Tony

The past, god he hated the past, the nightmares they never stopped. They weren't so bad when Pepper was home, but she had those trips. He was alone, yes the tower was filled with his 'family', but he still had to sleep alone. Usually it wasn't until he was to the point of being a zombie, that he was forced to sleep for the next 12 hours. If a mission would come up, then things would be a little better, because it would keep him occupied.

Robert knew about these sleeping problems, he heard the stories. Pepper talked to him about it, before she had to go to China for a week. Darcy was a good help with Tony, but she with Loki, Jane, and Thor had taken a trip to visit some states. Natasha, Clint, and Steve were on a mission in Greece, something about drugs and possible Chitauri weapons.

So that left Bruce, Tony, and Robert alone in the tower, it was quiet. Tony and Bruce basically lived in the labs, Robert lived in the common area on his floor, blasting music, doing reports, and trying to figure out how to help to Clint out.

The one night it was around eleven, Robert headed up to the team's common floor, that is where everyone usually met for hanging out, or to assemble because it was near the launch pad. Robert wanted to look at the sky and take a break, as he leaned up against the railing looking at the city. The full moon shined brightly, it seemed so calming, so after a half an hour, Robert felt relaxed , he figured he would just go to bed. When he came in from the balcony, he noticed something that was not there before, a slumped figured at the bar.

Robert knew who it was, so he walked over, but before he could get next to him. "So Agent Hall, you finally get to meet the real Tony Stark, not the fake one." with a slurred voice.

"I didn't know there was an imposter running around. So what is the poison tonight, whiskey, vodka, or rum?"

"Ha, funny one, it is always whiskey, help yourself. So why are you up?"

"Came up to see the city, figuring stuff out, nothing unusual happening," Even he knew that Tony would know that Robert was lying.

"Don't play coy with me, I know what is going on with Barton, he is good guy, just has shit luck."

"I disagree with that,'

"Okay, I am little curious, why?"

"Because after everything, he still has us to help him,"

"You really think you can do the same for Clint as for Banner,"

"Well, I have to, unless you have a better idea."

"Yes, I do, but that will be for a time when we are both sober."

"Agreed, so what is keeping you up, nightmares, visions, fears, or lack of a partner."

"Cute, all of the above. Why did you fight to come back?" Robert brow went up, he was taken a bit back. "You could have stay dead, you could have joined your family, why did you come back."

"Interesting question, Because I was greedy." Tony looked perplexed, he was not expecting that answer."I wanted to live, I wanted to have that chance of being a part of this, I felt my time was not done, I was not at peace."

"This? your life is in constant danger, you live with a bunch of people that could rule the world if they got that way. They have a horde of issues, they can be unstable, and deadly."

"Yet, you care for each other, always to help someone up, if they fall, when someone is hurt, you rush to protect them, and when someone cries, you lend a shoulder and a heart."

"You have been paying attention." He pours himself another drink, "Jury is still out on you, I don't trust you completely."

"I don't blame you, with your past history, I would find trusting anyone completely, risky."

"Yes, very good," he takes a drink, "They hurt a lot you know, sometimes I can't breathe. I wake her up sometimes, I think she is going to break soon."

"I am surprise, she hasn't already." Robert stared at him hard, "She is an amazing woman, you are lucky to have her."

"I don't know how to keep her." Robert motioned to move over to the couch, Tony agreed to do so

"I know you don't, but you are trying." Tony felt a hand on his shoulder, "That is the best you can do." Robert felt the exhaustion kicking in, he felt the eyelids going down. Damn this couch was comfortable.

"You know, most people would be annoyed at you, for falling asleep on them."

"True, I got used to it, I try to stay awake, but it always wins, no matter the caffeine or sugar intake." he said with a smile.

"You know, it seems to be contagious, I actually feel tired too, he said with a yawn, he turned to set his drink down, "I am afraid what will happen to me, after she leaves." when he turned to face Robert again he saw that he was out. Stark smiled as he got up and help Robert lay down on the couch.

As he left the room to go to his own bed, he laid down in it, not afraid of them dreams. As his eyes closed, suddenly he was like he hear, "It will be okay, your family will be here forever to love you."

Tony fell asleep with a smile, no bad dreams that night. or any more for quite a while.

Steve

They came back from the mission and reports. It was snowing, not hard, but a decent amount. He was standing in the lobby with a bouquet of flowers. He wanted to be back sooner, but it nevers works out that way. The weather sucked for him to go out, so he turned around to go back up to his floor. From behind him, he heard a familiar voice, "Hey Steve, dude what's up." it was Robert, just getting back from a meeting.

"Oh hey Robert, how are you." Steve responded

"Tired, meetings all day, got some problems, why do you look so blue." Robert realized the comment, "Sorry, I actually wasn't trying to be a dick," he saw the pink flowers, "Hey you got a date, oh the weather."

"Yeah I guess I will have to cancel," Steve lowered his head.

"Nonsense, come I will take you there, If you go upstairs, the others will not leave you in peace."

"True, okay, thank you." So they got into the car, Steve gave him the address, he put it into the gps. With Jarvis (the car version) giving directions they drove through the city. They remained silent, or until Hall decided to say, "Dude why are you going to a cemetery,"

"Just dropping these off, one last time." they came to a stop light, Robert looked at the flowers, There were some pink ones. yellow roses, red roses.

"Okay I get the roses, what are the pink ones?

"They are sweetpea, they are for goodbye."

Robert understood now, "Are you okay, I know that you have been doing this for awhile." as they arrived at their destination.

"Yes, she is right, it is time for me to move on." Steve replied as he opened the door.

"Well, take as long as you like I will be in the back taking a nap." Steve nodded and walked over.

Some time later, Steve came back in the car, Robert was in back, and he was out to the dead of the world. Steve just smiled, he opened the glove box to get the gps out. A card fell out of an envelope, he picked it up, it read Nisky Hill Cemetery, Bethlehem Pa,. He flipped it over, there on the back was a little map. with two x's in the back. Steve just looked back at Robert who was still out, he now understood why Robert help him out. He put the card back, and drove back to the tower.

TBC