They call her Human Torch! Chapter 32

3 hours later.

We had waited until Nat and Phil left, and until Kitty, Piotr, Jane, and Darcy had gone to sleep. Tony tried getting Pepper to go to bed as well but she refused and said if she could not be in the danger room then she was going to be working in the office and he was to go get her as soon as we were out.

"Alright, Steve, Tony, you guys are going to stay up here and under no circumstances are you to go down into the room okay? In fact, I would feel better if you guys went to bed as well and just let Logan and I handle it… I know I will hurt him but he heals fast"

"No Bella, I want to be here for both of you and also just in case he loses control as well."

Shit, Steve is right, what if Logan loses it too? Between the 2 of us we could kill everyone in the building and not even remember.

"Logan, he's right, I don't think this is a good idea."

He gave Tony a look and then turned back to me and pushed me into the room before closing the door and locking it. I saw Tony through the observation window rush to lock the other side of the door as well.

"Let it out."

"Logan, we have to consider what could happen if-"

He cut me off by taking out his claws and swiping at my face. I ducked last second but was thrown off balance when he kicked my ribs.

"Logan what the fuck?!"

"You are going to hurt me when you lose it, but until you do, I will hurt you."

"How is that going-"

"SHUT UP!"

He swiped for me again but I kept backing up and missing the hits.

"Stop talking, stop backing up and running, start fighting back. This is what you wanted isn't it? I'm wondering how long you will last in a fight before you pull out your flames. You wouldn't have ever gotten into shield without them, you suck at combat."

"What is he doing? He does know that she is very good at fighting without her fire right? We've seen her."

"He's pushing and prodding at her and it's working."

I looked down and knew he was right. She glared back at him and the more he talked down to her the angrier she got. She started throwing punches back but not enough to hurt him.

"You call that a punch? That is pathetic. First you lose control of your flames and now you are even forgetting how to put strength behind a hit? I think you went soft in Asgard, or worse, you are reverting back to that little human you were. Think your Cullen friends will still want to chat with you when they find out you are the little weak human they left behind again?"

Stark froze next to me but I was confused. Who are the Cullen's? Logan turned his back on her shocked face but he turned last second and slapped her. I felt my hands ball up instantly.

"What the hell is that bastard doing? You don't hit a woman that way, not even in a real fight."

I moved to the door but Stark blocked it and pushed me towards the window overlooking the room.

"Look I don't like it either Romeo and I'm sure Logan hates to hit her like that but it's working."

I studied her face and saw her eyes had darkened considerably. Her posture had crouched slightly and her head tilted as she studied Logan.

"What's the matter? Nothing to say? No of course not. You need someone to come protect you don't you?"

He went to slap her again but she leaped on him instantly and tackled him, wrapping her hands around his neck. Logan used his legs to knock her off but before he could get up, she was on him again. They circled around each other for a moment but he smirked while Stark and I cringed. Her eyes were focused on his every movement, at the same time her eyes didn't really see him, he was the enemy now. She was moving on the tips of her toes, it was something so graceful and beautiful but I knew this was not the time to see her beauty, her movements were truly that of an animal hunting. Movement caught my attention as Stark started messing with the board of switches.

"What are you going to put in there?"

"We need to startle her. She wanted a slaughter? She is getting one. What do you know about Game Of Thrones?"

"Game of what? This is not the time for games Stark!"

"Well that answers that… Spoiler alert! This is footage from the latest episode."

The room converted until it was a mountain landscape. The image caught Bella's attention but suddenly hoards of men were seen running over the mountain, they had armor and swords as they let out a battle cry. Logan ducked away to a corner of the room and watched as her eyes turned black. She ran towards the center of the group, grabbing the biggest man and throwing him towards the ones behind her, they went down and gave her enough time to kill everyone in front of her before turning back to them. The bodies on the floor glitched, and if they were real, I'm sure she would be covered in blood by now. She grabbed at the first limb she could reach and ripped it off, be it a leg or a head. We watched frozen at the massacre, there was no longer anything beautiful about it, or there shouldn't be but a part of me saw her and wanted to be by her side. She was not just stunning, she was deadly and powerful, she never stopped to think twice, she did what needed to be done and gave in to her instincts. I had a feeling that seeing someone else do this, become this, would make me uncomfortable but seeing her brought out an instinct in myself. I wanted to walk in there and claim her somehow. A dark part of me wanted her desperately in a way that was not gentlemanly at all.

I didn't want Logan to get another step closer to her, he wouldn't dare slap her in such a degrading way again because if he ever tried, it would be me in there with him, not her. My focus had been on her, on her every move, I had missed any signal that Logan had given Stark but suddenly the armored warriors were gone and replaced with armed guards. All of them shot at her at once, she grabbed who she could and let her flames cover her body in an effort to protect herself but the shocks from all the weapons aimed at her brought her to her knees. Logan moved in closer and the guards let up enough for her to get back up but before she could start fighting back, Logan took his claws and drove them straight through her stomach.

Logan had warned him of how he would do this, how he was going to try and shock her system to make it fast but watching him drive his claws through her and watching her flames die down as the blood seeped out was enough to make me swallow down the dinner that threatened to come back up. Her black eyes dimmed as she lost focus around her but I could see her body shaking from here. The pounding at the door brought my attention to Steve as he panted and tried to undo the locks.

"Hey, It's locked from inside too."

