Disclaimer: I do not own the Avengers or any other Marvel characters. I only own my OC.
A/N: This chapter is dedicated to my dad who unfortunately passed away on November 24th. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2019 and it got really bad this year. He was in a lot of pain but he is at peace now.
This chapter was a bit difficult to get through but I managed anyway. I want to continue writing because writing has always made me happy. I'm just going to take it at my own pace.
I love you dad. You weren't perfect, and I became distant but my love for you was genuine and I know now that so was yours. I hope to see you and mom again one day. For now you and mom will continue to watch over my brothers and I.
Thanks to those who have said comforting words to me on Tumblr.
"The truth is not what it seems, but what it is."― Frank Sonnenberg, Follow Your Conscience: Make a Difference in Your Life & in the Lives of Others
Chapter 20: And the truth is revealed
Grace and Pepper were still processing what they just heard.
So Natalie, who's name wasn't really Natalie Rushman but rather Natasha Romanoff, who Grace had come to like and thought was super cool, was actually a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent?
The seven year old looked curiously at the dark redhead. Her mind began turning gears. "You were undercover this whole time as my dad's assistant." She stated more than questioned.
While Natalie was surprised to hear Grace sound so well composed, she kept that emotion from showing on her face.
Unlike Pepper who was looking between Natasha and Grace in shock. Pepper wondered how Grace was able to keep calm while Pepper was the complete opposite after learning who Natasha really was. She only managed to keep her emotions in control because she was curious to hear what Natasha had to say to Grace.
"Yes." Natasha answered Grace.
"So then you're a spy." Grace said to which Natasha nodded her head. She started thinking about the spy cartoon show she would sometimes watch. Totally Spies. The seven year old's excitement then finally started to show. She now was looking at the dark redhead with a new kind of amazement. "That's fuckin' awesome!"
Natasha let her face show the faintest of amusement for a brief moment. Pepper reacted differently.
"Grace!" Pepper admonished the seven year old with a frown. "What kind of language is that?" She had never heard Grace say such a word. She didn't even think Grace knew that bad word, but clearly she was wrong.
Grace faltered under her motherly stare. She became bashful. It wasn't often that she said bad words, at least not in front of Pepper. She mainly kept those bad words in her head. It's just that Natasha's secret had her all animated. Even with all the excitement she managed to calm herself down.
"It's bad language. Sorry, Pepper." Grace apologized before looking at Natalie―no, Natasha. "I mean, that's awesome." She smiled at the dark redhead.
Despite the amusement that lingered, Natasha sobered. "Pepper, Grace, I know this is a lot to take in but I need to go." Her expression remained steady as she spoke. "I'll explain things later, when I have the time. It's just that there's something I need to do but I need you two to stay here. I'll try to contact you two as quickly as I can."
The dark redhead then ran from where they were backstage. She left before either Pepper or Grace could say anything to stop her, or attempt to at least. As they followed her with their gaze that's when they saw Justin Hammer.
Grace huffed out of annoyance. That's right, Hammer was still there, wallowing from pain after the arm twisting Natasha rightfully had done. Grace and Pepper had completely forgotten about him.
The man only started to get up when he saw Pepper get a hold of herself and reach for her cellphone. She began dialing. "I need the NYPD." She said to the person who had answered her.
"No." Hammer begged, he still sounded out of breath.
Grace frowned at him while Pepper ignored him as she spoke into her cellphone. "Command control."
"No, no, honey." Hammer tried again, this time reaching for her cellphone. Grace saw that he was going near Pepper and reacted out of protectiveness. She stomped on Hammer's foot. Hammer's face scrunched up from pain.
"Ow!"
He started hopping on one foot, and that's what Pepper saw when she turned to look at him. She looked at Grace and then at him and understood what happened. She didn't have anytime to show any amusement though because Hammer's expression turned into anger, and it was clearly aimed at Grace.
Pepper did not like that at all. She used her free arm to put Grace behind her again.
