I'm running. I can hear my heart pounding against my chest like a caged animal trying to escape. I trying to get to…

I woke up suddenly and groan. The nightmares were a daily thing so I was used to them, but that doesn't mean I don't hate them. I looked at the clock and it read my usual wake up time of three am.

Part of me knew I was wake because of the nightmares but I large part of me was still reeling from the events of the previous day. I found out I was some sort of genius and I hadn't known most of my life. Well, that's what I told Pepper and Tony and it was partially true. I hadn't known for sure but my mother suspected something besides the art prodigy thing I think. We just never had the time to get me tested and even when I was living with her my focus was not on school. I had...well those are memories I do not want to think about.

Being told I' a genius surprisingly freaks me out less than spending time with Morgan's brothers. I've met Peter but that is a more "I'm-to-worried-to-leave-you-alone" kind of way. I mean I think I got to know the kid pretty well though. He has a weird thing with Star Wars and he's a junior in high school. His best friends are Ned and MJ and they hate Flash, who was a year older than them and my personal tormentor. Harley on the other hand, I had never met and knew almost nothing about the kid, well I guess young man because he's twenty one.

I sigh as I stare at my ceiling. They were suppose to arrive around eight, about a half hour before family breakfast. Apparently on Saturdays, Peter, Harley, Peter's aunt, and Happy all come over for breakfast. Peter and Harley then stay for the rest of the weekend. I had five hours to kill before I became too nervous to function.

I felt around for my crutch and hobbled over to my desk. The drawing I had been working on earlier was the first thing I saw and I quickly flipped to a new page. I figured Morgan was probably going to ask for another drawing so I decided to draw her. That should keep me occupied for the next couple of hours.


At around five, I had finished my drawing and I decided to try and go back to sleep. That worked until around six thirty. Afterwards I got up, took a shower, and got dressed. Now, I'm just putting the finishing touches on the drawing I made for Morgan.

I glance at the clock and I noticed it was seven. I figured Pepper or Tony might be up so I decide to leave my hiding place. I'm going to have to see them anyways.

As I enter the kitchen I notice Pepper was cooking. She turned around and greeted me with a smile, "Good morning AJ. Did you sleep well?"

I shrug, "As well as I normally do. Did you?"

She nods. I notice she's cooking a lot of food and ask, "Do you want help cooking?"

She looks at me in surprise, "You know how to cook?"

I nod, "You used to help my mom out."

She smiles gratefully, "Actually yes, I would love some help. Tony can burn water and Morgan's too little to be of any use. Can you cut up that fruit?"

I nod as I crutch over and begin to cut the fruit up for a fruit salad, "But didn't he make omelettes?"

She chuckles, "That's the only thing he can make. It used to be a standing rule that he's not allowed near any kitchen. He practically blew up the one in his Malibu home once."

I laugh, "I bet you enjoyed having to deal with that."

She rolls her eyes, "Oh it was a blast."

We drift into silence for a moment before Pepper asks, "So, what did you use to help your mom with?"

"Cooking, cleaning, watching...just the basic stuff."

If she noticed my slip she didn't say anything, "Well that was nice of you."

I shrug, "She needed the help."

"What did she do for a living?"

"Before I was born she was journalist. She had to stop after I was born."

Pepper smiles softly, "No money?"

I shake my head, "Well eventually that became a problem, but she had a heart condition that worsened after she had me. She was in and out of hospitals most of my childhood."
Pepper stopped cooking for a moment. She hesitates before she asks her next question, "Is that how she died?"

I nod. I turn to her, "Can I ask you a question?"

She nods.

"How did you and Tony meet?"

She smiles, "Good job changing the mood. I actually started out as his personal assistant."

I look up in surprise, "Seriously?"

She nods, "We didn't start dating until years after I started working for him. I've known him for over twenty years."

"That's a long time. But you guys have only been married for like six years. By the way, I thought the eloping was a great idea."

She looks at me surprised.

"I was around during the five years. I remember some people were pissed that they didn't get to see a huge wedding," I elaborate.

She nods, "Yeah some were but we didn't care. We were just glad to be alive and were trying to move on like everyone else."

I nod, "I think no matter how hard people tried it was almost impossible to move on."

She smiles, "That is very perceptive for a thirteen year old."

I shrug, "What can I say, I'm a genius."

We both laugh and proceed to finish the meal.


At around ten minutes to eight, we both heard Tony and Morgan come down the stairs. The meal was almost done and the others should be arriving any moment. Tony and Morgan were both surprised to find me cooking along side Pepper.

"You can cook?!" Morgan asked the surprise written all over her face.

At the same time Tony practically shouted, "You replaced me?!"

Pepper and I laughed at their antics and said, "Yes," at the exact same time.

Tony and Morgan looked at each other and then back at us. Tony said, "We're in trouble. Mommy has a deputy."

Morgan nodded, "Yup."

Pepper rolled her eyes at her husband and walked over to give him a kiss, "Aww you're just mad that a final have one of the kids on my side and not out of fear. It's ok, the other boys will be here soon."

Tony grumbled something underneath his breath. He tried to grab a piece of bacon but Pepper smacked it out of his hand.

"Wait until they get here."

Tony was about to respond dramatically when Morgan asked, "Can AJ and I wait for them outside?"

Pepper nods and Morgan turns to me, "Come on!"

"Hold up, Half-Pint. I drew you something but it's in my room. Let's go grab it and then we can go outside."

She nods eagerly and we make our way to my room. I grab the sketch book and turn dramatically to her.

"Now Morgan, this may be to best thing I've ever drawn."

Her eyes bug out, "Really?!"

I nod "Really, so you have to be very careful with it. Ok?"

She nods and I hand her the drawing of herself. She gasps, "It's pretty! Is it a picture of me?"

I nod.

"Thank you!" she says as she runs over and hugs me.

"You are welcome. Are we going to go wait for your brothers?"

She nods and we head back towards the kitchen. She shows the drawing to Pepper and Tony who both also think its amazing. She asks them to hold on to it and then proceeds to drag me outside to wait on the porch.

"So Morgan, what do you normally do when your brothers are here?"

She shrugs, "Whatever we feel like playing. You'll love them! And Uncle Happy and Aunt May are coming too. Whenever they're here it's fun."

"Well I'm looking forward to it."

She glances at the road before she looks back at me, "Can we go look at the pictures in the sky?"

"Sure."

We walk towards the grassy field and lay down on our backs. We then talk about whatever shapes we see in the clouds. We were so engrossed in what we were doing that we didn't notice the two boys sneak up on us until we heard, "Are you looking at the clouds without Morgs?" in a fake hurt voice.

Morgan sat up quickly and turned towards the voice. A large grin spread on her face as she ran towards the voice.

"Harley!"

"Hey, I'm here to too," I heard Peter say as I presume Harley laughed.

I stare up at the clouds for a little longer before I decide to interact with them. Today was going to be a long day.