Time line: I will be smudging time lines for Tony Stark a bit throughout the series (and the Darcy Stark series in general) to suit my needs. Just to warn you. Also I'm following the movies more. So I've made Tony's dad live a bit longer. Also added a day between the Ivan Vanko Monaco spat and Tony's birthday in the second movie.
A/N: The first part is much longer than I anticipated so I hope enjoy it and that it doesn't feel to long. Also writing children= fun.
A/N2: Thanks for the comments and all the faves on the first chapter by the way! They make me smile!

A soft push to the shoulder and the excited voice of a child woke Tony even if they didn't fully register. He snorted softly and groaned at the too bright light streaming through the windows. Before he could tell JARVIS to turn down the light, there was a loud voice in his ear.

"Daddy! Daddy wake up!" the voice shouted before a little body jumped up and down next to him. When that didn't work, the child jumped right onto Tony's chest.

"Jesus!" Tony coughed out, opening his eyes and looking up at the four-year-old with brown curly hair and blue eyes, sitting on his chest and vibrating with energy.

"Happy birthday daddy!" she shouted before wrapping her arms around his neck for a tight hug.

"Hey, thank you," Tony hugged her back and scooted himself into a sitting position with a loud yawn. "JARVIS, what time is it?"

"The time is 6:45 AM sir."

"You couldn't give me a warning before she tried to crush my chest?"

"Sorry sir, but Miss Darcy swore me to secrecy. I couldn't break my promise."

"Loyalties JARVIS, remember them," warned Tony. The AI seemed to grow much more fond (or as fond as an AI could be) of Darcy when she threw a temper tantrum after not being able to fear her imaginary friend outside the house.

"Daddy, look! I made you breakfast!" Darcy announced gleefully, pointing to a bowl of Fruit Loops, a carton of milk, an egg and an orange that sat next to Tony in the sheets.

"Well look at that, thanks honey," Tony smiled as Darcy handed him the egg.

"Dummy helped reach the high things but he won't turn on the stove," pouted Darcy. That led Tony to believe that the cold egg was probably uncooked.

"Well I'm glad, I don't want you to get hurt. Now, I'll save this for later. But thank you for the Fruit Loops and the orange," Tony put the egg on the bedside table before planting a kiss on Darcy's forehead. Happy with the approval, Darcy went to pour the milk into the bowl and refused Tony's help even when a bit of milk sloshed out onto the sheets. Picking up one of the spoons Darcy had brought, Tony took a bite and gave an exaggerated 'mmm'. He couldn't stop the laugh that erupted from his throat when Darcy took her own spoon and helped herself to his cereal.

"So you excited to meet Miss Pepper Potts again today?" Tony asked, remembering that Pepper was supposed to be driving over around eleven. The young woman had been his secretary for only three months at Stark Industries but she'd done more on her first day than any of his secretaries had done in their whole careers at Stark Industries combined. He knew she was something special the day she threatened her way into his office just to show him his own mistake. Not only were all his projects, PR appearances and general stocks running 124% more efficiently but she also had great people skills. A majority of the time, she was even able to deflect Howard Stark or at least distract him so that Tony would only talk to him the minimal amount. That was surely the sign of a saint.

She didn't seem to go for any of his passes either and honestly, Tony respected her more for that. Today she was coming over for what Tony had claimed was her first employee evaluation but it was actually going to be her first time officially meeting Darcy.

"Yeah! She's nice! And pretty!" said the little girl around a spoonful of Fruit Loops. Darcy had meet Miss Virginia 'Pepper' Potts by accident but that one incident had got the cogs in Tony's mind running. On a later than usual workday, Happy had driven the impatient Darcy to the office to wait for Tony's day to end when the little girl had snuck off (and really, Tony needed to teach her to stop doing that or at least get Happy to be more alert). Somehow, Pepper had run into the obviously lost child who was determined to have an adventure while finding her father. Pepper held Darcy's hand the whole time they waited in the lobby, discussing Darcy's favorite cartoon until Happy came around to claim her. She'd even promised the little girl an ice cream cone if they ever met again.

