As light began to fade back into existence, I realized I was still alive. Very much alive. I prepared myself to see the normal views of a hospital. White walls, oddly colored curtains. When my vision became normal, though, that's not what I saw. The room was actually dark, and had no curtains. There seemed to be no windows at all. I then realized I was only able to see out of one eye. One hand shot up to the patch that sat over my eye. I let out a yelp. The windows in the room showed themselves, the black coverings over them retreated. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Owens…It is nice to see you awake. Are you in any pain?"

I leapt at the sound of Tony's AI's voice. "JARVIS? Where am I?"

"Mr. Stark and Dr. Banner's lab…you've been here for a few days."

"But why? Why, JARVIS…" I moved my hand from my eye to rest on my chest as a small pulse of pain ran through. My eyes widened. I looked down and pulled the dark shirt I was put into away from my chest. What I saw didn't please me. A door opened on the other side of the room. I sat up slightly. Steve stood across the room. "Rori…" He ran forward. "Thank God, you're awake…"

I felt sturdy enough to stand, so I did, on the other side of the bed. "What…What is this!"

"What? Rori, what's wrong?"

I pointed to my chest. "This! This thing, here! What is it? Tell me!"

A set of footsteps trailed in the room. "It's an Arc Reactor…When your heart rhythm couldn't step it up, we had to do something that would make it…It's keeping you alive." Tony pointed to his own chest. "You and I both."

I looked at him, a mixture of agony, guilt, and anger in my stare. "Your eye is also out of commission…the hit you took damaged some neural tissue, and made you go blind…"

Steve reached out for me. "Rori, it's going to be okay…"

I looked between the two men. "Can I leave?"

Tony just nodded. I evaded them both and took the first door out. Neither of them followed me.

I got to my floor and walked inside. "Lissa?"

A door opened. "Mama?" She ran out and hugged me. "Oh, mama!"

I lifted her up and hugged her tightly. "I'm alright, Lissa…mommy's alright…"

She cried into my shoulder. The door opened and Steve walked in silently. He stood with us, a hand on the back of my neck and one on Larissa's back. "Rori…"

Tears rolled down my own face. He kissed my ear softly, then leaned his head against mine. I let Larissa down. She wiped her face and smiled a big smile. "I'm glad your home, mama…I drew you lots of pictures…"

"She did…they're wonderful," Steve said. Larissa ran off to grab them. I looked at him. "Steve…I need to tell you what happened…"

"You don't have to…Tony told me everything…"

I felt myself break inside. "I'm so sorry, Steve…I didn't-"

He smiled. "Don't apologize."

He pulled me to the couch and sat me next to him. "Rori…"

He held my hands. "I know what you were trying to do, and it was a nice gesture. Don't beat yourself up over something like that, especially since it was forgiven. I would never hold anything against you…"

I kept my eye level, staring into his. He leaned forward and kissed me, and I knew I was forgiven. I heard Larissa giggle from behind the couch. She jumped up and roared like a lion. Steve laughed and pulled her over into his lap. She laughed and squirmed. "M-mama! Help me!"

I wiped my cheek and smiled. She sat up and handed me the pictures she drew. "I hope you like them, mama…"

I looked through the pages. "They're beautiful…thank you."

"You're welcome…I love you, mama…"

"I love you too, Lissa…"

Larissa got up. "Grandma is coming to get me soon…but I'll be back tomorrow…"

"Oh…okay."

"She wants to know you're okay, too."

After a quick exchange with my mother-in-law, Larissa was gone and I was left alone with Steve. I laid in between Steve's legs on the couch, staring at the TV screen. My head laid comfortably on his chest, feeling the movement as he breathed in and out. I tossed the remote away, having found nothing on TV to watch, and it being left on a music channel on low volume. I turned over onto my stomach and stared at him. He had a smile plastered on his lips. I pushed up and repositioned myself to be sitting on top of his legs. He sat up more and pulled his legs closer together. The Arc Reactor's light shined through the shirt I had changed into. I leaned forward and kissed him, keeping my hands on the arm of the couch for support. His hands rested on my thighs. I broke off for air. "I don't think I could ever place words for how much you mean to me…"

"But I think I do…" He reached over to the table where Larissa's pictures were placed. He grabbed a box that was hidden beneath them. "Rori…I know we discussed marriage before…but despite all that has been said, I can't imagine going anywhere without knowing I have you to come back to…With that said, I only have one question for you: will you marry me?"