Stella POV
Stella spent the night and most of the next day in the lab while Bruce ran his tests. She knew the tests were necessary but couldn't help feeling like a lab rat after being poked and prodded all day. Thankfully, a member of the team other than Bruce kept her company at all times during her stay in the lab.
The courtesy had even extended to overnight; she realized the next morning when she noticed the chair beside her bed which had an abandoned copy of Murder on the Orient Express atop it. Agatha Christie was Steve's favorite author.
"I sent him to his room. Told him he was forbidden to come back until tonight or Bruce has my permission to go hulk on him." Natasha explained, appearing with two mugs of coffee in tow. She handed one off to Stella. "He was knocked out when I came in here."
"He must've snuck in after I fell asleep," Stella mused. She stared down at her coffee. "I don't think I'm supposed to have this," She warned, but took a scalding sip regardless.
"I won't tell Bruce if you don't."
The girls sat in silence as they drank their coffee.
"So…" Natasha started eventually. Stella glanced at her. Natasha was smirking. "You and Steve, huh?"
Stella sighed. "Guess I have no one to blame but my big mouth for that one coming out."
"I already knew."
Stella choked on her coffee.
"What? How?"
"You do remember the first night you came here right? When you climbed out of the car wearing only Steve's shirt and jacket?"
"Oh. Right."
"That was the first clue at least. Then I saw how he was around you. I thought it was a crush he developed when he was surveilling you for Tony. I didn't know you guys were actually involved until he told me."
"He told you?" Stella repeated indignantly.
"Well, I kinda pulled it out of him." Natasha smiled charmingly. Stella had no doubt the woman had no problem getting people to tell her whatever she wanted to know.
"What exactly did he tell you?"
"That he's made a few mistakes."
"A few?" Stella questioned sarcastically.
"Okay, more than a few. I don't want to make excuses for him, but people do crazy things when they're in love."
"Steve isn't in love with me."
"Did he tell you that?"
Stella didn't respond.
"Do you love him?"
Stella considered this, staring down at her mug.
"I did."
"But not anymore?"
"No. Well, yes-I don't know!" Stella threw her arms up, her coffee tottering precariously. The temperature in the room suddenly became noticeably warmer as Stella's eyes flashed blue.
"Whoa," Natasha warned, holding her hands up. "Don't fry me."
"Sorry," Stella muttered. She took a deep breath. "Feelings like that don't just go away over night, you know?"
"Trust me, I know."
Natasha let the subject drop thankfully. She stayed with Stella throughout the morning while Bruce ran his tests. Wanda came to relieve her at noon and even Tony popped in for a visit, though he didn't stay long. He merely asked how she was feeling and if she needed anything. Stella responded she was fine and didn't need anything except maybe a cheeseburger since Bruce had requested she not eat anything while he was running his labs.
To her surprise and secret delight a drone hovered outside her window less than an hour later, a bag of Wendy's in tow. Wanda had kept Bruce distracted while Stella scarfed down some food. She felt immensely better after eating something, though she was disappointed the one person she'd really wanted to see hadn't visited her. Bucky had walked by the lab several times that day, sometimes twice in one hour, but he didn't step foot inside the lab. In the afternoon, Stella finally caught his eye and waved at the man through the glass. He waved back but continued walking.
Why doesn't he come inside? Isn't he worried about me?
"Yes," Wanda said suddenly beside her, not bothering to look up from the magazine she was perusing.
"Excuse me?"
"Yes, he's worried about you."
A moment of silence passed between the two of them. It took a moment for Stella to realize Wanda had read her mind. Wanda glanced up from her magazine.
"Sorry, it was an accident."
"It's alright…Is Bucky actually worried?"
"Why do you think he keeps walking by?"
"But he hasn't come inside…" The girl's eyes met. "Do you know why?" Stella probed.
"Yes."
It seemed Stella's mind wasn't the only one Wanda was digging into.
"Can you tell me?"
"He should really tell you himself." Wanda looked back down at her magazine. "He is thinking about you, though."
Good things, I hope.
"Can't confirm or deny." Wanda flipped her page.
Steve relieved Wanda at 5pm on the dot. Stella would've been annoyed if not for the fact she still felt weak and vulnerable after her death scare and despite everything, Steve made her feel safe.
