love you 3000

ch. 16

Ch. 17

A black sedan stopped in front of the Stark household.

"Lana" Morgan yelled running happily with a stuffed lion in her hands, Liana stepped out and scooped her in her arms and kissed her cheeks.

Morgan showed her the lion "RaWrrR" smiling Liana tapped her nose and asked "Lion King"

Morgan nodded.

She shook her head on her childishness "It's Nala"

Bucky walked to them and Morgan pouted when he ruffled her hair, wiggling out of liana's grip she ran inside.

Bucky cradled her face in his palms and dipped his face capturing her lips "happy birthday" he murmured and  he leaned in again trying to capture her lips but Liana took a step back making him groan.

"You cut your hair" she observed running her lean fingers in his black hair.

Bucky's cheeks turned to a shade of soft shade of red " I thought you liked it shorter" he answered.

Sighing she leaned her forehead on his "I liked it either way but it looks good" Bucky smiled.

"I should go inside"

he nodded taking her hand and kissing it before knotting their fingers together.

Pepper was mixing the batter while looking at recipe, a bit confused. It was their birthday tradition, Tony would make a chocolate cake at Liana's birthday every year which was then continued when Morgan joined the family. she has promised herself that she won't let them feel his absence, especially not on their special day.

She hugged liana, when she walked in the kitchen with Bucky at her side, he was helping pepper prepare for the party but  for major part of it he played with Morgan, which was also a great relief for pepper because she could focus on the work, being a single mom is still new to her.

"You are making chocolate cake" Liana asked "I'm trying to" she replied shyly and was a bit surprised when she pulled her in a hug "thank you so much, you have no idea how much that means to me" her voice breaking a little at the end.

*****

Liana walked to the lake side, a few people were strolling around, she remembered how much she hated the fact that they were opening this place for everyone.

But now when she sees the amount of flowers at the tomb, she feels glad that's she didn't say anything.

He was there Tony, yes but he was everybody's Iron Man. He sacrificed his life so this world-heck universe could be a better place, she swiped her tears with her fingers and sat on her knees in front of the grave.

"It's my birthday" she said and sighed "and I miss you, I always do but toda-" clutching her hands at her chest she continued "today it's just, it's hurting too much and I don't know how to stop it" she cried for a few minutes letting her tears fall freely.

"I am trying to revive Stark industry to it's former glory but I'm going to stay here until Christmas, you remember when we would search items from Morgan's never ending cristmas list whole of December" she chuckled "this time there's only one thing, you" smiling sadly she continued "Aunt pep is making a chocolate cake, she also warned me not to be late for my birthday party"

She leaned and kissed the tomb stone tracing his name which was engraved in the Stone with her finger "I'll miss you forever, Dad"

the message he left for her in her arc reactor pendant, flashed before her eyes in it he told her to not feel alone for he'll always be at their side and how very much he loved his two daughters.

He also told her that he regretted parting her with Bucky and he'll do everything in his power to bring him back to her and he did it he kept his word but the cost was too high.

*****

"Bruce" Liana walked to him, she's still not used to seeing him walk around as hulk but she must admit that being hulk suits him, he's no longer always nervous or fidgeting and is always so well dressed.

He gave her a light hug before waving at Morgan and chuckled when she called him uncle hulk.

Liana's eyes widened when Pepper jingled car keys in front of her, taking it in her hands she said "you didn't have to" it was another birthday tradition of Tony's starting from her fifteenth birthday, he would gift her the latest sexiest automobile every year.

"I wanted to, drive it carefully"

Liana grinned nodding.

"Hey" she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to see Peter dressed in black shirt and jeans, MJ was also with him in a simple blue dress "it's so nice that you came" she said to both of them.

"Happy birthday" Peter said and MJ added " those tacos look tasty"

"Yup bruce made them, why don't you  try them" Peter gave liana a apologetic smile before following her she returned it with a encouraging one.

"I'm thinking that you like all the weird ones" Bucky whispered in her ear, wrapping his arms around her waist.

She smiled mischievously before pecking his nose

"let's get out of here" he murmured.

She nodded "argh please that's enough of socializing for a year and I need Macky's hotdogs"
Bucky chuckled.