Needs to be betaed.


I couldn't figure out what was worse; my family was totally in love with Tony, or that they continued to invite him over for Sunday night dinner and he gladly accepted. By the fourth week of Tony showing up everyone in the family had their own opinions about the man. Most of them more positive then what they thought of me.

My Grandmother thought he was attractive, and would often nudge me or point out aspects of Tony that my Grandmother honestly shouldn't be looking at. I would usually roll my eyes and ignore her. If we were lucky, Tony would catch us looking at him. He would usually flash us a cocky smile.

My parents thought he was 'an intelligent, kind, gentleman' and insisted I give him a chance. My Grandmother always agreed with this pep talk and would point out physical features of Tony she found appropriate for great grand babies. These conversations were brought up frequently, sometimes with Tony in close hearing range.

Kevin thought Tony was awesome, and often asked him what he thought of the newest thing on the market, or asked him hundreds of thousands of questions of anything related to technology. These conversations were usually long and boring; I figured Tony just liked the sound of his own voice.

Steve was just as excited as any other teen to have Tony Stark in their house. I often caught Steve trying to drag Tony off to show him something cool. Tony was always more then happy to see what Steve had to show him. This surprised me because most of my ex-boyfriends didn't understand how to deal with Steve. He frustrated them because of how demanding he was.

I wasn't sure what Lucas and Jack actually thought of Tony, because when they both expressed their opinions on the matter it was only to bash me, and make me feel less of a person then they already thought I was. But they had no problem pretending to be nice to him, which pissed me off a little. They really did think they were better then everybody.


Tony had discovered he was quite fond of the Bethune family, and they had seemed to grow very fond of him. He liked spending time with them for a number of reasons. The first was to woo Heather Hart into liking him, and the second was because he had never been apart of a family like the Bethunes.

There was very few things about the family he didn't like, one of the being the relationships some of the Bethune family members had with Heather. He had noted that most of the family members seemed annoyed by her presence and often lashed out at her in a various of different ways. Her brothers Jack and Lucas being the worst. He couldn't count the number of times he had been walking past a room and heard the way they talked to her or about her.

Every time he had seen Heather and her older brothers conversing he had attempted to jump in and rescue her, but she usually quickly removed her self from the situation often brushing past him. She would then disappear for what seemed hours, always returning in a form of deep thought.

On his fourth Sunday in a row since meeting the Bethunes, Tony had stood in the living room scanning a large wall covered with pictures, each of them neatly placed and straight. His mother had never hung pictures on the wall, and it was strange to him that Miss. Bethune had some kind of obsession with it.

"I didn't know you were a cheerleader!" Tony said sightly surprised when he had discovered a very young Heather with long hair loosely hanging around her waste and a thin line of braces on her teeth. Heather stirred on the couch peeking her eyes over the top of her magazine to see the picture Tony was talking about. She scowled remembering high school, she hated high school.

"Its not something that should come up in normal conversation." Heather snapped, turning her attention back to her magazine. Tony scrunched his face up confused, why wouldn't high school come up in normal conversation?

"I'm guessing these two girls are your friends?" He asked studying the picture again. Heather was sitting beside an blonde and red head their pompoms on ether side of them.

"Not anymore." She sighed annoyed, flipping the page of her magazine harshly. Heather had begged her mother to take that photo down so many times she couldn't remember. She had stopped when her mother had told her the picture wouldn't have been that big of a deal if she grew up and told her friends she was sorry. Which would never happen, so the picture would forever hang on the wall. Heather had learned to ignore it.

"Oh... well, I'm sorry to hear that." Tony said watching Heather's turmoil, it wasn't uncommon for her to squirm when someone brought up her past, in some rare occurrences she would become angry and storm out of the house disappearing for hours.

One weekend she had attacked Lucas when he had brought up her father, it had taken Tony, Kevin and Mark to pull her off of Lucas who nursed a bloody nose. Soon after she had stormed out of the house and didn't reappear for 48 hours.

