Title: Beautiful

Author: Night Of The Land

Rating: T

Summary: Pre-Movie/AU Tony Stark, play boy, billionaire, genius...big brother? Enter Antoinette Stark, high school student, down to earth. The two are completely different, until you get see the math and science scores… oh and the sarcasm.

A/N: I know that I haven't been updating anything like I should. But this is something that I wrote whilst studying for my AP Physics exam. Stupid things. Anyway, hope you all enjoy. Be kind this is my first Ironman fanfic.

Chapter One: A Morning in the Life of a Stark

The light was far too bright, and the automated voice of Jarvis was a little too cheerful. Antoinette Stark groaned and rolled over, pulling her black Egyptian cotton sheets over her head. Her dark black hair was bunched on the top of her head, and her dark chocolate brown eyes were clenched tightly shut against the sudden brightness.

"Good Morning, Ms. Stark. It is currently 5:29 AM, the temperature in a balmy 64 degrees, the sun is set to rise at 6:52…."

"Damn it, Jarvis. It's too early." Antoinette groused, rolling on to her back, staring up at the white ceiling.

"My apologies, Ms. Stark, you did however…"

"I know, Jarvis. I know." She sighed before throwing back her covers and sitting up cross-legged on her large queen sized bed. She squinted around the room, the white walls reflecting the harsh lighting. On the wall opposite the bed, but tucked in the corner, sat her desk. It was cluttered with various computer parts and art supplies. On the floor, leaning against the desk, were several canvases in all states of completion. Finished works of art hung on the walls, adding colour to bland white walls. Next to the desk, on the wall to the left of the bed was a glass wall, more like a window. During the day it over looked the beautiful Pointe Dume Malibu. Other wall, opposite the window, had two doors; one leading to the private bathroom/suite, the other leading to the large walk in closet.

Annie stretched and swung her legs over the side of the bed, hissing as her bare feet hit the cool hardwood floor. Shivering, she yanked the top cover off her bed, wrapped it around herself, and padded to the bathroom.

Entering, the lights came up automatically; she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her skin so dark she looked brown, blending nicely with her black hair and dark chocolate eyes. Turning the large shower on, she spoke to the ceiling, "Jarvis, find and play Annie's Morning Jams, please."

"As you wish, Ms. Stark." Jarvis replied, before the loud bass of Kevin Rudolf's "I Made It" blared out of the hidden speakers.

"Thank you." She said over the sound of the music. Throwing off her blanket she shed her nightclothes and stepped in the shower.

The smell of coffee met her as she flopped down the floating stairs, her sandals slapping on the hardwood. She smiled appreciatively, as she entered the kitchen, setting her tie-dyed back pack down on the floor by her chair.

Seated at her normal spot was Pepper Potts, her red hair pulled back into a severe ponytail. She was reading something on the screen of her BlackBerry frowning. Before her sat a coffee mug, at the place to the left there was another mug, and there was one placed in front of Annie's seat as well, along with a small brightly wrapped box.

"Morning, Pepper." She greeted her voice light and sophisticated, a smile evident, "You didn't need to do anything for me."

Pepper looked up from her phone, "Good Morning, Annie." She smiled at her boss's younger sister, "And I know, I wanted too."

Annie sat down, pulling the box to her, giving Pepper a look. "Can I open it?" she asked.

Pepper made a go ahead gesture, smiling wider as Annie tore the bright yellow paper. The box was tiny and white. With a curious look she took the top of it off and gasped. Nestled in the white almost cotton was a silver charm bracelet. Setting the box on the table she took the bracelet out of the box, looking at the charms. There was a small car, a book, a paint brush, a music note, and a pair of pointe shoes.

"Aw, Pepper, I love it! It's beautiful!" Annie said, eyes wide.

Pepper gave a knowing smile, "Not everyday one turns 18. It's something to remind you to stay as young as you can." She gestured for Annie to give her her wrist. "Here I'll fasten it for you." Annie leaned across the table.

"Thank you."

"No problem, happy birthday."

Annie grinned, fingering the bracelet. It was great. And best thing was it didn't clash with her attire for the day, which consisted of a black spaghetti tank top, tight jeans and black sandals. Silver hoops caught the light from between the long locks of midnight black hair. A gentle dusting of make up finished the look.

