Sunlight streaming in through the windows crept across his face, waking the man from his slumber. Steve inhaled as his eyes fluttered open. He sat up, quickly taking in his surroundings. He was in a studio apartment, Stella's apartment. His eyes flicked to the space beside him on the bed. It was noticeably vacant.

Steve stretched. The bones in his back cracked noisily.

"Morning Sleeping Beauty." He looked up. Stella walked over from the kitchen, holding two mugs. She was clad only in a bath robe, her hair wet from the shower.

"Morning," Steve greeted, accepting the mug she handed him. He glanced at his watch. It read 8:03 am. He had slept in. "I never sleep this late," He muttered, more to himself than her.

"I guess you were tired out. Can't imagine why." Stella winked at him before plopping onto the bed next to him and taking a sip of her coffee. Steve smirked at her.

"Really? You can't imagine why?" She grinned.

"Says the super soldier."

"Your endurance gave me a run for my money. How many times did we go last night? Three?"

"Four," She said, inclining her back towards the kitchen. Steve looked up and remembered their session on the countertop.

"Right." He placed his mug on the nightstand before leaning over and planting a kiss on her lips, cupping her jaw as he did. She returned the kiss. She tasted like coffee. Stella smiled at him before dropping her gaze.

"You leave today right?" Steve's face fell.

"Yeah, I do." She sighed.

"Gonna miss you, Teddy." He raised an eyebrow at her. "Come on. You kinda had that one coming," She joked.

"I guess you're right. You sure you're not mad at me?"

"No, Steve. I'm not mad…I will ask you for one more favor though."

"Oh? What's that?" Stella smirked before placing her mug down. Before Steve had time to react she crawled on top of him, straddling his hips. She was naked beneath the robe, as was he from last night.

"Again?" Steve questioned, though he was pleased. She nodded. "You're insatiable."

"So I've been told." She smirked down at him. "Good sex is hard to come by. And I don't think I've ever come so much in my life." Steve grinned this time.

"Oh?"

"Don't act modest. You knew what you were doing." Steve laughed.

"As you wish."

After another round the pair lay in one another's embrace, basking in the morning sun and their post coital glow. Steve glanced down at the woman in his arms.

He didn't want to leave. Maybe he and Stella could make it work… Upstate was only a few hours away after all.

His fingers reached out to touch her hair which had dried some during their tryst. The hair was soft beneath his fingers and he pulled his fingers through the curls, watching as they rebounded after his touch.

"I didn't know you have curly hair."

"I straighten it usually. Easier to manage at work." Steve's fingers halted suddenly. Now that he was looking at it in the sunlight, her hair was a golden brown. Long, golden brown. Long, curly, golden brown.

He thought back to the hair he had collected from the bar. Short, black and straight.

Fuck.

It could have been her hair. She straightens her hair for work so it makes sense that the sample would be straight too.

But it was short and black. Stella's hair isn't short and black. In the dim light of the bar it had appeared darker but in the morning sun he could see he was mistaken.

Steve stared down at the woman in his arms. He would have to have Bruce run another test to be sure.

What if it was positive? What if he had just bedded Tony's daughter?

After Stella got up to go to the bathroom, Steve tore apart the bed to find another hair. When he did, he held it up to the sunlight. It was thick, brown and had a slight curl to it. Definitely different than the other hair. He scrambled over to his duffle and pulled out another baggie. He dropped the hair inside before throwing on some clothes.

"Hey, I'm gonna run out to pick up breakfast. I'll be right back," He called.

Without waiting for her to respond he strode out the door and looked up the nearest Fedex on his phone before heading over.

"I need this overnight priority," He said to the clerk. Then he shot a text to Bruce. Need you to test another hair sample.

"Where to?" The worker asked.

"Upstate." The man whistled.

"Okay, but it'll cost ya." After Steve paid he almost forgot he had promised to pick up breakfast so he headed to a nearby deli. He waited anxiously in line, his heart racing. What if Stella was Tony's daughter? If that was the case, he supposed he would be seeing a lot more of her.

That is, assuming Tony does the right thing, He thought to himself. The thought angered him.

Steve would make sure he did the right thing. Stella deserved a family.

You don't even know if she's Tony's daughter.

Steve debated with himself for a few more minutes as he ordered. He decided he would remain in the city until Bruce got back to him with the results. Then he would decide what to do.

