I really hope you enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think!

I woke up to bright lights. Very blinding lights.

Where the hell am I? Is this heaven?

"Dad?" I groaned at the bright light.

I saw a familiar figure in front of me. I couldn't exactly pinpoint who was there, and I immediately got my hopes up thinking it was my dad. As the figure came closer, I felt...happy and sad. I wanted to hold my father close and apologize for what I told him before he left, I wanted to tell him that I loved him no matter how big of an idiot he could be at times, I wanted to just...hug him. I never liked it whenever people got close to me, but right now I would completely welcome it, I didn't care right now.

"Tyra..." The figure spoke.

I could make out a faint beeping noise nearby, and suddenly I could tell that I wasn't dead. I was very much alive, and in a hospital no less.

I hated hospitals...

"Am I alive?" My voice was hoarse.

"Tyra...you're in the hospital." This voice sounded familiar.

I slowly rubbed my eyes and my vision became much more clear. I looked around to see Pepper and Happy sitting next to me on both sides of the bed.

I'm so tired...I just wanna go home...

From what I gathered just by looking at them, Pepper looked as if she was crying for a while. Happy, who was a dear friend to our family, also seemed very upset as well.

"I am so sorry, Tyra...I should have left my office earlier..." Pepper wiped her eyes.

"What happened?" I choked.

Happy handed me a glass of water knowing how rough and dry my throat probably was. After having a few sips of water, Pepper answered my question.

"We came in and found JARVIS shut off. I thought that it was odd and Happy started making his way into your room to check on you. I followed him and we both found steam everywhere in your room." Pepper could barely keep it together.

"The door was jammed...It was hard to get it open, so I kept kicking at the door until it busted open. We rushed you to the hospital...you almost died of heat stroke..." Happy finished. "And you dislocated your shoulder."

"Were you...trying to commit suicide, Tyra?" Pepper lowered her voice.

SUICIDE?

"Pepper...I was just taking a bath..." I rolled my eyes.

"We found prescription bottles near the bath tub." Happy looked slightly mad.

They think I tried killing myself?!

"It was tylenol! I had a headache!" I defended myself. "You guys seriously think I tried committing suicide?" I looked at them in disbelief.

"Well after you found out about your father...we all sort of assumed that..." Pepper seemed embarrassed.

"That I'd be so depressed and end my life?" I finished. "I honestly can't believe you right now. I thought...I thought you were my friend." I glared at Pepper.

"Tyra, I'm sorry that this happened. I don't really think that you'd do something so rash...but the doctors want us to get you a therapist."

"WHAT THE HELL?!" I screamed.

My throat hurt so much right now, but I didn't care. I was outraged and angry at the two people I thought I could rely on and trust.

"Tyra calm down..." Happy put his hand on my good shoulder.

I shrugged him off and took out my IV and many other wires hooked to me before proceeding to get out of the bed.

"I can't believe you two would do this to me! I thought I could trust you guys! Why don't you believe me?!" I grew hysterical.

"Tyra!" Pepper's eyes widened drastically. "Of course I- -"

"No! Don't you lie to me anymore! You guys just wanna get rid of me!" I cried.

In seconds nurses and doctors flooded the room and surrounded me, saying words in attempt to calm me down, but I was at a point of no return.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" I screamed.

Pepper was in hysterics as Happy held her in his arms. Somehow, it took a lot of nurses to pin me down to the bed and shove a needle in my arm to sedate me. In seconds I was out like a light.

Why...why did they do this?

I was soon diagnosed with depression. I was hesitant, and by hesitant I mean was forced to, but I finally saw a therapist while I was in the hospital. Mostly for the reason being that I wasn't allowed to leave the room.

I hate being here...

I could notice my transformation. It was like I was starting to form that shell around me again. I didn't dare speak to anyone, I just kept silent, hoping everyone would leave me alone. I wasn't allowed visitors after my meltdown. In other words...

I was miserable.

During my time at the hospital the nurses had to keep an eyes on me because I was pretty much refusing to eat anything, and they also thought I was mentally unstable. I wanted to scream profanities at everyone.

They think I'm crazy.

I was only a girl that was upset over the fact that her own father was gone forever, I was a girl that was clearly upset because she almost died as well and no one believed her when she said that someone tried to kill her.

So excuse me for being extremely pissed off.

