After the Avengers leave, I roll over to my side, still wondering about Steve. I just don't understand. I'm awake; I'm healthy, why is being this way? This should be a happy time. He acts as if I did something. But how could I? I've been out for the past six months.

As I ponder these questions, I realize I have been crying. I feel the cold wetness on my pillow but I don't care. At least I'm feeling something. I feel so helpless and pathetic. I hate being sick or hurt. Everyone dotes over me like I'm some victim. I will no longer be a victim.

I look up at the window in the door to see a familiar voice. Steve is standing out in the hallway, staring at me. We look at each other for a quick moment and then he leave. I sigh and roll over to my left side.

Then I hear the door open. "Hey, Skylar!" Tony says happily, coming around to face me. "Whoa, are you okay?" His eyebrows raise and his eyes become sad at my appearance.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I wipe the tears from my face.

"Okay, good." I can tell he is uneasy at my show of emotion. "Well, I have surprise for you. Get dressed and meet me out in the lobby." He smiles quickly and then jogs out of the room.

"I thought I had to stay here? That's what Bruce said."

"I've convined him to let you come home." He grins at me.

"Home?" I ask. But before I can question further, Tony darts out of the room.

After a few moments, I realize that I do actually need to get up. I do so and slump over to the bathroom. I look in the mirror to find a mess. My nose is bright red and my eyes are sunken in from crying. There are dark bags under my blue eyes. My cheeks are blotchy. Even my hair is frizzy and sticking out in all directions. It looks as if they have been dying it for me. Steve must have arranges that. Oh, Steve...

I take a quick shower, savoring the sculding water. When I step out, I lose my footing and crash onto the floor. I land on my side and lie there for a few moments, breathing in the steam.

"Skylar?" I hear Bruce ask for me out in my room.

"I'm in here, Bruce," I answer.

"Are you okay? It sounded like someone fell." He knocks on the door.

"Yeah, I did. I'm fine though. I guess I'm just not used to walking yet." I start to sit up. I lean on the sink as I pick myself up.

"Okay, just buzz if you need any help."

When I hear the door shut, I continue with getting ready. I pick out my clothes from the bag Steve apparently brought the day after I was admitted to the SHIELD hospital. I brush my hair, gel it and run mouse through it. I smear on foundation, concealing the splotchiness. I then put on my natural eye shadow look and some black eyeliner. I paint on glitter eyeliner over it. I put on my jewelry and now I'm ready. I grab my pack and I'm out the door to meet Tony on the flight deck.

"Here we are," Tony says as we pull up to a ginormous mansion in the middle of Manhattan.
Fully curious, but not saying a word, I follow my fellow Avengers up to the gate where JARVIS lets us in. My eyes widen and my jaw drops when we enter the home. "What is this place?" I ask, bewildered.

"This," he spreads out his arms like a car model on an old television game show. "Is Avengers Mansion! It's where you can live if you want." He smiles at me.

"I can live here! Holy crap!" I jump excitedly. I step closer to Tony, over the tiled Avengers "A" in the middle of the floor.

I then fully observe the room. The ceilings are at least twenty-five feet high and lined with graceful white pillars. The floor is covered with prestine white tiling--except for the Avengers "A" of course! There are beautiful pieces of artwork on the cream-colored walls.

"Would you like a tour?" Tony asks, already knowing the answer.

"Yes!" I practically shout.

"Alright, follow me!" He gestures to a long hallway.

Just like in the entry room, the walls are lined with a few fabulous paintings down the corridor. "Where are we going?" I ask after a few moments.

"To the kitchen!" He opens a door to reveal the most state-of-art kitchen I have ever laid my eyes on. "Here we have all the latest technology when it comes to kitchens. We have seven fridges--one of each of us, three ovens and four microwaves." He walks over to one of the fridges and opens it. "This one is yours. It's stocked with Arizona Arnold Palmer tea--Rogers told me it was your favorite. The pantry is also stocked with flour, sugar and everything you'll need since Steve said you liked to bake." He notices I have become solemn with the mention of my companion. He rubs the back of his neck. "Shall we move on?"

"Sure," I mumble. I rub my left arm with my right and stare at the floor as I follow Tony down another hallway. We hop on an elevator. The dropping motion sends butterflies through my insides.

"Here is the training room," Tony says proudly.

I then perk up. Shaking Steve out of my thoughts, I look at the room in awe. It's much like the one at th SHIELD base. "Wow," I sigh contently. I smile peaks at the corners of my mouth.

"It has a hundred different levels. And watch this!" He slides his Avengers card into the slot by the door.

"Welcome, Mr. Stark," JARVIS says.

Tony pulls his card away. "If you slide your ID card, it recognizes you. It monitors your progress and changes each level based on your strengths and weaknesses." He places his fists on his hips, smirking.

"That's incredible, Tony!" I laugh in astonishment. "But umm, can I see my room now?" I bite my lip excitedly.

"Sure! It has been a long day and this house is huge. I'll finish the tour some other time. You should be good for now." He opens the door for me and leads the way.

"So how have you been, Tony? Holding up okay?" I ask.

"Oh, you know how it is! It has been pretty weird without you. I actually got used to have you around." He looks back at me.

"How has everyone else been?" I bite my lip.

"Thor has been gone, so I'm not really sure about him. Clint has been fine, as always. Bruce has just been monitoring and studying you. Natasha has been trying to hold it together. She has really missed you. Clint has been helping her a lot with that. She has just been spending a lot of time in the training room. And Steve, well you know..."

"Sounds like my coma really put a dent in the team." I sigh at the thought. Guilt starts to sink in the sides of my brain.

"Speak of the devil!" Tony exclaims.

"Hey, Tony! And hey, Skylar!" Natasha says, coming up to give me a hug.

"Hey, guys," Clint greets as well.

"Hey," I mutter, still uneasy.

"So what do you think of the mansion?" Natasha asks. "Pretty spiffy, huh?"

"Yeah, it's amazing," I gesture to the walls around us.

"I love it here! Nicest home I've ever had!" Clint beams at me.

"Well, I was just going to show Skylar to her room," Tony interrupts. "Are you guys on your way to the training room?"

"You bet," Clint nods.

"Well, I'll let you get to that. See ya later!"

Tony and I hop on the elevator once again and travel up this time. There is silence in the metal box. Tony and I have never really been vocal to each other. And I can't help but wonder if he is thinking about how he walked in on me sobbing earlier. That was so embarrassing.

"Well, here we are!" He opens a fascinating ornate door at the end of a hallway that is lined with red card and cream-colored walls. He stops abruptly when he looks inside.

I turn to find Steve standing next to the bed, putting clothes in a suitcase. I step into the room, puzzled at what I'm staring at. "What's going on?"

"I'm leaving," Steve says numbly.

Notes

The introduction of the Avengers mansion! It may just be their home but I absolutely love the idea of the mansion! I wish I could live there! Who wouldn't want to? But omg! Why is Steve leaving? What's going to happen? Give me your predictions! And don't forget to rate this story!

Skylar's Outfit: http://www.polyvore.com/skylar_11/set?id=56169943