Thank you all who reviewed for the last chapter! And thank you for those who added this story to their favorites and alert list! The answer for my question was Tony Stark (which is kinda obvious since the first words of this chapter are his name).
This chapter was beta'd by my friend Nocturnal Tears.
Please enjoy this chapter and remember that I don't own anyone or thing to do with Transformers and Ironman. I only own the plot of this story.
Tony Stark sighed heavily and stood to stretch his back out after sitting hunched over for hours while working on one of his car engines. Lately his thoughts kept wondering back to his ex-fiancé and son. He blamed it on his capture and Yinsen. That man talking about his family while they built the prototype and during their breaks got him thinking about them. How were they doing? Where were they? Who did Jack take after the most? Did the kid have any of his qualities or quirks? Honestly, the only thing Tony wanted Jack to gain from him was his last name. Everything else could be June's. And finally, why didn't he just listen?
He would never admit it out loud, but he knew he was in the wrong with their relationship. Same with every other relationship he was in. And knowing June, she wouldn't let him back into their lives due to his drinking and sleeping with various women. God only knows what diseases she probably thought he now had.
When she had first moved away, it was to her parents' house. He tried to get her to come back, resorting to even apologizing in front of said parents. She told him that Jack would do better in a single parent household than being in a home where his own father practically ignores his existence. That comment angered to the point of leaving and not looking for them at all until Pepper had calmed him down enough to think. But by that time, June and Jack were long gone. Finally, Tony just gave up looking.
And now, after the kidnapping and Yinsen, Tony was thinking about trying again. It would be easier now with JARVIS, and with Jack being a teenager, he was bound to have a profile somewhere online.
"JARVIS."
"Yes sir?"
Tony wiped his hands on an old oil rag, "I want you to look up either a Jackson Stark, or Jackson Darby on all well-known social websites."
"I will start the search right away sir. Estimated time for completed search: 15 minutes."
"Alright." Tony then began to work more on his new suit, the calibrations in the flight stabilizers were off a little bit and still sparked every now and then.
"Sir, I would like to inform you that Ms. Potts is calling."
Tony grunted in acknowledgement, "Tell her I can't talk right now."
"She is worried from the fact that you have been down here for close to three days. She is also wondering if you would like for her to bring you something to eat or drink."
Tony didn't look up from his crafting, "Big Mac meal, large Dr. Pepper."
There was silence for a moment before the Ai spoke again, "She will be here shortly with your meal. She also stated something about a Ms. June calling her and asking about you as well."
Tony narrowed his eyes at that. Why would she be calling? Unless she was going to give him another chance. Tony hummed softly to himself. He was so happy at the thought of finally spending time and getting to know his son, but another part of him was still pissed. How could June just leave him like that? And how the hell did she hide her tracks so well?
Too focused on his thoughts, he almost didn't hear JARVIS conclude the search.
"There are 8 correct identifications of Jackson Darby on face book sir. Would you like to see the results?"
"Make sure to filter the results for a 16 year old boy and the mother is called June Darby."
"…There is one male Jackson Darby that is of 16 years with a June Darby listed as mother. Would you like to view his profile?"
Tony kicked the desk to wheel his chair close to the center of the room, "Sure, why not." His heart was pounding harder than ever despite his tone.
A hologram of the web page appeared in front of him. First was a picture of a boy sitting on a street bike. He was laughing, probably from something the person behind the camera said. Tony instantly began taking in the features of the boy. Black hair and blue-gray eyes and lightly tanned skin that he had inherited from June. The facial and body structure was all Tony's though.
The bike was some make that Tony wasn't aware of. Maybe Jack had built it. That had Tony practically swelling with pride. His son must've gotten his smarts as well. The chassis was navy blue and the small front fender that was showing was light pink. Not really the color combination Tony was expecting from a teenaged boy, but it went together nicely in a weird way.
Tony started looking at the slightly personal information that Jack had put about himself. Jack was going to Jasper High School in Jasper, Nevada. He also didn't know what he wanted to be nor what to study once he got to college. He was part of a science fiction club with three other children. Miko Nakadai, a 15 year old foreign exchange student from Japan, and Rafael "Raf" Esquivel, a 12 year old boy that was a freshman at the same school.
'Only two friends according to this…' Tony leaned back in his chair, 'Oh God, he got my personality!' He stood and went back to his paper work desk, "Where is Jasper, Nevada? I've never heard of it."
