Captain America sees her
Steve Rogers POV
The first time I saw the ball of sunshine Caroline Forbes was on TV in the Stark Tower communal room was when she had blood on her forehead and was asking for the whereabouts of a Stefan Salvatore. She looked emotionally exhausted, tired of being used as bait.
The second time I saw her, she looked better, and she was getting caramel latte from her favourite Barista, she looked tired but happier. "You know you could say 'Hello' instead of stalking me with your eyes" she smirked at me as I sat there on the bench looking flabbergasted. "I'm Caroline" she said softly.
"I know, sorry, I didn't mean to stalk you, I saw your news item on domestic violence"
"And do you think this will change the way women are treated?"
"The one thing I've learned is that anything is possible" Caroline smiled sadly as if remembering something horrible that she went through herself.
"So, what are you doing here?" she asked me "I am contemplating the meaning of life" I replied "That's not surprising, Captain America" she smiled "I mean, you and the other avengers are saving our world from aliens"
"You know who I am?"
"Yep, you are not that unrecognisable"
"You aren't going to go all fangirl on me, are you?"
"No, I have more integrity than that" she laughed "Oh crap, I'm late, I have to go pick up my little ones from nursery!" she looked at her watch "Hope to see you again, Steve Rogers" she waved as she walked to her car with a light blush.
Caroline's POV
"Caroline, you're late!" Alaric shouted at me down the phone "Back off, Alaric!" I hissed back at him "I'm getting there as fast as I can, I was getting coffee"
"Our girls come first, second and third" Alaric said snidely "If you can't handle it, I'll take them to Dallas, and our custody agreement will be called off!"
"Why!" I asked incredulously "This is the first time I've been late in three years!" I shouted back at him, not paying attention to the road. It was a split second between hanging up the car phone and my car being crushed from the side. I was thrown out the window by the force. Police sirens sounded around me, and I could hear someone calling an ambulance. Then I blacked out.
Steve Rogers POV
"I can't believe it" I shake my head in disbelief "She healed right in front me, Bruce, if she is an enhanced being, then what kind of enhanced being?"
"A vampire?" Bruce raised his eyebrow as he examined Caroline's blood
"But that would mean, she died!"
"I'm afraid she did" Bruce looked seriously at me
"Someone turned her, don't know who though?"
"Do we know where she's from" I asked "I investigated her background, she was a surrogate to twin girls, their father is Mr Alaric Saltzman. He is at home with no idea where his children are"
Caroline came to as I held her hand "Don't hate me! Please don't torture me?" she wailed as I brushed her hair from her face.
"Why would I hurt you?" I was dismayed "Because I live off blood, but I only take what I need. I promise, other times, I get blood bags from the hospital"
"We know, you aren't the only enhanced being. I'm enhanced too, I don't age, can't get drunk, I feel deeply, and I don't judge others" Caroline sniffled as she sat up "My girls, I was picking them up" she looked like a beautiful mess. "It's okay, one of our agents picked the girls up and brought them to the Stark tower, they are really upset that you were hurt"
"Can I have them here, please, in my arms. I just want to hug them and let them know I'm, okay?"
"Sure thing, Bruce, can you send the little angels in, please?" I asked over the computer mic. I was so happy to reunite Caroline with her daughters. "My babies" she cried out as she hugged them both. "You've been brave, my little butterflies"
"Mummy, we were worried that you had really died" the cute blonde one mumbled
Caroline hugged them both as she cried more "No, baby girls, I will never leave you. I love you both so much"
Bruce Banner's POV
"You know we are going to have to inform their father as well. He must be worried sick" Steve got this look on his face "Bruce, just give her a night here, she might be an immortal being, but she looks exhausted, stressed and at the end of her tether"
"Fine, but you get to tell Tony" I sighed "Do you… like Caroline Forbes?"
Steve blushed and I had guessed correctly "You like…. fancy her, don't you?"
I chuckled as Steve couldn't take his eyes off the blonde ball of sunshine who radiated light and happiness.
"Okay, yes, I really like her, aside from the blood drinking. She seems very in control of herself. Those kids are so cute. I've been alone for so long. She seems very alone. I heard her having an argument with the bio-dad, then she crashed. She didn't see it coming because she was distracted"
"Hmm, that sounds suspect, are you up for an investigation?"
