𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞

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April, 2008

          WITHIN MALIBU POINT, it was eerily silent.

It had been two months since Pepper received the fated phone call from Rhodey. As she went downstairs, tears threatened to spill as she cast a look over the dark and quiet room, the normal tinkering Pepper would hear coming from Tony's lab. What she wouldn 't give to hear rock music blaring from the speakers once again. The room that had once been packed with the joyful laughter of Charlotte as Tony chased her across the room was now empty. The halls seemed to be empty and packed with painful reminders of the memories created within these walls.

In a depressed condition, Pepper had noticed that Charlotte had lost interest in all of her passions and hobbies. A child who would normally spend hours sitting on the piano at a time, playing over and over again, would now sit on the stool and just look, vacant at the keys before sobbing openly and running to her bedroom.

Charlotte will barely sleep for more than four hours a night, refusing to eat or drink, and only wished to be alone in Tony's lab. The most concerning part were that, as of late, Charlotte had simply refused to accommodate her prosthesis that Tony had specially designed for her. During these days, Charlotte would be found, sitting in her wheelchair in the lab, staring motionless at Tony's workbench. It was as if she was picturing him, tinkering with whatever gadget he was fixating on.

A week later, Rhodey left to join Tony's search team. Before departing, knelt before his god-daughter, looking the girl in the eye, and promised her that he would find her father and bring him home to her.

When the days passed by in a haze, along with the rest of the world, Charlotte began to accept that Tony Stark was gone. Her father was presumed dead, and all that everyone could concentrate on was Stark Industries' next successor. There were others who felt the corporation was going to be turned over to the government and not Pepper, as Tony would have wished.

Obadiah Stane, a life-long family friend, managed to run Stark Enterprises as normal despite these heated altercations. To check on the well-being of the grieving families, he made frequent visits to the Stark household. He would frequently bring Charlotte gifts and presents in an attempt to keep her spirits lifted - a notion that was greatly appreciated by Pepper.

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May, 2008

In the last three months, Charlotte's emotional state has decreased considerably. And she was starting to lose faith that she would ever see her father again, as much as it pained her to admit it.

Pepper started to have to physically urge Charlotte to eat. She knew that her father was missing; her husband was missing, too. When she thought about Tony and whatever circumstances he was being held in, the tightness in her chest was excruciating.

Her mom and Happy and Uncle Rhodey tried everything within their capability to keep the little girl's spirits upright and her hopes alive. All Charlotte would say is that when he returned, her dad would have to make up for the months he lost, which was a relief to everyone, when she tried to be hopeful. But at the same time, everybody was scared that if Tony was actually dead, then what would happen to Charlotte's mindset?

༻ ❁ ༺

May 6th, 2008

Charlotte stood on the airport runway with her mom and Happy, watching the US Air Force plane land in front of them. Pepper's eyes were swollen and red; Charlotte jumped from side to side as she tried to contain her enthusiasm, her hand clasped closely in her mom's. The previous day it was as if life suddenly flooded back into Charlotte when Rhodey called them to inform her that he had kept his promise and he was bringing her father home.

The ramp slowly opened at the rear of the aircraft. Charlotte slipped out of Pepper's grasp as soon as she laid her eyes on him and raced for her dad, not wanting to waste a second away from him any longer. She was closely followed by her mom, her heels cracked against the concrete as she jogged across the runway.

Rhodey stood beside Tony, encouraging his friend to lean on him for support while he stood out of his wheelchair and started down the ramp slowly. He let go of Tony as soon as they were on the tarmac, awaiting the reunion. He watched as Tony fell to his knees and caught his daughter and she collided with his chest.

"Dad!" Charlotte sobbed as she buried her face into his neck, "You came home!", her body shook as she sobbed and clung to his jacket, she just needed to be as close to him as possible.

"I'm here, it's all right. It's over," he said quietly as he repeatedly kissed her forehead. As he noticed that Charlotte seemed skinnier than the last time he saw her, Tony grimaced; he could see it as he hugged her arms and her face appeared pale. Looking above his daughter's head he saw Pepper quickly approaching them, tears streaming down her face as her hair whipped around her face. "Incoming," Tony chuckled, pushing himself up from his knees.

Pepper's body slammed against his, her arms wrapped around his back and her fingers dug into his jacket as she tried to pull him as close as she physically could. Separating for a second to kiss her firmly, Tony inhaled her sweet scent deeply, something he had missed doing so dearly. With their daughter squished tightly between them, Pepper held him at arm's length, wincing at his appearance - his arm was supported by a sling and his face was littered with bruises, cuts, and scrapes. "You're alive." That was all she could breathlessly say.

"Watch it, coming up here," Rhodey walked into the reunion, as medical officers approached with a gurney, however, Tony promptly dismissed them.

"Are you kidding me with this? Get rid of them." He kept his arms firmly around his wife and daughter as Rhodey waved off the officers and the stretcher. Charlotte held her father's hand tightly as the three of them made their way to the car. Happy was waiting by the passenger door, a relieved smile on his face as he shook Tony's hand.

"Welcome home, Sir." Tony smiled and pulled him into an embrace.

"Thank you for looking after them." Tony would never forget his gratitude for his loyal and trustworthy friend and bodyguard. They all got into the car, and as Happy sat in the driver's seat, he peered into his rear-view mirror, smiling at the sight. Sitting side by side in the rear, Tony and Pepper clasped their hands closely in Pepper's lap, her thumb affectionately rubbing over Tony's swollen and bloodied knuckles. Charlotte was sitting on Tony's lap, never loosening her grip on him as she wanted to be as close as possible to him. Her head was tucked under his chin, her eyes closed as she grinned happily.

Clearing his throat, Happy spoke. "Where to, Sir?"

"Take us to the hospital, please, Happy." Pepper answered, but Tony instantly refused.

"No."

"Tony, you have to go to the hospital. The doctor has to look at you." Pepper suggests, presenting him with a worrying glance. Charlotte too was worried. Her dad had been kidnapped and held hostage for months, and now as he returned, battered and bruised, he did not want to seek medical attention.

"Mommy's right." Her small voice shocked everyone in the car. She raised her hand and lightly touched a wound on Tony's jaw. "You're hurt. The doctor will help you."

Tony looked down at his daughter and her soft and saddened eyes. He never did have any resilience to her deep brown eyes. "I'm not hurt, sweetie. I'm fine. Or I will be, once I've had a cheeseburger." As Tony tickled her sides, making her squeal in his embrace, Charlotte replied gleefully to this. He passed a look to Pepper, who was not impressed in the least bit.