When Rebecca opened her eyes again, she was sitting on the lounge with Pepper next to her holding a cool towel to her head. It was soothing, just like she had woken up from one of the greatest dreams she could have imagined. Except this wasn't a dream, she hoped.

"Pepper..." her voice cracked. "Is it true?" she asked nervously.

Peppers lips tugged up into a smile. "It's true. Rhodey said they found him walking in the desert looking for help."

"Is he okay? Is he hurt? Where is he?" she shot up on the seat, but her head began thumping.

"Easy," Pepper knelt her back down. "You hit your head on the tiles. Your dad's fine, considering what he's been through. He's being assessed by a medical team at the moment, he'll arrive back in California early tomorrow morning."

Rebecca was still processing the fact that her dad was alive, that Rhodey had found him, that everything that both Pepper and Rhodey had promised her was true, it just took some time. However, it wasn't excitement she felt, it was doubt and worry and even more anxiety.

"This isn't a dream is it? This is happening?" she had to asked Pepper again, just for confirmation.

Pepper grinned. "It's not a dream sweetie." she grabbed her hand. "Your dad's coming home, I swear."

Rebecca shook her head. "I can't..." she struggled for words. "Are they sure it's him?"

"Sweetie-"

"Are they sure?" Rebecca cut her off, not giving her a fair chance to explain. "Because mistakes have happened before, I know they have!"

"It's him." Pepper tried to calm her, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Rhodey found him himself. I know you're in a state where it's going to be hard to accept this after so long, but you need to understand that no one would make you believe your father was alive if they weren't one hundred percent sure." Pepper explained.

Rebecca shook her head, still disbelieving. She hadn't given up hope for her father in these last three months, but she had become so numb to the idea of him coming home again after all of the disappointing outcomes they has reached in finding him.

"We've been invited to meet them at the airport when they arrive tomorrow morning." Pepper informed. "Happy will take us early enough to be there when they land, so don't worry." Pepper then left the room to answer her cell in the kitchen.

It couldn't be him. No chance of it, not after all this time. There had been so many 'close calls' while they'd been searching for Tony that Rebecca found herself almost immune to all the failures, so to now deal with a success, she was hardly prepared.

Rebecca sat on her bed staring out of her window as the sun began to creep through the dark sky early the next morning. She had no sleep, giving her the same mental anguish as when her father first when missing. Every time she had attempted to sleep during the night, her mind began racing at the thought of everyone thinking her dad was alive and being, once again, disappointed.

"Rebecca? Are you awake?" Pepper knocked at her door a few hours later. "Bec?" she softly opened the door and stepped inside.

"I'm awake." Rebecca turned to Pepper with dark eyes, mirroring the same girl that Pepper had helped through the first month of this ordeal. "But I'm not going."

Pepper sighed. "Bec, it doesn't have to be like this."

Rebecca ran her fingers through her hair. "I'm not angry, I'm not sad, I'm not...anything. I just don't want to go, that's all." she explained calmly. "I can't go."

Pepper walked over and took a seat on the bed with her. "I understand...the denial, and I understand why you don't want to go, but do you really want to miss this? Your dad finally coming home, and I'm betting you're the only person he wants to see waiting for him."

Rebecca turned away from Pepper, almost ashamed at her decision. "I just...if it is him, I don't know what to do. I don't want to..I just can't go."

Pepper thought to herself before speaking. "You can stay in the car if that's what it takes. Just don't stop yourself from being there because you're scared." Pepper gave her a comforting smile. "Just think about it okay?"

Pepper then left the room, leaving Rebecca and her thoughts to themselves. Pepper was right though. If Tony got off that jet and Rebecca wasn't there, she could never forgive herself. After all this waiting, she couldn't just let something like this go.

Not long after their talk, Rebecca made her way into the living room after having a long, relaxing shower to try and gain at least some energy. She was paler than usual, and the dark rings around we eyes weren't convincing at all that she was okay. It was like hitting rock bottom once again, after all the work she had put into getting herself better.

"You didn't sleep at all, did you?" Pepper handed her a coffee, choosing not to comment on her changed decision.

Rebecca shrugged her shoulders "I don't know." she took a few sips of her coffee, enjoying the caffeine hit. "I'm sorry about before, I was being...well, selfish."

"No," Pepper defended her. "You were having your doubts, as you have every right to. This can't be easy for you, and I respect any decision you make after watching you rebuild yourself these last few months. There is nothing you could do that would ever make me think you're being selfish."

Rebecca gave her a weak grin, sipping at her coffee once again. She sat it down momentarily as she pulled her dress coat over her clothes, fastening one button at the front to keep it in place. After a few minutes of silence between them both, Happy arrived to take them to the airport.

"You okay?" Pepper asked. "You ready?"

Rebecca shook her head. "No, but I can do this...I think."

They'd been waiting about twenty minutes before the military jet was in view and making its landing. It was loud and forceful, but that wasn't what made Rebecca's nerves uneasy. It was who may be inside. She had decided not to sit in the car, but stand outside of it, gaining a better view. Pepper stood over by the other soldiers who were waiting for the arrival of their comrades and the man they had all been searching for. As the jet landed, Rebecca's hands began shaking uncontrollably with anxiousness, waiting to see if her dad would make his way from the doors, and it was not long before it actually happened. Tony's silhouette was recognizable by his daughter, and by Pepper as she turned and looked at Rebecca's expression. As her father's familiar face became clear, she felt as if a weight had just dropped down onto her chest and she had a hard time drawing breath. She had her hands covering her mouth, hiding her emotional reaction. Tony walked out the back of the jet, next to Rhodey, who was assisting him. His arm was in a sling, and he had multiple cuts and bruises on his face. He could see Pepper standing before him, welcoming him back with tears of joy. They shared a few words before his attention turned to the car not far from the crowd of people. Rhodey and Pepper instructed the others to let Tony reunite with his daughter alone before speaking with him, and they began thanking each other. The closer Tony got to Rebecca, the more tears she shed. She was on the verge of hyperventilating if she wasn't already, and Tony's heart broke at the sight of his daughter being so fragile.

