𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮

༻ ❁ ༺

May 30th

9:20 AM
Malibu Point

          TONY AND NICK FURY sat in two chairs, in what had once been the lounge, in the remains of the first floor of Tony's cliff side mansion. At the edge of the balcony, two agents were waiting, keeping watch.

"That thing in your chest is based on unfinished technology," Fury told him.

"No, it was finished," Tony stated, tapping his finger against the Arc Reactor as it sat beneath a black t-shirt and satin robe, "Never been particularly effective until I miniaturized it and put it in my -"

"No," Fury interrupted, "Howard said the Arc Reactor was the stepping stone to something greater. He was about to kick off an energy race that was about to dwarf the arms race. He was on to something big – something so big that it was going to make the nuclear reactor look like a triple-A battery."

Tony had been cautiously eyeing Fury. Leaning forward, he poured himself a cup of water on the table from the jug, "Just him?" he asked, "Or was Anton Vanko in on it too?"

"Anton Vanko was the other side of that coin," Fury explained, leaning back and turning his hand over as he spoke, "Anton saw it as a way to get rich. When your father found out, he had him deported. The Russians found out he couldn't deliver, they shipped his ass off to Siberia, where he spent the next twenty years of a vodka-fueled rage. Not quite the environment you want to raise a kid in – the son you had the misfortune of crossing paths within Monaco."

Tony was frowning, "You told me I hadn't tried everything," Tony said, pointing a finger at the older man, bringing them back around to the point of the conversation, "What do you mean, I haven't tried everything? What haven't I tried?"

"He said that you were the only person with the means and knowledge to finish what he started," Fury said.

"He said that?" he asked with a smile that oozed bitterness.

"Hmm," Fury confirmed, "Are you that guy, eh?" he leaned forward, looking keenly at him with the single eye that unnerved even the strongest of men. "Are you? Because if you are, then you can solve the riddle of your heart."

Tony shook his head, and his mouth tightened. "I don't know where you're getting your information but, um, he wasn't my biggest fan."

Fury was still looking at Tony, "What do you remember about your dad, huh?" he inquired.

"He was cold, he was calculating," Tony started, "He never told me he loved me, he never even told me he liked me. So it's a little tough for me to digest – when you're telling me he said the whole future was riding on me, and he's passing it down – I don't get that. We're talking about a guy whose happiest day was when he shipped me off to boarding school."

"And yet you're quite the opposite of him." Fury stated. "From what Natasha told me, you love your daughter very much."

Tony nodded, remembering the promise he made to him self all those years ago. "I don't want to be like him."

"But what you said about your father is not true," Fury insisted.

"Well, then clearly you knew my dad better than I did," Tony retorted sarcastically. He had not believe a single word that Fury had since since he arrived that morning.

At that moment two more agents brought up a large grey case and set it on the floor near them just as Fury put down his glass, "As a matter of fact, I did. He was one of the founding members of S.H.I.E.L.D."

"What?" Tony sat up, his eyes flitting between the grey case and Fury, who was actually getting up to make a swift exit, "Wait, wait, wait, wait," Tony protested, "What's this?"

But Fury ignored him and glanced at his wrist, "You're good right? You've got this, right?"

"No, I'm not good!" Tony exclaimed, growing increasingly frustrated.  "Got what? I don't even know what I'm supposed to get!"

"Natasha will remain as a floater at Stark with her cover intact," Fury continued as he put his coat on, "and you remember Agent Coulson, right?"

"Yeah," Tony said absently, still watching Fury with a sense of skepticism.

"Oh, and Tony, remember - I got my eye on you." Fury warned him as he walked away.

When he left, Tony turned to face Natasha, "We've disabled all communications. No contact with the outside world. Good luck." with that, she left as well. Tony was left visibly confused, his mouth slowly hanging open, as he did a accurate impression of a goldfish. Agent Coulson had been ordered to remain behind.

Tony gave Coulson a look that warned the agent to not test his patience, "Please," He muttered, "I need a little body work – I'll put in a little time at the lab. If we could send one of your goon squad down to the Coffee Bean, Cross Creek, for a Starbucks run, something like that – that'd be nice."

"I'm not here for that," Coulson stated with s smile, "I've been authorized by Director Fury to use any means necessary to keep you on premises. If you attempt to leave or play any games, I will tase you and watch Supernanny while you drool into the carpet. Okay?"

"I think I got it, yeah," Tony drawled, pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger.

There was a small pause before Coulson spoke again, "How's your daughter?"

"Pepper took her to New York last night." Tony sighed, "She probably hates me. I traumatized her last night - the things I did, the things I said to her." Tony paused for a moment, and he lifted his head to look at the agent. He seemed surprised by the question.
"Why do you ask?"

"No reason," Coulson nodded, and he too turned and walked off, speaking over his shoulder as he left, "Enjoy your evening's entertainment."

Tony shook his head, completely bewildered as the agent left. He then turned and cast his attention down to the case which had been marked - Property of H. Stark.

༻ ❁ ༺

2:12 PM

New York
Stark Penthouse

Charlotte did not want to speak with anyone, especially her mom.

They spent the rest of the night on the company's private jet, only landing in New York City in the early hours of the morning. Her mom had taken them back to their penthouse apartment in the city; when they arrived, Charlotte ran straight to her bedroom, slamming the door and ignoring her mom as she called to her down the hallway.

Immediately, she climbed under her duvet, pulling it completely over her head - she just wanted to hide from everyone and everything. She did not know how much time had passed before her mom gently knocked on her door.

"Charlie, honey. Can I come in?" Pepper spoke softly, "You didn't say a word the entire flight. Do you want to talk about what happened?"

