What Was taken (May 1994)

10 days passed since the SHIELD hospital and Tony brought Isabella some tea and a few of the cookies she liked. He had her set up in their room on their bed with just about everything she needed. It had been quiet for the Avengers, not alot of anything going on that required their attention so Tony was able to dote on Isabella a bit more than usual. Serena played in her pack and play on the floor quietly or as quietly as a 3 year old could be quiet. Tony moved to sit on the side of their bed next to her.

Because she couldn’t take a shower he gave her sponge baths which he enjoyed alot more than she did he thought and he brushed out her long, silky hair every night. She was healing well but because of how much damage the spike did, they both knew that rehab was going to be long and painful. Isabella was still mourning the loss but Tony tried to keep her spirits up and she had frequent visitors.

“Your parents came by but you were sleeping. They brought you lemons and olives from their trip to Italy,” He said. “THey were worried about you but I told them you were doing better,” Tony said as he looked at her.

Isabella had fallen into a deep depression since learning that not only had they lost their baby, but that their opportunity to have another had been taken from them. Isabella felt guilty, even though it wasn't her fault. The doctors had her on sleeping pills and antidepressants. Although Tony was taking very good care of her, not being able to move very much was difficult on her and didn't help her depression. Tony was gentle with her and was doing his best to keep her spirits up.

She had recently woken up from a nap and was sitting up in bed. She took the tea and took a small sip. From the corner of her eye she could see Serena. Serena had been very happy when her mommy had come home. Although SHIELD had tried to hide Isabella's injury from the media too many people had seen it and so a statement finally had to be released indicating that she had been injured and was recovering. Fans of hers had sent her flowers, candy, and balloons.

She nodded when Tony told her that her parents had stopped by and had brought her olives and lemons from Italy. "I'll have to make lemon bars when I'm able to." She knew Tony and the rest of the guys loved her lemon bars. "You guys aren't eating too much junk food, are you?" Isabella hadn't been able to cook since her injury and she was worried about what they were eating.

“Well you know Logan...He could live off Pizza and beer and I’ve seen Steve eating cold pizza for breakfast,” Tony said. Tony liked Pizza but she’d know he missed her cooking. Tony had been getting them carry out from different places and before that, Anne had made some incredible vegetable soup that everyone but Logan liked. He looked at her side table and saw the bottles of pills there. He picked the one with sleeping pills and looked at it. “How many of these are you taking? He asked accusingly. He shook the bottle and there were not near as many as there should be in the bottle. “Isabella,” He said warningly and held the bottle toward her. “How...many?” He asked again and more seriously this time.

Isabella normally loved cooking. It was something that helped to relax her and she enjoyed feeding those she loved and cared about. However, in her depressed state not even the thought of cooking brought her joy. She picked up one of the cookies Tony had brought in, but found she wasn't interested in eating it. She put it back on the plate and then looked at Tony when he picked up the bottle of sleeping pills. She knew she was taking more than she should, but she didn't think it was a big deal.

"I...I don't know," she answered, which was the truth. "I'm having trouble sleeping..."

Tony’s mood darkened. “Do you think I don’t know that? I’m beside you every night. I’m with you every day. You’re better than this and you’re not going through it alone damnit,” He said as he put the pills back onto the side table. “Serena asks me whats wrong with mommy, whats wrong with mommy,” He said in a high pitched voice. “What am I supposed to tell her? Now I get you were dealt a bad hand, we both were but that little girl needs her mother. And I do to,” Tony said.

The next few nights were tough for Isabella. Tony closely monitored how many pills she was taking and that meant she wasn't getting much sleep. Her depression worsened to the point where Tony called a Psychiatrist who came in to talk to Isabella. They spoke alone for a several hours and he gave Tony a new prescription for her and decided to come back a few more times. Isabella had healed though to be able to start getting up and moving around more and he encouraged Tony to make sure she was getting enough exercise. He also suggested having her get some fresh air and sun. Getting outside helped and lifted her spirits some. As well as starting to exercise some.

The next few weeks were physically tough on Isabella. She had begun rehab and at times it was extremely difficult and painful, but all the guys helped her...especially Steve. Isabella and Steve shared a close friendship and he was there when she needed him.

Isabella was doing leg curls. Steve sat across from her to offer her encouragement. This particular exercise was one of the most difficult for her because she was pulling on one of the muscles that bothered her the most when she stretched them. Real tears were in her eyes as she pushed herself with this. Steve reminded her that it was the form of the exercise, not the weight that made the most impact. Isabella jerked the weight up because it was a little too heavy. She had been stuck on 35 pounds for 2 weeks now and she tried 40. That and the right leg hurt more than the left besides.

“You know, I don’t even know if I can have kids. I was warned about that....a, by Doctor Erskine himself,” He said as she pumped the weight up. But I’ve only ever even kissed just 3 women and one I didn’t even know her name,” He said just as Logan came down for some more weight lifting. “Just kissed? Nothing else? No second base even?” Logan asked as he set down his drink and adjusted the weight for the bench press. Steve blushed a little, he hadn’t meant that to get out. “No…” Steve said honestly.

Isabella was struggling with the 40 pounds. Before her injury she had been able to lift it fairly easily. Now though it was painful and felt nearly impossible. She finally just decided to take a break. She sat up and took a sip of some water from her bottle. She was sweating from the exertion and began to wonder if she was ever going to get back into shape. She pain of not being able to have any more children still stung, but she had Serena and she knew that that was more than some people had. She decided that she needed to be grateful for what she had, instead of getting upset. Serena was beautiful and healthy and made her smile and laugh. She was...perfect and Isabella decided that she wasn't going to take the fact that she had her for granted anymore.

"I know that you miss Peggy, but do you ever think that you might move on and date someone else? I mean even if you can't have children you could at least be in a relationship."

Steve thought about that, he often did but he was also not just a regular guy. He needed someone who would accept him for who he was and what he did because he knew he would never stop being Captain America.

Steve shrugged. “I think im about as moved on as I can get but I’m not going to date a fan,” Steve said and they all knew what he meant. For him especially. Women came up to him all the time for autographs and photos. They gave him their phone numbers, addresses...panties and bras, and lewd offers. Steve wasn’t like that at all. Peggy was a woman of integrity and manners and poise. “How do I find a woman like...her though?” Steve asked. “I’d say just dip your toes in the pond and have a little fun,” Logan said after he set down the weight. “Figure out what the woman of today are like and learn what you want,” Logan said. “The 1940s women? You’re not gunna find that,” He said.