Thank you everyone, so much, for your reviews!. It's inspiring me to keep writing and updating so quickly! So, keep it up, please! Here is Chapter 4, as always hope you enjoy! Thanks a bunches, and please review. Thank to my awesome beta, TheLostPevensie
Georgiana watched as the bobbies escorted Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia out of the house, their hands cuffed behind their backs. The neighbors had lined up outside their houses to see what all the commotion outside was. Mrs. #9 and Mrs. #13 were already talking to each other getting ahead on the gossip that would supply Little Whinging for the rest of the year. Aunt Petunia would have been the center of that conversation had it not been her that was getting arrested. The bobbies finally put Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon in the back of the car and sped off. Another woman came and took Dudley away. She was truly all alone, Georgiana realized more than she ever was before.
Of course, Georgiana was ecstatic at the fact the Dursleys were gone and out of her life but at the same time, they were her family… her only family. In some twisted way she thought she might miss them, purely for the reason she had lost the only remaining part of her family. She was still sitting in the same spot that Uncle Vernon had her pinned against the wall; she was too mentally and physically exhausted to really go anywhere. She hadn't realized the man from the park- No, Mr. Stark- was still there in the room with her. I thought he'd've gone by now. Why is he still here?. The silence tension was becoming too much for her, and she decided to chance saying something.
"So, that's who you are," she deduced. "Tony Stark, the man that flies around in that metal suit." Stupid, she thought. He knows who is without me telling him. But Mr. Stark didn't seem offended or irritated.
"Yup, that would be me, little missy." A very easy smirk graced his features. It seemed at home there, like it was the default expression of his face. "Now this isn't fair, he continued jokingly. "You know my name, but I don't know yours." Georgiana couldn't help but feel a little better hearing Mr. Stark's playful tone. It really put her at ease and made her feel like he actually cared about her. Which would be a first, she thought pessimistically.
"Georgiana." She replied to his question. But even as she answered, she was remembering how Dudley had been put into that car. The thought sent her into a bit of a panic, and trying her hardest not to just break down in a puddle of tears on the spot, she asked," Please tell me, Mr. Stark, and don't lie to me. What is going to happen to me now?"
He seemed like he was about to say something after a few floundering seconds, but he was saved the pain of answering the question when a man in a bobbie uniform and a woman in a business suit came up to them. The man started questioning Mr. Stark about what he had seen; the man didn't seem too pleased to be answering any questions, although she didn't know why. As for the woman, despite the torturous looking heels and skirt the woman was wearing she made her way over to Georgiana and sat right next her on the floor. She gave her a small, sympathetic smile.
"Hello, darling," she said quietly. "My name is Sophia, I'm going to be your caseworker." She smiled at Georgiana. "Since you don't have anyone to take care of you," she explained, "I'm going to find you a new home. But," but she emphasized, "you don't have to worry, I won't rest until I find you the most perfect home for you."
S'pose that answers my question.
Seriously, could this process be anymore repetitive? Tony sighed to himself.
"Mr. Stark," the policeman droned on, "did the victim seem oppressed or was she at ease or-?" But he was destined not to finish his statement.
"I," Tony cut across him, finally having reached his last nerve, "have answered all your reasonable and necessary questions. These questions, that you are now asking me for what I'm pretty sure is at least the third time, are absolutely idiotic and redundant, so I don't see any reason to talk to you anymore. Goodbye." He sidestepped the officer and made his way back to where he last left Georgiana. He had no idea why but, he couldn't let that girl go. The fact that she was now alone now, Tony wanted to comfort and protect her even more. God, I've gone soft as a pillow pet!
When he was in short distance of Georgiana, he came to find that a woman, most likely a social worker, was sitting next to her and talking.
"...going to need you to answer a few questions for the police officer. After that we will see about setting you up in a group home as there isn't, at this moment, an approved foster family you can stay with," Yes, there is, thought Tony, Me! Then he stopped his thoughts in his tracks. Where did that come from? I don't have those paternal instinct things. Or at least I thought I didn't… He tuned back into the conversation as the woman said cheerfully,"But, you don't have to worry, I won't rest until I find you the perfect home with the most perfect parents for you!" Like hell! he mentally shouted.
"Alright, how long am I going to be in that group place?" asked Georgiana. The question plus her innocent voice was making Tony's heart ache. Seriously, what is wrong with me?
"Just until we can find you some foster parents or a permanent home with…" What she was about to say Tony nor anyone else would ever know because at that instant his newly discovered paternal instincts decided they'd had enough. That's it.
"With me" he interrupted blithely. Both Georgiana and the caseworker's heads had quickly snapped in his direction, and their eyes riveted on Tony with pure shock. The woman recovered from her shock fairly quickly. Still don't know her name. TOny contemplated briefly, Eh, whatever, doesn't matter anyway, he concluded.
"Um, Mr. Stark, you aren't authorized to do that," she began. Pfft. Does she not who I am? Tony scoffed to himself. Genius, playboy, etc., etc….
"Actually, Ms-" he began, making it clear he was waiting for her name.
