↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

Everyone knew about the Ballad of Morgan Stark-Rogers. It didn't matter where you were from or whichever side of the war you were part of, the tragic tale was something the earth collectively wept over.

In the Songbird's earlier years she was said to be overly generous. Often giving her food to the people sleeping on the streets. Howard Stark would tell his son that he once had to pull her off another kid after calling the poor, "Hobos." A slur that the ten year-old girl was heavily against as most homeless people were simple husbands and fathers trying to find work during the Great Depression.

But the most generous thing Morgan Stark ever had done was giving up her college fund so Howard could open up his business, Stark Industries. Money was tight at the time and with their parents both gone they couldn't afford to do both, and for that Howard was forever in his younger sister's debt.

A debt he repaid with a simple black guitar. Something the two used to stare at from the local music shop's window for hours on end in their youth. Neither were aware at the time that that simple gift would become a piece of American history.

When the second war started Morgan refused to sit back as others risked their lives and joined the fight. She originally planned on becoming a secretary in Howard's division, but after a bit of persuading Morgan joined the War Bond Commission. Taking on the stage name Lady Liberty, America's songbird.

At first her role was to be the damsel her co-star, Captain America, saved from Hitler, but after Morgan once accidentally hit their Hitler actor with her guitar they changed it. Making her a symbol of female empowerment, encouraging girls to join the fight as nurses or work in the factories.

As the campaign became even more popular with all their movies, posters, comics and radio shows, the friendship of the two leads did as well. Morgan always told Howard in her letters that Steve Rogers was nothing but a friend, but after watching them kiss off script during the live Christmas special, Howard proudly told his son he threw a desk at the lab's television.

Eventually as the campaign was cancelled Morgan joined her brother on base. Even if she could pack a punch she was never one for violence, becoming a secretary as well as entertaining her boyfriend's comrades in between battles.

Tony Stark would always be forced to hear of the adventures the "Dream Team" went on, before everything changed. As war goes there are losses, but also some surprises.

It took three men to pry Howard off of Steve when Morgan admitted she was pregnant.

The owner of Stark Industries laughed about it now but the only other survivor of the Dream Team, Peggy Carter, told Tony she was sure Steve would've died if it weren't for Morgan showing Howard her simple engagement ring.

Even if Howard wasn't happy about the circumstances he had to let it go as the war was still raging on. That and he could now start planning a massive wedding for America's Sweethearts.

Though sadly the two would never wed as weeks later Captain Steve Rogers had sacrificed himself to save who knows how many lives. Morgan singing to him in his final moments just to keep himself calm before crashing into the ice, lost forever.

Howard said his sister was never the same after that, all songs she once sang for crowds became sorrowful. Not that she'd sing for long anyways.

Morgan told her brother she needed some space as he was smothering her and wanted a night by herself; something Howard regretted ever since as would never see her breathing again.

Hours to days, days to weeks, weeks to months... not a sign of Lady Liberty. Until July Fourth, 1945.

Howard received a call as well as coordinates to a final Hydra base not on any of the government's radar. Crying as he heard his little sister's voice on the other end.

As most wars go even after they end a few remain loyal to the losing side, and some of those few took America's Songbird. Beginning the final ballad Morgan admitted to losing the baby as she planned to overpower the mainframe in her captor's base. Howard begged her to wait for help but there was no time.

The elder Stark knowing deep down she was right asked for one final thing from his sister, to sing for him. Which she complied.

When the army arrived the base was nothing but crumbling ashes as they desperately searched for the Stark. Once they brought back her body they held a service that outshined the King's and Pharaohs of old. It didn't matter where you were from, everyone wept over the woman and child who did not deserve the fiery death they received.

The final recording of Lady Liberty became known as the Ballad of Morgan Stark-Rogers, becoming the most famous song in history. It didn't matter that she never wed Steve, the world knew they belonged together.

