This is the last chapter in Young America! I am so sad to see this story come to an end, but excited to start on new projects. Please check out my new story "Don't Wake Me" where we will dive into Steve's relationship and what might have been with Peggy as well as this relationships with the Avengers. If everything comes together as I envision is will be a good angsty/romantic/all-of-the-feels story!

Also, this is my first complete multi-chapter fan fiction and I would love to hear what you thought about it: what you liked, what you didn't like, what you would change, etc so my future stories can improve. Thank you for joining in on my little Steve adventure and enjoy the last chapter!

Young America - Chapter 10

Tony had been flying down the hall with Steve in his arms, Thor's cape still covering his body, until his repulsers finally died out from all the damage done to his suit. Now he's running down the hall with his suit on auxiliary power. The team landed on the helicarrier and Tony didn't even bother to wait for the medical team. He just grabbed Steve and rushed for the medical bay, leaving his fellow Avengers in the dust.

"You know what? I am getting real tired of bringing you here, Spangles," Tony pants. "You gotta stop making this into a habit."

The billionaire looks down at Steve. He hasn't made a peep or stirred at all since the horrifying ordeal in Neflheim. Normally a fall like the one he took would be nothing and Steve probably would have climbed up out of the hole on his own accord, but he took the hit as mini-Steve and Tony is worried about how serious his injuries are.

Tony bursts into the medical bay and runs down the hall and into the ICU. "I need some help over here!" he yells.

"We would have brought the help to you if you had given us two seconds to get to the landing bay," one of the nurses scolds.

"Yeah, but I'm way faster than you guys," Tony answers as he lays Steve down on a stretcher. "Plus, now you can't tell me I can't come with him since I'm already here." The nurse shoots him a look, but Tony shoots one straight back and stands firmly by Steve's side. He's not leaving him this time.

"Fine," the nurse finally surrenders, seeing she's not winning this battle and Fury's not here to back her up this time. "Just stay over there." She points to a corner of the room where he will be out of the way.

Tony moves to his appointed corner and watches the nurses work on Steve. They're all running around and hooking him up to what looks like every monitor they have in the helicarrier. Relief instantly washes over Tony when he hears that steady beep come from the heart rate monitors. It's slow, but it's there and that's all that matters right now.

The rest of the time he's in the ICU is a blur. The nurses are working furiously to get Steve stabilized and the doctor has arrived. She looks Steve over and orders a barrage of tests. Steve is whisked away to another part of the hospital and Tony is left in the still silence.

The first thing Steve is aware of is the sterile smell of oxygen flooding his lungs. It's cold and dries out his throat every time he takes a breath. Annoying, monotonous beeps start fill the room and they are accompanied by the muffled sounds of people talking. Their voices are low and it's obvious they're not talking to him which is good because Steve doesn't feel like talking right now. All he wants is a drink of water to sooth his dry throat, but he's still so tired and his whole body aches.

He sighs heavily and entertains the thought of just going back to sleep. Someone must have noticed him starting to come around because someone is squeezing his shoulder. It sounds like the voices are talking to him now, but they sound so far away and he can't tell what they're saying. The hand on his shoulder starts shaking him and Steve can't ignore the annoying movement and he furrows his brow. He can hear the voices becoming more and more clear.

"Steve," one of the muffled voices calls. "Come on, Spangles. Wake up."

"Come on, Cap," another voice encourages.

"Steve!" a voice yells and Steve frowns as his sore body is shaken again.

"Stop shaking him, Clint," a voice scolds.

"I'm trying to help him wake up."

"He shall wake when he is ready, Archer. His body is weary from the battle and he needs rest."

"Is it weird that he's still out? Shouldn't he have woken up by now?"

"His Super Soldier serum is still trying to replenish itself so it's going to take him longer to heal."

"Maybe someone really does need to kiss him for him to wake up."

"Don't be ridiculous, Tony."

"I have researched this Disney man and he does not understand true magic, Stark. He is mistaken and his stories are most disturbed. In one he speaks of a fair maiden living in the woods with seven tiny men. And in another a wench rides in a vegetable to a celebration after a fairy transforms her dress that was made by rodents. Most disturbing.

"I think you might be missing the point to those movies."

Steve seriously considers whether or not he really wants to wake up or not to this ridiculousness. It would be so easy to just go back to sleep.