Tony knew he needed more help taking care of Darcy. The little girl was becoming more of a handful everyday and she would need to start some form of preschool soon. It would be harder and harder to keep her identity safe and having only four other people know about her wouldn't be enough. So today was when Virginia was going to do good on that promise for ice cream and Tony was confident that she wouldn't disappoint him or Darcy.

Eleven o'clock rolled around and Pepper arrived right on the dot. Tony had her wait in the living room for him, as he convinced Darcy to stay put and wait until he said so they could 'surprise' Pepper. When he walked in, she stood up in her slimming suit and skirt combo, holding her briefcase close to her. For some reason, she seemed nervous and Tony realized that she probably still wasn't used to how lax he tended to be about things (such as having an employee evaluation at his house). Or perhaps she had heard about the other 'evaluations' he'd held here in the past.

"Happy birthday Mr. Stark, how are you?"

"Mr. Stark? I thought I finally had you calling me Tony. Please, take a seat," Tony asked and Pepper sat down next to him but took a nervous look around the room.

"So I understand you wanted me here for my three month evaluation."

"That's right. Though here at Stark Industries we do things a little differently," at that, Pepper raised her eyebrows and looked like she was about to tell Tony just where he could shove his evaluations if this was another attempt to get her into bed. "No hold on, that's not what this is…unless you want it to be."

"Mr. Stark, need I remind you I am not afraid to file a harassment-"

"Wait a second, let me tell you why I really wanted you here. Now, you've only been working for me three months now but I'm really impressed with your work. I wanted to let you know that your position as my assistant is pretty secure now and I don't expect to be replacing you any time soon."

"That's good to hear."

"I'd hope so. Since you're position is relatively permanent, I thought it was important for you to know about the most important thing in my life. It's also is one of my biggest secrets. If you're going to work for me at the level I expect from now on, you're going to have to know about this."

"Mr. Stark, I'm not sure I understand," frowned Pepper. Tony suddenly became very serious.

"Pepper, what I'm about to show you requires confidentiality of the highest kind. Only four people know about this and that does not include my own father. Think of this as a test- your three-month evaluations exam. Darcy!" Tony called out before Pepper could ask any questions. The little girl rushed into the room and Tony stood up to meet her half way. To his amusement, she stopped and hid behind his legs. For some reason, she'd become shy despite leaping around the house all day unable to wait until she saw Pepper again. Her swinging moods never ceased to baffle him.

"Miss Potts, meet Darcy. My daughter. Say hi Darcy."

"Hi Miss Potts," Darcy waved hello and smiled bashfully.

"Hi there sweetie," Pepper answered, an expression of bewilderment on her face as she looked between Darcy and Tony. Suddenly, the similarities between them started to register and she slid off the couch to kneel in front of Darcy.

"Darcy, do you want to show Pepper the picture you drew?" urged Tony, pushing the little girl out from behind his legs.

"You drew a picture?" asked Pepper, hoping to sooth the girl's nerves even if her own were fraying rapidly. Suddenly, Darcy gained her courage and walked the rest of the way towards Pepper, extended the drawing she'd spent the morning perfecting.

"Yes, this is you," Darcy pointed to a simple woman wearing a black block dress and had a mop of red hair. "This is me and this is JARVIS. You can have it."

Thanking Darcy, Pepper looked at the figures the girl had drawn. Remembering the AI that had introduced itself to her, she couldn't help but hold in a laugh at seeing the blonde man that had to be what Darcy thought JARVIS looked like in human form. All the people were holding hands and stood on what she determined was a beach.

"It's beautiful Darcy, I'll put in on my desk so everyone can see it," promised Pepper, feeling something melt inside her at Darcy's grin. The little girl rushed towards Pepper and threw her arms around in a hug that was happily returned.

"I thought the two of you could get to know each other. You did promise her an ice cream the next time you were supposed to get together. Unless you had plans tonight? You didn't properly RSVP to my party but I won't hold that against you."