Even if the song was well known, it also had some conspiracies. The final line before cutting off was rather muffled, saying, "See you in hell, mother fucker!" Before cutting out.

Some say it was to hype herself up before sacrificing herself, yet others say she was speaking to another person in the room. But no one would ever know as no footage of the ballad had been recovered, burnt away with the base she was kept in.

Said conspiracies made Howard's son, Tony Stark, not believe an ounce of what the heads of yet another government organization had just told him.

"How desperate exactly are you for weapons?" Tony scoffed at the director of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. A name he found rather pretentious even for him.

Nick Fury only sighed at the latest meeting he had to attend. The son of the great Howard Stark was far from a good person being said to be rather obnoxious as well as narcissistic.

Director Fury had better things to do than speak to the usually drunken playboy but the recent abnormal findings forced the two of them inside that small board room.

"Excuse me?" Is all the director could get out before being interrupted.

"You know I've had some women do this to me in the past for a check, but I never thought a full on government organization would stoop so low," Tony crossed his arms, leaning back in his plush chair. "So what are you after? The C-602? Fireflash? Milan? Come on spill."

Nick Fury simple stared at the weapon tycoon, "We don't want any your weapon."

The Stark didn't bother to hold in any laughter, "Seriously? Okay, where are the cameras? Who put you up to this? Obie?" He flashed his pearly whites, "This is something he'd totally do, or was it Pepper? I know she's been trying to convince me to get a vasectomy and not gonna lie, it's working."

With a sigh Director Fury decided to keep explaining the recent discovery, "Her name is Diana and she is seven-"

"Okay, I'm just gonna stop you right there," Tony raised his hand to stop the one-eyed man. "I don't know if you are aware but my aunt died in 1945. Over sixty years ago."

"Yes we are aware of that-"

"And if you've ever listened to the Ballad, you may have heard it as it plays every Fourth of July as well as every Remembrance Day, where she says she lost the baby," Tony started to become a little more ticked off as the director wouldn't drop the prank.

Director Fury opened up one of the many files he had brought in, "We have evidence to believe she was taken out of her mother before the army found Mrs. Stark-Rogers. As well as this girl being a direct descendant of your aunt."

"Oh my god," he breathed out a laugh. "Do you even hear yourself right now? Descendent? What's next, that she has the same abilities as her quote on quote 'descendant'?"

When he saw Fury not react Tony knew he was done. Standing up Tony said he was leaving before stopping once he realized the door would not open.

Still sitting down Fury crossed his legs and glanced towards the trillionaire, "If you think I wanted to be the one to inform you on this discovery, you are completely wrong."

"Yet here you are," Tony scoffed, leaning against the locked door.

"Yet here I am," Nick Fury gestured to his chair. "Telling you what I am legally required too."

"Legally required too?" Tony crossed his arms.

He nodded, "As the Rogers line is gone it makes you the next of kin, and it is our responsibility to inform you and proceed to the next steps-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on," Tony quickly walked towards the table. "You better not finish that sentence there, Plankton."

"As she is a minor it is our responsibility to find her a safe place to stay. They want her with her own blood."

Tony shook his head as he sat down once more, "Look, you could be telling the truth about finding this kid in some lab. It's horrible and I feel terrible for what she's been through, and I'll happily help pay for her therapy and find her a home. It'll be a good write off for me, but my aunt died carrying her child. This kid can't be related to us."

"A child who was cut from the womb," Fury added with a huff. "Mr. Stark, if you think I want to be here, you're wrong. I don't think you have the mental capacity to care for a plastic fern, let alone a living child."

"Then why come to me?"

He leaned closer, "Because it's either she's with you or is property of the American government. Her abilities make her a desirable asset and I personally believe she deserves a bit of freedom."

Tony only huffed and got back up, "I'm done. I'm not being guilted into taking a random child."

"How about a dna test?" Fury asked before Tony could bang on the door. "Your lawyers present so you understand I'm not lying."