"I'm sticking with Thor's theory. I was skeptical at first, but obviously it worked. Who's kissing him? Clint? Natasha?"

The billionaire grunts after what Steve can only assume was Natasha punching him.

"No one's kissing me," Steve mumbles through the oxygen mask. He finally decides that waking up to the insanity is better than the possibility of someone kissing him. Especially since he had an 80% chance of being kissed by a guy. Steve slowly opens his eyes, squinting against the harsh light that floods in. He blinks a few times to try to bring his surroundings into focus, but everything is so fuzzy.

"Took you long enough," Tony snarks. Steve tries to focus on the billionaire standing on his right. "We've been patiently waiting for you to wake up."

"It didn't sound very patient" Steve practically whispers. His voice is rasp and rough. "How long was I out?"

"Three years," Tony answers. Steve snaps out of his haze and his eyes widen in horror as he nearly flies up out of the bed, but he stops suddenly as his side and shoulder scream out in protest. Steve holds his arm close to his chest and winces.

"Whoa," Tony holds his hands up to stop him from going any further. "I was kidding!" Tony yells as he and Clint gently lower Steve back to the bed.

"Not funny, Tony," Natasha frowns.

"What? How am I supposed to know that he'd be extra gullible after waking up?" Tony shrugs before turning to Steve who still looks confused and panicked. "Sorry Spangles. You've only been out for a couple days."

"What happened?" Steve asks hoarsely as he takes in his surroundings. For the first time he's aware that his torso is wrapped tightly from his waist up to his chest and his leg has been splinted. With each heart beat comes a dull throb of pain through his whole body and his head is pounding and his mind is fuzzy.

"Do you remember anything?" Bruce asks slowly while he pours the injured Captain a glass of water.

"I remember being in the cave with Amora," Steve mumbles as Tony slowly raises the back of the bed so Steve can sit up and Bruce offers Steve a glass of water. He takes a big drink before Bruce takes it away and his throat instantly feels better. "She had you all trapped in a cage and she made me drink something."

"That's all you remember?" Natasha asks and Steve nods.

"Why? What else happened?" Steve asks with concern and the Avengers exchange glances.

"Well," Clint starts. "She kind of…turned you into a kid."

"What?" Steve asks flatly.

"I'm your new daddy!" Tony smiles proudly. "You picked me out yourself." Steve just stares at the man in disbelief.

"Is he serious?" Steve turns to the other Avengers in confusion.

"I'm afraid so," Clint gives the soldier an empathetic smile. "But you said no, Tony," Clint points out as he shoots Tony a look.

"You said no?" Steve looks at Tony, partially hurt and partially horrified that he asked Tony such a ridiculous question and he can't even remember it.

"I said no to the title of 'father'," Tony admits. "But I told you I would be your big brother." Steve just stares at him. "What? I couldn't say no to you! You gave me those stupid, sad blue eyes and I had to give you something. So I compromised and now we're brothers."

"I can't believe this is happening," Steve tips his head back to stare at the ceiling. "What the heck is this?" Steve asks when he suddenly feels a fuzzy stuffed dog laying next to him.

"That's Bart," Clint smiles.

"Who?" Steve frowns.

"Bart. You named him after Barton," Natasha sticks her thumb toward Clint. "He won him for you at Coney."

"That dog has been dragged everywhere with you for the last week," Bruce laughs.

"Look, here's a picture of you hugging him while you took a nap the other day," Tony smiles and holds his phone up to Steve.

"Oh good Lord," Steve sighs.

"You were a pretty cute kid," Natasha smiles and puts a comforting hand on Steve's shoulder. "You called me Tasha," She smiles and Steve blushes in embarrassment.

"You helped me to build a fort of blankets and we fought valiantly in the Great Pillow War with Barton," Thor beams.

"You and the Hulk fist bumped after we kicked Amora's butt a couple days ago," Bruce smiles at the memory.

"And you slept in mine and Clint's bed the other day when you had a bad dream," Natasha adds.

"Why would you tell me that?" Steve sighs in complete embarrassment.

"Why would you tell him that?" Clint yells right after, also blushing.

"It was cute," Natasha shrugs.

"Much has happened since the last day you remember, Steven," Thor adds. Steve just stares at them for a moment, shaking his head. He can't tell if they're all pulling a big joke on him or if they're really telling the truth and his mind is too exhausted to decide.