He didn't respond but he backed up and I could see the beginning of sweat on his neck and face as his shoulders lifted and fell from the panting.

"What is wrong with you? Are you sweating?"

He again didn't respond but lunged at the door and kicked it. He made a gigantic dent but it still didn't open. He backed up again and went to throw himself at the door.

"What are you doing?! What is wrong with you man? That's a new do-"

I had gotten in his way only to be freaking pushed aside. He hit the door again and managed to knock it aside. He threw it down the stairs and raced in. I followed after him but faltered when he got to where Logan was holding a barely breathing Bella. He pushed Logan away and punched his jaw. This guy has balls to punch Logan. Logan made no move to hit him back, he watched on in pained confusion while his shattered jaw snapped back into place. He looked to me but I shrugged. Steve sat next to where Bella was and pulled her onto his lap, cradling her face and breathing in her hair. We moved closer but he looked up, his eyes were darkened, pupils expanded while he glared at me but Logan took another step and Steve shuffled back with Bella.

"STAY AWAY FROM HER! SHE'S MINE!"

He pushed her stay hair away from her face and breathed into her hair again.

"Cap what the fuck are you-"

Logan put his arm against my chest and moved us back as he shushed me.

"What are you doing?! What is wrong with him?"

He shook his head and watched them in fascination. Bella opened her eyes slowly, they were unfocused and confused but she didn't say anything. She took a deep breath and looked scared but Steve got close to her hair to breath on it again and she turned her face to bury it in his chest and took a deep breath. Her whole body relaxed at the same time that Steve's and Logan's did. I could feel my eyes crinkled in confusion.

"Why is she-?"

"I think they just damn mated."

"WHAT?!"

My yell made Bella flinch and brought Steve's glare back on me while he rocked her body in his arms. What the hell?

"What do you mean they mated? They still have their clothes on."

"Mated doesn't mean they have to fuck Tony! I think her 'primal' side found a mate in him and woke up some instincts in him too."

"She is not an animal though! What, is the mating going to go away when she snaps out of this phase?"

"No, if it was just her primal side then he wouldn't have reacted to it. I think it's the vampire venom she has in her. Do we know what was in his serum? Because there's gotta be something other than chemicals to get him like this."

My cell phone rang loudly in my pocket, making Bella flinch again with her eyes now closed. Steve glared at me harder, I don't even know how he manages to be that angry.

'Hello?'

'We are on our way.'

'Peter? How the hell is your gift working?'

'Alice can see her in her visions right now and I know that she did mate with that guy, it's the vampire side of her like Logan said but I don't really know how or why he acted like that. I just know Char and I need to come up for a while and we need to stay at your place.'

'Pep and I are staying with Bella.'

'For now, but you need to have a team fix up your building fast and move the green guy with you. You guys are gonna need to leave the new couple alone once everything dies down, gonna need to go back to seeing them on weekends only just like before. They are going to need a lot of alone time. I don't know why yet, I don't think it's for sex though… he seems like a prude from what Alice described..'

I heard him yelp as Charlotte hit him and took over the phone.

'Don't listen to my husband, Alice said he was good looking, just more traditional, they will both be confused when they snap out of it. Alice is booking us a flight now and she said we will be there in less than 10 hours.'

Another voice I had never heard before came on.

'Hello? This is Alice.'

'The psychic that Bella hates?'

'Um, I don't- I guess she does.'

Well shit, now I felt like an asshole.

'What were you going to say?'

'Um, just don't bug them, he saw you and Logan hurting her and will feel you are a threat to her until she gains her strength back. They will be pretty confused but will remember everything. I can't see how Bella will react because her shield will come up on it's own when her strength is back. All I know is that you need to let Peter and Charlotte take the lead on explaining what mating means in the vampire sense.'

'So this is permanent? How did it happen?'

'Peter will explain all of that to them but yes, when two people find their mates it's permanent.'

I sighed and said a quick goodbye before hanging up and turning to Logan. He was watching the door but it wasn't until I turned that I saw Steve making his way up the stairs quickly and taking Bella in his arms.

"Where is he going now?! This is messed up."

He nodded but still had a thoughtful look on his face as he started following them up the steps. We ended up following them back to Bella's room where Steve sat rigidly with his back against the headboard while he positioned Bella so her head rested on his lap and she hugged his knee to her chest. Pepper must have heard movement on this floor because she came out of the office and came to the hall to peek in with us.

"What are we looking at? How did the session go with Bella?"

She got a good look and gasped back at what she saw. She moved to go in but we stopped her and took her to the office to explain everything.

...

"So, wait, I don't understand, they are mated like Peter and Char are mated? That's good isn't it? Strange to us, but good for them."

"I'm not saying it's bad but.. humans don't mate."

"But Tony, she is not human. And he, well, I don't know what he is but definitely not human, I mean he survived being frozen for how many decades?"

We didn't know how to respond to that so we just stayed quiet and thought it over for a moment. This was fucked up, I didn't know how to process it. Pepper got up and asked us to stay here while she checked on them.

"You can't go in there Pep, he is not in the right state of mind."

"With you guys he is not because he thinks you want to hurt her or something. I will just go in there carefully and ask if I can clean her up. She is all bloody from her stomach and it stained his pants already. If he glares or something then I promise I will get right out of there but it might do some good if he sees that I want to just care for her."

I didn't agree but Logan did and in the end we gave in, choosing to stand in the doorway while she went in.