Stella will be pleased, He thought to himself as he accepted the bagels the bodega owner handed him.

She was. She leapt into his arms at the news. Steve couldn't help the smile that came to his face at her enthusiasm. She kissed him and as he kissed her back it was hard to pretend he wasn't glad at the excuse to extend his stay.

XXX

Later that week Steve and Stella were lounging on her bed, relaxing as the day wound to a close. They had stayed in bed all day watching movies, ordered take out and eaten it straight from the carton, and made love multiple times. It was glorious.

"Truth or dare?" Steve looked up from the thumb wrestling match he and Stella were engaged in.

"Truth or dare? Really? I haven't played that since the forties." Steve thought back on the memory. Bucky had dragged him to one of his friend's parties and they had played the spin the bottle variation. When the bottle had landed on Steve, Bucky dared him to kiss the most beautiful dame at the party. Steve had been embarrassed but the woman, Lottie, had taken pity on him and planted a kiss on his lips. He remembered turning beet red and Bucky's carefree expression as he cracked up.

How times had changed.

"Humor me." Stella captured his thumb with hers, pressing it down on his knuckle victoriously. "Hah! 1-1."

"That's cheating."

"All's far in love and war, Rogers." Steve shrugged.

"Truth, I guess."

"Why were you in New York City?" Stella asked. Steve paused and almost paid for it when Stella nearly caught his thumb again.

"I was here on a mission." Stella's brows furrowed.

"A mission? Like for the Avengers?" Steve hesitated. Now was the moment to tell her. But was it his place? And what if the test was negative? Then he would get her hopes up for nothing.

"Kind of. It was for Tony actually."

"Stark?" Steve nodded.

"What's Iron Man like in real life?" She questioned, trying and failing to beat Steve's reflexes.

"He's uh…" He wracked his brain. How to describe Tony… "Eccentric," He decided on eventually. Stella laughed.

"What about Black Widow? And Scarlet Witch?"

"Natasha's…Natasha. And Wanda is sweet, quiet…keeps to herself mostly but I think she's starting to open up more." He managed to loop his thumb over hers and pressed down on it. She pouted.

"How long have you lived here?" Steve questioned her.

"A little over a year. I moved in not long after my mom died." Stella had talked about her mother before so Steve didn't have to pretend to act shocked at this revelation.

"I'm sure you miss her."

"Yeah, I do. Do you miss your parents?"

"All the time." Steve admitted. "They died before I left for the war. Mom of tuberculosis. My dad of Mustard Gas."

"That's awful. I'm so sorry."

"It was commonplace for the time. I would've been all alone if not for Bucky."

"Who's that?"

"He's my best friend."

"Is he still alive? If so he must be pretty old." Steve realized she wouldn't know Bucky was the Winter Soldier.

"Actually he's about the same age as me." Stella furrowed her brows.

"How is that possible?"

"It's a long story but he was put into cryogenic sleep for a long time."

"I can't tell if you're being serious or not."

"Actually I am." Stella marveled at this.

"So that's a real thing, not just something from Austin Powers?" Steve had to laugh.

"Apparently yes."

"At least you have a little piece of home with you." Steve smiled.

"I'm glad I do too."

"Okay…my turn." Stella wracked her brain. "Have you ever been in love?" Steve's smile faded.

"Once."

"Who was she?"

"She was an agent for the SSR, the science division that developed the serum that turned me into a super soldier. She passed a few years ago."

"I'm so sorry Steve." Stella took his hand. Steve entwined their fingers and lifted them, pressing his lips to her palm.

"What about you?" Stella shook her head. "Come on. Really? You're 24."

"Mom never really let me date, at least when I was a teenager. She was kinda strict about that stuff. And then I was working and didn't have the time so…" She raised her hands. "I've been on a couple dates but nothing too serious." Stella excused herself to go to the bathroom and Steve used the opportunity to check his phone. His heartbeat quickened when he saw he had a message from Bruce.

Need you to call me ASAP.

Steve stepped into the hall and phoned Bruce.

"Steve?"

"Yeah it's me. What's going on? Is it Bucky?"

"No it's not that." Steve took a sigh of relief. "There was a security breach today. Tons of confidential data was downloaded off our servers."

"Hydra?"

