Hello. I'm back.

First I want to thank all those people who read my story; It is amazing the support I had. Thank you very much indeed, means a lot to me that they like my story. I really thank all who have encouraged me to continue this story.

I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Thanks to NeverNik. Who helped me with this chapter and was kind to me.

Disclaimer: This fanfiction is not written for profit and no infringement of copyright is intended. Disclaimer: I don´t own Iron man.

A hug, have a good day


Three: My girl.

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
When it's cold outside I've got the month of May
Well I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)

I've got so much honey the bees envy me
I've got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees
Well I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl ooh)


A year later

Time for the cousins' union.

Julian's sitting on his bed, eyeing with curiosity the new encyclopedia that his uncle gave him. His eyes open with wonder at each new word, each image, as his lips curve into a smile.

Peace and tranquility for a day, as he says to himself, as he turns each leaf.

"Honey…"

His aunt greets him from the door after having knocked once. Julian nods, and his aunt comes in and sits next to him.

Her hands caress his hair, and she kisses his forehead.

Julian loses himself in his aunt's touch. He's longed for her hugs for months. Months in which he found himself far away from home.

Far from his family, to attend a private school, which had been attended by the male members of the Stark family for many years.

"I've missed you, deeply;" María's voice trembles. Julian notices it, turning to find her eyes clouded by sudden tears. He clings even more to her arms.

"I've missed you too, Aunt, Uncle, everyone, even..." He stops, feeling his heart contract.

"That's why this day will be so special! My two dear children playing together again."

His eyes open wide at the request behind in his aunt's words.

You'll be taking care of Tony today.

Julian runs his hands over his face, moaning as he remembers the games and problems his little cousin caused in the absence of their parents.

"Julian, hurry up!" the little boy screams as he runs into Julian's room. "I burned Mum's favorite tablecloth!"

"Julian." His eyes are full of unshed tears when he finds Julian coming out of the shower. "I painted Dad's studio unintentionally."

"Julian, smoke is coming out of the stove and it doesn't want to stop." Tony says with a shrug.

"Julian, the house is full of soap and foam!" Tony's lip trembles and his eyes open in terror at the understanding of what will happen. "Mummy is going to get mad."

His aunt smiles. "Think of it as a time for the cousins' union."

Julian gets out of bed, taking dramatic steps towards his uncle's study.

His aunt's voice echoes behind him. "Your uncle is finishing his book; the publisher is seeing him today, while I must give this class; I can't postpone it again."

The boy turns to confront his aunt. At her side is the mischievous six-year-old boy.

"The solution is obvious. Tell Pepper, she can't come today because of your multiple commitments."

"No," Tony denies firmly. "You said Pepper would sleep over TODAY!; You promised!" he says with emphasis on his words. His arms are crossed over his chest. A slight tremor settles on his lower lip.

Emotional little Tony wants to go out and play, and won't stop until he gets what he wants.

Julian whines in response, just like a five-year-old.

"Tony," María begins with tenderness in his voice. "Sweetie." She continues as if the pet name calm the beast that Julian knows Tony wants to wake up.

The child tightens his lips; His deep brown eyes fix on her. His voice comes out in a whisper. "Please, Mummy?" Tony asks, and by his aunt's expression, Julian knows all is lost.

Manipulative child, with his charming manipulator's eyes.

Julian sighs at Tony's side, trying to contain himself. In bad time he decided he would teach his little cousin how to achieve things with just a facial expression.

His uncle slaps him on the shoulder. "It's an act of responsibility, my dear boy," Howard says in his calm, gentle voice. "Every day we learn new things. Maybe this day will give you the opportunity to learn something important at the hands of two naughty children."

Julian's mouth opens, but says nothing. His aunt smiles, placing a kiss on both his cheeks as she leaves. His uncle ruffles his hair while telling his cousin that he expects his behavior to be honorable.

Julian lets himself dream that this will be the case.

Peace and tranquility for a day, Julian once hoped... of course not.


"Enough, Tony!" Julian scolds when he sees the boy pass by for the twelfth time.

"Enough with what?" Tony asks innocently, frowning subconsciously.

"Enough with all this!, Please stop pacing around!" Julian points out, emphasizing the corridor.

"But Pepper hasn't arrived yet!" Tony complains, visibly following his path from one spot to another.

Julian rolls his eyes, and continues reading his book until his cousin's excited shout brings him back to reality.

He opens the door to meet the little girl in a red dress with white dots, impeccable white bows and a smile that competes with the smile on his cousin's face.

She throws herself into his arms. "Hi Julian, I missed you!" Pepper greets with affection and another sweet smile.

