Disclaimer: All characters other than some friendly nurses don't belong to me.

Warnings: I don't know for sure yet but there might be some swearing in the next few chapters so I'm rating it to be sure.

This fanfiction will be set in the Iron Man 1 movie, I hope I find the inspiration to continue it through the second movie and the avengers. If there are things unclear don't hesitate to ask me about them in a review, I'll always try to answer them.

So I now proudly present Life isn't always fair! Chapter 9

Weeks passed by and Alan settled nicely at his new school. On Monday, Wednesday and Fridays Tony brought him to school and stayed in the library to finish his own paper work and on Tuesdays and Thursdays Happy went with the six year old and did whatever a bodyguard/chauffeurs did when they had to wait.

Alan made a few friends, but was rather close with John who he saw in tutor hours when the students got to decide in what class they studied.

Tony, Obadiah and Pepper had a large argument about Tony's upcoming trip to Afghanistan. Pepper didn't want him to go because of his responsibility to Alan, Tony believed he had to go to close the deal but didn't want to take Alan along. Obadiah believed that it would be best if Alan want along for the publicity, they were shooting a commercial and they wanted Alan in it.

In the end Obadiah won, much to Pepper's anger and Rhodey's disbelieve. Tony was worried but Alan simply said that he would be okay because his dad was going with him and his dad would never let him be hurt.

The day after that conversation Tony told him he had to go to an award 'thingy', his own words, and if Alan would like to join him in Las Vegas. Alan even got a little suit he could wear, identical to the one Tony was going to wear that night.

They took the jet and in the one hour flight, Tony explained what was going to happen that night, they were going to play a prank, as his father called it.

So at night, Alan had taken a nap during the day so he could stay awake, Tony and he were hiding in the back of the room.

On a big screen were pictures of his dad and the room was filled with people dressed in fancy clothing.

"Tony Stark," a computer voice said. "Even from an early age, the son of legendary weapons developer Howard Stark quickly stole the spotlight with his brilliant and unique mind. At age four, he built his first circuit board. At age six, his first engine. And at 17, he graduated summa cum laude from MIT. Then, the passing of a titan. Howard Stark's lifelong friend and ally, Obadiah Stane, steps in to help fill the gap left by the legendary founder, until, at age 21, the prodigal son returns and is anointed the new CEO of Stark Industries. With the keys to the kingdom, Tony ushers in a new era for his father's legacy, creating smarter weapons, advanced robotics, satellite targeting. Today, Tony Stark has changed the face of the weapons industry by ensuring freedom and protecting America and her interests around the globe."

The lights sign at the stage on Rhodey, "As liaison to Stark Industries, I've had the unique privilege of serving with a real patriot. He is a friend, a fantastic dad for his son and he is my great mentor. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to present this year's Apogee Award to Mr. Tony Stark."

Tony held his hand on Alan's shoulder for a second until Rhodey asked again. "Tony?"

"Go." Whispered Tony and he watched as Alan run to the stage.

"Hi uncle Rhodey," they had practiced this, Alan had to climb on stage and look sweetly up to the man with his hands behind his back. "Daddy gave me the speech but I can't reach the microphone."

Rhodey closed his eyes and let out an annoyed breath, his friend was playing him and he knew it. Lifting Alan up, he held the boy on his hip. "It seems that Tony send his son and heir to accept this award, may I introduce Alan Anthony Stark, heir of Stark industry."

There was a polite but confused applause and Rhodney used the time to look around, Tony would have never left Alan alone.

"Hello I'm Tony 2. At school I'm learning how to speak to a lot of people because I'm really shy, and dad said I could practice here and if I was brave enough I would get an chocolate pancakes tomorrow at breakfast and an extra bedtime story tonight." The whole room was aww-ing. "So I promised dad that I would try and it's not that scary. Now daddy has to read jungle book and Winnie the Pooh tonight before I have to sleep. I really like jungle book because they have monkeys in it, and I like monkeys, my dad takes me to see them a lot in the zoo. They're not my favorite, Koda is." He held out his stuffed bear to show them. "I also like the lions and the petting zoo, their noses tickles when they eat from my hand. Daddy did I say enough now?"

"You did Tony 2, I'm really proud of you." Tony Stark climbed the stage under applause and he lifted Alan over. "I want to thank you all for this award and I want to dedicate it to the sunshine in my days, my son!" He waited until it was silent again. "Now I better finish off, because I promised a certain someone some hot chocolate and ONE cookie before going to bed."

Tony walked of the stage not even a minute after he entered it. God he hated award shows.

"Did I do it right dad?" asked Alan.