I took a deep breath and pushed the door slightly to make a big enough gap to step into. Steve looked up at me and raised an eyebrow but didn't really look mad, he did look very confused and protective though.

"Hey Steve? I know Bella needs her rest but can I get her cleaned up? She has blood on her shirt and she should be changed into something more comfortable."

He looked down at her bloody clothes as if looking at them for the first time.

"You want me to go get some comfortable clothes for you too? It was delivered hours ago and Bella asked us to put it in a room on this floor. I'm guessing you are going to stay here with her? Or do you want to go and change."

He was already shaking his head before I finished.

"I'm staying with her."

"Okay, I'll go bring you clothes then."

"...Thank you."

I stepped out quickly at almost ran to his room with Tony and Logan following me.

"What happened?"

"Oh please Logan, like you didn't listen in! I just asked if he wanted to come and change into clean clothes and he said he wanted to stay with her. It's like he hadn't really seen the bloody mess of her shirt. He seems very protective and affectionate to her but at the same time, he looks confused, like he is not sure why that is."

"Well yeah, guy has a crush on her, sees her freak out, then freaks out himself! Peter and Charlotte can't get here fast enough"

I got him a pair of pajama pants and one of his new undershirts before making my way back to Bella's room. I showed him the clothes and put them on the edge of the bed. I didn't say anything while I walked into her closet and got some underwear, pajama shorts, and a loose Tshirt. I made eye contact with him and put her clothes on the edge of the bed too before walking into the bathroom to get some rags and wet them so I could clean her up. I knew it would be difficult to get her changed and I didn't want to let him see her naked for the first time while she was passed out so I figured I could use some scissors to get her shirt off. Walking back into the room he eyed the scissors and narrowed his eyes slightly.

"I'm just going to cut the shirt off. It's ruined with her blood anyway. Can you help me sit her up?"

He nodded and got to it. Soon she was sitting and I began in the front. She rolled her head slightly and mumbled while her eyes half opened.

"Pepper?"

"Hey Bella, you're fine, you just need to rest for a day or two. I'm cutting this shirt off you to make you more comfortable okay? Steve is right behind you."

Just his name seemed to calm her.

"Steve?"

He put his hand on her hair and they both took deep breaths. Are they smelling each other?

"I'm right here Bella, I won't let anyone hurt you."

She relaxed against him and I finished cutting the front of her shirt. Steve helped me take it off like you would a jacket. I threw her shirt aside and used the wet rags to clean her stomach up and then dry it from the water. Of course her stomach was perfectly healed without any scar that Logan ever hurt her. I put the t shirt over her head and leaned her front on me while I reached around to her back and unclasped her bra. Her bare back was exposed to him and when I leaned her back to cover her front I noticed his eyes darkened at the feel of her bare back pressed against him. I quickly put her arms though the shirt and brought it down. Well he saw her bare back but at least he didn't see her breasts.

"Okay, this is the harder part. Help me lay her down?"

He moved off to the side of the bed and put her head back to rest on a pillow. I undid the button of her jeans and paused to look at him.

"Um, you want to change in the closet or the bathroom while I change her pants?"

He seemed to fight with himself on it before nodding and moving towards the bathroom after getting the clothes. He half closed the door so he couldn't see out but he could listen to whatever I was doing. Alright, lets do this fast! I thanked god I had experience changing pants on a sleeping girl from all the times Darcy got drunk and passed out when holiday parties or birthday parties got too crazy. I got her jeans off quick but felt awkward while removing her panties. I slid them down fast and wasted no time in getting the other pair on before getting the pajama shorts up her legs. I actually felt a little out of breath from trying to lift her hips to get the underwear and shorts on. I blew out a deep breath and got up off my knees. I guess the movement was all the sign Steve needed because he quickly came out from the bathroom and came to the bed. He narrowed his eyes slightly when I stopped him from sitting on it but relaxed when he saw me pull back the covers.

"Can you carry her please?"

I didn't have to ask twice for him to reach down for her and cradle her head against his chest. His posture relaxed and she snuggled into him in her sleep. It was actually strange to see but they just seemed in sync with each other. I told him where to place her after arranging the pillows and he sat in next to her before placing her head on his lap. I pulled the duvet cover over both of them and sat on the very edge of the bed.

"So Steve, how do you feel?"

He looked to me blankly and thought about the question for a solid minute.

"Confused. I know I shouldn't be sharing this bed with her, but I can't let her go. Her smell is heightened now, and it relaxes me, my smell seems to relax her too and she wants me with her. It doesn't make sense but its like I just know that she needs me right now and I need to be with her to protect her while she is vulnerable."

Well when he said it like that, it actually seemed romantic.

"Look, some of Bella's friends know what happened and they are on their way to explain it all to the both of you."

"Do you know what it is?"

"Well.. yes but since I don't know how to explain it, I think we should just hold off on it. What I can say is that, when her primal instincts were awoken, they seemed to have woken some of yours and I think that is why the both of you clung to each other. I could be wrong but from what Tony and Logan said, that is what it sounds like."

He stiffened when I said their names and his pupils expanded a little.

"I know they had to do what they did for her, and that she agreed to it, but I don't want them near her until she wakes up."

I nodded and smiled softly at him.

"They understand. We are all waiting for our friends to get here and try to explain. They should be here mid morning. Until then, the guys won't come in here."

