Author's note: I am new to this. I do not own anything to do with Marvel.

Artemis "Toni" Stark was in her workshop as per usual. Another battle had her suit in repair. Not only her suit, but her pride too. The mission was supposed to be easy; stop another alien invasion, except it had turned into another war where Toni had to resort to desperate measures to ensure victory. The armor, granted took most of the damage through the battle, but her reactor had been drained to dangerous levels and nearly shut down. Which in turn landed her the S.H.E.I.L.D infirmary and front row seat at her own scolding by Captain America himself... as per usual...

Bandaged and recovering, Nick Fury had benched Toni pending a psychological examination to determine his Iron Woman was not suicidal, which Toni knew he pretty much assumed himself. But Toni didn't care what the director felt or thought. She had pretty much done what she was always expected to do right now, sit down, be seen and not heard, and feed the director more money for funding. For once though, Toni was more than happy to shuck away into her workshop and avoid everyone.

Toni had more on her mind than missions, how to piss Nick Fury off more, and advancements for her company. It involved their very own Captain America, Steve Rogers.

She had tried to ignore the nagging feeling she got whenever she was around the Living Icon. The irritation she felt whenever he spoke. The urge to give him a good blast of her replusors whenever he got on her about her antics... but when she was alone, like now, she was able to focus on other things, pretend what she felt wasn't what it was... pretend the only thing she ever did was invent things and work on her suits of armor...

Artemis Antoinette Stark was in love Steve Rogers. How laughable.

Toni could think back exactly when she realized this doomed fate as well. It had hit her harder than the blast of the missile that had given her the shrapnel wanting to get into her heart everyday now... the one thing her reactor could not protect her heart from... love.

It was so funny... It was during one of her fundraiser parties for Soldiers and their Families association. Pepper had given her a lecture about how important it was that Toni looked settled down. How bad was it that she played around? After becoming an Avenger, Pepper got this bug in her panties about Toni making an example for the company and settle down, or at least, look like it. Pepper in no means meant for Toni to actually get married, she knew her boss was nowhere near being considered marriage material, much to Toni's offense. So to cater to that new image, Pepper had taken it upon herself to request Steve Rogers accompany Toni to the event. Little did she foresee the mess she would create for Toni... Toni began to remember the events clear as day...

June 21st, 2014,

"We cannot thank you enough, Ms. Stark, for your charitable donation to our association... you've no idea how many people this will help..." The head of the association spoke as he shook Toni's delicate hand. Toni couldn't remember the poor man's name. But she smiled as sweet as candy and giggled,

"The thank goes to all the men and women who serve our wonderful country, sir... I am merely showing my gratitude." she chimed, only herself knowing the sarcastic meaning to her use of the words "wonderful country". It was this country who had betrayed itself and it's men when she found out years ago about the double selling of weapons... but now wasn't the time for that. After speaking a little longer, Toni excused herself to mingle further. Steve had left her side some time ago to forage for drinks, but hadn't returned. After scanning the crowd, she found why.

A group of women had surrounded the Captain. Looks of adoration clearly on their faces. Steve looked flustered to say the lease. Toni watched on for a few minutes, not wanting to tear the Captain away from his fans, til she saw one put her hand on his arm. He did not seem to mind from the way he turned to the woman and gave her his award-winning smile. Toni looked down, feeling irritated now. Least he could do was brush her hand off... wait! Why was she thinking that way? Well, he was HER date after all... but... only because Pepper talked him into it, how, she really did not want to know...

Steve would never have come with had Toni asked him herself. He was still angry with her from when she got pneumonia which had been last month. Toni had worked herself ragged. Upgrading her suits had always been Toni's favorite pastime, and highest priority... and she'd work on them til it was complete, ignoring her health in the meantime. But after suffering from broken ribs from a recent battle, Toni had worked herself so ragged, she had gone and gotten pneumonia... Steve had found her one night unconscious in her workshop and burning with fever... After a week in the hospital... Steve had not only screamed at her about how careless and selfish she always was, but refused to see or speak to her since. Everyone told her he had just been so worried... but Toni always knew the truth. They had never gotten along really. Since the day they first met. Both had been filled with a resentment and disappointment towards the other, neither had come to terms with or attempted to sort out. Toni knew Steve was more worried about losing the helpful Iron Woman, than Toni herself.

She was so wrapped up in her thoughts, when she had felt a hand slid over her shoulder, she had nearly jumped.

"Toni are you alright?" It was Steve. Toni looked up at the man's blue eyes to see concern in them. That wasn't suppose to be there. She looked down to his other hand and saw he was holding their drinks between is fingers. So he did still get her a drink.

"Er, yeah, I was just thinking..." she had said, not wanting to reveal her thoughts to the Captain. She quickly moved the topic away from her,

"You managed to break away from your adoring fans, huh? Get any numbers?" She teased as she took one of the glasses of champagne from Steve's fingers. He blushed slightly and scowled at her,

"Of course I didn't." he snipped, turning his head away, Toni's smile widened and grew lecherous,

"Oh? None of them your type Mr. Perfect? Or does the Captain not like pushy women?" She leered at him, watching with delight as Steve's blush grew,

"As a matter of fact, the kind of women I am interested in, are hardworking and proud." He said as his gaze returned to hers. Toni was caught off guard by that gaze. It wasn't flustered or angry... it was a serious gaze. Toni never saw that look before except when it came to his missions. Toni cleared her throat and took a swig of her drink,

"Jeez, you're so boring..." she whined quietly as she tried not to blush herself. Steve huffed,

"Well excuse me. But we aren't here to play Toni. We're here for a good cause. I suggest you not make this into a flesh hunt." he said and saw a waiter walking around with h'orderves and went to fetch some. Leaving Toni wanting to break every bone in his body...

"Flesh hunt!? I haven't slept with anyone since I became an Avenger!" she growled to herself.

"Doesn't he see how hard I try to get him to see I'm not my father! Or is it that bad that I'm not!? Why can't he see me for me!" she said as she stormed towards a balcony. Toni Stark rarely cried, even when her parents died... she never cried once. But Steve was able to make blows to her pride that made her want to cry. She slowed her pace to a halt as she realized where her thoughts were taking her...

"I've always wanted him to see me... as myself... not Howard Stark's daughter... I want him to see I'm just as useful..." she felt the prickle of tears forming in her eyes, she lifted her hands up to her face,

"Why... why can't he see anything? Why can't he see I love him?" She whispered before she realized what she had just said. And then, it hit her... the hardest thing to hit her in her entire life...

"I love him?"

Present

"Yeah... I love him... have since the beginning..." she whispered to her helmet, as if it was actually listening to her. Tears streaming down her bruised face,

"No matter what I try to do though... it's hopeless..." She stared at the metal mask that protected her face from battle. The HUD lit up since the suit was wired to her reactor so she would make modifications to the programming. After a moment, defeat filled her heart as she lowered her head.

"Hopeless..."

This is my first attempt at a fanfiction, be gentle! This will be a continued story, but it might take me time to add to it.