The pounding at my door startled me awake the next morning, my arm threw one of my pillows at the door. I wasn't ready to wake up and face dad's wrath. I was also sore from yesterday's training and fight.

"Jae, could you move the stuff away from the door," Dad was outside my door. I had completely forgotten about last night for a few seconds. Dad hadn't been sternly when he spoke but almost like a whisper. "I got a peace offering." I groaned an sat up looking at what I had done last night. Blocking the door with whatever movable furniture I had. Quickly I stumbled out of my bed moved the furniture, opening the door a crack. My eyes spotting a mocha and what I'm guessing was black coffee. A small smile crossed my lips, my eyes looked up to his and I opened the door more. He moved into my room and when I went to close the door I spotted Pepper staring down the hall to my room. She always seemed to know how to make us better. I closed the door and sat down on my bed, he pulled my red chair over to my bed and set the coffee on my bed side table. "Jae." He began and scooted closer to me. I personally didn't want him to move closer as I could feel the bruise on my neck. I covered what I could of the bruise with my hair and waited for him to continue. "What's going on with you Jae."

"I'm fine," I said, almost too quickly. I grabbed the mocha from the tray and took a sip.

"You don't seem fine Jae," He leaned forward to me, hands folded and resting in his lap. Staring at me, almost as if he wanted to read me like a book. Before I trained with Natasha I would have been easier to read, but she taught me how to not allow my emotions to show as much. Though I always see,ed to show a bit more than expected with dad.

"Dad," I began taking a breath. "I'm fine, I just haven't been sleeping well." I wasn't going to mention the fight last night against the possible assault. "I'm sorry for freaking out on you last night."

"I don't give a damn about that, I just want to keep you safe, I wasn't able to save you and you got hurt. The doc said it was a miracle you have full mobility in your arm. I just want to be able to know your okay, wherever you are. Do you know what you mean to me?"

"Dad-"

"I'd die for you in a heartbeat if it meant you were safe and happy Princess." I sighed an took another drink while he continued to speak. "Jaedyn, look I get that you want to be more independent because your turning eighteen tomorrow-."

"I know dad..." I sighed moving strands of my hair behind my ear and I looked up to him. "Everything is fine with me, the fact that I'm turning eighteen just makes me a little more excited about being an adult." I grinned cheekily. I hoped the conversation would be over soon, I knew what I was doing was partially true. But I also knew that what I was doing at night wouldn't make him feel less guilty about me getting hurt. If dad opened my closet door and opened the bottom drawer he would see the costume that Natasha graciously got for me.

"Kid I love you, I just need you to know that."

"I love you too dad," I looked from my cup to him. "Are we okay?" He nodded standing up from my chair and kissed the top of my head before moving towards the door.

"Your gonna be here tonight right? You know, with the Stark Tower lighting up and all tonight. You helped design her too." I smiled to myself when he mentioned how I helped with the design as well. I hadn't done as much as him and Pepper but I did enjoy the time that dad and I had spent on it.

"Yes, I should be able to be here. Bye dad," I said as he was leaving the room, the door slowly closing after him. I set the coffee on the side table again then went over into my bathroom taking a shower. Letting the hot water run down my body, stinging my throat. My phone ringing in the other room as I was in my shower. "Whose calling, Jarvis?"

"The contact, Officer Alec Walker, Miss Stark," I grinned to myself looking out from my behind the bathroom curtain spotting my phone resting on the table. After the ringing stopped Jarvis spoke. "Should I play the message he left?"

"Yes please, thank you Jarvis."

"Hey babe, I'm sorry that I haven't been able to call you for a while. The chief has been riding my ass about some reports I haven't completed. And then my brother has non-stopped called asking again to meet you," He chuckled on his end of the line continuing. "Anyways, you don't need to know all about that, give me a call and I'd love to catch lunch with you. I know I've been a bit of an dick lately, but I'll be at Sally's all day if you want to chat. I'll see you there, maybe... Bye Jae." I smiled to myself turning off the shower, and exiting it, wrapping a tower around myself. I quickly grabbed a sweater and jeans, throwing my hair up in a braided pony and did some light . I made sure to put concealer and cover up on my bruises, along my body and neck. After that I finished my coffee and headed down into the kitchen. Pepper was sitting on the couch files, spread across the counter but she had a smile on her lips.