"Sophia" the caseworker supplied.
"Ms. Sonia," he continued without pause. She attempted to correct him but he kept on going. "Pepper and I have had our fostering and adoption licenses for over 3 months now. I mean what a coincidence, right? But all the same we have them." He wasn't sure why he was being so aggressive, but for some reason really didn't like this chick. Sure, she's nice and all… probably would've gone out with her back in the playboy days, he mused. But, he thought, probably he didn't like her because she would be the one to take Georgiana away. What a strange thought. The woman, meanwhile, looked thoroughly offended.
"Be that as it may, Mr. Stark, surely it's only valid-" Again Tony cut her off. He had made a bad habit of it. Today particularly.
"It's international."
"Excuse me," Georgiana had spoken and left Tony a bit taken aback at the confidence and authority in her voice. I guess at this point I shouldn't be surprised. He quickly glanced at the woman. It seems Sasha was taken aback with our little firecracker too. Georgiana continued on, "It's me you lot are talking about, shouldn't you ask me where I want to go." Yes. Yes. YES! Tony mentally shouted.
"Well, yeah" "Of course, dear." Tony was peeved to realize he had spoken at the same time as Sue. He sent a glare in her direction and received one in return.
"Well, I know it's too late right now to immediately put me in a new home, said Georgiana, "so I'd end up in a group home. Not to mention," she continued, "I have no idea when I'll be adopted or if I ever will be adopted, so…." She turned and looked right up at Tony. God, those eyes again! "Mr. Stark do you really want me?" she asked bluntly. "With all my freakishness, all my problems, all my…," she trailed off. "Do you really want me?" she whispered. Tony's heart was literally in shambles. What have those sorry excuses for human beings done to this poor girl?! he seethed. Of course I want her. I'd be a fool not to. If anything I don't deserve her.
He was about to set the record straight and tell her how much he wanted her to be a part of his small family; the one he finally realized he wanted… but then that woman just had to open her mouth! She is getting real annoying, real fast!
"Georgiana, dear. I don't think what Mr. Stark is offering is exactly is a permanent fixture." she tried to intervene The gall of that woman! Tony was ready to duct tape her mouth shut just to shut her up That, that b-!
"Of course it's permanent!" he all but shouted. "Look," he argued. "I wouldn't even offer something like this if I wasn't ready to commit. I mean…" he hesitated briefly. The with a deep breath, he continues, almost mumbling as he said, "Okay… It's just, when I was younger… my parents were hardly ever there you know?"
Tony was really conflicted what to say next. He wanted to show Georgiana that he wanted her, that she wasn't alone. He didn't really want to 'bear all'— not even Pepper knew all the dirty laundry of the Stark family— but maybe allowing her to see a real part of him could help Georgiana realize that he really cared. This was the most serious and life changing decision that Tony had ever made— only the events of Afghanistan and their repercussions, and the choices he had to make then, came close. But it was also a decision he was absolutely sure of. Something about Georgiana just told him that it was right. His life wouldn't be complete without her now that he had found her. It was with an unguarded heart he made the rest of his speech.
"I was always with sitters, nannies, and at boarding schools," he said, looking the girl straight in the eyes. "I know what it feels like to be alone," Tony told her, "and I wouldn't want any other kid to go through that. I went through some pretty horrible stuff recently, but I made it through because I had people that actually cared for me around me, helping me." He paused for a moment, thinking about Pepper and Rhodey. Without them… he didn't want to think about it. He refocused on Georgina and saw that she was hanging on his every word, her green eyes huge. He ran a hand through his hair. "Listen, kid," he said roughly, "if it's what you want, I would love to adopt you." He made sure his sincerity came through in every word. "I feel like I could be the one to care for you." he continued. "But if you don't want me to I'll still do my absolute best to make sure you get the best family possible," he declared. He let out a breath with a whoosh. Normally, Tony wouldn't even consider revealing even the smallest tid-bit of his personal life. But for the sake of this girl, not only did he reveal part of his tortured past, he also put himself out there emotionally. That idiot of a therapist I had when I was in the 7th grade would be so proud of me.
Before this moment, Tony had never been so terrified of rejection. He was never really subjected to major rejection as a child or even an adult so he never thought much of it. But, right now if Georgiana said no to him… I don't know what I'll do. he thought wonderingly. I've only known her for, what, like 2 hours? And I can't imagine not having her as my kid, my daughter. Pepper and I could finally have a real family. All I could ever want is right here, but if she says no…
Georgiana interrupted his rapidly spiraling thoughts. "Are. You. Mental?" she cried. "Of course I want to live with you!" The little girl scrambled off the floor at the conclusion of her exclamation and attacked Tony's legs in a huge hug. Tony slowly crouched down to her height, and more than hesitantly brought his arms around her, enveloping her.
Turning her head towards, she whispered in his ear, "Thank you. Thank you for saving me."
In that moment, for the first time since he became Iron Man, Tony truly felt like a hero.
Please, please, please review! I definitely want feedback on this chapter so I can see what has to be changed. Thanks a bunches for reading!