue.
You both have forgiven each other but never had an actual conversation about it. Steve looks at Bruce knowing that he is right.
Natasha cannot stand to have her big brother look like his kitty died (let's be honest Natasha seems like a cat person), so she figured she needs to do something to help bring him out of his funk.
So, the first act is that she grabs a waffle and three strips of bacon and some strawberries so she can make him a smiley face waffle. As she is making the smiley, she starts reflecting on when she had gotten so comfortable with everyone but also when she actually started to let down her guard with Steve and the rest of the team minus Clint of course. She does not want to think too hard so after a few minutes she shakes her head to get rid of the fog she is in and screams to Steve that breakfast is served, and it is happy to see you.
Steve looked over at her and chuckled saying thank you Natasha for making me a breakfast plate.
Natasha figured out this would be a suitable time to ask a question she has been wanting to know since Steve first spoke of the hospital. Steve, can I speak to you about something? Steve looks a little nervous but says of course you can ask me anything.
Natasha says, "when are you planning on going back to the hospital?
Steve looked at Natasha confused not because he didn't understand the question but rather that he was surprised that she mentioned the hospital at all. He couldn't see her wanting or even being curious about the hospital. He just assumed that Natasha was only being polite when they had the "team" meeting about the hospital. He replies to her, I haven't decided on a date, but I can go whenever since I have an open schedule right now. All I would need to do is just call Patrice the volunteer liaison to let her know I am coming and if I am bringing anyone.
Natasha looks straight at Steve and says, I want to go the next time you go, and I prefer sooner rather than later. In fact, do you think we can go today like this afternoon?
Steve looks at Nat and says, if you don't mind me asking why are you in a rush to go to the hospital?
Natasha looks back and says, I can't explain it, but I feel like I have to be there for some reason. I've learned a long time ago that I should not ignore my feelings or my gut because I have always learned to regret it.
Steve can see that she is completely serious so he gets up to grab his Starkphone to call the Children's Hospital to see if he and Natasha can come visit today.
"Good morning, this is Patrice the Volunteer Coordinator, how may I help you"
"Patrice, this is Steve Rogers, we met the last time Tony Stark and I came in."
"Yes, Captain Rogers, how are you? Is there anything I can do to help yall?"
Right when Patrice says Captain Rogers Natasha and Bruce notice that Steve just gives a small grimace before he replies, I was wondering if Natasha and I would be able to visit today. I was telling the team about it and Natasha is just so gosh darn excited to go to the hospital to bring cheer.
Patrice seemed shocked that Captain Steve Rogers was saying that Black Widow wanted to visit the children's hospital, but Patrice finally composed herself and looked at the schedule to see if there was any other event or activities that would interfere with them coming. After looking at the schedule, she didn't see anything in particular that could cause an interference except there weren't too many children on the floors that could completely take visitors.
" Mr. Roger or do you prefer to be called Captain Rogers, yes you are more than welcome to come today but there aren't as many children in the wing you visited as the last time you came but you can definitely do the children's wings but also make an appearance down at the ER so the kids aren't as bored while waiting for a doctor."
As Patrice starts talking Steve puts the phone on speakerphone so everyone can hear what she is saying and when she mentions not a lot of children in the wing, Steve looks towards Natasha in a way asking if she still wants to go today and she nods her head. Steve let Patrice finish speaking and said that they will be there later on today, but he doesn't know exactly what time. He then asks if he needs to check in with her when they arrive.
Patrice was taken aback that he still wanted to come even after hearing that there may not be as many kids as before. She tells him that yes he should check in with her before heading to the floors just so she is aware they arrived and that she can tell the nurses that they have visitors in the hospital. They hang up and Steve's turns to Natasha and says what time do you want to go?
Natasha couldn't believe that Steve went with what she wanted, she was expecting some kind of argument about how he has some errands to run or that he needs to be somewhere else today since Tony was busy today. She turns to Steve and says I just need like an hour or so and I should be ready how about you.
Steve looks at her and said that he needed an hour as well and that they would meet back in the common room in 1 hour. Steve grabs his phone and starts heading towards his floor and Natasha waits a little bit before she follows him. As she is following Steve, she hears him on the phone with someone and it sounded like he was cancelling some plans. She couldn't tell who he was talking to, but it sounded like it was an important meeting that Steve was rescheduling. She didn't want him to find out that she was spying on him, so she ran up to her room to take a shower and get ready to go visit some children in the hospital.
An hour passes by and both Steve and Natasha are in the common room getting ready to leave when Natasha couldn't contain her curiosity anymore and asks Steve if he had any plans today, since she didn't really give him a chance to say no to the visit today.
Steve turns to look at her and says No I didn't have anything important that couldn't be rescheduled or cancelled. You should know by now that my team is my family and family always come before anything.
Natasha had to look away because she felt so touched that Steve didn't think twice to cancel his plans for her. She couldn't believe that she lucked out with having him in her life and knowing that he will always be there for her. She thought to herself that she had to say something since Steve is starting to look at her weird so she looks back at him and says Well that's good to hear because who knows when we will get to the hospital if you keep looking at me instead of moving to the car.
Steve looks at Natasha and says do you want to drive, or do we want to catch a taxi there?
