A/N: I know I am going a tad too fast, I am trying my best to slow down maybe I will succeed in future. And I have a wonderful news to share. I got into med school. I am doing my UG.

Chapter 5

As she walked out of the room Rhea realized that she just called Pepper mom. Rhea felt guilty for taking such a liberty with Pepper. Yes, Pepper was indeed a good woman but still, she felt it was not right. Above all, she felt that she was replacing her Ma. Rhea dashed towards her room and locked herself in. All these days she was doing her very best to come to the fact that her Ma was no more, she curled herself into a ball as she lay on the floor. She started to cry harder.

"Rhea honey, open the door." She heard Pepper.

"Jarvis let her in," Rhea mumbled through her sobs. "Yes, Miss Stark."

"Oh, Rhea." Pepper gasped as she saw her on the floor. She helped Rhea sit straight. She hugged Rhea closer to her, she whispered. "It's ok I am not angry at you. I was just shocked."

"I miss her." Rhea cried.

"I know sweety. It's hard."

"No, you don't. I want her back." Pepper hugged her more closely and kissed her forehead.

"Sorry I didn't mean to be rude," Rhea mumbled. "It's ok." Pepper held Rhea closer to her. Rhea felt safe in Pepper's arms. Tony entered the room to see the scene. Pepper raised her finger to her lips indicating him to be quiet.

Tony called a press conference at the Stark Industries office, the next day. The press had no clue of why they were being called in. Rhea was staring from her hidden spot, speaking to a crowd was always difficult her for her. She remembered the first time she gave a speech at her school. As she stood on the stage to deliver whatever she had prepared she was shaking and her palms were sweating, she focused her view to Kichu where he was standing beaming at her like a proud big brother and it helped from then on. But now there was no Kichu and this was not a one-way thing. She was sure the press won't leave her with her side of the speech. She felt Pepper near her. "Relax" Pepper whispered. "You expect me to be relaxed they are like vultures and this is my first."

She then saw her dad enter. "The only thing I am happy about your childhood is you never had to go through their scrutinizing eyes." He said. "Don't worry kiddo. I will keep them in line." He hugged and pressed his lips to her forehead. He gave her hand a squeeze. Then he went to address the people out there. Rhea straightened her dress; she turned to Pepper and asked. "Can't I wear flats? This is killing me." She asked pointing at her heels. "Just for a few minutes so don't worry."

Rhea turned to listen to her father. "Hello everyone, I know you must be wondering why I called you in. Don't worry its not about the company but still, it's about it. There have been many speculations who would inherit this empire which my father built up with his hard work and brains, after me."

"Well, Mr. Stark we don't understand why such an issue is coming up now?" Someone from the crowd asked.

"Yeah, it does seem to be irrelevant. I know. I don't know how many of you remember my brief disappearance during the 90s. Then I met someone very special to me but she disappeared as soon as she came. Two months back I found out that she left me someone even more special."

"Mr. Stark. Are you indicating you are having a child?" The same person asked.

Back in her spot, Rhea started to fidget with her Ma's ring it was an antique family heirloom her grandfather gifted to her mother when she turned 18. She had it on her right ring finger.

"Yes. I would like to introduce my daughter Rhea Durga Rajput to you."

Rhea entered into the podium. She waved her hand a bit as she gave a nervous smile to the crowd. Her dad gave her a one-armed hug. "Don't worry. Remember to answer only the questions which you feel you should." He whispered. "Yes," she said. They sat down on the chairs.

"Miss Rajput, are you from India?"

"Yes," she said. She felt so dizzy as she sat there. Tony gave her hand a squeeze.

"Are you related to any royal families there?"

"Yes. Please, it's something I don't know much about."

"Do your mother's family know about you?"

"I don't think so."

"Miss Rajput, what do you mean by that?" Rhea was really getting irritated.

"Any other questions?" She asked. Totally ignoring the question making her point clear that it was not something she would like to talk about.

"Did you know about Mr. Stark?"

"No. Not till a few days before my Ma's death."

"When did you both first meet?" Rhea didn't know what to say.

"Four days after I came to know about him." She croaked. Tony grip on her palm tightened under the table but it was more comforting.

"Miss Rajput. What are doing now?"

"I just finished high school waiting for my results. It should be most probably out by end of this month."

"We didn't get it."

"The Indian system of schooling is different from one over here. We have a nationwide exam and the evaluation and result compilation takes around two months time."

"Miss Rajput. How old are you?"

"Fifteen."

"Seems like you have kept up with the tradition of early graduating out of school?"

"Yeah, sort of. But I am nowhere near the geniuses my father is."

"Would you be taking part in the Stark Industries ventures anytime soon?"

"No not in near future, maybe when my dad feels I am ready for it."

"Any other questions?"

"Miss Rajput how was your life in India?"

"Well, I lead a simple middle-class life." Just before anyone could ask anything more Tony stood up.

"I think that is enough for this one time. Thank you all, thank you so much."

"Phew. I am so happy, that it wasn't a nightmare as we expected it to be." Tony said as they got back home. Rhea sunk down into the couch. "Rhea go change," Tony ordered to her. She groaned as she got up from her seat. "I was shot down by the most dangerous people in this universe. Show some mercy, Dad." Pepper giggled at her response, while Tony sighed and shook his head. Rhea removed her heels and held it in her hands. She left for her room. "Is that how you feel each time I don't listen to you?" Tony asked her. "Yes." Pepper replied.

"So what is tomorrow's schedule?" Tony asked her as he went towards the bar. He poured two drinks for each of them.

"Tomorrow you have an award ceremony."

"Oh, that apogee one. Then, what else?"

"You have to leave for the weapon demo at Afghanistan day after tomorrow."

Just then Rhea came back into the room. "Dad uncle Nath called. He wants us to decide something about the house." She said in a grim voice.

"What do you want to do?"

"A part of me wants not to sell it but it was her dream home I can't let it fall apart."

"We could rent it". Pepper suggested.

Suddenly something came into her mind. "We could rent it and send the money we get to the Paediatric Oncology department at the hospital."

"That is great idea kiddo."

"I have to bring some things from there."

"That means you have to go to India."

"Yeah, I will go tomorrow."

"Maybe after I return from Afghanistan we could go together."

"There is no need of that Dad it won't be a big problem."

"You sure."

"Yep."

The next day Rhea left for India

A/N: as always constructive criticism is welcomed. I will try my best to come up to the expectation