Tony had promised Sadie on her birthday that once they were home they would have a shindig, and he did just that. Sure it was all adults that they knew and there were absolutely no kids to play with, but Sadie was content.
Tony had tried finding a way to fit in a casual yet fun way to include Sadie in an adult setting, so he originally made it a pool party, but the only problem with that was now Sadie was afraid of wearing a bathing suit around others.
So she settled for wearing a purple sundress that covered her chest and walking around barefoot talking to everyone.
Bruce showed up and seemed relaxed enough and was enjoying lounging by the pool in a stress free environment. Eventually, Maria Hill, Natasha, and Clint all showed up and Sadie was shocked to see Clint wearing only his swim trunks and sunglasses.
Maria and Natasha both wore casual dresses and still looked professional, but they were obviously off duty and feeling weird about it.
Sadie sat with Kala on a lounge chair by the pool and enjoyed the view. Pepper came over and sat her in her lap, holding her close. No words were necessary.
Sadie hugged her, "I love you too Pepper."
Pepper was close to tears and kissed Sadie's head, "I'm so glad you're Tony's."
"Now I'm yours too." Sadie said.
Pepper smiled, so honored by the compliment.
"CANNONBALL!" someone yelled, ruining the moment and splashing everyone nearby.
"TONY!" Pepper yelled.
"Hey, it wasn't me!" Tony yelled, sticking his head out.
"Damnit, Agent Barton, I know we're off duty but at least act your age!" Maria yelled.
Clint had floated to the top and was grinning sheepishly.
"I'll give it a 9.8." Bruce said, wiping his glasses.
Clint was pleased with that score and floated back to the surface.
…
It was present time and Sadie was excited to receive nonsense that she could actually enjoy for once. Bruce had gotten her a book on anti-electron collisions as well as nuclear physics. SHIELD had personally made a phone for Sadie that had a tracking device that was given to Tony. They too were getting annoyed with her always getting kidnapped. And Rhodey had gotten her an easy bake oven, which she was thrilled to get.
Sadie was happy and made sure everyone knew it. She wasn't expecting a gift from her dad or Pepper yet, until Pepper made her close her eyes while Tony brought out her present.
"Okay!" Pepper said, excitedly and Sadie opened her eyes and screamed.
"A BIKE!" she yelled, excitedly, "My first bike!"
"I might have added a few tweaks to it…" Tony said, "Not to brag or anything…"
"Pepper thank you so much!" she squealed, hugging Pepper.
"Nice to know I'm recognized." Tony mumbled and Sadie came over to check it out.
She quickly hugged her dad then went to work looking at it. It was a gorgeous pink bike that was her size and still had training wheels on it, however, you wouldn't know it because Tony had designed it to look like a two-wheeler so she could ride around without fear of being made fun of, even though it wasn't her fault she was behind kids her own age in the motor department
"I love it so much, thank you thank you thank you!" she squealed.
"Don't you just adore grateful kids? I love it when they are so cool about the gifts they get." Clint muttered to Natasha.
"I love it when grown men don't shove cake in their mouth and try to talk to me." She shot back.
"Seriously, I have a friend whose kid is only eleven and every time I get him a gift he just throws it aside. Rudest thing ever." He kept muttering.
Natasha rolled her eyes and ignored him.
He swallowed and dipped his finger in the frosting and got ready to put some on her nose. She quickly grabbed his hand and squeezed it, "If you value your aiming skills…you will not touch me with that icing."
He admitted defeat and kept eating. After a bit, people were starting to go back to the party and he "conveniently" dropped cake on her shoe.
"DAMNIT BARTON!" Natasha yelled and Clint ran for his life.
"These shoes are Gucci and cost 200 dollars you moron!" she yelled, chasing after him.
Maria rolled her eyes. She knew that any second now she'd see Clint strung up by his ankles outside the window.
Although that didn't happen, Natasha did end up dragging him by the ear back inside and throwing him in the pool.
"This is the best party EVER!" Sadie squealed.
….
Pepper was tucking Sadie in and decided to stay with her for a while, telling her stories of slumber parties she used to have.
"I wish I could do that." Sadie said.
"Well, we'll maybe start getting you some friends and we'll have one." Pepper promised.
"I'll never make friends." Sadie said sadly.
"Don't say that." Pepper said, sitting up, "You are a wonderfully sweet girl and I just know that you will make a ton of friends."
"When and how?" Sadie asked.
Pepper thought, "Well, we'll think about summer camps or something." She suggested.
Sadie smiled at that, "I've always wanted to go to a summer camp."
"Well, now you can." She said, kissing her forehead.
"Pepper?" Sadie asked.
"Yeah, sweetie?"
"Is it bad that I love you like a mommy?"
Pepper was thrown for a minute and thought, staring at the picture of Sadie's parents on her nightstand. There was also the picture of her and Tony at his Press Conference on the day he adopted her and a newer one had been added of her, Tony and Pepper together at a restaurant.
"Only if it's bad that I love you like a daughter." Pepper said, smiling, "And I don't think that's bad at all."
"Me neither." She smiled.
"You miss them." Pepper said.
Sadie nodded, "Sometimes…I don't feel so bad anymore."
"You'll never forget them and that's what's important." She reassured her and tucked her in.
"Good night Pepper, and thank you for my bike." She said, smiling.
"God, I was hoping Tony didn't ruin it, but I was thrilled he at least kept the color." Pepper laughed.
Sadie giggled and closed her eyes.
"I love you sweet girl." Pepper said and left the room.
…..
Tony was drinking some scotch on the couch, staring at the party mess happily. Another successful party only this time without Iron Man busting out.
Pepper came in and sat next to him. She was holding a box.
"What's that?" he asked her.
"Open it." She smiled, handing it to him.
He opened it and found a book inside. He took it out and opened it. He nearly dropped it.
"I found Sadie's old baby pictures and some of her growing up. I was able to salvage the good ones and put others in storage. I may frame some of them to put around." She said, smiling.
Tony turned the pages and felt a sadness come over him. He'd missed out on so much; her birth, her first surgeries, her first loose tooth, her first Halloween Pumpkin Patch Trip, her first Christmas…
"Tony, there's lots of space for new photos." Pepper said.
"Pepper, this is…so awesome. Thank you!" he said, closing it and leaning in for a kiss.
"I thought you might like it. She sure was a cutie." She said, opening it back up and finding a very cute picture of her hair in curls, wearing a dress.
"Time flies. I'm just sorry I missed most of it." He said.
"You saved her life Tony. Now you have time." She said, "Make the most of it."
He nodded and smiled at her lovingly, "I plan to. With my two favorite girls."
…..
If you check out Tumblr, I actually put up baby pictures of Sadie that I found on the internet. I don't own any of them, but thought they were adorable enough. You can find them on my Tumblr page geminisonic.
