So, on popular request/demand...

I'll try to make alternate-day updates but ofc I make no promises. Trust me, I want this story closed as much as all of my amazing readers. But I do promise that the quality of the fic won't be reduced.

I hope you enjoy it!


The decision to move to the Long Island house was not something Tony was extremely happy with. Moving there meant no support from Daniel and Peggy. So he'd either he'd have to arrange for a babysitter, which he wasn't so sure about or make his plans in accordance with how others would be available to watch his daughter.

He exhaled, holding the cardboard box, and checked the house. At least the place was closer to work so he'd be home sooner and was bigger than Peggy's house.

"If you are having second thoughts,"

Tony looked to his left where Peggy walked up to him, holding a similar box.

"I'm not sure, to be honest. But Obie said it was a great idea. I'm kind of seeing its appeal, but well, it won't be the same."

Peggy nodded with a hum. "Well, we are not far if you ever need us."

Tony nodded with a smile, "Thank you."


It took Tony, Peggy, Jeanette, and Rhodey an entire day to set the house and babyproof the rest of it. Especially Howard's workshop. Daniel kept the little girl busy and only came to help them when she went to sleep.

Thank god for weekends.

"Hey, I just realized," Jeanette spoke up, "Today's 18th July. Her birthday's this month end!"

Silence reigned.

"Yeah, my daughter's birthday is on the 31st." Tony replied in a 'duh' tone.

Rhodey blinked and stood straight, panic starting to creep onto his face. "I leave on the 30th!"

Tony raised a brow, when he remembered, "Your military thing, right?"

"Air force."

Tony waved him off. "You know what I meant."

"I don't really want to miss her birthday."

"I'm sure we can have it a day before," Daniel suggested

"A day before?" Tony asked

"It's not like she's going to remember it. She's gonna turn 2. Trust me, 10 years down the road, she isn't gonna remember a thing about the day she'll turn 2." Daniel leaned forward, "Do you remember your 2nd birthday?"

Tony gave him a look then turned to Rhodey, "I guess we can have it a day ahead."


"There's someone I want you to meet."

"Who?"

Tony smiled, walking down the stairs into his late father's workshop. He opened the door and entered.

"Baby, I want you to meet Dum-E, and U. Dum-E, U, this is my daughter. Say hello."

Dum-E beeped and hummed, making his way over to Tony first. His arm raised up and hovered around his daughter.

"Careful," Tony warned

His little girl giggled Dum-E's claw roamed over her tummy. U on the other hand slowly approached them and stayed in the background.

Dum-E beeped again and turned to Tony, again a string of beeps and clicks coming from him.

His arm moved up and down, claws clenching and unclenching, as he rolled around the workshop looking kind of trigger happy for a robot. U took that as a sign for acceptance and made his way to the little girl and soon enough he mirrored his older brother's movements.

"Look's like you have two new friends, love." Tony chuckled

"I have fends!" she giggled and then turned to Tony, "Names?"

"Okay, that one's name is Dum-E. And that's U."

"U?"

"Yeah, U."

She nodded to herself, "Dumi. U."

"That's right!" Tony chuckled, "Wanna play with them?'

"Yes!"


Obadiah exhaled, entering the house that once belonged to his close friend. He half expected to bump into Howard or Maria. Guess he still needed time to get over his death.

He spotted Marguerite in the living room, playing with toys with James Rhodes keeping an eye on her.

"Mr Stane." Rhodes greeted him

"James," Obadiah smiled, "Hello, Marguerite."

"Hi!" the little girl grinned at him before going back to her toys.

"Where's Tony?"

"Upstairs. Getting ready."

Obadiah nodded and made his way upstairs to Tony's room.

When he knocked,

"It's open!"

He turned the knob and entered the room, finding Tony standing in front of the mirror, struggling with his tie.

"A tie of all things?" he asked

"We all have one thing we struggle with," Tony grunted

"Here." Obadiah made his way to Tony and took the tie from him. "Now what's made you nervous?" he asked, tying the tie.

"It's a big day, okay? I'm just..." Tony sighed

"Tony, you always knew this day will come."

"I did. God, yes, I did. But not so soon! I always knew that when dad finally gets retired, I'd be next. But...Obie, I just had a daughter. I..."

"Don't tell me you are having second thoughts."

