Disclaimer: Once again I do not own the MCU. Thank you ^^

He screamed as the pitbull clenched his jaws tighter, tugging each little bit to make sure the man knew he meant business. Tony was still grappling the man for the knife when he froze mid-punch, "Theresa!" her scream ripped through the forest sending his stomach into a tight knot. In his moment of distraction he earned a punch to the face which sent him backwards. He groaned for a moment before sitting up, his eyes widened as he watched the man try to bury his blade into the dog's head, "No!" He jumped onto him pinning the man's arm down but grazing his own chest in the process. He wrestled the knife from the man's hand and tossed it behind them causing a loud clank as it landed on a headstone nearby.

Tony punched the man hard in the face, standing up when he was sure the man had lost consciousness. He grimaced at the blood dripping from his shoulder before grabbing the collar of the pitbull, "Hey, you're good, buddy. She escaped. Come on, you wanna find your girl? Wanna find Theresa?" The dog slowly released the man, growling at him and licking his chops menacingly, "Good boy," he pat his head. A glimmer caught his eye, a little baggie had fallen from the man's pocket. Tony clenched his teeth when he saw the white powdery substance filling most of the bag. He growled as he put the pieces together.

I groaned as I forced my eyes open, I moved to get up and whimpered at the sharp searing pain on my left arm and side. I looked around. I was still in the cemetery... But in a part I've never been to before... I whimpered again and examined my wrist, I swallowed hard hoping the small amount of food in my stomach would stay down. I-It was really hard to look at it but I tried; my wrist crackled as I shifted my arm causing a shiver to move up my spine as my hand hung there limply. I squeezed my eyes shut and bit my lip, letting loose a whimper as I dug into my bag and tried to splint my wrist together, I grit my teeth as I kept fumbling through the pain. Every once in a while I would shake so much that I'd drop the bandage roll and struggle picking it up, but whimper after whimper, I finally finished. When I was done I released the pent up pain and emotions; collapsing to my side as I let the tears flow. After a moment of reprieve I forced myself to deal with the stabbing pain in my side. I forced myself to a sitting position and touched my side; a thickset stain of blood clung to my hand. I swallowed hard as I carefully pulled up my shirt, jumping ever so slightly in pain as I tried to unstick it from my skin. I took a deep breath grimacing at the large bruise that formed around a thick dripping gash. When did I cut myself...? It must've been when I fell... I ground my teeth, why did it have to be the same area where the car hit me!? "Why do I always have to suffer..?" I asked the sky, "What did I do..?" I dropped my head down feeling the continuous stream of tears slip down my face... The only good things in my life always get stolen away...

I sobbed as I remembered my dad holding me and telling me how much he loved me. "Daddy... Why'd you leave me...?" I felt like dying... I just wanted to give up and die... But I was just too scared and ashamed... Whenever I thought about going through with it I remembered my dad, how he always used to tell me that he knew I would do great things, and that I would help so many people... How he died to save my life... I rocked myself for what seemed like hours before I forced my numb fingers to bandage up my side as well as I could.

Night needs me... I got up shakily and dragged myself to my dad's grave. I thought about how I must look like the walking dead; pale, weak, emaciated and shambling through a graveyard as I'm dripping with blood... I felt so weak... I kept checking out as I walked, drifting in and out, causing me to get lost a few times among the stones. I finally found that familiar hill that overlooked the city. It took me a long time to register that I was completely alone, "Night! Night where are you!?" I spun my gaze around so fast that I blacked out. I don't know how long I was out when I opened my eyes to see myself lying there on the dewy grass. I sat up sluggishly, "Night!" my voice came out like a moan, "Night!" I hugged myself. Why did I leave him..? He would've protected me... Please! Please don't be hurt...! Please! I'll never be able to forgive myself if something happened to him! "Daddy. Please help me... I'm so scared! I don't know what to do!" As I curled up on his headstone I heard a tap. I looked down to see Tony Stark's business card... I held it to my face, staring at his name as I ran my thumb over the large A. "What should I do?" I asked him, "... Do you think I can trust him..?" My eyes drooped slightly... I'm not sure why but part of me wanted to say yes. But I don't know him! It feels like I do though... But still that thought kept wiggling its way back into my head. Only taking a backseat when a new thought popped into my mind, What if he has Night? Why would he take him? What if Dwayne took him instead...? I shivered. What if he's looking for me...? He's a dog he would've found me by now... Wouldn't he have..? I looked over at the grave Tony was visiting yesterday. I was curious but felt too weak to move... Am I going to die...? No one knows I'm out here... I curled up further, at least I'll die next to him...

