A big thank you to Bonesluv1994 and basketball4444 for favouriting; Trailwave for following; GriffinMan and jhm64892 for favouriting and following; LilyMayRose for favouriting and reviewing, it means a lot guys! Hope you enjoy this next chapter - I'm really liking writing this fic.

The sun was shining high over Tony Starks cliff side Malibu mansion. The heat was at that years peak but the air conditioning from within the house offered Tony's girlfriend of three years, Pepper, a refreshing comfort. It had been two months since he had declared her CEO of his beloved Stark Industries and she was finally getting round to completing all the necessary paperwork to make it official. She was just adding her signature and scanning her fingerprint when there was an almighty crash from the workshop in the basement of the house, sending Pepper flying down the stairs to see what happened.

She came to a stop when her path was blocked by a sea of glass that once belonged in the door and windows that lined the entrance way to the workshop. Grateful that she had kept her shoes on, she tentatively stepped over the threshold, groaning as the glass crunched underneath her feet and headed to the man-shaped dent in the wall. There, at the bottom of the gap, upside down, laid Tony encased in his newest creation of Iron Man suits. The face plate popped off and he gave his girlfriend a sloppy grin as he tried to pull himself up.

"Anthony Stark, one of these days your brilliance is going to kill you."

It took a few seconds but Tony finally made it in to a standing position - even if he did have to grip on to the wall behind him for stability. Pepper was glaring at him, though he detected the faintest hint of a smile playing on her lips as the suit opened up and he stumbled out of it.

"So, you admit that I'm brilliant?"

"Mm-hmm." She gave him a smirk and he pulled her in for a kiss. They stayed there together for a few seconds before being interrupted.

"Sir." JARVIS, Tonys AI's strong British voice vibrated off the walls. "You have visitors at the door."

Both Tony and Pepper eyed one another, confused as to why someone was at their door. Neither had arranged for anyone to specifically come to the house. They had a rule, between the two of them, that unless it was Rhodey or any other close friends, no one was to come to the Malibu house, especially uninvited. They agreed that it was the one place that would completely be theirs - no business or personal meetings, everything was to be arranged to happen at Stark Tower in New York regardless of the terms. Warning bells rang through Tonys head as he pondered why someone would dare come to the house, specifically when it was common knowledge the house was strictly off limits.

"JARVIS, pull up the security feed from the front of the house." They both turned to face the nearest monitor and watched as the face of a man they both recognised as Andrew Grayson appeared on the screen. "What the hell is my attorney doing here?"

"What on Earth have you done now? And who is that with him?" Pepper whispered from beside him, earning herself a glare.

"Would you like me to run facial recognition, Sir?"

"Yes."

They waited patiently as JARVIS worked on finding out who the mystery man was. What ever the two men wanted, it must be important. They were barely stood there for a minute when JARVIS pulled up all the relevant information on the mystery man.

"Sir, I have identified the man to be a Mr Donald Ferguson of Ferguson and Russel - a law firm based in Boston."

"Let them in, JARVIS." He turned to Pepper before gripping her hand and pulling her with him. "Let's go see what they want."

When they arrived upstairs, the two men were waiting for them in the open plan lounge. They both stood staring at the view through the large, full length windows with their backs towards the stairs Tony and Pepper appeared from. The two were too engrossed in their whispered conversation to notice the billionaire and his girlfriend walking up behind them until Tony cleared his throat. The two ceased their conversation and spun round, both with a grave expression upon his face.

"Mr Stark, I'm sorry to intrude. I understand you have an express wish that no one is to visit but I'm afraid this matter cannot wait the time it would take to arrange a meeting in New York." The faded English voice of his attorney was filled with a desperation for him to understand and not argue the matter, something of which confused Tony to no end. Tony was about to question the elder man when the younger of the two voiced his opinion.

"Perhaps this matter would be best discussed in private?" Ferguson gave a pointed look at Pepper, who was deeply offended. Nevertheless, she nodded, gave Tony a quick peck on the cheek and went to pull her hand away from his but he stopped her, tightening his grip.

"No." His voice was sharp and forceful, stunning the other three in the room. "I don't care who you are, new guy, but you don't get to decided what gets discussed in front of who, I do. Anything you have to discuss with me can be done so in front of Pepper. We have no secrets in our relationship."

Pepper and Grayson both gave a smirk in Fergusons direction, who now had a red tinge to his cheeks. Tony gestured for the men to take a seat on one of the couches, with he and Pepper sitting on the other. It was evident that Grayson wished to have this meeting off to a start as quickly as possible because he started speaking before the couple were even ale to make themselves comfortable.

"You're a very busy man, Mr Stark, and it's more than my jobs worth to keep you longer than I have to. I was approached at my office two ago by Mr Ferguson here; one of his firms clients, a Mrs Gabriella Cooper instructed either himself of his partner to deliver a letter to you upon her death. Sadly, Mrs Cooper died this morning in London, which is why we are here now." Ferguson stood and handed a single white envelope to Tony, but he made no attempt to move to take it. Pepper, however, did.

