CH. 1

In the year of 1985, many 7 year old boys were usually seen riding their bicycles, getting dirty, and picking on the girls that they liked. Anothony "Tony" Stark was rarely seen associating with his peers. It was more common to see him playing by himself and avoiding the boys in his neighborhood whenever he could help it. Despite his father, Howard Stark, being a millionaire and partial creator of Captain America, Tony was bullied a lot for being so different. They taunted him whenever they could because he was much more advanced and unusually quiet. His closest friend was actually somebody much older than him; the family butler Edwin Jarvis. Tony was a very lonely boy with his parents always working or traveling.

It was nearing the end of a hot June day in Long Island, NY, when Tony saw the family of three finally arrive at their new home. Movers had been getting the place settled in for nearly a week now, and he was anxious to see who his new neighbors would be. He was sitting on his own stoop when he watched the family step out of their car. Although the mother looked exhausted, she was a very pretty, young brunette who looked very well put together as she held the hand of her daughter. The father looked like a strong man with brown hair and eyes. Their daughter was a very sweet looking girl, with hair like her mothers in soft curls half way down her back and chocolate brown eyes like her fathers. Tony could hear the girl pleading with her parents to check out the street she would now be living on before it got dark. Her mom didn't look too pleased with the idea but he heard her dad give the okay. She squealed with delight and darted off before she lost her chance. Tony saw her run across the street before he started gathering up the broken "toys" his own father let him play with when he heard the girls voice behind him.

"That's neat looking. What is it?" she asked him while pointing towards the very item in his hand. He couldn't tell if she was teasing him or not.

"It's uhm, it's a model home my dad built but it's pretty much useless," I answered her in my quietest voice, not daring to look at her.

"Useless or not, it's still neat looking. My name is Lauren Denver. We just moved here from Kentucky because my daddy got a new job. I hope I like it here okay enough," she said while staring at the model home in my hands. I found the courage to some how look at her.

"I'm Anthony...I mean Tony. I've lived here my whole life but I'm not too fond of it," I replied to her.

Just as she was about to say something else, Robert Jones came up the street. He was giving me a mean sneering glare.

"Hey new girl, I wouldn't talk to Lonely Tony if I were you. He's a freak!" he said to Lauren. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks. I should have known better than to think that I could befriend her.

"I think that I'm allowed to pick who I want to be friends with, thank you very much!" I couldn't even begin to believe that I just heard her say that! I heard Robert mumble something as he walked away but she was still here. No way.

"I can see why you don't like this town, with people calling you a freak and all. I'll be your friend if you let me."

-Present Day-

I woke up in a cold sweat with those words, her words, still ringing in my head. I felt a chill run through me as I remembered my dream. No, scratch that, my nightmare. It was 22 long years ago and the memory of her still haunts me. The nightmares have become more frequent within the last year ever since good old Capsicle came into my everyday life. I told her all the stories Howard told me about Captain America, each story leaving her wanting more. I was sick of the stories he told me about the Captain, but seeing the excitement in her eyes made it worth while. If only she were still alive today to see the Capsicle thawed out and very much alive. She wouldn't believe it. I could almost see the excitement in her eyes at the thought.

The chill was back so I decided that anywhere was safer than the haunting memories right now. It was then that I realized that I fell asleep in my lab again; wearing the goggles...again. Pepper will be chewing me out once she sees the marks on my face. It was more than enough evidence for her to say that I'm not taking care of myself. She tends to get very mother-hen like despite her being my assistant and girlfriend. I started to head towards the kitchen for a cup of coffee when I saw Captain sitting at the island with his own cup of coffee and a newspaper. He nodded at me when I walked in but then started chuckling once he saw the marks on my face.

"Oh, you are going to hear it from Pepper," he said to me. I rubbed a hand over my face before shrugging my shoulders. I grabbed my mug and sat in front of him.

"It wouldn't be anything new," I said tiredly to him. I saw his eyebrows come together as he studied my expression. He was another mother-hen.

"Didn't get much sleep, did you?" he asked while studying my face.

"Do I ever get much sleep?" I answered back as I sipped my hot coffee. It was slowly easing away the chill that seemed to cover my heart.

"Are you still having bad dreams?" Steve asked with a concerned look on his face. How did he know that I was having bad dreams? "I have bad dreams myself about my past and present. I know that look anywhere," he said without giving me any time to answer.

He sometimes made it really difficult for me to stay annoyed with how perfect he was. This is the man my father wished were his own son. I've grown to not despise him just because my father preferred him over me. Even though we didn't get along at all when the Avengers were first formed, we have become somewhat friends since he moved out of his apartment and into the Stark mansion. He kind of grew on me, considering how he grew to tolerate me for the most part.

"Yeah, it was a bad dream but I don't really remember it," I gave him a white-lie because I am never really ready to explain my nightmares; to explain who Lauren Denver was to me. I heard him give a 'hmm' while he thought about what to say next. Jarvis' voice rang through the air, making Steve jump in his seat. He was still getting used to Jarvis.

"Sir, Mr. Nicholas Fury is at the door," the voice spoke out to me. Saved by the Fury.

"Let him in, Jarvis," I answered. Steve seemed to drop the topic so I was thankful. We sat in silence while we waited for Fury to be directed into the kitchen by Jarvis. I had my back to the entry of the kitchen while Steve was facing the entry. I heard the footsteps come behind me, so I spoke to Fury.

"What is it this time? Aliens? Terrorists? Angry mob of people?" I asked without turning around.

"You're very funny, Stark," he replied dryly.

"Stark?" I heard a females voice say my name, as if she were confused.

"Yes, this is the great Tony Stark. The royal pain in my ass. I just came to drop off some files for you, and to pick up the Captain," Fury replied to her. I stood, ready to turn when she said to me,

"Holy shit. I can't believe it's you," I smirked at Captain, thinking to myself, 'another fan.'

"I didn't know that you rolled with our fans, Nick. You want an autograph baby?" I said as I finally turned. She was stunning. Gorgeous face and a perfecy hour-glass shape. Long legs too; she could give Natasha a run for her money.

"Good to know that you haven't changed a bit, Lonely Tony," she said coolly to me.