Julian smiles back, it's hard not to do, in response to the tenderness that emanates from the girl with beautiful blue eyes.

His cousin doesn't seem very happy with the exchange, being quite jealous when it comes to Pepper, so Julian parts from the girl, giving her room to embrace his cousin.

And if Julian believed that his cousin's smile was warm, the one he gives to Pepper when he hugs her, is the sun illuminating everything in its path.

Michael clears his throat, and Julian offers his hand in greeting.

The man smiles. "I hope it's not a problem for you; to take care of them today."

"It isn't." He lies. Although not with as much certainty after watching the exchange between the children.

Michael swallows. His eyes fill with an emotion that the young man isn't able to read. "Sometimes it's hard for Pepper to sleep, she tends to be scared.

Julian nods. He will make sure to scare away any monsters disturbing little Pepper's dreams. "She'll be fine, I promise, Mr. Potts."

"Thanks; You're a good boy, Julian." Michael smiles, clasping his shoulder with pride.

He says goodbye to Pepper with a kiss on her forehead, a prolonged hug and " love you" whispered.


Two hours later, Julian agrees to take them to the beach, with the promise that both will always be within eyeshot, will not run off and will not enter the water for any reason.

While they play, he sits under a colored umbrella and enjoys his book.

"The Count of Monte Cristo," says a melodious voice nearby.

He turns his head to find the source.

"Isn't that a rather dark book to be read on a sunny day at the beach?" The girl's eyes are sparkling, amused at her own words.

Her complexion is pale, although her features are slightly exotic. She has a pixie haircut with pink tips and accessories that highlight the floral dress she wears.

Julian Stark, for the first time in years, remains immobile. His heart feels like it's going to explode.

Her green eyes focus on him. She smiles and is about to leave when his mouth manages to find sound.

"Stay!" He automatically hates how rushed that sounded. "The beach is big enough for both of us; Besides, you won't want to miss a sunny day at the beach," he adds, repeating her words.

The girl smiles at his voice and takes a couple of steps forward.

They look at the view for a couple of minutes in complete tranquility, until she speaks again. "You're not in a sect, I hope; If you're here against your will, blink three times."

Julian's lips contract with his raised eyebrows.

The girl shrugs, amused with the boy's reaction. "You're not very talkative, are you?"

Julian still doesn't say a Word. It's the first time he's spoken to a girl alone, who isn't his cousin.

"In case you don't know, which would be weird at this point, given the rumors and the whispering everywhere, I'm the new girl," she whispers exageratedly. "Yes, I know what you're thinking." Another silly girl becoming invisible in..."

He laughs, and she is paralyzed by the beautiful sound. "Actually, I thought you couldn't be silly if you know something about Count Montecristo." He replies timidly.

The girl's jaw opens comically. Then she lets out a funny laugh.

"Uh... what?" asks Julian, confused.

"Anthea... that's my name..." She smiles playfully at the boy's nervous, flushed face. "Although everyone calls me Ann."

One, two, three seconds is the time that elapses before he settles.

She looks at him with amusement, biting her lip. "This is the moment where you tell me your name. "

He shrugs.

"I can always guess, but I assure you. I'm not very good at it. "

Julian's lips tremble. "Julian Stark."

She gives him a side smile.

He's about to speak when he's interrupted by a voice at his side.

"We finished making sandcastles and looking for animals to document. Now I need a villain to play with."

Julian looks at his cousin with disdain, telegraphing. 'What part of leave me alone' do you not understand?', However, Tony continues talking.

"I need a villain, Julian." He pronounces his name seriously. Too seriously.

Ann shades her eyes and looks at the little boy. "This is yours?" she asks, smiling.

Julian sighs. "I wish I could say no."

Tony frowns, his attention straying from his cousin to the girl next to him. He smiles, being the precocious genius that he is, and asks with puppy eyes. "You want to play with us?"

Ann nods, confidently. Tony is pleased as he runs to the shore.

"It can't be so bad," she assures him with a warm smile. "Treasure the moments with your cousin..." Her voice stops. "OTherwise one day you'll want to do it and you won't be able to. "

Something in that statement causes Julian's heart of Julian plunge. He nods, without saying a word, watching how the short-haired girl runs towards the little ones and asks, with a big smile:

"Is there room for someone else."

Julian doesn't hear the answer. He just takes off his shoes, rolls up the long sleeves of his black sweater and heads towards them.

Pepper takes Ann's hand in hers and smiles.

Julian notices how Ann's eyes shine more than normal and swallows heavily. Ann gives her a watery smile.

She's suffered an important loss, his mind tells him, but he refuses to analyze it in -depth.