"We think so although there's no way to be sure."

"What were they looking for?"

"We don't know. We're not even sure to what extent they were able to access."

"Okay," Steve pinched his brows.

"When are you coming back?"

"As soon as I get the results of the hair sample I sent you."

"Oh! That reminds me." Steve heard the rustling of paper from the other line. "I was able to finish testing today. It was right before the breach so I forgot." Steve's heart constricted in his chest.

"And?"

"It's a match for Tony's DNA." Steve fell back against the wall. Stella was Tony's daughter. "Steve?" Bruce questioned after a moment.

"Yeah?"

"You okay?"

"No. Did you tell Tony yet?"

"No I didn't…So this Stella is Tony's daughter?" Steve nodded, then realized Bruce couldn't see him.

"Seems like it." Something occurred to him then.

"When was the breach?"

"Hours ago now. Why?"

"I have to go." Steve hung up the phone and headed back to the apartment. If Bruce matched Stella's DNA with Tony's before the breach that meant her information and the confirmation of her as Tony's blood was in their files. He needed to get her to a safe house. If Hydra found out she was related to Tony there was no telling what they would do to get to her.

The sound of crashing and yelling met his ears. Steve sprinted towards the apartment, bursting through the door. He was not prepared for what he saw on the other side.

Loki and Stella were facing off in the bedroom. Stella was bleeding from the arm, her blood staining Steve's shirt which she had thrown on after they'd made love. Loki was holding a dagger menacingly in his right hand as they circled one another. Loki looked up when Steve burst through the door.

"Captain…Your presence is a surprise. Stella and I were just having a civil conversation." Stella's eyes were wide with fear as she glanced at Steve.

"Loki, let her leave and you and I can talk." Steve said, stepping in and closing the apartment door behind him.

"Oh I think not. Ms. Stark is coming with me."

"I told you, you have me confused with someone else. My last name is Rivera." A cruel smile lit Loki's face. He turned to Steve.

"Captain…" His tone was chiding. "You didn't tell her that she's Stark's daughter?" Steve's gaze flicked to Stella's. She was gaping at Loki before her gaze turned to Steve, disbelief and hurt in her eyes.

"She's not going anywhere with you," Steve said, his voice turning cold. He tried not to let on that he was still reeling from the shock of discovering Loki in the apartment, not Hydra. "Let Stella go and we can talk Loki."

"Now, why would I do that?" Loki turned to Stella and the look in his eyes made Steve's blood boil. He ripped a butcher knife out of the knife block on the counter beside him and flung it at Loki. Loki shimmered away, reappearing in front of the wall of windows. Steve pounced on him before he had the time to shimmer away. The two grappled. Steve was surprised by the man's strength but perhaps he shouldn't have been. He was a God after all. Loki managed to roll the pair over so he was on top of Steve. He managed to get the dagger inches from Steve's throat. Steve fought the man's grip, but he was quickly losing ground.

A blurred object swung through the air, nailing Loki in the side of the head. He crumpled to the side, clutching his temple. Stella was at Steve's side in a flash, the baseball bat still clutched in her hand.

"Are you okay?" Steve nodded, looking back to Loki who was openly glaring at Stella.

"You're going to regret that." He leapt at her but Steve was ready. Grabbing the man by the waist he flung him backwards, through the wall of windows. The glass shattered and Loki was lost to the night. Steve didn't hesitate.

"Come on!" He grabbed Stella's hand and together they sprinted to the door. They quickly made their way down the three flights of stairs and out the front door. They continued running, Steve occasionally stopping them in an alley to see if Loki was tracking them. It was late and the night was dark, but they appeared to have lost him for now. Still, he couldn't take any chances.

After fifteen minutes of cat and mouse, they finally made it to Tony's apartment that Steve had taken residence in. Once inside, he headed into the bedroom. Stella followed, looking pale and frightened. It was then Steve noticed she was limping. She was barefoot except for a pair of socks that were stained dark brown from running through the streets.

Steve cupped her cheek. "Are you okay?" Stella nodded, but didn't speak. She seemed to be in shock.

They couldn't waste time. Steve grabbed his leather jacket from the coat hook and handed it to her.

"Put this on. And these." He plucked a pair of expensive looking slippers off the shoe rack. They weren't ideal but Steve's shoes were far too big for her and Tony's weren't much better. She peeled off the ruined socks and quickly replaced them with the slippers.