"It's all a really long story and you should get some rest. We can tell you everything later," Bruce says as he starts to scoot everyone out of the room.

The Avengers get up to leave so Steve can rest and he can already feel himself starting to fall asleep. He's almost sleeping again when Tony turns back in the door way.

"Steve?"

"Yeah?" Steve answers softly.

"I am your father," Tony replies in the deepest voice he can muster.

"Shut up, Tony," Steve mumbles before falling asleep.

0000000000000

Steve wakes up that evening to a quiet room. Much more quiet than the last time. Only the beeping of the hospital equipment and the soft background noise of the television greet him.

He looks over to see Clint sitting next to him, flipping through the channels on the television.

"Where is everyone?" Steve asks sleepily.

"They all went back to the Tower to rest. I'm you're night watchmen for the next couple hours," Clint answers and flips the television off. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired. Achy," Steve grimaces as he shifts to get more comfortable when Clint raises the back of the bed so he can sit up. "But it could be worse."

"Could be worse," Clint huffs and stares at the floor.

"Something bothering you?" Steve frowns. "Listen, I won't ever breathe a word of that bed story to anyone, believe me…"

"It's not that, Steve," Clint starts. Steve stops and looks at the man intently. "When you were turned into a kid you told me some things. We had a pretty serious talk that night when I found you in the elevator." Steve winces in embarrassment again.

"Clint, whatever I said, it's not important. I'm really sorry that I put you in an uncomfortable position."

"It's not that, Cap. Look, I didn't want to pry into your history, but it just kind of came up. I don't really know how to start this," Clint rubs the back of his neck nervously. "Look, I'm just going to come right out and ask. Why didn't you ever tell us about your father?" Steve looks at Clint for a moment in shock before turning his gaze down to his hands. His expression is a look of shame mixed with anger, but not anger directed at Clint.

"It's not a big deal," Steve mumbles. "It's not something I never thought needed to be known. It happened a long time ago."

"Steve, have you ever talked to anyone about this?

"No. Like I said, it's in the past. It's not a big deal."

"It is a big deal."

"No, it's not," Steve answers firmly. "It's over and done with."

"There's nothing wrong with opening up a little. It's okay to rely on someone every once in a while," Clint shoots back. "There's nothing you could have done."

"You don't know that. You don't understand," Steve replies angrily and stares at the floor, lost in the past.

"Then tell me. Explain it to me, Steve," Clint replies and Steve just closes his eyes, his brows furrowed."The five-year-old I talked to in the kitchen that night was terrified of his father. Please explain to me what the hell he could have possibly done in that situation! Or how the fact that his father is a bastard and beats him and his mother is somehow his fault, because you're right. I don't understand that! "

"My weaknesses caused everything!" Steve yells, his emotions coming to the surface. "My illnesses and my weaknesses strained my family to the breaking point. We barely kept food on the table and a roof over our heads and to top it all off we had to somehow scrape enough money together to buy medicine for me. My mother had to work three jobs to supports our family. I was a burden to her. I drove my father to drink because he had to watch my mother fall apart because of me." Tears start to well in Steve's eyes and he winces as he holds his arm against his broken ribs.

"That man came home drunk and hit my mother almost every night. He was a monster." Steve stares down at the bandages around his torso, remembering the fear and the hurt he felt as a child before he turns is gaze back to Clint who is standing completely still and listening intently. "I'm done with being weak, Clint." Steve stands shakily, tired of being trapped in this bed. Tired of being brought back to being limited by injuries and fragility. He rips out the IV in his arm and pulls the probes attached to his chest under his scrub top that track his vitals and the wail of hospital monitors fills the room.

"Steve! Stop! What the hell are you doing?" Clint yells and tries to stop him.

"No, I'm done with this," Steve pushes the Archer away and Clint walks away before turning back around to face Steve, obviously frustrated. "I'm done not being enough. She gave everything for me and I couldn't protect her or myself and I did nothing to stop it." Steve uses a nearby chair to steady himself while Clint can only stand by and watch. He lets Steve get it all out. He just lets him talk because that's what he needs right now.

"All I could do was hide in that damn bathroom and hope that he wouldn't come for me. I sat under our sink and listened to every slap and every scream from her and covered my ears, praying that it would all end. I let him do that to her. And when he finally came for me all I could do was sit there and take it. Every punch. Every kick. Every word he yelled at me about being useless, weak, and worthless. It was all true. I failed to stop any of it." Steve's strength is spent and he leans heavily on the chair for support, breathing heavily through the anger, shame, and pain.