Tony runs after them with a wooden sword swinging against the wind.

"Attention!" Julian's voice is strong, thick. "I'm here to take Princess Pepper and you can't do anything about it." He laughs evilly.

Tony looks at him, with wide open eyes. His expression screams amazement, while his lips promise pranks to be fulfilled.

"Never, villain!" Tony shouts, positioning himself in front of Pepper. "The princess is mine!, No-one can steal her."

"I'm the most feared villain in the seven seas, Black beard,!" Julian arches an eyebrow, taking another wooden sword. "Kneel or suffer the consequences."

"Never!" Tony's war cry before he throws himself in front of the young blond man.

The sound of clashing swords resonates as both boys quickly move from one side to the other.

Tony breathes with difficulty, trying to imitate the movements of his older cousin. Julian can only be impressed by his determination not to surrender and keep going, to what will clearly be a defeat.

Julian, in an agile movement, manages to disarm the child, causing him to fall into the sand. "Surrender, pirate!"

"No!" Tony screams higher than usual.

Julian laughs, placing his sword on the boy's chest. "Say goodbye pirate!, The princess will be mine." He raises his hand with the sword, to wield it theatrically on the child, but is stopped by two pairs of hands clinging to his sides, tickling him.

The sword falls from his hands, and his body twists. He falls, laughing, into the sand.

Tony quickly climbs on top of him, the sword pointed at his chest. "Surrender, villain!"

Julian raises his hands in surrender. "You've won, pirate."

"Ah, ah, ah," Tony says, cocking his head and wagging his finger. "Attack!" the boy cries, and Ann and Pepper fling themselves at Julian, tickling him.

Julian's laughter mixes with the sound of the voices at his side.

Tony's red face greets him, and in that instant Julian realizes that he's closed his eyes. He gets up quickly, grabbing Pepper and spinning her through the air for a few seconds until he lays her gently on the sand.

Tony looks at him impatiently, so Julian runs to him, chasing him. He takes his little cousin in his arms and despite the screams and laughter manages to dunk him in the surf.

Tony's curls almost completed cover his face, his blue eyes shine with mischief, and Julian is unable to stop smiling at the joy evident in the face of this little boy.

Julian laughs before cold water hits his face. And that's when the war in the water begins.


"That was very funny." Pepper laughs as Ann dries her hair with a pink towel.

"Very funny." Ann assures her smiling tenderly, making sure the girl is as dry as possible.

"It's time to leave," Julian says. "It's getting late."

Tony looks like a fish out of water. His lips tremble slightly and his hands cling to the large towel on his shoulders.

Ann nods, her hands caressing Pepper's hair. She kisses her cheek, and hugs her tightly. "See you, little princess."

Pepper smiles goodbye, sinking into her embrace. "Goodbye, Ann."

Tony is the next to embrace her. "It was fun!, We have to play again."

Ann laughs, ruffling his curly hair. "We will!"

Tony opens his arms and Pepper huddles next to him, both wrapped in the oversized towel.

Julian looks at the ground, bites his lip and stands in front of Ann.

"Thank you." is the first thing that comes out of his lips, diverting his gaze towards the children.

She understands. It's a thank you for making me appreciate what was in front of my eyes. Thank you for making this day special.

Ann quickly hugs him. Julian's heart leaps from his chest like a madman.

"See you soon, Montecristo."

"See you soon, Anthea." He says goodbye without stopping to look back while she walks away.


"I can bathe myself." Tony moans while sitting in the tub. Next to him, his cousin massages his hair, adding more shampoo.

"Aunt would hate your hair to be full of sand and salt water," he says by way of explanation.

The child moans again before speaking again. "Ann is very funny."

Tony gives him a look of complicity. "It was a good plan to invite her to play."

Julian is impressed with the child's abilities.

Tony shrugs. "I'm only six, but I realize many things."

Julian's lips close and open quickly, then he lets out an amused laugh. "We're going to dry you, planner."


His aunt kisses him on the cheek, as he passes by her. There is a story in her hands and two little ones lying on a bed, both waiting for her impatiently.

Julian stops her. María looks at him with a question on her face.

"Time of union between cousins." He says with a shrug.

Julian takes the story from his aunt's hands, without looking at her face. But he's sure that she's smiling broadly.

María watches in wonder as the fourteen-year-old boy sits between the two children and reads loudly, imitating a voice as a novelist. "Long ago in a distant kingdom..."

She smiles, closing the door. Today, her eldest nephew definitely learned something important at the hand of two naughty children.


Months later:

A knock sounds at his door; His eyes open slowly, adjusting to the light.

"Julian."

Another knock.

"Julian!"

