Little Star // a Steve Rogers, Captain America, Avengers story

I Need A Guinea Pig

As they drove home, Kate said, "Ellie, I'm very worried about you. I don't understand how you're not in a hysterical puddle on your bed."

"I don't have that luxury right now. It's partly my gifts and partly what I've learned from the team. Part of being an Avenger is putting others' needs above your own. The message Steve sent me after Nat died was a perfect example. Brief, to the point. I'm sure he hit something, cried, took a deep breath, and went back to the job at hand. He would have waited until he was home with me to be vulnerable. Pepper maintained until she got home and had to tell Morgan. It's a mindset, a duty. Does that make sense?"

"It makes sense, but I couldn't do it."

"You'd be amazed at what a human mind can handle when necessary. I'll tell you what, though, there's plenty of room in my bed for me, you, and JB. Although he kicks even more than I do. Will you stay with me?"

"What do you think?"

Ellie did cry that night. Enough to ease the bubble of hysteria that she felt growing in her. Enough to get through the explanations she was going to have to make tomorrow.

Kate took Anna and Luke to the farmers market and the park, so they were out of the house when Ellie's family arrived just before nine o'clock. Her parents were silent as they exited the black Suburban. Ellie smiled at the driver. "Thank you, George, we'll let you know when they're ready to go home."

"Well guys, this is my house, Aprillia. It was a wedding gift from Tony Stark. Their eyes grew. "We only have three acres around the house. The rest of the estate belongs to Stark Industries and it won't matter that you're my family, if security finds you on their property your day will become a nightmare. There are discrete glowing green markers all around the perimeter. Respect them... Charlie.

"I think we should go sit down inside and I'll start talking."

Still silent as they walked in the kitchen door, through the formal dining room and living room, and into the conservatory, Ellie's family found seats as she lowered her bulk into her favorite chair.

"I think I should get this out of the way first, since Charlie's already figured it out." Her parents looked curious. Curious and nervous. "I'm an Avenger." Their eyes grew wide. "Let me explain how that happened.

"You know my husband. Well, you know who my husband is. Last year I married Steve Rogers, Captain America, right out on that lawn. He disappeared yesterday. I don't want to talk about that. That can happen another day. Today is about what happened to me while you were gone. As brief a version as I can. Got it?"

They nodded. Charlie looked bored already. This was going to be so hard for him, coming back, being five years younger than all his friends, not knowing movies or music. She'd have to work with him. Maybe Anna could be a friend.

"After the Snap, that's what we called it when you all left, I became a counselor at the high school. I saw how painful it was for Charlie's friends who stayed, and I wanted to help. I did. I thought it was my education and a natural ability to read people. And it was, but it was also much more.

"Steve came to do an appearance at school, and we had a nice conversation. I certainly never thought I'd see him again. He showed up a week later. We had a very old-fashioned courtship. He wouldn't even come in my house for a few months. He didn't want to tarnish my reputation. Of course the irony was completely wasted on him at the time."

Her mother shook her head, displeased with her making light of a painful situation.

"He noticed something about me right away, but didn't bring it up until he was certain. I don't want to frighten anyone, but I need a guinea pig. I swear on my child that it won't hurt, that it will be a positive thing. Charlie?"

"It's not x-ray vision, is it, because I'm going commando."

"No, you little pervert. I'm going to hold your hand. Come here."

He sat on the arm of her chair, looking a little frightened of her baby bump, and she took his hand.

"Have you reached out to any of your friends yet?"

"No. I guess they're all out of college. Probably not even in town."

"A couple of them are still here. It's going to be just as uncomfortable for them as for you, remember that. They've really missed you. You're probably going to have to repeat your senior year."

"I guess I'll meet some new kids. That could be cool. Am I going to be able to meet any Avengers?"

"Probably. A lot of the team come here for weekends. Bucky Barnes will be here soon. He wants to stay until the baby's born."

"Wait," Charlie looked confused. "The Winter Soldier? That Bucky Barnes? I know they said he wasn't a bad guy, but then he disappeared who knows where..." Ellie could feel his anger, and a desire to protect her, rising.

"He's been healed, Charlie. The Winter Soldier is long dead. Bucky left in the Snap, too. I don't even know if they got to see each other..." The prickles in her eyes told her it was time to steer the conversation in another direction.

"You're going to be an uncle. I hope that's exciting for you. We'd like you to be his godfather, along with Bucky. I hope you'll agree, but you have a few months to think about it. I know it's hard coming back when you didn't even know you had left. It was hard for those of us who stayed. I missed you so damn much.

"I also know that this is really confusing, even scary. You're anxious about seeing those friends that are still in town, and fitting back in. There are going to be a lot of people in the same position. Hopefully it'll get easier quickly." She was gently rubbing the back of his hand. "And will you come talk to me if it gets bad? It's what I do, helping young people who are having a tough time figuring out this crazy world."

Her parents were staring at their children, at the emotions passing across Charlies face and the concentration on Ellie's. They hadn't seen their son allow his sister to hold his hand since he was five.

As she rested his hand on his knee, Charlie blinked once, then again, before whispering, "I bet Tony Stark was happy to meet you."