Chapter Nineteen:

The Waiting Game

~*~ Finale ~*~

Bruce

Bruce stepped into the dark hospital room, his steps as silent as he could make them. The room felt void of life with its cool temperature and gloomy atmosphere. Toni had been unconscious now for nearly seven hours after her emergency surgery following the events that just took place with Hammer. Her chest was stitched back up and healing, but her skin was clammy and cold to the touch. She felt dead and that sent a shiver through Bruce who could never imagine his lively sister so…so uncharacteristically still. It made him edgy.

"Toni", he whispered flopping into the chair nearest her bed, "please…wake up soon. I…" he swallowed, "I know you told me not to blame myself, but… I should have stopped him. I should never have trusted him as much as I did and… I just… I'm sorry Toni."

Bruce reached out, gently touching her arm before sliding his hand to her wrist. A dull throb met his fingertips and he smiled. A pulse… she still had a pulse and so long as she continued to have one, he would trust in her strength and will as a fighter.

Natasha

Nat walked into the hospital room. It was now going on the eleventh hour since Toni coded and everyone could barely close their eyes without thinking of Toni's small and frail form. According to Bruce, Toni was now twelve years old due to her last de-ageing.

The sight of their arrogant, brilliant Toni Stark now lying so pale and still in a hospital bed with the body of a child… it was not a reassuring scene for the team who could still picture the smiling face of their Toni.

God they missed her.

"Toni, zvyozdochka…little star," she whispered in Russian, "We need you…please…please Toni, come back to us."

As hard as Natasha was praying, Toni didn't move. Not a muscle flinched at the assassin's voice and the red head sighed in disappointment before she began to sing. The song was a classic nursey rhyme from her days as a child at the orphanage. It wasn't often she heard it, but one woman there in particular had sang it when a new child was born and it had stayed with her up to this day.

"Zvyozdochka, zvyozdochka, you who sleep so fair. I pray you wake and come back to those who care for you. You who are a treasure, a gift so rare. I see that twinkle in your eye, a star like a diamond pair. A world without you is merely a song; a song with no melody to be played along. Little star, little star, I miss you my friend. You were always my hope should the world come to a close. Now that I rest, awake near the end; I pray that as I sleep and a new day will begin."

Thor

Thor stepped into the hospital room, the second day of Toni's coma, silently making his way close to the bed where his friend laid still and unmoving. In Asgard, death was an understood factor concerning earthlings, yet now that he was on earth among them, he had never realized how permanent it was and how agonizing waiting for what might possibly be, to come to pass.

Thor had never had friends like these before and while at times he missed the glory that was Asgard, he would never trade a second of his precious time among these courageous warriors of Earth. To him, they had become as precious as the rarest Asgardian gem stone and he treasured them. Each of them. In their own way.

"Fight woman of Iron", Thor stated staring at the pale little girl before him, "We await your return, grand warrior of Midgard. Your time to meet the keepers of Valhalla has not yet come, so fight Toni Stark. The team needs you."

Clint

Clint sat perched in the vent, having watched each of his teammates come and go every hour on the hour for the past three days. Like himself, they apparently couldn't sleep for fear of their teammate's possible passing. While he may have acted like Toni was destined to die, Clint refused to truly believe his best friend would ever stop fighting so easily.

Noticing no one else was in the room at the moment, Clint dropped from the vent, onto the tiled floor below. The dim light of the monitor was all that brightened the gloomy little hospital room, but it was Toni's angelic like features that caught his breath.

"Toni", he whispered stepping closer to her side, his hands gently touching her own cold ones. "Toni", he whispered again, "I'm sorry. After all you did to protect us at that base…we did so very little for you. I…I'm sorry I inadvertently hurt you before all this started. I'm sorry I got into your business with Steve. I truly only wanted to help you the best I could and…"

Clint stopped, gritting his teeth as he took in her serene face. She looked so…peaceful. A child of only twelve and he couldn't help but think she looked like a corpse ready and awaiting burial. The thought sent a deep acidy taste down his throat. He couldn't stomach the thought and turned away, his eyes capturing her reflection in the nearby window.

"Toni", he prayed desperately, "Wake up."

Steve

Steve walked into the empty hospital room. It had now reached the five day mark since Toni had lapsed into her coma, though to Steve and the others, time mattered very little as even an hour seemed like far too long.

The beauty of her pale flawless skin, chocolate brown hair, and perfectly sculptured cheek bones had him moving closer, wishing to touch the beautiful art that was the body of Toni Stark.

