**A/N – Hey all. Having a go at putting my take on a slant that's been done many times, but as I said…this is my version! No civil war or Infinity War in my world and I don't own a thing, the OC is a figment of my fervent imagination! I hope you enjoy it, there's going to be a bit of heart ache and drama because that's what we are here for, right? Happy summer folks!
Chapter 1 – The long walk home
She knew he wouldn't come. She knew that deep inside yet…she always held onto the hope that just once, this time…he would keep his promise and actually make it to her school on time to pick her up. The rain was beating heavily now on the window, the lightening flashed, then the thunder soon followed. It didn't really matter to the staff of the Greenvale Independent School what time the children were picked up as the staff weren't leaving for the summer vacation until after the weekend. Most wanted to sort their classrooms out and get things organised ready for the new academic school. Now, at 19.00 hours, it was easy to forget there was one student left in the huge institution as they busiest themselves with their own packing and work.
Charlotte pushed herself back from the window, wiped her eyes, determined to not let it bother her too much. But it would, it always did…and no-one in the world, not least the man who was her father…could ever know about it. After all, he was a busy and important man, right? He had better things to do than chase around after a kid. But she adored her father. Everyone loved him, he was always so happy, could speak to anyone and make everyone smile when needed.
Mostly, he sent one of the people who worked for him although they mostly acted like she was an inconvenience to them all. The lady who worked for him was nice, she often took her for an ice-cream or milk shake, but she too…always had somewhere to get to, always busy…always needing to be away somewhere else…
Her luggage had been sent ahead earlier in the day like all the other students. Being away from home for weeks at a time involved a lot of clothes and personal items so the school van had been loaded with cases, bags, boxes and god knows what else….being taken to various homes or delivered to airports, as the rich and famous parents of the inhabitants of the school had more than enough disposable income to warrant such a luxury, god forbid they actually lift their kids suitcase into the boot of the Daimler or Rolls-Royce…
If she didn't get home tonight, she would miss the first baseball practice of the summer vacation. Charlotte loved it. She wasn't much good at all but it was fun and she had a few good friends she hadn't seen in AGES because she was always booted off to boarding school the moment a new term started. A note was left for Mrs Dawson, the dormitory mistress, that she had been picked up and see you next year! Mrs Dawson was too busy watching her soap operas to care as the 11 year old Charlotte Stark pulled on her rain coat, put her backpack on her back and headed out into the blackening night. Although summer was almost here, the storm had brought in black clouds that would mask her sneaking off the premises. Thing was, Charlotte's school was over 30 miles away from Stark Tower, where she lived with her dad, the famous Tony Stark, aka Iron Man…
oOo
Charlotte Stark was the result of a drunken one night stand and Tony had reluctantly taken custody of when her mother dropped her off in reception of the old Stark Industries offices. A DNA test confirmed the kid was Tony's and to avoid a press nightmare, he acknowledged the kid as his own. He tried to be a decent dad but it was hard. He had so many personal demons he felt it in the best interest of his daughter to get her the best nanny, the best school, the best everything. He did love his daughter, there was no question about that, but his fears of the past about his own upbringing had moulded him into the dad he was now. He showered her with affection, when he could. He showed an interest into what she enjoyed, when he could. And he bought her the best of everything. That's all that was needed, right….?
But it was HARD. Charlotte was shy, an introvert who got average grades and did average things. He tried to go to past recitals and school shows but it was painful, so he just kept smiling…and anyway, he was so busy with the Avengers, this took most of his time especially since Peter Parker had arrived onto the scene. Now an official Avenger living in the tower, this kid was something else. A genius, funny, could talk with Tony for hours and…and was so much more like his kid than Charlotte could ever be. Oh, he kicked himself for having such feelings but he felt he had failed years ago with his daughter, he didn't know how to connect with her so it was easy to just…pay for the school and get others to do things for her instead of him.
oOo
'…I'm telling you Cap, he had those seven guys wrapped up so tightly, I almost expected him to grow fangs and start chomping on him like a real spider!' Tony ruffled Peter's hair affectionately and the teenager grinned back at him.
The team erupted with laughter after a successful days avenging. It was time to put the order in for the take-out pizza and everyone was jabbering at once…it was Sam's turn to put the order in.
'…is Charlotte having her usual Tony?' he asked, writing everything down on his piece of paper.
'Hmm?' Tony looked up and Sam stared as Tony's face drained of colour.
'…oh shit! Its end of term today!' without saying another thing, he ran for the balcony, and of course, the Iron Man suit followed close behind, encasing his body then blasting off over the New York skyline.
'…that son of bitch has done it again, hasn't he?' Clint glowered with anger.
'Who knew it was end of term?' Steve suddenly asked.