Hammer staggered from the glare Pepper was giving him. Grace was able to get a peek and she had to admit it was the most frightening glare she had ever seen on Pepper. The seven year old was glad she wasn't the one receiving that glare. She followed Pepper as the older woman walked over to the technician's table.
"Okay. Right away. Right away. Tell me everything you know. Go."
Grace stayed close to Pepper but also kept a watchful eye on Hammer in case he would try getting near them again. It appeared from the way he remained shook from Pepper's glare that he wasn't going to.
Hammer was at least smart in not trying to stop Pepper. She clearly was not the person to mess with right now.
Neither was Grace.
Because although she was seven years old that wouldn't stop her from stepping on Hammer's foot again.
Grace was pretty sure she was going to get a headache the more Hammer kept his mouth open. The older man still kept his distance from Pepper and her as he blabbered thoughts to the technician about what kind of unique language the drones were communicating in.
It may be that he was trying to help but his halfhearted attempts weren't doing much. As Hammer continued to side chat with the technician, Pepper and Grace's attention went to another free screen that was in front of them.
Two face-cams appeared on the computer screen. Grace and Pepper looked confused, until the faces of Tony and Natasha appeared.
Grace felt her face light up from just seeing him. She was about to call out for her dad when Natasha spoke. "Reboot complete. You got your best friend back." She contently told Tony.
"Thank you very much, Agent Romanoff." Tony thanked the dark redhead through the screen.
"Well done with the new chest piece." Natasha casually brought up. "I am reading significantly higher output and your vitals all look promising."
It was an immense relief but Tony treated it as something not as serious. "Yes, for the moment I'm not dying. Thank you."
Pepper and Grace heard that part of the conversation and had to step in.
"What do you mean you're not dying?" Pepper questioned with a wide look in her eyes. She didn't care that there were others there around them to hear that. Not that they were paying attention, they were much too preoccupied with the malfunctioning Hammer drones.
Grace's bright demeanor from seeing her dad started to fade and she appeared worried now. "Dad, you were dying?!" Her voice shook as she yelled her question. It was hard to process that her dad, who she loved with all her heart, even despite how he had been acting recently, had been dying?! And he never told Pepper or her? Just how exactly was he dying? And was he ever going to tell them? She had so many questions!
Tony blinked several times, lost for words. He had no idea Pepper and Grace were listening but at closer inspection there was another face cam on his screen other than Natasha's that showed them. He didn't like how distressed his daughter sounded or looked. The same went with Pepper.
"Did you just say you were dying?" Pepper questioned frantically.
"Uh..." This wasn't how he planned on telling them. Tony cleared his throat. "Pepper, Grace? Is that you guys? I didn't see you two. And no I'm not." He paused and added the next part sheepishly. "Anymore."
Grace jumped in place, startling Pepper. "Anymore?!" She spoke, her voice still emotional. Although she was relieved to hear he wasn't indeed dying anymore, the fact that he had been dying in the first place wouldn't allow her to actually feel that relief. Not to mention she was beyond puzzled. Everything was becoming overwhelming.
Pepper was just as confused as the Stark girl. "What's going on?"
Tony let out a sigh. "I was going to tell you and Grace but I didn't want to alarm you guys."
"You were gonna tell us?" Pepper's voice wavered. "You really were dying?"
"Is that why you were acting all weird?" Grace asked in a softer voice. Even with how overwhelmed she felt she had to get her questions out there. Or at least some of them. "Because you thought you were gonna die?"
Tony looked at his daughter through the screen. He wished he was in the same room as her to give her a hug. She deserved to hear the truth but certainly not like this. "Grace..."
"Why not just tell me? Or Pepper?" Grace continued to ask hurriedly.
"She's right! Why didn't you tell us?" Pepper asked in a frustrated tone.
There were so many questions being asked that Tony panicked and resorted to his whimsical behavior to hide how bad he felt from keeping this secret from them. "I was going to make omelets and tell you guys!"
"Your omelets suck!" Pepper replied vehemently.
Grace right away agreed just as strongly. "She's right, dad. They're terrible!"
