Clint was shell shocked by this confession, his jaw dropped in clear surprise, and decided to text Natasha this unforeseen turn of events, knowing his partner would want to now. That and he might need back up. Steve seemed surprised by his own words too, his cheeks heating up as he recalled what he'd just said.

Tony was just eerily calm, and for a couple of seconds he simply stared at Steve.

"I'm sorry, I mean forgive me if I'm wrong, but did you just tell me that you like MY daughter, as in Like Her?"

Steve straightened, sitting up to look Tony in the eye.

"I wish to make your daughter my girl" he stated this with confidence, never once taking his eyes off of Tony. Clint had to give the solider props.

That was a pretty bold thing to do, considering the pissed off billionaire.

Tony slammed his fist angrily on the table, causing the archer to twitch slightly at the unexpected action.

"Bullshit" He snapped "What about Aunt Peggy? Last time I checked you were still hung up on her! "He glared at Steve, with dark eyes cold, and Clint reckoned that if Stark had the ability to, he would have hulked out on the super soldier, and crushed the blonde without a hint of regret.

"I won't have you use Grace as some replacement for her"

Steve was silent for a moment. No one would be able to replace Peggy. She would always hold a special place in his heart. She was his first love. But Grace wasn't a replacement for Peggy.

Grace was his new beginning.

She a bright light in this dark world he had found himself in.

He'd lost Peggy.

He wouldn't lose Grace.

"She isn't "He declared "I like your daughter because she is who she is, and nothing you say will change my mind "Tony narrowed his eyes.

If he couldn't change Steve's mind.

He would have to talk Grace out of it.

That is, if she felt the same.

Grace had finally finished training with the assassin, and everything hurt. Natasha had said that when she wasn't on a mission she would train her… though she was still confused as to why Natasha had offered to train her. Sighing, she stepped finished drying her hair, after her shower. She'd changed into a pair of jogging bottoms and she was about to put on her jacket over her blue t-shirt.

When the door opened.

Her dad stood in the doorway, his signature smirk had quickly fallen of his face.

He'd never seen her scars before. Strange as that may sound, she had dressed herself at 8 and she always wore a jacket or cardigan to cover up the marks.

"…You should have at least Knocked" She murmured softly, slipping the jacket back on, trying to ignore her dad's apparent shock.

Tony however simply walked towards her, and pulled the clothing off, much to her surprise.

"Dad! W-" She paused as she noted the almost haunted look in her father's eyes as he scanned every blemish, every fault, every memory imprinted into her skin.

"Why did you hide these from me" he muttered, his brown eyes that were usually a light with mischief had hardened.

She considered telling him a lie, some excuse, or maybe even changing topic, but under his gaze, she felt vulnerable, as if she was 8 years old all over again.

"Because I didn't want you to send me away "Tony's head shot up.

"Send you away?" He echoed this, as If the very idea perplexed him "Why the hell would I do, don't you trust me"

"Of course I trust you "She retorted as she ran her left hand over her right arm with unease, feeling the ragged scars that stuck out against her palm

"But back then I didn't know you. "She looked her father sadly in the eye "I didn't want to lose my home again, I thought that-"

"If I saw them, I wouldn't want you "Tony finished.

A tense moment developed between the pair, with Grace avoiding eye contact with Tony.

However it was then that she found herself, being carried by her father.

"W-What are you doing? "She spluttered. Her father didn't answer her, and she found herself being carried to the sofa. After plonking her there he sat next to her, and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, holding his baby girl to his side

"Dad what are you doing?" She repeated, unsure of what was going on.

"We need to talk "He simply said "So I've decided we are going to play 21 questions "He declared a bright grin on his face.

Grace gazed blankly at her father, as if making sure she heard him right. However before she had chance to reason against the childish game, her father had already begun.

Soon they were talking, sharing their deepest secrets amongst one another. Grace telling him about her mother and her fear of abandonment, and Tony talking about the three months from when he was kidnapped. She told him of how she had been bullied at school, and he told her that he had nightmares about when he had flown into the gaping portal in the sky. However they had both avoided certain questions, that is till Tony asked his next question.

"Tell me about Cal "This caused Grace to tense. This was a subject that they didn't talk about.

Ever.