"Steve, you were a damn kid," Clint frowns. "It wasn't your job to protect your mother. It was your father's job to protect you and her and he failed. Miserably."

"I should have done more," Steve answers quietly. "There's no room for moments of weakness. Not for me. There's no more room for moments of selfishness, pity, or worthlessness. It's in those moments that the people who count on you get hurt. She was counting on me and I let her down." Steve crumples to the floor and leans against the wall, placing his forehead in his hand.

"Steve…"

"No, just don't. You just don't get it," Steve mumbles from the floor.

"You're wrong. I do get it." Clint cuts him off and kneels in front of him. "I do. Believe me. I understand the feeling of being completely helpless while a man 4 times your size beats the shit out of you. I understand the horror of watching someone you care about being hurt and there's not a damn thing you can do to stop it and I understand the pain of loving someone who is supposed to love you back, but only brings you pain and suffering." Clint can feel his eyes water, his face get hot and his voice wavering. A long pause of silence passes between the two men before Steve finally speaks.

"I'm sorry," Steve says shamefully. "I didn't know."

"Well, I guess that you're not the only one guilty of not being more open." Clint hangs his head low.

Clint scoots closer to Steve. "Steve?" Steve keeps his gaze on the floor, avoiding Clint's eyes as the guilt consumes him. Clint knows the thoughts going through Steve's head because those same thoughts ran through his head when he was left broken and hurting by his father. When Steve doesn't answer he grabs Steve up in a hug and the battered soldier is shocked and unsure of what to do. He holds his arms out awkwardly as Clint wraps his arm around his neck, trying to avoid Steve's injured shoulder and ribs.

"I told you this before in the kitchen, Steve," Clint's voice is firm and steady this time. "It's never been your fault. It never has and never will be your fault. Those choices your father and my father made were theirs and theirs alone. He lied to you, Steve. You're not weak. You're not a burden and you're not worthless. Never in your life have you been anything close to that." Steve can feel himself breaking and he hugs Clint back, ignoring the burning in his ribs and shoulder as he wraps his arms around the Archer. "No matter what that man told you, you are stronger and braver than you know. You saved all of us a couple days ago. You laid yourself down on the line and you saved us, not as Captain America, but as Steve Rogers. You are enough, Steve and you don't deserve anything that happened to you. Do you understand me?" He asks just like he did with that scared five-year-old only a few days ago. This time there's no answer from Steve.

"Steve. Do you understand me?" Clint pulls away and looks Steve in the eye.

"Yeah," Steve whispers. "Yeah, I do."

"Good," Clint answers. The Archer slides Steve's good arm over his shoulder and helps to lift him off of the floor and back into the hospital bed and Steve grimaces as his sore body settles. Clint grabs a blanket and throws it over him. Steve's emotionally and physically spent and he starts to fall asleep almost right away.

"You carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, Cap, but you don't have to carry it alone. That's why you have us."

The doctors on the Helicarrier discharge Steve the next day. The serum is still not at 100% and his body is sore, battered, and he's on crutches until his leg fully heals, but he's starting to very slowly feel better. Tony picks him up in the Quinjet and they are getting ready to take off. Steve is ready to go home.

"What's this?" Steve asks when Tony turns on the stereo in the Quinjet and a familiar voice comes over the speakers.

"Listen," Tony answers with a smile.

"Dick Tracy?" Steve asks with a confused look.

"Thought you might like a blast from the past on our way home."

"This used to be my favorite show growing up."

"You don't say," Tony grins. The two listen to the radio show all the way back home. Tony lands the Quinjet on top of the tower and they ride the elevator down to the main floor penthouse.

"Hey! Hope you're hungry, Cap," Bruce greets.

"I am," Steve smiles as he limps into the room and something smells delicious. "Is that…."

"A steak dinner from the finest restaurant in New York City?" Tony interrupts. "Yes, yes it is. We're having dinner together tonight to celebrate."

"Tony, you really shouldn't have."

"Nonsense. I was in the mood for a good steak."

"Thank you, Tony," Steve smiles in appreciation.

"Welcome home, Steve," Pepper walks up and give him a big hug.