It was Grandmother Bethune who had to explain that Heather was really touchy about the subject of her father. She said she had figured it was because her father had simply got up and left one day, and that Heather seemed to think that having a different father didn't make her apart of the family.

Tony could see where she got that idea, she was after all the only child in the family with a different father and her older brothers had brought up her absent father often when they were teasing her. It didn't help that Heather looked nothing like any of the members of her family. He figured she had to have looked like her father. Her hair was black when everyone in the family had blonde or dirty blonde hair, she had dark green eyes when her family had blue. Everything about Heather screamed different.

"I'm not." She said simply crossing her legs at her ankles on the couch she was stretched out on. The statement had confused Tony because he simply did not understand why. Why weren't they friends anymore and why she didn't care they weren't?

"Look the only thing you needed to know is cheerleaders are one of the worst people to be friends with, they like backstabbing any chance they can get." Heather said annoyed, folding her magazine and slipping off the couch. He could only watch Heather quickly make her way out of the living room and into the kitchen. He had attempted to follow her when he was stopped by Jack who like always was lurking around the house.

"You know, you should just give up on this whole Heather thing." he advised looking at his nails as he leaned against the wall. Tony could feel his stomach twist in annoyance, who did this guy think he was?

"And why is that?" Tony snapped watching Jack pull his hand away from his face and shove it into the pocket of his pants. Slowly Jack walked around the room, Tony's eyes following him with great distaste. The look on Jack's face showed he was less than impressed with Tony.

"She didn't tell you why she doesn't have friends did she?" Jack asked suddenly changing the conversation over to what he and Heather had been talking about only moments before. It pissed Tony off that Jack had just been creeping around listening to their conversations, but it didn't surprise him.

"No and I don't think that really matters why she doesn't have friends!"Tony snapped watching a smile spread across Jack's face. Tony after all didn't have a lot of friends, he was positive that if he didn't own a large business he wouldn't have any friends at all.

"I think it does, because Heather was sleeping around with their boyfriends." Jack stated simply waiting for some kind of reaction from Tony. Tony felt like he could almost laugh, why would something like that matter to him? He had after all slept with all kinds of women, including a few friend's girlfriends. That was probably one of the many reasons why he no longer had a large number of friends. If he were to hold something like that against Heather he wouldn't be a better person but a far worse.

"And like I haven't slept around?" Tony asked watching Jack's face twist into disgust. Jack was silent for a moment before he spoke again this time his words low and spite full.

"Look Tony, I know Heather well enough to know she likes to fuck and chuck, which is exactly what she'll do to you so I suge-"

Tony cut Jack off, he could feel the anger rising in his veins. "What's going on between Heather and I isn't any of your business, and even if it were, you have no right to talk about her like that. She's your sister, and even if she wasn't it still makes you an ass hole for treating her like you do!`` When the words had left his mouth Tony could feel the pride bubbling in his chest. Jack was stunned, he stood in the middle of the living room with his mouth slightly ajar.

``Fine!" Jack snapped before turn on his heel and slamming the screen door shut loudly. Tony had felt very proud of himself and did some strange jig, turning around to see Heather watching at him with a look of confusion etched into her face.

``Oh, Heather I was just...um`` Tony said rubbing the back of his head embarrassed he had been caught acting like an idiot.

``I know what you were doing!` she said softly, she crossed arms and uncomfortably looked at the ground her mind spinning with the events prior to seeing Tony dance around the room.

Tony still stood a small distance away from her watching her uncomfortably shuffle around, he was about to ask her what was wrong before she spoke up her fingers digging into her upper arms nervously.

``Look I heard what you said to Jack." Heather said, her chest rising and falling softly as she took in a deep breath of air. Tony suddenly rubbed the back of his head nervously as he tired to think of something to say to Heather.