At 9pm Bruce called it. The scientist's tests were inconclusive. Apparently, he could find nothing different about her other than the fact she had somehow developed the power of fire creation after to contact with the tesseract.
"We'll need to keep a close eye on you though," He cautioned.
"Why?"
"Other abilities could develop. We'll find out in due time."
Stella processed this as Steve escorted her up to her room. Steve was oddly quiet as they walked, not saying a word. However, when Stella tried to walk inside her room, Steve snagged her wrist.
She looked up at him questioningly. Wordlessly he moved forward and embraced her, taking her in his arms and burying his face in her hair.
"Steve?" Stella questioned. The smell of oak and cotton surrounded her and she allowed herself one deep inhale of his scent.
"I know you told me to leave you alone, but please let me hold you for one minute."
Stella obliged the request. It felt nice to be held after everything that had happened, even if she was angry at the man.
"…I thought I lost you," He said eventually.
"I'm right here Steve," She responded gently. She knew this was a rare moment of vulnerability for the super soldier so she let him hold her for long minutes until he finally relinquished her.
"How do you feel?"
She shrugged.
"Fine with the exception of the pyrotechnics."
"Have your abilities surfaced since you woke up?"
She shook her head. With the exception of the temperature spike in the lab.
"Good…Well, I'll let you get some rest."
"Steve."
He stopped and turned back toward her.
"…What if I hurt someone?"
"We're not going to let that happen, Stella."
"Yesterday when I woke up…I couldn't control it. One moment I was fine and the next it was like something inside me snapped and then there were flames everywhere." She shook her head. "I'm never going to be able to return to my old life, am I?"
Steve stepped closed and put his hands on her shoulders.
"Stella, I know this is scary and the last thing you wanted. And I'm so sorry it happened to you," He paused. "But we'll get a grip on this. And you will get back to your old life."
It was a rare moment of impasse for the two of them.
"Do you promise?"
"I do."
XXX
Stella was still reeling from the discovery of her new powers when she was informed by Bruce and Tony that she would be receiving training.
"It's important that you get a grip on your abilities. Your powers could be dangerous untrained."
She was allowed one week to recover, but in her opinion the time she spent on "bed rest" was unnecessary. Her wound was almost completely healed with the exception of the jagged scar on her abdomen she would most likely carry for the rest of her life.
Stella found Bucky the next day in the gym and walked up to the man who was doing a set on the chest press machine. He halted his workout when he saw her.
"Hi." She greeted.
"Hi. How're you feeling?"
"Better. I guess."
"Good, that's good."
An uncomfortable silence settled between them.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" She asked tentatively.
Bucky hesitated, then nodded. He followed Stella to a nearby bench.
"You didn't come by the lab to see me…Well, you did -but you didn't come inside." Stella felt silly saying it out loud, but she couldn't help feeling like something was wrong. And she had a feeling she knew what.
Bucky ruffled his hair.
"Did I do something wrong?" She asked, fearing the answer.
"Stella…" Bucky sighed. He took a moment to respond. "…You died in my arms." He let his words sink in before continuing. " At the battle, one minute you were right next to me and the next thing I know I turn around and you're gone…And then Rumlow stabbed you through the chest." Bucky's gaze darkened. "And I was terrified and frozen and that's never happened to me…" Stella listened as Bucky spoke, his expression haunted. His eyes met hers. "And you never would have been there if not for me." His words were laden with guilt.
"Bucky…" Stella reached out and gripped his hand. "What happened to me wasn't your fault."
"It is."
"Why would you say that? I was the one who disobeyed your orders. You told me to stay near you and I dove for the tesseract."
"It's not that. I knew you weren't going to listen to me anyway. You're too damn headstrong."
"Then what is it?"
"If I hadn't trained you-"
"Then I would be dead right now." Stella cut him off. Bucky looked at her.
"Bucky if I had no training when Loki's men broke in, I wouldn't have stood a chance. I took out dozens of men before Rumlow attacked me." She paused. "I know I didn't look like much but-"
"You were amazing," Bucky interrupted. "Watching you fight and use the skills I taught you was the greatest reward I could have asked for."
Stella shook her head. "Then why do you feel like what happened to me is your fault?"
"I guess some members of the team seem to think if you hadn't been trained to fight you would've listened when Natasha told you to go hide in your room."
"Who?"
"Steve. Tony."
"Screw them." Stella gripped the man's face. "Bucky, I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me." Bucky held her gaze, his eyes sad.
