Chapter 1:Visitor
The door bell rung, catching the attention of Tony Stark who was fixing one of the leg thrusters of his latest suit in the garage.
"Jarvis?" He asked with a screw driver in his mouth.
"Already on it, sir. Shall I let her in?" Replied the Al through the intercom.
"Her? Have I met 'her' before?" Tony questioned with a smirk as he wandered upstairs.
"Results from the facial scan point to no, however there is quite the resembl-"
"Yeah, yeah whatever Jar. Just let her in, 'kay?" He headed upstairs planning to change his greasy shirt.
"For you sir, always." Replied Jarvis. The door slid open to reveal a young girl staring down at a crumpled up piece of paper in confusion. She jumped as Jarvis greeted her.
"A talking house?!" She half shouted in utter bewilderment.
"Artificial intelligence that runs the house actually." Replied Jarvis.
"Sorry?" She said trying to wrap her head around what she was talking to. She wandered into the massive foyer.
"Apology accepted. Mr Stark will be down in a moment, mam."
The girl walked further into the living room looking up at the stairs nervously. A moment later footsteps sounded. Tony walked down wearing a fresh shirt, stopping suddenly when he saw her. He looked her up and down with a frown plastered on his face.
"Jarvis, you never mentioned she was a kid." He said, scratching the back of his neck.
"You didn't give me a chance sir."
"Touché. What do you want kid? I'm kinda busy doing awesome stuff." Tony replied.
Snickering at the conversation between the two of them she introduced herself.
"My name is Paige. Paige Cecilia Dawson. I'm not entirely sure on how to explain things so I dug up this letter for you." She hesitantly offered Tony the letter.
"Don't like to be handed things. Peeve." He crossed his arms.
Paige raised her eyebrows, rolling her eyes and taking a deep breath she began to read.
"My dearest Paige,
If you are reading this, it probably means I have passed because I am planning to leave this letter in my will for you to discover when you're all grown up... Anyway, I have asked my lawyer to make sure you get this with a few other important documents as they concern you, your future and your father, Anthony Stark."
Tony made a sort of choking sound and snatched the letter from Paiges shaking hands. He skim read the rest with big bulging eyes. The paper fell from Tony's now trembling hands as he started pacing and running them through his messy hair.
"Look, kid-"
"Paige." She interrupted, picking the letter back up.
"Paige, I don't have time for games, okay? I'm a very bu-"
"Games?" Paige questioned, shocked. "I wouldn't play silly games and I certainly wouldn't joke about something as serious as this." The look she wore was one of disbelief and suprise with a hint of anger.
Tony looked into her chocolate eyes sensing that she was indeed serious and decided to sort this problem out rationally.
"Jarvis, get Pepper on the line. Tell her to come to the house now, it's urgent."
Paige sat on the sofa staring out at the enormous Pacific Ocean in front of her. Deciding to read the letter that she had a million times, Paige grabbed it from her full back pack.
I'm so sorry I never told you about him before. I just honestly didn't know what to tell you. Tony Stark wasn't a very nice man, but I didn't hate him though. Quite the opposite actually. But I we were young, immature and simply not ready. I also deeply regret not telling you earlier and making you live your childhood not knowing who your dad was, even if he didn't know you. I hope that one day you will find Tony and have a relationship with him. Weather now or in the future. It's your choice sweetheart. Just know that when I do leave, you will most likely go into foster care, and for that I am very sorry Paige. If I had any close family or friends trust me you would be with them, but unfortunately that's not the case. I've spoken with the social workers about our situation and we have found a suitable foster home for you to live in when the time comes. They're very nice people, Paige. You reading this, you're probably wondering why social services aren't sending you to live with your dad, the truth is no one knows who your father is. It's not even on your birth certificate. I chose to leave him anonymous to make things easier, I didn't want to risk anything. You'll understand with time. The documents are for your eyes only, unless you wish to meet Tony, then show him, he is a stubborn man. I think you get that from him. The documents include your passport, school records, birth certificate, ID, money and a few special photos. I have made sure you will have a good life when I am gone, a home, family, our memories, and a good future that I am sad to be missing. I do hope the money and documents will get to you, and that social services and your foster home take the very best care, (I made that very clear to them about you and the will, you should have seen their faces.) I don't know what else to write as I'm running out of paper, but I love you as you've heard me say to you every night before you go to sleep. You were the only good thing in my life and I'm so, so proud of you. How smart and driven you are, mature and perfect. My little girl. I would always brag to my colleagues about how amazing you were. But the end is coming near and I'm extremely lucky to call you my daughter.