Third knock.

"Julian!"

"Go away!" he says, closing his eyes and resuming his sleeping position again.

"Julian..." Tony's voice is querulous. He is upset.

Well, let him be, he will go, thinks Julian to himself.

"Julian!" The child whines. "Mummy can't get us sweets, Dad in the Company again, and Pepper's dad has to work."

Julian writhes on the silk sheets.

"Julian." A knock on his door. "Please?".

Julian moans. He hears the incessant hiss and the drag of his cousin's feet from one side to the other in front of his door.

Julian gets up to find Tony dressed as a pirate, with a patch on his eye and a smile on his lips. His fingers drum on his thigh, and Julian rolls his eyes at his nervous gesture.

"Will you come or not?"

"I'm considering it." Julian replies, a little hesitantly.

The frown on Tony's face indicates that this isn't an answer that he considers to be valid as an explanation, not as far as he's concerned.

The drumming continues. And Julian sighs.

"If you're not ready in fifteen minutes, you'll stay." Julian says, closing the door behind him.

He listens to the cry of euphoria that his cousin throws, smiling.


Julian goes down stairs dressed in a white shirt, black jacket, dark jeans and a pair of dark slippers.

Tony looks at him, frowning. "What's are your disguise?"

"A person who doesn't believe in the mundane traditions that after many years continue to take over the city."

His aunt laughs. "That, or as a teenager who hates Halloween."

James, whom Julian notices for the first time, chuckles. He's dressed in a denim suit, obviously made by his aunt, if the stitches on his shirt are an indication.

Julian moans. This will be a long night.

That's when everything happens in slow motion. The moment when Julian thinks that everything in his cousin's life radically changes.

The little girl with beautiful eyes descends the stairs, a crown settled in her slightly curly hair, while the pearl dress shimmers in the light as she moves. She looks like a storybook angel.

María smiles with unadulterated pride. His aunt adores Pepper.

James's mouth opens. His cheeks are stained pink. He quickly congratulates her. "You look very pretty, Pepper, like a princess."

However, it's Tony's response that takes Julian's breath away.

Tony's gaze is fixed on Pepper. His eyes flicker with astonishment, changing from a deep brown to a much lighter shade. His mouth opens and closes, and his hands cling to the basket of sweets. His pink cheeks contrast with his shirt.

"Pretty." the boy says as lowers his gaze to the floor, although Julian knows that nobody besides him heard the word leave his lips.

Pepper smiles excitedly at the attention focused on her.

Julian takes her hand. "Come on, princess; trick or trick time!"


Pepper nods, following in his footsteps, leaving Tony open-mouthed and blushing in their wake.

After the initial surprise, both children run from one house to another. Both holding Julian's hands.

He watches them closely, his body resting on a column with his feet crossed. His pose screams "seriousness."

"Lost in the dark, James Dean?"

Her melodious voice greets him, and Julian hates how his heart jumps at the sound.

It isn't necessary to turn around; she stops in front of him.

Ann's dress, this time, is black with horizontal white stripes, short enough to be considered appropriate.

Julian's lips contract. "Who?"

"You know! 'Rebel Without a Cause'!"

Julian gestures to her to continue. She shrugs her shoulders. "Iconic actor."

He frowns, reminding her of his adorable younger cousin. "I don't get it." He looks indignant.

Ann just laughs, and looks at him from head to toe. If he doesn't know who James Dean is, then his disguise is someone else. She vocalizes her thoughts. "I never imagined that I would find you here. What's your in disguise?"

The question of the night, apparently.

"According to my Aunt, a teenager who hates Halloween."

She laughs, biting her lip. "Wise woman."

Julian agrees; there is no option to challenge that sentence.

"I'm the abnormal line in a society full of normal points," she says before he can comment.

She is different, very different from the classists who attend their meetings and clubs. Very different from the girls who reject him with cynical looks, dressed in Prada. She's a breath of fresh air in a chaotic environment.

He shakes his head. "I'd never view you as a normal point."

That statement gets a blush from the girl.

They talk about trivial things: favorite colors, artists, books, movies, their passions, for what seems like hours until Tony's terrified voice brings them back to reality.

"Julian... Julian... I'm sick." Tony says in anguish, moving his hands from one side to the other.

Ann puts her palm to the child's forehead, feeling his temperature.

"I'm very sick," he says again.

"Tony, I need more data if I want to create a diagnosis." Julian says, as matter of fact.

"My stomach is upset, my heart beats very hard and my face feels very hot."

Julian eyebrows are woven together, categorizing the data in order to find a possible trigger for that class of symptoms.

For her part, Ann smiles knowingly.