All this time, since the day Steve met Toni, he had always noticed the beauty she portrayed for the world and while it was very tempting; he had never felt as amazed with her looks as he had with the loveliness that was her heart and the brilliance that was her mind.

Peggy too had always had a glowing disposition, but Toni…her outgoing, spunky, stubborn, obnoxious, obsessive, and all around maddening personality…it had already attracted his attention more than her outer beauty had ever done.

She was outgoing yes, but she was always observant and silent when needed, usually for the sake of those around her.

She was spunky and stubborn but it was those qualities that allowed her to survive the world's challenges.

Her obnoxious, obsessive personality was often times unbelievably irritating, but it was these qualities that made her the science genius that the world knew her to be.

Her personality was quite maddening, but beyond the madness, Toni had a surreal nature about her… a nature of a dreamer. Where everyone else would have given up long ago, Toni fought with every ounce of her being to make the world and herself into something greater and better than ever before and Steve loved that about her.

There was so much Steve loved about Toni that he couldn't find the words to express it to her. The fact he had hurt such a unique and glorious individual like Toni was enough to make him feel nauseated.

"I'm so sorry Toni", he whispered, his hand gently stroking her silky brown locks, "I love you Toni… so, so much. Please, darling, open your eyes for me. Toni… come back to me."

Toni

Toni could hear voices calling out to her, but in her mind, another just as silently was whispering.

"Toni", the voice called to her, "Toni come join us. You know you have always dreamt of being accepted by us…this is your chance Antoinette. Come, take my hand."

Toni looked at the hand being offered to her by a woman of captivating beauty. Beside her, an equally attractive man stood by her side. His intense eyes stared down at her with nothing sort of disgust. The look caused the small girl to flinch, frightened to grab the hand held to her.

"Toni", the man stated firmly.

Toni looked up, trembling.

The man noticed and his facial expression smoothed out as he knelt in front of her.

"Your time to join us has not yet come", he replied, pushing down the woman's hand. Toni noted the woman's face took on a rather sad expression. Toni started to step forward, but the man intercepted her, catching the girl in his arms. He held her tightly to his chest as the woman turned away. A sharp pain cut through Toni when she saw the woman's silent tears.

"Mother!" she cried.

"Toni", the man called again, drawing the child back to look into her eyes.

Toni felt herself freeze when she caught the desperation in those eyes. They looked so… so serious yet so sad. It was a rather odd feeling considering who it was looking at her.

"Father?" she whispered.

The man smiled.

"Antoinette", he replied, "Your time to come to us is not yet here. This world, your team… they still need you."

"My team?" She whispered, confused.

"Toni!" "Toni." "Toni?" "Woman of Iron!" "Ironman!" "Science Sis!" "Rust Bucket!" "TONI!"

Faces of her team flashed through her mind before one in particular jumped out at her.

"Steve…" she whispered.

Toni felt the arms around her vanish. Turning back, she found the man and woman gone from her view before another pair of arms encircled her from behind.

"Toni", the voice whispered and a shiver ran through the girl.

Turning, Toni found herself no longer that of a child, but a twenty-one year old woman standing firmly before the great Captain America. This man however was not the one she had heard stories about. This man was not the hero of the world wars. This man was not even the new leader of the Avengers. This man before her, dressed in tan slacks and a white t-shirt was Steve Rogers; a lonely, scared, and darling young man trying to find his place in the world. His place with her.

"Toni", he said again, his lips forming a gentle smile, "Come to me?"

Toni stared at his hand for a moment before her heart jumped at what it was her was offering her.

"Do you really mean…I can stay with you?" she whispered, tears sliding down her cheek. "Is this…only a dream?"

Steve's face morphed into a silent laugh before he nodded, his free hand gently wiping away her tears.

"This is but a dream, however…" he stopped and his eyes softened, "When you wake, I shall be waiting for you. At that time, all you have to do is take my hand."

Toni grinned. Those words were what she had always been waiting for. Reaching out, she clasped his hand in her own.

"Then, take me with you Steve. I want to live by your side."

Steve smiled before a frown crossed his face.

"Toni, before I take you with me… there is something else you must do."

The girl frowned.

"But I want to go with you now."

"I know you do", he laughed before setting a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "but first, Toni…"

His voice faded as Toni closed her eyes.

"Alright Steve", she whispered, "I know what I must do."

AVNGRS

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPP

"TONI!"

"She is coding!" voices screamed as doctors rushed in. Steve moved out of the way just as the rest of the avengers came running.