"I'm not." he sighed, "It just feels so real now. This big day. Officially becoming the CEO of the great Stark Industries. It always sounded fancier but now...it looks so big." he shook his head as Obadiah tightened the tie, "I'm not making any sense am I?"

"You are. Not entirely though." Obie smiled, patting his shoulder, "You'll be fine. Okay?"

Tony took a deep breath and nodded, "Okay."

"Let's go."

As the two men made their way downstairs, they found Nick talking to Rhodey.

"Nick." Tony greeted, "Wasn't expecting you. Everything okay?"

"Everything's fine." he replied and turned to Obadiah, "Mr Stane."

"Mr Fury. A pleasant surprise."

"Ms Carter and Mr Sousa have something urgent come up at SHIELD for an unspecified period of time. They were worried about the little one, so I offered to go ahead and stay until they can come."

"Oh," Tony muttered

"I told him I can stay," Rhodey said

"You should support your friend. It's a big day for him." Fury said, "I got her. And she likes me too."

"You sure?" Tony asked, "I mean, I can-"

"Tony, get your ass to the event. Carter will be here soon. Don't worry about it. I can look after her for a while."

"He's right." Obadiah added, "She's just a little girl with basic needs, he'll watch her just fine."

Tony took a deep breath, "Okay. But if anything comes up-,"

"I'll call Carter or Sousa." Fury finished

By the look on Tony's face that wasn't the answer he wanted to hear but didn't complain.

"Alright."


Hogwarts-School of Witchcraft and Wizardy, Unknown location, Scottish Highlands, Scotland, UK

Albus Dumbledore exhaled, reviewing another application for Defence Against Dark Arts teaching post. The candidate didn't have the requisite skills but with the shortage of such applications over the year, he didn't really have much of a choice. Beggars can't be choosers after all.

His concentration was broken by two heavy knocks on the doors of his office.

"Enter!" he called out

The enormous doors opened and as he looked up, Severus Snape strode in, his black robes flowing after him.

"Severus, my child, is everything alright?"

"Headmaster," the man greeted.

"Albus, please. We are colleges after all."

Snape looked at him, studying him, "If I'm not troubling you much,"

"Oh no. It's no trouble." Albus smiled, leaning forward, "what's on your mind?"

The younger man swallowed. "Her birthday is approaching. Lily's daughter's," he said softly

"Ah, yes, yes. Young Ms Potter is going to turn 2 if memory serves right."

"Yes," he replied solemnly, "She'll be two."

Albus hummed, "Would you like to send her a present?"

The answering chuckle sounded a lot more like a choked laugh, "I'm sure she'd be getting a lot of those from her aunt and uncle. My gift would perhaps hold no value in front of theirs."

Albus' jaw tightened. Well, only if it was all true, he could get a good night's sleep.

He cleared his throat, "Is there anything else you required, Severus?"

Snape took a deep breath, "She's in the right hands, isn't she?"

Albus smiled, "She is. Margurite Potter is safe, secure, and happy."

If only he didn't have to lie about it.

But then again, how was he to reveal to the Wizarding World that Margurite Potter has gone missing without a clue whatsoever?


Sometimes, I as an author, wonder if characters do realize how correct they can be? 😅

'Cause here, on this side of the massive salty pond, one Marguerite Stark was so safe, secure, and so happy that her squeals were resonating throughout the house.

"Now do you wanna hide so I seek you?"

"Yes!" she grinned and started running around as fast as her little feet could take her.

"Remember, you are not allowed to get out of the house!"

He exhaled and settled on the couch, keenly hearing her departing footsteps. He glanced at the clock. If everything had gone well, Carter or Sousa or both would have gotten free by now.

Not that he was complaining.

Maggie was amazing, her energy and laugh were contagious. And yes, he was going to call her Maggie, Rhodes's feelings didn't matter right now.

Looking over his shoulder when he realized that the house has gotten silent, he chuckled, "Ready or not, here I come!"

He got up with a grunt and started looking around. He followed her ghost of footsteps and where he had heard them go.

"Where are you, little one? Are you hiding well? You better be or I will find you and tickle you."

He heard a muffled giggle and entered the room-Tony's room- the sound came from.

As soon as his feet neared the bed, he heard the giggle again, coming from under the bed. He looked down to see a small foot disappear under it too.

He chuckled to himself and pretended to look around.

