It's Always Been You

hundred forty-two

Previous on Out Of Time...

"Tony..." She tried to turn away, but Tony grabbed onto her arms, keeping her facing him.

"No, you don't get to run away right now. I need an answer. If we're going to do this, bring everyone back. I need to know the truth, once and for all. That I wasn't the second choice, that I wasn't just the only option so you went for it... So, tell me, would you have chosen me if Barnes was still here?"

"You're an absolute idiot, Stark," Y/N practically growled, trying to hold back her anger as she pulled away from him. "You think that I would marry you if I didn't absolutely love you? That I would do that if I wasn't choosing you? It's always been you!! Ever since the first day we met, I just didn't want to admit it. Too scared that this would all go wrong somehow and I would lose you forever. That day Strange showed up to get us, do you remember how I kept trying to tell you something and you kept going on about that dream you had about Morgan?"

"Yes," Tony mumbled, trying not to make Y/N freak more than she was. He was also feeling guilty about ever doubting her, he knew better than that.

"I was trying to tell you that I had chosen you! I had made my choice that day and I was coming to tell you that you were it for me! But then... then everything happened... And people vanished... I searched Titan a thousand times over for you. Hoping and praying that the ashes that keep breezing past me, weren't you. And when you came back alive, no one else mattered. Because I had you still, and I knew that we'd be okay. No matter what... And the fact that, after all this time, you're doubting me... that hurts." Tears were threatening to spill from Y/N's eyes.

"Y/N, honey," Tony went to hold her, but she stepped away.

"How could you doubt me? After all this time? I know that I probably confused you, but did I ever give you doubt in the last five years that I wasn't completely devoted to you? To the family that we built?"

"You have to see it my way, Y/N. I thought that we were good back then too. And then Bucky came back into the picture, more than once."

"And yet I still came back to you. After everything, I always found my way back to you... I love you, Tony. It's always been you."

"I'm so sorry, honey," Tony slowly reached for Y/N's hands. He was scared that she'd pull away again as he was so desperate to feel her in his arms. "I should have never doubted you." She flinched slightly as his hands took hers, but didn't pull away. "It's always been you for me too." He slowly moved closer to her. "I'm sorry I just..." He sighed. "It's always been nagging at me. I needed to know."

"I know... And I'm sorry I didn't clear it up sooner." She curled herself into his chest. "I'm terrified, Tony."

Tony held her to his chest and held a kiss to her head. "Me too."

"I can't lose anyone else... especially not you or Morgan."

"We aren't going to lose each other or Morgan... we're going to make it through this." He looked down and brushed his fingers down her cheeks. "I love you."

"I love you, too." She pulled him down for a kiss. "I'm still mad at you for doubting me."

"I have a feeling that you'll get back at me for it in a subtle way later."

"Not gonna be that subtle."

~~~

"And then Happy bought me two cheeseburgers!" Morgan exclaimed through the phone's screen.

"Two?!" Y/N gasped, faking excitement for Morgan.

"And I ate them both!"

"Oh my goodness! That's crazy!"