A lot of you have been wondering what's happened to Derek in this whole process. Just wanted to let you all know, he'll be in the next chapter. And he has a very good reason for being gone. Just thought I'd let you all know!

Chapter Forty-Two

I could barely concentrate on studying for Carlyle's test. I was so nervous I swear I would die from nerves. This test wasn't like the other ones.

This time, he had made all the questions maps and essays over everything we had learned that semester. From post-Civil War to the present, we were expected to know anything and everything from lecture and our books. Oh, and another unexpected twist: no multiple choice. It was "too easy to guess the answers." And guess what? The test accounts for a quarter of our semester grade! If I failed this, then I could kiss my perfect 4.0 GPA history.

I had already seen my grades slip a tad. The last quiz I had gotten a 'D' because I had done a little more than study with Steve the night before (hint, hint). I was determined to wipe the smug grin off Carlyle's face like he had had when he handed me my quiz paper back.

"Well, well, Ms. Barton, looks like you're starting to dumb down. Can't have that, now can we?"

The thought only made me more determined to keep that 'A' with an iron grip.

But just for precaution's sake, I had hurried myself down to the lab for some peace and quiet over four hours ago. Tony and Bruce were unusually busy and didn't have much time for more than quick chit-chat before resuming their work, making it the perfect study time. So there I was, head leaned precariously close to my paper on the metal surface, pushing my focus to its limits.

First question: The Civil War was greatly affected by the heroic acts of this famous war hero...

Steve Rogers.

No, no, no! That wasn't it. It was because of...General ummm... Maybe I should skip that question for now. I couldn't recall the name just yet, but I would eventually.

Next: World War I was put to an end by...

Steve, right?

I wanted to slam my head on the metal counter. It was the Allied Powers for crying out loud! Steve wasn't even born yet!

You know the answers.

And I did. But, as you can see, my mind was distracted with other matters.

Why was it the only thing I could think about was Steve? We had been together for a month now and things had started to simmer down. Well, compared to last month anyway.

Which reminded me...our one month anniversary was tomorrow. I needed to do something special.

"You might want to take your mind off the studying, kid." Tony sat down beside me, looking thoroughly exhausted. He should be. He had been holed up in the lab for twelve hours straight. "You look exhausted."

"Look who's talking."

The dark circles under his eyes seemed even darker under the fluorescent lights and he drooped over the counter, barely even able to sit up straight. I noticed his coffee cup was bone dry.

"Need another cup?"

"Please?" He slid the cup over to me with genuine appreciation.

"Can you fill mine as well? I don't think I can take another step." Bruce flopped down beside Tony and placed his glasses on the table. His hand propped his head up, but it was taking all his strength to stay awake.

"What's got you two worked up?" I sauntered my way over to the coffee machine and started to fill their cups.

"Analytical evaluations on JARVIS." Tony replied. "His security system has been giving off weird signals, but we are unaware as to why."

"Maybe he needs a tune-up."

Tony snorted.

"JARVIS is the best A.I. there is. He doesn't need a tune-up. But there's something setting off his security settings."

"We've looked everywhere." Bruce cut in with an agonized groan. "Every nook and cranny in his electronic body, we've checked. And it's driving me mad."

"Weird." I muttered, placing their fresh cups of coffee in front of them. Bruce took a swig of the dark liquid before he spoke.

"Tony, in light of this, maybe you should cancel your party coming up. It looks suspicious to me."

That's right. Tony's celebration party for the baby was coming up in a few weeks. It was going to be big, too. The guest list made my head swim. It was up to five-hundred and still counting.

"No," Tony replied firmly. "I can't do that."

"Tony," Bruce moaned, "don't you think you've had enough parties in your lifetime?"

"Not like this one." Tony replied with a smirk. "This one's special."

"Should I ask?" I replied.

Anything Tony called special usually meant something big, like large fireworks or a giant flashing sign. Steve was pretty embarrassed at his last birthday party when Tony put "Happy Birthday, Capsicle!" on a giant sign and it flashed over Times Square. His face was beet red and I swore he was going to faint.

Tony started rummaging through the drawers at the counter. I was instantly curious.

What has he got planned?

"Come on, where'd I put it?" He muttered to himself, the sound of metal tools clanging against one another.

I was beginning to wonder if he had lost whatever it was that was so special when he finally held a small box in his hand. And not just any box: a Tiffany box.

"You didn't." I gasped with sudden excitement.

Tony's grin grew wider.

"I did."

He snapped open the box to reveal a huge diamond ring. It was gorgeous.

"Didn't think it would be right to have a kid with her and not marry her." He handed the ring over to Bruce, who admired it as he held it between his fingers. He passed the ring to me and I gazed at it, the diamond's brilliant cut sparkling at every angle.