"Boss man not awake yet?" Annie asked, smiling as she sat down again, picking up her coffee and taking a sip, eyes twinkling as she found it fixed the way she liked it.

"How could I not be awake? What, with the blaring music and the annoyingly loud shoes," the snarky, yet playful, voice of her older brother, Tony Stark, made Annie's head snap around. The older man was dressed in an impeccable navy blue suit, his bright yellow tie undone. His black hair was brushed haphazardly to one side, the ever present smirk mocking his baby sister.

Stepping away from the wall on which he had been leaning, he entered the room, ruffling Annie's hair as he passed her. She gave a quiet shriek and hastily fixed her hair, glowering at her brother. But inside she was smiling. If anyone outside their family group (that is Pepper, Tony and herself) could see the great Tony Stark, playboy extraordinaire interacting with his sister, being a carefree almost human, they would have a heart attack.

"Sleep well?" she snarked back, grinning.

"Yes, until the god awful noise you call music rudely woke me from my beauty sleep." Tony replied, eyes dark and gleaming over the brim of his coffee mug.

Pepper snorted slightly at that, ignoring the look that Tony gave her. Neither chose to comment.

Annie laughed, finishing her coffee, before standing to take it and the wrapping paper to the sink and trashcan, "Yeah, cause we all know that Tony Stark needs to get his beauty sleep." She said, slinging her bag over her shoulder, she headed for the door, "Have a good day, Pepper, Bro." she said before she left the room.

Tony stood, following her to the basement garage. Grabbing a set of keys from the workbench, he called out, "Little Stark", before he tossed them to her.

She turned, and gave a gasp as the keys flew at her head. Catching them she gave her brother a curious look.

"Take the Audi." He said over his shoulder, as he headed back up the stairs, "Happy birthday, by the way."

Annie gaped at her brother's retreating back, shaking her head, before she headed for the car. Silver with black interior, it was her brother's baby. She was surprised he was letting her drive it. Deciding she should leave before he changed his mind, she hopped in and sped from the underground garage.

The bell was 10 minutes away from ringing to take her from this hell. Not that it was a class, a simple study hall, but the jock sitting next to her, flirted shamelessly with her, and she was not even remotely interested. She may be a Stark but she was not the playboy/playgirl her brother was. She at least had values and a strict set of criteria that her man had to meet, and this oaf did not meet any of them. She supposed that if she wasn't interested in a relationship right now he might be cute. But even then the appeal stopped there.

One might think that because she was the sister of the man who owned the world famous Stark Industries, and was thusly a Stark herself, she would be at the top of the social totem pole. The truth was very different how ever. She didn't have the sparkling personality her brother did, nor the intelligence, but she had a sneaky feeling that was only because Tony thought of creative ways to cheat. She smiled at the thought, which the jock took as a response to his harassment. Saying something stupid was one thing but the ass had the audacity to touch her.

With a frustrated sigh, she slammed her A.P. Physics book shut. "I get that football season is over, but could you please save the testosterone for the field, I swear to God it's amazing your brain hasn't exploded from the excess that you seem to have in your system at all times." She snapped, shoving his hand from her shoulder, before grabbing her bag and heading for the teacher's desk, leaving the jock staring after her in shock.

"Mr. Dannings, may I please go down to the art room? I have a few things that I need to complete before the show." Annie asked, frowning when he didn't even look up from his computer.

He didn't even acknowledge her, just waved a hand. She took that as a yes, and left the room. The halls were covered in teal and black banners and flyers. The lockers were painted with the school colours and Annie squinted against the light. As she walked down the hall, her phone began to vibrate. Grinning she pulled it from her pocket and checked to see who the message was from. Rolling her eyes as she shouldered the door open, her brother wouldn't give her a moment's peace.

"Annie!" Oh My God, girl, you will not believe it!" Kiara McLeon shrieked from across the room when she saw her best friend enter.

Annie gave her friend a smile, "What?" she asked, making for beeline for the large table covered in art work that Kiara was working at. The exuberant bleach blonde was fluttering excitedly about the room. In the same grade as Annie, Kiara was simply an artist. Unlike Annie, to whom art was a simple outlet, art to Kiara was life.

