A/N: Sorry it's taken so long to update - I've been snowed under with work! But, nevertheless, here is the next part for you to enjoy! And Roxanne is spending a little more time with a certain friendly supersoldier...

"So, this place is nice, huh?" Carrie gave her daughter a weak smile, waving her hand around a little to gesture at their new surroundings. Roxanne nodded just a little, still uncomfortable with the sudden change and the rather extravagant location they now found themselves in.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked suddenly, still desperate to try and make some sense of everything in her head, while she still had her mother around to answer her questions.

Carrie sighed, weakly pulling herself up to a seated position, "I know you don't understand, Roxanne, and I'm not sure whether there'll ever be a way I can make sense of it for you. But, when I met your dad, he was about as old as you are now, and he was…affected. The way he grew up, always in the media spotlight, and it changed him into this very charismatic, charming young man who seemed like he wanted for nothing – but he didn't have anyone who really loved him after his parents died. And that takes its toll on a person. He made a lot of mistakes, and because of his name, he never got to make them privately. And I didn't want you to grow up like that. Tony wasn't in a place where he could be a father, and I didn't want to put that pressure on him. So, I know it might seem unfair to you that I kept this a secret for so long, but I did it to protect you – both of you."

"But why not tell me when I was sixteen, or eighteen, when I was old enough to understand?" Roxanne's eyes filled a little, out of frustration, rather than sadness. "If you hadn't gotten sick, would you have told either of us at all?"

"I hope so," Carrie answered honestly, "It's difficult to say, honey. The more I waited, the harder it got and the thought of how you'd react, and how Tony would react – it terrified me. If I told you, you could've ended up hating me – both of you – and I know that seems selfish and a stupid reason not to say anything sooner, but I didn't want to take that risk. So, I honestly hope that I would've told you, Roxanne, but I can't say for sure."

There was quiet for a little while, as Roxanne sat, watching her mother watching her, both of them somehow trying to gauge how the other was feeling. Suffice to say that Roxanne was glad that there was a knock at the door, as it gave her an excuse to ignore the issue for a moment longer. Opening the door, she came face to face with Tony.

"Hey, I just came to talk to your mom," he gave Roxanne a slightly odd look, as she nodded, walking past him out of the room without another word. Tony walked in, looking between Carrie and the now-empty doorway, "Did I say something?"

"No, I think I did," she sighed, "She wanted to know why I didn't tell her about you sooner."

"I think she's just trying to work it out."

"I know, but this is what she does," Tony sat on the edge of the bed as Carrie continued, "When she doesn't know how to deal with something, she pulls away, doesn't speak, like she's worried that if she tries to say something, she'll say something she regrets. It happened before, and you know how that ended up, and I want to believe that it's not going to happen again, but I can't get away from the thought that it might."

He might not have been there last time, but Tony could understand the desire Carrie had for nothing to happen to Roxanne again. There had to be something he could do. He couldn't follow her everywhere she went, she was a grown woman, but surely there was a way to keep her busy and find out how she was feeling without making her feel as though she was being crowded. "I might have an idea."

It was a long shot, but it could work.

"Cap!" Tony called out as he entered the gym, seeing the blonde's head pop out from behind one of the punch bags. "I need to ask you a favour."

The supersoldier began to unwrap his hands, walking over to him, "First let me ask you something – since when have you had a daughter?"

"Apparently twenty-four years, but to my knowledge – a week – give or take."

"Wow," he nodded, "So, this favour?"

"It actually involves Roxanne."

Steve's brow furrowed, "What?"

He didn't want to get involved in their whole family dynamic, and as Tony explained what he was asking of him he was getting further and further from wanting to help, but when he told him why, Steve couldn't help but agree. It was clear that Tony cared about Roxanne, and it was a refreshing change in the man, besides, he'd enjoyed talking to Roxanne when he met her, and spending a little more time with her wouldn't exactly be a hardship.

