Hi guys! I'm finally updating this fic after like 635482 years. Sorry it has taken so long, but I hope you all enjoy anyway :)
P.S. I guess I need to clear this up; yes I do know that the tower is in New York and the mansion is in California but as I said in the first chapter "for the purposes of the story, let's pretend that the tower is in California"
Pepper woke Paisley up that morning. It was 7 am when Pepper came into her room. Paisley moaned and groaned while Pepper tried to wake her up. She finally opened her eyes, looked at Pepper and yawned.
"Sorry you have to get up so early" Pepper said.
Paisley just looked at her and shrugged.
"We have to be at the school by 8" Pepper told her as she stood up to leave and left Paisley to get ready. As soon as she left Paisley sat up in her bed and rubbed her eyes. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and yawned again before getting up. She went to get a lighter washed pair of shorts than what she wore yesterday. She pulled a 'Tigers Basketball', from her old school, t-shirt over her head. As she walked towards the bathroom she almost fell asleep standing up. Turning on the light woke her up a little. She took off her glasses and put in her contacts. She splashed some cold water and then put moisturizer on her face after it dried. The only makeup she put on was mascara, which was her standard. She did like to do her hair however. She plugged in her clamp less curling iron and wrapped large pieces around the barrel after it heated up. When she was finally satisfied with her hair she put on deodorant, perfume and then left the bathroom. She turned her light off and headed down the hall. She wasn't even halfway down the hall and she could hear Clint talking. She approached the table and smiled at the group.
"Morning Paisley" Steve said with a smile.
She smiled at him and everyone else who said good morning. She sat down taking a glass and pouring herself some orange juice.
"There's some French toast left" Clint said with his mouthful.
Paisley laughed softly, "Oh that's ok I'm not hungry"
Clint looked at her like she was crazy and then continued to eat.
"Where's Maria?" Paisley asked, motioning to the empty seat next to Steve.
"Uh she's still asleep" Steve said, taking a drink of his coffee.
"You know she's been telling me how tired she has been lately" Pepper said.
"Yeah and she threw up at work a few days ago" Natasha said casually. "Like multiple times" She added just as casually.
"Maybe she's pregnant" Bruce and Tony said at the same time.
Steve nearly choked on his coffee, "That's not funny"
The men of the group continued with their chuckling but Natasha and Pepper were as serious as ever. Paisley felt extremely uncomfortably.
"You know it is a possibility to consider Steve" Pepper said.
"B-but she told me her chances of getting pregnant were like slim to none" Steve stuttered.
"Well you are superhuman so you've probably got like some sort of super sperm" Natasha said.
"Ok I'm trying to eat here" Clint said.
"Shouldn't we be leaving?" Paisley asked.
"Do you use protection?" Pepper asked.
"Ok I'm outta here" Paisley pushed her chair back and stood up.
She was almost out of the room when Maria entered.
"Steve" Pepper tried to ask again, her eyebrows raised.
He looked at her and lowered his voice, "no we don't".
"You look like crap" Clint snorted.
"Thanks" She rubbed her eyes and crossed her arms across her chest.
"Do you want some coffee?" Bruce asked.
She put her hand over her mouth, just the thought of coffee made her sick to her stomach. The smell of it put her over the edge. She made her way to the nearest trashcan and threw up. Steve's eyes widened as everyone looked at him.
"Uh oh" Tony muttered.
Steve swallowed and Maria stood up, wiping her mouth with the napkin on the counter.
Pepper stood up, "We have to leave"
Tony stood up and Paisley sighed a sigh of relief.
"Clint stop eating all of our food" Pepper looked at Clint who had a mouthful of food. "And Steve for god's sake help your girlfriend"
Clint pushed his plate away and Steve stood up as they headed towards the elevator.
When they reached the high school Paisley took a deep breath before getting out of the car. Paisley got out of the car and sighed. She followed closely behind Pepper and Tony. There were kids in the hallway as they entered the school. They stared at her and whispered, probably because she was walking behind Tony Stark. A few girls looked at her with disgust, but one girl looked at her and smiled after shutting her locker. The girl walked away and Paisley went back to staring at the floor. They reached the principal's office right on time. A tall, blonde woman came out of the office and greeted them. She smiled and introduced herself.