"Hey, sorry to interrupt this family moment but it'll have to continue later." Natasha cut in with a serious tone. "You got incoming, Tony. Looks like the fight's coming to you."
"Great." Tony answered absently before directing his attention to Grace and Pepper. "Hey, Pepper? Grace?"
Pepper took a huge deep breath to calm herself, or at least try to. "Are you okay now?"
"I am fine." Tony quickly informed them. "Don't be mad. I will formally apologize…."
"Formally?" Grace interrupted with an unhappy face. An apology would obviously be nice to hear but her dad had been dying and he hadn't told them until now?! She felt like hugging him but also yelling at her dad. Crying also, which would most likely happen when she would see him in person again.
"You know what, Tony? I am mad!" Pepper added just as unhappily. "And it goes without saying that Grace is too!"
Grace's upset expression let Tony know just how mad his daughter was at him. And with the crap he pulled she had every right to be.
Tony started to feel guilty again. However with what was going on right now there just wasn't time to properly explain things or make things right with them just yet. Which is why he answered in a sarcastic way.
"...when I'm not fending off a Hammeroid attack."
Pepper and Grace's anger faltered. He had a point, much to their annoyance. An apology needed to be said but now wasn't the right time. The redhead sighed. "Fine."
Grace just nodded her head.
That could have been the end of the conversation but of course Tony had to continue it to add lightheartedness.
"We could have been in Venice." Tony playfully Pepper before looking at his daughter through the computer screen. "Grace, I could have taken you to Disneyland in Paris."
"I would have been fine with a trip to Barnes & Noble!" Grace answered vehemently. "Or even to Taco Bell. You could have told me all this while we ate an order of the Nachos Supreme!"
"Yeah, I know." Tony softly replied, a small smile gracing his face. His daughter, always enjoying the simple things in life.
But the more he thought about it, confessing the truth to Grace and Pepper while they ate food didn't sound so bad. Why hadn't he just done that? Oh right, because he was an idiot and a huge jerk.
Maybe after all this was dealt with he'd be able to take Grace and Pepper to get some food. Rhodey too. Taco Bell actually sounded pretty good right now.
It was perhaps foolish to think this way but Tony wanted to remain optimistic about the battle that was going on with the Hammer drones. It wasn't going to be easy taking them down but at least Rhodey's suit wasn't being controlled anymore. He'd have his best friend's help.
Perhaps they would get to eat as a family after all this was dealt with. He certainly wished for it.
"Just go, and please be safe!" Pepper urged with a worried face getting Tony's attention.
Tony's heart swelled from the love he saw on Pepper and Grace's faces. "You know me, Pep. I'm always safe." He then looked at his daughter and gave her a smile that was only ever reserved for her. "I'll see you soon okay, Grace? I love you."
Grace was familiar with that smile and she was able to smile back even with all the emotions she felt. "I love you too, dad."
His face-cam then vanished, along with Natasha's. The dark redhead had been closely watching the interaction between Tony, Grace, and Pepper. She maintained silence out of politeness but also because she was interested in how they handled the truth. Their reactions are what she studied. The S.H.I.E.L.D. agent kept any comments to herself because she was mysterious like that.
As time went on Grace was going to find out for herself just how enigmatic Natasha Romanoff could really be. Something the Stark girl would always find fascinating. Natasha Romanoff would always be someone Grace was going to be in awe of. Which was saying something considering all the other extraordinary people she would meet later on in her life. Some of them not even human.
Grace looked up at Pepper. She blinked a few times, releasing a sigh. "He's never one hundred percent safe." She said sadly to the older woman.
Pepper brought her into a side hug. "No, I'm afraid not." She answered quietly before a resigned smile appeared. "He is Iron Man after all." She told her in an even toned voice. "But we'll never stop loving him."
Grace hugged her tightly. "Never. Not even when he's being a huge dummy." Pepper released a laugh, hugging her in return.
That was the truth. They would continue to love Tony regardless of his careless nature.
Her dad meant the world to Grace, and she would never stop thinking that.
