Hello wonderful readers, I should have probably let you all know much earlier, but this is the last chapter of Part 2! A friendly reminder that I did add 2 parts to Chapter 16, so if you read it when I first posted it, you might want to go back and read that last bit.

After this comes the events of the Avengers. I know that in the MCU, Steve was only awake for a couple weeks before getting thrown into the events of the Avengers. In my version he is much more prepared, so we'll see how that changes things up!

Keep an eye out for part 3, which will be called Live to Rise (yes, like the song off the Avengers soundtrack). It should be up some time soon, I promise this time. Until then, enjoy the end of Part 2.

Disclaimer: This story is purely fanmade and no profits come from it.

June 1, 2011

Tony leaned toward his daughter and bumped her shoulder with his own, "You nervous?"

"Extremely. I think I'm going to puke." said Joei, gripping her binder so tightly that her fingers were starting to hurt.

"Kiddo, you've got this in the bag. They all love you, anyway."

"Not since you put me on the payroll, they don't."

"Hey, look at me," Tony turned to his daughter and held her by the shoulders. They were in the elevator at Stark Industries headed up toward the conference room. "I have never seen an idea presented to the board with this much preparation. You're going to do great. They're going to love your idea. It'll make amazing PR and it will actually help people so just get up there, give them a smile, and knock their socks off."

"And if you ever feel nervous, I'm told imagining the crowd in their underwear is a good relaxation technique," Jarvis clipped in.

"Thanks, J."

There was a handful of directors and one intern already inside the conference room when they arrived.

"Tony Stark, early to a Board of Directors meeting," said one of the men, "Now I've seen it all."

"Maybe Josephine should be present for all of our meetings. If only to get Tony to come."

Laughs swept around the room as Pepper walked in, sipping on her morning coffee.

"Or maybe my ideas are just that much more interesting than yours, Mr. Waters."

Pepper choked on her coffee and the mens' smiles were wiped off their faces. A few of the other directors smirked or coughed to hide their laughs. People began to take their seats as the missing directors walked in, and pretty soon Joei found herself standing before a full audience. Pepper was situated at the far end of the table, directly across from Joei in her CEO chair. Tony was on her right, since he still had the biggest share of the company.

With a deep breath, she flashed her biggest winning smile and began the presentation.

One hour later, Josephine walked briskly toward Pepper's office with a smile on her face. As soon as the door was closed behind her and her parents, she squealed loudly and began to jump up and down.

"They approved it!"

"I told you they would," Pepper smiled.

"You did great, Josephine." said Tony, unbuttoning his suit jacket as the door closed behind him, "We should celebrate. Lunch?"

"Yes, I am famished," said Pepper.

Tony walked off and began to make a phone call to reserve a table. Josephine turned toward Pepper.

"Pepper, do you really think this is a good project?"

"Honey, of course it is. You're proposing higher education opportunities for hundreds, maybe thousands of orphans. Nobody could have come up with a better project."

"While I was at my...retreat, I looked up some of the kids that were in the orphanage with me. More than half of them aged out of the system and only three of them got into college. One already dropped out. It's not fair."

"No, it's not. You're one of the lucky ones." said Pepper, leaning against her desk.

"The luckiest," said Joei with a smile, "I get to have the one thing every orphan always wishes for."

"What's that?"

"Parents." Joei smiled, waiting to gauge the older woman's reaction.

"Parents? As in plural?" Pepper's smile widened.

"Well," Joei answered slowly, "You could have also been regaled to older sister status but that would be extremely awkward seeing as you're in a relationship with my dad. I know we haven't really talked about it and I still call you Pepper but I was thinking that maybe-"

Before Joei could finish her sentence, Pepper's arms were already wrapped tightly around her.

"Does this mean I can call you Mom?"

Pepper answered her with a watery laugh against her shoulder, "Yes, it does."

"Hey, you girls ready to go? What's happening here?" Tony's voice cut in. Had they been any other two people, it would have ruined the moment, but Joei and Pepper were used to his blunt interruptions.

"Get over here and participate, Tony," said Pepper, "That's an executive order."

