Author's Note:Hi again! Guess who made me publish this? Yep, my dear friend 'Sarah' has requested everything I wrote in this story. So, before you come after me with pitchforks and torches remember that! She loves this pairing, so being the good friend that I am I wrote it for her...

Whitney Stane never believed in love until six months ago...

Romeo and Juliet. That's what she called it. Just like the love story they were reading in Drama class. Two people desperately in love, but they can never tell a single soul because of the consequences that might ensue, that's what they were. Except without all the dying, they both pray-very hard-that nothing like that ever happens.

But love stories like that always come with a price, you can't tell a single person about the one you love. Which can prove very difficult if you're a girl who loves someone with every each of her soul, and of course she loved Tony with every fiber of her being. It was hard for her to keep herself from expressing her feelings to the entire world. A little jar stood on her dresser for that one purpose. She would write letters, not naming him of course, confessing everything she's always wanted to say, and it was getting rather full.

Whitney thought she was just acting like a spoiled brat again for wanting to go against Tony's wishes and announce their relationship together. She didn't want that, she didn't want to make him upset, she didn't want to lose him. Not now, not ever. She just wanted everyone to know how she was feeling, she was so wonderfully happy. Beautifully, exquisitely, perfectly happy. She's never felt like this, she's never felt so, so, perfect. Her mother never cared about her, that's why her mother left. Leaving her to be insulted every waking moment by her father. It was like her own mother, who gave birth to her, wanted her to suffer the way she has been all her life.

There was one night when she finally snapped, something inside her broke into tiny shards. Thrusting her back into the twisted reality she was in. Then, she just collapsed on the tile in her bathroom, and cried. Cried until her head throbbed like it was being pounded on the inside with a hammer. She changed after that night for the better, she didn't vie for attention anymore, she didn't care if anyone noticed her anymore. Even if her earthly father hated her to the ends of the earth, there was a Heavenly Father who loved her until the far edges of the vast universe. She swore to never forget that.

But now, she couldn't hold it in anymore, Whitney wanted everyone to know how she felt. How she's been feeling ever since she met Tony, ever since that first day. That first magical day when she was only five, when Maria took her over to their house to play with him. And that's how their argument started, but that wasn't what it was now. She was scared now, scared that he didn't want anyone to know that they had been secretly dating for almost six months now because she wasn't good enough for him. Or something like that.

But she was wrong...

"You don't care anymore! Is that it?" Whitney's voice was loud enough for someone to hear, but she didn't care. She didn't care if the entire forest knew of their hiding place away from the world. That little spot they found when they were kids, the little spot where they first shared their secrets, the spot where they would share their ideas...the little spot where they shared their first kiss.

"No, that's never been-" Tony was trying to keep his voice calm, and quiet. He wanted her to just calm down, and talk with him about it. Like they always did when they were hurting about something. But he didn't understand, for once, what she was so...mad about. And that was his first mistake. He just didn't understand, he tried to, he really did! But Whitney's mind could just be so complex sometimes.

"Then what-what is it then, is it me, are you tired of me?"

"No! Of course not, its-"

"Am I not good enough? I can change, I swear! I did it once, I can do it again!" Her eyes were leaking the tears she fought so desperately to hold back, she just didn't have the strength to fight them anymore. Tony just had to love her, he had to!

"No, sweetie, no." He tried to calm her down, he placed his hands on her shoulders, slowly slid them down to her back, and pulled her closer to him. Luckily she accepted his comforting movements, and laid her head into his shoulder. Tony began to gently run his hands through her hair soothingly. It always helped her calm down, he watched his mom do it to her when they were little, right after her mother filed for divorce.

I-I'm...I just don't want, I don't want you to..." He took a deep breath, and tried to explain. This wasn't going to be easy. What he was about to say would bring back memories. Memories that weren't very pleasant to bring back.

"Do you remember the day you told me about that fight with your dad?" He started, still soothing her.

He could tell that she had tensed up when he mention her father. It made him sick, he made him sick, it was like the idiot was completely blind! Couldn't he see the pain he was causing his own daughter? Oh, right. 'Cause he didn't care if he made her avoid him like the plague. Heck, that was probably what that sorry-excuse-for-a-human-being wanted!

Tony could see it all again. The day she showed up on his doorstep, the tears flowing down her flushed cheeks, the shaking sobs that wrecked her tired body, the purple bruise around her wrist, and the strange red spot on her cheek. It made him sick. Like he wanted to go over there and pummel the living daylights out of him. Not like he didn't deserve it...

He felt her head slowly depart from his shoulder to look at his eyes.

Whitney gave her head a slight nod, "You were the only one who would listen to me. I mean, besides Pep, I was too afraid to tell her." Pepper was always there for her. She knew that, heck, Pepper made sure she knew it everyday!

The very next day after everything changed, Whitney made sure she apologized to every single person she's ever hurt. Ever. She was deeply depressed at how long the list was, she had no idea she used to be so...oh, there was no use dwelling on the past. She changed that's what mattered.

Well, apologizing to absolutely everyone wasn't entirely possible considering that she hadn't seen her mother since she was seven. But she was fine with that most days. She really didn't care about her mother when she left. All she would do is fight with her dad, and make her miserable. And besides, it meant Whitney could spend more time with Maria, and Tony. Maria always took care of her, like a real mother, and Tony became somewhat of a big brother to Whitney. Always protecting her from anyone, even that crazy boy who tried to kiss her that one time. Of course Tony punched him in the jaw, then she pushed him in the lake, and then Maria punished them both. But it was definitely worth it.