"Thanks, Pepper."

"Are we going to have a group hug or are we going to eat some steak here?" Clint asks while he eyes the delicious looking meal on the table.

"Alright, lets eat!" Tony claps his hands together.

The Avengers sit down and enjoy their dinner together. They laugh and reminisce over the last week with kid-Steve and adult-Steve spends most of the night blushing.

"Bruce nearly killed you," Tony accuses and Steve swings his head to look at Bruce.

"I most certainly did not," Bruce gives Tony a look of betrayal. "One of Tony's defective inventions nearly killed you." Steve's confused look turns to Tony.

"The point is, I got you your inhaler in time and everything was fine." Tony puts his hands up in the air. "And Bruce ran up the stairs faster than he ever has in his entire life."

"Yeah, you still need to get a second elevator," Bruce can feel himself getting short of breath just thinking about it.

"You know who's real swell?" Clint interrupts. "Me. We kicked it at Coney and had a great time."

"Real swell?" Steve asks with his brow raised.

"Hey, you said it, not me." Clint laughs and Steve blushes, completely aghast that his 1930's slang came out when he was a kid. "But what we need to remember is that i am the only one to have a stuffed animal named in my honor by kid-Steve." Clint beams and holds up Bart.

"Ugh, that dog," Steve frowns.

"You were so cute with Bart," Pepper melts. "I will never forget seeing you for the first time. You had such big cheeks and you were so teeny!" Steve turns a deeper shade of red and Tony rolls his eyes.

"Yes, you were such a cute, deprived little child," Tony adds. "How in the hell have you only ever eaten 3 cookies in your entire life?"

"What?" Steve asks. "Food was expensive and cookies were reserved for special occasions."

"You're eating more cookies from now on," Tony points at Steve. "And steak. Eat your steak."

"The best kid-Steve moment was when we kicked Clint's butt on the race track," Natasha smiles.

"I went easy on you because you had a kid in your car," Clint defends. "Trust me. If it had been just you and me on the track it would have gone down differently."

"Sure it would have," Natasha smirks.

"My fondest memory of young Steven was when we taught him the ways of a warrior. You were most adept at learning how to fight as a child," Thor roars.

"Yeah, you punched Clint in the butt," Natasha and Thor laugh.

"Once again, I went easy on him," Clint points out.

"Sorry Clint," Steve blushes again.

"Alright, even though watching Steve squirm with embarrassment for the last two hours has been entertaining, it's time to start movie night," Tony stands and everyone gets up and moves into the living area. Clint helps Steve up and hands him his crutches. Steve nods in thanks and Clint smiles back while the two slowly make their way to the couch.

Steve gingerly sits on the couch and leans back into the soft cushions. Tony and Pepper curl up next to each other on the sofa while Clint and Natasha take the love seat. Thor and Bruce sit on either side of Steve and Tony flips on the television.

"What are we watching?" Steve asks.

"A little movie about a guy named James Bond," Tony smiles and presses play on the remote. "Casino Royal, circa 1953 to be exact."

"Great movie!" Clint points to Tony and Tony points back in a show of unity on the awesomeness of Bond.

The movie plays out and Steve actually really enjoys it. There aren't many movies that Tony makes him watch that he legitimately likes, but he likes this one. The movie come to an end and the Avengers all start debating which Bond is the best. Tony argues that Golden Eye is the king of all Bond movies while Natasha makes her case for Die Another Day. Clint accuses her of liking the movie solely because of Pierce Brosnan which she firmly denies. Bruce fights for License to kill while Thor tries to wrap his head around having permission to kill. Bruce tires to explain the movie to him, but eventually gives up.

The group goes back and fourth and soon they start the debate of new films versus the older classics and Steve starts to feel himself nodding. He finally gives in and lets his head rest against he back of the couch with his arms folded across his chest. The debating continues on, but starts to fade into the background.

Tony stands and grabs the blanket off of the back of the sofa and lays it over Steve.

"Are we watching another movie?" Steve mumbles, but keeps his eyes closed.

"Yeah," Tony looks around and everyone nods in agreement. "I think we can watch one more."

"Great," Steve sighs.

Tony starts the second Bond movie and slowly the Avengers drift off to sleep, one by one. Tony is the last one awake and stands to turn off the lights.

"Rest easy, Cap," Tony sets Bart next to Steve on the couch. "We've got your back."