"You don't have to tell me twice." said Tony, wrapping his arms around his daughter on the other side so that Joei was sandwiched between the two of them. His curiosity won over within a few seconds and he asked, "Why are we hugging?"

"Aaaaaand now it's ruined," said Joei. "Lunch time."

"What? That's it?" asked Tony, reluctant to let go, "I was enjoying this whole Tanner family moment."

"Sorry, Bob Saget, but I'm hungry," said Pepper. "My car?"

"Sounds good," said Joei, "I'll go get Happy."

"I'll go tell my assistant."

Tony was left standing in the middle of the room looking confused, before shrugging and making his way out of the office. He was hungry, too.

July 4th, 2011

Joei paced back and forth in front of her mirror, cell phone in hand and still wearing her dressing robe from her shower, "Hi, Steve, how are you? I know we didn't really leave off on the right foot but...okay no, I sound like a robot..."

"Talking to yourself, Stark?" a familiar voice sounded from behind her. Caitlin had been back for two weeks, and Josephine could not be more grateful. Caitlin had been informed of Joei's mission a few days before Joei was back in Malibu, and as soon as the girls had seen each other again they had rushed out to the Starks' private beach so that Joei could catch her best friend up on everything that had happened in their time apart.

Now, the younger Stark had flung herself onto her bed, and Caitlin had crawled in next to her.

"What's up, monkey?"

"I have a dilemma, cupcake."

They had taken to calling each other increasingly ridiculous nicknames after a trash tabloid had accused them of being a lesbian couple. While both girls were firm supporters of the LGBTQ community, neither one was romantically inclined toward the same sex. They had certainly gotten a laugh out of the accusation.

"What's wrong?"

"It's Steve's birthday."

"Ahhhh," the older girl nodded, "That's kind of weird don't you think?"

"That America personified has the same birthday as America itself? Super weird. But I have a bigger issue right now. Should I call him?"

"Do you want to?"

"Yes...and no...but also yes. I have no idea what to say to him if I do."

"You could send him a message."

"I only have his house phone. I'm not sure he even uses the cell phone S.H.I.E.L.D issued him."

"I meant like through snail mail."

"When would that even get there? I've never sent a letter in my life."

"You have a jet. Drop it off."

"He lives in Brooklyn, Cait. I'm not going to take the jet from Malibu to New York to deliver a letter because I'm too much of a weenie to call a guy."

"Really? Because I would."

They were silent for two beats before simultaneously bursting into giggles.

"Everything okay in there?" Pepper's voice sounded from the other side of the door before it clicked open and she walked in, wearing a pair of skinny jeans and a red and white striped shirt. "Why aren't you dressed yet? Come on, Rhodey already has the grill on and your dad is making a bonfire."

"You really think it was a good idea to leave dad alone with a fire, Mom?" asked Joei, sitting up in bed.

"Happy's with him."

"You really think it was a good idea to leave dad and Happy alone with a fire, Mom?"

Pepper smacked her lips, "Not my brightest moment. I'll see you girls outside."

Pepper was gone in a flash of strawberry blonde and Joei walked toward her closet to pick out an outfit.

"I should just call him, shouldn't I? I mean, I know he's mad. But there's a chance that he doesn't hate my guts and he'll answer."

"I'm sure he doesn't hate your guts."

"But if he does this is a perfect way to find out. I'll just call him, and if he doesn't hang up on me the second he hears my voice, that means he doesn't hate me."

"You do that. I'm going to go to my own room to find something patriotic to wear."

The door closed securely behind Caitlin, and Joei found herself staring at her phone before taking a deep breath and pressing the call button with a little too much force. Steve's number rang four times before going to voicemail.

"Um, hi, Steve," Joei started nervously, "I guess you must be busy. I just called to see how you were doing, and to wish you a happy birthday. So, Happy Birthday. I hope you're enjoying your day. And, well, that was it, I guess, so bye."

