𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲

༻ ❁ ༺

April, 2005

          LIFE FOR THE STARK'S went on as normal for the next two and a half years.

As Charlotte grew, the territory that Stark Industries covered expanded also, which meant that Tony was beginning to find that he was not at home as often as he should be, or as often as he wanted to be - much to his own despise and disappointment.

It was one night when Charlotte was almost four years old and Tony was six days into a fortnight-long business trip, a thunderstorm was rolling in from the East Coast that had kept everyone in their homes for the past forty-eight hours. The residents of Malibu seemed to be adhering to the advice of the local news and were avoiding leaving their homes, as the roads flooded and the trees rocked heavily in the gale-force winds; the rain was bearing down on the expansive glass windows at Malibu Point.

However, Pepper could not focus on that right now. She was more concerned with comforting the small child that was sobbing in her arms, her tiny legs wrapped around her middle and her arms tightly holding around her neck. The little girl's body was coated in a sheen layer of sweat, her nightie clinging to her damp body. Charlotte's temperature had begun to spike two mornings prior, and after two sleepless nights, it appeared that tonight would be no different.

With little warning from her daughter, Pepper carried her into the bathroom just in time for her to violently heave into the toilet bowl; she held her daughter's hair and rubbed her back as the girl sobbed and whimpered in distress and concern.

This was not the first time that Charlotte had been sick, it was perfectly common for toddlers to pick up germs on a regular basis. However, this was the first time that the sickness had lasted more than twenty-four hours, and Pepper was growing more and more concerned. That morning, she had woken to J.A.R.V.I.S notifying her that Charlotte's core temperature was elevated, and her heart rate had increased ever so slightly; having entered her room, her daughter was sitting upright in her bed, crying whilst holding her stomach and her head.

J.A.R.V.I.S informed Pepper that Charlotte's temperature had risen to 99.5 degrees from 97 degrees the previous night. Throughout the day, the young Stark became increasingly lethargic and refused to eat or drink anything out of fear of vomiting.

It was now eight o'clock in the evening, and after managing to persuade the child to have a glass of water and a few small bites of plain bread, she was now sitting on the floor of Charlotte's bathroom as she cried exhaustedly into her neck.

Another red flag waved violently when Charlotte made an attempt to stand up and she staggered, her right leg then buckled underneath her and she fell onto the hard and cold tiles, clutching her leg in pain. After consulting J.A.R.V.I.S, and declaring that nothing was broken or fracture within her leg, Pepper decided that enough was enough and made the decision to take Charlotte to the nearest hospital.

While she was in the next room, preparing to leave, having already called for a driver, she heard Charlotte retching heavily. Pepper hurried back into her daughter's bathroom with a small rucksack in hand, her heart dropped at the sight.

Charlotte was still sitting on the floor, her head barely reaching the bowl as she heaved into the toilet. The stench of sweat and bile mixed in Pepper's nose, burning as she breathed deeply, fighting against her own nausea.

This feeling was quickly replaced with concern as she recollected that Charlotte had not managed to eat a full meal that day on account of her fever and fatigued state. The amount that the child was vomiting was worrying, and it was clear that she had nothing but the lining of her stomach to bring up as she continued to heave in Pepper's arms, her small frame was coated in a warm sheen, the sweat dampening her t-shirt.

The drive to the hospital seemed as if it took an hour when in reality it was no more than twenty minutes in the evening traffic. The weather had taken a turn for the worse. Thunder continued to roll across the skies and the rain lashed down upon them. While in the car, J.A.R.V.I.S informed them that he had tried to contact Tony, but he appeared to be unavailable at the moment.

"I don't care what you have to do. Make him available."

"Right away, Mrs. Stark."

༻ ❁ ༺

As soon as they arrived at the hospital, Pepper rushed out of the car, cradling her crying and shaking daughter in her arms.

Throughout her short childhood, Pepper and Tony had done everything they could to keep Charlotte out of the public's eye; avoiding press and reporters had become a daily occurrence, however at this moment in time, it was the farthest thing from her mind as she hurried into the emergency department.

After reporting to the receptionist, who promised that they would handle the situation with transparency and secrecy, Charlotte was promptly seen by a doctor.

It was at this moment that her phone rang and Tony's name flashed on her screen. She answered, not taking her eyes off their daughter.

"Hey Pep, sorry I missed your call. The meeting overran an-"

"Tony. You need to come home." Her speech was rushed but her tone remained serious and low, a clear signal to her husband that something was wrong.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"I'm at the hospital." Her straight composure faded as she fought hard not to cry. In the background, she heard a slight rustling which she guessed was Tony grabbing his suit jacket; he quickly barked an order for Happy to get him to the airport.

"Are you okay? Is Charlie okay?" He sounded out of breath as if he was pacing or walking quickly.

"I don't know. She's got a fever and wouldn't stop vomiting. She couldn't stand up and her legs were in pain and -"

She was getting more frantic by the second as she watched the doctor poke and prod Charlotte with different instruments, wires now lay across her chest as a machine recorded her breathing and oxygen levels.

"Pep, Pep, I can't make out what you're saying. What hospital are you at?"

She filled Tony in on everything that had happened that night, and he informed her that he was already on his way to the airport.

"I'll be there as soon as I can, I promise."

The call disconnected and Pepper felt a pressing weight in her chest. Even on a jet, it would still take Tony almost two hours to reach them.