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Chapter 4: Telling You

Night fell on the Stark Tower without much notice. All was quiet for once in the large tower. Everyone decided to head out for the night, give Toni some space to recover.

Steve was the only one who stayed. He sat in her room next to her bed as Toni laid sleeping deeply in her bed. Her tears were not dry tracks on her cheeks, but her pillow remained damp in a few places from crying still. Steve glowered. She had bottled all that up all this time? How had no one noticed?

He reached over and brushed some hair out of her face. At his touch, Toni moved a little, snuggling into her pillow with a whimper, the glow from her reactor completely snuffed out. He frowned, even while sleeping, she found no repose. She didn't look peaceful at all. Haven't since she fell asleep in his arms. He ran his fingers through her hair,

"Easy..." he whispered softly, as if she could hear him. Her facial features relaxed, her shoulders seemed to as well. There we go... he continued to stroke her hair. Despite it being tangled, he noted it was still soft.

Toni deserved alot of credit, he thought. She had been through alot for a normal person, much less a woman. And came out not only on top, but better and stronger too. Being held captive had to be a traumatizing experience, on top of having a device implanted in your body to prevent shrapnel barbs from entering your heart and killing you. Then some time later, that very device poisoning you anyway... Toni had time and time again escaped death because of her sheer determination and brilliance. Steve would take back what he said back on the Hellacarrier, how he had known people with none of Toni's traits but worth ten Toni Starks. No one could measure up... not anymore.

He was going to prove that to her. He traced down her face, caressing her injured features. Toni whimpered softly again and turned her face into his touch. Her eyes fluttered open slowly. She absorbed the darkness before she noticed the hand on her face, she looked up and saw Steve there.

"Hey." he said softly with a smile. Toni stretched a little and rubbed her eye,

"Hey..." she responded before looking around for her digital clock but oddly didn't find it.

"What time is it?" she asked as she rolled onto her back, the room filled with the dim blue glow of her reactor now no longer covered by the sheets,

"Late... try and get some more sleep... I'll be here." He said and touched her cheek with the back of his fingers. She looked up at him before reaching up and held his hand in hers,

"This has to be a dream..." she whispered. Steve raised a brow at her,

"Why do you say that?" Toni leaned more into Steve's hand, nuzzling it deeply. Steve had to blush,

"You wouldn't be here otherwise..." Her voice broke as she grew still. Steve was about to protest but she continued,

"No matter how many times I dream the same dream... I can't ever summon the nerve to tell you..." she said. Clearly she honestly thought this was a dream.

"Tell me what, Toni?" Her eyes met his, they were full of a life that Steve had not seen in them for a long time, so full of emotion, passion.

"That I love you... I must be mental really... but there it is." she said and let his hand fall from her face as she sat there, as if waiting for something. Steve was beside himself. Did she just?

Toni looked up and around confused,

"Huh... I usually wake up around now..." her eyes began to widen as the truth began to dawn on her. This... wasn't a dream?

"Oh God..." she said as she slapped a hand over her mouth and turned to Steve. He stared back at her, both with the expression of Deer-caught-in-headlights. Toni began to giggle awkwardly,

"Just kidding. Come on, Rogers, did you really think I was serious?" She said, fanning the air in front of her, her cheeks were deep red, but one couldn't tell with just the glow of her reactor as the only light source. Steve remained quiet, still staring at her,

"Okay? Say something. Come on, yell at me, scold me, call me names... just-" Her rambled was silenced when Steve crashed his lips to hers. His body crossing the brief gap between his chair and the bed as his hands came up to cradle her face, holding it in place.

Is he kissing me?! He's really kissing me! Toni's mind screamed as she felt Steve's mouth move over hers, claiming her mouth, dominating the kiss. Toni trembled in his hands when his tongue came out and licked at her lower lip, demanding entrance. Toni slowly opened her mouth to the Captain, only to gasp deeply when he plundered her mouth, stealing her breath away.

Before Toni could return any passion of her own, Steve pulled away, but kept his lips within inches of her own.

"I love you too... have for a long time..." he whispered against her lips before pecking them once.

"What?" Toni was confused... how could he feel the same.

"Man, for a genius, you sure are stupid..." he teased her before claiming her mouth once more. Toni finally understood. All the fighting they did, the annoyance they caused each other. It was all because they were falling in love with each other... ha... that was so laughable. Toni began to kiss him back, her own arms coming up and around his neck before they pulled away. Both were smiling,

"I love you Steve Rogers." She purred, staring into those beautiful blue eyes. Steve pulled her tighter to his body, smiling back,

"I love you Artemis Stark." Their lips came together in one more kiss.

Fade to black and...DONE! OMG! Tell me what you all think!