The genius glanced back at the man with an annoyed expression, "If I say yes will you let me go?"

With a nod from the director Tony finally agreed before storming out of the office, repulsed. Growing up he had always been forced to hear of his perfect Uncle Rogers, as well as his Saintly aunt. Of course he had nothing against Morgan, but jealousy of how Howard seemed to love her more than him was deep in his core.

Still he respected the woman and hearing anyone trying to tarnish her reputation made him sick. It was one thing to claim they were his child, but another to say they were the child or grandchild of Morgan Stark-Rogers. As if they were the Grand Duchess Anastasia, trying to reclaim their throne.

He didn't believe them for a second.

So a week later when Pepper brought in another file straight from the lawyers Tony didn't think much of it.

"It's a partial match. Maternal side," until Pepper read it outloud.

The CEO scratched the car he was currently working on as the words left his assistant. Freezing, Pepper wondered if she was to continue or not, "So they really weren't lying to you..."

Still as the man sat there like a deer frozen in the headlights. He wasn't ready for it to be true. Obadiah laughed it off as nothing but a way to get weapons out of them. Giving him a kid they "rescued from human exploitation", making him feel indebted to the child's heroes.

He wasn't ready for a kid. There was a reason he carried every possible birth control. He wasn't a fan of kids. Hell, Tony's plan for an heir was to give it to a protégé he planned on making way down the line, while his fortune went to his assistant and whichever lucky bastard tricked her into marrying them.

He didn't want kids.

Yet he was now being guilted into taking one, "They sent a picture... she's actually really cute," Pepper said in a kind but sorrowful manner. "Looks just like the Captain."

Tony didn't move as the picture was slowly handed to him, "You wanna... see?" Tony raised his hand and shook his head, indicating a firm no.

With a small sigh Pepper nodded and closed up the files, "Will that be all for today, Mr. Stark?"

He slowly nodded, "Yeah. Yeah, you're off for the day."

"Thank you. Don't forget about your speech for the Apogee Award next month needs to be completed and approved by Friday," she exclaimed.

"You'll get it done?"

"In your office awaiting your signature."

With a click of the tongue the man with everything nodded, "Thank you."

Pepper grabbed the last of her belongings before placing the photo of the girl on Tony's toolbox before leaving. He waited a few moments before making sure she was off the property before grabbing the photo.

She was cute. Short platinum hair just reaching her shoulders, permanently pale stained skin from years in ice and stark blue eyes were proof enough she definitely had Rogers blood flowing through her veins.

But the one thing that made his breathing stagger was her smile. The signature Stark smirk his line carried. She may have had the features of her father, but that girl was a Stark through and through. Just like her ancestor. Named, Diana A. Rogers-Stark.

Yet as Tony stared at the photo of his distant cousin, with the many impossible questions and concerns he had, the only thing he could say was... "I don't want kids..." for with the way he turned out he knew he couldn't raise one right.

If only deciding if taking her in was the hardest decision as not even a month later the man who had all he could dream only a click away was stuck in a cave. A slave to a terrorist organization called the Ten Rings, with a heart being powered by a car battery to keep metal away from his chest.

During his three months of slavery, forced to build a missile he befriended a fellow image by the name of Yinsen. When Tony looked back on his time inside the Ten Rings a singular conversation always came to mind.

"You still haven't told me where you're from."

The man started to smile, "I'm from a small town called Gulmira. It's actually a nice place."

Tony nodded as they continued to play with their dice, a small source of entertainment, "Got a family?"

"Yes, and I will see them when I leave here," Yinsen started to smile at the thought of them. "And you, Stark?"

Tony took a moment to respond before shaking his head, "Not really."

"Not really? So you're a man who has everything and nothing," his friend hummed.

"It's... more complicated," Tony sighed. "I have a cousin."

Yinsen placed down the dice, "A cousin?"

Tony ran his hand down his face as he thought about the girl he had ignored. He hadn't even been in captivity for long, and wondered how hard it must've been for her entire life to be stuck in a situation similar to this very one.

