Tony braced himself as he walked into the penthouse, stepping out of his iron suit, he saw Felicity sitting on the couch. "In my defense-"

"Sit." She wasn't having it tonight. He sat across from her. She didn't look up, but continued typing on her phone. He sat in silence, waiting for her to say something. Finally she looked up. "I get that you need to be the hero. That you are a battery only powered by the adoration of the masses. I understand, but our daughter, your daughter does not." She crossed her arms. "You said you'd try."

Tony looked at the table. "I did."

"Really?" Felicity said. "Because our little girl looked out at the audience tonight at her science fair only to find an empty seat where her father should have been." Her voice became hushed. "And I don't need to remind you how awful that feels."

He hung his head. The weight of both their absent fathers heavy on their shoulders. He remembered birthdays, Christmases, and yes, science fairs where he would wait for Howard Stark to make an appearance…for nothing. He'd done what he'd sworn he'd never do; he'd become his dad. Then, as if the universe didn't believe he'd suffered enough, Felicity twisted the knife in further.

"Tony, I love you, but I can't keep letting you do this to our daughter."

Tony looked up in alarm. She couldn't mean it. "Baby-" he began, reaching for her, but she stood and walked out of the room. Tony stared at the empty space she'd just vacated, his hand still reaching for her. He took a few steadying breaths before getting up and following. The sight that met him when he entered their bedroom, threatened to tear his heart in two. The suitcase. The suitcase she'd bought months ago as a warning was out of the closet and open on the bed. It was mostly full. She must have begun packing it the second they'd come home from the science fair. She was sitting next to it, staring at its contents.

"Felicity." He choked. She didn't respond. "Damn it, look at me."

"If I look at you, I'll fall for it again." Felicity murmured. "You'll make promises; I'll listen to you because there's nothing more I want than for this to work, but the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again." She was shaking slightly. "And when it comes to you I am undeniably insane."

"So you're leaving." He said.

"I need time and space. I think you need it too." She looked up at him. "I'm not asking for the world. I'm just asking that you show up when you say you will. The fate of the world wasn't at stake, because Rhodey, an active member of the avengers, somehow managed to make it to the school." She stood. "It's spring break. I'm taking her to Malibu for a week."

"And after?" Tony asked.

"I bought an apartment in Peter's building." Felicity murmured. "It's close enough to her school and you know how much she loves her uncle spidey."

Tony closed his eyes.

"Where is Marie?"

"In her room." Felicity still wouldn't look at him. Tony left the room and went to his daughter's door. Opening it softly, he peeked inside. She was bundled underneath her blankets, but he knew she wasn't sleeping.

"Pro-tip." He said, sitting down on the bed next to her. "If you're planning on reading past bedtime," he plucked the glasses off her nose, "find a better place to hide these than on your face." Her responding giggles were muffled by her pillow. She opened her eyes, grinning up at him. "What are you reading anyway," he reached under her pillow. "A book? Ew."

"Mommy says tablets before bed are bad for my brains development." Marie declared. "And for my eyes."

Tony smiled as she reached for her glasses.

"Did you get the bad guys?" She asked, slipping them back on her nose. A rush of guilt ran through him, she was only 7 and she already knew if he skipped out on something it was because of his side job.

"Yeah." He said. "We got them. Uncle Stevie made them cry."

"Good." She said.

"How was the science fair?"

She jumped out bed and rushed to her desk. He noted, with amusement that she'd paired her favorite Iron man pajamas with her tutu. She grabbed a large trophy. "First place!"

"That's great, jelly bean." He murmured, as she handed him the trophy.

"Mommy said we were going to Malibu…" she paused. "and that you're not coming."

Tony closed his eyes. Part of him wanted to bully his way onto the trip, but he knew that would hurt more than it would help. Was there anything he could do to make this right? He heard himself answer his daughter. "Daddy's got work here, jelly bean." He sounded just like Howard and it made him sick. So he added; "I'll see you as soon as you get back."

Felicity had just come into the doorway. Tony looked at her and added; "I promise." There was a flicker of fear on Felicity's face. She knew the weight of unkept promises.

"Mommy!" Marie turned to Felicity and the fearful expression melted to one of amusement.

"Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?"

"I…am…sleeping." Marie's face turned red with embarrassment. "This is all a dream."

Felicity shook her head as Tony laughed.

"You need to work on your stories, kiddo." He said.

"No she does not." Felicity retorted and for a second they were a family again. Tony picked Marie up, and Felicity pulled back the blanket to prepare to tuck her in.

"Stay. I had a nightmare and…I need you to stay." Marie insisted, clutching him when he tried to put her to bed. "You too mommy, stay…together."

They looked at each other, both understanding the unspoken plea in their daughter's words. She knew…she was too smart; it was the problem of having two brilliant parents. Tony sat next to her. "Okay, Jelly bean." He waited until Marie was nestled against him before patting the spot on the bed next to her. "Mommy?" He asked.

Felicity hesitated for only a second before getting in on the other side.

"The monsters can't beat Iron Man." She said, kissing Marie on the forehead. She was conflicted, he knew and he also knew she hadn't abandoned the idea of leaving. Tony was content to stay in this moment, but the weight of the packed suitcase in the other room would not leave him alone. Even as Marie dropped into a deep sleep, he stared at the ceiling.

"I love you." He said, a last ditch plea to try to get her to stay.

There was silence, then Felicity softly whispered. "I know."