She reminds me so much of Katie... Tony thought as he looked at his computer screen. I hope she's okay. "What are you doing?"

Tony jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder, he looked over to see his wife, She looks so exhausted... "Are you okay?"

She bit her lip and hugged him, "I want my baby..." he felt her tears soak through his shirt.

"Me too..." He kissed her face as he held her close. "... But I'll find her Pepper. I promise."

"... What if she's really gone..? For good..? It's been 5 years, Tony."

"They never found her -," he cut himself off and swallowed hard before continuing, "That-that gives us hope..." he paused, "Don't you remember? We only gave her a funeral because the counselor said it might help us..."

"I know... But I'm scared..."

"I am too..."

It's so bright...! My head hurts...! I whimpered as the noises around me grew louder and louder. My head..! Gradually the blurry images grew more sharp and defined, just like the feeling of cords attached to my body and the cold air around me. There were lights above me. They were the only things that remained still as the room warped around me into a much darker and colder place. Sterile white walls surrounded me, the stench of bleach and ammonia hit me with a concussive blast. Panic hit me as I recognized my surroundings. I have to get away! To run! I looked down at my arms strapped to the cold metal below me. No...! No! I kept trying to break free of my binds no matter how much it hurt. A chill crept down my spine as laughter rang throughout the room, "Oh no, no! You can't leave. We haven't even started on your daily round of shots!" I started screaming making him laugh more, "So what shall we start with today my little specimen? Enhancements? Injections to test your endurance? Hmm... I think I know just where to start today!" his cruel laughter sent me spiraling into darkness.

Slowly but steadily I was brought back from the darkness by a soft soothing voice... "It's okay, honey. I'm here..."

"Daddy...?" I wrapped my hands I his shirt as I cried, "Daddy!" The man kissed my temple before stroking my hair and back, sending me into the first restful sleep I've had in two years. When I opened my eyes, the foggy daze had finally lifted from my brain... "Who...?"

I looked up to see Tony; tears were slipping down his face, "Everything's going to be okay now."

"What...? Where's Night?"

"He's doing well. He's at my house."

"... You brought me to the hospital..." Panic edged itself into my voice as I frantically examined the room like something would jump out and bite me.

His jaw tightened, "When I found you... You were badly hurt... They didn't think you'd make it... Your body couldn't handle how much blood you lost along with the other trauma to your body..." he paused "You-you've been in a coma for 3 weeks."

I started shaking, tears burning my eyes, "... You should've left me..." I whispered.

He hugged me tighter, "God... You-you aren't alone anymore, Resa. Okay? I'm here... I've done all the paperwork. If it's okay with you, my wife and I wanted to adopt you."

"What!" My head shot up, is he serious!? "Why? Why would you want me?"

"You're a good girl, Resa. You need a safe home where people care about you and love you. That man-," I tensed making him pause, "I won't let anyone hurt you anymore."

"... He'll come after you. He has really nasty friends..." I shivered.

"Another reason why you'd be safer with me."

"He'll kill you and everyone you care about..."

The silence stretched for a moment, "I'm going to protect you."

"Tony?" A voice called from the door.

"Come here, she's awake."

A woman walked over, sadness betraying her cheerful smile, "Hi, I'm Pepper. I've heard you're into robotics just like Tony here."

That's when it clicked, "Stark Industries! So you're-!"

His smile broadened into a large grin, "So you have heard of me then!"

I nodded vigorously, "You guys offered me an internship! I always wanted to have a spot at the Stark Expo! My invention almost made the spot on the list at the academy!" My face fell as tears spilled down my face. I curled into a ball and leaned against him sobbing.

"Hey... It's okay," they both pet me.

"I want my daddy... If I hadn't- if I hadn't of made that stupid piece of junk- he'd-he'd still be alive..!"

"It's not your fault," Pepper held me, "It's okay..."

"Yes it is! It's all my fault!"

"Hey, now who told you that? It's not your fault!"

"Mom told me... She said its my fault... That I deserve to die... For people to hurt me..."

"What!? How could she tell you something like that!? Poor baby..."

"You're a good girl-," Tony started.

"You don't know what happened! You weren't there!"

"It doesn't matter if we were there or not. No matter what happened you don't deserve to be hurt." I didn't believe them but I remained silent anyways...