She made sure to apologize to Pepper more, the way Whitney treated her was un-called for. It was rather vile now that she knew what she had done. She was just so jealous of her, Pepper had everything she had always wanted, a family who actually cared if she cried herself to sleep, friends who were always there for her...and she had Tony...

But now, they were like sisters. Exactly like sisters. Yet she couldn't tell her about the horrible things she was going through with her father. The one person who was supposed to protect her no matter what, was hurting her both emotionally, and physically.

"It's not that I don't love you, in fact, far from it. I just don't want him, or anyone, to hurt you like that again. I'm worried about what people, media, our friends," Tony had no idea what Rhodey, and Pepper would think if they found out they had been meeting each other at night, especially in secret. Oh, good Lord, who knows what fun the media would have with this! It made him shudder just to think about it. "Your father..." That's what scared him the most. He was so worried about her, what that man might do to her, ever since she told him. She was so pale, and scared. Scared of consequences...

He noticed the sudden light in her eyes. She understood!

"I don't care, I don't care what anyone thinks. I love you, you love me, and that's all that matters. But if you want to keep meeting like this, it's fine, really it is, I'm just so...proud, and honored to be yours that I want everyone to know," Whitney let out a light giggle, he loved her, he still did! "It's strange, sure, but it's the truth. I'm so beautifully, blindingly, happy that I want everyone to know how delirious I am." She told him, finally!

"Really?"

"Really. I love everything about you, and in all honesty, I don't know why you stay with me."

"Isn't it obvious?" Tony pulled her down to sit beside him, the light that had appeared into her eyes made them sparkle.

"Hmm, I think this is proof that love is blind,"

He raised an eyebrow, her cryptograms were something he never understood about her. Ever since they were little, she's always used her vast knowledge of fairy tales, astronomy, and literature as a code against him. And he wasn't talking about the cipher they created together when they were six. "It's the only explanation, right?"

"You keep thinking that."

"You know, we switch between moods, have you noticed? I mean, we go from argumentative to all lovey-dovey, to-whatever."

It's true, they did. They always had rapid mood swings when they fought.

"Yeah, I noticed that. Is it because we've known each other for so long?"

"Dunno, I hope not. If you do end up proposing to me, and we get married, it's probably going to be ten times worse than this."

"You want me to propose to you?"

"J-just you-you know, j-j-just p-putting it out there, i-ignore me if you want, I d-d-don't care."

"Aw, you're cute when you stutter."

"Flirt."

"Just sayin' "

"And I'm just sayin' "

"You love it though."

"Again with the flirting."

"Sorry."

"Uh-huh, sure. Hey, do you still want to talk about the thing-that-shall-not-be-named-due-to-its-sensitivity?"

She was talking about their relationship problem. The problem being if they were going to announce their relationship. Formally, just to Pepper, and Rhodey, their familes (incuding Whitney's father). It was turning into a devastating probem in their relationship.

"What do you want to do about it?" Tony sighed, he still wasn't sure what he wanted to do. Sure, he can always trust his friends. Come on, they kept his secret, right?

"Whatever. I'm fine if you want to keep everything the way it is, announce it, or just tell Pepper and Rhodey. I'm sure they can keep us a secret."

"No doubt about it..."

Of course they would keep it between them, but there was the slight other problem. What were they going to say?

Whitney just looked at Tony. He had his head down, thinking. Being so close to him made her heart stop, he was just so wonderful. He was caring, and kind, maybe a little over-protective, but that was okay. Her mind flashed back to all the memories they shared together, good, bad, and everything that he ever did for her. She would never be able to fully express her thankfulness towards him, no matter how hard she wanted to, it would never come out the way she planned. But she did it anyway.

"Thank you. For everything you've ever done for me, Tony, thank you." Whitney lightly pecked his cheek, and leaned her head into the crook of his neck

A small blush, accomanied by a smile crept up on Tony's face.

"You're welcome." He draped his arm over her shoulder, and gently nudged her closer. He heard a barely audible sigh from the girl sitting next to him.

"What time is it?" She asked, hoping that they could spend just a little more time together before her dad got home. Before she would have to face his many insults.

"Around eight."

Snap, she was going to be late.

Whitney let out yet another sigh, "Sorry, but I've gotta go now."

"Yeah, I know."

"Tomorrow, during lunch, do you want them to know?"

Tony nodded, they were going to find out sooner or later anyway. He was surprised they haven't found out already!

"Okay...bye."

She moved to get up, when he tugged her gently back down so she sat in his lap. Whitney rolled her eyes, but on the inside, she couldn't stop smiling. "What?"

"I love you." Tony smiled at her with his arms around her waist, he lifted a hand to lightly cup her cheek.

"I love you too." She smiled back, letting out the overwhelming feeling of happiness inside her. He moved the hand on her cheek to the back of her head, pushing forward gently, trying to let their lips meet. Almost like the first time.

She let herself be brought forward, and their lips met with passion, love, and a touch of the sweet consideration towards each other that they shared. After a few short, but blissful, seconds they pulled away, and just stared into each other's eyes before Whitney broke the silence.

"Before one kiss leads to another, I really have to go home."

He sighed, "All right, I'll see you tomorrow."

She climbed out of his lap, and they both stood up. Tony took her hand in his, and they walked out of the park together, taking precautions to not let anyone see them, and they broke apart and walked down their separate paths.

Whitney definitely believed in love now.

But little did she know about the man hiding in the shadows, waiting for the right time...

I know it's horrible Sarah and I'm sorry. I really, really am...

Anyway, this is most likely going to be a chapter story. Because Sarah was hinting at it. So don't worry! Things are about to heat up, I'm just laying the groundwork here. :)

Does anyone want to guess who that creepy man is? I would LOVE to hear what you all think!

Thank you so much for reading this! I love you!