𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐨

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May 24th

Monaco, France

          CHARLOTTE WAS TOO excited to even feel tired, even after being inside the jet plane for almost thirteen hours, having only slept seven of those hours. 

They were here for the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, from what Charlotte could understand. Her dad mentioned that it was a series of car races, each one focused on a particular time in the history of the Grand Prix. They were here to watch the race and help the Stark Team, but it was also to be considered a small holiday - their first holiday as a family in two years.

Charlotte sat between her parents in the car, the family was being driven towards the race circuits hotel by Happy. When she saw the cheering crowd that had gathered outside, she felt nervous and naturally tucked herself into her dad's side, her small hand wrapping around his bicep.

Tony stepped out of the back door of the car, and anyone who happened to be seated or standing where they could see him erupted into applause simultaneously. Tony lifted two fingers in salute, doing his peace sign. Then he took his daughter's hand and helped her step out of the car. The crowd cheered for her too because it was a rare sight to see a sight from Charlotte Stark out in public. She grinned timidly, smiling at the audience.

On the other side of the car, Happy opened the door for the new CEO of Stark Industries, who was wearing a blue dress with white polka-dots which was slightly off-the-shoulder, with matching pumps. As Happy turned to follow Pepper, Charlotte, and Tony into the building, the little girl saw that he was carrying a bright red-and-silver briefcase.

Tony led the way into what seemed to be the dining room inside the hotel, which was packed with individuals wearing only the most expensive-looking clothes you might imagine. He did not loosen the grip he had on his daughter's hand as they walked through the dining room.

Charlotte was glad that her mom had helped her dress up for the event, the seven-year-old was wearing a pale green, mid-length dress with tiny white flowers paired up with white ballerina flats; her hair was pulled over one shoulder in a loose braid, a matching white hairband completed her outfit. Her dad said she looks like a princess, and she felt like one too.

"You know, it's Europe, whatever happens in the next twenty minutes, just go with it," Tony told Pepper, turning briefly towards her.

"Go with it? Go with what?" Pepper said in a slightly panicked tone of voice.

Charlotte was listening to them until she spotted a familiar person, "Dad, look!"

Before following whoever Charlotte was staring at, Tony looked down at her, "Hey!" he greeted her warmly as he removed his sunglasses.

"Mr. Stark?" Natalie greeted the family, she was in a very fetching pink dress with a very professional smile, "Hello, how was your flight?" she smiled down at Charlotte, who had a cautious expression on her face.

"It was excellent," After seeing the two interact, Tony replied, then took a small glass from a tray that a waiter was offering him, "Boy, it's good to see you."

"We have one photographer from the ACM, if you don't mind," Natalie, gesturing over her shoulder, and there was a camera lifted by a man who stood behind her.

"Okay," Tony told her while putting on a smile as the photographer approached, "But ask Charlie if she minds," he added as Pepper turned to start a conversation with him.

The photographer pointed his camera at Charlotte and Natalie immediately covered the lens with her hand, glaring at the man before snarking: "You heard Mr. Stark, ask her first!"

"S-Sorry," he nervously stammered, "May I?" He asked Charlotte, hopeful that he would be able to snap a photo of the youngest Stark. Natalie, who smiled and nodded encouragingly, received a nervous glance from Charlotte. The girl conceded, giving him a shy smile until Natalie stopped covering the lens and allowed the man to take a picture.

"Thank you!" he told her with a genuine smile.

"When did this happen?" As Charlotte was distracted by the photographer, Pepper spoke through gritted teeth, the smile on her face was plainly false.

"You made me do it," Tony retorted, an equally false smile painted on his lips.

"I made you do what?" Pepper demanded.

"You quit," Tony simply said, drawing his eyes to the photographer, who had since finished taking their daughter's photograph, "Smile. Look right there. Stop acting constipated. Don't flare your nostrils."

"You are so predictable," Pepper said, clearly exasperated with the conversation, "that's the amazing thing."

Charlotte stared at them, and feeling her dad's hand tighten around her own, she could not help but shrink into his side. It didn't hurt, but she could feel a significant difference.

"Right this way," Natalie told them as she started leading the way. Tony walked away from Pepper quickly, who was slightly left behind as she took a drink from a tray.

"You look fantastic, doesn't she look fantastic, Charlie?" Tony complimented Natalie.

"Hi, Ms. Rushman. You look very pretty," Looking at her own shoes to prevent eye contact, Charlotte quickly spoke. She had felt her cheeks getting warm as she kept her head slightly downturned.

"You look very pretty too, Miss Stark," Natalie responded politely, before turning to address Tony, "Thank you very much," she said with a small smile.