"No, no I didn't have any real plans other than your party," admitted Pepper, still trying to process the situation.

"Good, because my birthdays tend to get a bit rowdy and Darcy's nanny has the night off. I've got a suite rented at the Ritz in Marina Del Rey for you two. Darcy likes looking at the boats and there's a place near by that serves some great garlic crusted salmon."

"No, I want a cheeseburger!"

"Five star service and famous chiefs from France but you want a cheeseburger?" Tony raised an eyebrow at the smiling girl who just shrugged. He ruffled her hair a bit and poked a ticklish rib, causing her to squeak in delight.

"Hotel? Marina Del Rey- that's about an hour away right?" Pepper interrupted the scene, not entirely sure what Tony was expecting from her. In an attempt to gain some control, she stood up and looked Tony in the eye.

"We're gonna have a sleep over!" bounced Darcy, eyes and curls dancing wildly.

"That all right with you? You know me, I like to assume and well, this is a big evaluation for you," shrugged Tony, movement mirroring his daughter from just a few moments ago. Even though his eyes were brown, they danced with the same mischief as Darcy's. It was practically eerie.

"I don't think this is how employee evaluations are supposed…" Pepper started but had her attention diverted back down to Darcy when a tiny hand tugged at her arm.

"Miss Potts, please go?" begged Darcy, large blue eyes all ready watering at the possibility that her play date might cancel. It made Pepper's outrage at being a spontaneous nanny disappear and she had to admit that Tony's daughter was a better manipulator that he was.

"No, no of course I'll take you. It'll be fun. I promise. And I don't break my promises," swore Pepper, earning another hug from the energetic child.

"Honeybee, why don't you get your things? I just need to talk to Pepper for a little bit longer, okay?" Tony picked up Darcy so he could look her in the eyes.

"Okay daddy," she smiled, giving him a peck on the lips before running off the moment her feet touched the ground.

"I may be a father but I'm still a man. It's always nice to have a night where I can completely unwind."

Pepper looked at Tony as if she were seeing him for the first time. Before her stood a man so different from the irresponsible and rude loud mouth at work. Sure there were similarities but never in a thousand years would Pepper ever think Tony was capable of being a father figure to anyone, let alone being an actual father to a child. Yet, he'd seem so natural at it all. The way he talked to Darcy and held her spoke volumes of the loving relationship they obviously shared. Choosing to ignore the fact that Tony was still hedonistically boozing it up, Pepper fished for other answers.

"I thought she was just a daughter of a lower level employee…I never thought- that you even-"

"No one does. Who would think Tony Stark had a kid and was taking care of her?"

"Where's her mother?"

"Dead."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It was a one-night thing. I wasn't even supposed to have custody of Darcy but there was an accident," Tony stated matter of factly.

"How have you been able to keep her a secret from everyone for so long? Even your father?"

"It hasn't been easy. Which is one of the reasons why I wanted someone else on board. She'll need a teacher soon and I was hoping you could find someone suitable. Also, she needs to get out more. I don't let her out too much just because of paparazzi and she's getting stir crazy. Besides, she needs more female figures. The only other woman around is her nanny. Anyway, we can talk about security issues more after tonight."

"I, um, I'll see what I can do. But Tony I don't think-"

"Can you guarantee that you'll do whatever is in your power to keep her safe?" Tony asked suddenly looking very somber. It was a strange look on him and Pepper wasn't sure she would get used to seeing that expression on his face.

"Yes, I promise," Pepper swore and she truly meant it.

"Then that's all I need to know. Now, Happy can swing by your place so you can pack a bag and then the two of you will be off on your adventure. Any charges can be put on the company card. The little imp will probably insist on Burger King. Ronald McDonald scares her. Oh and before I forget, a list of things to know," Tony pulled out a folded piece of paper from his pocket. Unfolding the note, Pepper read over the handwritten advice of how to handle Darcy.

