Hey everyone! I'm back, first off a huge apology for taking so long to get this chapter out. Has anyone just had one of those weeks where nothing goes for you? Well I have had that kind of month. This chapter was a bitch to write and it went through three different rewrites and then I ended up losing half of it and had to find it again. Then personally, my grandfather died and school has it hit me full blast, finally I ended up throwing up at work last week and this month has just sucked.

Overall, here is this chapter and I hope everyone enjoyed!

Read, Review, and Enjoy!

Chapter 4

I blushed a little as Steve held the door open for me. This was all new to me. Growing up I always had someone there to grab my bags for me or hold the door, but that was their job. This, this was Steve just being Steve. Doing something nice without expecting anything in return, I had been his friend for close to a year now and I still couldn't get over it.

"Do you want some food before we start?" Steve asked.

"I could eat," I offered as I took my usual spot on the counter.

Steve opened his cabinets and I just managed to see a few things before he shut the door quickly and turned towards the fridge. "Um," he hummed as he looked over the contents and shut the door again. "How do you feel about take out?"

I smiled as I hopped off. "Are you giving up, Rogers?" I asked bumping himout of the way, I opened the cabinets and grinned when I saw a box of noodles. "I think we can make this work."

I opened the fridge and grinned when I said half a gallon of milk, some cheese and butter. "How do you feel about mac n cheese?" I asked.

Steve laughed. "I love it," he responded.

I smiled as I started to boil water and got another pan out to make sauce. "I got this if you wanted to get cleaned up," I offered.

There was a pause before I turned and looked at Steve. "I don't mean that you stink. I just thought that you might want to wash off the flight, cause you had two flights back to back and I know that I always feel road trippy and gross. Not that you're gross! I just thought."

Steve walked over to me during my rant and placed both of his hands on top of my shoulders. "Scarlett," he said softly.

I stopped talking and looked up into his blue eyes, a small amount of humor was reflected in them and my shoulders started to relax.

"You cook dinner and I will go hop in the shower," he stated.

I nodded my head, not really focusing on the words because at this height I had a great view of the angle of Steve's jaw and the way his lips formed the word shower. "Ok," I whispered.

Steve took a step back glanced back at me before turning and heading to his bathroom.

I leaned against the counter and closed my eyes; taking a deep breath I covered my face with my hands. Stupid, stupid, I scolded myself before I straightened up and turned back to the stove.

The water from the shower turned off as soon as I finished making the sauce. I ignored the thought that Steve was naked and wet a few doors down from where I was. I pulled out two bowls and scooped a little for me and saved the rest for Steve. He always pretended that he never wanted more food than I did. But I mean, come on, super solider. Of course he is going to need more food than anyone else.

Steve came in, a few drops of water still clinging to his hair. I bit my bottom lip as I handed him his bowl. "There is more and I'm not going to finish it," I said as I grabbed my bowl and we sat down at the table.

I took a bite and started to chew when I noticed Steve looking at me. "Do I have some cheese on my face?" I asked worriedly rubbing my chin for some food.

"No!" Steve exclaimed, "no, sorry, I was just thinking about asking you a question."

I slowly pulled my hand from my chin, heat coming from my cheeks. "Oh, well ask away," I replied.

"It's ah, not exactly, its kind of personal," Steve stumbled.

I laughed, "Steve, we have been through a lot you and I, I think we have reached the level of asking personal questions."

"Rehab?" Steve asked.

I took a breath and blew it out slowly, letting my cheeks puff out as I did. "It's not like the papers said, it wasn't rehab and no one forced me to go. After New York and Loki," I pause, staring. I turned my head to the side as I tried to control the memories that were flooding my brain. "I had started drinking before that and after it was the only thing I could do to function anymore. So after one very awful night I went and threw myself into isolation and focused on getting better. I'm not there, not even close, but I don't have to drown myself in a bottle before I get up in the morning."

Steve nodded his head, opened his mouth and then closed it again.

"Steve?" I asked.

"It's just that we have spent so much time together since New York and I didn't think it was that bad," he said.

I shot him a small smile. "When your father is as good at hiding how drunk he is, you tend to pick up on a few things. Plus, I tried hard not to drink when I knew I was going to see you."

"Why?" Steve asked genuinely interested, he shifted forward in his chair.

I took a bite thinking over what I was going to say to him with each chew, when movement in the corner of my eye drew my attention.

It was Loki, sitting next to me, smiling. "He's going to think that you're crazy," he whispered. "He isn't going to understand, not like I would. He-"

"Scarlett?" Steve called concerned, my head snapped towards him and I knew I was caught; that he had noticed the emotions play out on my face.