"Morning Jaedyn," Pepper spoke to me.

"Morning, I'm sorry about last night, I got out of hand. Anyways I'm going out to meet Alec, if dad asks," I looked to the floor expecting him to jump out and ask more details about where Alec and I were going but he didn't, "Where did he rush off to?" Pepper stood up, she wore a pair of shorts and a white blouse, barefoot. It made me smile, when she was barefoot it meant she had the day off from the company.

"He's fixing part's of the grid," She said, smiling as she looked to my outfit. "I haven't heard you talk about Officer Alec for a while."

"He's a cop, busy hours. Anyways he asked to meet for breakfast," I pulled out my phone checking the time, I should be there in a little while. "I'm probably just going to talk, not sure I'm gonna be hungry."

"I'll see you tonight, enjoy your date," I rolled my eyes and she winked over to me.

"Yes I should be here tonight," I grinned an made my way over to the elevator, pressing the down button. "Don't stress Pep." Reaching the ground floor I hailed a cab and told the address to him. The radio was loud to drown out the morning commute honking. The station mention Stark Tower, and a little bit of how it's being self-sustained. I was proud that in the months since the Expo attack things had changed, for both positive and negative things.

"Next up, the vigilante, Hood, has been spotted around our very own Manhattan city. Clad in a black and red uniform with a hood and mask that covers their face.Using a bow and arrows. This archer has been doing deeds that have had huge impacts on the citizens. This archer, who witnesses have said comes from out the shadows, taking down those who wish to harm people and take them down. What has caught most witnesses eyes is the fact that she is a female vigilante. She is good at what she does, so from everyone here at the station and from those who she has saved. Thank you Hood." I chuckled to myself, I was doing a good job after all. Hood. I could get use to that name. As we made our way to Sally's Cafe, I watched the morning pass us by.

Fifteen minutes passed and I finally made it to the shop, I pulled out a twenty from my pocket and let the cab driver keep the change. I stepped out onto the curb and smiled at the quaint cafe. My mind was filled with the smiles that he and I had first shared, Alec had brought a wheel chair into my room one morning and a pair of sweats with a hoodie. I didn't know where he got them but he had allowed me to change then he picked me up and set me in the wheel chair. After that no one questioned the two of us, he was still in his uniform and so the two of us made our way to this cab. After we were in the cab, he told me that he knew a cafe, just a few blocks from the hospital. We arrived and I instantly loved the place, books lining the walls, fresh baked pastry on the counter. It wasn't too noisy but just right to where it felt comfortable. We sat outside so I could get some fresh air but we both had went inside to order. He bought coffee for the two of us, and we just talked. Not about my injuries, but just life. How we both were brought up, he was born and raised in Manhattan. He had one older brother, Tyler, he worked as a sales men for a business company. I told him about my family, how I never knew my mother and my father wasn't always around. I explained that I grew up with sitters until Pepper came to stay. He told me how he wanted to be come a police officer, that his dad use to hurt his mother, Tyler, and him. And he got to meet an officer that helped him an his brother to stay together. We had different home lives but we liked each others company.

Looking up at the sign that read, Sally's Cafe, I smiled to myself. Making my way inside I was overwhelmed with the sweets that lined the counter and the coffee beans making the drink I love. The usual gentle murmur of voices filled my ears as well as the churning sound if the coffee machine producing the hot liquid. There was a voice I almost recognized instantly, Sally's she spotted me and wove. I grinned over to her and she motioned over to my usual spot. Alec sitting on an elevated portion of the cafe. Corner table, two chairs and a great window view of the street.