She could practically feel the giant elephant in the room.
"There's more isn't there?"
Before the man could answer, the doors to the training facility burst open. Sam and Clint strolled inside. They froze when they spotted the pair, Stella's fingers still holding Bucky's face in her hands.
"Sorry, are we interrupting?"
"No." Bucky jumped to his feet. "I was just leaving."
XXX
On her first day of training for her abilities, Stella showed up at her scheduled time only to find Steve waiting for her.
"You've got to be kidding me…"
"It wasn't my idea, Stella." He responded.
"Wouldn't someone like Wanda make more sense to train me?"
"Wanda is still getting a grip on her powers. Besides, if your power is anything like hers it's linked to your emotions. You'll need to learn to control them."
"You'd know all about that, wouldn't you Ted?" She snapped as she twirled away from him. It seemed the vulnerability she'd felt in the days immediately following her "death" had vanished. Her anger had been newly renewed at the news that Steve was holding Bucky responsible for Stella's presence at the battle.
"Stella," Steve said sternly.
"What?"
"I felt the temperature spike. You need to relax."
"Well then get me another trainer," She retorted.
"Stella. I know you're angry at me," Steve began.
"Angry doesn't even begin to cover it, Steve. You've lied to me since the moment you met me, fed me mixed signals…I don't even know who you really are."
Steve reacted to this as if she had slapped him.
Stella pressed on, "You tried to keep Bucky away from me… You were so against him training me and yet you think it's okay for you to? Don't you think that's a little hypocritical?" Her words were harsh but a reminder to herself as much as they were aimed at him.
You can't trust him.
"Tony thinks I should be the one to train you, Stella. I didn't make this decision."
Stella choked out a laugh. "Naturally, you're only doing this because Tony asked you to. Just like he asked you to spy on me and look after me?"
Steve closed his eyes. It seemed her words were having an impact on him. "…I just want to help you control your powers."
"How can I when all I feel around you is anger?"
"Stella, when you're in battle you're going to feel things that make you angry or sad or scared. In life those things happen too. You need to be able to control your power in those circumstances…Or you could hurt someone."
Stella sighed. Despite her animosity towards her trainer, she needed to get her powers under control if she had any hope of returning to her old life.
"Fine."
Steve walked over to her and stood before her. He observed her body language. "You're still mad."
Stella threw her hands up. "I can't help it."
"I need you to picture calm."
"I can't."
Steve POV
Steve sighed. It seemed Stella's latent anger at him was still affecting her and honestly, he couldn't blame her. Her words had been like barbs.
How could she say that she didn't know who he was? Did she really feel that way?
It was no good. The energy radiating between the two of them was tense and heavy. If he was going to train Stella, she needed to trust him. And if she was going to trust him, they needed to get everything out in the open.
"How do you feel about going for a walk?"
"A walk?" She repeated.
"This isn't going to work unless you trust me. And you're not going to trust me until we talk."
Stella hesitated.
"It's just a walk Stella."
She sighed. "Alright."
The grass was moist as they walked towards the lake, following the trail Natasha had taken them on the day Stella had fallen through the ice.
"I know you're mad Stella…" Steve started.
"Mad doesn't even begin to cover it, Steve." Stella responded.
"I don't even know where to start. I've made so many mistakes."
At the beginning, he thought to himself. That's the only way to move forward. He stopped abruptly and turned to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. He needed to come clean. About everything. "Stella…I'm so sorry for lying to you about who I was and what my intentions were when I first met you."
Stella looked uncomfortable.
"I never should have agreed to the mission and I never should have lied to you."
She stared up at him, her face still unsure. Her hair blew gently in the wind and danced around her face. "Everything that happened between us…The kiss, the weeks we spent together just the two of us…It was all real…I fell for you."
"Steve…"
"…It wasn't my intention. You were my mission. I thought it was going to be cut and dry; look into you for Tony, collect a DNA sample to confirm if you were his…but then I got to know you." He reached out to stroke her cheek and was surprised when she didn't flinch. "I should have told you the truth from day one. But I didn't and I'm so sorry for that. I wish I could turn back time and change that, but I can't."
A moment passed between them. Steve pressed on. "Then…I left you alone on the trail and you almost died."
"That was my fault," Stella interrupted. She looked out over the lake. "I shouldn't have pushed you away. You were trying to be there for me and I wouldn't let you."