He nodded and went back to watching her sleep when I got up to leave.

"Steve?"

He looked back at me confused and alert.

"Just try to relax okay? Try to sleep and lay down beside her. Maybe it's a good thing to give in to your instincts and your wants, even if you don't understand them yet. I promise no one else will come in here until morning, I'll have Jarvis put a sensor at the door so you will be woken up if some one opens the door while you are asleep."

He relaxed and nodded gratefully.

"Thank you Pepper."

I smiled at him one last time and turned to walk out and close the door. Logan didn't even pretend that he wasn't listening and Tony asked what happened even though I opened the door and he was leaning on it with his ear cupping the door.

"Lets just go to sleep and see what happens in the morning."

Logan nodded and took the stairs down but Tony took my hand and led me up to the observatory and opened up the roof.

"You know what this whole mating and primal stuff reminds me of?"

"What is that?"

He smirked and sat me on his lap.

"The bad touch by Bloodhound Gang"

"What song is that?"

I knew I shouldn't have asked as soon as I saw his smirk get bigger. He wiggled his eyebrow and started singing in a low seductive voice.

'You and me baby ain't nothing but

mammals

So let's do it like they do on the Discovery Channel'

"OH! Tony! Oh my god!"

I glared at him but had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. He started cracking up and eventually I had to join in.

"For the record, I disapprove of laughing over Bella and Steve's situation!"

He shrugged and leaned in to my ear.

"So?"

"So what?"

"How about we go mate?"

8 hours later.

I was jolted awake with a loud guitar solo playing right in my ear.

"Tony!"

He jolted awake as well and grimaced at the volume before telling Jarvis to turn it off.

"Sorry, I gotta fix that bug. I told him to wake us up whenever everyone else woke up and left their rooms. We have to talk to them before they go looking for Bella, and Peter sent me a text a few hours ago saying their flight landed at 8:30 am so they would be at the elevator at 10:16 am. Guess we will see how accurate his little gift is."

I nodded and got up even though I just wanted to roll over and sleep for another 2 hours. We dressed quickly and made it into the kitchen at the same time as Kitty and Logan did.

"Good Morning! How was my mom's session last night?"

"Um, it was.. not what we were expecting but we will wait for everyone to wake up and come in before we see what is going to happen."

Kitty looked at the 3 of us as her breathing sped up and panic set in her eyes.

"What happened? Where is she?! Is she gone again?"

We hurried to calm her when her eyes began to water but she insisted on seeing her.

"Kitty, she is in her room but she is asleep. You cannot go in there yet, not until Peter and Charlotte get here."

She froze and a hopeful look replaced her panic.

"They're coming? When?"

"They should be here by 10:30. Why don't you go wake everyone up and have them come in here so we can have a family meeting. Just not Bella, Steve, or Bruce. I'll go into Bruce's room and see how passed out he is."

"Will he get mad if you wake him up?"

"I don't know. Go wake them up hun, meet here in 10 minutes yeah?"

She nodded and turned to go out of the kitchen.

"Tony, you go, or better yet, you and Logan go check on Bruce while I order breakfast."

"Why don't you just make something?"

I responded with the best glare I could muster.

"I am not a machine like Bella. I don't know how she ever makes enough to fill the both of you up, let alone like 7 other people!"

He put his hands up and backed away before leaving the kitchen with Logan smirking behind him. Alright, how much food do you order for a Hulk and a super soldier? More than what Logan and Tony eat? I sighed and decided left overs wouldn't sit on the counter for too long anyway so too much is better than not enough. 10 minutes on the dot, Kitty came back into the kitchen with Piotr, Jane, and a very grumpy Darcy.

"Can you give a good excuse as to I was dragged out of bed?"

"Yes, but first we need to wait to see if Logan and Tony managed to wake up Bruce."

"That dude is still asleep?! God his back is gonna hurt when he finally gets up!"

Piotr turned bright red when Tony and Logan came into the kitchen with Bruce trailing sleepily behind.

"Hi Bruce, how was your sleep?"

"Uh, good thanks."

Tony smirked at him before motioning for everyone to take a seat.

"Alright, buckle up kids, you're about to be taken on a wild ride!"

Bruce and Piotr smirked but everyone else pretty much gave him a go to hell look.

"Tough crowd. Alright, so Logan and I briefly caught Bruce here up to what happened while he took his beauty nap, as all you know, Bella was feeling pretty on edge last night and Logan here thought a session in the danger room would do her some good. It did, kinda, I guess. She gave into her instinct, went bat shit, but then Capsicle-"

"Alright enough, Tony if you are not going to take this seriously then let Logan talk!"

Logan rolled his eyes but knocked back his whiskey and took over talking. When did he get whiskey?

"Well, what happened was Bella gave into her instincts and let go of the aggression she was holding on to. As I had told Tony before the session, we overwhelmed her with attackers and last second I came in and tried shocking her system by driving my claws into her, It worked and she snapped out of it but like I said, she was quickly mentally and physically exhausted, she was losing consciousness when suddenly, Steve comes in and punches me. He became unnaturally possessive of her and did not want Tony or I getting near her because he thought we would hurt her. Somehow, and we are not sure how, that is why Peter and Charlotte are coming, somehow her instincts woke up some of his and they recognized each other as mates. I don't know if it was because both of them were in that 'primal' phase and they are both single, or if it was just suppose to happen like that for them but… that is what happened."