"Where's little Maggie? Is she hiding behind the curtains?" he pushed the curtains apart, "Oh no. You must be so good at hiding. Is she...behind the table?" he peeked behind to find just dirt on cobwebs and a bunch of wires.

"Okay. Let's see..." he reached to the bed from under which another giggle came from. "Is she under the bed?"

Nick got on all his fours and held the bedsheet and then yanked it up to find, nothing.

"The hell?" he muttered. What?

He was pretty damn sure that all the giggling came from under the bed along with other sounds of soft movements. He quickly got up and looked around. Was he hearing things?

"Maggie?" he called, "I'm trying to find you. You are so good at this."

He was starting to get worried now. She was under the bed, he knew it. but then she wasn't. To his utter surprise, another soft giggling came from Tony's wardrobe.

The earlier sounds hadn't come from there. He was pretty damn sure of it.

He walked to the wardrobe, twisted the handle, and opened it to find her, trying to hide behind the string of Tony's blazers and shirts.

How did she get there?

Scooping her in his arms, he closed the doors and walked out. Something wasn't right.

"Notha!"

"No. No, sorry, we are not playing another game."

"Why?" her face fell, lip pouting.

Nick took a deep breath, "Because I'm tired."

"Oh," she leaned her head on his shoulder, "Papa when home?"

He smiled at her, "He'll be home soon. Don't worry. Why don't you grab a nap?"

"'Kay."


Nick dismissed the earlier incident and didn't report it when Peggy and Daniel came to relieve him of his babysitting duties.

But call it a gut feeling or hunch, he felt that there was a lot more to that particular incident. Like that was the tip of the iceberg.

He even thought of asking Tony in private but the man was already stressed with being a new father and now a new CEO.

For now, Nick Fury filed that little tidbit incident in his mind. He wasn't going to let it go unless he was sure that it was just a fluke and nothing else.


Time flew.

And before any of them could realize it, it was 29th July and the whole family was getting ready to host a small, exclusive, party.

The decorations were made, hats were distributed, and a special custom cake was ordered.

Maggie looked incredibly happy with all the attention she was getting.

To add to her happiness, Harry, Amanda and Sharon decided to visit. The first thing the little blonde girl did when she came there was run to Maggie, give her a tight hug and then a big wolf plushie.

"Happy birthday!"

Maggie squealed with laughter, hugging the plushie.

"Gazee!" she grinned, showing her brilliant white teeth. And then suddenly her smile dropped and she loudly yawned.

"Hey," Peggy crouched between the two girls, "Maggie is tired from being too happy and your mom told me you didn't get rest on your way here. Why don't you both take a nap?"

Now it was Sharon's turn to yawn as she nodded.

"Come on. I'll tuck you, girls, in."

She reached for Maggie's hand, who caught it and got off the couch before leading both the girls to Maggie's room.

"Tomorrow's party is going to be amazing, huh?" Harry asked, tying the balloons

"The best birthday party a two-year-old can get." Tony nodded

"I bet,"

"Ballons, boys, balloons." Amanda clapped on the table, "Talk less, balloons more."

Harry and Tony exchanged a look and a smirk before going back to filling balloons.


The morning started with Amanda waking both the girls and getting them ready in the prettiest dresses and accessories.

Peggy proposed to take Maggie to the church for her birthday. While Tony wasn't the most religious, he didn't mind. Peggy and Daniel took the girls to the church while the adults stayed home, making the last changes to the small party.

Anna and Jarvis also came by to give their wishes and blessings to the little girl.

After the four returned from the church, Rhodey and Jeanette surprised them by telling them that they had booked tickets at the circus for everyone for an afternoon show. So circus it was.

Both the girls loved the circus, squealing, laughing and looking at all the attractions in awe.

"I want el'pant!" Maggie demanded as they started walking out of the circus after the show

Tony gave her a scandalized look while others laughed

"Elephants are huge. You can't have them." Sharon said

"But they cute!"

"In what universe?" Tony asked

Maggie gave her a cute little frown as if she was disappointed in him, "El'pant cute!"

"Well, if Ms Marguerite says elephants are cute, elephants are cute." Rhodey said, reaching to carry her in his arms, "I believe ya, baby girl."

"Gazee,"

"But elephants are not cute," Tony argued

Maggie gave him another frown, "Papa not cute. El'phant cute."

Tony looked more offended at that statement than everyone expected.

"I agree so bad, love," Rhodey added, laughing

The little girl just giggled, clapping her tiny chubby hands.