A map of Nevada showed up with several brightly lit circles to show the major cities and darker circles to show the small towns. One of the dark circles was blinking, "Wow. That is seriously in the middle of nowhere." He poked the dot and more information showed up, "How the hell can they live there? The closest town is some rinky-dink 'Elko', and that's 50 miles away!" He zoomed in on the town map, "Doesn't even have a mall. I don't think it has an airport either!"
JARVIS stopped him before he could get into a rant about the town, "Sir, Ms. Potts has arrived and is coming down the steps."
"Alright. Get rid of the map and profile." He glanced at the stairs to see Pepper coming down in a hurry with a bag of McDonalds and a large drink in her hands.
"Already done sir." The images disappeared instantly.
Pepper pushed in her personal password with her pinky, a skill she had to master when working for Tony. She rushed in, almost hitting her shoulder on the door when it was opening, "Tony, you will not believe it! June called me earlier and was asking about you."
He leaned his hip against the desk and crossed his arms over his chest, "So?"
"Tony, I know she left you, but even you agreed with me that your behavior was the reason."
"I did? I remember thinking something along those lines, but now that I think of it, she didn't need to move away and completely disappear from my radar. So I acted like my father for a bit. It didn't give her the excuse of moving away and not letting me see my son. My mom stayed with my Dad the whole time."
Pepper sighed and shook her head, "We had gone over this before Tony. Yes, your mom stayed with your dad, but back then it was almost unheard of for a woman to leave and divorce her husband and take the children away. Also, do you really think she would have wanted you anywhere near them with your reputation of partying, drinking, and having a different woman in your bed every night?"
Tony sent her a small glare. He refused to admit that he was wrong. Though, if he were to try and get June back, then he would definitely have to. Maybe he should send some flowers to her. She always did love some kind of lily that he couldn't remember right now, but it's the thought that counts.
"I'm not going to see them right now."
Pepper went wide eyed at his statement, "What? Why not?"
Tony strolled by her and began working on the flight stabilizer again, "16 years of not seeing them and no contact at all and suddenly she just calls and wants to see me? No thanks. I'll make her wait like she did me."
He waited for Pepper to leave the room with a frustrated huff before speaking up again, "JARVIS call Rhodey for me. Also, send a message to my pilot and the airport. Tell them that I want to go to Elko, Nevada tomorrow, and to have a rental car there waiting for me."
"With pleasure sir."
A telephone ringing filled the room as Tony began snapping his fingers and clapping between snaps.
"Tony?"
"Hey Rhodes! I have a plan to check out a possible new company building, and I want you to go with me. You free tomorrow?"
"Tony, why are you looking up new land to build on? You stopped making weapons, so what's the point in it?"
Tony quickly brought up a website about Elko, "It's a growing town that is focused on mining and agriculture. I might be about to spruce up the place and make their jobs easier."
"…And why do you need me to go? You've done it on your own before."
"Because…you're my boyfriend and I want your opinion on the place before I bought it to make sure it's alright with you."
"Tony! I am not your boyfriend!"
Tony tilted his head and smirked, "But you are a male and my friend."
"I-!"
"So will you go with me?" Tony went shut the small welder off, "You know I won't take no for an answer, so you may as well say yes."
"Sometimes I wonder why I'm friends with you."
Tony shrugged, "That's because you love me. Meet me at the airport at…"
JARVIS answered, "You pilot informed me that he will have your jet ready by ten in the morning tomorrow."
"Meet me at 10 a.m. tomorrow, okay?"
"Alright Tony. You better be there on time this time!"
"Don't worry Rhodes, I will. Scouts honor!"
The call was ended and Tony was grinning. He was going to see June and Jack tomorrow. He needed to get things ready, apology gifts for both of them flowers and...something that Jack may like. He didn't really have a clue what the kid liked. His profile was a little out dated since in his wishlist he said he wanted a motorcycle and he already has one. Jack's gift would be postponed until Tony knew more about him.
"JARVIS, I need a few more things."
"What are they sir?"
"An order to a florist in Jasper for a bouche of lilies, and where exactly does June work?"
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I also hope that I got all the characters and personalities right. Please review and critique if you wish and I want to thank you all who reviewed for the last chapter! I never thought I would get that many reviews for one chapter. It makes me so happy!
The next chapter might be up tomorrow, or sometime this weekend.
