"Hi Cody. I didn't order lunch to be delivered. I was......"

"No, I know. But, er, pops said that you had called in an order to pick up, and I know that you're usually busy in here. Soooooooo I thought that I would save you a trip." Cody replied. Handing (Y/n) the brown bag.

"That is so sweet of you. If you come in, I'll get you the money." (Y/n) smiled, as she opened the door to let the young man inside. Cody following dutifully behind her as she made her way to the small office in the far corner of the shop.

"Wow, (Y/n). What is it that you are actually doing in here?" Cody asked, as he picked up a small, shiny, freshly cut piece of metal from a table.

"Oh you know........just what any other girl would do if she had her own machine shop. I make bits and bobs and this and that." (Y/n) told him. Taking the connector from his hand and putting it back on the work bench.

"Actually, it's just a few things for my own special projects, and some cash in hand jobs for local places. Got to keep the wolf from the door." (Y/n) added, before gesturing for him to continue to follow her.

"You know, I don't think I've ever met a girl that's into this kind of thing, before. You know, working with machines like this, and all that." Cody said. Thanking (Y/n) as she handed him a few dollar notes for the sandwich in the bag.

"Well, I suppose that you could say its in my blood. My father, grandfather, were, are........well, lets just say, it's sort of what my family does." (Y/n) explained, as she sat on the corner of the desk, offering Cody one half of the sandwich that he had brought her. The young man taking it happily as he dropped into the chair in front of her.

"You never mentioned a family before, (Y/n). Is it just you, your dad and grandpa?" Cody asked, as he pushed his half of (Y/n)'s lunch into his mouth.

"No. Not really. My grandparents were killed a long time ago. And I was living with my father until I came here, but there is much more to my family than just me and him. I have lots of, sort of surrogate brothers and sisters. Or aunts and uncles depending how you look at them. They're all amazing. And I miss them all more than I thought I possibly could." (Y/n) sighed sadly. Looking down at her half of the sandwich and realising that she had lost her appetite. Handing the rest of her lunch to the dark haired boy that sat in the chair.

"Your family sounds much more interesting than mine, (Y/n). I don't think dad has ever even left the state. And if he's not in the diner, cooking. He's usually asleep in front of the TV. What do they all do? What does your dad do? Why haven't you seen them?" Cody mumbled. His mouth full of food.

"Well, as I said.......dad does this kind of thing. He's really good at it too. If you asked him, I know that he would tell you that he was the best. And, in truth, he might be right. I learnt a lot of what I know, from him. One of my......uncles, is a doctor. Between him and my dad, I am sure that there's nothing that they don't know. Then there are a couple that are, er...........they sort of work for an agency. Two of them were in the army, one in the Air Force. One got in trouble a while ago, ended up in prison. But he's good now. He's smart too. Not that most people would realise that. Then there's, er........he sort really strong, and knows lots about old religions. Well, one anyway. Then there's his sort of adopted brother, who is the real black sheep of the family. But, once you get to know him, he's ok. And finally there's..........there's Peter. O should I say, Practically Perfect Peter. My father's favourite. And I haven't seen them for a while because I had an argument with my father and Peter. A bad one. Even though they aren't related, my dad thinks more of him than he does me. And I got angry. Did some things that I probably shouldn't have done. But, no matter how much I miss them all, I can't go back until I've proved myself. Until I've shown my father that I'm..........well, just until I've proved myself. That I can do so much more than he knows" (Y/n) tried to explain. Thinking how best to describe her strange family and her situation, without giving Cody any names, or telling him what and who she actually was. But having a terrible feeling that she had done the worst job possible.

"Wow, (Y/n). It sounds like you live in one of those crazy comedy shows you see on TV, where they all live in the same building or house. Sounds much more fun than living here though." Cody chuckled as he licked a thin coat of butter from his fingers.

"Yeah, I suppose that you could see it a little like that. We do all sort of live under the same roof. And occasionally we can drive one another nuts. There can be some bickering and squabbling. But when it comes down to it, we all look after one another. We all protect one another. Protect other people. It's what my family does. Who we are." (Y/n) replied. A small smile pulling at her lips as she thought about Sam and Bucky's arguments. About Loki always calling Thor and oaf. About her dad driving everyone crazy by just being himself. And about Scott and his goofy dad jokes, as well as his lame magic tricks.

"You know. I think that your dad would be impressed. I mean, look at what you've been able to do here, all by yourself. You turned this old run down place into a going concern. You keep this up, and next thing you know, you'll be up there with that Stark Industries." Cody told her. His brows furrowing as (Y/n) began to laugh out loud.

"Maybe you're right. Maybe one day I could even be in charge Stark Industries. But for now, and as you have eaten my lunch. I think that I should probably get back to what I was doing." (Y/n) replied. Shaking her head as Cody tried to apologise for eating her sandwich. The pair making their way back to the door to the outside world.

"If you come into the diner when you're finished here, I'll have pops make you something nice, on me. And then maybe, we could go see a movie." Cody offered, as he leaned against the door jamb.

"Why not. It feels like a long time since I've had any fun. I'll be in town at six. I'll see you in the diner then." (Y/n) replied. Waving off the young man as he made his way back to his bike. The young Stark hoping that the dark haired boy would be able to take her mind completely off her father and Peter. Even if it was just for one night.

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

Peter looked out of the large window, completely ignoring the TV that blared at him from across the room. His thoughts had been on (Y/n) since that night. How he had missed out on telling her how he felt. How he would give everything to change what had happened. How he hoped that they would be able to find her and bring her home, so that he could in fact tell her how much he loved her. Yet just like the rest of the team, he was stuck in a strange kind of limbo. Something was missing from the compound now that (Y/n) wasn't there. The team, and her father finally seeing how much she actually did around the place. How much more work there was to do, now that (Y/n) wasn't there to fix all the damaged weapons, and just generally pick up the pieces. It was obvious that her father was missing her, Peter noticing that the billionaire had become quieter, as one attempt after another failed to find (Y/n). Even on missions, the great Iron Man was just not the same. And Peter had come to realise, that without knowing that (Y/n) would be waiting for them in the compound when they all got back. Things just didn't feel right.

"It would appear that the world has a new hero........."A voice on the TV suddenly said. Peter's head spinning to get a look at the images that flashed across the screen. The reporter going on to say that a figure in black armour had appeared and rescued a number of people from an earthquake in Japan, before disappearing as quickly as it had appeared. Peter's heart pounding violently in his chest, as he watched the shaky cell phone footage of the "new hero" effortlessly holding up a huge expanse of collapsing bridge, as the emergency services rescued those stranded in their cars, on the crumbling stretch of concrete and twisted rebar.

"MISTER STARK! MISTER STARK! (Y/N). ITS (Y/N)!" Peter exclaimed as he jumped to his feet. The young man racing through the long halls as he made his way to the labs, desperate to tell Tony what he had just seen.