"I didn't know she existed. No one did. She just kinda..." he made a poof gesture with his hands, "Showed up and... they wanted me to take her."

"How old?"

He shrugged, "Seven or eight?"

Yinsen let out a sigh as he closed up the game, "And you don't know if you want to or not."

"I'm not the fatherly type," Tony shook his head. "Mine never paid attention to me and I was always considered a hassle. I can't put a kid through what I went through."

"Do you plan on being like your father?"

Tony scoffed, "No?"

"So you already are a better man. The only person who can stop the cycle is you," Yinsen's words made the other captive freeze. "My father was a bad man. Used a belt, hurt my siblings and I for breathing too loudly. So when my wife found out she was pregnant I was terrified. Terrified of becoming like that monster, but after my daughter came into the world I knew I would never even think of doing anything like that to her."

Tony slowly nodded, "Were you scared at all? Nervous?"

"Of course I was."

"Well... did you feel qualified?" He then asked, "Like you had any idea how to successfully operate that thing?"

Yinsen simply shook his head, "Mr. Stark, a child will never come with a manual," he smiled. "The most you can do is take things one day at a time."

Tony listened to him for a moment before shaking his head with a sigh. He didn't like kids, but after what he went through he might just change his mind.

Yinsen didn't last much longer, sacrificing himself to help Tony escape. As Tony held his friend's body, Yinsen comforted him saying he was joining his daughter in the afterlife. And when Yinsen died in his arms, he knew what needed to be done.

Not even on American soil for ten minutes Tony Stark demanded two things, a cheeseburger and an emergency press conference.

Still chowing down on the first proper meal in three months Tony strutted into the conference room where dozens of reporters eagerly awaited what would've been the biggest story of the decade.

Plopping down on the steps Tony pulled out his second burger and unwrapped the protective packaging, "Hey, would it be all right if everyone sat down? Why don't you just sit down? That way you can see me, and I can," he gestured to his food. "A little less formal."

With a heavy sigh he took another bite of his food, "I never got to say goodbye to Dad. I never got to say goodbye to my father," he admitted. "There's questions that I would have asked him. I would have asked him how he felt about what this company did. If he was conflicted... if he ever had doubts."

The cameras surrounding him pointed downwards to get a better glimpse of the broken weapon tycoon, "Or maybe he was every inch the man we all remember from the newsreels," he crumbled up the paper and handed it to his business partner. "My father started this company to make a better tomorrow. To make something for the future. My Aunt gave up everything so he could achieve that."

A few more flashes went off, "I saw young Americans killed by the very weapon I created to defend them and protect them... my aunt Morgan wouldn't have wanted that. And I saw that I had become part of a system that is comfortable with zero accountability. She didn't want that for this company."

A few journalists raised their hands with many questions as to where this was going, "What happened over there?"

Tony let out a long sigh as he tried to fight the horror of the last three months, the people he met, the ones he killed and the ones who died because of his company.

"I had my eyes opened," he stood up. "I came to realise that I have more to offer this world than just making things that blow up. And that is why, effective immediately, l am shutting down the weapon manufacturing division of Stark International until such a time as I can decide what the future of the company will be."

A small discussion that would ultimately affect his life forever. Before agreeing to take in any child he was going to make sure the company he ran was something to be proud of and not feared.

It took a lot of work, a betrayal and a ton of scrap metal but Tony had gotten exactly what he hoped for. It only took him creating a metal suit in order to do so.

"Iron Man. That's kind of catchy. It's got a nice ring to it," Tony hummed as he saw the metal suit he created on the cover of yet another newspaper. "I mean, it's not technically accurate. The suit's a gold-titanium alloy, but it's kind of evocative, the imagery, anyway."

Agent Colson quickly handed the hero of Malibu, who took down a under the table weapons dealer, a card, "Here's your alibi."

