New York, 2012. It changed everyone somehow.
It changed Steve Rogers. It changed Tony Stark. Most of all though, it changed Aurelia Stark.
When nothing in Aurelia's world is what she thought it was, how will faces from her past change her whirlwind...
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Nothing to lose And it's you and me And all of the people And I don't know why I can't keep my eyes off of you -You And Me, Lifehouse
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July 7th 2016 (post-Ultron) Avengers Compound, Upstate New York
My head rests on Steve's bare chest, my neck craned to study his face as I trace shapes with my finger on his torso. A few stray beams of light seep through the gaps in the long curtains that cover the floor-to-ceiling windows. Just enough light makes its way into the room so that I can see everything even in the dim light.
I can't sleep.
Most nights it's like this: we both fall asleep, I wake up a few hours later and just lie here until he wakes up. It's been like this since Ultron. No nightmares. I just can't sleep.
As I shift on the mattress, readjusting my position, the movement wakes him from his peaceful sleep and he murmurs slightly as his eyes flutter open. His hand rubs up and down my back as, in a croaky voice, he mumbles, "Good morning."
"Hiya." I smirk, running my hands up to his broad shoulders and planting a kiss on his lips, "How'd you sleep?"
"Better with you by my side.", he grins, yanking me on top of him and pressing his lips onto mine once again.
Letting out a giggle, I slide off the bed and pad across the softly carpeted floor, "Corny much?"
"For you? Always."
I roll my eyes and unfasten my robe, slipping it off my shoulders, "Oh, hey! Don't forget, my dad's coming back today, so... No funny business."
"Funny business?", he asks, bemused, propping himself up in the bed and cupping his hands behind his head.
"Dare I say shenanigans?", I smirk mischievously.
"And I thought I was the loser out of the two of us.", he scoffs.
"Hey!", I toss the robe I'm holding right at him, but he manages to catch it before it hits him in the face, "I'm not the one who dances around in a spangly suit."
"Wow.", he feigns a frown, "Now that is offensive.", he grabs my waist and pulls me back down, on top of him on the bed. He starts kissing me once again but I'm quick to pull away and raise my eyebrows at him.
"Come on, up 'n at 'em.", I say, once again jumping off the bed and hauling him up with me, "You need a shower."
"Only if you join me." he murmurs right in my ear.
Staring at him, I raise one eyebrow, "This is the funny business I was talking about."
He keeps pulling me toward the bathroom, "Well then, I don't know how I'll stop myself while your father is here."
"Whatever happened to little innocent Steve Rogers who didn't know how to work a dishwasher?" I ask, switching on the shower, "Now wash, you stink." I smile snidely and give him a quick peck on the cheek before leaving the room.
After gathering my stuff, I go and shower in one of the guest bathrooms, then come back to get changed. Just as I'm doing my hair, Steve walks out of the bathroom, with just a towel wrapped around his waist, running his hand through his damp hair.
He walks over to the vanity I'm sitting at and plants a kiss on my neck, "You look gorgeous, Ari." he comments, between planting kisses all over me.
"What is up with you today?" I ask, our eyes meeting in the reflection of the mirror.
A large grin overtakes his face and he paces back and forth for a few moments before sitting on the end of the bed, "I want to do it."
I laugh lightly, spinning my chair around to face him, "Yeah, you've made that much clear."
"No, no. Well... yes, but that's not really what I meant." excitedly, he gets up and walks over to me, placing his strong hands on my shoulders, "I'm finally ready. I want to have a family with you."