"Thank you." she said softly. Shocked that Heather had said even something remotely nice to him he looked at her. She had her head tilted to the side and a few strands of hair were falling out of her usually neat up do. Tony was at a loss for words and he stood with his jaw slightly ajar trying to figure out what was wrong with her. He suddenly could feel lips tighten into a crooked smile, maybe she was finally warming up to him.

"Any time." Tony replied feeling an over whelming sense of pride in his chest. Suddenly Heather let out a sigh and uncrossed her arms, wiping her hands on her pants. Something Tony had noticed she did when she was nervous. Any normal person would rub their face or the back of their heads, but because of the type of make-up and hair supplies Heather used in her hair, Heather couldn't. Why she wore so much make-up was a mystery to Tony, because as far as he was concerned she didn't need any.

But he had to give her credit, she had managed to find a perfect balance of make up. But there was still enough on her face that she worried she could smudge anything. Heather gave him a small smile before passing him her arm almost brushing his. He couldn't help but hope this was new stepping stone for him and Heather, even if it didn't seem like much.


"So Tony what are you doing on Thursday?" Miss. Bethune asked, spooning a large sum of potatoes onto his plate. He had already been chewing a small portion of broccoli, so he quickly swallowed the piece with difficulty, before he answered.

"Uh I think I have a few meetings at work, why do you ask?" he asked, his eyes following Miss. Bethune and watched her spoon potatoes on Heather's plate who was looking at her plate in boredom. Heather hadn't said anything since she had heard his confrontation with Jack, but she had sat beside him at the table which was a new. Normally Heather would avoid all contact with Tony, and if she couldn't get away from him she would stand as far away from him as physically possible.

"Well, its Steve's birthday and if you can make it we would love you to come!" She said reaching from behind him and gently placing the clear glass bowl of potatoes in the middle of the table. She then gently placed her hand on Tony's and Heather's shoulder before scurrying her way to her seat near the head of the table.

"I'll see what I can do!" Tony said shooting Heather a cheesy smile. She rolled her eyes and ignored him before she started to poke at her mashed potatoes, the excited chatter of Steve could be heard. Tony already knew what he would get Steve for his birthday, he had only talked about the game "DDR" like their was nothing else on the planet.

He had played it at one of his friends house a week ago and had since fallen in love with the game. Miss. Bethune had explain to him they couldn't afford such a game for him since they would need more then one mat so other members in the family could play, and that maybe for Christmas he might get the game.

He decided he would buy him the game and a couple mats so he could have his friends over to play, or any family member who wished to joined. The expense would be far from a dent in his wallet, and the joy it would bring Steve would be well worth it.

"So what did Tony get you?" Miss. Bethune had asked, watching Tony set up the system to Steve's game. Steve's smile spread wider across his face as he bounced slightly on the couch before answering.

"A game!" Steve shouted loudly before waving a box around in the air that she was incapable of focusing on. She smiled awkwardly before looking over to Tony who only shrugged at the situation. Inside he was beaming with pride, Steve was more excited about his gift then any others he had received.

"Well then, you two have fun playing it. I have to go to work! Heather's in the kitchen if you need her!" She said simply, pulling her purse over her shoulder, which looked odd since she was a short chubby woman. She nodded at Tony before she left out the front door slamming it behind her like many family members in the house did.

"So are you ready?" Tony asked Steve ignoring the soft sound of clattering dishes in the kitchen. Steve nodded his head excitedly skipping over the the new neatly placed mat.

Actually playing Dance Dance Revoulation with Steve was as fun as it was boring. Tony understood that Steve could never play to the extent of a normal child, but when Steve would get excited about beating Tony, it was more then enough reason to play a game with him for a few hours.

Tony and Steve were on their fifth game when Heather had called out from the kitchen asking them if they wanted something to eat. Steve had responded that he wanted a sandwich, and Tony had simply told her no. He wasn't a fan of lunch foods, and even if he was he wasn't hungry. His appetite could never even compare to the men in the Bethune house hold. He had noted that they could eat just about anything and everything, while Heather was a picky eater.