Natasha thinks long and hard and says I think I want to ride your motorcycle because I want to be the one that puts my arms around you. She smirks as she says the last part since she knew that would confuse Steve to no end. Then starts heading to the garage so she can get her helmet and be ready to ride on the motorcycle. Steve becomes confounded for a minute then starts running after Natasha, when Steve gets to the garage, he sees that Natasha is leaning against his motorcycle. He has to stop for a second because he wants to commit the image to his memory so he can either sketch it or paint it. Steve grabs his helmet and turns to Natasha and says are you ready to go?
Hell yes, I've been waiting for you Stevie, Natasha says with a smirk fully knowing that Steve loathes that nickname. She doesn't have to wait too long before she can hear Steve groaning from the nickname.
They both get on the bike and start heading towards the hospital when all of the sudden Steve feels a head on the back of his shoulder. It seems like Natasha is just resting her head on him even though he knows she is enjoying the ride.
They park the bike under a tree and head inside the hospital, Steve is internally thanking God that he didn't think to wear his captain America outfit this time. They head to the front desk and ask if they could page, Patrice the Volunteer coordinator. While they waited for Patrice to come down or be told to go up to her office, Natasha looked around the first floor and started to scoop where she wanted to head if they weren't told where to go. Natasha wanted to visit the kids on the floors, but she definitely wanted to visit the ER since she figured children will be sitting in the waiting room for a few hours while waiting on the doctor.
The volunteer at the front desk says Ms. Patrice will be right down to meet yall and take you where you need to go. Steve and Natasha step away from the desk so the volunteer could help other people.
Steve looks at Natasha and says are you ready for this? I will warn you that it's not all going to be happy kids that you see. We don't have to stay together but I definitely want to introduce you to Kali today so she knows there could be another person who would visit her if that person chooses.
Natasha smacks Steve on the arm and says No, I decided I don't want to do this anymore, I wanna go home. Of course, I am ready for this, I didn't expect this trip to be all puppies and rainbows. Yes, I definitely want to see Kali especially how you and Tony spoke about her. About that time Steve turns his head and see Patrice walking towards them.
Captain Rogers and Miss_, I'm sorry I don't know what you want me to call you, Ms. Patrice says meekly.
Ms. Patrice, you can call me Ms. Romanoff or Black Widow, whichever is easiest and comfortable for you.
Okay Captain Rogers and Ms. Romanoff, first off let me start off by saying we are so happy to have yall here to visit the children. I know they will most definitely enjoy having you here. I have a list for both of you, so you are aware what floors you are able to go to and what floors are off limits due to health issues. You can go anywhere that shows open, that does include the ER because I know they were inundated with cases this morning, so I don't know if they have all been seen yet. I know I don't have to mention this but if you do visit with a child, we ask you don't talk about the patients with other patients. We strive to have confidentiality on all levels. I am going to take you to floor three which is the day surgery floor but after that you can go wherever you want as long as it is open on the sheet.
Thank you, ma'am, for all your help and I can say wholeheartedly that we will not be sharing any patient information with anyone. But I will say I know the Avengers may talk about a patient with each other only for the reason that someone can check on the patient the next time they are here just in case the original person couldn't make it.
With that all three of them moved to Floor 3 and once the elevator doors opened Steve and Natasha exited and Patrice stayed on and wished them well.
Steve knocks on the left door and says hello is anyone here?
They hear a voice to the right of them that says "Hello, I'll be right out.
Steve and Natasha wait by the door for the person to come out.
A boy around the age of thirteen walks out of the bathroom but was hunched over as he started to walk to his bed but after the first few steps, he started to wobble a little to the point where Natasha and Steve ran over to help keep him from falling.
So sorry about that but how can I help you the boy asked because he had not had a chance to see who helped him to his bed since he figured it was a new doctor or nurse that wanted to look at him since he had a rare condition and it seemed that EVERYONE wanted to come see him.
Stave looks at him and says there is nothing to apologize for, Natasha and I are just going around to the different floors and just visit with some of the children on the floors.
The boy just looked up and made eye contact with Steve and Natasha and said, "I am just supposed to believe that you are just visiting kids and you decided to stumble into my room. I call bull on that, which nurse or doctor put you up to it.
Natasha steps forward and makes sure she meets his eyes again to say "look believe me no one can make me do anything I don't want to do. Steve can tell you how long he had a bruise on his face after he tried to convince me to do something I did not want to do. We are here because we want to be, not because someone told us to come. On that note, why would anyone tell us to visit you? Oh, by the way, what is your name since I figured you know mine and blondie over there"
My name is Kovu, yes, my parents like Lion King 2. I figured someone wanted me to be engaged in conversation while I wait for the result of the biopsy that was taken today since my parents were unable to be here today for it. Do not worry though my parents will be here in time to pick me up tonight to go home.
Steve, Kovu and Natasha talked a little bit more until Kovu started to look tired, so Steve and Natasha said their goodbye and told him that they hope to see him again if he comes back. Which they all knew was a real possibility.
Steve and Natasha went to a few more doors then decided to split up so they could cover more ground. Steve went to the main floor to see if Tommy was in the hospital today while Natasha decided to go to the ER.
Author's Note: Hello Everyone! We just wanted to let you know that we planned for this to be one chapter, but the thought bunnies ran away from us and now we are having to split the chapter into two parts so it's not so long. But that just means that the next part should be posted faster.
If you like, please review or if there is something you dislike or want to happen in the story please review and we will be happy to see if we can put it in.
