A/N: Thank you for the reviews ^.^ Sorry for the wait, I know it's short, I had a term paper -_-
Heather's POV
"So, you stutter?"
A blush appeared on Rogers' cheeks and he looked away, "Sometimes."
I grinned and heard him say "Damn it. I thought I was over that. I need to stop talking."
I guess my giggling wasn't as quiet as I thought, since he paled and looked back to my face.
"Did I just say that out loud? I'm sorry."
"Yes, you did. And it's okay, it's kind of cute actually."
To spare him further embarrassment, I gestured towards the hall, "How about we go find some dinner, Captain?"
Rogers nodded and started to offer me his arm before apparently remembering the crutches. Really. Did he have to be this freaking adorable?
We reached the mess without saying a word, but it was hardly uncomfortable. In fact, the silence was kind of welcomed with all the attention I had been getting lately. Not that I begrudge the attention. It's my birthday after all.
A fact that I haven't really shared with anyone other than Natasha.
Cap seemed a bit surprised by the friendliness of the crew towards us, smiling and waving as if we were old friends. Of course, they are my friends, but I suspect Stars and Stripes doesn't do a lot of socializing with spies.
We got our food and found a table, but before we started eating the whole room suddenly went silent. I looked up, startled, and saw Natasha giving some sort of signal to someone I couldn't see. Then everyone began to sing Happy Birthday.
Oh no. Here comes the waterworks. And yet they weren't tears of sadness. I was crying because I was happy.
Steve looked a little lost, between the singing and the sobbing. I couldn't help but laugh.
When they finished a cake was brought out and placed in front of me.
After thanking and hugging everyone that would let me (we're spies, some of us have touchy feely phobia) I returned to sit with Steve, eyes watery and voice wavering I sighed happily, "That was amazing."
Steve smiled warmly at me, "Happy birthday, Heather."
"Thanks Steve." I shot back, then realized we just called each other by our first names. When did that happen?
I pondered this as I ate my cake, and by the time my mind landed back on planet earth I realized I had been staring at him for what must have been a good long whole considering his lips were moving and I hadn't heard a sound. It was my turn to blush as I realized he had been trying to get my attention. Oops.
"I'm sorry, what was that?"
A look of genuine concern came to his features, "Are you alright?"
My eyebrows furrowed, "Fine, why?"
"Your phone has been ringing for a while. Unless you meant not to answer it?"
I cursed, dropping my fork, and peered down at the device. It fell to the floor with a clatter as I took note of who kept calling.
It was Tony.
I quickly excused myself and went into the hall. My finger hovered over the answer button. Did he actually remember? I hadn't done anything outlandish to get his attention lately, other than the password scam, which has been rectified. I pressed the button.
"Tony?"
There was an exasperated sigh on the other end of the line, "Finally, kid, that's got to have been the hundredth time I tried calling!"
"Poor thing, not used to not being first priority?" I snarked, sarcasm coming easily to me. Was this Stark code for Happy Birthday?
Tony started to say something, presumably a snappy retort, but instead sighed, "We need to talk. When exactly did you plan on telling me you worked for SHIELD?"
And just like that the good feeling was gone. I decided to opt for the truth.
"Never. Is that the only reason you called?"
A girl can dream, right?
"And why else would I be calling? Is that not an important enough reason? I find out my underage daughter is a spy and is working for a top secret agency that tends to screw anyone and everyone they believe to be a threat? I mean really Heather?"
By now I was seething, how the hell did he find out anyway?
"Your daughter is fully capable of taking care of herself, and for your information, I can trust half the agents here with my life more than I can trust you to even remember my freaking birthday."
"Hea-"
I hung up.
It started to ring.
I blocked his number.
Steve came out into the hall as my composure began to slip. The tears started welling up and I felt my face get red and blotchy, I can do many things simultaneously, crying and looking pretty is not a combo I have any hope of achieving.
He saw me and his features twisted in concern, but I'm a coward and I did what instinct told me to. I ran.
General POV
To say Tony felt like shit was an understatement. At first it didn't really hit him, then he did the math, and realized that it was today.
His daughter's birthday was today, and he had no idea.
In fact, the more he thought about it the bigger the punch the guilt packed.
Once upon a time he had scheduled for a worker to send her a birthday gift each year, but belatedly realized that he had fired said worker many years ago. Pepper gave him reminders, but never the day of, noting that it was his responsibility. Tony didn't even know her favorite color.
He grabbed a drink and made his was to a table, bringing up a computer screen.
It was never to late to start right? He hoped.
Jarvis admonished Tony for prying as he broke into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s files, skimming across them till he got to Heather's.
After a brief hesitation, he opened the file.