I didn't want to eat because I didn't want to, it was as simple as that. Every time I did try to eat, I'd throw it back up a few minutes later in the bathroom. The therapists also did shit for me, I only told them what they wanted to hear, I was basically giving them the bullshit they wanted. It wasn't until a few weeks later, which they thought they were making progress with me.

Assholes...they wish.

I was allowed visitation rights again, but several more days after that, after faking my emotions some more, pretending that I was a changed person, I was allowed to leave. When Pepper received the news, she seemed overjoyed. Pepper was very happy to see me again. That much I could tell, I felt guilty for ever thinking she would be against me. I finally stepped out of the hospital, giving the middle finger to the building as I walked away.

"Hello, Miss Stark." Pepper wiped her eyes and smiled at me.

"What's with the last names Ms. Potts?" I joked.

"You seem to be doing better. I'm glad you're alright." Pepper wiped another tear from her face.

It was unexpected for everyone as I held out my arms. Pepper was completely floored at this. I was usually hugged by others, I never tried to hug anyone. Pepper was quick to accept the hug and she rubbed my back soothingly.

It felt like I had a mother almost...

"Shall we go and get some chinese food?" Pepper smiled. "We can watch Pirates of the Caribbean at home while we eat." I cracked a small smile at this.

Maybe things can finally be normal again...

"Of course..." I mumbled.

I then looked down at my feet remembering about my dad. Considering that Pepper didn't even mention anything about him, I could only assume that it was bad, that my father was never going to come back home.

Nothing would ever be normal again...my only family is gone.

For an agreement, I now had to take pills to help with my depression. I was depressed sure, but I didn't even think I had depression at all.

But of course, the doctors know better than I do right?

I hated taking the pills, I didn't even feel like myself anymore. It was as if I was an empty shell of a person.

I picked up my fork and just poked at my food. I couldn't even eat Chinese takeout and it was on my top list of favorite foods!

I guess I'm not myself anymore huh?

Pepper immediately noticed my discomfort and attempted to cheer me up as she put on the movie.

"Is the spicy chicken any good?" She asked.

"Uh yeah...it sure is..." I smiled weakly.

"You can talk to me about anything, Tyra. Just know that alright?" Pepper told me.

"Okay well...have you heard any news from Rhodey about...dad?" I hesitantly asked.

"Actually I have...I was going to tell you after the movie was over, but I think now is a good time. Rhodey had contacted me to let you know that they are close to finding your father. They think they know where he is. He's supposed to call me later for an update, but I wanted to tell you later, in case...you know, it was a false lead." Pepper confessed.

I perked up at the news.

Maybe there was some hope after all.

I knew having Rhodey as my godfather would be awesome. He and my dad were best friends...there was no way he'd let my dad die. I adjusted the sling on my shoulder and tried to get comfortable, suddenly taking interest in the movie.

"So there's hope that he's alive..." I said.

"Yes...Rhodey will contact me soon..." Pepper replied.

With that said, my eyes returned to the TV.

I pretty much refused to sleep in my own bedroom, fearing that I would almost die and be in that fucking hospital again. I wouldn't be able to bear that. I glanced at the bathroom door, seeing the door barely hanging in its screws. My eyes flickered to the doorknob after seeing something catch my interest. I had no idea what it was, but it looked a lot like Stark Tech. It had me suspicious immediately and I tensed up.

"JARVIS?" I called out.

"Yes, Miss Stark?"

I decided to go down to the workshop, taking a seat on my dad's favorite couch that was made to look like a Lamborghini. I sat in the front seat and got comfortable as I put on my thinking cap.

This couch was one of my dad's favorite places to think...

"JARVIS...show me security footage from the night you were shut off."

Projections were set up around me of all footage from cameras around the mansion. I forwarded through the footage, until I saw something that nearly had me jumping out of my skin. I became nervous and tried to slow down my breathing as I watched closely. There was a man in a mask, but he didn't look inexperienced, he seemed like some soldier, like a professional. The scariest thing was that he didn't even force himself into the house...in fact, he had a house key. My eyes widened more as I was ready to panic. A lot of things raced through my mind. There were only a few people who had access to the house key. Pepper, Rhodey, Happy, and Obadiah. One of them had to have hired this man to kill me.

And all of this on the day I found out my father went missing in Afghanistan.

"That's not a coincidence..." I mumbled. "JARVIS. I want you to up the security around here...And I want the locks changed tomorrow."