"The usual Jaedyn?" Sally's voice boomed over to me.

"Yes please Sally, thank you," She nodded and I made my way over to the corner. Alec spotted me stepping up the three steps and he smiled to me. I moved passed other patrons with their laptops or books and reached him. He gave me a hug, and I returned it politely. We both sat down and I twiddled with my thumbs, it was awkward to say the least. "So how have you been? I mean you've been so busy, you couldn't even return a phone call.

"Your right, I should have and that's my fault. I'm sorry." I crossed my arms giving him a cold stare. "With my work it doesn't give much time to myself. And I know with your father's new building coming into affect I just thought you were busy as well." I leaned forward, my elbows on the table.

"You could have called, or texted me," I squirmed in my seat a little. "And yes, I was busy. My dad had me run errands a lot of the time." I looked out the window as the passerby's went on their way. "Everything alright at the precinct?" Sally then approached us with both our drinks and two donuts. I looked up to Sally and she smiled seeing the two of us. Alec pulled his wallet out of his pocket and gave her his card, motioning to the both of our drinks.

"Thank you Sally," He smiled to her and returned to our conversation. "Yea, there have been more accidents and crimes, plus the chief insists I stay on desk duty while they are working towards getting more officers." I nodded taking a drink of my lavender mocha. "If I do my job correctly, and I fill out all reports correctly everything is fine. But I'm just another officer, they could find another." My hand reached across the table and I gave him a comforting smile.

"They would be an idiot if they thought to fire or replace you." I grinned and he twisted his hand in mine so my hand was being held in his. His thumb rubbing over my knuckles. It made me think of the differences between us, he a legal way of fighting crime. I went out every night as a vigilante and I did the best I could to save people. "Tonight the lights for Stark tower are going to come on, it's suppose to be fun."

"Well there are perks to being on the top floor, best views," I laughed, it was true. He looked to his phone and frowned, so he could look at a text now but now when I texted him? His phone beeped again which made me only curious about who was texting him. "Hey I would love to stay and chat but, I have to go to the station. There was just a big drug bust, so I have to go help with booking." We both stood up and made our way to the door. I had wove goodbye to Sally before the two of us slipped out onto the streets of New York.

"Yea I understand, work first," I shrugged, honestly I was kinda hurt. He had said we were gonna have the whole day but instead it was only a little more than a half hour. "Call me if you need anything." We kissed and then he hailed a cab back to the station I'm guessing. I decided on walking for a bit.

I was hoping that Alec was a good guy, and that his story was true but as of late I was beginning to feel my doubts. I didn't want to be used for my last name again, I had friends in elementary and middle school who enjoyed me for my wealth. I wouldn't ever have a normal life, I am Jaedyn Maria Stark. Heiress to Stark Industries and daughter of Iron Man, aka Tony Stark. It wasn't until I came out of my mind state that I noticed the camera flashes.

"Miss Stark! Over here!" As soon as I looked to the cameras I started to be blinded by the flashing lights. "Miss Stark, a few questions. Jaedyn if you don't mind!" I shook my head,they never cared if I minded or not. When I felt like I was going to pass out because of the surrounding people and cameras I pushed my way through. Jogging for a little bit which only made some race after me. "What were you doing with that man in the cafe? Are you dating him? What does your father think of you dating him? Who is he?"

"No comment. Hey can you just leave me alone please?!" I practically was begging them to leave me aloe. The group of paparazzi and I rounded a corner and we came to the crosswalk of a busy street. While I was stopped they surrounded me again and I felt like I was being constricted and confined to a small space again. I started to get dizzy, my mind spinning. I turned to yell at the cameras again but I felt uneasy and stepped back off the curb. I heard the sound of tires screeching and my body acted on impulse, jumping as high as I could. When I felt the metal of the cars hood under my feet I opened my eyes. Staring at the female driver, who was in her early forties. Both her and her twin girls in the back seat had dark hair, the girls had yelled to their mother. Camera lights went off again and I quickly rushed off the hood and over to the window. I had dented her hood only slightly, but it could have been much worse. "Are you alright? Is everyone okay?" The mother rolled her window down and checked with the girls in the back before turning to me. Looking me up and down to be sure I wasn't injured. "Are you all okay?"

