Hey guys! Thanks for all the follows and faves! Also, special thanks to Kismet and arthemys for reviewing! I really appreciate it!

This next chapter is going to a bunch of is Elli meeting her Uncle Rhodey and Obie. Didn't get to the events of Iron Man unfortunately. We will get there eventually! It takes place a couple weeks after the first chapter. Hope you all enjoy!

I do not own any Marvel characters or movies. All rights go to their owners.

They were up early, much earlier than Tony would have ever gotten up before. Elli was a good baby, much better than Pepper's nephew, who in her opinion, was a menace. But babies were babies. And although the little girl was more well behaved then others, she still woke up frequently during the night and demanded attention at the most inconvenient times. Thankfully, Tony's sleep schedule had been erratic even before Elli's arrival and the feedings and diaper changes throughout the night hardly phased him. Tony moved through the kitchen with practiced precision. A bottle of formula was being heated in the microwave while he got his coffee ready. By the time he was having his first sips, Elli would also have her breakfast ready to be chugged down. For the past few weeks, the two of them have been holed up in the mansion. Most thought he was having one of his inventing episodes. Tony and Pepper did not bother to correct anyone.

A few days prior, Tony had decided that very few people needed to know about Eleanor Maria Stark's existence. At least not until she was much older. Pepper and Dr. Clemmons obviously knew already. Obie would have to know once he got back from that business trip in New York. Rhodey was actually coming over today, not that he knew he was meeting Tony's new bundle of joy; it was going to be a surprise. And of course Happy—the man was going to eventually be driving the child to school in order to hide her connection to Tony.

All the secrecy was for multiple reasons, the most basic was that he didn't want her to grow up in the spotlight. He had hated the media watching and documenting his every move as a child and didn't wish for her to go through the same experience. That, and the fact that she had golden eyes and white hair. While he loved Elli dearly, her eyes and hair were obvious signs that she wasn't normal. He had to figure out how to deal with that eventually. Kids needed to interact with other kids after all. Maybe contacts and hair dye?

Tony walked into his bathroom dragging the baby swing behind him. The space was much larger than necessary and had plenty of room for Elli to sit in the corner while he got ready. He put the swing's setting on low so she would be somewhat entertained while he bathed.

Tony is halfway through the lathering and repeating process when the water suddenly shut off. While Elli was good in most regards, she definitely presented her own challenges. Specifically, the whole glowing and shutting off the electricity thing she had going on. He would have to deal with that too, somehow. Since the incident with Dr. Clemmons, Elli had shut off the mansion's power on multiple occasions and this was the third time she had done it while he was in the middle of a shower. She only giggles cutely when he sticks his soapy head out to look at her sitting innocently in her swing, the only sign that she is the culprit is the glowing electric blue color that her eyes are shining in his direction.

"Now you listen here, little missy. You better turn the water back on or I'm going to come out there and tickle you again."

Tony isn't sure if she understands what he is saying, he likes to think she can. The playful threat works though and a little squeal and gurgle accompanies her eyes returning to their (not) normal color. The water flows freely again—colder than previously and making Tony jump in shock and sending a light glare at the child. She totally did that on purpose.

"Sir, Lieutenant Colonel Rhodes is at the front door."

"Let him in Jarvis, tell him I'll be out in a few."

Tony shuts off the water once he is sure all the soap is rinsed out of his hair. Dressing in the clothes he left on the counter, he scoops Elli out of her swing and fastens her into the sling that rests against his chest. Once she is settled, he heads towards the living room to greet his friend. Rhodey is sitting on the couch having obviously made himself at home while waiting for Tony. Sock clad feet are resting on the new coffee table, the television playing some college basketball game that happened to be on.

"Rhodey, my love! How are you?"

"Tony," Rhodey turns towards his friend's voice only to nearly fall off of the couch, "Tony what is that?"

"What is what, honeybear?"

"Tony, don't play games with me." Rhodes drags a hand down his face—he was not prepared to deal with this when he left the house this morning.

"You're going to have to be more specific, platypus." Tony stands with his hands on his hips, as though he is unaware of extra weight hanging off of his torso.

"Tony there is a child strapped to your chest. Why?"

"Oh my goodness! There is a child attached to me! How did you get there?" Tony pokes the child on the nose causing an eruption of giggles.

"Tony," Rhodes sighs and Tony sits down next to him on the couch.

"Fine, sourpatch. Gotta ruin all of my fun," Tony pulls the child gently out of sling so that Rhodey and Elli can both get a good look at each other, "Elli this is Uncle Rhodey, Rhodey this is Eleanor Maria Stark—my adopted daughter."

Rhodes stares at the now fully exposed baby. The sling had hidden some features and now he couldn't help but stare.

"Tony, why the fu- "

"No swearing. One of Pepper's new rules." Rhodey blinks at Tony.

"Okay…Tony why- "

"Does she look this way? Don't know, it's all natural though, Clemmons checked her out. Or why does she only have one arm? Don't know that either, she was dropped off by some medieval looking vortex travelling wizard, didn't stop to chat or explain anything—only left this really vague note. It's okay though 'cause I'm working on prosthetic limbs now so that's cool. Or why did I adopt a baby? I just felt that I was supposed to, if that makes sense. Probably not. I've had her for a couple weeks and she is legally mine now, by the way, so even though you may find her adorable, you can't have her."