Everyone seemed to open their mouths to speak at the same time but Logan put his hands up and shut them right up before they could get a word out.

"That is all we know. We are as confused as you guys, we have no answers yet."

"How- but- and- but, I mean- are they acting like animals or something?"

I took over the explanation then since I had been in the room with them yesterday.

"They are not, last night Steve took her to her room since she is very weak and in and out of consciousness. He doesn't want to leave her and guys, he is as confused as we are, he said he didn't know why he had those urges but he just knew he needed to protect her while she is weak and vulnerable. He said her scent is heightened now, at least to him and their scents relax each other, that much I saw."

Darcy tilted her head back and forth for a moment.

"That actually sounds cute! He is like her prince or something right now, plus he is hot! I didn't get to talk to him last night though, is he nice or is he an ass?"

"I think he is pretty good for her. We took him to get clothes yesterday and he is very much a modern gentleman… well not modern yet because he is still on a 40's mentality but he is trying."

"Well he was attracted to her since before so you think it was already starting or just because of instinct?"

"It had to be from before because that would explain why his instincts came out when hers did."

"Yes, yesterday we were in the room and as soon as Logan stabbed her he lost it! He was panting and sweating, trying to undo the locks to get to her and since it was locked from the inside, he knocked down the door before going and landing a hit on Logan."

"So all we can do is wait?"

"Yep."

Piotr nodded and stood up to make coffee.

"Breakfast is on the way, it should be here by 10."

Everyone sat down to wait and drink coffee or hot chocolate except for Logan who got more whiskey from somewhere. We only had to wait and make small talk for a few minutes before Jarvis announced that the lobby was calling for a delivery. Tony, Logan, and Piotr went down to get everything while I went to look for where we put Bruce's suit case after Phil brought it last night. I swung by quickly to peek in on Bella and Steve after taking off the alarm on their door. The room was dark with the lights off but the bathroom lights were left on and cast a soft glow around the room. Bella had her head on his chest and he had both arms wrapped around her with his head tilted towards her. They looked like a couple and I guess that is what they would be if they are mates. I shut the door as slowly and soundlessly as I could before making my way down and giving Bruce his things.

"Thanks. I'll go shower and change."

"Sure but don't take too long, I got some breakfast for you too."

He nodded and smiled at us before leaving the kitchen. All 3 men came back in loaded with bags and boxes of food for us to dig into. Bruce came back and scarfed down quite a bit of food but midway through our meal Tony silenced us all and started looking at his watch.

"Peter said they wold be here at 10:16 and it's already 10:15. 8,7,6,5,4,3,2,-"

He was interrupted by Jarvis saying that access to the elevator was being requested.

"Shit!"

"Tony!"

"Sorry kids."

He got up with a smirk to wait by the elevator but told us to keep eating. As soon as they walked in, Kitty got up and hugged both of them.

"Munchkin! How are ya? Not so small anymore I see!"

Peter hugged her for a moment but Char pushed him aside and embraced her for a while too. They moved on to Piotr, Darcy, Jane, Logan, and I but paused in front of Bruce. Peter smiled big and extended his hand to shake.

"Pleasure to meet ya, I'm a big fan of your green rage!"

Char looked like she was about to slap him after seeing the grimace on Bruce's face but Tony let out a loud laugh and patted Peter on the shoulder.

"I said something along those same lines when I first met him too."

He moved to pat Bruce on the back in a way to take the uncomfortable edge off.

"Alright, sit and explain what the hell is going on because we are all confused."

Peter got a serious look on his face then and began to explain the basic knowledge that came with being mates in the vampire world. When the word vampire first came out of his mouth, the rest of us froze and looked to Bruce but he was relaxed and not surprised. Tony told us that Bella confessed to him years ago that she had told him every aspect of her life when she first met up with him on her search for control. Peter didn't know how but he knew Bruce was caught up on everything.

"… And so I know all of that will play out on a less intense scale with them. Right now it is all heightened and new so that is why they will probably want to be together constantly for at least this first week. It will feel less intense later on but it will never dull out, it's hard to stay mad with your mate and almost impossible to go on a trip without them. I'm not sure if they will feel the pain in their chests when they are apart, we will see later on how it works for them but the one thing I do know will be different is the marking. We feel the urge and the instinct to mark and claim our mates the first time we have sex-"

"Eww! Peter I don't want to think about you and Char or my mom and Steve doing it!"

"Well one day your gonna be doing it too and we will kill the guy but it will happen… Wait."

He looked at her and narrowed his eyes but leaned back in relief.

"You're still a virgin…. But you and Piotr are dating? When did that happen?"

There were gasps heard all around the room as we studied the 2 of them. They turned red under our stares but I had a thought and swung my head around to stare at Logan.

"And where were you? You are nosy and live under the same roof as them! How did you not know?!"

"Oh I knew. I just didn't tell any of you. They can do whatever they want with themselves but they know I am in their floor, always listening, always ready to step in if he takes their little make out sessions too far."

Kitty put her hands over her face and groaned while Piotr just leaned back and avoided our stares.

"Can you guys just not.. I will tell my mom when all this calms down but, just let me do it."

We nodded silently but didn't say anything. Kitty and Piotr… how strange is that? We always thought there was something there when the family first met him and they were so into each other but for years they insisted on being friends only…

"When did it start?"

Kitty shrugged and looked down.