"Read the illustrated Pride & Prejudice or Advanced Electrical Engineering textbook if she can't fall asleep. Remember to do the voices? How do you do voices for an engineering textbook?"

"It's written by more than one guy. You start to figure out when there's a shift. Happy'll have those in the car but if you just get Darcy to run around enough she'll collapse no problem. It'll be like taking care of me and you've had a good amount of practice with that. We've got the same attention span, sleep patterns and general propensity for causing damage."

"So she's essentially it's you but more compact and much cuter."

"I think I should be slightly offended but yes."

"Tony, are you sure about me watching her overnight?" Pepper asked, looking back down at the picture in her hands and tracing the brown hair of the Darcy figure. Maybe she should be angrier that she was suddenly in charge of a child she hardly knew for the next 24 hours but fear was running through her system instead. This was Tony Stark's secret daughter. What if she wasn't as secret as they thought and someone was waiting to snatch her? What if some random person snatched her anyway? Or if she didn't like Pepper and spent the whole night crying for her father?

"I know you the two of you will be inseparable by tomorrow morning," smiled Tony knowingly. Suddenly, he clapped his hands together and smirked.

"Now, I am expecting a rather large shipment of instant jell-o. Was thinking of making my whole pool one big jell-o shot," rubbing his hands together, Tony shoved Pepper out towards Happy. That was the Tony Stark that Pepper knew.

"Good morning sir and happy birthday. It is now 7:30 in Malibu and another sunny day is to be expected. Currently, outside it's 73 degrees. The surf conditions are fair with waist to shoulder high waves and high tide is at 10:35 AM. Your breakfast tray is set next to you along with a few other birthday accessories and Darcy is already waiting on video call," JARVIS announced, waking Tony sharply from his restless sleep. Looking through bleary eyes, Tony took in the bright light streaming through the large windows and a small table next to his bed that had a tray full of delicious and aromatic food.

"Thanks JARVIS," Tony yawned, wishing he could have had a few more hours to sleep. He wasn't looking forward to the day, what with having to deal with Ivan Vanko the day before, his birthday party full of people he probably didn't remember that night and his dying soon.

"Would you like me to connect you to Darcy?"

"Uh, hold on a second," Tony ran to take a quick pee and throw on his smoking jacket just in case Darcy noticed the poisoned veins in his neck. There wasn't a point in worrying Darcy. He wanted her to remember him as he was before his palladium poisoning and not treat him like damaged goods. Once he was settled in the middle of the bed, neck hidden and a food tray full of what looked like a Mexican brunch on his lap, Tony gave JARVIS the okay to initialize the video link. Soon, Darcy's beautiful face was on his windows that doubled as a screen.

"Morning! Happy Birthday!" Darcy exclaimed and punctuated the wish by blowing on a party horn. Grinning from ear to ear, she waved at Tony and wore a pointy Iron Man party hat. "How you doing old man?"

"I'm doing fine, honeybee. So what's on the menu this year?" Tony asked, looking down at a tomato and egg dish, quartered tortillas, mug of coffee and a mimosa. He went straight for the mimosa.

"First, you need to open your goody bag."

Tony did as he was told and found a cheap, pink tiara that said 'Birthday Princess' on the front, a sheet of generic robot stickers, some finger monster puppets, a bottle of bubble soap and a bubble pipe and a bouncy ball. Without missing a beat, Tony put on the tiara.

"Nice selection. I fully intend to use my bubble pipe at the party. And I think with these finger puppets, I will be able to gain the respect of any difficult employee."

"If they don't listen to a rubber finger monster then they're a heathen with no morals whatsoever."

"So what's with the goody bag anyway?"

" I went out to the nearest Walmart to get some more exotic pop tarts for the boss lady and ingredients for you, saw a Party City and couldn't help myself. Nearest Walmart by the way, an hour away. Which leads me to the explanation as to why I can't be there. Kind of accidently spilled coffee on one of Jane's devices and now it sparks every so often. I fixed it for the most part but she's still angry. Didn't think it would be good to jet off to Malibu when she didn't forgive me yet. Thought I'd be responsible and at least get some ass kissing in."

