(Y/n) sat on the toilet seat in the bathroom waiting for the timer to go off, biting at her fingernails furiously. She could hardly breath, her chest was heavy, her nerves at their very last end. The timer sounded, nervously reaching forward she took the small white tester in her hand and turned it over. Two pink lines. POSITIVE. (Y/n) threw her head into her hands and began to cry uncontrollably, dropping the tester on to the bathroom floor to join the other five tests that she had already done. How was I going to tell him?

(Y/n) had joined the Avengers three years previously at the behest of Director Fury. (Y/n) was unlike any of the other members of the team, having been born with the ability to control the elements, an ability that had proven a good fit within the team. And the fact that she could look after herself in hand to hand combat, and was good with a gun, meant the rest of the team weren't so worried about her if she wasn't able to use her powers.

Despite knowing of Tony's reputation when she met him, (Y/n) couldn't help but be drawn to him; she liked the way he smiled, the way he laughed, and the way he looked in a pair of sweatpants and his Black Sabbath t-shirt, especially when he stretched. The sight of his v-line just above the waistband of his pants making her heart race. But to her chagrin Tony was with Pepper and she wasn't about to interfere with that relationship, she just wasn't that kind of girl; so, she buried her feelings deep down, and focused on the work.

(Y/n) had become great friends with the super soldiers, and spent most of her time with them. The two men out of time seeming to enjoy telling her all their best war stories. In the field, the three worked brilliantly together. All of them seemed to know instinctively what the other two were thinking. The boys feeling as though they had known (Y/n) all their lives.

Eventually, to no one's surprise, Pepper had left Tony. And with no chance of reconciliation Tony was taking it badly. (Y/n) finding that she couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

What followed was six months of the team watching Tony wallow in self-pity. He drank too much, slept and eat too little and seemed to have a different girl every night. During the time, (Y/n) had tried her best to make sure he ate something. She would take the whisky bottle out of his hand and replace it with strong black coffee. She would push a sandwich into his hand when he had been up all night and cover him with a blanket whenever he passed out drunk. All of which she was happy to do. But what she did mind doing was escorting Tony's trash out of the tower in the morning when he had finished with his latest conquest. (Y/n) positive that each of them got trashier as the days passed. And eventually they all just turned into nameless, faceless creatures that she had to quickly dispose of.

One night (Y/n) woke up after a nightmare. Getting up from her bed, she made her way to the kitchen, hoping that if she got herself a warm drink, she might be able to get back to sleep.

"F.R.I.D.A.Y" (Y/n) called out to the AI system, as she flicked on the coffee maker.

"Yes Ms. (Y/n), how can I help you?" The familiar voice replied, as (Y/n) took a seat at the breakfast island.

"Could you tell me where Tony is please?" (Y/n) asked, despite having a feeling that he was probably in bed with something she would have to fix in the morning.

"Mr. Stark is currently in the lab Ms. (Y/n)."

"How long has he been awake and when did he last eat?" (Y/n) continued, as she pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration.

"Mr. Stark has been awake for 48 hours and hasn't eaten since Tuesday Ms. (Y/n)." The AI replied as (Y/n) suddenly jumped from her seat.

"Holy shit its Friday. He hasn't eaten in 3 days!" (Y/n) called out, annoyed at herself that she hadn't realised sooner.

"That is correct Ms. (Y/n)."

"F.R.I.D.A.Y, is tony drunk?" (Y/n) enquired, knowing that she didn't need to be able to read minds to already know the answer.

"Yes Ms. (Y/n), Mr. Stark intoxicated."

"Thanks F.R.I.D.A.Y." (Y/n) sighed, as she rubbed her eyes, not believing that she was going to have to go through all this again.

Walking back into the kitchen, (Y/n) began to make sandwiches and a big pot of steaming black coffee; putting them on a tray as she carefully made her way to the lab. As she got there, (Y/n) could see through the glass doors that Tony was slumped on a sofa with a whisky in his hand, looking very worse for wear.

"F.R.I.D.A.Y. Could you open the doors to the lab for me please?" (Y/n) called out. F.R.I.D.A.Y, dutifully doing as it was asked. The doors clicking open, before (Y/n) made her way towards Tony. Sitting down on the coffee table in front of him as she placed the laden tray next to her.

"Well hello kitten, is there anything I can do for you?" Tony asked, slurring his words and twirling the glass of whisky in his hand.

"Yes Tony, there is something you can do for me. Firstly, you can stop drinking this shit." (Y/n) began as she grabbed the glass of liquor from his hand.

"Secondly, you can eat something. And thirdly you can get some sleep." (Y/n) continued, as she put the plate of sandwiches on his lap and poured him a cup of coffee.

"Here, eat these and drink this." The elemental ordered, watching the billionaire as he pouted like a small child.