With another shriek, Kiara held out her hand to show a large ring on her finger. Annie's jaw dropped. "Bret proposed?" she asked breathlessly.

Kiara's head bobbed up and down excitedly. "I was gonna call you last night, but…" a red blush crept up her tanned face.

Annie gave a grimacing smile. "I don't wanna know." She said holding up a hand, before laughing again.

"I know…sorry." Kiara replied, smiling.

"Congrats." Annie told her, setting her stuff down on the table, reopening her A.P. book and got back to work.

"You and all your smart stuff." Kiara joked, getting back to work on her piece.

Annie smiled as the bell rang and the noise that filled the hallway. Frowning slightly, "Hey, where's Fergie?" she asked.

Kiara laughed at Annie's nickname for the art director, her name was Ferguson, but they called her Fergie. "She went home, Jen's sick." She replied, frowning as she sat back looking at her drawing.

"Ah." Annie replied, nodding her head. "Anyway, I'm heading home," she gave Kiara a hug, smiling, "Congrats again."

Her friend smiled, "Thanks," watching as Annie left the room.

She headed for the parking lot, letting herself be swept up in the throng of people, jumping slightly as her phone began to ring loudly. Looking down she checked the ID. Seeing her brother's grinning face looking up from her iPhone. Rolling her eyes she answered, "Ran out of ways to annoy Pepper?" she asked.

"Ann! Don't go out side!" Tony sounded anxious.
She stopped dead in her tracks, getting several people swearing at her. "What? Tony? What's going on?"

"Press….don't say anything." Tony replied, before he spoke to someone on his end. "Ann, be careful, and come straight home, okay?" he asked.

Annie nodded, then realized that he couldn't see her, "Yeah, but what's…?"

"Tell you when you get home," he cut her off, "Love you, Ann." He told her before he hung up.

"You too." She replied, pulling the phone from her head, looking around the now empty hallway with something akin to fear.

Taking a deep breath, she held her head high, her mouth set in a firm line she walked from the school. Not surprisingly, she was attacked by the press as soon as she stepped into the sunlight. Camera bulbs flashed in her face, and reporters yelled their questions, and pushed and shoved her. She stopped. They stopped as well.

"With respect, I have no comment on what any of you are saying." She said, then walked off in the direction of the Audi. The press taking a moment to digest what she had said.

Before they had a chance to catch up with her, she was in the car and off.

She stormed into the house, ignoring Jarvis as he greeted her. The large house was silent save for the AI. She cocked her head to one side, listening, and not hearing anything.

"Damn," she murmured, before she stalked up the stairs to her room, tossing her shoes off as soon as she entered the room. She dumped her bag by her desk then headed off to her closet to put something more comfy on. Coming out a few moments later in grey sweatpants and a matching hoodie, she flopped down on her bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking that she was going to paint it.

Laying there for a moment she decided that she was hungry, and stood back up, and padded down stairs to the kitchen, finding a bag of chips she headed for the living room and flopped down on the couch. Grabbing the remote she flipped the TV. Settling on the History channel, she settled down in the couch with her chips and munched away watching a program about the Civil War.

Tony Stark hesitated as he entered his own house, expecting to be attacked by his sister, wanting answers. Even though it was close midnight, he still expected her to be up and ready to accost him. As he edged around the corner, frowning at the gentle glow of the television screen, he stopped.

Sprawled on the couch was the aforementioned little sister. And as she lay there by did she ever look like his little sister. Dark hair was coming from its ponytail, and was half over her face. Knees were drawn up almost to her chin with and arm folded under her head, her usually bright piercing eyes were closed in sleep, and her face relaxed.

Tony smiled slightly, before he toed his shoes off and in sock feet padded quietly over to her. Taking the remote gently from her hand, wincing as she stirred slightly, he turned the TV off and draped her still form with the blanket that lay over the back of the couch. He pushed a piece of her hair from her face, and smiled sadly down at her.

As she slept she looked like the little girl he remembered from childhood. But now she was an adult, legally anyway. To him however she would always be his little sister.

As he watched her sleep a sense of dread came over him. he didn't know why but what he did know was that he would do anything thing to protect they young woman laying on his couch, sound asleep.