Tony looked down at it with distaste as his assistant fixed up his makeup, hiding the burn marks, "Okay."

"You were on your yacht. We have port papers that put you in Avalon all night, and sworn statements from fifty of your guests," the man exclaimed.

"See, I was thinking maybe we should say it was just Pepper and me alone on the island."

His joke wasn't well appreciated by the agent as he told the man again, "That's what happened. Just read it, word for word."

Tony glanced through the lies and deceptions written down for him, "But what about the whole cover story that it's a bodyguard? He's my... I mean, is that... That's kind of flimsy, don't you think?"

"This isn't my first rodeo, Mr Stark. Just stick to the official statement, and soon, this will all be behind you," he then pulled out a few more files. "And I was told you wanted these."

"I don't like to be handed things," Tony said as Pepper huffed.

Putting down the concealer Pepper grabbed the file with a smile, "Well it's a great thing that I love to be handed things, so..." her smile started to fade as she stared at the papers in shock.

Jaw dropped at the signatures outlining the blue pages she glanced to her boss who was smirking, "You did not..."

"Is it now official?" He proudly asked as he grabbed the adoption papers from his 'not girlfriend'.

The agent nodded, "A few more things have to be done but she is legally yours. Congratulations," he then turned to the frozen woman. "You've got ninety seconds."

Before he could leave Pepper was quick to grab him, "Agent Coulson? I just wanted to say thank you very much for all of your help."

The man smiled, "That's what we do. You'll be hearing from us shortly."

"From the Strategic Homeland-"

"Just call us Shield," the agent smiled before leaving the room.

Turning her attention back to her boss, the strawberry blonde stared at the man, "You hate kids, huh?"

Tony, still terrified of what was to come, sighed, "A wise man told me not to waste my life and take things a day at a time."

The woman, proud of her 'not boyfriend' grinned as she went to grab her belongings, "Then let's get this show on the road, Papa Stark."

As they prepared to leave Tony went back to focusing on his cards, "It's not a bad name, isn't it? A father figure. Better than Iron man."

"You're not Iron Man," she told him.

"Am so," he stated as she helped him place on his suit.

"You're not."

"All right, suit yourself," he chuckled as Pepper started to fix him up. "You know, if I were Iron Man, I'd have this girlfriend who knew my true identity. She'd be a wreck, 'cause she'd always be worrying that I was going to die, yet so proud of the man I'd become. She'd be wildly conflicted, which would only make her more crazy about me... and she'd help me out with this... crazy new responsibility I just signed myself up for."

Pepper watched as he waved the papers around, "Will that be all, Mr Stark?" She smirked as he quickly nodded.

"Yes, that will be all, Miss Potts."

With a millisecond to spare the two made it towards the latest live press conference prepared especially to hide the fact that Tony Stark not only made but battled in an iron suit.

But they never should've expected a Stark to follow through on any instructions. Especially as he now had the documents in hand and no more leverage to make him silent.

Telling the world, "I am Iron Man."

The same night, after hours of shopping with Pepper for essentials for a child of seven year-old, he made it back inside to his rather dimly lit mansion.

Looking around Tony Stark felt like something was off as he called for his security system, "Jarvis?"

But instead of his system answering back to him another voice let out a small chuckle, "I am Iron Man," Tony's brow raised as he saw Nick Fury looking out the window. "You think you're the only superhero in the world?"

The man watched as the one-eyed director turned to face him with another file in hand, "Mr Stark, you've become part of a bigger universe. You just don't know it yet."

"What the hell does that mean?"

Director Fury raised the file with a smirk, "You want to be a superhero? Then I guess you better be prepared for what you just allowed in your house."

The last male Stark quickly caught the file Nick had thrown at him, "That girl is more of a direct descendant of your aunt than you think," Making Tony's eyes blow up as he saw the truth laid out before him.

Diana A. Rogers-Stark, daughter of the great Captain America and Lady Liberty.

•••