"I shouldn't have left you."
"I didn't give you another option."
Steve took a deep breath. Cards on the table.
"That night…when you asked me to hold you, that was all I wanted. For things to go back to the way they were when we were in the city…But I promised Tony to look after you and after what happened at the lake, I thought I was too emotionally invested to do so. So I pushed you away."
Stella didn't speak, watching Steve with an unreadable expression.
"…I left the compound when you needed me. I thought by going off and chasing Loki that I was giving you what you wanted; space and your life back…But I couldn't deliver and you suffered because of it. Your life was turned upside down and I should have been there for you. It's something I'll always regret."
"I wanted you so badly in those months," Stella said, her voice a whisper. "To hear your voice, to hear you say everything was going to be okay…"
"Stella." Steve pulled her close, tucking her head under his chin and wrapping his arms around her. "I'm so sorry I left you alone. I should have been there."
"Yes, you should have." Steve looked down at her and Stella's eyes were incredibly sad.
"Please forgive me."
Stella considered this.
"…I forgive you." They stared at one another, the wind breezing around them. Steve dipped his head, their noses brushing against one another's. He could feel her warm breath on his lips. "Steve." Stella pulled away, stepping from his grasp. She turned to look at the lake, then back at him. "Bucky…Why did you tell him to stay away from me?"
"I didn't want Bucky's relationship with you to compromise his already precarious relationship with Tony."
Stella held his gaze. "Is that the only reason?"
Steve hesitated. "No."
Stella waited for him to continue.
"The truth is, I was jealous of how close you two had become while I was gone…And I didn't want him to replace me."
"You sabotaged the only good thing in my life," She responded quietly.
"Please give me a chance to make it up to you." Steve took her hand. "I know you and Bucky got close while I was gone."
Stella pulled her hand away. "I have to tell you something."
"What is it?" Steve questioned.
"While you were gone…God, there's no easy way to say this. Steve, I fell for Bucky."
Steve's heart constricted in his chest. No, no, no…
"Stella…"
"I forgive you, for everything. I know you had the best intentions at heart… but I can't forget. I needed you to be there for me. Instead, you kept appeasing Tony. You think you're doing these things for me but all I wanted was you here…Not galivanting around the world, searching for Loki. I just wanted your support, Steve. And then you tried to drive a wedge between me and Bucky…At the end of the day, I don't think you can give me what I need."
"Stella. Please." Steve implored. He wished he could articulate what he was feeling but it was all coming at him in a jumbled rush.
Don't end this.
You make me so happy.
You're the light in the darkness.
I know I fucked up but…
I love you.
"Give me a chance to fix us," was all he could manage.
"There is no us, Steve."
The walk back to the compound was silent, neither one of them speaking. What else was left to be said?
"Let's start training tomorrow," Steve murmured before turning to walk away.
"Steve," Stella snagged his sleeve. "…I'm sorry. Really, I am."
"I'm the one who's sorry. I just wish I could have been there for you when you needed me."
Stella gave him a sad smile.
"Me too."
Stella POV
"Don't be nervous."
"I'm not."
"Stella, I can tell when you're lying." Steve raised a brow at her.
It was the next day and Stella and Steve resumed training. Stella had been worried things would be awkward between her and Steve after their conversation yesterday, but the super soldier was acting as if nothing had happened between them. It was bizarre.
The man had a serious lock on his emotions.
"I'm just nervous I'll hurt someone," She admitted under his expectant stare. His eyes softened.
"That's natural. And it's why we're here," He paused. "It's okay to be scared Stella."
"Are you ever scared? During battle, I mean."
He gave her a small smile.
"All the time. But I know if I do nothing, innocent people will pay the price." He observed her. "Close your eyes."
"Why?"
"Just try it, please."
She did as told.
"Now take a deep breath." She peeked an eye open at him.
"Yoga breathing?" She joked.
"Please try and silence the skeptical New Yorker for a moment." His mouth pulled up in a half smile that didn't meet his eyes.
"Fine."
She took a deep breath.
"Again." Steve said it from beside her this time. She did as told.
"One more time." He was behind her now. She felt his fingers on her back and jumped.
"Sorry," He breathed in her ear. He squeezed the area where her shoulder met her neck. "Relax your shoulders." She did as instructed despite the tingling where his fingers were.
"Keep breathing."