"Yes, Miss Stark." JARVIS replied.

I was terrified over the fact that I was right. Someone tried to kill me.

Everything started to click together.

"Whoever hired to have me killed is the same person who got my father kidnapped in Afghanistan." My eyes grew bigger. "SHIT."

"Miss Stark...would you like me to call for help?" JARVIS asked.

"W- -why?"
"I think you are hyperventilating, Miss Stark. I would advise you to calm down before you go into shock."

I then grabbed a bag full of pretzels before dumping them out and starting to breathe into the bag in attempt to calm down. In several minutes, I was breathing normally, or as normally as my breathing could get considering I was shaking.

"I think it is time to take your medication, Miss Stark." JARVIS informed me.

"Do I really have to? I feel perfectly fine now...What does it matter if I don't take them for one night, buddy?"

"Do I need to contact Miss Potts?" JARVIS threatened.

"You wouldn't dare." I glared up at the ceiling.

"Do you really want to test me, Miss Stark?" JARVIS asked.

"Fine...I'll take them...they're up on the kitchen table right?" I grumbled.

"Yes."

I gave in and went upstairs.

The fact that I was getting paranoid wasn't helping me at all. I felt too scared to talk to anyone. I couldn't even talk to Pepper now.

I mean the possibility of her trying to have me AND my father killed? That's just scary.

But I knew I couldn't jump to conclusions, not yet anyway. There were other people that could be involved with this.

There was Happy, Rhodey, and Obadiah. But who would try to kill me and my father and why?

Rhodey had to be ruled out...he was my godfather not to mention my dad's best friend, he cared about us too much.

Happy was a possibility, but I could never imagine him having anything against my father. He worked for my dad for a very long time and he was also a close friend to our family, my dad treated him fairly and with respect.

And there was Pepper. The woman was like a mother to me. I loved her so much...even if I didn't express it as much. I think she knew though deep down. It was hard to believe that she would do something like this, I wasn't sure if she had the money to hire someone like that anyway. If Pepper was in any way involved, she would have to be working with someone, but I don't think Pepper would betray us like this.

Which left Obadiah...

If anything were to happen to me and dad, Obadiah would be next in line from the board of directors to run the company. That right there was motive enough for me.

Now to find proof...

"TYRA!"

Pepper ran into the workshop, standing a few feet away from me, and out of breath.

"What the hell? Did you run some kind of marathon?" I asked.

"They found him Tyra! Your father's coming home!" Pepper wiped her eyes.

I froze as I managed to grasp what Pepper had just told me.

My father was alive...

"W- -when does he come?" I asked.

"Tomorrow afternoon." She answered.

After the plane landed, out came several soldiers, Rhodey included. It almost seemed like eternity before someone else stepped out the plane. The last person to step out was my father. He looked beaten up, but he was alive.

And that was all that mattered to me.

My dad made his way over to us, acting nonchalant about his return as if nothing really happened and he was just on vacation. I stood by the limo, just watching him interact with Pepper, she seemed very happy to see her boss alive.

"Your eyes are red. Tears for your long lost boss?" He asked Pepper.

Pepper wiped her eyes and smiled.

"More like tears of joy. I hate job hunting." Pepper joked.

My dad looked around and stood still as he spotted me standing near the limo.

I can't believe he's finally back.

We were both frozen in our spots for what seemed like hours just staring at each other. In all honesty, this felt like this was a dream, we were both scared to even blink in fear that this wasn't real. I don't even know who moved first, but we slowly started walking towards each other, but then it progressed into sprinting, afraid that something bad might happen. When we finally collided, my dad embraced me like our lives depended on it. I hadn't even realized it, but I was actually crying.

It made me realize that I hadn't really cried for a very long time...

Dad kept whispering words of comfort and I almost felt like I was that little girl again that was afraid to look at her father let alone speak to him.

"It's okay...everything's okay...I'm never gonna leave you again..." Dad pulled away and smiled while wiping his face.

My eyes widened in surprise knowing that my dad rarely cried, or at least, he didn't do that in front of me, probably something to do with male pride. It was quite a sight to see let's just say.

"If I can promise you anything, it's that I'm going to be a better father to you, Tyra Stark. Your dad's on the case." He chuckled softly, tears prickling in the corners of his eyes.

