Chapter 1

Elizabeth Maria Stark

You often imagine your life playing out a certain way, normally something generic and typical. You'll go to school, go to college, meet someone, fall in love, get married, have kids, and live happily ever after. I'd known from a very young age that this wasn't going to be how it played out in my world. We wont get into my tragic back story just yet, but what does deserve a mention is the groundbreaking news I recieved at the tender age of 9 years old, when my views of the world were still (moderately) rosy and my hair was still in pigtails. Understandably, having my big brother sit me down and go through the details of his ordeal in Afghanistan came as a shock, but Tony had never been anything but honest with me, and despite the fact I was a child he had known that in this case, honesty was the best policy. It had come as just as much of a shock when I'd stood at the back of the press conference, my hand squeezed tightly in Pepper's and my fiery haired best friend standing close beside me, while my brother announced to the world that he was, in fact, Iron Man.

Things changed after that. The world got more frightening every day, a new world filled with gods and monsters, each morning a fresh surprise as to what might crop up next to threaten my way of life. But I wouldn't have it any other way. If anything, this crazy new world had brought me closer together with the only family I had left, and as well as that, it had given me a new family. I didn't expect my life to follow any sort of normal route, and I especially didn't expect to fall in love. But I suppose in a world of surprises you had to be ready for anything. And I was. I'd grown in a world of magic and mysteries, and it had made me who I was today. Elizabeth Maria Stark.

"Elizabeth you better almost be ready! Tony's already bashed on the door three times I think if he has to once more he's going to drag you out of here by your hair." I groaned, the berating voice muffled slightly through the en-suite door that placed a barrier between us. The tone of her voice told me that even she, the queen of being late, was getting impatient. She's always been this way, seemingly taking up the role of my mother as well as my best friend. I'd known that Madelyn Hogan and I had been destined to be the best of friends when Tony had introduced me to the 6 year old whirlwind of red hair who had skipped into my room and hopped onto my bed as though she'd known me all her life. She was loud and demanding; a fiery attitude, poised exterior and no nonsense temperament all rolled into one. Though one thing she had proved herself to be over the years was fiercely loyal, a trait that everyone who knew her quickly grew to love. She had grabbed a hairpin from her pocket, a gold clip adorned with a daisy, and slipped it into my hair before gesturing to her matching pin. It was at that point she announced that we were best friends, forever and always. She hadn't been wrong.

"Okay Mads chill out I'm almost ready!" I dropped my brush into the sink with a huff, well and truly fed up of trying to twist my hair into some semblance of a style.

"What are you doing in there? Are you taking a crap? We don't have time for you to take a crap Els." My undignified snort of laughter echoed in the bathroom, my laughter continuing as I swung the door open to reveal Maddie's raised brow and hand-on-hip stature.

"I am not taking a crap. I was trying to fix my hair because it's a mess and I can't stand up there in front of all those people looking this way. Okay?" She rolled her eyes, grabbing both of my hands in hers and pulling me towards the dressing table by the far window, before shoving me into the seat. It was a matter of seconds before my loose brunette curls were pinned back on one side, the other side cascading over my shoulder in a waterfall like fashion.

"Simple, understated, and you look perfect." As usual, she wasn't wrong. She'd somehow managed to do something in a matter of seconds, that I hadn't been able to do in the last 45 minutes. Now that we'd got the hard part out of the way, it took me less than five minutes to slip into my dress and heels, grab my bag and hurry out of the bedroom. I was met by the unimpressed frown of my brother, his arms crossed over his chest as he raised a brow.

"I mean, I'm all for being fashionably late for events, but when you're hosting the event, it's a little bit rude". I shrugged innocently, stepping forward and straightening his bow tie before patting him on the chest with a wide smile. I skipped past him, heading for the door before glancing back over my shoulder with a smirk.

"Come on Tony... we're going to be late". He barked out a laugh, ushering Maddie ahead of him and towards the waiting car that had arrived to escort us to our destination.

"I'm feeling a little nervous" turned out to be the understatement of the year as I stood in the wings watching my brother speak. He was a natural, he did this every day and he'd never struggled to keep a crowd entertained. I watched as he spoke with such certainty and confidence, capturing the interest of every person who looked up at him with sheer amazement. It was more than a lot to live up to, and I found myself wringing my hands together in an attempt to quell their shaking. When Tony had initially asked me to give a speech at his benefit, I'd leapt at the opportunity. If I wanted to become the influential woman I aspired to be, I'd need to get some practice in, and delivering a talk about the benefits of the non-profit Tony had started in rememberance of our Mother and the goodness she spread during her life shouldn't have been such a daunting task. Though as I heard my brother announce my name, followed by the roaring applause of the audience, my mind turned blank. My feet carried me out to centre stage, a kiss placed on my cheek and a pat on the back before I was left alone, my hands resting on the podium as I scrabbled through my brain in a desperate attempt to re-discover the speech I had planned. I forced a smile onto my lips as I flattened out my dress, a small and thankful wave offered to the audience as they descended into quiet. I sucked in a calming breath, exhaling slowly before beginning.

"Good evening everyone. First of all, I want to thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for coming tonight. The support of everyone here, whether you're a big business owner, a small charity, or just a guy who came along for the five course meal..." a ripple of laughter reached to the back of the room, good, this was going well so far, "...no matter who you are, we are eternally grateful for your presence here tonight."

