"...there was a very smart lady. She was looking for a job and she decided she was going to help a man. For years she worked for him and put up with his crazy behavior. She practically did everything for him. He wasn't a very good person, but for some reason she stuck around. Her job got even more important because after a few years of working, he went missing. She searched and searched for her lost boss but she couldn't find him. She was afraid he would be lost forever and she couldn't bare the thought that...she would have to do more job hunting. He did eventually come back but he was missing his heart."

"Oh no!" Morgan gasped.

Tony smiled at his daughter and continued, "Let me finish. He eventually built himself a heart and decided to use his second chance at life to stop being a bad guy. Some people weren't happy abut that and they decided they wanted to hurt him. A man named Stane took the mans heart from him. The man was dying but then he saw something. The woman had made a heart for him. He grabbed and put it in his chest and was able to defeat Stane…"

"Do the man and woman live happily ever after?" Morgan asks eagerly.

"No, not in this particular story, but eventually they do. No, this story ends where the man realizes that he has more to live for and to do in the world besides be a bad guy. The woman stay and becomes his partner in helping him."

Morgan scrunches up her face, "That's a horrible ending."

Tony shrugs, "Not all stories end. This one just has more to add on."

Morgan thinks about it thoughtfully, "I think I could live with that. AJ, your turn!"

Honestly, I had no idea what I was gonna say. Tony obviously had more practice with this. I could just forfeit the battle, but I'm not quitter. Suddenly I got an idea.

I look at Morgan, "Am I allowed to draw?"

Morgan looks at me suspiciously.

"I promise I'll still tell a story."

She reluctantly consents and hands me a black crayon and a piece of paper.

Tony and Pepper are both looking at me curiously to see what I'm gonna do. I begin to draw, "Morgan, have you ever heard of the Slacsars?"

She shook her head no.

"You guys?" I asked Tony and Pepper, knowing full well that they hadn't. They too shake their heads and Tony was eyeing me suspiciously.

"Well they are the most creative and imaginative things on Earth. They're also really cute. Legend goes that if you see one, you'll find the happiest place on earth."

Morgan looks at me wide eyed, "Have you seen one?"

"Nope. But, I can show you how to see their world. Do you want to see there world?"

She nods vigorously.

I small and I begin to draw, "Okay then. We'll start with the S in Slacsars. This the hills of their world. Here it's said the clouds taste like the sweetest cotton candy you've ever had. The Slacsars who live on the mountain are the tallest ones there are and they have pet pegasus that fly all over the mountains and down over the land. The Slacsars see the pegasus fly over their skyline or miles without ending. The L connects the mountain down to the first city. On all sides of the paths is wild grown forests with trees that have grown so high that not even a bird could fly high enough to land on it's top branches. The A is the first city. It's the biggest populated city full of millions of Slacsars. They're a mix of tall and short but they all have big cute eyes and pet dogs the accompany them everywhere. Everyone who lives in this city is a musician. They all sing harmoniously together and their music is suppose to be the prettiest music you've ever heard. And then there's" I pause abruptly and Morgan looks at me with curiosity practically seeping from her face.

"And then there's what?"

I shrug, "I can't tell you."

"Why not?
"Well, before I started your story I forgot to tell you the rules of the Slacsars."

"There are rules?" Tony asked.

"Duh, how come you don't think people have been able to find it. First rule, the only people allowed to tell these stories are people under eighteen. Adults can listen but they are never to repeat the story."

Morgan gasps, "Why not?"

"Because then they won't be able to enter it. Second rule, children can only talk about it with another child when a, the other child already knows the story or b, the child believes that the other kid is worthy of having it. The last rule is that you are not allowed to tell the other child the entire legend in one sitting."

"Why not?"

"Because too much of one good thing can make it a bad thing. The legend continues until the child who the story is being told to is ready for it to end. Are you ready for it to end?"

She shakes her head rapidly no.

Then I shrug, "Then it can't end."

Pepper chuckles, "Well, Morgan. Who won?"

Morgan answers without hesitating, "Neither because neither had an ending."

Pepper bursts out laughing at the similar expression of outrage on mine and Tony's faces.


After we went back inside, it took Morgan all of thirty minutes to fall asleep in Tony's arms.

He chuckled, "I knew it was about time for a nap. I'll be back."

He walks upstairs and Pepper walks over to join me sitting in the living room. Tony returns and he sits next to her on the couch directly across from me.

"So," Tony begins, "there are a few things we need to talk about."

I nod letting him know he could continue.

"On Friday there is school placement exam being held at the local middle school. We want you to take it so we know classes you should be taking. Your social worker said you missed a lot of school."

I shrug, "I prefer to think of it as trading school for life experience."

I got a small laugh out of Pepper, but Tony ignores my comment. Pepper continues where he left off, "We also need to go shopping. You need some new clothes and supplies for school, "

` I wa about to tell her a polite thanks but no thanks when she said, "I'm telling you AJ, not asking. We can also get some new stuff for your room if you want, I'm sure Morgan would love to help you decorate. Your social worker is calling us Sunday to see how your doing and we want to be able to give her the best report. Okay?"

I nod again. Honestly, Pepper scares me way more than Tony.

Tony's speaking again, "One last thing. Saturday is normal when Morgan's brothers Peter and Harley visit. Are you okay with having them around?"

For some odd reason, that was the question that sent me into shock. He was actually asking my opinion. It was a new feeling.

"Yeah, I don't mind. Peter seemed chill. Even though I met him while I think I was in shock."

"You were definitely on shock," Tony says before Pepper elbows him.

"What?!"


Honestly, the rest of the day went pretty smooth with AJ getting incorporated into the household, I thought to myself later that evening I was climbing into bed next to Pepper.

I picked up my tablet and began to read the new books I had bought myself the other day. Pepper glances over at my tablet and almost laughs at what she sees.

"What?"

She just shakes her head, "I never would have seen the day where Tony Stark is reading books on how to deal with a foster kid."

I shrug, "What can I say? The first time I saw that kid I knew it wouldn't be the last. There's just something to like about him."

"I get it. I felt almost exactly the same way."

I lay by tablet down on the nightstand next to my bed and turn out the light as Pepper lays in my arms.

"He doesn't trust us Pep, what are we gonna do about that?"

"There's nothing we can do. People have screwed him over his entire life."

"If someone had said that about me, then I wouldn't be the man I would be today. I give you about twelve percent of the credit for changing me."

"Twelve percent?! Tony, if you don't shut up and go to sleep right now, I will put you on the couch."

"Yes ma'am."