Part One: Reunion

Antoinette Elizabeth Stark.

Toni Stark was staring at her MIT diploma and a part of her wanted to slam it into the ground. She was in a bad mood. She had been stuck in this perpetual mood ever since her ex-boyfriend Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America, Mr. Perfect, and Howard Stark's lapdog had left her for his old friend Bucky Barnes.

She had been stuck in this bad moon with an acid tongue for everyone. It wasn't as if Toni was mad over the fact that Steve had friends. It was the fact that said friend had killed Toni's parents.

Toni of course had been pissed and had gone to kill Bucky personally herself and Steve had taken his side. Toni's throat still hurt just thinking about it, but what had really hurt was that Steve had attacked her and nearly killed her when Toni had tried to kill Bucky.

It had been a month since Steve had sent her some Dear John letter, but he hadn't tried to contact her. Did he even care about her?

To make matter worse half of the Avengers, Nat included had gone straight cold on her. No doubt thinking that it had been Toni who had sent them abroad that floating prison. The only ones that seemed to be on her side were Peter, Rhodey, Pepper, Bruce, and Vision. Even if Bruce had come out of hiding he didn't seem too sympathetic to Toni's pity party.

Toni sniffed the air as she finally turned away from her computer. It seemed that Vision was trying to make food again, god knows why since he was a robot, but this time at least it smelled good. Pasta. Toni's favorite.

No doubt that they were trying to coax her out of her lab since Toni had practically live there, she might as well humor them.

"Miss Stark," Friday chirped. "Vision and Mr. Banner would like you to join them for dinner and Mr. Banner would like to remind you that they will not take no for an answer."

Toni sighed. "I'll be right there, tell Banner not to get his panties in a twist."

Toni went to the bathroom that was located inside the lab, she freed her long brown curls from her usual ponytail and ran a hand through her glossy hair. Her hair had grown longer it had been cut to her chin the last time she had seen Steve.

She shook her head she was not going to think about that traitor. Toni decided not to change out of her denim short shorts and black tank top.

Vision was already filling plates with pasta while Bruce set down a basket of bread.

"Wow, vision you really outside yourself," Toni said as she chewed on a piece of bread.

Vision brightened. "Thank you, Miss Stark I have been watching the food network."

"Are you ok?" Bruce asked as he watched Toni scarfed down the pasta while Vision looked on in delight. "Your eyes are swollen."

"I'm fine," she said giving Bruce a death glare.

Before Bruce could say anything else FRIDAY interrupted them. "Miss Stark, Mr. Roger is at the door he wants to speak to Mr. Banner."

"Deny entrance!" Toni barked as she looked at Bruce with hurt. "You called him?"

Bruce sighed looing guilty. "Toni, you and Steve need to work this out. You were in love before."

"That was before he slammed his shield in my chest!" Tony snapped. "And just because I let him shove his tongue in my- "

"I don't want to hear it," Bruce interrupted awkwardly as Vison looked back and forth like a nervous puppy. "Both of you were wrong to some extent, why don't you apologize?"

"I'm not going to apologize because I didn't do anything wrong." Toni snapped. "I'm going back to my lab and you just tell your little friend that he can fuck off- "the elevator doors clicked open and Toni felt her face hit a wall of muscle.

"Language." She heard a familiar voice scold. "You're a lady, Toni would it kill you to act like one?"

Toni gaped as she stared at him, when she thought about how she would react to him when she finally saw him a bunch of insult passed by in her mind. But now that she was face to face with him, she had no idea what to say.

Though it was safe to say that she was very frustrated. "We both know that I'm no lady. How the hell did you get in? Vision. Traitor."

Vision looked apologetic. "I'm sorry Miss Stark, but I don't like conflict and I thought it would be nice to- "

"You don't need to apologize Vision," Steve interrupted. "Now Toni, stop pouting we're going to talk like reasonable adults."

"Last time we talked like reasonable adults you jabbed the shield inside my chest and broke my Helmet." Toni felt satisfied that Steve felt slightly guilty. "I thought so, now get out- "Steve didn't move, which only angered Toni more. "Fine, I'll leave- "

"Toni- "

Toni ignored him as she went back towards her lab and had FRIDAY play her favorite music at top volume, but Toni couldn't concentrate on her work especially since a second later Steve started pounding on the door. "Stark!" Steve hollered. "Open up now, I'm sorry ok, but we need to talk about this."

"We have nothing to talk about," Toni hissed. But she did have FRIDAY lower the music down. "There were sides and choices we made and you obviously choose the wrong side." Toni had placed herself on the other end of the door. She could hear Steve breathing.

"He's my friend, Toni, please understand," Steve said. "I know it's no excuse for what Bucky did, but it wasn't his fault, he's my friend and. . . you're my girl. Please Toni, open the door. I know you're hurt and you're mad as hell at me, but please open the door."

Tone didn't say anything.

"Fine," Steve said after a while. "Perhaps you need more time, I'll wait Toni whatever time you need."

Toni hesitated before she pulled the door open. "Don't- "she said, the words coming out of her mouth before she could stop them. "Don't leave, please." She hated how vulnerable she sounded, she didn't want to should vulnerable in front of anyone, especially Tony. "You should have told, you knew and you hid it from me for two years. How can you expect me to ever trust you again?"

Steve gulped as he caressed her face. "I know it's a lot to ask, and that I have no right to ask you to forgive me. The person who killed your parents was the winter soldier-not Bucky."

"Steve, to me they are still the same person," Toni shook her head, "And I know he's you friend, but why didn't you tell me. I've handled much worse."

Steve rested his forehead against hers, he could practically hear her heart beating inside her chest. He could smell the sweet scent of her shampoo and Steve wanted to do nothing more than kiss her. "I know you have, I just thought you were already handling too much."

-End of Part One-

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