"There isn't much to say "She muttered, leaning on her father's shoulder, a tactic so she wouldn't have to look the man in the eye. "He got custody of me when my grandmother died. He drank a lot, which resulted in him hitting me. This went on for three years, then I got out" She finished blankly, and Tony frowned, noting how tense she was.

"How did you get out Kid? "He asked quietly "It was thanks to agent right?" She smiled slightly at Tony's nickname for the deceased agent.

"That's more than one question "She added

Tony smirked

"Humour me."

So she did. She explained her encounter with the agent, and how she hid in her closet to call the agent weeks later.

"I called him… because he…"She trailed off, and Tony being the genius he was seemed to understand what his daughter was so reluctant to say.

"That bastard…he" He trailed off, not being sure whether to say it out loud.

"He hadn't ever…touched me like that before…I couldn't stop him "She whimpered, once again cursing her weakness. "I was used to hurting me, but not like that "She refused to go into detail about that dark experience, that experience where she had her innocence ripped away from her, and to be violated till he had finished using her like a toy.

"It's what made me call Phil…I wasn't about to let that happen again"

For once Tony had no words, and simply held his strong little girl, vowing he would never let her get hurt again.

They didn't speak for some time. Each wishing to apologise for their words the previous night, but no words were needed.

Their actions spoke for themselves.

"You've got guts cap, I'll give you that "Clint added, feeling slightly sorry for the captain who was being faced with his smug partner. Bruce and Thor had returned from their electronic lesson, and whilst Bruce took to the solitude of his lab, Thor was currently congratulating Steve on his "Bravery"

"Captain, are congratulations now in order?" Steve was bright pink at this point.

Natasha raised an eyebrow.

"So, when exactly are you going to tell her you like her?" Steve's eyes widened

"I-I can't t-tell her!" He stammered. "What if she doesn't like me?" Natasha huffed in annoyance

"Of course she likes you, it's obvious" Steve was too awkward to even notice that Grace liked him. For Natasha it was frustrating to watch.

"If you don't tell her captain, Tony is never going to let you near her. Least if you're in a mutually agreed relationship, he can't do much about it "She finally reasoned.

Steve's gaze hardened. Whilst he didn't regret voicing his feelings, a small part of him wished he hadn't told Tony. Tony was VERY protective over Grace, and he knew that even getting the chance to start a relationship with Grace was going to be hard.

Natasha seemed to notice his darkening thoughts.

"I'll deal with Tony, and I'll get Pepper to help" She turned to Clint "Clint, you're going to talk to Grace…Thor" Thor beamed at her, hope filled baby blue eyes staring at her." You…" she was about to say he could simply eat the pop tarts and stay out of the way.

However she paused and felt that maybe she would regret this decision "You help Clint "She assigned those roles as if she was going to battle.

Her narrowed eyes turned to Steve

"You are going to ask Grace to be you're date at the Marie Stark Foundation charity ball that's coming up next week" Steve gaped like a fish out of water.

"I-isn't that too soon?" Clint scoffed

"It's not like you're getting any younger cap" Steve glared at archer, before trying to fight the losing battle against the rest of his team mates.

"But her ex i-"

"I don't give a damn about him" Natasha snapped coldly "Now stop making excuses Cap, and grow a fucking spine."

"Nat" Clint warned, though his heeding was ignored.

"You're a super soldier! What you can tell her dad you like her, but you can't actually tell the girl?" She sneered. And with that she stalked out of the room with a huff and muttering under her breath. Clint looked at his angry partner in a mixture of both awe and fear, before turning back to a silent Steve.

"You know cap "He began tentatively "That's just her way of showing she cares…"He trailed off, unsure of what to say and looked at the god for some sort of support. Thor grinned.

"So Captain Rogers, am I in understanding that we will be enacting the Lady Natasha's plan after all" Clint rubbed his forehead in exasperation, realising it had been stupid to rely on the comforting support of the thunder god.

"Your understanding is correct Thor. We are going through with her plan" Clint blinked realising that Steve had adopted what he had dubbed his Captain America voice. He didn't seem disheartened in the slightest, and in fact seemed more confident in telling the younger stark his feelings.

Huh.

Who knew Natasha had a talent for pep talks?