I wrapped my arms around my dad again, afraid to let him go. Over his shoulder, I could see Rhodey and smiled at him gratefully as mouthed the words 'thank you'. Rhodey nodded as he returned my smile and saluted at me, all while walking away. My dad and I finally pulled apart, but he had his arm around me, pulling me closer to him as we got into the limo.

"Where to sir?" Happy asked.

"To the hospital- -" Pepper began to say.

"No." Dad cut her off.

"No? Tony, you need to have a doctor look at you!" Pepper looked at him in disbelief.

"Pepper!" Dad snapped. "I've been held in captivity for three months and there's two things that I want right now. An American cheeseburger and- -"

"That's enough out of you." Pepper interrupted.

"It's not what you were thinking...Pepper, call a press conference." Dad ordered Pepper.

It was hard to tell what my dad was thinking, but I couldn't tell whether it was good or bad.

"A press conference? What for?" Pepper asked in confusion.

"Hogan, drive. Cheeseburger first." Dad said.

When we arrived for that press conference, everyone piled in, cameras flashing. Usually my dad would be putting on a show, but it seemed as if he didn't even cared about the cameras.

It was certainly a sight to behold.

My dad didn't feel like standing and he just plopped down on the stage pulling me down next to him. The reporters looked confused at first before my dad finally said something.

"Does everyone mind sitting on the floor? That way everyone can see me and it's less formal that way." Dad spoke up.

The reporters slowly sat down on the floor. Dad munched on his cheeseburger before crunching up the wrapper and handing it over to me. Finally he spoke up after much silence.

"I never got to say goodbye to my father...there's questions I would have asked him. Like how he felt about what his company did, if he was conflicted or had any doubts, or...how he felt as a father." Dad glanced over at me at the last part. "Or if he the great man we all knew from those news reels..."

A reporter hesitantly raised his hand.

"What happened over there?" He asked with curiosity.

"I saw young Americans killed by the very same weapons I created to protect them." He answered.

I glanced over at my dad in surprise and slowly made a move to grab his hand. Dad smiled at me before standing up and while helping me up until I was up on my feet. He held onto my hand tighter than before as if I was his lifeline or something.

It had me concerned. Very concerned...

"I've had my eyes opened. I came to realize that I have more to offer this world than just by making things blow up. Which is why...effective immediately...I'm shutting down the weapons manufacturing of Stark Industries." My dad finished.

WHAT?

Immediately, there was an uproar in the room. Cameras were flashing again and people were shouting a million questions at once. Obadiah came running over and pushed my dad away from the microphone and tried coming up with excuses.

Well shit. I certainly wasn't expecting that...

I pulled dad away with me before the reporters completely swarmed us.

I could hear Pepper and Dad from upstairs. They were yelling at each other for the first half hour of being home. It was obvious they were talking about me and my state of health because I heard my name mentioned. After a while though, things seemed to cool down, and they were speaking in hushed tones.

Let's just say that annoyed me...

"Tony...this is serious. After you were...kidnapped. She went into a state of depression and she well..."

"She what?" Dad clenched his teeth together.

"We're not sure for certain, but...when the police arrive they thought she may have tried committing suicide. We found her bathroom door locked. There was steam everywhere. She almost died of heat stroke. I don't believe she tried committing suicide, but there was a prescription bottle near the bath tub. Her shoulder was dislocated however, so something told me that she was trapped in the bathroom and tried getting out." Pepper explained. "I can't explain it, but something didn't seem right. Happy had to bust down the door as soon as I got here. I was scared for her, she kept saying someone tried to kill her. I'm not sure what to believe, I just thought she was in shock. But I don't think she'd make up something like this."

Dad appeared to be in some sort of shock.

"That explains that sling she has around her shoulder." Dad mumbled.

"She's also taking pills to help with her depression." Pepper mentioned. "She almost lost it in the hospital...we weren't allowed to see her for a few weeks until they felt she was safe to leave."

"She was on suicide watch?" Dad looked at Pepper in disbelief.

"Tyra hasn't been the same, Tony. It took a while for her to open up to me again...she hasn't been eating as much and she's definitely more paranoid for some reason. I'm really worried about her." Pepper sighed sadly.

My dad seemed conflicted and extremely upset, as he thought to himself for a minute or two.

"JARVIS. I want you to make a note on how much Tyra's eating." Dad called out.

"Of course, Mr. Stark. Do you require anything else?" JARVIS also asked.