Joei sighed as she hung up the phone. Part of her was relieved that he hadn't answered. Another part, however, was left unsatisfied. She wanted to know more about how he was adjusting. Had he run into any cultural speed bumps along the way? Had her lessons been useful? How was he spending his birthday? Had he braved a department store or was he still wearing the clothes she'd bought him?

Realizing that these questions were never going to get answered until she actually asked him, she sighed and walked to the closet to find something to wear. The red, white, and blue theme made her stomach churn, but she pulled on a pair of shorts and a tank top in the color scheme anyway and plastered a smile on her face as she made her way outside to celebrate with her family.

July 18, 2011

"Everyone is here," said Caitlin as she walked into the small lounge behind the conference room. "I don't think I've ever seen the press this excited."

"They're probably hoping I'm about to unveil myself as the next robotic super hero." said Joei, checking her hair in the mirror one last time and smoothing out her dress.

"Well they couldn't be more wrong," said Tony, holding out both arms to Joei and Pepper "Shall we, ladies?"

"I think Joei should walk ahead of us," said Pepper. Her eyes had been watery with pride all day, "And the two of us can walk in arms linked behind her. We're just here for support, remember?"

"Right. Right," Tony nodded, lowering one arm and turning to his daughter with a smirk, "Your old man forgets sometimes that it's not always about him. The majority of the time it is, but you can get some time in the spotlight every now and then."

"Gee, thanks, Dad," Joei rolled her eyes and smoothed out her dress one more time, "Here goes nothing."

She had never been the first person to walk into a press conference. Having all eyes fall immediately on her was nervewracking, but it only strengthened her resolve. She had already impressed the Board, but now came the hard part. Making the press, and therefore, the people, take her seriously.

When she'd begun planning this conference, she hadn't been sure what the press would expect from her. Did they expect jokes and relaxed rambling like her dad? Or did they expect her to be stoic and straight to the point like Pepper? In the end, she'd decided on being her own person, and talking as she would to anyone else. The notecards were on the podium waiting for her, but she hardly had to look down at them. She'd rehearsed this for days.

"Hi, everyone. I have to admit this is not as easy as my dad or Pepper makes it look." she smiled charmingly as she'd been doing for years, "For a bunch of people in suits and pencils skirts, you're pretty scary."

A soft laugh ran through the small crowd, and she felt instantly better.

September 3rd, 2011

Joei knocked on the door to Dr. Garner's office, which was already slightly ajar, "May I come in?"

"Miss Stark," Dr. Garner smiled kindly, "Of course, of course come on in. I was just finishing up here with Phil."

Joei hesitated in surprise when she was inside the room, "Agent Coulson. Fancy seeing you here."

"Miss Stark. Andrew was just giving me some assessments I've been needing," said Coulson, standing from his chair as he placed a stack of file folders in his briefcase.

"I didn't know you two were on a first name basis."

"Oh, well Phil and I go way back," said Dr. Garner, "We're old friends, aren't we Phil?"

"Well, I don't think we're that old," Coulson joked. Joei could do nothing but blink a few times. She'd never seen Agent Coulson this relaxed. "I'll be showing myself out. I'm sure the two of you have a lot to work on."

"Those files," Joei motioned to the briefcase, "Anybody I should know about?"

"Not yet," said Coulson, "Enjoy the new semester, Miss Stark. Say hello to Agent Graham for me."

"Will do, Agent Coulson."

The older agent was out of the office with a soft click of the door. Joei turned to her professor and smiled, "So, what's the plan for this semester?"

"Well, your counselor sent over your transcript, and I'm not sure how the hell you did it but you managed to get nearly all your credits done in the little time you've been here."

"Well my AP scores took care of most of my basic classes. And I did transfer a few of my Academy classes, albiet with fake names."

"Not to mention all the online classes you've been taking without telling me."

"Hey, I had to catch up with the time I lost."

"You did more than catch up, Miss Stark. You're practically a senior."

"And at just shy of nineteen years old, too." Joei said smugly, taking a seat in front of Professor Garner's desk.

"I'm taking you on as a full time intern."

"You are?" Joei sat straighter.