"…did you just say vortex travelling wizard?"

"Yeah, I'll have Jarvis show you the footage later. Anyways, you want to be the Godfather?"

"Jesus Tony, I've only known about the kid for 2 minutes," Rhodey was still trying to wrap his head around the whole thing and while usually he could keep up pretty well with Tony, he had to admit he was struggling right now.

"So is that a yes? Because while Obie is great and all, I would rather not ask him"

"Shit… "

"Language!" Rhodey raises his eyebrows at Tony in an expression that said really? You of all people telling someone else to watch their language? Rhodes had to admit though, he could already tell Tony was dedicated to this.

"Of course, I'll be your kid's Godfather," Rhodey just snorts in defeat as Tony whoops and bounces the baby on his lap. If there is one thing he has learned from being Tony Stark's best friend, it is to just roll with the weirdness, "let me hold my Goddaughter then."

Tony hoists Elli up from his lap and gently deposits her in Rhodey's arms. She giggles a contagious baby giggle that causes both men to laugh as well.

"She really is adorable."

"Told you! Wicked smart too, I can tell already." Rhodey only shakes his head at Tony and begins to tickle the baby girl gently. Her eyes suddenly glow and Rhodey nearly drops her in shock. Every appliance in the kitchen sparks to life making both men jump until Tony takes Elli to calm her down from her giggle fit.

"What the hell was that Tony?"

"Now, do I need to get a swear jar for you, Rhodes?"

"TONY!"


"TONY!"

Flinching slightly, Tony tip toes over to the crib he keeps in the lab. Still asleep, thank God. Should he wake her? Obie is here and he hasn't met her yet. But then again, she has been really fussy the past week and hadn't been sleeping much. Obie or nap? Obie or nap? Tony looks at her peaceful face. Definitely choosing to let her nap.

"Tony do you want to explain to me why the hell there are baby toys all over the front entry way?" Obadiah Stane saunters into the lab holding a stuffed rabbit with a look of complete disbelief on his face. Rolling his eyes, Tony gestures for Obie to come closer.

"Obie shush and come over here to meet my daughter." Obie's mouth dropped at the sight of Tony standing over a crib. He walked over to look down at the demon spawn that would surely cause more problems for him in the future. Tufts of white hair frame a chubby face and a pink knitted blanket covers the child up to her shoulders. Tony reaches down to pull out the thumb the child is sucking on to replace with a pacifier.

"Why didn't you just pay the mother off?" Obie grips the top of the crib so hard his knuckles turn white. Tony glances at Obie and crinkles his nose. He had expected Obie to question, but he hadn't expected the malice rolling off of the man in waves right now.

"I don't know who her mother is."

"How do you know she is yours then? Did the whore just leave the kid on the doorstep?"

"Not the doorstep exactly. Obie, she isn't biologically mine. I adopted her." Obie's fists relax as he turns to look at Tony for the first time since spotting the crib.

"Why would you do that Tony?"

"Why not?"

Obie blinks at the tone, he had never heard Tony speak in such a guarded way before. He returns to looking at the baby sitting in the crib, this just complicated his plans. Why Tony decided he needed a kid right now was beyond him. An awkward silence surrounds them until Obie looks up as Tony begins to speak.

"Her name is Elli since you forgot to ask." Obie just nods and both men look back down as the child squirms slightly to lift both arms above her head. Obie's face twists into in a look of utter disgust.

"What the hell is wrong with it?"

"Nothing is wrong with her." Tony is now the one gripping the crib as Obie leans in to inspect the child closer.

"Tony, the thing has no left arm." If the press found out Tony had a child that was disabled, the investors would have a field day. An heir that isn't perfect didn't bode well for the company's future.

"Get out." Something snaps in Tony. He is practically hyperventilating, the anger is boiling in his head, threatening to burst. How dare he say something was wrong with Ellie. How dare he refer to her as a thing.

"Tony- "

"GET OUT RIGHT NOW!" Tony scoops Elli up as she begins to cry and practically runs up the stairs. So much for her nap. Once locked in her bedroom, Tony bounces slightly on his knees trying to calm both of them down. Pepper eventually shows up with a bottle and a knowing look. She gives Elli a kiss on the head and holds Tony awkwardly in a hug for a few minutes before leaving for the day.

Obie has called multiple times but each time Tony tells Jarvis to ignore them. He isn't sure when he will be able to speak to the man. He will have to eventually, he does help run the company and is the only father figure Tony has ever had. Sitting in the rocking chair his mother used to sit in, Tony watches Elli sleep soundly in his arms. For only having lived such a short life, Elli had already been through so much and Obie dared to judge her for it. The heat in his stomach grew again. Nothing was wrong with her, no matter what Obie said, his daughter was perfect.

So Obie is a horrible person but we all already knew that! It was much easier writing Rhodey than Obadiah for some reason. Anyways Elli will be a bit older in the next chapter so her personality will show a bit more and the plot will start rolling a little bit. Again thanks for all the support guys!