"Doesn't she just?" He gloated, leaning down to press a kiss onto the crown of Charlotte's head. He laughed as she whined, clearly embarrassed.

"Dad..."

"Although, you do need to stop growing. You're catching up to me, and we can't have that." He quickly chuckled and returned his attention to Natalie, "What's on the docket?"

"You have a nine-thirty dinner," Natalie informed him.

"Perfect," Tony, putting his sunglasses back on, "I'll be there at eleven." He pointed at a table next to the window. "Is this us?"

"It can be," Natalie stated.

"Great, make it us, Charlie likes sitting by the window," her father nodded, and Natalie stepped aside to touch the waiter's shoulder.

Her mom, meanwhile, was conversing with a man in a crisp white suit, "Mr. Musk," she greeted him, "How are you?"

"Hi, Pepper," the man her mom called Mr. Musk said, "Congratulations on the promotion."

"Thank you very much," Pepper politely told him.

As he saw them, Tony interjected, he stepped closer with Charlotte keeping a tight hold of her hand, she realised at this point that her father was not letting her go. "Elon! How's it going?" he asked, getting up to shake the man's hand in his turn. "Those Merlin engines are fantastic."

"Thank you," he said appreciatively, "I've got an idea for an electric jet."

"You do? Then we'll make it work," her dad said, moving away as her mom sighed. Charlotte felt as though there was something wrong with her parents, she could not put a finger on it, but ever since Natalie had begun working for them, her mom had seemed 'off'.

Tony smiled at Pepper, "Do you want a massage?"

"Oh God," Pepper sighed, "no I don't want a massage,"

"I can have Natalie call someone," he stated, "can't have you tense, can we?"

"Are you okay, Mom?" Charlotte asked, her tone full of concern.

Her mom smiled at her, "I'm fine, honey," then she turned to her husband, a tight smile on her lips, "I don't want Natalie to do anything," she insisted.

"By the way, I didn't mean to spring this on you," As the three walked into the bar, Tony went on, eventually letting go of Charlotte's hand, but she stood close to them, standing between the two adults, trying to understand their conversation.

"Anthony? Is that you?" Justin Hammer suddenly said, appearing out of nowhere. Charlotte had not noticed him standing there was they entered the room, and if she had, she would have been sure to let her dad know. He would undoubtedly want to avoid him. "And lookie here, Charlie Stark!"

"Charlotte," the little girl quickly corrected, finding the man's presence surprising. Only her family and close friends called her Charlie.

"My least favorite person on earth – Justin Hammer," Smiling ironically at the man, Tony sighed as Hammer tapped him on his shoulder.

"How're ya doin'?" grinned Hammer, "You're not the only rich guy here with a fancy car," He pointed back over his shoulder, "You know Christine Everhart from Vanity Fair, you guys know each other?"

Tony stared at Pepper, who seemed to find it somewhat entertaining, but she was still upset.

"Hi, yes!" Christine greeted them with a perfect fake smile on her face.

"Hi, yes, we do," Pepper returned. Her greeting was polite, but it was out of professional standards, and not necessarily warm.

"We've been introduced," Tony stated, watching Christine rather cautiously.

Charlotte looked at the woman and said the first thing that came to her mind, "My mom doesn't like you," she stated quite loudly and honestly, making Tony smirk and Christine smile tightly.

"Oh, that's too bad." Christine managed to reply to her awkwardly.

"By the way," Hammer said, changing the subject, pointing an excited finger at her mom, "big story. The new CEO of Stark Industries! Congratulations!"

"I know. I know," Christine began as Tony stared a Hammer, "my editor will kill me if I don't grab a quote for our next issue. Can I?"

"Oh, sure," Pepper said reluctantly, obviously recalling how the reporter had treated her, when she had still just been regarded at Tony's Personal Assistant, rather than his wife.

"She's actually doing a big spread on me for Vanity Fair," Hammer bragged, thrilled at being relevant for once, "I thought I'd throw her a bone, you know."

"Right," said Pepper, looking from Hammer to Christine, "Well, she did attempt to do quite a spread on Tony last year."

"And she wrote a story as well," Tony finished.

"It was very impressive,"  Pepper interjected. "very well done."

"Thank you!" Christine smiled, smugly. Her pink painted lips curled upwards.

"So, I'm gonna–" She took a half step away from them.

"Don't leave me," Tony muttered unexpectedly.

"– go wash," Pepper finished severely, and walked off.

"Don't worry dad, I'll stay with you." Charlotte whispered, taking his hand once more and holding it tightly.