"5 months after mom disappeared. He just helped me through it and our feelings changed over time. We really were just friend before though."

Tony looked to me but he was still too stunned. He probably couldn't comprehend that his little goddaughter was old enough to be in a relationship. He still saw her as the small 15 year old that he taught how to hack her first computer. I looked back to Peter and closed my eyes briefly to try and remember what I needed to ask.

"Um, Peter, you were saying about about marking? Yeah, how does that work and why won't Bella and Steve do that?"

"Well here is my mark."

He moved his shirt away to show a faint bite scar on his collarbone. Char did the same on the opposite side.

"Humans can hardly see the mark but this is a claim and a mark so any vampire that I ever encounter knows I am mated. Char has hers and usually the urge in a vampire is too strong to ignore, it is pure instinct that we bite each other and inject our venom into each other. Bella has a small amount of venom in her DNA, we already know that, but it is not what runs through her system so I highly doubt, in fact I am sure, that they will not try to bite each other, it really makes no sense for them to do it. Now, we need to take breakfast up to the newly mated, Bella will be up by now and it will get awkward in about 10 minutes so we better go now. Pepper, come and introduce us to Steve, he will still be a little protective but it will be because of the new bond between them, she is much better this morning, only her body is a little weak."

I got up and shook my head in disbelief.

"I will never get tired of that."

"You would if you had to live with him and he acted like a cocky ass everyday."

"Aww don't be like that sugar, you know ya love me."

Char smiled up at him sweetly as he wrapped his arm around her waist and started walking up towards Bella's room. I looked back and made eye contact with Kitty and she smiled softly at seeing them. If this is the type of 'mating' Bella and Steve were looking forward to then how could this situation be bad?

-Bella (20 minutes earlier)

I slowly gained consciousness and became aware of my surroundings but before I could open my eyes, I froze at the feeling of something tightening around me. I flinched and lifted my head while opening my eyes but my body was too weak to hold my head up so suddenly and it fell back to a surface that was definitely not my soft pillow. I blinked and looked up to see Steve's face 3 inches away from mine, his sleepy eyes looked into mine and I could see the realization flashing through his while I myself remembered how we both ended up here. I remembered bits and pieces from when I was coming in and out of consciousness but Steve was the main point to all of them. I felt a pull to him, a safety in his arms and his scent that calmed me all night and let me rest once Pepper was out of the room. I heard bits of conversation that didn't make sense to me but the need I had for Steve scared me, in a way I thought of what Edward once explained mating to be like, but that was years ago when I thought I was his mate. Could I do that? Maybe I could with the bit of venom in me and the primal edge that Logan gave me but Steve didn't have any venom in his so how could he mate with someone? I guess no one really knows what exactly was in his super soldier serum, and it has never been remade successfully. What did Steve think of what happened last night? He looked at me for a moment but the main emotion on his face was concern.

"How do you feel?"

"Um, somewhat confused.. Still tired physically but I think I could actually get out of bed in a few hours. I don't think this exhaustion will last days like Logan had said. What about you? Do you remember everything? I only recall some bits."

"Yes, I think I do. Not that it makes sense. Bella, I'm sorry, how I acted was… It was like I was in my body and I was in control but I had new urges and instincts, feelings that I had never even thought or imagined I could have, much less act upon. When Logan hurt you and you couldn't defend yourself, it's like a part of me snapped and I had to get to you no matter what. I had to protect you and keep you safe but at the same time I wanted to yell out that you were mine and they couldn't touch you.. A part of me still feels that way. Do you still feel what you did last night?"

"I do. I was hurt and my body and mind just felt so heavy, a part of me was scared at the thought that anyone could come at any moment an attack me but I wouldn't be able to even lift a finger. At first when Logan put his claws in me, it snapped me out of the rage enough but I just felt lost and I smelled you, I wasn't sure if it was you but instinctively, I knew that scent was safe and I could cling to it, I opened my eyes enough to see it was you and, I mean, we just met and I didn't assume or anything, I just knew that I was okay as long as I was near you, your presence calmed me all night when I woke up enough and still felt scared at how weak I was, I would just feel you next to me and smell you and I would relax. I knew it was strange, it is strange, but I didn't care, it was okay, it was what I needed, what I still need in a way."

He nodded and thought about what I said for a moment.

"I didn't know and I still am not clear on why I was acting the way I was but, that feeling that you said, that it was okay, that is still how I feel. I knew it was wrong for me to invite myself into your bed but I couldn't care enough to leave, it was the proper thing to do, as a gentleman I should have left your room as soon as I put you in your bed, I should not have disrespected you that way, logically I know that and agree to that, but I couldn't make myself go, you needed me and I needed to be near you, I still do, I don't really feel like it was wrong because nothing about this feels wrong, it's like this is how it's suppose to be and I don't know what this is, I don't feel like it's something that needs to be changed, this feels natural and right. Do you feel it that way too?"

"Yes, I- yes I feel that way too."

I didn't want to sound completely crazy so I wouldn't tell him but I feel completed, like everything else in my life lost the level of importance it had. I looked down and thought maybe I could explain my theory to him but before I did, I would have to explain my past and that was something I didn't want to do, I wanted to leave my past in the past. I felt weak still but knew I had to do this with a little bit of space and not while laying on his chest, although it was something I would like to do a lot more often from now on. He noticed my arm shaking as I tried to sit up and he quickly shot up and rearranged the pillows around me until I was leaning comfortably against the headboard.