"Mr. Stark, Miss. Potts" She shook their hands. "And you must be Paisley"
Paisley smiled and the woman said, "I'm Mrs. Stevens".
Paisley was asked to wait outside for the time being while Pepper and Tony talked to her. She sighed when the door closed and sat in the chair outside the office. She picked at the split ends of her long, dark hair. She looked up when she noticed someone approaching her. She looked up, her big brown eyes meeting bright blue ones.
"You in trouble?" The boy asked.
"Oh uh no I-" She started.
"Oh you're new" He said.
Paisley nodded.
"So you're Tony Stark's daughter" He said.
Paisley nodded once again.
"I'm Matt" He smiled.
"Paisley" She said with a soft smile.
Suddenly a bell rang and he said, "Well I better make my way towards class". He smiled at her, "It was nice to meet you Paisley"
"Yeah you too" She said as he walked away.
Suddenly she heard a ringing noise. She looked down to see that Pepper had left her purse with her. Paisley reached into her purse and looked at the caller ID on her phone. It was Maria. Paisley decided it was better if she let it go to voicemail. She didn't really feel right answering Pepper's phone anyway. Then the principal's office door opened and out came Tony and Pepper.
"Well Paisley I will see you tomorrow" Mrs. Stevens said with a warm smile.
They said their goodbyes and walked down the now empty hallway.
"So that's it?" Paisley asked. "I have to go to school tomorrow?"
"Yep" Tony stated.
"I don't think that's how it works" Paisley said.
"Apparently it does" Tony said.
"Oh no" Paisley said. "You know you really didn't have to pull the 'I'm Tony Stark' thing right?"
"Yes I did. It's a must" He remarked.
Paisley sighed as they walked outside.
He climbed in the driver's seat of the car and turned around to give Paisley and obnoxious smile. She just stared at him from the backseat. Pepper sighed, "Tony just drive"
He did as he was told and they made their way back to the tower.
While Pepper, Tony, and Paisley were at the school Steve and Maria were called into SHIELD.
"So what do you think this is about?" Steve asked nervously as Coulson escorted them to Fury's office.
"They know" Maria leaned in and whispered. "They have to know"
Phil opened the door and looked at them with a small smile, almost a smirk, "Oh we know"
Maria narrowed her eyes at Coulson before they entered the room.
"Hill" Fury looked up. "Rogers"
"Sir" They both said.
"Have a seat" He said and they did.
"Uh what's this about?" Maria asked cautiously.
"Well recently I have come to find out something...well rather saw something very interesting"
Maria looked at Steve in confusion, as to say 'maybe it wasn't about them'.
"I don't understand sir" Steve said.
Maria looked at Fury in agreement, her arms folded across her chest.
"I don't either" Fury said as he started to play what looked like security cam footage. "Maybe you two can explain this to me"
Maria and Steve watched the tape closely. Maria gasped and Steve blushed when they realized what it was. There they were in an elevator of the SHIELD headquarters with their lips locked. Maria's back was against the wall and Steve's hands were holding her hips in place. Fury stopped the tape as Maria went for Steve's shirt. Maria's hand went to her mouth and she avoided Fury's glare.
"And that's as much as I watched" Fury said.
Steve looked at his hands nervously.
"So" Fury said rather calmly. "Care to explain?"
Maria swallowed, "I-I don't know what to say"
"I just-I don't like this" Fury admitted.
They both looked up at him.
"I can't have you two mixing work and pleasure. It just won't work in this atmosphere" Fury explained calmly. "It just won't work. In this type of work place one of you coming in with a broken heart or bringing your relationship to work will be a problem"
They both started to defend themselves but Fury continued, "I know you say that it won't but it will…eventually"
Maria now avoided eye contact with Steve and Fury. Her eyes started to water.
"We're a team here and I can't have a relationship like this damaging that. We only work as a team...a well-oiled machine" Fury said.
All Steve wanted to do was reach out and grab Maria's hand but he couldn't. So instead he sighed and rubbed his face.
"I'm sorry" Fury said.
