Deception || Steve Rogers Daughter

Chapter Nineteen

"And so in the end...I guess you could say that Peter and I are technically seeing one another." Emma finishes, thirty minutes later, while falling back in her chair. "Wow, I feel so much better. Don't you, Nick?"

"I'm just...confused," Coulson admits while tipping his finger towards Emma. "So you met at a cafe?"

"And then left with a complete stranger?" Jemma adds.

"When did you people get here?" Fury demands while turning around in his chair. There, standing behind the group, was Coulson's team, some of the Avengers, and other SHIELD agents that had been milling around. "And why the hell didn't you say anything?"

"Eighty percent of this base already knew I was seeing someone." Emma rolls her eyes. "They just wanted to know who it was."  

"Tony?" Steve questions as he too turns around to look at his friend. "Did you know?"

"I mean...I knew the kid was seeing someone, he was all happy and crap, but I did not know it was Capsicle's daughter." Tony purses his lips. "But I am not disappointed for my adopted son."

"Peter didn't mention that you ado-"

"He didn't." The room collectively interrupts, causing Emma to shut her mouth in confusion.

"Alright!" Peter Parker himself wheezes while falling into the room. "I ran from the school, holy crap, I'm out of breath." 

"Why?" Fitz mumbles while bringing his fist close to his mouth. "Did they get into a fight?"

"I just wanted to make sure no one jumped you or something," Peter admits, his cheeks growing red. "But it looks like I'm a little late." 

"You're fine," Emma assures him with a small smile. "How was school?"

"Boring. I have another Spanish quiz-"

"Hello?!" Tony interrupts while throwing his hands in the air. "Is no one going to question this? You should be in school, young man!"

"M-Mr. Stark!" Peter squeaks. "I didn't know you would...look I was trying to protect...I'm sorry." 

As the argument continues, with a few Avengers jumping in on Peter's behalf, Emma's cell rings. The thing hadn't rung in ages, no one called besides Peter. Who was right here, in front of her. Slowly, Emma lifts the device to her ear and answers, turning away from the group.

The motion doesn't go unnoticed by Nick Fury or Steve Rogers, who both share a look before turning back to Emma. All at once, the noise from everyone else falls away as they tune them out to try and hear the conversation.

"Hello?" Emma questions, her confusion evident.

"They were right, you have grown." A woman chuckles. "Such a beautiful woman, I presume, as you've taken after me."

"Who is this?" Emma demands, her voice hardening.

"What? Has no one told you about your dear old mom?" The woman inquires, slowly Emma turns to look at Fury with a slight glare. "Not him dear, your father."

"Are you watching me right now?" Emma questions as her eyes dance across the room in search of a camera. 

"I'm always watching my daughter, seeing the power she's grown to have." She laughs again. "It would make me proud to call you my daughter, that is, if you were on the right side."

"Which I am." Emma scoffs.

"You believe you are because of your father." She states, her tone serious once again. "That patriotic shit runs through your veins but you can change that. April has told me so much about you, you'd prosper here." 

"Hydra," Emma whispers, the word barely leaving her lips. 

"The reason I'm still alive." She replies. "The reason you are. The reason our family name can carry on stronger than ever before, without your father to stand in the way. So what do you say? Mother-daughter reunion? Take over the world together?"

"I don't even know who you are!" Emma hisses while turning away from everyone again. "To hell that I'd-"

"My name is Jean Baker." She interrupts with a tone edging near annoyance. "Your last name is Baker. It was a mistake to leave you in the care of that shithead all those years ago, hoping he'd steer you in the right direction. What can you expect from someone like him, though?"

"Stop talking, I don't want to talk to you and I sure as hell am not joining your 'mother-daughter duo' crap." Emma shakes her head. "So leave me alone. For all I know you're some deadbeat asshole trying to pull a stupid prank." 

"Oh, Emma, how wrong you are." Jean tsks. "Don't worry, dear, I'll be there to pick you up soon. I think you and your father have had too long together, it's mother's turn." 

With that, the line goes dead. Emma leaves it by her ear for a few seconds, a range of emotions flowing through her veins before settling on something; white, hot anger. It flowed through her body to a point where her phone cracked from her squeezing it so hard. At the sudden noise, everyone turns towards her.

"Emma? Are you okay?" Peter questions while taking a small step towards her. Emma whirls around, a fire was crawling across her skin and growing as she squeezed her eyes shut to try and control it. Eventually, though, she opens her eyes to reveal a burning flame inside of them too. "So cool." 

"Parker," Tony warns. 

"Why didn't you tell me my mom never died?" Emma demands through clenched teeth. "I...did you know?!"

"What do you mean?" Steve questions while taking a step forward. "Jean died giving birth to you, Emma, the doctors called it." 

"Then how come she just called me?!" Emma screams in frustration as hot tears begin to roll down her cheeks. This was all just too much.

"Steve, be careful." Natasha orders, Steve holds up his hand to silence her as he walks closer. Emma doesn't run or burn him to a crisp, so he continues to get closer before pulling her into a hug. 

A jolt of pain goes through his body before her flame is extinguished, leaving her just a crying mess in his arms. Steve tries to whisper encouraging things, but the words just can't seem to find their way out of his mouth, if Jean was alive...then why did she fake her death all those years ago? 

What had happened in that hospital room when they kicked him out?