So I changed a couple things on the last chapter, so if you want to go back and read that again, you can. Or you can just continue with this one. Though this one might be a tad confusing if you don't.

Crystal-Wolf-Guardian-967: Thanks hon!

Miki Rukia: First off, thank you for all your reviews! I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far. And I feel like Tony would be a bad parent, at least Pre-Iron Man, and maybe even up to the end of Iron Man 2. He still doesn't have all his priorities in check then, but don't worry, things will get better between them. Yeah, I wasn't a big fan of Obadiah either, even way back when I first watched Iron Man, maybe because he reminds me of my creepy uncle. Anyways, I decided to give Skye kind of a sixth sense about people, especially creepy ones like Obadiah. And Skye definitely knows something's wrong with Tony, even if she's not admitting it quite yet. She won't find out about the suit until the next chapter. And I'm glad you liked my decision to give Pepper's part to Skye in that scene. I just really needed them to have some bonding time.

Enjoy!

A couple weeks went by since my dad had asked me to help him with the arc reactor. I still had some questions and I was determined to get some answers. I decided to corner him one day, when he was down in the garage, where he spent most of his time now days.

I went down to the garage, coffee in hand, knowing he'd need it since he wasn't sleeping much.

"Dad?" I asked after I'd opened the door, my dad sitting in front of his computers working on something. "Dad, I brought you coffee." I set the mug next to him, picking up the empty one. "Dad, can we talk?"

"Huh? Yeah, sure." He looked at me for a second before going back to his computer screens.

I doubted he'd even heard me. I grabbed the back of the chair, spinning it around so he was facing me. He looked tires, like he hadn't slept in ages. That was probably the case though. "Dad, we need to talk."

He looked up at me with tired eyes for a moment before nodding. "Okay."

He stood up, wrapping an arm around my shoulders before leading me to the couch on the opposite side of the garage.

"So. Let's talk." He said sitting down.

I sat down, slightly sideways so I could see him. "I want to know about that." I pointed to the circle of light shining through his shirt. "The thing I stuck my hand into a couple weeks ago for you. I want to know where it came from. Because I know you didn't have it before you went to Afghanistan."

He looked down at the arc reactor before looking back at me. "I got it in Afghanistan. When I called you, the convoy that was escorting me had been attacked. I tried to hide, but a missile landed next to me. It had Stark Industries right on the side of it."

"That's what happened when you called me."

He nodded. "The missile exploded, and some of the shrapnel was lodged in my chest. The people who attacked the convoy took me from the area to a cave somewhere in Afghanistan. I couldn't tell you where it was now. There was a doctor that was captive there as well. He attached a car battery to a magnet in my chest to keep the shrapnel from reaching my heart. They wanted me to build a Jericho Missile, so instead I built this." He tapped the arc reactor. "They had hundreds of weapons from Stark Industries there."

"That's why you stopped weapons production. Because you think someone's dealing under the table."

"I know someone's dealing under the table."

"Dad, when you called me, you said you wanted to tell me something. What was it?"

He reached over, smoothing my hair away from my face. "I wanted to tell you that I love you. And that I'm sorry I've been such a horrible parent."

"Dad." I shook my head, taking his hand in mine. "You're not a bad parent. You're a billionaire with an image to protect. Having a kid with no mother isn't exactly an easy image to maintain. I've made it so far and I think I'm okay."

He pulled me into his side, kissing the side of my head before I leaned it on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tightly for a moment.

"Dad, you should probably get some sleep. Sleep deprivation does horrible things to your body."

"Why are you telling me this? Aren't I supposed to be the parent here?"

I laughed, tucking my feet up to my chest as I reveled in the fact I was spending time with my dad again. It felt good, being able to act like his daughter again, and not just some homeless kid who lives in his house.

A couple more weeks passed and I was the one forcing my dad to sleep. I'd cut off his coffee at a certain point at night so either he'd fall asleep, or he'd have to come up with more creative ways to stay awake. I had told Pepper about my idea for my dad's old arc reactor and she helped me make it happen.

Obadiah Stane came over one night after a trip to New York. I got a nervous gnawing in my stomach as he walked in the door. He came in the room, pizza in hand. I was sitting on the couch, laptop in hand, surfing TMZ's website, reading the ridiculous stories about my dad and I.

"Tony's downstairs in the garage. I'll buzz him, let him know you're here."

I could feel Obadiah's eyes on me, making me squirm. I set my laptop on the coffee table and made my way to the stairs down to my dad's workshop.

"Where are you going Skye?" Pepper asked me.

"To get my dad."

"I already buzzed him."

"Yeah, and he's going to listen." Another thing I inherited from my dad besides his looks.

"Wait. Would you take this to him?" She handed me the box and a coffee mug. She gave me a knowing look as she handed me the items.

I punched in my code, waking into the garage.

"Dad," He was sitting at a table. "Pepper buzzed you. Did you hear?" Probably not.

"Yeah, everything's... What?"

"Obadiah's upstairs."

"Great!"

"What would you like me to tell him?"

"Great. I'll be right up."

"Okay. I thought you said you were done making weapons." I said, looking at the price of machinery attached to his arm.

"It... This is a flight stabiliser... It's completely harmless." He activated the machine and it threw him back across the room. "I didn't expect that."

"Uh-huh." I crossed my arms.

"What?" My dad asked, taking the stabilizer off his arm.

I shrugged, looking down at the floor.

"Come on. Something's bothering you." He placed his hands on my shoulders, holding me at arm's length.

"Obadiah brought pizza."

"Alright then let's go." He started leading me towards the door.

"Don't make me go up there." I said, stopping and grabbing his hand.

"Why not?"

"Because...because...there's something that happened while you were gone."

My dad sighed. "Alright. I'll be back, just...just stay here."

He disappeared up the stairs before coming back down about 10 minutes later. I was sitting on the couch, channel surfing. He hopped the back of the couch, landing beside me, his arm stretched across the back of the couch.

"So. Tell me."

"Look, just, promise you won't get mad." I said, facing him, sitting criss-cross applesauce on the couch.

"Skye..."

"Promise you're not going to make a scene or try and get revenge."

"I promise." He said, holding out his pinky.

I linked my pinky with his before starting. "While you were gone, about a month or so after you disappeared, Obadiah decided to try and gain custody of me. He came over once right after you disappeared and he seemed very concerned with my well being. He got a lawyer and wanted to go to court but you had put in your will that Pepper was to gain custody of me."

My dad's face was blank. I could see him processing everything as he stared at my face.

"Come here." He finally said, motioning for me to get closer. I slid over and he pulled me into his side, wrapping his arms around me. "You know I wouldn't let anything happen to you, right?" I nodded. "I know you think I don't care."

"Is all this 'I've been a horrible father' stuff coming from what Pepper told you?"

His brow furrowed. "What?"

"I overheard you and Pepper the other night. Her telling you to do something. I know you didn't tell me about my mom on a 'spur of the moment' feeling."

"Well, I kind of did. Pepper just gave me the shove I needed to get out the door and tell you."

"Interesting way to put it." I said, leaning my head on his shoulder. "You finally going to tell me how you escaped from the cave in Afghanistan?"

"Maybe one of these days. Your birthday's coming up."

I shook my head at his attempt to change the subject. "It's a month and a half away."

"Still, that's pretty close."

"Dad, stop changing the subject to less important things."

"Hey, I'm just trying to keep the conversation flowing. There's more to this Obadiah thing than just him trying to gain custody of you. As creepy as that is...what's bugging you?"

"I was thinking Disneyland for my birthday. We haven't been in a while."

I felt my dad smile as he kissed my forehead. "Disneyland it is."