ᴋᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴋ'ꜱ | Avengers POV | ON HOLD

SEVENTEEN: Girl's Day Out

"Ariana, Morgan we're leaving in 10 minutes!"

"Okay Mom we're coming!" You grab Morgan from your bed placing her on your shoulders, you begin making your way out your room unaware of Steve walking down the hall. He notices you both and can't help but watch in awe, slowly approaching you both to get to his room. "Now princess are we ready for the best adventure ever!" You reach up tickling her tummy. She starts giggling "You bet ya!" You can't help but laugh back at her response. "Since when did you get so witty young lady huh?" Shrugging your shoulder up and down to bounce her. "Hmmmm." She pulls a face trying to act like she's thinking. "I get that from you and mommy." Patting your head. "Is that so?" You swoop her down from your shoulders giving her a big bear hug causing her to break out in hysterics. As your walking you bump into someone. "Oh sorry-" you look up eyes widening. It's Steve.

"Oh...um...don't worry about it." He looks slightly uneasy looking to his feet. "How've your been?" You don't even think before asking him. Why the hell did I ask how he's been. I don't even care. Right? Or do I? Oh man I've missed him so much. But he's hurt me. Ariana Stark pull your shit together. "Oh you know. Been doing okay." He rips you back out your thoughts. "Oh...good...good." You reply but more like a whisper.

"Ari I know." Your eyes widen again. Surely he doesn't mean... "I know what you've been doing to yourself. Look please I really care-"

"No please don't Steve, don't act like you care...Anyways you're wrong you don't know what you're talking about. Just leave me alone." You can feel the anger beginning to build up inside of you. You turn away from him quickly bending down to Morgan. "Come on sweetie we're gonna be late and we both know how mommy gets when we're late."

"Oh no we don't want poopy mommy." She giggles. "No we don't missy. I'll race you to the elevator." Morgan runs off giggling down the hall. You stand back up turning your head slightly to see Steve once more. He just gives a sad smile "Have fun." He whispers before quickly making his way into his room. You turn back and quickly run after Morgan allowing her to celebrate her victory.

You get down to the main room to be greeted by Pepper, Nat and Wanda. "So ladies what's today's big adventure? Me and Morgan are desperate to know" giving a cheeky wink to them all. "Okay sooooo I thought we could go ice skating!" Pepper announces. Morgan's face lights up and she begins jumping up and down. "Oh Morgan we can be like Ana and Elsa from frozen." You say picking her up once more placing her on your shoulders. "Yaaaaaaay!" You all make your way to the car. Pepper and Nat sit up front which leaves you, Wanda and Morgan in the back.

You all have a great time ice skating. You, Nat and Wanda really get into your element whilst Pepper and Morgan stick together. After your skating you all head to your favourite cheeseburger place. The anxiety starts to set in a bit, worrying whether you'll be sick again. You'd managed a couple of days where you ate and actually managed to keep it down. You hoped today would be another one of those days. After everyone's eaten you're just in light chatter with one another. Everything was going good.

"Ari was talking to Stevie earlier." Morgan chirps up before drinking some more of her slushy. "Was she now?" All the girls ask. "No I was not Morgan don't tell tales." *sigh* "I bumped into him we exchanged minimum words that's it."

"So you're not friends again." Wanda ask. "Absolutely not." You start to feel a knot forming in your stomach making you feel uneasy. "I don't want anything to do with him, Loki, Bucky or my dad okay? I'm not interested."

"If you say so. Bucky is really sorry you know?" Nat's the only one to respond to your mini outburst. "She's right and your father is really missing you too." Pepper adds. Your stomach is now churning with anxiety. You're not sure you can keep your dinner in much longer. The urge to make yourself sick growing stronger. "If you ladies will excuse me I need to use the restroom." You quickly stand before making your way to one of the stalls checking nobody else is in before making yourself sick. Whilst you're gone the girls begin discussing how worried they are about you.

"Guys I'm really worried about her. She's really not herself." Nat begins. "I agree Nat, I've tried reading her mind but she just keeps blocking me out. What do you think we should do Pepper?"

"I really don't know ladies. I've managed to get her to make amends with Peter but I really don't know what to do about her dad."

"Mommy??" Morgan tugs on the side of Peppers sweater. "Yes sweetpea?"

"I have a secret." She giggles slurping her slush again "Ari keeps being sick" All three of them frown shocked to what Morgan's just said. "What do you mean?" Pepper stroking Morgan's hair out her face. "Every time Ari goes to the toilet she keeps sticking her fingers in her mouth then she be's sick. But it's a secret so shhh" Before they can quiz Morgan further, you return to the table. "Hey guys so I was thinking we should head back to the compound soon." They all just look at you in disbelief. "What? Is there something on my face?" You reach up checking with your hands. "Oh does anyone have any gum?" You add. Pepper clears her throat. "Good idea let's get back." You all make your way back to the car and head to the compound. When you get back you head straight to your room avoiding all the others who are hanging out in the main room.

*Pepper and Tony*

Once you're all in Pepper grabs Tony taking him aside and goes to his office with herself and Morgan. "What's this all about Pep's?"

"Morgan sweetie, tell your dad what you told me and the girls at lunch about Ari."

"But it's a secret." She starts twirling her hair in one hand moving one of her legs around. "Princess I know but Ariana told me that you could tell us again." Tony bends down tugging a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Ariana keeps sticking her fingers in her mouth and be's sick. She told me not to tell anyone it's a secret. But it makes me sad when she's sick. She's always crying and being sad." For a six year old Morgan was very bright. You hadn't realised she knew when you'd been crying when she as around. Pepper can see the heartbreak in Tony's eyes once more. Tears behind filling his eyes but he tries to hold them back.

"Mhm... well thank you for telling me princess. That was very good of you and I promise I won't let anyone else know okay?" Tony plants a kiss on her forehead before she jumps up and runs to join the others again.

"Pepper I had no idea-"

"What do we do Tony? What do we do?"

Over the next few weeks they watch you closely not too sure how to approach the situation with yourself without sending you over the edge. For now they keep their distance monitoring how often you do sneak away. Much to their delight you've started to pull yourself around. You're more stable you haven't made yourself sick in over a week. They feel now would be the perfect time to confront you over this.