'I thought it was tomorrow!' replied Natasha.'
'Well shit.. .'…Sam shook his head in frustration as he went to put the order in…
oOo
'Friday, direct call to Charlotte's school please!'
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. HOW could he have forgotten that? Pepper had reminded him about it again only this morning!
'Putting you through now Sir'…
'Great. Ah, Mrs Dawson! This it Tony Stark. I do apologise, I got hung up at the office but I'm almost there…' he gabbled, Mrs Dawson was fearsome, she ruled her dorm with an iron fist. It was hard enough to send Iron Man into orbit…
'Mr Stark? I don't understand. You picked Charlotte up almost two hours ago didn't you? She left a note to say you were here to collect her'…the brisk voice send chills through his blood.
'What? I did no such thing! Are you saying she's gone?'…he pushed the suit harder…
'Yes Mr Stark. Her luggage went home earlier today and her coat and backpack have gone'…
'Right, well, I didn't pick her up Mrs Dawson! Didn't you think to check it was me?'
'…Mr Stark, parents are expected to collect their children on time. We DO have other duties you know, once the students have gone home'. Her voice became clipped, Tony got the feeling he was getting a telling off.
'Fine, fine! Just…ask about, call the police, hell knows where she is!'
The call ended…
'Friday, call Charlottes cell phone'…
'I'm afraid it's off line Sir. The last known location was at the school at 18.43 hours this evening'…
Oh god, oh god…his heart rate shot up drastically, he had difficulty trying to control his breathing…
'Mr Stark, you need to calm down Sir, you will have a panic attack if…'…
Too late. All Tony was aware of was a feeling of complete and utter dread, that the world was ending and there was no way out…Friday, being Friday, took over the suit and ensured it landed safely, the mask opened and Tony literally fell out onto the rain-soaked dirt, scrabbling around as the rain lashed down. He couldn't focus, couldn't do anything, was just aware of Friday's voice…he laid on his back in the sludge, clutching his chest, eyes wild.
It was a few minutes later but felt like a life time before he was able to sit up…breath almost normal as the storm continued to rage overhead…
'Call the team Friday, we've got to find her!'
'Already done Sir, the Quinjet is airborne and according to the schools CCTV, Charlotte wasn't picked up by anyone else, it seems she walked out of the school grounds so the team is how following that road Mr Stark'.
'Damn that girl!' Easier to blame her than his own indiscretions…
Heaving himself up, it didn't take long to once again take to the skies in an attempt to find the missing Charlotte.
oOo
It was around 22.14 when Steve Rogers wrapped a blanket around the tiny 11 year old girl. She burst into tears when the jet landed in front of her. The storm was slowly moving away but the rain was still beating down and Charlotte was drenched to her skin. He picked her up without a word and carried her into the jet where she huddled close to him, frozen to her bones and so, so tired…and deathly afraid of the yelling she knew she was going to get when she got home.
Tony was there, waiting. He too was still drenched as the door to the jet opened and Steve carried Charlotte out. Once in the compound he let rip. Angry at himself for forgetting, it came out in a torrent at the kid stood in front of him…
'WHAT were you THINKING! Yes, I know I was late but to think it was fine to walk home? It's 30 fucking miles for god's sake! ANYTHING could have happened!'
'Alright Tony, take it easy…Charlotte looks like she needs a bath and we are all hungry…' Steve laid his hand on the shaking man's arm. All of them were feeling guilty for not remembering but at the end of the day, it was Tony's responsibility…he made a note to write dates down in his own diary so that this wouldn't happen again.
Tony whipped round, for a minute Steve though he was going to take a pop at him but instead Tony just marched off out of the kitchen towards his own room. Natasha took the terrified and crying Charlotte's hand.
'Come on, let's get you a bath sorted then we can sort something to eat, sound good?'….
After they left, the rest of the team just stared at each other then collapsed into the couches and chairs.
'…what kind or people are we, to forget something as simple as a school closing date?' Sam asked after a long moment of silence.
'I don't forget MY kid's important dates!' Clint snapped, angrily.
No-one answered that, because no-one had an answer…
oOo
Hugging her knees in bed, she had had a hot bath and had now sufficiently warmed up after that and something to eat. She hadn't seen her father since he stormed off and knew he'd be angry again in the morning. He had had to call the whole team out, it had wasted their time, and his. In her mind he wasn't angry about the fact something awful could have happened, it was because Charlotte knew she was just in his way…
Walking to her window, she placed her hands against it and stared outside, even though it was now gone midnight, New York was still alive out there, the lights telling the tale of other people going about their daily tasks.
'Friday?' she asked in her squeaky voice.
'Yes Charlotte?' replied the A.I. in a soft voice.
'…why doesn't anyone want me?'