Tony went from panicky to relieved as he squeezed her hand thankfully, "Don't leave me."

"Never." The young girl chuckled, scrunching her nose.

"Hey, buddy, how're ya doing?" Hammer slid an arm around Tony's shoulders. "Kids, aren't they great when they're younger? Just wait until she becomes a teen, then she won't want you around!"

"Well, I don't think I have to worry about that. I don't think this one is going anywhere." He smiled down at Charlotte, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. He felt a warm sense of comfort when she returned the gesture, bringing her other hand up to also wrap around their currently clasped hands. "I'm doing alright," 

"Well, you look great!" Hammer commented. He bent down a fraction, turning his exaggerated smile down towards Charlotte. "And you look so grown up.

Her response, however, was to hide behind her dad's legs just as a camera flashed in front of them from somewhere, making Tony and Charlotte grimace. As he reached into his jacket pocket to retrieve his sunglasses, he regretted not bringing Charlotte's also. "Please, this is tough," he protested.

"Can I ask you that you guys have seen each other?" As Hammer leaned closer to Tony and Charlotte for a picture, Christine spoke up; she was indisputably irritated.

Tony gave a fake laugh and shoved Hammer's arm from around his shoulder. "Dad, can we go?" Charlotte whined as she firmly tugged his hand. He looked down at her and saw her uncomfortable expression, making him want to take her away from here immediately.

"Listen," Christine said, "is this the first time you've seen each other since the Senate?"

"You mean since he got his contract revoked," Tony remarked happily. He smoothed his fine suit-jacket and turned to escort his daughter away from the situation. He walked her over to a table that was not the one that Natalie had previously asked to set aside for him.

"Actually, its on hold -" Hammer followed Tony, obviously still bitter about the incident. 

Charlotte wanted him to stop following them. She turned her head over her shoulder, watching as Hammer casually walked after them. Her dad gripped her hand rhythmically a couple of times, letting her know that everything was alright.

"That's not what I heard. What's the difference between hold and canceled?" Tony said, ignoring him.

"Yes, what is the definition?" As she realised this was a good question, Christine held her Dictaphone up to Hammer rather than Tony.

Hammer made a swatting gesture at the recorder as he sat down at the table, "No. The truth is," Hammer paused here, clearly uncertain of how to word his answer, "why don't we put that away? The truth is, I'm actually hoping to present something at your Expo," He picked up a glass of wine and took a deep drink from it.

"Well," Tony said, eyeing Hammer dubiously. "if you invent something that works, I'll make sure I'll get you a slot."

Just then, Charlotte noticed Natalie's pink dress appeared behind her dad's shoulder. She felt so relieved to hear Natalie's low and husky voice, "Mr. Stark?"

"Yes?" Tony said, quickly getting up and gesturing for Charlotte to do the same.

"Your corner table is ready," Natalie informed him and Charlotte, smiling up at them. Tony, still with a vice grip on his daughter's hand, followed her away from Hammer, relieved at her interjection.

"I actually have a slot this year, yes I do," Hammer remarked, shifting comfortably in his chair. He somehow still looked smug as he sipped his expensive wine.

When they got to the corner table, Charlotte practically skipped to the seat by the window. She was thankful to be away from Hammer and Christine. Never again would she question why her parents dislike the pair so much. "Do you think your car is going to win, dad?" Charlotte hummed as she glanced out the window, watching the pit crew maneuver around the race car. 

Tony hummed. He had a distant look on his face, and again, she called out his name, "Uh? Oh, yeah, it might. Uh" he smiled tightly, "I'm going to go to the bathroom. I'll be right back, okay?"

She nodded, "Okay dad," Charlotte noticed that he seemed slightly agitated.

"Natalie, could you watch over her for a few moments?" he asked, addressing the woman.

"Certainly, Mr. Stark," she smiled at Charlotte and sat next to her, "So, what's your favourite color?" she asked as Tony moved out of the table, toward the restrooms.

"I like red. See?" She subtly pushed the colouring page from her book in Natalie's direction. Charlotte motioned to her colouring, showing Natalie her drawing - it was of her mom, her dad, and herself, and standing next to Charlotte, was Natalie. "You have the same hair." She pointed out.

"We match," Natalie smiled, taking the end of Charlotte's braid and brought it up to tickle the tip of her nose. Charlotte giggled at the woman, feeling more comfortable around her with each passing minute. She liked Natalie, and she hoped that she would stay with them forever. 

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author's note

A very wordy chapter this time, but I love the Monaco scene so much!

We're powering through this story, and there are only about seven chapters left before we move onto the next part!