"Yes. I've taken a look at your class schedule and drew up a work schedule to match," he said, sifting through some papers to pull out a small piece of laminated cardstock. "Agents Graham and Barton also sent me their training schedules so we wouldn't overlap."

Joei looked down at the paper and scoffed, "I'm sorry, you seem to have forgotten to schedule time for breathing. This is literally all day every day."

"Not all day. You still have time for homework and sleep."

"Gee, thanks. Maybe twice a week I'll be able to pencil in a shower."

"If you're lucky. I'd also like for you to take a look at an evaluation I just got started with. Here's the material we have so far," he handed her a flash drive, "Listen to the audio recordings, read the notes, let me know what you think. It's for some new task force S.H.I.E.L.D wants to make."

"Sounds good," Joei nodded, "Anything else?"

"That will be all, Miss Stark."

"Thank you, Professor," she stood, ready to exit the office.

"Oh, by the way, I saw your press conference the other day."

"What did you think?" she asked. In the few months that she'd known Dr. Garner, she had come to greatly respect his opinion.

"A guarantee of education for orphans and foster children is something the world has been waiting on for too long. Have you thought about opening up a school?"

"I think I'll start with scholarships for now, but maybe some day. Some representatives from Culver reached out, actually. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"

"Not at all," he shook his head, but the small quirk of his mouth made her think he'd had a say in Culver University's enthusiasm to fasten itself onto Josephine's new project before any other school did. "Culver is going to be your alma matter. Maybe they just thought it would be good PR."

"Yeah, maybe," Joei smiled, "Thank you, Dr. Garner. I'll see you in class."

"Enjoy the rest of your day, Miss Stark."

October 3rd, 2011

"Why am I analyzing a bunch of dead people again?" Joei asked from the small desk that had been set up in a corner of Dr. Garner's office. They had both been at work for hours, and she was completely stuck on one particular test subject.

"I've learned not to ask too many questions when it comes to S.H.I.E.L.D." Dr. Garner answered from his own desk where he was busy grading papers. "They usually won't answer anyway."

"Don't I know it," Joei mumbled, chewing on her pen, "I don't even know what kind of conclusion I'm supposed to come up with. If they were of sound mind when they died? How does that even make sense?"

"It makes about as much sense as some of these papers," Dr. Garner sighed, "I think we should call it a day."

"We still have three hours left."

"Do you want to keep staring at those files until you eat half your pen?"

"No."

"Then call it a night, Josephine. We'll get back to this tomorrow. We're both exhausted. Go home, eat some dinner and get some sleep." said her professor, already packing things into his suitcase.

"Thank you, Professor Garner."

"Before I forget, here is your entrance pass for the conference next week." he said, handing her a card on a lanyard with a picture of her and her name, "Don't lose it."

"Are you still sure you don't want to fly with me to New York? The jet has a full bar and sometimes if you're nice, the pilot will let you fly."

Dr. Garner chuckled, "My ticket is already paid for by the University and I would hate to let that money go to waste. I'll just have to rough it in first class."

"If that's what you want," Joei shrugged, "I'll see you tomorrow, Professor Garner."

October 11, 2011

Joei walked down the street with her hands in the pockets of her hoodie. Her hood was drawn up to hide her hair and she kept her face down. Paparazzi would not be likely to look for her in this part of the city, but a few photographs of her at the psychology conference with Dr. Garner had made their way online, and now they knew she was in New York.

She walked slowly down the streets of cracked sidewalks and old buildings. Some of them were still in use as homes or small businesses. It was one of the few places in New York City that looked untouched by the new generation. She thought to the home where she had grown up, and then to the new home that her parents were constructing at the top of a skyscraper. Comparing them, she realized that it might be nice to live in one of these narrow houses with square windows and front steps and wall paper.

She approached the corner with bated breath as the eighty year old white building came into view. The letters above the door were pealing, but she could make out the words New York Bell Co. if she squinted.