Maria sniffled and looked at him, "So am I"
Maria collected herself, stood up and left the room. She nodded at Coulson who looked at her pitifully. As she headed towards the car she could hear Steve getting closer to her. They reached the door to go outside and Steve, of course, opened it for her. He also opened the car door for her when they got there.
"You ok?" Steve asked as he started the car.
"Yeah I'm fine" Maria muttered sarcastically.
Steve sighed and waited a few minutes to speak. He knew what he had to say she wouldn't take well.
"I uh I think we should listen to Fury" Steve said.
"Of course you do" Maria said.
"Obviously we aren't very good at keeping our relationship a secret and Fury seemed pretty serious" Steve sighed.
Maria didn't say anything or even looked at him.
"I think it would be best if we cooled things off" Steve said, nervously.
Steve waited what seemed like forever for her to answer.
When she did, "Could you just drop me off at my apartment?" was all she said. She didn't speak anymore the rest of the car ride.
It was lunch time when they got back to the tower. Of course as soon as Paisley stepped out of the elevator she headed down the hall. But this time there was no sound of her bedroom door slamming. Tony shrugged and made his way to the kitchen. Pepper followed closely behind.
"Don't you think it's a little crazy we're making her go to school tomorrow?" Pepper asked.
"No" Tony said flatly.
Pepper rolled her eyes and poured herself a glass of water.
"Why should we wait?" Tony asked.
Pepper looked at him angrily, "Because Tony"
She felt herself getting upset so she took a deep breath before saying, "We drag her a thousand miles from her home and now we're making her go to a new school less than a week from her arrival"
"She's going have to go eventually why not now?" Tony argued.
Pepper was about to speak but Paisley appeared in the kitchen.
"I'm not arguing about this with you" Pepper lowered her voice.
She turned her attention to Paisley, "Hi Paisley"
Paisley sat down at the counter next to Tony.
"What are you guys fighting about?" She asked.
"Oh we're not fighting-" Pepper started.
"You know you could always send me back" Paisley suggested dryly.
Tony snorted, "I don't think it works that way"
Paisley looked at him seriously, "And if it did would you?"
Pepper's eyes widened and Tony's jaw dropped slightly, but before he could say anything Steve appeared. He looked like a lost puppy so their attention turned to him.
"Aw Steve what's the matter?" Pepper asked.
"Wait, wait let me guess!" Tony jumped up. "You are not the father"
Steve narrowed his eyes at Tony.
"No, no Maria's not pregnant" Steve said, but he wasn't finished.
Pepper's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"And you're upset that you didn't knock up your girlfriend of what? Like two months?" Tony asked.
"No you're not letting me finish!" Steve shouted.
Everyone's eyes widened.
"Ok continue" Tony said staring at him like he was crazy.
"Fury found out about us" Steve said.
"And?" Pepper asked.
"And he was mad and wanted us to end things...so I did" Steve said.
Pepper slapped his arm.
"Ow!" He looked at Pepper confused.
Before Pepper could go off on Steve Paisley said, "I don't know who this Fury guy is but he sounds like a real dick".
Pepper and Steve's eyes widened. They could see who was behind Tony and Paisley unlike Paisley and Tony. They both spun around in their chairs and came face to face with Nick Fury.
"Excuse you?" Fury said.
"Tony" Paisley said. "Why is there a pirate in your house?"
Tony couldn't control his laughter; he almost fell out of his chair.
"Well" Pepper said after taking a drink of her water. "She is her father's daughter"
"And who are you?" Fury asked.
"I'm Paisley" She looked at Fury like he was some sort of mutant.
"My daughter" Tony added.
"Sounds about right" Fury muttered.
He sighed and then continued, "I need you down at the headquarters"
He was looking at Steve and Tony when he talked but Paisley said, "Can I go too?"
"Why?" Fury asked.
"Why not?" Paisley spat back.
As much as Tony wanted to let Paisley go with them he knew it wasn't the best idea.
"Uh I think you need to stay here Paisley" He said cautiously.
This wasn't really helping him get Paisley to like him more but he had to put his foot down.
Instead of responding, Paisley just looked at him. She was good at that. Tony sighed and looked at Pepper who gave him a sorrowful look.