Lot's of undying love from all my heart,
Mummy xoxo.
She could see the tear stains on the letter, deciding it was to painful, Paige put it away. She looked around, wondering what she was supposed to do since Tony told her stay put then he strutted off downstairs about twenty minutes ago. The sound of a door opening caught her off guard. Paige looked down quickly but slowly raised her head once she heard heels walking closer and made eye contact with a tall woman. She was holding a handbag in one hand, a phone in the other and was wearing a knee length sleek dark blue dress with tall heels to match. Her face was confused however, make-up on point and strawberry blonde hair neatly tied up with piercing blue eyes standing out from her sharp yet friendly features.
"Welcome back, Miss Potts." Jarvis butted in on the short silence.
"Hello, I'm Pepper Potts. Tony's P.A." She said, ignoring Jarvis.
So that's who 'Pepper' is. Paige thought.
"Paige. Nice to meet you." She smiled shyly, crossing her legs.
Pepper put her handbag and cell phone on the sofa, then began taking off her heels.
"Running around after Tony in heels makes for some very sore feet." Said Pepper.
Paige laughed awkwardly. "I bet it does."
She seems nice. It most be a nightmare for her working for Mr Stark.
Pepper smiled and said, "Well, now that my feet are free-"
"PEPPER!" Tony's voice interrupted. "IS THAT YOU?!"
She rolled her eyes and smirked at Paige, who giggled in return.
"Yes! I better go see him. I'll be right back." With that she headed down stairs to Tony, leaving Paige wondering why he called upon Pepper to solve his problem.
"What is it Tony? Why did you call me here? And on my lunch break too." Said Pepper once she entered the garage.
"And who's the girl-"
"Jesus, Pepper. Your questions will be the death of me." Tony added from his roofless car he was sitting in.
"Tony..." Pepper said in her serious tone.
"Alright, fine." He hopped out of the vehicle and over to his desk where he began fidgeting with some parts.
"Look, she showed up at my door claiming I was her father. And she's sitting right upstairs. I didn't know what else to do so I called you. Pepper Potts. My amazing, on to it personal assistant-"
She cut him off with a snicker. "So that's what this is about. We've been through this before, but isn't it usually a woman here though, claiming her kid as yours? Not the kid." She pondered.
"Exactly. This time is different. What do we do Pep?" He asked, sitting on the desk.
She folded her arms, "Talk to her. Call social services. We'll figure something out, Tony."
"I did. We had a brief chit chat. She is very convincing you know, way more than past woman I've had. She has a letter and everything." He said.
"You had a 'chit chat'?" Pepper asked, eyebrow raised.
"A very uh, civilized one if I may say so myself." Tony replied with a smirk.
"Tony plus civilized. That would be laughable if not for the circumstances." She said rubbing her temple and checking the time.
After a brief silence and the only sound was the waves crashing, Pepper asked, "Are you convinced, Tony?"
"That I'm her father? I'll have to sleep on it." He answered, running a hand down his face.
"You believe her, don't you?" Pepper questioned walking closer to Tony.
"I don't want to."
"Come on. Let's have a rational discussion. That's why I'm here isn't it?" Pepper walked back upstairs, Tony following less enthusiastically.
"Don't act like you don't enjoy it, Miss Potts." Tony added.
"Shut up, Mr Stark."