Josephine looked around, and then back at the locked door. She shouldn't have come. She should have gone straight to the apartment Tony was renting after the day's workshop was over, or taken up the offer of some of the other interns to go grab a drink. She should have left the stupid key and the note with the address on her dashboard where she'd found it. Instead she had turned on the car and drove into this part of town. She'd left the car a few streets away in a parking garage that looked nice enough. But something in her gut had told her to come here. She knew what the place was as soon as she'd read the name, of course, but there was something else that had made her come. Now that she was here, she didn't actually want to go inside.

Peggy had told her all about the SSR office hidden within this building. How it was one of the first offices to be established after the end of the war and even functioned as a S.H.I.E.L.D office for about a year, before the space became too small and Howard had bought out the building and given it to Peggy as a gift. She'd never had the heart to modify it.

Josephine had gone to visit her aunt again at the beginning of the month, and while the older woman still had the same twinkle in her eye, she was beginning to forget more and more. Josephine had needed to remind her of Pepper's name, and where the bathroom was. Entering this building would only remind Josephine of who Peggy Carter was before, and that was something she still was having trouble facing. She wanted to enjoy the time she could spend with her aunt now, instead of lingering on a past that she couldn't change.

Josephine gripped the key tightly in her pocket and then let it go. Instead of getting closer to the door, she turned toward the street. Across from the building were smaller ones that looked just as old, if not older. One was a tailor shop, the other sold blown glass, and the third was a coffee and pastry shop with tables on the outside patio. There was only one person sitting at one of the many tables, and it didn't take long for Steve to recognize him.

She had two options. She could turn around before he looked up and saw her, walking away from the oportunity to speak to him. Or she could cross the street and say hello.

Josephine's mind was made up for her when he looked up from the notebook he was sketching on and saw her. She lifted the corner of her lips and looked both ways before crossing the street, feeling his eyes on her the entire time. When she got to the patio of the shop, Steve was already standing up with his chair pushed back.

"Maggie." he said her name softly, like he wasn't sure if they were on first names terms still.

"Hi, Steve."

"I didn't know you were in New York." he said, his voice sounding shaky.

She shrugged just as awkwardly, "I'm here for a conference with my professor."

"Oh."

An awkward silence fell between them, and Joei looked down at her feet. The sketchbook on the table caught her eye, and she saw that he'd been sketching the building across from them.

"I called you," she said finally, "On your birthday."

"Yeah," he answered a bit too loudly, then looked aorund quickly and started agian in a lower voice, "I, um, I was out. But I heard your message. I would have called you on your birthday but I don't know..."

"Tommorow."

"Excuse me?"

"My birthday. It's tomorrow. I'm turning nineteen."

"Oh. Okay. Happy Birthday."

"Thank you."

Neither one of them had any idea what to say after that.

"Well, I should go." said Joei, though she wanted to stay.

"Right. I'm sure you're busy. I hear you're building some big skyscraper. And you have your thing with the orphans."

"Um, yeah." she nodded, wondering how much Steve had been keeping up with the news related to her.

"Right. I should go too. I was just taking a lunch break before...going to do...stuff."

"Yeah. Of course. It was good to see you."

"You, too."

She turned around and was almost out of the restaurant's patio and on the sidewalk when her guilt finally won out and she turned around. He was sitting once more, pencil hovered over his sketchbook but unmoving.

"Steve." she called out and his head snapped up to look at her, "I just...about what happened at the retreat..."

"Don't worry about it."

"I just wanted to say..."

"Josephine."

She blinked a few times fast. Her first name sounded strange coming from him. Too harsh, almost like a scold.

"Just forget it ever happened. All of it. It's best if we both just forget about it."

"Oh," she said, unsure if she was hurt or relieved, "Okay. Yeah. So then we're just two people who happen to know each other."

"We're like coworkers," he nodded.

"Yeah. Okay. Bye. Enjoy your coffee."

"Thank you. Enjoy your afternoon."

Josephine walked away once more, her grip tihgtening on the key in her pocket almost painfully as she made her way down the street. When she had turned the corner and disappeared from his view, she stopped, leaned against the side of a building, and took in a series of shaky breaths. She had not cried in a long time, and she didn't intend on doing so now.

Soooo this is where we leave our heroes for now. They will be back soon in the next installment of this series, called Live To Rise.