Yay, finally a sequel! Sorry I took so long, I started school and everything. Anyway...I don't own anything.
Chapter 1
Tony was sulking in his workshop. Sarah had left a few days ago. The house seemed empty without her. It was weird. He'd only known her for a few weeks and somehow he couldn't live without her. Two months ago he was living his life just fine. Now it felt like he was just passing his time, waiting for Sarah to contact him but he usually called her first.
He sighed and set down what he was working on. Was this how his father felt when he left? Or was it worse than this? He had raised him, watched him grow up. While, Tony had already missed most of Sarah's life. He didn't want to miss anymore.
He passed a hand over his face and sank into his chair. It was unbearable. She was across the country, studying and working. She was already in college at fifteen. She was smart. She'd beaten him at chess. That said a lot, even if he was drinking.
He heard Pepper clomping down the stairs. She came into view. She hesitated over the keypad, watching Tony worriedly. She punched in the code and entered the workshop.
"You okay, Tony?" she asked.
He fingered the arc reactor, staring at the floor. "That depends, mentally or physically?"
Her worry was overpowered with understanding. "Sarah?" she came around the desk to stand behind him.
He nodded slightly. "Yeah." his hand dropped and he looked up at his wife. "It's weird. A few months ago, I was just living and now..." he trailed off, at a loss of words.
She nodded. "I know. I miss her too." she slouched down, putting her arms around his neck. "She'll visit." she spoke into his ear. "She wouldn't leave us out in the cold."
"I know, Pepper. It seems the only thing that's keeping me alive now is projects."
She pulled back and studied his face. "What kind of projects?"
"Well, I was working on something for Rhodey...but I'm too distracted. I can't think straight."
"What were you working on?"
"Just updating the Mark II so...he can use it. I could use back up sometimes."
"That's true, Tony, but he's not..." she sighed. "He won't immediately jump on this. He has his career."
"I know that. I'm just trying to occupy myself with something useful. So I don't have to think."
"I know something useful you could do."
"What's that?"
"Well, you haven't touched that pile of resumes..."
He sighed in exasperation. "I know I need a new assistant but...I don't want one. I have you." he looked up at her.
"You know, Tony..." she kissed his cheek. "If I'm busy planning your day...I won't have time for just us." she twirled a lock of his hair.
He sighed in exasperation. "Fine. I'll try to find a new assistant."
She smiled and kissed his nose. "Good boy." she headed for the door.
"Pepper?"
She stopped and turned around. "Yes?" He looked into her eyes and was instantly lost in them. When he didn't reply, she became confused. "Tony?"
He shook his head. "Sorry. You're so beautiful sometimes...I can't concentrate."
She smiled at him. "I feel that way all the time. Please get to work. I promise a little treat for you when you're done."
He was suddenly interested. "Like...what?"
"That's a surprise." she smiled mischievously and left him alone.
He sighed, picked up a pile of papers, and started to rifle through them.
Sarah ran on her already worn path through a small patch of trees. She wasn't far away from campus but just enough that no one would notice her amped speed.
She liked to exercise, not that she needed it, but it felt good to exert the energy she held in all day. So far, she hadn't made any big appearances as Miss Morph. Just a few robberies and muggings, nothing worth reporting.
Sarah Stark had made the front page of all the local newspapers. She was surprised that most of her professors just treated her like a normal kid. She liked that. Everyone else came to her for help on their homework...or if they didn't understand something. She was glad to help but she hated the attention.
She stopped running as her sliver phone rang. She'd found it in the car Tony had given her. She thought it was a little too much but he insisted that she keep it.
She pulled the phone out of her pocket and flipped it open.
She knew who it was without looking at the caller ID. "I'm fine, Tony." she said into the phone. "You don't have to call my every two seconds."
She could hear his soft laughter on the other end. "You're exaggerating just a bit, Sarah. But I'm not calling to see if your all right. I need your help."
She hesitated, running through her mind all the things he could possibly want her help for. "With...what?"
She could hear the smile in his voice. "It's not what you think. I can't find a new assistant."
"By 'can't find' you mean 'can't choose', right?"
"I guess you could say that."
She sighed. "How did you choose last time?"
"I didn't. Obidiah introduced Pepper and said she was going to be my assistant."
"O...kay, then. Pick the most promising ones because of their resume, not because of their looks. Understand?"
He sighed reluctantly. "Yeah."
She smiled. "If it's so hard, why don't you ask Pepper to help?"
She knew he was shaking his head. "She says that I should do it. I am picking my assistant."
She sighed and slumped against a tree. "And...she doesn't know you're asking me for help, right?"
"Right."
She chuckled. "She's going to kill you, when she finds out."
"What she doesn't know, won't hurt her."
She rolled her eyes. "Say 'hi' to Jarvis for me."
There was a short pause before he answered. "He says 'hi' back. How's school?"
"Okay...I guess. Everyone expects me to know everything and it's so annoying. It's like I'm a world class tutor."
He chuckled. "You are smart, Sarah. People look up to you. Take advantage of that while you have it. It won't last too long."
She smiled faintly. "The only reason you lost it was because of your...dating habits."
He sighed. "I'm married now, remember?"
"Who could forget? You just left. No explanations. I woke up one day and you were gone."
"You know I did that because I knew you would track us down. And if we advertised our vacation the press wouldn't let us breathe."
"Yeah, I know. After your announcement, they wouldn't leave us alone."
"So...haven't seen Alex in a while. Is he over there with you?" She heard a rustling.
She frowned. "Well...yes...and no. I've seen him but after that he leaves. I don't know where he is at...the moment." She took a breath. "Is...Pepper there?"
He paused for a brief second. "Yeah, she is. Why wouldn't she be?"
She shook her head out of habit. "No, I mean...in the room with you."
She pictured him frowning and smiled. Jarvis and Sarah sort of had a secret code. Sarah had assumed Pepper would be giving Tony a lecture by now. But she knew she was going to eventually.
She faintly heard footsteps through the phone. Then, a voice. She just heard the tone, not the actual words being said. She smiled wider.
Pepper's voice came clearly through the phone. "Hi, Sarah. I miss you terribly but I have to give someone a serious lecture."
Sarah laughed softly. "Okay. Thank Jarvis for me. I'll call you later."
She chuckled. "I will. Bye, Sarah."
"Bye, Pepper." She snapped the phone shut and chuckled to herself. Tony had it coming to him.
She heard a slight rustling of branches. She looked around hesitantly.
Suddenly, Alex burst out from a patch of bushes. A smile broke out on Sarah's face.
"What took you so long?" she asked and went over to him.
He smiled back. "Sorry, your hard to follow."
She hugged him. "I missed you. Where do you go when you're not with me?" She raised an eyebrow.
He chuckled. "I could show you sometime." Seeing the uncertainty on her face added, "Press free."
She laughed. "Yeah, I could use that. Did you know they're trying to make a TV series out of my school life?"
"Really?"
She nodded. "Yeah, they never leave me alone. I like having parents, having someone to look up to but..."
He raised an eyebrow. "But what?"
She pulled away, studying the ground. "I would trade all this away, if it meant being with you...no disruptions."
"Sarah," he pulled her back into his embrace. "I can be with you...like now. I love you."
He kissed her. She closed her eyes, relishing in the feeling of it.
She pulled away reluctantly. "I know." She smiled.
Sorry to have to make you wait like that. Like I said I've been busy...Anyway, did you like it? Hate it? Please review. I need to know!