The Claim

Summary:

In wedding bells we met Tony's daughter briefly, here's how it started!

Rating:

T

I yawned and opened my eyes, the clock told me it was already noon. Who the heck was calling me right now? I picked up the phone;

"Stark."

The phone made a sound like the other person had shifted;

"Antony Stark, I'm Lisa Barant."

The woman sounded old, and who called me Antony anyway?

"Hello Mrs. Barant, what can I do for you?"

My people skills were getting better all the time thanks to Pepper and Bruce.

"My daughter, Jes Barant-well she slept with you...My Grand-daughter is you daughter."

This wasn't the first time I'd been called like this, but usually by the woman I'd slept with.

"Sure whatever you say."

The woman huffed;

"Now you listen here, my daughter died several years ago, she left a diary-she claims that you were the last man she slept with before becoming pregnant with my grand-daughter!"

Wow, bitchy much?

"And she could have been lying, did you think about that?"

The growl was actually a bit scary;

"She didn't lie Mr. Stark! Clair looks rather much like you, and she's got a brain! Hell she even works at your company!"

Oh really? Hm, I'd have to check that out then. I wanted to know why she would risk her job like this.

"Where?"

The woman took a breath;

"California."

I'd certainly have a talk with this Clair Barant then.

"Good bye."

And I hung up before she could say anything;

"Jarvis block the number will you, and do I have any meetings today?"

"The number is blocked Sir, and you have a meeting at six today-plenty of time to get to California and have a meeting with Miss Barant. She's the head of the robotics department."

Well then, what the hell? She wouldn't be young enough to be my daughter;

"What else do you got on her?"

Jarvis took a moment as I got ready;

"At fourteen she entered San Jose university-by sixteen she obtained a mastery in Robotics- and a internship at Stark Industries. Now she's twenty four years old and head of Robotics, but you will often find her all over the building...doing a number of things- every thing from maintenance to Robotics."

She was young enough then to be my daughter, and by the sounds of it a genius. I finished dressing and grabbed a bite to eat before heading out. I wasn't often in my Californian office anymore, not since I'd started to stay in Avengers tower. Pepper visited every once in awhile though. Someone had cleaned the desk, and the office was as neat as ever... I'd asked the secretary to bring up miss Barant. she was calm and collected as she walked in, Slender-but strong looking, long dark brown hair in a sloppy ponytail, work clothes were neat for someone messing around with mechanical parts all day, and her eyes were tired, how many hours had she been up and running? Was she logging in her hours?

"Miss Barant."

She nodded and sat at one of the chairs before my desk;

"You wanted to talk to me Sir?"

I gave her a rather stern look, or at least I attempted it;

"Your Grandmother Lisa Barant called me yesterday about you."

She flinched, so it was a scam! Go figure, but why risk her job like this?

"She told you she wanted me to quit...are you firing me now?"

What? That was not why I'd asked her here right now;

"No, no- she claims that your my daughter."

Clair gave me a strange look before bursting into laughter;

"Oh my god...sorry give me a moment."

I waited for her to calm down, a little pleased that it amused her so, her laugh was actually rather pretty and bright;

"I'm sorry, my grandmother is a little strange in the head. I'll make sure she doesn't try to call you again. wait how'd she even get your number? I guess that doesn't matter, I'm am truly sorry. I won't let her do that again."

So she didn't claim to be my child, but just looking at her...she did look quite a bit like me.

"Would you mind doing a paternity test in any case."

I'd made my mind up, if this rather smart young woman was my daughter...

"Well, I suppose that's alright. You'll just see you aren't my pa."

Several days had passed since I'd met Miss Barant, and the test results were in...Jesus. How did you tell some one that you were their biological father? I sighed;

"Sir, Miss Barant is at the door."

"Let her in Jarvis."

She'd come all the way to New York on my jet, I couldn't get away long enough to go see her-but I hadn't wanted to do it over the phone. She stepped into my line of sight;

"Hello Miss Barant."

She smiled and pushed aside a random lock of hair out of her face...she was pretty, one eye brightest blue and the other the exact color of my own eyes. Why hadn't her mother told me? Why had it taken twenty five years later to know that I had such a beautiful and smart daughter?

"Well I got the results in, I couldn't get over to California but I thought you'd rather know up front rather than by phone."

She nodded and leaned on the bar.

"I would even though I'm not yours."

I looked at my drink, I'd poured it but couldn't drink it-I had to be sober for this.

"About that, here."

I wussed out and handed her the paper. She scanned it and froze-the paper slipping out of her fingers.

"Oh...Oh gods. You-oh god."

She turned away and walked away-only so far, she turned and came back...oh she was pacing, like I had when I first realized I was her father. She came back to the bar and picked up the paper;

"Grandma wasn't crazy to believe mom...I am. I'm so sorry-um, this won't change anything. I won't breath a word to anyone."

She thought I wanted to ignore her? Did I not want to?

"No, wait hold on-I...I would like to get to know you."

She turned big bright eyes on me, surprise written all over her face.

"You sure?"

"Positive."