For your love

Lunch

Evie's POV one week later

Keeping her outfit simple with dark blue jeans, one of Bucky's plain white t-shirts and her old pair of beat up chucks Evie grabbed her keys, sunglasses and purse on her way into the private elevator used solely for her penthouse to meet up with Henry for lunch. She and Henry have been talking again to repair their friendship over the last few weeks. It has been nice reconnecting with the man who had been one of the first friends she made when she moved here from Boston after college. Now that he's come to understand the connection and love she and Bucky share, he hasn't once pushed any romantic ideals on her. Which has been a huge relief for her.

Henry had always been an attentive and caring friend who she had missed dearly during her time with H.Y.D.R.A. Their misunderstanding in Norway had eaten away at her. Forcing Evie to realize that she'd missed the signs of his renewed interest in dating her, seeing instead a friend rather than the love interest he'd once been. It hadn't occurred to her that he might have lingering feelings for her after all this time because for her she'd already moved on. It had her taking pause to see that for him, he hadn't given up hope that they'd be reunited one day. To pick up where they left off. And for that she'd apologized. For not taking his feelings into account while she had been processing what she and her family had been through, was going through and would continue to go through in the future because of what had happened to her.

Moving forward they focused on their work. Talking about his projects now that he didn't have to worry about confidentiality since she co-owned the company he worked for. They also went out to eat, movie nights. Sometimes alone and sometimes with Bucky and her new friends. It was like the early days of their once solid easy going friendship. Evie would like to say that they've even gotten closer than before. While Henry couldn't really understand what it had been like for her being held captive for two years, he did understand her driving need to prove herself. He understood how her mind worked and encouraged her to take things one step at a time which meant keeping on top of her therapy sessions so she wouldn't back slide. Evie didn't know what she would do without Henry's support.

Pressing the button for the underground garage she leans back on the hand rail as she stares at her own reflection in the mirror-like surface of the shiny metal doors. It still weirded her out knowing that she lived in the penthouse apartment that was larger than Tony's and that it had its own elevator. Having been raised in a middle class family Evie has luckily always been comfortable. But this level of wealth was unsettling. It's one of the main reasons why she avoided looking at her bank statement. The number of zeros was a mocking reminder that more than ninety percent of that money wasn't earned but given to her.

Thankfully there was someone in her life who understood exactly how she felt about her father's money and set aside time to talk to Evie. Even going so far as to give her a list of charities she thought the youngest Stark would be interested in donating to. Pepper also got her into contact with a financial manager that was better able to handle the size of her new assets than the one Evie already had. She also explained to Evie that it would probably take her a long time before she ever got used to never having to worry about money again. That she was still getting used to just dating someone who had an unending bank account balance. Someone who didn't even think about the price tag of the gifts he bought her and his friends, only that he knew they needed it, wanted it or simply that he'd seen it and thought of them.

The older woman went on to explain that unlike her or Evie, Tony had grown up extremely privileged and while he reveled in that privilege, he was very aware and oftentimes felt guilty about it. It's why he gave so much money away to a mile long list of charities around the world on top of his Iron Man duties. That conversation had Evie rethinking how she saw the outrageous gifts her father bought her in a new light. Like the penthouse large enough to house a family of five. It wasn't about the fact that it was huge and a perfect way to show off her new wealth. It was the fact that the building was the best and most secure place to keep his only child safe.