Tony kissed the boys forehead. "You were amazing, now let's get that warm chocolate milk before everyone is at the bar."

After the milk and cookies, people started to hog Tony. Alan had fallen asleep an hour ago and was still firmly held on Tony's hip. With his head rested on his father's shoulder, Alan didn't even seem to notice that they were in a very loud casino.

"Unbelievable." Rhodey was holding the award. "You use your son as a distraction to get out of a speech didn't you?"

"Maybe." Tony shrugged. "But at least I showed up this time so Pepper must be proud of me."

"Won't bet on it." Said Rhodey. "And please bring my nephew to bed, I don't need another grumpy Tony."

"Was planning on doing that just before you showed up." Tony said, motioning to his group guards to follow him.

Rodney nodded skeptical. "Tomorrow, don't be late."

"Yeah, you can count on it." Said Tony.

"I'm serious!"

"I know, I know. But don't worry Tony 2 will never let me miss this flight."

At the rental car, he decided to keep Alan on his lap instead of the carseat to make sure he stayed asleep.

"Mr. Stark! Excuse me, Mr. Stark!" a blond reporter ran up. "Christine Everhart, Vanity Fair magazine. Can I ask you a couple of questions?"

"She's cute." Reported one of the guards.

"She's all right?" asked Tony, receiving a nod he turned around, keeping a hand on Alan's back to hold him steady. "Hi."

"Hi." Said the girl.

"Yeah. Okay, go."

"It's okay? She said a little bit surprised before focusing back on her questions. "You've been called the da Vinci of our time. What do you say to that?"

He shook his head, "Absolutely ridiculous. I don't paint that well, you can ask my son but he's asleep."

"And what do you say to your other nickname? The Merchant of Death?" she asked.

"That's not bad." said Tony. "Let me guess. Berkeley?"

"Brown, actually."

"Well, Ms. Brown," started Tony. "It's an imperfect world, but it's the only one we've got. I guarantee you, the day weapons are no longer needed to keep the peace, I'll start making bricks and beams for baby hospitals.

"Rehearse that much?" she asked.

"Every night in front of the mirror before bedtime."

"I can see that."

Normally he would make a flirty joke but he could take this girl along. He was a father now, but he had been dry for so… NO he was a father now.

"All I want is a serious answer." The reporter continued breaking him out of his musing.

"Okay, here's serious. My old man had a philosophy, Peace means having a bigger stick than the other guy."

"That's a great line coming from the guy selling the sticks." Was that sarcasm?

"My father helped defeat the Nazis. He worked on the Manhattan Project. A lot of people, including your professors at Brown, would call that being a hero."

"And a lot of people would also call that war profiteering."

"Tell me, do you also plan to report on the millions we've saved by advancing medical technology. My son here is one of them, before he got the newest Stark invention he couldn't even play for fifteen minutes without getting tired from carrying a whole oxygen tank along. How about the people kept from starvation with our intelli-crops? All those breakthroughs, military funding, honey."

"You ever lose an hour of sleep your whole life?"

Oh it was almost too easy. "Yes, I lay awake at night wondering if my son has a future past his next surgery. We don't make weapons only, Stark industry is famous for it but that's not all we do. Check your facts."

It almost pained him to walk away from her, but he was a father now. They drove to the airport and took a night flight home to Malibu.

The next morning Alan woke up dressed in his pajamas, deciding he wanted to take a bath before the flight he went down to wait for his father to help him.

Pepper was in the kitchen, when she saw him coming down the stairs rubbing his eyes she smiled to hide her worry. "Good morning sunshine. Why don't you get your dad from the garage and we can start breakfast."

"He's awake?" asked the boy surprised.

"Well, he didn't go to bed. He wanted to sleep on the plane today." Pepper smiled as Jarvis opened the door on Alan's request and the boy disappeared in the billionaire's workshop.

Alan climbed on a table when he saw that his father was busy, the music was really loud so he might not have heard him entering but Alan knew that Jarvis would tell him.

"Give me an exploded view."

"The compression in cylinder three appears to be low." Reported Jarvis.

"Log that."

"Sir, your son."

Quickly turned Tony around, scooping Alan up for a hug. "Morning Alan, did you sleep well?" yawing Alan nodded. "Why haven't you dressed yet?"

"I didn't get a bath yesterday because I fell asleep and we didn't have time between waking up and when the plane left."

"That's right, has Pepper arrived with breakfast yet?" Alan nodded again and Tony quickly closed the lab for the next few weeks and carried his boy upstairs. "Go get her present." He whispered as he set his boy on his feet.

Pepper looked confused as Alan ran passed the set table. "Where is he going?"