"Yes-" She paused taking another look at me. "Jaedyn Stark?" I nodded once and she gasped in shock. "Are you alright? I'm so sorry." It made me laugh that she was apologizing when I had stepped off the curb.

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm sorry about your hood. Here I'll contact you so I can have it fixed, what's your number?" She didn't answer me for a while because she had that star struck look in her eyes. "Miss?" I said checking in with her, it brought her out of her little trance and she gave me her number. "Again I'm so sorry and I'll take care of the bill." I wove goodbye to the girls in the back as I stepped back onto the curb an let them go on their way. The cameras had lowered only for a moment as I was again bombed with questions.

"How did you do that? Where did you learn how to do that? Are you okay?" The questions caused me to just get overwhelmed again and I took off in another sprint down the street.

I had ran for a good ten minutes before I ducked into an alley. Pressing myself against the wall so I wouldn't be seen as they went by. My heart was beating fast in my ears and I went to catch my breath as quick as I could. I took off my backpack and set it on the ground. Rummaging through it, passing my uniform and my collapsible bow. Towards my medicine, it was just some Ibuprofen Pepper insisted I still took until I was fully done with physical therapy. Fury had been having a Shield doctor sign off on the physical therapy so I could train there as well. Thankfully Natasha was easy on me until I was fully complete with it. Although her definition of easier was different than mine. I downed two pills then stretched my arm and leg, putting the pills back in my bag. I then continued down the alley and saw it was abandoned. This is as good as ever, I started to strip off my sweater. Getting into my red leather top, then my jeans and tugged on my black leather pants. I took down my hair and braided it back away from my face. Stuffing my other clothes and shoes into my bag, I laced up my boots and put on my mask. Putting my bow on my I took a breath and looked up at the nearest fire escape.

It being almost dusk meant I could be out for a little while, before I had to return to the tower. I jumped up on the dumpster and ran to the edge of it. Leaping from it and grabbing the fire escape, making my way up to the roof of the apartment complex. By the time I reached the roof I was able to watch the sun set. I knew I was running it close on time when it came to the Stark tower lights but I needed to do this tonight. I raced along the roofs listening to the ear piece I had borrowed from Alec, that was connected to the police stations emergency line.

It was a good twenty minutes of just wandering the roofs before I heard anything. Most nights were quiet but I heard a female scream out which meant I was up. I felt that adrenaline fill my veins and my feet hit the ground fast. I felt my phone buzzing in my boot causing me to giggle at the vibrations. I was slightly ticklish, and putting my phone in my boot wasn't the best choice. But if I didn't I wouldn't feel it ringing. I stabbed a wire into the roof and attached the wire to my bow, leaping off the roof I rappelled down the side of the building. Rolling to my feet. I drew an arrow and aimed it to the man.

"Let the girl go!" As soon as I had met Natasha, she introduced me to Clint Barton. He taught me how to shoot a bow, I preferred it than guns that's for sure. Clint Barton, was known for using his bow and arrow to get the job done. And he hardly never missed, hence why Shield has him named, Hawkeye. Natasha was named Black Widow, she was a red head and wore a black catsuit kinda self explanatory also, she was extremely deadly.

"And what are you gonna do?" He laughed pushing the girl to the ground, her hair roughed up an her lip bleeding. Two guys, both muscular, one had red hair. He stepped up to me. "Just get out of here."

"I asked nicely," I pulled the bowstring back aiming.

"You bein' smart with him little girl?" The other said, he had his hood up. Obviously he didn't want to be seen.

"Who me? Never," I smirked advancing slowly towards the two. "Let the girl go, or else."