"Do you want to tell us, what happened? Before these symptoms started?"

"We went to ask for sweets at Mr. Hammer's house. The lights were off. The door opened, so we went in, and she came out! She was wearing a horrible clown mask!"

"You got scared. "

"I don't scare, Julian." Tony declares firmly, although his lower lip trembles at the memory.

"I'm sorry, what a fool I am, to think that my six-year-old cousin could easily get scared on Halloween!" Julian rolls his eyes.

"So..." Ann asks him to continue.

"Pepper took my hand, so I wouldn't be afraid"... His cheeks heated to a much redder tone. "And she kissed me."

"She kissed you?" Julian asks in horror.

Tony nods, still blushing, pointing at his right cheek.

Ann laughs. "Calm down, overprotective cousin, I'm sure she doesn't use her tongue."

Julian just looks at her.

Tony jumps from one side to the other. He watches Ann, waiting for her response.

Ann sighs. "I totally know what you have, honey."

Tony's eyes open wide. "What is it?"

Her mouth opens and with all the seriousness that she possesses at age fourteen, she declares. "You have the 'L' disease… the disease of love!"

His face is full of terror, and his lip trembles. He asks resignedly. "Am I going to heal?"

Ann bites her lip, looking at him seriously. "If you're very lucky..." She pauses dramatically. "No."

The boy's face falls, but he asks again.

"Is it contagious?"

"I'll tell you the truth, honey. You probably infected Pepper."

He holds his hands to his face, the agony clear in his voice. "What am I going to do, Ann?"

She smiles at the little boy's anguish. She removes his little hands from his face, so that Tony can look at her while she says:

"You'll have to be a very brave boy, be the best friend Pepper can ask for, protect her, help her, be there for her, because she's your girl, Tony."

"My girl," His voice is hopeful. "Will that help?"

"Definitely." A kiss is deposited on his forehead. "I promise. Don't worry."

Tony's face lights up and he runs towards his friends, totally feeling better.

Julian watches as Tony's hand clings to Pepper's little hand as if his life depends on it. He smiles at her and she smiles in return.

It's a gesture so simple and so complex at the same time, that it makes Julian's own smile spread and his eyes blink with pride.

Ann looks in both directions, biting her lip. "What do you think?"

Turning his attention back to her, he looks at her as if he's trying to figure something out, without speaking. "That was evil. I wish I'd thought of that."

She looks at him with surprise. Then he laughs.

"Someday, he'll thank me."

Julian shrugs, a smile on his face. "We'll have to wait and see. "


It's some time later, during Christmas shopping when Ann's face appears again before him.

Her hair is covered with a blue cap that matches her scarf. Her black coat clings to her perfectly.

Her nose is red, like her cheeks.

Both of her hands hold colored gift bags.

However, this time, he is the first to say hello. "Good morning, Anthea."

Her smile is heard in her voice. "Hello, stranger, it's been a while."

"Thirty-five days and twenty-two hours." Tony says casually.

Horror is written on Julian's face as he shakes his head at Tony. But his nefarious younger cousin continues to plunge him into the sea of humiliation.

Tony smiles. "He's been counting."

Ann hurries to hug the child, feeling the obvious discomfort and desire to kill him radiating from the young man. "Hello, Tony! Early Christmas shopping?"

Tony nods. "For my parents and my girl." he responds with total naturalness, a shade of red on his cheeks.

Ann laughs, ruffling his curly hair. "You learn fast! I'm proud." she says with a wink.

"Anthea, come on!" A brunette girl shouts from the next street.

Ann waves her hand.

"Merry Christmas, Tony." She says, smiling.

She takes a step, bites her lips, and her gaze meets Julian's. "In case I don't see you, Merry Christmas, Julian Stark." she whispers before placing a kiss on his right cheek.

The heat remains, even after she has left. His heart beats very hard against his chest, his stomach flutters, and he knows that his cheeks compete with the nose of that famous reindeer.

Tony, at his side, observes every detail.

"She kissed me." Julian said, bringing his hand to her cheek.

Tony shakes his head. "Calm down, big cousin. I'm sure, she didn't use her tongue."

Julian is about to reply, but Tony's mouth opens, just before making one deduction. "Oh Julian, you're sick like me...," Tony says in all seriousness. "You have the disease of love."

Julian laughs loudly, takes his hand and walks home.


TBC…

I hope you are with me in this story. There is a fun trip to tell.

Note: The letter of the beginning corresponds to the song: My girl. From The Temptations.

TBC…

I hope you are with me in this story. There is a fun trip to tell.

Note: The letter of the beginning corresponds to the song: My girl. From The Temptations.