Ultron was dead. Ten years after the failure of every superhero to defeat the robot, he was finally vanquished, lost in the abyss of space forever.

Tony was setting up the course of the small ship they were in. They couldn't go back directly to Ultra City, no matter the amount of robots they had to kill. Besides the kids have had a long day.

Kids.

It was unbelievable that a menace to the entire world was brought down by mere kids and the Hulk. Well, not really. They were after all, the children of the Avengers.

Tony sighs. He missed the Avengers terribly. For a long time, they were his only family. And then all of them had died. Just like Wanda had shown him all those years ago.

Tony shook his head. It was all in the past now. He had to focus on the kids right now. More than ever. He could hear the enthusiastic talks outside the cockpit. They were all so young. He would like to pretend that when he saw James connect power to the ship and have that feeling of inevitable doom settle in the pit of his stomach, he got over it and had full confidence that the children will defeat the robot.

But then he would be lying to himself.

All he wanted at that moment was to hide the kids somewhere. Why should they pay for the mistakes of their parents? He didn't want them to fight. Especially since he couldn't help. His suit had been completely broken by Ultron and the Vision was deactivated. What if one of the kids had been hurt? What if one of them had died? What if all of them had died? Like Harley, or Peter? No, he couldn't bear that on his conscience not since even Ultron was his fault. He couldn't lose them because they were not just the children of his friends anymore, he had come to view them as his own.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Repeat.

"Tony? Um… sir?" Tony was pretty glad for the interruption. He definitely did not want to have a panic attack now. It was a happy day and it should remain that way.

"Are you alright?" There was a hand on his shoulder now and he turned his head to look into the concerned face of one of his wards, the son of Captain America and Black Widow, James Rogers.

"I am alright James. Just a bit shaken up, that's all. On days like this, one cannot help but reminisce. Did you need anything?"

James withdrew his hand and looked out at the vast desert they were flying through. He looked a bit hesitant and shy, "Um, well it isn't anything important, so if you are busy I can leave." He turned as if to go but before Tony could assure him that he was free, he turned back and spoke, "Well, actually, it is important."

"Of course James, you know I always have time for you and your siblings."

"Yeah, well first of all, sir, I want to apologize." James confessed with a bit more confidence.

Tony frowned, "You have nothing to apologize for."

James looked down at that and gave a self-depreciating smile, "I do, sir." With a sigh, he leaned against the wall and put his hands in his pockets.

Tony knew that gesture. James always did that when he was nervous. "James, what's the matter? And what's with the 'sir'? Just call me by my name."

"All these years, living inside that dome, away from the outside world, I grew frustrated and angry. I remained irritated for most of the day, didn't do my chores or any training and as Torunn said, I was a jerk. I got angry at you, sir, for keeping us isolated, not giving us any freedom and asking us to train for an enemy that I gradually began to think didn't even exist. For me, you were wrong. And if my parents would have been alive, they would have cared for me much better."

Tony heard it with a stoic face but inside he couldn't help but feel depressed. Why wouldn't he? What James was saying was practically a confirmation of his worst fears that he wasn't a good mentor for these children. He had known from the start that he wasn't father material but he had hoped that… Well, he didn't know what he had hoped for? That the children would love him? That they would forgive him for building Ultron and essentially be a part of their parents' death?

James sighed, "I was so wrong, sir. So wrong." Tony focused his attention back on the young teen. "All you did was protect us and guide us. You trained us for our fight against Ultron. And you cared for us, for me. I am really sorry for every difficulty I put you through and for every hurtful and disrespectful word I said. I didn't really mean it because I knew somewhere deep down that you have always looked out for us. And I am sorry for all the torture Ultron must have put you through because I was dumb enough to reveal our location to it." James confessed, his voice breaking towards the end with remorse and guilt.

"Oh James." Tony sighed and engulfed him in a hug. "You don't have to be sorry for it. It's all in the past." Hearing protest coming from the kid, Tony continued, "but since you are, I accept it and forgive you."

James broke out from the embrace and smiled at his mentor. "Thank you, Tony." Tony smiled back too. He assumed that James would leave now but the red-haired teen composed himself and with an almost afraid voice said, "That's not all I came to talk to you about though. There is something else."

"Sure, go ahead."

"After…do you remember how I told you that you are not really my father?" Tony gives a small nod.

"Well, after Ultron took you and we thought that you were dead, I realized that what I said wasn't true. I didn't mean it even then but it opened my eyes to the fact that I look up to you, Tony, not just as my mentor and caretaker but as a father-figure. And it is not just because there was no one else. It's because I know now, that you are exactly what I needed and wanted."

Tony was stunned speechless. Was James actually saying that Tony had done a good job as a caretaker? And the fact that he was as a father to the boy show that Tony didn't fail in his life as much as he had thought he did?

"And so, I wanted your permission." James continued.

"What for?"

And suddenly the boy was all shy again. Clearing his throat, he replied, "You have done a lot for me Tony and I respect you a lot. I want you to know that. So, as a sign of my respect, sir, I hope you don't mind if I change my name—"

"Whoa, whoa! Stop right there! Change your name?" Tony asked in a bewildered voice.

"Yeah, um, change my name to be James Anthony Rogers." By the end of the statement his voice was nothing but a whisper but Tony caught it nonetheless.

"Wh-what? Anthony? Why would you do that? No, scratch that. There's no need for you to do that James!"

"But there is! Look, I know you think it is unnecessary but I'd like the world to know who are the people I look up to. I already carry the name my mother and father gave me, I have my father's last name but I want to have yours as well. Besides, 'James Stark Rogers' doesn't really have that ring to it. So I went with Anthony. Please, Tony."

"Ah I—I, James, I am honored. Thank You. And yes, you can keep the name."

James grinned and let out a small whoop of victory, "Yes, yes! Thanks so much, Tony." With a quick embrace, the son of the first avenger left the cockpit leaving his mentor with a tear trailing down his face.

"It's this blasted day. Made everyone sentimental." Tony murmured wiping the tear off. He couldn't contain his smile. He wasn't a failure after all. "Or it's just my old age. Who knew I will grow so soft in my old age?" Chuckling, he went to check on Vision.

He suddenly heard Francis' voice from the lobby which had gone otherwise quiet, "You do realize that now the initials of your name spell J.A.R, right?"

"Shut up, Barton." James' voice drifted through.

Tony grinned to himself. The future didn't look so bad after all.