"Sure, I'm quite certain that Caroline was abused by the bio-dad and someone
else, as well"
"Okay, let's get Natasha in and explain the situation, tactfully"
"Yep, I'll call her up here now"
Alaric POV (Paranoia will annoy her)
The vamp bitch has kidnapped my children. She knew this was my weekend with them and she is pushing my boundaries to the limit. Jo is/was their mother, Caroline was the surrogate only.
I hear the bell of the front door go and storm there only to find 'The' Captain America and Bruce Banner aka the Hulk on my doorstep. I am stunned "Sorry" I said sheepishly "My nanny has gone missing with my kids" I lie "What brings 'Captain America' to my door?"
"Your 'nanny' was in a car crash three hours ago. She was on a phone call with you, and your voice messages were threatening towards Ms Forbes, and don't bother lying, we downloaded her phone records to our system in the Stark tower, she's the surrogate, isn't she?"
"Yeah" I shuddered. They would know I caused her to crash deliberately to discredit Caroline as a mother to my girls.
Captain America looked pissed off, at me "I want my girls back"
"Do you abuse Caroline Forbes?" Bruce asked me a straight question
"No, I sometimes lose my temper, I don't mean to, a heretic murdered their bio-mum. That's a vampire hybrid. Because I went to Mystic Falls and got involved in the darkness that haunts that town. My Josette paid the price and I've been bitter, angry since then" A tear slid down my cheek as I realised how much I'd screwed up.
"The girls are with their surrogate mother, they are quite safe, for now. I'll get Tony's lawyer to make up a proper custody agreement for the twins' sake. Caroline will be at this meeting, and you will not reveal her status as an immortal out of spite and malice. You will get therapy for PTSD and stop drinking. Self-medicating will only escalate your problems"
"Will you tell Caroline, that I'm sorry, and that I'm going to fix myself?"
"Sure, as long as you stick to the agreement"
Caroline's POV
I woke up to see a red-haired woman reading to my little butterflies "Hey, I thought you'd sleep a bit longer" the woman asked
"I'm happy with four hours, I'm hungry though"
"I can get a pizza ordered, if you like"
"I'm hungry for something else" the woman smiled "I have blood-bags in the fridge, I'll warm two cups of B+ for you, I'm Natasha, by the way, Natasha Romanov"
"You're the black widow" I blurted out
"Pretty and observant, I think we are going to get along, little bit"
"I could do with some friends" I whispered
Steve Rogers POV
"Capsicle" Tony crooked his finger "Tony, come on, I'm exhausted"
"I woke up this morning, to find the cutest little girls asleep on the communal floor suite. And a gorgeous blonde vampire sipping blood from one of our mugs, a courtesy of Natasha who watched the girls while blondie vamp slept on the futon, care to explain?"
"She was terrified that we would torture her last night, and experiment on her twin girls because they are siphoning witches. They have no magic of their own, just what they suck out of magical beings. They are cute little girls, who lost their bio-mum, but Caroline is the surrogate who has cared for these little girls since they were placed in her womb"
"The father?"
"Alaric Saltzman"
"Mediation between the parents?"
"Non-existent"
"Did he cause her car crash?"
"Yep" I answer
"I'll get my lawyer to visit Mr Saltzman with a decent custody agreement, has he agreed to see a therapist for PTSD?"
"He has, and he's apologised for trying to discredit Ms Forbes as a parent, he wants a visit with the girls. Familiarity is the best course for the girls"
"Agreed…. Uh Cap, I want to offer the gorgeous Ms Forbes a job here, peps got so much on, I'm sure she would appreciate a hand with events planning. Parties, y' know"
"Okay, can I go now?"
"Go tell Ms Forbes the good news first, will you?"
"Sure thing, Tony"
Tony Stark POV
I snickered as the Capsicle walked away
"Is Captain America 'falling' for the gorgeous blonde on the communal floor?"
Pepper asked me
"Too late, he's fallen for her already, how much do you want to bet that they have their first kiss tomorrow"
"Uh-oh, no way, Tony, you always win the bet"
"Oh yeah, I forgot"
TBC
A/N Please review and please be kind