Charlotte didn't reply, nor did she unravel herself from the ball of self-loathing and pity she had curled herself into under her duvet.

Pepper sighed on the other side of the door, "Okay, well I will talk, and you don't need to answer. But I would like you to listen. I am so sorry that you had to witness that. Even if I don't understand it myself, your dad is clearly going to something that he is not ready for us to know about. But that does not give him to right to put you in danger or talk to you the way he did."

Pepper paused, hoping for any sort of response from her daughter, but the girl remained silent. "You might think that I was wrong or cruel to bring you back here, but please know that I just want to keep you safe."

As she pulled her duvet over her head and peeking above the seems, Charlotte sniffled. Her hazel eyes were red from her consistent crying, and her cheeks were the same colour.

"Your dad is in pain, but I don't know why. He won't tell me, he won't tell Happy or your uncle Rhodey." Her mom continued behind the closed door, "So you have to understand how serious this is, and how worried everyone is." 

As Pepper spoke, she was unaware that her daughter had since uncovered herself and was sitting on the edge of her bed. After a moment, she hopped out of it and walked towards the door.

"Charlotte, I know that you're confused, and I am too. Last night I was scared for him, but I was also afraid of what he could do without realizing it." Pepper paused, she could hear slight movement from inside the room, and she silently prayed that she was managing to get through to her daughter. "Honey, no one has seen your dad since last night, but I'm certain he'll come back. Do you know why?" Pepper asked, her voice gentle.

Charlotte opened the door and, with teary but hopeful eyes, gazed up at her mom. Smiling, Pepper knelt down to the same height as her daughter, "Because he loves you more than anything in this world. And he would move heaven and earth if it meant that could find his way back to you."

With that, Charlotte started openly sobbing as she practically launched herself at her mother. Pepper responded instantly, opening her arms and enveloping the young girl in a warm embrace. She rested her cheek atop her head, as the two hugged each other tightly. Any qualms that Charlotte may have had with her mom were quickly washed away at that moment.

"He said he doesn't want me anymore" Charlotte sobbed, obviously traumatized by her dad's words.

"He didn't say that."

"I'm not stupid mom. He said that he didn't care if we left." she retorted with a sad tone.

"I know you're not stupid, honey. But your father did not say that - he would never say that he did not want you. I have known your father for a very long time, probably too long. He was in pain. I told you, he loves you more than anyone an anything." 

Pepper explained with a firm tone, and keeping her head turned slightly as not to allow Charlotte seeing her expression, she teared up, "I didn't mean what I said. Sweetie, I'm not going to leave your father and I'm certainly not going to take you away from him. Your dad loves you so much, we both do," Pepper stated. "I want to help him. All he has to do is let me in."

Charlotte nodded, understand her mother. "Dad loves you too, mom," she mumbled on her shoulder. "He tells me all the time."

"I know he does," Pepper chuckled, running a soothing hand up and down her daughter's back. "He has to love me. I own fifty percent of the company."

After that moment, Pepper told Charlotte to take a shower while she ordered lunch. Twenty minutes later, Charlotte came into the living room dressed in a fresh set of pajama's; Pepper then excused herself so she could also take a quick shower and followed her daughter's lead, re-entered the living room in her pajama's. When the pizza arrived, the two decided to watch a movie to help them forget the events from the previous night.

With Charlotte distracted, Pepper kept glancing at her phone for any signs of Tony or even Natalie. It made her even more nervous not to receive messages or phone calls from both, but she tried not to show it as Charlotte chuckled at the television.

Oh, Tony where are you?

༻ ❁ ༺

10:13 PM
New York

"I know you're still upset, but I have to oversee Justin Hammer's new presentation at the Expo tomorrow night," Pepper told Charlotte as she tucked her in on her bed.

"Ew." The little girl made a face when her mom mentioned Hammer, causing the woman to laugh.

"Come on. You love going to the Expo." Pepper chuckled. "It's your favourite time of the year, apart from Christmas. It will make the presentation a lot more bearable if I have someone to laugh at it with."

"I guess it would be funny," Charlotte replied, getting comfortable while hugging Ro - the small bear she had received from her uncle when she was born, was still her favourite fluffy toy. "Will dad be there? And Natalie, and Uncle Rhodey?"

"I don't know," Pepper answered truthfully, smoothing her daughter's hair, her hand coming to rest on her cheek. "But if they are, I'm sure they'll all be so relieved to see you."

Charlotte hesitated, a look of skepticism flashed across her eyes. "Even dad?"

"Especially your father." Pepper smiled, however, it was still a little sad.

"Okay," Charlotte nodded. She snuggled deeper into her duvet, her heavy eyes were already almost closed. 

"Thank you," Pepper managed to give her a smile, then kissed her forehead, "I love you, sweetie," she whispered before heading towards the door and turning off the lights.

"I love you too, mom," Charlotte whispered back at Pepper as she closed the door.

In the hallway, Pepper sighed tiredly and rubbed her eyes as she headed back to the living room. She sat down on the couch and looked at the coffee table on her computer. Zero messages or phone calls from Tony, but one phone call from Happy.

During the phone call, Happy told Pepper that Tony actually stopped by the office to apologize, but he left feeling dejected when he realised that she was not there. He also informed her that Tony was not planning on attending the Expo. Pepper didn't want to tell Charlotte that, crushing her expectations all over again.

She jumped when her phone vibrated loudly on the glass from the table, she grabbed it and hoped to see a text from Tony, but she found that it was from an unknown number.

'I'm sorry. Everything is going to be okay now, I promise.'

Pepper started to cry, gripping her phone in her hands. She knew that it was a message from Tony. A second message soon followed it.

'I love you.'