"I see him," I whisper, sitting my fork down as I rubbed my face with my hands. "Loki, sometimes, I think it's just a form of PTSD, a hallucination, but what if it isn't?" I speak, letting someone in to what I was feeling. "What if its real, and he's still here. What if he is coming back?"

"Have you ever thought about talking to someone?" Steve asked. "S.H.I.E.L.D. made me go to a few sessions when I got out of the ice."

"Who could I talk to?" I countered. "Who would sit there and listen to my fears of a Norse god coming back from Asgard to retake the earth again?"

Steve remained silent. I looked up at him through my self-loathing and couldn't read his expression. "Yep," I breathe out. "I'm as crazy as they come."

"You aren't crazy," Steve said.

I raised an eyebrow at him but he stared right back, and somehow I believed him.

"We are all haunted by our pasts, yours just take an actual form," he said.

I opened my mouth to respond but then closed it; there really wasn't anything to say to that, especially with how little I've slept in the past couple of days.

Our conversation turned to chitchat as we ate dinner. Once we were finished, Steve picked up the dishes and I jumped on the counter while he washed them.

"How big do you think this group is?" I asked thinking about the Mandarin. "And is there only one?"

"Maybe worrying about the group isn't the way," Steve offered.

I turned to look at him. "What do you mean?"

"Well, we are spending so much time thinking about the group, but in the end how much good is that going to do to stop them? When I was fighting Hydra we just started looking for their bases, not worrying about the other details," he said. Nodding my head while he spoke, I couldn't help but think that he made sense, and I mean when it all comes down to it Steve has had the tactical experience I was lacking.

"Good point," I said hopping off of the counter as I started to grab the things we were going to need.

I sighed as I pushed away from the table. I had kind of taken over Steve's apartment. I thought that this was going to be easy but it turns out that this guy knew what he was doing.

"We need a break," I said looking over at Steve who was staring at the computer screen next to me.

Steve sighed and leaned back, he rubbed his eyes. "I agree," he said.

I shot him a small smile as guilt coursed through me. We hadn't slept since we got back from California, heading straight here and working through the night, and poor Steve had been on another flight before that. "Go get some sleep," I said as I stood up to get my stuff. "I'll be back in a few hours."

"You could stay," Steve offered.

I froze, not sure I was hearing him correctly. "What?" I asked.

"You could just stay here," he said a little quieter.

My heart just about burst at that; knowing I was blowing this simple request out of proportion. My desire to finally have a stable relationship and not a deranged god coming to rule the earth who also wanted me to rule by him was huge. This was just a practical outlook, what was the point in going home only to come back to his place once I had woken up.

"I need to change," I said presenting myself with my hand. "Plus, I need to grab a few things."

"O-oh," Steve said. "Yeah, that makes sense."

"Thank you for offering," I said sincerely hoping how much that meant to me was transferred.

"It wasn't a problem," he said.

I smiled again and grabbed my stuff. "I'll be back," I promise.

"I'll see you then," he said.

I nodded my head and saw myself out.

I sighed as I started to trek down the steps. The sun had set and it was the middle of the night, the streets starting to thin out from the friends and couples who had spent the night with each other. It was a quick walk to my building and with a small nod; I managed to get into an elevator by myself to reach my apartment. Reaching my door I fumbled with my keys before managing to actually make it into my apartment. I sighed and leaned my head against the back of the door; I wiped my eyes with the heel of my hand and pushed myself back off the door. I dropped my bags and stumbled into the bathroom to take a quick shower. I slipped into bed and was down for the count before my head hit the pillow.

Sighing I stretched as I felt myself waking up naturally. This was good; I hadn't slept through the night in a while. Something seemed wrong and the back of my neck started to prickle. I opened my eyes and shot up, my bed spread wasn't green.

"Good morning" I heard his voice call from behind me.

I took a shaky breath before turning to face him. "Wh-what's going on?" I stuttered.

Loki was at the entryway of another room looking in at me.

I shook my head, "no" I said as I threw the sheet off of me. "This isn't real." Loki's grin just widen as I headed towards one of the other doors. I threw it open and almost ran straight into Loki. "No" I growled as I turned on my heel and made my way to the third and final door. I opened it and couldn't hold back the sob that escaped my throat as I found another copy of Loki standing there. My chest started to heave as I felt a panic attack start to set in. I was surrounded on three sides by him and each one of them started to take a closer step towards me as I backed away. "I can't do this," I whispered as I found the out I looking for. I bolted for the balcony and just reached the fresh air when I felt a cold hand grab my elbow and yank me back till I hit his chest.

