(In which you will actually be meeting for the second time.)

It had been exactly five years. Five years since you had died. Five years since the day that he could have saved your life. Five whole years of blaming himself for all of it. He had thought that he had recovered from it. Though, he had thought that every year until the day came that you died, then he would sink back into grief, anxiety, and self-loathing again.

He had been going through a storage file of old pictures of the two of you. He hadn't opened it since that horrible, world-shaking day. Maybe this year, he would be ready. He wasn't. Not in the least bit. After about five or six pictures, his emotions overwhelmed him. Not wanting the team to see him in that state, he decided to take a walk.

He walked, and walked, and walked. His thoughts only grew more dark and tangled as he went. He wanted to clear his mind. He wanted to put the whole thing to rest. Only, he couldn't. He watched the memory of your death over and over in his mind. It just kept looping. Over, and over, and over again. He couldn't make it stop. Most would think that a memory would begin to fade after so long. Not this one. He could still hear you screaming in terror before you hit the water.

Over the years, he had come up with a thousand ways he could have done it differently in order to save you. To prevent that sickening splash when it was too late.

Wait.

He shook his head. He could have sworn that he had just seen your face among the crowds of people. But, when he looked again, you weren't there. 'I'm hallucinating my dead girlfriend. Man, I need some serious help.'

Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that you were actually there. It didn't feel like he'd imagined it. On his return trek to the tower, his thoughts plagued him once more. What if he hadn't been good enough for you? You had always been the perfect woman in his eyes. What if it happens again? He still could see the vision that Wanda had shown him during the fight with Ultron. What if, next time, it's the entire team he lets down? Would he be the one to stand, helpless, and watch eveything burn to the ground?

"Mr. Stark, Captain Rogers and Agent Barton request that you join them in the training room. Should I tell them that you're out?" F.R.I.D.A.Y. asked.

"No," he answered, looking through the glass doors to the tower, "I'm back. Tell them I'll be there as soon as I can."

- - - -

"I'm serious. I saw her. I don't know how, but I did." Tony tried to explain to his teammates, they were all taking a water break from training.

"Tony," Natasha began gently, "We know you miss her. So do we, but acting like this isn't going to bring her back.

"I know. But I just can't shake it. It was so real."

"If you want," said Steve, "I can get you an appointment with my therapist. She's really helped me. She might be able to help you with this."

"Thanks, but no thanks, Cap. That's not my kind of thing. I'm glad it works for you, but I'm not doing that."

- - - -

The next day came around. Tony still felt like he wanted some space. After looking in the empty fridge, he figured he might as well go get some food.

His mind was still a whirlwind as he was in the checkout line at the grocery store. He just had to keep telling himself that it would pass. It had every year for the past four years. Why would this year be any different?

"That'll be $68.95."

His head snapped up. Maybe he was going crazy. Steve was probably right about needing a therapist. It had sounded so much like your voice though.

"Sir?"

"Huh?" He looked at you and all he could do was stare.

"$68.95."

His brain was torturing him. That couldn't be you. You were dead. Laying peacefully, somewhere on the bottom of the river. Maybe he had had one too many drinks.

- - - -

Was this guy okay? He just stood there, looking at you. It was like he was under a spell or something.

"Hello? Anybody in there?" You waved your hand in front of his face.

He flinched and blinked a couple of times. He had a really weird expression on his face. You honestly couldn't tell if he was incredibly sad or overwhelmingly happy. He quickly paid for his groceries and left.

Weird.

- - - -

"F.R.I.D.A.Y., assemble the Avengers. Tell them it's urgent."

"Right away, Sir."

"She's alive." Those were the first words to escape his lips when he entered the communal room at HQ.

Clint sighed. "Here we go again," he mumbled.

"Tony, you can't just assem-"

"No. I'm serious. She's alive." He flopped down onto a chair, staring at nothing. He could barely believe what he was saying himself. "I talked to her."

"What?" Natasha was suddenly very curious, "Where is she? Why didn't you bring her back here?"

"I... I don't know. I don't... I don't think she knew who I was."

- - - -

The next day, Tony returned to the same grocery store, hoping against hope that you were working today. Rhodey had offered to come with him, which he greatly appreciated. Of all the ways he had dreamt he would see you again, never had he imagined it to be like this. He wanted to bring you flowers, to scoop you up in his arms and tell you how sorry he was. He wanted to hold you tight and never let you go again.

Instead, he had to introduce himself to you as if you were total strangers. It was Natasha's idea. If you didn't know him, he didn't want to scare you away for good. If you did, then you would see through his act and he wouldn't have to pretend anymore.

So, he bought two candy bars.

- - - -

"Your total is $4.25." you said. You looked up from the register. "Hey, I remember you."

Completely unknown to you, Tony's heart had just done a double flip. "Y-" he cleared his throat, "You do?"

"Yeah, you were here yesterday. You look a lot better today than you did then."

"Oh. Sorry about that. I didn't sleep much the other night." Technically, he wasn't lying.

"It's alright. We all have those days." You counted the cash he handed you.

"Tony Stark." He held out his hand.

"Wait. The Tony Stark? Like, the billionaire?"

"In the flesh."

"Wow! I'm honored, Sir! Your work in the clean energy field is incredible! And what you did in New York? Wow! It's so nice to meet you. I'm (Y/N)!"

"I can see that," he answered, gesturing to your name badge.

"Oh. Hehe. Right. Well, enjoy your candy bars!" You handed him the receipt, still in disbelief that you were actually meeting him in real life.

"Actually, one of these is for you." He handed you one of the (your favorite candy bar).

"What?"

"Here. I bought it for you. Don't say no. Just take the chocolate."

"Thank you." You looked at him in confusion. You felt a weird sense of deja vu for a second, but it soon passed.

"Are you working tomorrow?" He asked, beginning to walk backwards toward the sliding doors.

"Um... yeah." Now you were really puzzled.

"I'll see you tomorrow then!" He waved before turning and almost jogging out the door with his friend.