The Angel and The Billionaire

Twenty Nine

Tony

- So, you have your memories back? - I break the silence after instructing FRIDAY to not tell anyone Grace's here unless it's a life or death emergency.

We're sitting on the edge of my bed, smaller than the one at home, but still huge. The room is a mess, there are suit projects stamped on the walls, several pieces of clothing lying across the floor, and books stashed on top of each other, ignoring the shelves completely.

- I do. - Grace nods, a dark look in her eyes. - It's been one hell of a ride.

Despite what happened in the kitchen less than 5 minutes ago there's still a lingering discomfort between us. I'm trying not to get over the moon by the fact she kissed me and told me she loves me, we still have so much to figure out, but it's hard to not be excited. I know she'd never say that unless she meant it. The weight of the world has been lifted from my shoulders.

Grace continues in silence, her eyes switching between me and the chunk of bed separating us. The distance is small technically speaking, but it feels like there's a Grand Canyon in that one meter. I hate this awkwardness.

- And?

- What?

- How was your life? - I insist, raising an eyebrow. - What the hell happened to you? How are you here? If you want to talk about it, obviously. No pressure.

I almost see her brain working to figure out if she should hold onto her pride and not let me in or just surrender. Grace was always wickedly easy to read.

- You already know that, but before I was kidnapped I was working for your father. - There's a hint of hurt in her voice. I nod for her to continue. - After the boys died I basically lived at work.

- You were all friends? - I ask and she studies me for a second, wondering if that's an honest question.

Her file didn't say anything about Rogers or Barnes aside from the fact they lived in the same city at around the same time.

- Peggy and Steve were dating. It was exhausting to keep up with those two, but most relationships at the time were messy. It was the middle of a world war. - Ah, yes. Those friends that make their relationship a problem to everyone. Pepper and I were that couple. - I met Peggy in 1940 when I was assigned to Bletchley Park and Steve about 3 years later. We became friends. At first, it was solely because of Peggy, but he grew into me.

- And Barnes? - The question slips out and I bite my tongue, remembering his words from earlier.

Grace's my girlfriend, has been since 1943. She's the love of my life.

I really don't want to hear about that.

- We had been together for over a year when he went on that last mission. - Grace replies and I look away. I have no right to be jealous, but I am. - James died and then Steve died, or that's what everyone thought. About a year later, I was leaving work and heard these people talking about the new lab technician. Turns out she was a Nazi spy.

- Wrong place, wrong time.

- Pretty much. - A tear rolls down her cheek. - I tried to run but they saw me and...well, they couldn't let that information get to Howard.

This is insane. She was just at the wrong place. That's it. If she left work 10 minutes later that day, none of this would've happened.

- They knocked me out and took me to a facility. One of the agents decided to make me useful since they couldn't let me go. - Grace's voice breaks a bit and I brace myself. - For the next two years they used me for experiments. I was a test subject, a lab rat. Weapons, medications, "treatments'", I was the first one. There's no explanation as to how what they did didn't kill me.