"What is it? What's happening?!" Fury yelled, storming into the room.

"She was fine a moment ago, what the heck is going on!" Clint thundered, but his demand for answers went unheard by the doctors.

"Prepare for D-Fib. And… clear!"

"Wait!" a voice yelled.

The nurses and doctors froze. Everyone stared in awe as the little girl blinked open her eyes, staring at the ceiling before sitting up, her blanket draped around her like a robe. Her eyes however were what truly froze everyone's movements. No one dared to act, fearful of what she might due.

"Toni", Steve whispered.

The golden eyes flashed to him, but just as the others feared she would strike as it seemed the AI was once again in control, the gold faded and brown set in.

"Toni?" he called again, stepping closer.

The little girl smiled, her face white and waxy looking.

"Steve", she whispered.

That one word sent everyone into a frenzy as they rushed to her, trying to check her over.

"How is she even awake right now?! Her heartbeat is still gone and…"

Everyone froze again when they noticed her eyes shining gold once more. Her hand raised and pointed at Steve.

"Everyone out but him."

The others looked unsure but when she narrowed her gaze, they hurriedly left the room.

"We will be outside Captain", Fury said before shutting the door.

Steve watched her curiously.

"You are Toni aren't you?"

"I am she, but I am also…it."

"It?"

"I am it", the entity answered.

Steve stared at her a moment before a sudden realization hit.

"You're not the AI are you? You're the energy stone… the thing that has been de-aging Toni."

"I am it", the girl nodded, "Toni…she calls for you."

Steve stepped forward, desperate. "Can I…can I talk to her?"

The entity stared at him a moment before closing its eyes. When they reopened, brown met his blue and he smiled in relief.

"Toni," he breathed, pulling her into his tight embrace.

Toni smiled, melting into his warmth.

"Steve", she whispered.

"Are you okay?" he questioned, gently lifting her chin to see her face.

Toni smiled when she saw the love and concern in his gaze.

"Yes Steve", she answered, "I am alright. However… I…"

Steve noticed her hesitation. "What is it?"

"I need your help."

"Okay? What can I do? I will do anything."

Toni smiled lovingly at him. "I know you will, but I need you to seriously listen to what I say."

Steve nodded, awaiting her command.

"I know how to remove the stone within me."

"What?! But I thought…"

"Listen. The stone is alive, but it knows if it stays within me I will die, which means it will as well. It wants to leave if just to save me. To do this however, I have to reach within myself and grasp it."

"What can I do to help?"

"I…" she paused, a scarlet blush overtaking her pale features, "I need you to hold me Steve. I need the support both physically and emotionally. Please, just… can you hold me?"

Steve stared at her in surprise for a moment before a tender smile took hold. He pulled her close to him, tightening his embrace around her in a loving, protective manner.

"Always", he whispered.

Toni smiled, gently kissing his cheek.

"Let's get this over with then", she stated before closing her eyes and whispered aloud, "I should have known the answer only lied within myself."

Toni screamed as her hand entered her body, a deep pain like no other enveloping her. Steve held her as tight as he could without getting in her way, his own eyes shut as a bright flash of gold surrounded them. With the body in his arms falling limp, Steve opened his eyes only to stare in surprise at a gold light floating before him.

"You must be it", he stated, cradling Toni to his chest, "will she survive?"

The energy didn't reply, but it looked to Steve like it had nodded before suddenly the light vanished and only an empty hospital room remained. Staring into the empty space for a moment, a soft groan from the woman in his arms had his attention jumping frantically back to his lover.

"Toni?!" he called, urgently trying to make out if she was herself or not.

"Steve?" she mumbled.

"Toni", he laughed with relief, "Thank God."

Toni smiled, snuggling into the crease of his neck.

"Steve", she whispered, "I love you."

Steve laughed a rather crazed, yet extremely relieved laugh at her words, because God… he couldn't imagine saying anything other than that at a time like this.

"I love you too Toni", he whispered to her, nuzzling her hair, "I thought I would never see you again."

Toni smiled, before a frown crossed her expression.

"Do you mean it Steve, do you really… love me?"

Steve smiled, his hand gentle sweeping the hair out of her twenty-four year old face.

"Since the beginning", he whispered, "You have always been loved."

AUTHORS NOTE*

Wow. I apologize for how long it took me to end this story, but I had a real struggle with it. Thank the lord it is finally completed lol I hope you all enjoyed it and thanks so much for reading! Let me know your thoughts!