"Heather isn't allowed to play this game." Steve said simply when he had pressed up on his mat completely missing anything that had passed on the screen. Tony was confused by his sudden outburst, and had missed hitting a few arrows on his screen.

"Why would you say that?" Tony asked slightly concerned by the words coming out of his mouth. Steven was never usually the type of child that would say anything like that to any one, especially Heather. Steve looked up to Heather, it seemed that he never stopped talking about her. The only reason he knew as much about Heather as he did was because Steve would tell him things. Things like Heather's favourite colour was red, and that her favourite movie was the Colour Purple. He hated that movie, but he would watch it with her if it made her happy.

"Because I don't want her to!" Steve said ignoring the strange look Tony was giving him. Steve hit a button on his mat, sending bright flashing lights across the screen.

"Hey Steve here is yo-" Heather's voice was suddenly cut of when she had fallen to the floor. The plate shattering on contact with the hardwood floor. For a moment Tony had thought she had tripped until he realized that Heather's body was violently thrashing around on the floor.

"Heather!" Tony found him self on auto pilot as he tossed himself across the room, in attempt to help Heather. Who continued to violently seize on the floor, Tony could feel the sharp pain in his keens as he knelled into the sharp glass beside Heather his fingers shaking as he dialled for an ambulance on the phone.


"Is she okay!" a breathless Miss. Bethune had yelled running down the hallway with her husband at her side, her cheeks were stained with tears as she embraced Tony who was beyond upset. He didn't understand what had happened, and because he wasn't family no one would tell him what had happened.

"She's fine, but they wont let me in to see her!" Tony said running his hand through his messy locks of hair. A sigh of relief had passed through her lips as her husband made her way past her and to talk to one of the nurses at the front desk. Miss. Bethune sat down beside Tony, grabbing his hand and squeezing it gently. The gesture was comforting, but didn't help him feel any better.

"Tony what happened?" She whispered her hand still clutched around his much larger callused hand. Tony gently squeezed her hand gently before he told the story of how Heather had walked out into the living room and suddenly seizured. He remembered the gut wrenching fear for Heather's safety, and the confusion of the sudden situation he was thrown into.

"What game were you playing?" Mr. Bethune's ruff voice spat when Tony had finished spilling the story. He jumped a little not knowing that the large man was standing in font of him with a busty nurse who was holding a chain of silver keys.

The question had confused Tony, he had scrunched up his eye-brows before calmly answering "Dance Dance Revolution" and watching the man's reactions to the new found information. Heather's step-father grunted angrily before spitting out his response.

"That stupid dance game?"

"I thought Tony said it was called DDR?" Miss. Bethune responded confused her hands by her thin lips. Tony had realized that Miss. Bethune was far from a highly intelligent woman she often said stupid things, or failed to make connections with any information she was given.

"DDR is the acronym of Dance Dance Revolution." Tony said simply watching shock spread across her face. Her face was almost as white as a sheet of paper when she started to sputter out incoherent words.

"Wait, what does a video game have anything to do with Heather's situation?" Tony asked feeling quite stupid that he wasn't able to make the connection. He was too upset, very little information was making sense in his head. Miss. Bethune gripped his hand a little tighter before turning her full attention to him.

"Tony, Heather is a photosensitive epileptic, cretin speeds of flashing lights makes her seize. That's why we didn't buy Steve that game!" She said calmly her eyelids fluttering rapidly. It looked like she was trying to blink away tears, but Tony ignored her. The guilt was making his stomach churn. It was his fault, he had never even asked if it was okay to buy such an expensive gift for Steve. He was only thinking about how he could impress Heather. He would have never even thought that the thing he was buying to impress her would hurt her.

"Tony, sweetheart, its not your fault! You didn't know!" Miss. Bethune said leaning in closer to Tony and rubbing his back in a loving manner. Something he hadn't experienced since his mother died. Her words were hardly comforting, he still felt guilty.


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