"Eat or else Tony, I mean it." (Y/n) warned, knowing that it wasn't that she was angry, just worried. Tony reluctantly starting to put the sandwiches in his mouth and as he carefully brought the cup of hot coffee to his lips.

"Why do you care? No one else cares about me." Tony asked suddenly. The petulant question proving to be the last straw for the younger woman who sat in front of him. She had been as patient as she could be. Trying to understand what he was going through, but now he had pushed her too far.

"That's it Tony, I've had enough. I have spent the last six months watching you wallow in self-pity. I know losing Pepper has hurt you, but this has to stop. You've done nothing but torture and punish yourself. Pepper chose to leave you not because of you, but because of her. She wanted something different, she wanted you to stop being Iron Man and she had no right to ask that of you. If you truly love someone you accept them for all they are and support them. You don't eat, you don't sleep, and you drink far too much. You bring in a stream of brain dead bimbos that are more silicone than flesh, and you have the nerve to ask me to dispose of them when you're done with them. And I'm not going to do it anymore. We all love you and want the best for you. We all need you back in the team, we miss you, I miss you, the old Tony, the real Tony. The problem is that no one else has the balls to tell you this so it falls to me. I love you Tony. I always have, but if you carry on down this path of self-destruction then I'm going to leave." (Y/n) said, trying her best to stop the pent up anger she felt from spilling out. But finding that she was failing abysmally.

"You'll never leave, you'll never leave your boyfriends, I know all about you and capsicle and frosty." Tony hissed disdainfully. (Y/n) standing up and abruptly slapping Tony across the face with such force that he fell sideways on to the sofa.

"HOW DARE YOU! For a supposed genius you are a goddam idiot. If its anything to do with you, Bucky and Steve are my best friends and I love them dearly, but I'm in love with you. I've tried not to be, god knows I've tried; but there is nothing I can do about it. It hurts me to see you this way and I can't take it anymore. So, tomorrow I'm going to talk to Fury and see what my options are." (Y/n) informed Tony, as she headed for the door. Turning around one last time.

"Eat the food and drink the coffee, then get some sleep. Goodbye Tony."

Slowly (Y/n) made her way back to her room. Happy in the knowledge that Tony was too drunk to follow.

"F.R.I.D.A.Y, no one is allowed in, especially not Mr. Stark, understand?" (Y/n) called out to the AI, as she locked the door behind her.

"Yes Ms. (Y/n), I understand."

The rest of the night (Y/n) packed and made a call to a very sleepy friend. And as the morning finally arrived, she made my way to see the director.

Fury, as well as the team, knew what the gifted mutant had done for Tony, and the stress that she had been through. And as (Y/n) explained everything to Fury, he could only sigh and nod.

"When you want to come back, we'll be here." Fury told her, as he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

                                                         >>-------------------------------<<

Fury and (Y/n) walked into the common room. (Y/n) taking a seat as she called out to F.R.I.D.A.Y.

"F.R.I.D.A.Y, could you gather the team together for a meeting please? Everyone except Mr. Stark."

"Of course, Ms. (Y/n)."

As the team filed in, strange looks were directed at Fury and (Y/n) as Fury stood close by her side. The team taking their seats as the director began to explain the reason for the meeting.

"I'm here to let you know the agent (Y/l/n) is going to be taking some extended leave for personal reasons. I believe that it is for the best that she is not here for a while. She will remain available for missions if needed, but otherwise she will not be residing in the compound." Fury informed the others. The team looking at one another slightly shocked.

"It's Tony ain't it doll?" Bucky asked as he came over and took (Y/n) in his arms, holding her tight as he felt her slowly nod.

"I can always take care of the old tin can for you if you like." Bucky offered. (Y/n) chuckling as she looked up at her friend.

"Thanks Buck but he's not worth it." (Y/n) replied, as she tried to smile.

"Where are you going sweetheart?" Steve asked, as he stood and joined (Y/n) and Bucky. Putting his arms around her from the back, so that she was sandwiched between to the two super soldiers.

"I'm not going far; Scotty has said that I can stay with him for a while. The big ant always knows how to cheer me up." (Y/n) informed the Captain, as she grabbed the boy's hands, and turned to look at the rest of the team.

"I can't take cleaning up Stark's mess anymore. If he wants to kill himself then fine. I'm just not going to be here to watch him do it. I'm not leaving you guys; I just need so space to get myself together." (Y/n) told them. The team joining the soldiers in reassuring (Y/n) that she was doing the best thing.

After hugging everyone, (Y/n) made her way back to her room and grabbed her bags.

"F.R.I.D.A.Y. If Mr. Stark comes to this room can you make sure that you let him know about this letter please?" (Y/n) asked the AI, as she placed a small letter on the bedside table.

"Of course, Ms. (y/n), my pleasure." F.R.I.D.A.Y replied, as (Y/n) took one last look at her room then locked the door and left the compound.