Stone Heart

The First Day

"Wake up before I toss that alarm of yours out the window." A voice growled startling Evangeline from her sound sleep. "What?" She asked sounding confused as she tried to rub the sleep out of her eyes. "Your alarm has been sounding off for fifteen minutes," Sean grumbled running his hands through his sleep tousled hair. Her eyes widened as she threw her covers off. "Why didn't you wake me up sooner, I'm going to late." She yelled as she rushed by him almost sending him to the floor in her hurry to get to the bathroom to get ready grabbing some clothes as she moved. "Because princess I thought you heard it," Sean called back his voice sounding muffled from behind the door and the sound of the shower.

"If I heard it then I would have turned it off." She hollered back rolling her eyes as she shut off the water being careful not to slip on the tile as she dried off. "I don't know." Sean scoffed no doubt scratching the back of his neck. "Of course." She whispered pulling her tank top over her head slinging the door open. "Sorry." He apologized frowning as he watched her hurry to put her hair up. "It's alright I've still got time to get there without being late." She reassured him as she sat down to shove her shoes onto her feet. "Still," Sean said walking over to her with her coat in his hands. "I love you," Evangeline told him with a laugh as she shrugged the fabric on. "It's okay, I'll be home around eight tonight." She told him giving him a quick peck on the cheek with a smile.

"Alright, be careful." He called as she rushed out the door leaving him in the apartment alone. "I am so not trusting her with that alarm anymore." He whispered closing the door behind her.

Evangeline sighed in relief when she made it to the common area of the tower smiling down at her phone. "Made it with a minute to spare." She muttered, proud of her accomplishment as the elevator opened allowing her to step out into a scene of chaos. "No Tony I will not move my foot." A man growled out from the living room causing Evangeline's brows to furrow in confusion and move toward the noise. "Well too bad birdbrain this is my tower." Tony hissed back missing the brown-haired girl as she stepped into the room. "Says who." Sam teased raising a brow at Tony's tone crossing his arms and putting them behind his head. "Steve I swear on your shield is you don't get your love bird I will throw him off the roof," Tony yelled toward the kitchen before his eyes landed on the very confused Evangeline.

"Oh hello." He greeted meekly before going back to glaring at the falcon on the couch. "Morning Mr. Stark." She greeted back with a chuckle causing the man on the couch to turn and look at her. "Well hello there," Sam spoke with a smirk. "Who are you?" He asked standing up from the now moderately clean couch. "Evangeline Harris." Tony introduced as he stole the bird's spot. "I asked her, but nice to meet you all the same," Sam said holding out his hand for her to shake. "Nice to meet you." She echoed shaking his hand with a grin. "Steve come meet the new girl," Tony yelled throwing his head back calling to the man in the kitchen. "Hold on." He yelled back before he came trudging through the mess a smile on his face.

"Nice to meet you, ma'am." He greeted shaking her hand shocking her by just how warm his hand was. "You to Cap." She mumbled watching as he retreated back into the kitchen throwing a kind smile over his shoulder as he went. "I didn't think you were starting this early Eva," Tony observed as he watched her staring after the super-soldier Popsicle. "I figured it would do me some good to get started early." She told him as she moved to stand in front of the couch grabbing the dishes from the coffee table starting with the hardest job. Sam frowned at her movements before his mouth fell open. "You're the new housekeeper then." He exclaimed as followed her around the living room helping her carry the dishes to the kitchen.

"That would be correct." She laughed setting the dishes down on the counter moving over to the sink to start some hot water. "I Knew Tony would hire someone eventually." He whispered under his breath as he walked away leaving her in the kitchen with Steve. "Do you need any help?" He asked breaking the silence that hung in the air. "No, I'm okay." She reassured him shooting him a smile over her shoulder. "But thank you for asking." "I don't mind." He insisted moving to stand beside her moving some of the easier dishes beside the sink and placing what he could fit into the dishwasher. "Thank you." She mumbled smiling as she watched him move around the kitchen.

"No problem, if you ever need anything." He said trailing off at the end causing a chuckle to rise in her throat. "You sound like my brother." She teased replacing the dished in the drainer with more handing the dry ones to Steve for him to put them away. "Is that a good thing?" Steve asked an uneasy smile gracing his features. Evangeline nodded with a laugh in an attempt to ease his uncertainty. "In my opinion yes, it is a very good thing." She reassured smiling as she watched his smile ease. "Then I'm thankful." He replied after a moment.

"What are you two talking about in here?" Tony asked suddenly from the doorway startling the pair from their conversation. "My brother," Evangeline answered after her heart stopped trying to escape her chest. "I was telling Steve that he reminded me of him." She explained handing Steve the last of the dishes smiling at the empty yet grimy countertops. "Oh god." Tony groaned his face scrunching up in disgust causing Steve's head to snap up to glare at him. "He reminds me of you too." She commented absentmindedly while she scrubs the counters. "Oh god," Steve mumbled causing Tony to scoff and return the super soldiers glare. "Come on boys you're both great quick glowering at each other." She tried moving to stand in between the two men.

"Fine, I wouldn't want to hurt the Capsicle's feelings," Tony muttered moving away from the doorway offering the girl a smile. "See you late Angie." He called over his shoulder as he walked away causing the girl to stop in her tracks her heart falling into stomach tears welling up in her eyes. "Evangeline," Steve called softly noticing the change in the sweet young woman in front of him. "Yeah?" She asked her tone soft and sad as she turned avoiding his eyes going back to cleaning the counter-tops. "Are you okay?" He asked moving to stand behind her. "I'm fine." She muttered shaking her head at his questioning. "Just what Tony called me." She relented finally throwing the dirty sponge into the garbage. "What about it?" He asked crossing his huge arms in front of him. "That's what my dad used to call me." She explained a tear falling down her cheek.

Steve frowned before he moved closer to the crying girl pulling her into a warm and comforting hug. "You don't have to say anything more." He spoke softly into her hair as she buried her face in his chest. "Thank you." She sniffled pulling away from him wiping her face clean of any tears. "No problem." He said shooting the girl a warm smile. "Any time you need to talk I'm here." He told her, moving to exit the kitchen. "I'll leave you to your work." He said simply before vanishing through the doorway and out of her sight.