"Where are you going?" he whispered in my ear. "You're mine and you can't leave until I say so." With one of the copies still holding me in place another one-stepped in front of me. "Shh" he soothed as he tucked my hair behind my ears. My lower lip started to tremble as tears welled in my eyes. The Loki in front of my grasped my chin as he leaned down to place a kiss on my lips. I started to feel sick when I realized that I wanted him to. Despite everything that he did in New York despite that I never wanted to see him again, I was still attracted to him. Still found myself wanting the person in front of me to be the person I thought he was that night years ago in the bar.

Inching forward Loki stopped centimeters in front of my lips. "You are always going to be mine," he promised once more before jerking back.

I shot up gasping, taking huge breaths trying to calm myself back down as I pushed the sweat drenched hair off of my forehead. I threw the sheets off as I stumbled to my bathroom, barely making it to the toilet before I empty the mac n cheese that was in my stomach. Finishing, I blew my nose and grabbed my toothbrush.

Glancing at the clock I knew that I wasn't going back to sleep anytime soon. I had managed three hours and that was going to have to be good enough for today.

I pulled my hair into a messy bun and threw on some work out clothes as I headed out to run.

It was well before the sun was due to rise as I fell hypnotized to the steady thumps that my shoes played as I went around and around the national mall. I was trying to put everything into running, ignoring everything else but despite my best efforts I couldn't help but think about that dream. I could not help start to beat myself up over something else that I messed up. I stopped in my tracks, I was messing this up at every turn, this was suppose to get easier. Being Iron Man's daughter being Scarlett Stark. I wasn't supposed to still find myself attracted to the very man my family defeated.

My fingers twitched as I ached to pour myself a tall glass of bourbon. I sighed and started to finish the lap that I was on.

As I came back to my starting point I saw someone starting to stretch. I stood at a respectful distance as I started to stretch for my cool down.

"Morning" he called. I gave him a brief smile and a nod as I caught my breath.

"Morning" I breathed out.

"You training for something?" he asked, "not may people are here before the sun."

"No" I answered shaking my head, "had to clear my head, running seems to help"

"Ah" he said as he stood fully up, "well that I understand."

He stuck his hand out, "Sam" he informed.

"Scarlett" I responded as I met his outstretched hand with my own.

My phone started to ring, breaking up this conversation. "Sorry" I said holding up my phone.

"Not a problem" he chuckled, "hope you escape what you're running from"

I nodded to him and answered the phone.

"Oh thank god" I exclaimed, "Where are you"

"In Podunk Tennessee" my dad answered. "Are you ok, where are you?"

"I'm fine, I'm in DC" I began, "dad wh-"

"Ok good, then Pep did what I told her"

"Dad, you can't just send me away when you feel like it"

"Scarlett I need you to listen to me, I need you to do some research"

I paused taking a moment to collect myself, "what do you need?" I asked

"I think that these bombs aren't bombs, I think they're people" he replied.

"People?"

"Specifically veterans so I need to figure out how they are getting these volunteers." He continued ignoring my question.

"Wait, dad" I interrupted "will you please explain what is going on."

"Scarlett" he snapped, "I was literally just attacked by a dragon lady and I need you to just do this for me."

I swallowed my retort and wet my lip with my bottom lip. "How do I get ahold of you when I find something?""Just call this number and I'll have my guy take care of It.," he said, "and then that's it, you're done with this. Don't get yourself anymore involved."

"Your guy?" I asked, "and how do you expect me to just drop this, this guy is blowing up building, he blew up our house!"

"Please" my dad, said so softly I almost didn't hear him, "do this"

"Check in" I responded as equally as soft, "I can't do this silence from you"

"Done" he promised, "Daughter, I love you"

I laughed, "Done" I promised, "love you too"

The conversation ended and I squeezed my eyes shut. Focus, shut everything else out, dad needs you I chanted in my head as I headed back to my apartment to change and head out to figure this problem out.

AN: Ok I had a review and I felt the need to respond to it, however it was a guest review so I couldn't do it directly. I want to start out first by saying thank you for reading this and wanting to leave your thoughts on my story, I appreciate the time you took to do it.

On the actually review, you are correct, Scarlett doesn't have any actual responsibility in the company, her focus has alway been the arc reactor. However, this is a first person narrative and these are her thoughts. Scarlett is one of the types of people who puts the blame on herself. I don't think that she is responsible but for the story and to keep to the character that I wrote, she would absolutely feel this blame.

Second, I tried to clarify it in this chapter but just in case, she never rent to rehab. She went to stay with the Bartons at the farm while she worked through some of her problems. The media attention that would come with being who she is would absolutely blow this up in the media. Lastly this was her choice, nobody forced her and Tony hasn't made this choice that Scarlett did.

Hope that hits all of the topics and I wish everyone would leave their opinions in the little box below.!