"Dad?" she asked through the muffled noises of her cries. She tried to convince herself it was real, but a part of her felt like she was dreaming.

Tony held it together though for her sake. "Hey, hey, it's okay, I'm here." he reached his arm out and connected with hers, startling her, assuring her body it wasn't a dream. She couldn't stop crying, and for the first time since she was very young, Tony couldn't calm her down, but he tried. "I'm so sorry baby, I'm so sorry I put you through this." he pulled her into a tight hug, speaking softly into her ear.

Rebecca's body wouldn't allow her to respond for a while, trying to adjust to the situation. She didn't know what to say. "Please...don't ever leave me." she begged, wrapping her arms around her dad. "I don't know what to do anymore dad, I missed you so much!" she cried more.

"Shh, shh, it's okay." he ran his fingers through her hair. "I'm here, okay? I'm here. I promise I won't go anywhere, I'm here."

"Everyone said...you were dead." she closed her eyes as she buried her face in his shoulder.

"Look at me," he pushed her back lightly before lifting her chin up to look at him. "I'm right here, alive, and I'm not going anywhere." he convinced her as she pulled herself back into his arms. "I'm so sorry I put you through this."

Rebecca calmed her tears as they turned into sobs. "I don't want you to go anywhere."

"I won't." Tony assured her.

Rhodey looked over at Tony and Rebecca, holding her in his arms with an obvious look of relief on his face, but he then shook his head, and Rhodey just nodded understandingly. There was no way he was talking to anyone right now, not when he had just gotten his daughter back.

They left the two of them alone for almost an hour, letting Rebecca get out all of her tears and come to terms with things. When Pepper was finished thanking the soldiers and Rhodey, she made her way back to Tony and Rebecca, climbing into the backseat of the car as Happy turned to ask where they were going, after welcoming Tony back home.

"To the hospital." Pepper instructed cooly.

"No," Tony shook his head. "I'm not going to the hospital."

"No?" Pepper asked, shocked. "Tony the medics said you have to go get checked." she concerned.

"I don't have to do anything." he gave her a knowing look, his attitude that Pepper missed returning. "I want you to call for a press conference."

"What?" Pepper asked in a raised voice. "You're not serious."

"I know what I need to do, Pepper." he assured.

"Dad..." Rebecca looked worried. "What are you doing?"

"Trust me."

Pepper looked very concerned and a little frustrated when they returned home from the press conference. Tony had changed the way the public viewed the company and him himself, labellum him mentally unstable as a result of his captivity. He had vowed to stop the weapons manufacturing of his company, which was it's sole operation. Obadiah wasn't thrilled with the idea, but any decision made by Tony was almost impossible to override. It was as if Tony had walked off the jet and back into his normal life, everyone almost looked over the issue of his three month captivity since he seemed just as capable as he did before, and his arrogant, playful attitude was already back in place. Rebecca thought it would take a while for her dad to adjust back into his normal life, she had been doing research on people who have experienced captivity, but it took her dad almost no effort before he was back in the swing of things. Rebecca, on the other hand, was overwhelmed by her dad's return, and hadn't left his side since they had reunited. During the press conference though, she decided to sit in the other room while it was being held, but she was still within view of her father. She had told him of the company's plans to override his position and how she had vowed to take his place if anyone was to make that move. Rebecca knew her father better than anyone. Better than Obadiah, and better than Pepper, and she knew he was hiding something from her. It was something that he wasn't quite sure how to tell her about.

As Tony finished his shower and walked into his room, which was just as he left it after Rebecca had sworn not to touch, remove or change anything after he'd left, he stopped by the mirror on his wall and stared at his chest. Where his heart was, where his only hope for life was. The blue circle lit up, making it impossible to miss.

''Dad?'' Rebecca came to the door, pushing it open slowly. He didn't want to hide it from her, but this wasn't the way he wanted to reveal it to her. He didn't want to show her the little arc reactor that was lodged in his chest, the only thing keeping him alive as a result of the brutal wounds he suffered from being attacked. ''What...what's that?'' she walked closer, and Tony just watched her reaction quietly. ''What happened to you?'' she asked, mesmerized by the circle. ''Are you okay?'' Rebecca continued asking him but he didn't speak, he couldn't find the words. All he wanted to do was hold her close, knowing how lucky he was to even be able to do that. ''Dad, please talk to me. C'mon, we tell each other everything.''

Tony then nodded in agreement, gesturing for her to sit on the edge of the bed with him after he pulled a shirt around his shoulders, leaving a few buttons undone at the circle so he could explain.

''Just...'' Tony stuttered for an accurate expression. ''know that I'm okay now. All of this, just...I'm okay now, and that's all that matters.''

Rebecca nodded sadly, bracing herself for what she was about to be told.

Sorry this chapter took a while, I've had a lot to do these past few days and I hadn't got around to updating. Hope you enjoy, and I appreciate all the lovely reviews. I'll try and update sooner next chapter!