Author's Note: I want to thank everybody for their support you can't imagine how grateful I am when I receive a notification telling me someone has favourite or followed or even reviewed my story. I know all of you don't feel the need to review simply because you may have nothing to say or are like me sometimes and are too lazy, don't worry I'm not complaining because it's a fact of life. Normally I don't write huge author's notes but today I felt that a truth should be shared.
The truth is that this site has saved me.
I've grown a lot in my years online here, I've read things I couldn't imagine, I've talked to people I would have been too shy to say hello to. I'm confidant now; I'm braver, stronger and smarter than the child that joined.
You all must think I'm quitting now but I'm not I just wanted to take the time to tell you that you are awesome.
We don't get told how special we are enough outside of the world's we have created and we should be because we are all beautiful, ingenious and creative people who have banded together over a fandom and shared a love across the world with strangers because we couldn't express ourselves any other way.
So thank you for all your support over the years and I'm grateful that we've met. Now's here's the new chapter, read on!
Chapter Three: The First Night Together
Ellyza was confused. And this upset her, as Ellyza has only been confused once in her life when she asked the Sister Rose why she was in an orphanage and what it meant. And here she was with Tony Stark and Captain America talking like old friends. She didn't like it. Why was she still here? She could feel herself trembling as each though made her more anxious until she felt like crying. Luckily before she could begin to wail Steve spoke.
"Hey ladybug, hey" he said softly watching Ellyza as her face clouded over with each emotion she felt.
"It's alright now sweetie, but it's too late to bring you back okay" Steve told, that settled Ellyza. That made sense to her.
What Ellyza didn't know is that Tony had already began the adoption process so in a few hours' time Ellyza will be officially declared their daughter. The only trouble Tony was having, was he couldn't find any record of Ellyza's birth, it was like she didn't exist until she was dropped off at the orphanage. It puzzled Tony and there wasn't anything that Tony liked than solving a puzzle.
"Hey now doll, why don't we play a game?" Tony suggested once the silence filled the room.
Ellyza looked at Tony "A game?" she asked sceptically.
Ellyza has never played a game before the other children told her she was too babyish to play any games with her.
"Yes a game! How about we play with a puzzle?" suggested Tony. Ellyza felt a smile creep up on her face. She loved puzzles. Before Tony realised that if he wanted his father's attention he needed to build electronics and robots he used to adore puzzles. It was the one thing he and his mother Maria bonded over. It was the one thing he kept from his childhood.
Ellyza nodded yes to playing puzzles and Tony grinned and went out to get the boxes containing them. He knew in the future he would have to buy more updated versions.
It wasn't long till Tony came back and gestured for Ellyza and Steve to move in to the sitting room. Finding a place on the floor Tony took out one of the boxes containing a puzzle of Captain America.
"I forget I had this" Tony smiled at Steve.
Steve forced a grin back, he knew of Howard's obsession with finding him to the point he neglected Tony. He would never forgive him for that.
"Right doll lets get started" exclaimed Tony and he pulled Ellyza over to him ignoring her stiffening and placing her on his lap as he scattered the pieces all over the floor.
'It was nice watching them' Steve thought. At that moment he fell even more in love with Tony as he watched him gently cradle Ellyza in his arms as they both scavenged for the connecting puzzle pieces.
Tony, Steve and Ellyza must have been working on the puzzle for over an hour before Tony realized Ellyza had fallen asleep in his arms.
"Play times over Cap" he whispered as he peaked down at Ellyza's face. Her forehead had smoothened out making her look even younger than five and Tony couldn't help but coo at the little girl in his arms.
Steve made his way over to Tony and gently scooped Ellyza into his arms instead so he could carry her into the bedroom. Fearing Ellyza would be more afraid if she were to wake up by herself in a strange room. They brought her into their master bedroom, placing her in the middle of the bed so they lay down on either side of her cocooning her in a blanket of warmth and protection.
This was how they slept that night, in cased in each other's arms with their future between them.