"Thank you. Look, I think I know what happened, I don't know why it would but.. I need to explain a lot of myself before I can even start to make sense to you…"

I looked down again, feeling lost. I had told my story so many times to so many people now but I couldn't say it that same way to him, it felt like it meant more to tell him this big part of myself that is not on files. His hand came into sight as he shuffled closer to me and lifted my chin up to meet his eyes.

"You can tell me whatever is going on Bella. Whatever you want to tell me, I'll listen."

"I just don't know where to even start."

He opened his mouth as he looked at me softly but the entire moment was ruined when the door clicked open and a voice boomed into the room.

"Well don't ya worry darlin' because I know right where to start!"

Peter!

In an instant Steve had tightened his hold on me and had switched our positions so he was now closer to the door and I was slightly behind him. I smiled weakly at Peter and Char before locking eyes with Pepper, I put a hand on Steve's shoulder blade and slid it up until I cold lightly squeeze his shoulder.

"It's okay Steve, they are friends of mine, of the family."

He relaxed a little bit but was still on edge until Pepper took the lead and stepped in front of them.

"Good morning Bella, Steve. We brought you guys breakfast in bed since we don't think you should push yourself into getting out of bed yet. It's good to see you awake though."

She came forward and let us sit up a bit more before placing a tray on my lap and turning to get the one Peter was carrying to place it on Steve's lap. I was hungry and I could hear Steve's stomach give a small growl but I couldn't help but feel extreme discomfort at having them watch me sit in bed..

"Oh Sug, how rude of us, you must feel uncomfortable with us just standing and watching you both."

Char left the room for a moment but came back with the couch that was in the small living room here on the 3rd floor, we had never used it so the couch was brand new. Pepper took a seat first while Char slowly made eye contact with Steve and came to hug me.

"Sug, you have no idea what we felt when we heard on the news… we called Tony and he confirmed it, we are so happy that you are back safe."

I moved one arm to hug her back but I couldn't squeeze as much as I wanted to.

"I missed you guys too."

Peter didn't come near me, he stayed at the foot of the bed and watched me from there.

"It's great to see ya darlin' we can catch up in a bit an' I'll give ya a proper hug then too but first we need to catch up your man here to what we know. I know it's best if I tell the tale?"

I nodded, grateful that I dodged this one but the way he had said 'I know' had me thinking twice. I focused on my shields and wrapped them tightly around myself. Peter dropped his shoulders and playfully glared at me.

"You're no fun."

I shook my head and drank from the bottle of water on the tray while I listened to him take off with the story. He and Char had sat down and at first, all he did was confuse Steve more, he had begun by telling his own story, then he went on to say how he met Jasper while he was with Maria and he was a newborn, how he avoided being killed and how he met Char when she was first turned. I saw the disbelief on Steve's face at first but Peter showed him his scars and told him to remember Char bringing in the sofa all on her own. I was confused as to why he would start with his own story but it amazed me because by the time he began to explain about the Cullen's way of life, how Jasper found them, Steve was really able to understand what a big deal it was for them to be animal drinkers, Peter had told his own story in such a detail that in less than an hour, Steve now had full understanding of how a nomad, typical vampire functioned. He explained his connection to Char and his needs, his instincts, in a way that had Steve and I looking to each other as he saw where this was going and the purpose of the story. He listened with so much attention, he was enraptured in every word that Peter spouted.

".. That year, everything changed for them, it was the year little miss Bella moved to Forks to stay with her dad..."

Steve leaned forward a little when I came in, his attention was so focused. It was interesting, in a very strange way, to listen to the story of my early life from the perspective of another person. I had told my story to Peter and Char but they already knew what the Cullen's had said about it, they had the full spectrum and Peter was really using it to reel Steve in. He knew he was listening with more and more attention the more my name was mentioned. Steve tightened his hold on me when he explained in detail how my blood 'sang' for Edward, how he struggled and the events of all the days leading up to Port Angeles. Steve turned to me, remembering my side of the story from when I told him in the danger room. Peter filled in what I hadn't been able to say before, how 1 vampire easily scared off all the men. He went on to say how Edward revealed his gift, the events leading up to the famous baseball game, he made sure to give extreme detail when it came to James, Laurent, and Victoria. I was so glad I was not the one telling the story when Peter went on to explain the ballet studio to Steve. He almost vibrated in anger next to me, he noticed I was long finished with my food and moved me on to his lap while he buried his nose in my neck. It was not as instinctive and primal as it was last night but now it was just a move to calm himself down and make sure I was okay. We knew what Peter was leading to now and I was more than happy to lean my back against his strong chest. He lifted my wrist to his face to smell it and touch my scar, he took a sharp breath when he noticed the burning heat in the thin lines of the scar, Peter paused long enough for me to tell him it was colder than the rest of my skin when I was human but when I went through the cosmic exposure, it became hotter than the rest of my body, it was a theory that it was the residual venom trapped there that affected me to have some vampire qualities after the exposure.

"I need to use the restroom. You can keep telling the story Peter."

I tried scooting off the bed but it just wasn't working for me. Char got up at vampire speed and looked to Steve before reaching down to pick me up and run me to the bathroom.

"Thanks Char. I can't wait to bring my strength back up."

"It's no problem Sug."