"You'll see." Tony accepted the coffee with a grateful look on his face. "It's been a long time since I pulled an all-nighter while working."

"When was you're last?" asked Pepper sipping her tea.

"Well my last all-nighters were in the hospital, but if you don't count those I don't think I had any of those since I got Alan Anthony." Frowned Tony in thought.

"Happy Birthday!" yelled Alan running around the corner. He was holding a small box in his hand and a painting. Pepper looked surprised and pulled Alan on her lap. "I made this for you." He gave her the painting. Normally when you looked at Alan you thought he was three years old, when you spoke with him you would think he was much older but the painting was a giveaway for his real age. There were five people on the beach, one had a dark face and the name uncle Rhodey written above it, the other was uncle Happy, she recognized herself at the red hair and smiled at the name aunt Pepper, a smaller figure was holding her hand which was named 'me' and on the other side of 'me' was 'daddy'. There was a sea on the back ground with boats, a smiling sun at the sky with a rainbow over everyone.

"Alan Anthony, it's wonderful. I'm going to frame it and it will get a place of honor in my office." Pepper said hugging the little boy close.

"Really?"

"Really, Really."

"Oh and this one is from Daddy. I helped picking it out." Alan pushed the wrapped box to her. Tony quickly removed Alan from her lap and held him on his lap, placing a plate with pancakes before the hungry five year old who immediately started his breakfast.

Carefully was the wrapping paper removed, only to find a black box. Pepper looked up at a grinning Tony as she opened it.

A silver comb was laying in soft material. "It's to put in your hair." Said Alan, his face covered in syrup. Tony took a napkin to clean him.

"It's beautiful." The personal assistant did it immediately in her hair.

"Now Alan, go upstairs, I'll be there in a sec to help you with your bath." Tony said when he noticed the plate was empty.

When the child disappeared on the stairs, he smiled knowingly at Pepper. "You thought I would forget it again and you already picked out something nice didn't you?"

"I already did." She said guilty.

"And?"

"It was very nice. Very tasteful."

"Think the comb as a present from Alan Anthony and the other thing as a present from me. I would have forgotten it if he hadn't reminded me."

"Thank you, Mr. Stark."

"You're welcome, Miss Potts."

"You are supposed to be halfway around the world right now." She said disapproving.

Leaning back in his chair, Tony took a bite of toast before asking "Why are you trying to hustle me out of here?"

"Your flight was scheduled to leave an hour and a half ago."

"That's funny, I thought with it being my plane and all, that it would just wait for me to get there. Doesn't it kind of defeat the whole purpose of having your own plane if it departs before you arrive?"

"You didn't want to wake Alan Anthony did you?"

"He needs his sleep." Sighed Tony rubbing his face, "He needs to be strong for the surgery."

"Is it time already?"

"His walls get weaker after every operation, they get closer and closer together until there is nothing left they could do. At this rate he might get to reach his thirteen birthday."

Pepper swallowed. "When is it scheduled?"

"A week after we return. I haven't told him yet so try to keep it silent. But what's the reason that you came other than seeing my handsome face?"

"Tony, I need to speak to you about a couple things before I get you out of the door. Larry called. He's got another buyer for the Jackson Pollock in the wings. Do you want it? Yes or no."

"Is it a good representation of his spring period?" asked Tony.

"No. The Springs was actually the neighborhood in East Hampton where he lived and worked, not "spring" like the season."

"So? What do you think?"

"I think it's a fair example. I think it's incredibly overpriced." Said Pepper knowing that it didn't make any difference.

"I need it. Buy it. Store it."

"Okay." She made a note of it in her agenda. "The MIT commencement speech..."

"Is in June. Please, don't harangue me about stuff that's way, way, down..."

"They're haranguing me, so I'm gonna say yes." She grinned. "I need you to sign this before you get on the plane."

Only slightly looking over the paper, he signed his name at the bottom. "And done, now I better get Tony 2 ready. Rhodey will be eating his head by the time I get there."

"About Alan Anthony. Please reconsider letting him stay with me, Tony. I don't mind looking after him while you're in Afghanistan."

"Pep, don't worry. Obadiah promised me that Tony 2 and I will be well protected there. Nothing will happen and we'll be back in three days."

Pepper didn't stop worrying but let it go. Soon the bags were packed, Alan was strapped in his carseat of STARK1 and Happy drove after them at to the airport. Leaving a worried woman behind.

Tony's foot itched for a race, but then he looked in the rear mirror and saw Alan watching the sea he kept his promise and drove at normal speed, some days being a father was harder than others.

Thank you all for favoring and reviewing ;)