"Alright, Maggie, keep your eyes closed, mi cara," Tony muttered

Maggie just nodded.

The room was almost dark, just the moonlight shining and illuminating the living room in its silver sheen.

Tony kept his eyes on his daughter, who had closed her eyes tightly shut, a grin on her face.

Anna walked in, holding the cake with a '2' candle lighting atop.

she placed the cake on the table. "Open your eyes, lovely."

Her eyes fluttered open and her grinning lips turned into an 'o' as she saw the cake.

This was followed by a chorus of "Happy Birthday"s.

"Blow the candle!" Sharon was practically vibrating next to her

Maggie giggled before blowing the candle.

Everyone cheered and Jarvis turned the lights on.

A soft gasp escaped the birthday girl as she noticed all the streamers and balloons littering the room.

"so pretty!"

"Let's cut the cake, shall we?" Jeanette asked

"Yes!"

Tony smiled and grabbed her tiny hand, held the plastic knife and sliced the cake.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart." Tony smiled, kissing her temple.


"Master Tony, would you have a minute?"

Tony looked up from the blueprints he was working on at Jarvis, who had just entered his lab. Wasn't he looking after Maggie?"

"Anna is tucking her in for her afternoon nap," the older man added

"Of course," Tony straightened and looked at him, "What is it?"

Jarvis smiled softly and took a step closer, "Am I wrong to assume that you would be working from home a lot more now?"

Tony took a deep breath, "Not really. I mean, it's not like I can leave Maggie in the care of Aunt Peggy and Uncle Dan anymore without getting prior appointments and stuff."

Jarvis nodded, "I figured. Well, Anna and I did. May I suggest something?"

"Please,"

Jarvis took a deep breath, "I would like to resume my work as the butler of this house."

Tony stared at the ageing man as if the man had him that the Theory of Relativity was all a lie. to be honest, he might as well have.

"Jarvis," Tony took a deep breath, "I say this with utmost respect and love for you, but no."

Jarvis just waited patiently for the younger man to continue.

"Your age, you are healthy for your age but this doesn't mean that I'd just push you back into the work. You need rest. Your days of butlering are over. You've done enough. I think now you should just sit back and relax."

"With all due respect, Master Tony, I think I should be the one to decide whether my days of butlering are over or not."

Tony just snorted.

"Anna and I...we don't have a lot. We don't have kids. Just a house in the country gifted by your father. and it's so far money had held its value. Anna and I wish to spend our last days with our family. Our only family." he cleared his throat, "If it is alright with you, Master Tony."

Tony took a deep breath and looked away, blinking away the tears that suddenly appeared.

He pressed his lips, took a deep breath and then turned to the older man.

"I'm expected at the office tomorrow for a meeting at 10."

"I'll prepare the breakfast by then. Does Miss Margaret have any allergies I should be aware of?"

"She doesn't like a lot of spice but so far no allergies."

"Very well, Master Tony." the man smiled, turned and started walking away

"Jarvis!"

Jarvis stopped and turned to look at him.

"Thank you. It's good to have you back."

Jarvis just smiled, the wrinkles on his face getting more pronounced, "It is good to be back."

Tony nodded, "You and Anna can have the first-floor bedroom."

Jarvis's eyes widened a little. First floor bedrooms were better rooms that were used by the family. It had the master bedroom, Tony's room and a couple of guest rooms.

"You are family. Don't think I'm gonna let you and Anna stay at the servant quarters." he chuckled

"But-"

"It's a requirement, Jarvis, not a choice. The family doesn't live in servant quarters. Let me know when you want a moving truck or whatever you and Anna need to move their things over here."

Jarvis took a deep breath and nodded, "Very well, sir."

Tony smiled. Things were turning for the better, he supposed.


Also, the only reason asked was that, well, you all know I sometimes can be insecure about my writing, so a part of my brain was like people would have lost interest in your story now that you haven't updated it in such a long time.

Trust me very much when I saw this that all my stories are completed in my mind and just need typing down and proofreading and all.

Thank you for so much support, wasn't expecting it. It did come as a surprise and I'm so grateful to have all of you. It was overwhelming to see all that support. Thank you so much.

Also as someone asked, I'm not fishing for review or anything, just wanted to know that people are still interested so I can put as much effort into this story as I can and complete it.

You know the drill.

Ciao