Fury headed towards the elevator and muttered to himself on his way there, "A smack upside the head is what that girl needs"
When he reached the elevator he turned and looked at them, "Well are you two coming?"
Steve and Tony made their way towards the elevator and got on with Fury.
When they reached the SHIELD headquarters there were agents buzzing all over the place. Clint, Natasha and Bruce were already sitting at the table on the main level. Tony and Steve were asked to sit down. Before Fury could start talking Maria entered the room. She entered very quickly and seemed very dazed.
"Sorry" She apologized for being late.
Fury didn't say anything he just looked at Steve, who avoided his glare, and then at Maria.
"There's something you all need to hear" Fury said. "Agent Coulson"
"I'm being reassigned" Coulson said.
"That's exciting-" Clint started.
"Permanently" Coulson finished.
"Agent Coulson will leave and Agent Hill will take over" Fury said.
Maria looked at him, "What?"
"Congrats" Coulson said.
"Uh thank you" Maria stuttered.
Everyone looked at Coulson figuring he had more to say.
"That's it" he said, almost chuckling.
"Alright" Tony said and they all stood up. They congratulated Maria and then moved on to talk to Coulson. Lastly, Steve stood up and walked over to Maria. Her big, grey eyes looked up at him. He smiled at her softly.
"Congratulations" Steve said.
"Thank you" She said quietly.
He gave her a nod and one last smile before going to talk to Coulson. She watched him walk away. Fury came up to talk to her but she had to excuse herself. Steve hadn't been able to take his eyes off her so he saw her leave. He wanted nothing more than to go after her, but he just followed suit with the rest of the Avengers.
When they got back to the tower it was rather late. Pepper was sitting alone on the couch watching TV.
"Hey" Tony greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.
"Hi" She said, a grin on her face.
She was ready to pull him in for a kiss but the rest of gang appeared in the room. She sighed and Tony gave her a goofy grin.
"Where's Paisley?" Tony asked, handing Clint a beer.
"In bed" Pepper said.
"It's like 9:30" Tony replied.
"Yeah well you're making her go to school tomorrow so-" Pepper muttered.
"Alright let's not start that Pep" Tony said.
"Yes please don't fight in front of us" Natasha plopped down on the couch next to Pepper. "It's rather awkward"
Pepper was already to continue the argument but Tony interrupted, "You heard the woman".
He gave her a smirk that made Pepper want to slap him.
"Let's talk about anything else" Steve said.
"Maria got promoted-" Natasha started.
"Ok anything except Maria" Steve clarified.
"You should've specified sooner" Natasha said.
"What kind of promotion?" Pepper asked.
"Coulson got relocated so she's taking his position" Natasha replied.
"Good for her" Pepper said.
"Yeah she needs something good considering-" Clint muttered.
"What was that?" Steve asked.
Tony's, who was literally in the middle of it, eyes widened and he took a drink of his beer.
"You just dumped her for no apparent reason" Clint said.
"There was a reason" Steve defended himself.
"Being afraid of Fury isn't a reason" Clint spat back.
"You know it's really none of your business" Steve said.
"Well it is actually" Clint said. "Maria is basically one of us and if it's going to affect her work it's going to affect all of us"
"Guys stop it" Natasha said, trying to get involved.
"Our relationship has nothing to do with any of you" Steve said.
"Steve is right" Natasha said. "We have no business in his love life...no matter how dumb his decision to break up with Maria was"
Steve looked at Natasha unamused. He rolled his eyes and stood up. The group watched him walk away and into the elevator.
Meanwhile, Paisley was down the hall wide awake. All she could hear was the group arguing. She couldn't blame them though. What Steve did was idiotic and she felt bad for Maria. But that was the least of her worries. She wasn't ready to get up and go to a new school the next morning. So, she just stayed awake, stared at the clock and watched the time go by.
TBC
I will try really hard to get his updated a lot sooner than the last time. I will also try to get the next chapter of The Adventures of Mr. and Mrs. Captain America up ASAP. I've got a lot of ideas just not a lot of time to write them. Anyway, thanks for reading and please review! :)