" then why'd you leave me? "

Chapter 9:

Where He Went

Tony Stark went missing just a few weeks before what was supposed to be Peter's seventh birthday.

Too big of a coincidence in Annabeth's eyes but a coincidence nonetheless. It seemed like the entire universe had something against Annabeth. I mean, why else would this be happening?

When Annabeth found out, she had been chatting with Happy about how his family drama. His sister just got married and Happy was not very fond of his new brother-in-law.

Rhodey had arrived then, with a tearful Pepper on his tail, hoping to tell the Pierce girl the news themselves. After all, Annabeth could have reacted in any way and out of all those who were left— they did know her the best.

She had laughed at first, as if they were all playing a joke on her. Then she had said something among the lines of, "Please, he is Tony Stark— he is probably in Thailand having a vacation."

Her denial towards the situation in hand had continued for a few more minutes till it finally sunk in her head that it was true— Tony might never come back.

She had fallen on the ground and the entire group watched as Annabeth finally broke down.

"Not again," she kept whispering, rocking herself back and forth as if it was her only form of comfort.

"Hey, Annie," Rhodey had sat in front of her— still in his uniform, "It's okay... Tony will find his way back home."

"He—he—what if he doesn't?" Annabeth had whispered back, once again fidgeting with the ring on her neck, "I can't lose him Rhodey, not after everything that happened between us already... not after everything I already lost.."

He sighed. He remembered Peter— of course he did, he was supposed to be the kid's godfather. Hell— they were even keeping James as the boy's middle name and then...

"You are not going to lose him, Annabeth," he promised her, "Not again— not if I have anything to do about it."

Annabeth had wiped her tears then, getting up and had received a bone-crushing hug from Pepper and a kiss on her forehead from Rhodey.

"Besides," Happy had said, "He's Tony Stark— he will be fine."

The nightmares started in the second week of Tony's disappearance.

Rhodey had looked for every way possible to get Annabeth to sleep but every morning he came back to the Stark Mansion to see her staring at the kitchen wall with an untouched cup of coffee in front of her.

When Rhodey failed, Pepper started to make sure that Annabeth took care of herself.

It had been a few months since Annabeth had joined SI and Pepper had found in her the best friend she had always needed.

Pepper's family was pretty serious and lonely and working as Tony Stark's assistant can only get you so many friends— Pepper was glad to have Annabeth.

After a bit of time in their friendship, Pepper discovered Annabeth's history with Tony and about Peter.

In Pepper's eyes, Annabeth was a true warrior, so when she saw Annabeth's nightmares appear, she started to stay with the girl at night— as a sense of comfort.

Pepper soon, also realized that the thought of both Peter and Tony haunted the girl at night.

This was something Pepper could not help her in but the most she could do was be there for the girl and she was.

And oh, how Annabeth appreciated her for it.

...

Dearest Anthony,

Pepper sent me back to Dr. Allen yesterday. She thinks I am not coping well with you being gone which sounds stupid if you think about it because you are just my boss and I am just your assistant. That's what we are always going to be now.

But she is right— I am not fine and the worst part is that if you don't come back... if you don't make it back to me, I don't think I'll ever be fine again.

Maybe, it's me— I might be the bad luck in our lives, maybe it's my fault your parents are dead and my parents got divorced and why our son never saw light. I know it's my fault we never got to say— 'I do.'

I still remember everything, Tones and it's killing me not to know if you are even alive. You are the most important person to me and I don't know what I will do if you won't be around.

Rhodey tries to get me to sleep but I can see that he, himself is tired. He comes everyday to check up on me and then goes back to see if there are any updates on your condition. It's killing me.

So, I am writing this letter incase I am not there when you come back because I know you will. You are not like me— you don't run away when things get hard. You know that there are people back home that love you and need you to come back.

I just hope you know that I love you too.

I always have and I was a wreck in London without you— I thought I was losing my mind. My mom was there to get me through it but I didn't want you to have a grieving wife as you become the next CEO of Stark Industries. You had great things coming your way- I wasn't going to stand in the way for that.

And if I am still here when you come back then I want this letter to be a promise I made to myself because I know that considering how far we have come along the years— I will never be able to leave now. I won't be able to leave you so I promise that if you ask me to, I will. I won't ask why and I will leave if it is the only thing good for you.

But just in case, I love you — for two infinities and even more till the oceans dry and the lands turn to dust. I will love you tomorrow and now.

Always yours,

Annie

annabethpierce01 I was going through my mom's things yesterday and I found the picture Rhodey took at that Christmas Party your dad threw. I was pissed because you said you forgot to get me a gift and this was moments before you asked me to marry you. I said yes and honestly if it came again— I still would. Just come home...

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