"It's hard for me to know where to begin when it comes to the Maria Stark foundation. It has so many important meanings to myself and my family, first and foremost, the woman it was named after. Sadly, I wasn't afforded many years with my mother before she passed, a fact that will always sadden me. Though I feel truly blessed to have been given the precious years I was, however short they may have been, and to have been raised with such unbridled love and wisdom. This love and wisdom is what we hope we can share with as many people as possible through the foundation, helping to bring the kind of light to people's lives that our mother brought to ours."

"Now, I'm sure a lot of you are looking up at me wondering what the hell a 15 year old is doing trying to talk about the hardships of the world, and a privileged, wealthy 15 year old at that. I don't claim to understand the difficulties so many in our city face on a daily basis... but I try. I'm one of the lucky ones. When my parents passed, I was left with the means to continue on. Not just to live, but to prosper. But why? What makes me any different from a kid who lives in Harlem? This is a notion that my mother was passionate about. Yes, she worked hard to get where she was, as did my father, but their hard work could have been for naught had they not been given the opportunity to flourish. Which is why I am absolutely extatic to announce tonight, a new branch on the Maria Stark Foundation tree. Through my work with underprivileged children in low socio-economic areas, I've had my eyes opened. These kids are smart, talented, and filled with the potential to change the world. If only they had the opportunity. The Ivy foundation will offer these opportunities, the same ones afforded to myself and others like me. We know that every dream is different, which is why there is no one subject that can cover them all. From the sciences, to English, to the arts, we will present these children with whatever they need to become everything they've ever dreamed. Because who here can tell me that they never wanted to be an astronaut? Or a ballerina? Or the president?" The hums of agreement and the subdued wave of applauses answered my question.

"So, lets get down to the real reason I'm making this beautiful and completely ad-libbed speech. I can't do any of this without you, my own personal funds only able to get me so far. I need your help and your support to make the Ivy foundation a reality, and to start changing the lives of so many ambitious and talented individuals. With your help, we can raise the next generation of scientists, novellists, performers. This world wasn't made for the rich, it was made for all of us, and what we choose to do with it will shape the future. Thank you very much." I finished with a curd nod, a roar of applause filling the room from the very back wall all the way to where I stood on the stage. I offered one more wave and an "enjoy the rest of your night", before Tony was at my side. He patted me on the shoulder, a whisper of pride in my ear before he once again took to the podium. I disappeared backstage just as he began to address the crowd, watching from the wings for a moment.

"Elizabeth Stark everyone. You know, I'm starting to worry about that kid. Give her a few more years and I'll be out of a job." I breathed a laugh, shaking my head before turning and slipping through the back door. I'd rejoin the party in a bit, for now needing to grab a drink and some fresh air. Apparently, Madelyn had figured I'd need the same thing, immediately greeting me with a proud smile and a glass of wine, most likely secretly acquisitioned from the caterers while their backs were turned.

"You know me too well sis". I took a quick sip of the drink before she tugged me forward, engulfing me in a tight hug.

"That speech was amazing Els, I'm so proud of you!" She pressed a kiss into my cheek before stepping back and grabbing my hand, her expression softening. "Your mom and dad would have been so proud of you." I nodded with a small smile. I knew they would have been proud, that's why I did what I did. They may not be here any more but I'd be damned if I ever became a woman my parents wouldn't be proud as peaches to call their daughter.

"I'd be proud of you too if I didn't walk back here to see you with a, very full, glass of wine on your hand." I turned to meet the amused smirk of my brother, resting against the doorframe and eyeing the glass in my grip.

"I need it to calm my nerves!" I responded dramatically, taking a large gulp of the drink and resting a hand over my heart. He rolled his eyes, waving me away with a laugh.

"I'll let you off this once, but only because of that amazing speech. You did good out there Els... you're doing amazing things. I'm proud of you." Sincerity definitely appeared to be the emotion of the night as I recieved yet another bout of praise.

"Wow this is disgustingly cute... when do they start serving this five course meal hmm?" Maddie chimed in, breaking the atmosphere of the moment and raising a brow over her glass.

"Madelyn you're a horrible child."

"I'm so proud to be the second little sister that you never wanted." I regarded their exchange with amusement, taking another sip of my wine before slipping my hand into my friends' and dragging her away before a full blown sarcasm-off could begin. I'd seen enough of those in my life to know this wasn't the time or place.

"See you later Tony. Love you" I called over my shoulder, receiving a similar response just as we slipped through the doors and out into the hallway that would lead us to our table.

The rest of the evening went by smoothly, the delicious meal filling our stomachs and the astonishingly kind donations of a large number of guests filling the Ivy Foundation funding pot. I'd recieved an incredible amount of praise for what I was doing, a factor I'd never expected and was beyond proud by. I'd been even more astounded and flattered when the founder and former CEO of Pym Technologies, Hank Pym pulled me aside to congratulate me. He'd continued to state how wonderful the Ivy Foundation was a beautiful idea and any way that he could help, he would love to be involved. Suffice to say it took me almost the rest of the evening to get over that encounter, still buzzing from the high of everything that had come from the evening..