"Or else wha-" He yelled out in pain as I shot him with an arrow in the shoulder. That's when I put my bow on my back, it's holster made the bow collapse and lock in it's holster. Grabbing his arm to block a punch and I returned it with a punch to the jaw. He roared in pain, looking back to me with a dangerous glare. His free hand punched my stomach hard, I coughed stepping back grabbing my ribs. "Your gonna regret that bitch," He said running towards me, swinging his arm back for another bow. Quickly I ran and ducked under his arm swing. Turning on my heel I leapt onto his back using my body weight to swing him to the ground. I took his arm in one hand and snapped it out of place. Rolling away from him. I axed kicked his face knocking him out quickly. The other who held onto the girl shoved her into the wall and started coming at me. I ran to the wall, running along it for a few feet before I jumped off the wall tackling him to the ground. He groaned hitting the dirt hard, I heard him huffing and groaning in anger. He shoved me off him and I hit the dumpster hard. He grabbed my foot pulling me towards him, he had gotten to his feet quickly and dug his heal into my stomach. I was given a sharp kick to my gut two times before I went into fight or flight mode. I caught his foot when he went to kick me the third time and spun it, breaking it. He yelled out in pain, an as he did so I swiped his other leg from under him. The girl had grabbed her bag that was a few feet away from us and had called the the authorities. I stood up and gripped my stomach before I smoothed out my uniform seeing the girl looking fine now.

"How are your injuries? Are you alright?" Her breathing was a bit erratic but I put my hands on her shoulder helping her calm her breathing. "Your gonna be alright now."

"Thank you. Thank you so much, you saved me. " I nodded to her and when I heard the sirens coming, I took out my bow and connected the wire to the bow again. The red and blue lights came to a stop outside the street and I saw two officers exiting the car.

"Freeze Hood!" I rolled my eyes, pressing the button on the side of my bow that rolled the wire around it, repelling me back up the five story building. As I was repelling back up the side of the building I gave the familiar dark hair, green eyed officer a two finger salute. I unhooked my wire and wrapped it back along my bow, before I pressed it against my back, it collapsing again. I felt my foot vibrating four times during the fight and that meant I was in for trouble when I made it home.

As soon as I made it to the elevator that would take me to the top floor, I shut it down and tore off my boots and backpack. I changed back into my sweater and pants, switched my shoes and took my hair down. Before I started the elevator back up again I made sure I had stuffed everything back into my bag. The elevator hummed alive again and we started going up. Stopping at the first floor, surprising me. It was a private elevator so when the doors opened I was a bit shocked. The clearance was only for dad, Happy, Pepper and I. So whoever it was, wasn't cleared. I moved to one side of the elevator and put my fists out ready to fight.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, lowering my hands as Agent Coulson stepped into the elevator.

"I'm here to see your father," He paused motioning up at my eyes. "Mask," I gasped and took it off, stuffing it into my bag. Smiling over to him as a way of thanking him. "You taking care of business?"

"What? Oh, Nat?" I questioned and he nodded.

"I'm with Shield, of course I know. Romanoff mentioned it to me before she left for her assignment that I should keep an eye on you," I opened my mouth to ask him not to tell dad but he beat me to the punch. "I wasn't on planning on telling your father." I watched as Coulson took his phone out and dialed dad's number. "Stark, we need to talk."

"You have reached the life size model decoy of Tony Stark, please leave a message." I watched dad, speak through the phone, I made sure not to be in the camera shot.

"This is urgent."

"Then leave it urgently." Dad sassed back to Phil, only to have the elevator doors open and both Coulson and I walk out of the elevator. "Jaedyn Maria Stark." I cringed hearing my full name. "Put your bag in your room then get your ass back out here," I raced up to my room and threw my costume into my bottom closet drawer before I tossed my bag onto my desk chair. I made my way over to the stairs and sat half way down the staircase listening in.

"Phil! Come in!" Pepper yelled smiling to the agent.

"Phil? His first name is Agent." I kept my mouth shut as I watched the three of them together.