"She's going to love it." I handed the ring back to him and Tony shoved it back in the drawer. It was crafty of him to hide it there. Pepper wouldn't look down here in a million years.

"I'm going to propose when I call for a big announcement. She'll be so surprised." Tony's eyes sparkled like the diamond ring, the evidence of his excitement obvious. And Pepper would be so happy. The two of them together; they were were perfect for each other.

"So, have you got your dress for the big party yet?"

I gave Bruce this look that said 'Ha! Yeah right!' I was notorious for putting off buying things like dresses at the last minute. Wedding vowel renewal for my aunt and uncle? Took until the day before to find the perfect dress. Wedding for Thor and Jane (who was currently at work in a lab in London)? Picked that up on the way to the wedding. Yeah, I was a big procrastinator in the dress department.

"You really need to get on this if you want to find the right one."

"A dress is a dress." I shrugged.

"Not if you want to please Steve it's not." Tony raised his eyebrows insinuatingly.

Great. Another thing I had to worry about along with this stupid test. I'd have to text my aunt later to go shopping.

"Has he even asked you?" Tony asked.

"I thought it was obvious since we were dating that we'd be going together."

"Yeah, but he should ask you anyway. Makes it special and all that jazz."

The practice sounded strange to me. Why should Steve ask when we were already going out? Weird.

"I'll work on the dress." I assured him, starting to pack up my books.

"Leaving?" Bruce asked. They both seemed sad to see me go, probably because I was there only distraction from work.

"I need a shower. It might help me wake up." The hot water might help me relax. Besides, I probably looked like a wreck from all the crazy studying.

"See ya, kid!" They both shouted simultaneously as I ran off.

That evening, Steve had whisked me out of my floor where my eyes were nearly bloodshot from all the studying. The hot water had done nothing to clear my head or calm my nerves. Despite my protests, he had practically carried me out of there, saying I needed a change of scenery, and flopped me on the couch on his floor. He was now in the process of making us some hot chocolate. At first, I had insisted that I needed to get back to studying, saying that our last 'study session' hadn't exactly yielded the best results.

"You've been studying for hours." Steve objected, kindly handing me a mug of hot chocolate filled with extra marshmallows (my favorite next to coffee). "Besides, I read that studying for hours with no breaks actually gives you bad grades."

I had heard that once. Never believed it. That is, until I met Carlyle. I was just happy this whole class would be over in a short while. Then graduation. And never would I have to see that man again. And if I did, it would be on a random street corner and I could stick my tongue out at him without having to worry about a bad grade.

Steve sat down and I leaned against his shoulder, closing my eyes. He lightly kissed my hair.

"Feels good, doesn't it?"

I smiled in silent agreement.

I didn't realize how exhausted I was until I had closed my eyes. The multitude of words and events were no longer flashing through my mind, allowing my brain to relax. I must have dozed off for a few because I was gently being shoved awake.

"Don't fall asleep on me now." Steve warned playfully. "If your uncle finds us asleep on the couch together I won't be alive."

The thought made me laugh. Steve may be a strong super soldier, but facing a deadly assassin on some bad pretenses would be bad-very bad.

"Besides, I needed to ask you a question."

"We've been together for a month now." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously and I raised my eyebrows curiously. "I was wondering if you'd like to go to Tony's party with me."

His face was starting to turn red like he had just uttered something stupid. Maybe it was because he felt the same way I felt: since we were dating, then you don't have to really ask the other to special things like Stark's party.

But somehow, it didn't matter how foolish it sounded. It made me feel special...like I was the only person he wanted to take.

I gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"I'd be honored."

He took in a fresh breath of air, wiping his forehead.

"I must have looked so stupid, asking you and all."

"No!" I protested, wrapping my arm around his. "It was sweet."

"I just...Stark said I would be an idiot if I didn't ask you."

"Funny, that. He just told me this afternoon that you should be asking me."

Curiosity got the best of me and I grabbed his phone and went straight to his text messages.

"What are you...?"

"Just curious." I replied as I quickly found Tony's number at the top of the list. It read: You dolt! I told you to ask her a week ago!

"Seriously?" I asked him. The redness in his face returned again.

"I was nervous I would look stupid. And..."

He cut himself off and wouldn't look at me.

"And what?"

"Well, I was kind of...afraid you might not want to go with me."

I immediately smacked him lightly on the forearm.

"Ow!" He feigned injury. "What was that for?"

"For being afraid, you dolt!" I exclaimed. "Of course I'd say yes!"

And if that gave him any doubt, I smacked him again.

"Ouch!" He rubbed it tenderly. "What did I do now?"

"That's so you'll remember next time."

"I kiss would help me remember."

"Well, you'd have to ask me first." Steve rolled his eyes and pulled me into another kiss.

So what did you all think? I'm dying to know! Thanks for reading!