Someone is feeling bossy.
"Unclench your jaw."
"The skeptical New Yorker doesn't like that," She answered, her eyes still closed.
She could practically feel his smirk.
"Just try it."
Once again, she did as he wished.
He came around the front of her.
"Open your eyes."
They fluttered open. She stared up at the man who was towering over her.
"Better?"
"…Much. Where'd you learn how to do that?"
He shrugged.
"I'm an anxious person." He paused, as if debating going on. "I use the same technique on myself."
Stella quirked a brow.
"Captain America has anxiety?"
Steve gave her a sad smile.
"I'm just human, Stella."
Stella considered this. He'd talked to her before about the pressure of being Captain America, back in New York. It felt like a lifetime ago. Sometimes she forgot that at the end of the day, Steve was just a man.
A man who loved you.
She couldn't imagine what it was like; having people look to you all the time. Having to make all the tough calls, calls that peoples' lives depended on.
"You're right. I'm sorry," She apologized. This time, he gave her a real smile.
They stood in silence for a moment.
"Ready to begin?"
Stella nodded.
"Let's do this 'Cap'."
XXX
Stella trained with Steve all week and was starting to get bored. He barely even let her try her powers, insisting they focus on "control" instead. Turns out control meant mostly breathing exercises and intense workouts.
"Strong body equals strong mind." He reminded her daily, much to her annoyance and exasperation.
Stella waited for things to become awkward or strained between them but Steve acted as he had on the first day, like nothing had happened. Stella wasn't sure how she felt about this. It wasn't as if she wanted to see Steve in pain, but she couldn't pretend she wasn't hurting. Sure, she wasn't lying about her feelings for Bucky but that didn't mean her feelings for Steve had vanished without a trace. And it certainly wasn't easy to get over someone when you were spending practically every waking minute with them.
She didn't see much of Bucky that week and wasn't sure if it was because she was so busy with training or because the man was actually avoiding her. They'd never gotten to finish their conversation from last week and it made her anxious. Something was wrong, she was sure of it.
She didn't have much time to dwell on this. She was usually so exhausted after training that she would just shower and crash. She barely saw anyone other than Steve with the exception of meal times.
Finally, after her fourth day of training Steve said they would be working with her powers the next day. Stella gushed to Natasha over breakfast. Bruce had handed her a suit custom made by him and Tony, one that could withstand extreme temperature spikes and was impervious to flame.
She slipped it on after breakfast. The suit was done in shades of dark blue and black and was skintight, similar to a cat suit. It left little to the imagination of her curvaceous body, something she was sure Bruce and Tony hadn't thought to consider. Stella reminded herself to give Bruce her notes on how to make the suit more modest and utilitarian, but it would have to do for now.
At 8 am Stella and Steve found themselves in the gym. Stella hadn't missed the way Steve's eyes slid down her body as she walked inside, no doubt taking in how she looked in the new uniform. A shiver of delight rolled up her traitorous spine, much to her chagrin.
Stella noticed a few members of the team file in to observe including Natasha, Wanda, Sam, and to her surprise, Bucky.
"Don't look at them. Look at me," Steve commanded. Stella did as told. "Just like we practiced. Calmly and slowly reach for your power."
Stella closed her eyes. She inhaled and reached for that small everlasting flicker she had grown accustomed to at the back of her mind. She called it forth. Like Steve instructed, she envisioned it growing larger in her mind.
She opened her eyes.
Twin blue flames bloomed in her palms.
"Great job. Now control it, Stel. Keep them small."
Stella tried to do as Steve said. Unfortunately, the flames seemed to have a mind of their own and proceeded to grow.
"Breathe Stella." Steve instructed. "Stay calm."
Stella tried. She breathed deeply and the flames grew smaller. "That a girl." An unwanted thrill stole through her at Steve's praise.
Stop that, she chastised herself. You told Steve it was over and you meant it.
But he's been so sweet this week. Kind and dedicated to training you…What's the harm?
The harm is leading him on. Besides, what about Bucky?
One tumble in the sheets with Steve won't scare Bucky off. Especially now that he knows about you and Steve's past.
As she argued with herself, her hold on the flames slipped. They began to grow again.
"Stella," Steve warned.
It hit her like a truck. Suddenly, Bucky's distance made sense. The reason he had been avoiding her.
It's because he knows about you and Steve. And now, he doesn't want you anymore.