"Hey, responsibility is for quitters."

"I know but she does have the power to deny me credits. So I'm stuck in the land of enchantment, at least that's what all the license plates tell me. Pepper thought it would be sort of the same if I jetted off some food I made, instead of me."

"I guess this will have to do. You having your customary burger and ice cream lunch with Pep today? Still want photos of her eating a burger by the way. I refuse to believe it till I have visible proof."

"Yes and you've had years to try and sneak a picture so get over it. I bought ice cream at Walmart and will be picking up an order of burgers at the diner. You'd think the scientists I'm babysitting would feel spoiled with excess food but Jane doesn't seem to be able to tell an omelet and a bowl of cereal apart on her better days. Oddly enough she's practically a Pop Tart connoisseur. Seriously, she just needs to sniff one and can tell you what flavor."

"If you'd just taken a science class like you said you would then you could have jetted over from Culver. There's a science man here in Malibu that appreciates the difference between eggs and cheap jam envelopes," Tony sniffed as if he were offended, causing Darcy to roll her eyes. Truth be told, he was a little relieved that she wouldn't be there for his birthday party. It would have been nice to have his daughter with him for what was likely to be one of his few days left on earth but Darcy would watch him for half an hour and realise that something was wrong. At least he could put up a better facade this way. And she couldn't tug at his collar for a peak through a computer.

"I know you're not thrilled about my Political Science major but we all can't be saving the world with our own home made super suit on steroids."

"I blame Pepper for getting you so interested in the world. All those aid missions to third world countries. I could have just sent over some cash aid."

"It was character building. And it stopped me from becoming a completely spoiled entitled brat. So you should thank her."

"I'm a spoiled and entitled brat and I doing fine!" That earned him another eye roll. "But hey, you may not be an engineer in the workshop but you do cook a mean omelet. So, what's on the menu today?"

"Huevos Rancheros. Had it my first morning here and thought it was even better than some of the Mexican places over there. I asked and they said the put in some special ingredients that I never thought of."

Without further encouragement, Tony took a large mouthful of the meal and mid-chew, his eyes grew to the size of espresso cup saucers. The eggs, tomato, spices and avocado combination was delicious. He took a piece of tortilla and dipped it into the egg yolk.

"Darce, these are amazing."

"Really? Good," Darcy looked relieved. "I undercooked it a bit because I knew it would be warmed up again anyway and wasn't sure if the reheating would ruin the eggs."

"Nope, eggs are perfect. Everything is perfect. Thanks honey."

"It's your birthday. Would you expect any less?" insisted Darcy. "Though that reminds me. For my birthday, I want a pirate themed party. I know it's a bit overdone but it's a classic."

"Anything you want," Tony promised, hating himself because it felt hollow in his ears. "Hell, we can even steal a yacht. I vote for Hammer's. He's being a real pain in my ass. More so than usual."

"Done. I'll dress up like Jack Sparrow and lead a mutiny. I'll even make him walk the plank. Give him a pistol with one bullet and leave him near a dessert island."

"Why can't I be Jack Sparrow? You can be Elizabeth. I already drink enough rum to qualify."

"You can be Barbossa. We'll get you a monkey," offered Darcy. Tony thought about it for a moment.

"I'm sold, but only if the monkey craps on Hammer before we push him overboard," Tony made her swear and she put her hand over her heart with a laugh. He loved her laugh and was surprised he'd never realized how musical it sounded. Or the way her grin could light up a room, even hundreds of miles away. It was bittersweet but it was the best way he could ever imagine starting the day- especially one like this. He wished he could stay like this for a while longer. Carefree and joking over the various ways to humiliate Hammer as pirates and not remembering how he was a pathetic dying man with poison visible in his veins. When Darcy waved goodbye after breakfast was finished, Tony took in every detail of her bright face before the screen went blank. It was only after she was gone that he could finally say goodbye too, wiping away a tear that he'd never admit to shedding.