"Steve…"

"Stella, we don't have time right now. Loki could know about this place. I need you to put that on." She seemed to understand the seriousness of the situation because she shrugged on the jacket before zipping it up.

Steve picked up his bag and shield and held open the door for her. Steve held her hand tightly as they made their way down to the parking garage. When they reached the R8 he opened the door for her and she slid inside. He dropped his shield into the backseat along with his bag before getting into the driver's side. Then, they set out into the night.

The first few minutes of the drive was silent as Steve maneuvered his way through the city streets and onto the highway. Stella seemed to realize they were vulnerable while in the close quarters of Manhattan. She stared out the windows, eyes wide, scoping the darkness for any sign of the God of Mischief. Once they had made their way onto FDR Drive, Steve felt himself relax a bit. After a few minutes more minutes they reached I-95.

"What Loki said…" Stella started eventually. "Why does he think I'm related to Tony Stark?" Steve could feel her studying his expression.

"Because you are." Silence.

"…You knew, didn't you?" The disappointment was ripe in her voice. And the sadness.

"I wasn't sure. Not until today." It was time to come clean. Stella deserved at least that.

"So you were here to spy on me?"

"Stella..."

"Tell me the truth, Steve." Steve sighed.

"Yes, Tony asked me to come here to look into you." Stella shook her head and stared out the window. She was blinking back tears. Steve reached out to take her hand which she promptly shook off.

"How did you even find out?" Steve swallowed.

"I ordered a test using a sample of your hair." Stella crossed her arms. He could tell her sadness had transformed into anger. Betrayal.

"Unreal. So you've been lying to me since day one?"

"Only when I had to, Stella. Please believe me when I tell you that everything that happened between us in the past few days…even since I met you, was real."

"Why would I believe that now?" Steve didn't speak. She was right. He had lied to her in order to get close to her. There was no way around that.

"So what am I, his long lost niece or something?" She said sarcastically. Steve shouldn't have been the one to tell her, but he had lied enough.

"He's your father Stella." He chanced a look at her. The shock and disbelief on her face couldn't be hidden. She remained quiet for ten minutes after he told her that.

"Are you okay?" He asked finally.

"No." Silence engulfed them again. Steve veered onto the Palisades Interstate Parkway North.

"Where are we going?" She asked eventually.

"Someplace Loki can't follow. Somewhere safe."

"Which is?"

"The Avengers Compound." He glanced over at her but she merely stared out into the night, her expression unreadable. Stella didn't speak to him for the rest of the car ride and Steve wasn't surprised, to be honest. He tried to engage her a couple times but only got short, stunted answers in reply.

"How's your arm?"

"It's just a scratch."

"I would stop and wrap it but Loki-"

"I'm fine." That had been the end of that.

An hour later he pulled into the parking garage at the compound. As soon at the gates closed behind him, Steve let out a sigh of relief. The compound was protected 24/7 by a force field and only lowered when someone came or went from the premises. They were safe. For now.

Natasha was waiting for him in the garage when they arrived.

"Bruce told me something happened when you two were on the phone. I checked the locator in the R8 and saw you were on the way…Are you okay?" She fell silent when Stella stepped out of the car.

"I'm fine. Can you do me a favor and ask Bruce to take a look at her arm? Loki grazed her with his dagger." Steve would have tried to look at the wound himself if he didn't think Stella would slap him for trying.

"I'm sorry, did you say Loki?" Nat demanded.

"It's a long story, Nat. I promise I'll explain in a bit but first I have to go see Tony." Steve's eyes flicked to Stella who was still wearing his jacket, the edges of his shirt peeking out from beneath and barely concealing her hips. "Would you mind loaning her some clothes?" Natasha hesitated before nodding. She smiled at Stella who hesitated, her expression uncomfortable.

"You can trust Natasha," Steve said to her softly.

"As if I would believe anything you said." She snapped, her voice laced with venom. Steve couldn't help but flinch. He had never seen this side of her before. Stella headed off in the direction of the door regardless. Natasha sent him a look before following the girl. Steve sighed before heading to Tony's office.

A/N: Hi all! Hope you're enjoying the story so far! If so, please leave a review. They inspire me to keep writing! :)