Hi, guys! Sorry me I didn't published anything for a long time. But don't worry, I'll post something new soon.

Well, this is just a short Howard/Tony (father/son) one-shot. Tony is 9 in this story. Warning: it's kinda Au-ish and dark but it has a good ending. Sorry some mistakes (wrong spelling or translation). English isn't my native language.

Please R&R :)

I don't own IMAA

It was late at night but Howard didn't even think about going to sleep. Although, he should do. He spent last four hours working on new project, he was exhausted, but not sleepy. So here he was, sitting in easy chair in front of fireplace, staring at the bright flame, when he heard a scream: "NO!" Howard jumped off the chair: he knew this voice, he would recognize it anywhere. So he ran out the living room.

Howard froze, as he opened the door and switched on the light. The scence, that appeared in front of his eyes, broke his heart. Here on the bed was his little son, who, unfortunately, didn't have a good dream. Little boy didn't scream anymore, probably because he was so scared in his nightmare, or not; but he whimpered and groaned softly, whole his body was trembling, so blanket had almost fallen on the floor, cold sweat covered his little body.

Howard went to the bed, sat down by his boy's side, and gently shook Tony's shoulders. "Tony. Tony, wake up." But nightmare wasn't going to let little boy go so easily. Tony cried out and clutched with a death grip at sheet, which was wet from his sweat. But Howard didn't give up. "Tony, wake up. Tony. Tony!" Suddenly boy's baby blue eyes flashed open and then filled with tears. "Daddy..." Tony whispered through sobs, as he threw his arms around his dad's neck and held on tightly, crying into Howard's shoulder. Howard wrapped his arms around Tony. "It's okay, it's okay, sonny... It was just a bad dream, Tony, just a bad dream." Howard whispered softly. "No, it... it was my memories. You remember what's the day today, right?" Howard sighed. He remembered... he'll always remember.

Never forget that fateful day, when his wife, Maria, and her childhood friends, whom names were Bart Mason and Martha Norman, died... were murdered by merciless thugs...in front of five years old boy's eyes, the little boy, who was supposed to be dead too, but policemen got in time to save lil' Tony's life. But not his heart that now was broken. They saved him from the death but not from fear that will always be within, the dark fear, which born in boy's shattered soul and was slowly poisoning him by hatred and malice that boy tried to reject... the fear that brought him these terrible nightmares, despite the fact that it's been about four year since a death in the family.

"Calm down, Tony. I'm with you. I'm here, and I won't let any nightmares or bad memories get you, okay?" Tony looked up at his dad, tears still were falling down boy's face, soft sobs still were escaping his mouth. "Really?" Little boy whispered. "Sure, my little genius..." Howard smiled, drying tears from Tony's face. Then Howard checked his watch and said: "It's late. You need to sleep." Tony nodded and lay on the bed, as Howard covered boy by a blanket. Then he switched off the light and went to his son's bed again. Tony, who wasn't taking his eyes off Howard all this time, said sadly. "Daddy, don't leave me." Howard sat on the edge of the bed softly whispered: "Never..." Tony smiled sadly and closed his eyes. Never...

Whatta y' thinkin' 'bout it? Please R&R :)