Dad was silent for a minute before he nodded.

"I want you to tell me about her behavior...what she's been up to..."

"She mostly refused to sleep in her bedroom. She also had been investigating something, sir."

"What is it?" Dad asked.

I cursed inwardly and prayed that JARVIS wouldn't say a word like I told him not to.

"I'm afraid I can't tell you that, sir. Miss Stark specifically told me that she wanted this on the 'down low' as she said." JARVIS replied.

Oh thank you god...

"JARVIS...are you refusing to tell me what my daughter has been up to?" Dad sounded threatening.

"I'm terribly sorry, but perhaps this would be better to discuss with Miss Stark, sir." JARVIS suggested.

"Alright fine...I will..."

WHAT?! NO!

It was like my dad had most of his personality changed, I didn't know what happened to my father that had him change so much. Before, he was the lazy parent and usually let Pepper deal with me, but now he's been watching me nonstop. I didn't know whether to be happy about this sudden change in my father, or annoyed.

"Whatcha drawing, kiddo?" Dad asked.

"I don't know...I had this crazy dream last night. Like a metal man rescued me...I dunno...I probably sound crazy." I mumbled.

Dad perked up and seemed interested. I then sighed and showed him my drawing.

"I call him Iron Man...because he's all metal and stuff." I said. "I was gonna call him Steel Man, but it didn't sound right."

"I don't think you're crazy at all..."

My dad looked at the picture in surprise, almost as if it was something he'd seen before.

"Is there something you're not telling me?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Well...when I was held captive I...a friend and I built a suit to escape. Like armor...a lot similar to this drawing here."

"What happened to your friend?"

"He...didn't make it." Dad looked down at his feet.

"So you made this armor to escape those terrorists?"

"Yeah, but what you drew is kinda...I don't know how to describe it...freaky? A weird coincidence? It's like we have some kind of daughter/father bond that gives us telepathy." Dad chuckled.

"I don't think I would doubt that..." I cracked a small smile.

"So...have you eaten yet?" He suddenly asked.

"Not really...I'm not that hungry to be honest." I shrugged.

"JARVIS says you've lost over twenty pounds and that you're BMI is below normal. You need to start eating more, Tyra." Dad looked serious.

I really lost over twenty pounds? Holy shit...

"Oh..." Was all I had to say.

"Come on...we'll make you something small and build you up from there. How about some soup?" Dad suggested.

Dad got up from his spot and held out his hand. I stared at his hand before slowly grasping it. Dad pulled me up and brought me up into the kitchen.

"Do you even know how to make soup?" I smirked.

"How hard can it be?" Dad shrugged.

"How about I cook the soup?" I took the can of tomato soup away from dad.

"What? You don't trust me?" Dad playfully punched my arm.

"The last time you cooked was when I was ten years old...and you almost burned down the kitchen." I pointed out.

Dad frowned and then sat down in defeat at the kitchen table as I began cooking the soup instead.

"How can you still remember that stuff?" Dad threw his hands up in frustration.

"I've got a really good memory...I sometimes get fragments of when I was a baby...I can vaguely remember what mom looked like..." I replied.

"You remember your mother? She...she left after you turned one." Dad seemed surprised.

I finished making the soup and put it into two bowls to share with my dad before sitting down next to him.

"I remember a few things about her. When she smiled, I would always calm down...and you always grabbed her butt whenever she was trying to change my diaper thinking she looked sexy or something."

Dad blushed as I smirked at him.

"Your mother was a beautiful woman, how could I not grope her?" He pursed his lips.

"Did you seriously just say that?!" I laughed.

I went back to eating my soup. We ate in silence for a few minutes, before dad spoke up again.

"So I was thinking...would you want to start a project with me?" Dad then asked.

Hmm...that's out of the blue.

"What kind of project?" I glanced over at him in curiosity.

"The kind that would bring that drawing of yours to life." He said.

"You want to make armor? Like the one you used to get out of that cave?" I clarified as I stared at my dad in surprise.

"Exactly. I trust you and I really want you to help me with this."

He gave me a genuined smile and it practically made my heart melt.

Dad and I never really built anything together. We tinkered with his cars sometimes, but we never created anything together. I guess my dad really has changed.

"Alright, fine. Let's do this." I returned his smile.

Like it? Hate it? Let me know! But be nice please! XD