"Come in were celebrating." Pepper smiled, her eyes catching mine, I knew I was in for it tonight. I hid behind my hair and rubbed my stomach, already feeling a bruise forming.

"Look Stark, we need you to look this over." Phil goes to hand a file to Tony but he didn't take it. Phil should know by now that dad didn't like being handed things. My mind flashed back to the time I had to take dad's court ordered subpoena.

"I don't like being handed things." Dad said grumpily.

"That's alright, 'cause I love to be handed things. So, let's trade." Pepper said, passing her glass of champagne to Coulson, taking the file from him. Then taking her glass back from him and passing the file to dad. I heard dad mumble something about Consultation hours and then Pepper said my favorite thing to ask Dad about.

"Is this about The Avengers?" She paused looking back to Phil. "Which I know nothing about." He nodded not believing her one second.

"The Avengers Initiative was scrapped, I thought. And I didn't even qualify. Yeah, apparently I'm volatile, self-obsessed, don't play well with others." Dad listed off traits that anyone who knew dad a little would know about him. "Whatever. Miss Potts, got a minute?" Pepper walked over to dad who placed the files into his own databases, organizing them. Slowly I stepped down the rest of the stairs and I gave Phil a quick smile. I heard dad mumble something then Pepper rolled her eyes.

"What is all of this?" Pepper asked looking over his shoulder at the file. Phil looked pretty shaken, and he had a serious look in his eyes. Well more serious than usual as a Shield Agent.

"This is, uh..." Dad paused, expanding his arms and different profiles appeared in holographic forms floating in front of the room. I slowly walked over looking at each file. "This." I saw Captain America in action, the Hulk roaring loudly as he's attacking the army at Culver University, a large muscle man, with a hammer and flowing locks fighting a mechanical robot? Another file showed a man with black long hair and a blue cube. I had known a little bit about each of them, except the man with the black hair and cube. Dad told me stories of when Grandpa knew Captain America, but I could research any of the others on the internet anytime I wanted.

"I'm going to take the jet to D.C. tonight." Pepper said, we all were looking at the screens in awe.

"Tomorrow," Dad argued.

"You've got homework. You've got a lot of homework." Pepper said looking back at the files. They exchanged conversation for a little longer and I watched as she whispered something in his ear. I heard Dad gasp and I looked to my feet, gagging in disgust.

"Square deal. It's the last date," Dad said, Pepper kissing him before she turns towards me and Phil. Phil nodded to me and back towards the elevator Pepper talking about getting a ride to the airport. She wove bye to me giving me a good luck smile as Tony was still probably pissed. I nodded thanking her and began to step backwards towards the stairs hoping to get away. "Stop moving," I stood frozen, he wasn't even looking at me. Parents. "You said you would make it here for the lights. And I hear from the internet that you were running and pushing passed paparazzi, you know they wont stop. Also," He paused crossing his arms, he was in a seriously anger mood. His jaw was clenched and brows had lowered drawing together. "What is with you almost getting hit by a car? And jumping on someones hood?"

"Dad..." I mumble. He rose a finger to tell me to be quiet.

"Jaedyn Maria. I told you to be here. You said you would be here, you gave your word. A Stark sticks to their word," I went to interrupt him again but it only made my situation worse. "You know what. I've had enough of your attitude towards me and the way you are acting as of lately."

"Dad let me jus-"

"Enough Jaedyn. Your grounded." He was looking at this file that had a blue stone and the guy with black long hair.

"Grounded? I've never been grounded," My eyes widened looking at my dad. Grounded?! "Dad my birthday is tomorrow!" I exclaimed, hoping he would change his mind.

"Well congratulations Jaedyn, your grounded. On your birthday. Your not allowed to leave the tower," I narrowed my eyes to him almost to say something against him but I could see by the way he was standing that I would only make it worse. "Jaedyn," He said my name, softer more concerned for some reason. "Go to your room." I didn't say anything, walking through the holographic files I went to my room and closed the door.