Roxanne lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Perhaps she'd wake up tomorrow and all of this would be sorted in her head. She'd know exactly how she felt about this whole situation and she'd be able to walk downstairs and call Tony 'Dad' and be okay with that. Or, it would be another day of confusion and quiet as she tried to work out exactly what to say to her mother, and to Tony, but for now she'd stay here, staring at the ceiling. Though the blank white surface was doing absolutely nothing to help her.

"You know, I've never considered the ceiling to be all that interesting, but maybe you're seeing something that I'm not," Steve's warm voice came from the doorway, and Roxanne turned her head to face him. "Should I leave you to it?"

She sat up, shaking her head, and Steve felt that he should continue, "I was thinking I could show you the city now you're here. It might do you good to get out for a while." She looked a little uncertain, "Come on, don't make me beg." He grinned.

"Fine."

As they walked through the New York City streets, Roxanne felt just a little overwhelmed by the masses of people around them. Steve didn't seem all that bothered, hands tucked into his pockets, cap pulled down low. "You do know that's a terrible disguise, right?"

He laughed, "I guess, but I feel better wearing it."

They kept a relatively slow pace, and Roxanne was surprised at how relaxed she'd begun to feel, though her head still swirled with unanswered questions and unfamiliar emotions. "So, didn't you have any super-plans today?"

"I cancelled," he said with a smile, "Needed a day off."

They both laughed, enjoying the companionable atmosphere, but their laughter was cut short as they turned the corner, eyes settling on the newsstand. Right there on the front page of a magazine was a slightly blurred picture of her with the caption:

'TONY STARK'S HIDDEN LOVECHILD?'

Roxanne walked over and grasped a copy of the magazine, opening it to the article of the same name, the story surrounded by grainy pictures of her and Tony from when they had arrived at the tower the day before:

'Sources close to Stark have told us that the billionaire playboy has recently found out that he's a daddy! But, we're not talking about a cute little baby here, folks – it seems Tony Stark's daughter is well into adulthood if these pictures are anything to go by. Stark, the subject of numerous stories in this magazine, has been considered a playboy for many years, as was his late father Howard – and it seems that the reputation has finally caught up with him. But, we've been told that there's no love lost between Stark and his daughter, who has been cold towards her father since learning of her father's identity. Why so sad, Miss Stark? We'd give our left arm to be a part of that tech dynasty! No news as yet on the name of this secret lovechild, or her mother, but our sources have said that Tony has moved them both into the 'Avengers Tower' and there's no sign of them leaving anytime soon.'

"Shit," Roxanne mumbled quietly, before quickly retreating to the tower, leaving a confused Steve in her wake to hand the guy on the newsstand a couple of dollars before he took off after her.

They were met back at the tower by a flustered Tony on the phone. "What the hell is this?!" Roxanne shouted, throwing the magazine onto the coffee table.

"I'll call you back, just get here as soon as you can," he finished his phone call, hanging up before turning to a seething Roxanne. "I don't know how they found out. All my staff are being questioned as we speak, and when I find out who it was, they're going to have to leave the country to be able to get another job."

Roxanne sat, head falling into her hands, "I can't believe this is happening…"

"I just called Pepper, she's on her way back and she's gonna do as much damage control as she can with this. But, it's gonna mean that we'll have to draw up a statement that'll be released to the press. They know about you now, we can't put that cat back in the bag, but we can set the record straight."

"What about my mom?"

"They'll know as much or as little as she wants them to know. Right now, Roxanne, these are decisions we can make – and a press release allows us to make those decisions. Pepper's the best in the biz, god knows she's saved my ass more times than I can remember." Tony sat down next to his daughter, as she tried to process what was now happening. "But, it does mean that things are probably going to change for you now that they know who you are. And as much as I wish I could change that, I can't. All I can do is prepare you for it. Pepper should be here in an hour, I'll get her to talk to you about what happens now and how that'll affect you. Okay?"

She nodded, eyes still downcast, "I'm gonna go call her back, see whose magazine I have to sue, and what asses need to be kicked."

Roxanne's world was beginning to cave in and there was nothing she could do to stop it – she was a Stark now, whether she liked it or not.