Thank the lord that my toilet was in a separate little door, like a room in the bathroom so she could stay in it while I did my business and she did not have to watch. When we came out, Pepper had left with the breakfast tray's and Peter had caught up Steve a little more. It was hard to listen about Jasper's struggle when I cut myself on my birthday. Peter gave a full detail on how Edward left me in the woods, I think it was his own hate of Edward that motivated him to give full detail of what an asshole he is. Steve clenched his fists while listening about me lost in the woods, cold on the ground until someone found me. Peter paused for a moment and told him we would come back to my story in a moment and who found me, first he gave a full tribal history about the wolves. Even I was surprised at how much he really knew.

"We've been hiding in Forks for too long Bella, we made nice with the wolves and they have told us a bit more about themselves now that we have a truce."

I nodded and let him finish the story. It embarrassed me to hear how pathetic I was in the time after Edward left me, I was so weak at the time but I didn't feel like Steve judged me on it, if anything he nodded his head like he could understand me. I remembered fond memories of when the pack pulled me out of my low but I couldn't help the rage and tears that fell when Peter revealed how Charlie really died. Steve stopped listening and tried to pull me closer to his chest. He became concerned and started asking if Victoria was still around, why she wanted my life instead of Edward's, if she was still a threat..

"Hold up there, let me finish the lady's story."

I rolled my eyes at Peter but was glad that he was explaining everything in a way that gave all the details to Steve but kept him calm with Peter's calm tone. He went over everything, things I didn't even remember or that I wouldn't have thought important enough to tell Steve. He told him about getting a frantic call from Jasper, how Victoria had killed Esme and Rose. How they were on high alert for a while and how they met back up with me when I took Kitty to Forks all those years ago.

"We trained together every night she was there and we were very compatible, all 4 of us became a good team. All those theories were shot to hell though when Bella here went missing. We haven't heard of Victoria in a while. Alice couldn't see her but my switch went off and I know she destroyed all of her newborns. She kept one with her but, it's like she gave up. That doesn't mean she won't start up again now that you were seen on the news and everyone knows you are back. By the way, I saw a gossip show say you were turned into an alien before your body was returned and that you are going to take over earth."

He and Char started laughing but my shock was anything but humorous.

"Guys, is that really what people are saying?"

"Oh no! Don't worry sugar, the girl was laughed off before it turned to an actual host with real news."

I nodded but sighed in relief.

"Okay now that you are caught up in all this… you both know, you figured it out since the beginning of my story and I confirmed it when I explained how 2 mates react to each other. You 2 are mates."

I looked to Steve and he looked at me. There was more understanding and no more confusion in his eyes than before but now I was the one that was overthinking things.

"How, how does that work, how did this happen?"

"Well no one ever really knows how mates are chosen, Char and I were attracted to each other but when she was turned, she hated that I was in charge of her. We had a bond and cared for each other but the love did not spout right away like it does for others. Bella, I know you never found someone you were interested in enough to even try dating but I think the reason, or at least one of them is that Steve here doesn't age. I don't think you will ever have full trust in a vampire, not enough to be a mate to one. And other than vampires, Logan is the only other person you know that doesn't age. He is not a suitable mate because his blood is the one that runs through yours and you guys are like family. Steve came along and he suits you, he will be around as long as you will be so who else could be better for you? The history of Captain America's serum is an interesting on too. No one has ever figured out how to recreate it, maybe it's because it had some type of vampire venom in there, That could be why he is able to mate. Tell me, how did both of you feel about each other when you first met? Were you attracted to each other or do you feel like you became chained to each other overnight?"

Steve looked to me as he answered.

"I couldn't stop looking at the videos that came with your file, from the very beginning I thought you were stunning, you are beautiful but I just wanted to know everything about you. I spent the whole plane ride asking Phil about you… I already told you this morning that this, this mating, it doesn't feel wrong. It's sudden, and I honestly do think I am a little overwhelmed with how fast this is all happening. I still have so much that I need to be caught up on but, I do appreciate the fate that you are the one who brought me in and are the one that is going to help me through this."

I nodded absentmindedly. It made sense if I thought of it that way, it almost did feel like fate I guess.

"I was attracted to you as soon as I looked into your eyes."

I huffed out a laugh and he smirked softly at me.

"I thought maybe I could flirt with you here and there but I knew I needed to give you time and catch you up before I tried anything further than that. I'm not saying this is a bad thing Steve, it's just.. very unexpected. We just need to take it a day at a time I guess."

He nodded seriously and Char spoke softly to the both of us.

"I know you guys were not expecting this, no one ever is. You 2 don't have to have any expectations or set any dates or timelines for how much your relationship needs to progress. Just go one day at a time and never overthink things. Do what feels natural. What I mean by that is, if you feel the relationship is moving too fast, that is not always a bad thing, being mates means that there is no one else in the world more suited for you than your partner. I have never heard of mates that were not happy with each other, it's impossible. Don't force anything on your relationship, do whatever feels right to both of you, you will find that almost 95% of the time, your mate will feel the same about it."

Peter nodded in agreement and smiled sweetly down at his mate. It was sweet to see, I couldn't help but look forward to having that. I never felt lonely, how could I with such a big family? But I guess I did lack companionship… I looked away from the pair and looked up to my mate. I found Steve looking at them thoughtfully as well before he turned to me and smiled shyly. He silently reached for my hand and squeezed it for a moment before looking at me softly. I smiled and squeezed back. This man is my mate… how crazy is that?…. and he is hot!