The flames grew larger.
"Stella." Steve's voice grew more distant.
He thinks you're a slut, That nasty voice in her head hissed. For going after him after being with Steve, his best friend. He's lost all respect for you.
I can't lose Bucky. I can't.
Don't let your fear get the best of you, The rational part of her brain urged. She felt panic begin to seep through her carefully constructed control. Her fear spiked.
Slut.
Whore.
Tramp.
The voices grew louder, impossible to ignore.
They deserve better than you.
You're just some trashy waitress.
A useless burden.
Your own father doesn't even want you, why would they?
She couldn't stop the voices. They were her own darkest thoughts, feeding off her deepest insecurities.
The flames grew larger, traveling up her arms. As they grew, her eyes glowed brighter.
"Stella!" Steve's voice grew fainter. The blue blazes swelled, morphing into one large flame. She was vaguely aware of people calling her name, but they sounded far away.
The flame had grown to almost her size; it was engulfing her. And with it, the cruel voices inside her head became muffled.
A feeling of peace came over her at the raw intensity of her power.
Something cold and wet blasted her. Stella snapped out of her trance. All she could see was white. She took a step back and slipped on the now slick mat. The white haze cleared.
"What the hell?" She demanded from the floor.
"Are you okay?" Steve asked, kneeling before her. She looked past him at Bucky who was holding a fire extinguisher, the nozzle still dripping. Steve grabbed her wrists and ripped up the sleeves of her suit, examining the skin beneath.
"What're you doing?" She snapped.
"The flames…they didn't hurt you?"
"No?" Stella answered. "They felt warm, but they didn't hurt."
"So she's impervious to fire?" Nat questioned.
"Seems like it."
"I told you to stay calm," Steve criticized.
"I tried!"
He gave her a disbelieving look.
"I just…lost control."
That was putting it lightly. She had been going in on herself; pulling no punches, losing her tenuous grip on her power…But then instinct had taken over.
"I told you to focus." Steve continued.
"Lay off," Bucky interrupted, dropping the extinguisher. Steve turned to face him.
"Excuse me?"
"I say lay off her. She's doing her best."
"I'm sorry, are you her trainer?" Steve demanded, getting to his feet. The men got in each other's faces.
"Come on boys," Natasha interceded, getting between them and pushing the men apart. "Steve, maybe Bucky is right."
"What?" Steve snapped incredulously.
"Maybe she just needs to let loose, learn a little more by doing." Natasha shrugged. "Fire doesn't hurt her, what's the worse than can happen?"
"She could lose control and burn the entire facility down."
"Vision's up in the control room." Wanda replied. They looked up at where she was pointing. The android waved from the window. "He'll set off the sprinklers if things get too out of hand."
Steve sighed. "Fine. But you guys need to back up."
Stella glanced at Bucky as the team walked away. He nodded, giving her a small, rare smile. She smiled back, her earlier qualms sated for now.
"Alright Rivera. Let's see what you got," Steve encouraged.
"Would you mind stepping back too? I don't want to hurt you," She clarified after seeing his expression.
Steve hesitated but nodded, joining the team over by the benches.
Stella inhaled and slowly summoned her power. Again that warm, comforting, almost familiar feeling grew and blue flames burst from her hands. She let go, breathing deeply and the flames grew larger. A small smile donned her face. She tossed the ball of fire in the air. It soared above her, tumbling in the air before she caught it. She looked at the team, grinning.
"See Steve?" Nat questioned.
"I just want her to have respect for her power. She'd never forgive herself if she hurt someone," Steve responded, still watching the girl like a hawk.
"She's been training night and day. She deserves a break."
"I just want what's best for her," He argued.
"Does she know that?" Natasha asked.
"…"
Bucky shook his head. "That's the mentality that pushed her away, Steve," The man replied before jogging towards Stella.
"Bucky! Check it out!" Stella called, still smiling widely.
"He has a point. Maybe stop focusing on what you think is best for her and just ask her what she wants," Natasha suggested. "Keep encouraging her but remember she's a strong-willed girl…I know you have the best intentions, but sometimes the best thing you can do for someone is let them know you're in their corner."
I just needed your support… Stella's words echoed in Steve's mind.
"Maybe you're right."
A/N: Sorry for the long wait guys! Thanks for your patience. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and let me know your thoughts in a review!