"Sorry, he doesn't like to be handed things." She smiled at the lawyer as he backed away and returned to his seat.

Tony racked his brain for a recollection of a woman by that name but came up empty. Of course, that could easily be down to her being one of his many, many drunken flings and he'd simply just been too far gone to have any memory of the nights events. He gave a look to Pepper, silently asking if she had any idea who the woman they were talking about was - she kept better tabs on the names of his long list of one night stands. Unfortunately though, Pepper gave a small shake of her head and wore the same confused expression as he did.

"I don't know anyone named Gabriella Cooper. Are you sure you have the right Tony Stark? Though I wasn't aware there was one." He couldn't help but smile, though he stopped when Pepper rolled her eyes.

"Forgive me, Mr Stark." The grey haired man, who was long beyond retirement seemed reluctant to continue. "Cooper was her married name. At the time you knew her, her name was Gabriella... Wilde."

Tony felt as though someone had punched a hole through his chest and squeezed his heart. His breathing became shallow and he was barely able to whisper "Gabbie?"

The aged man before him nodded sadly, knowing full well Tony now remembered exactly who the woman was.

"She's dead?"

"I'm afraid so."

"How?"

"Car accident. A bus lost control and drove straight in to the car she was travelling in at the time. She died at the scene." Upon hearing this, Tony shot out his seat and headed to the bar at the end of the room. Tears sprang to his eyes as he downed a generous amount of scotch straight from the bottle, not bothering with his usual glass or ice. Pepper made to follow him but Grayson stopped her with a wave of his hand. After a few minutes, Tony rejoined the group with watery eyes which startled Pepper.

"Tony... what's going on? No secrets." She couldn't keep the worry out of her voice as she lowered her voice and laid her hand over his.

He waited a minute before taking a deep breath, turning to her and spoke slowly, making she she could hear every word.

"She - Gabriella - was my first girlfriend. In fact, other than you Pep, she was the only real girlfriend I've had. We were together from when were fourteen until the beginning of nineteen ninety two, about a month after my parents deaths the previous December." He paused to let what he said sink in, watching Peppers face as she processed the information. " She left me mid January and I didn't hear from her again. To be honest, I was so messed up and under so much stress at the time that it took me far too long to realise she wasn't there anymore. Jarvis filled me in on what had happened during my grief filled haze, told me that, after she'd found me choking on my own vomit, she wouldn't be coming back. I didn't even try to find her once I'd sorted myself out. I wanted to but I stopped myself. I was hurt that she'd left me but I was far more ashamed that I'd shut her out and pushed her away to the point where she didn't want me in her life. Pepper, this is the reason why I was for all those years, terrified of getting too involved and then causing pain when things got too much."

Pepper had tears in her own eyes when Tony finished talking, not because she was upset or angry with him, but rather because she realised how hurt he had been and how bad he felt for the way he was. She knew that the shock of finding out that the first woman he ever loved had died and he'd never gotten to see her again was affecting him far more than he would ever say.

"Mr Stark, I understand that you must be in shock but it is with the utmost importance that you read the letter before we discuss with you a request Mrs Cooper had." Grayson gestured to the envelope laying by the side of Pepper on the couch. "Ms Potts, could I trouble you for a drink?"

It was evident to Pepper that the man thought it was best Tony was left to read the letter alone - clearly he he had gotten some idea from Ferguson what it contained.

"Of course, if you'd both follow me to the kitchen." She placed a kiss to Tonys cheek and led the two men to another part of the house, leaving Tony staring at the envelope as if it would burst in to flames. He had no idea what he was about to read, what he was about to discover. If he had, he might had poured himself another drink before beginning to read.

Tony,

It's been so long since we last spoke that I'm terrified to write this. It deeply saddens me that you'll only receive this in the event of my death, but it was the choice I made and my own doing. I just hope that you take the time to read through this and understand before making any decisions.

You wouldn't be blamed for hating me; I left you to deal with your parents deaths alone. I'm truly sorry for any additional hurt I caused you but it was better, easier, for me to do so. Please understand that we were both so young and you had so much thrown upon you that I was scared you wouldn't be able to cope.

A few days before your parents were killed, I discovered I was pregnant. I was excited and scared at the same time. We were both in school, you were at MIT, I didn't want it to hinder your chances of being the great man you are today, Nevertheless, I was going to tell you that Christmas, but of course, a week before your parents were killed and things changed. You withdrew from me, I don't blame you for it, but it made it difficult for me to believe that we could be a family. You found comfort at the bottom of a bottle and I couldn't get you out of it, so I made the decision to remove myself from you to protect our daughter. I'm so sorry that I didn't tell you but I couldn't have our child raised in that environment.

My family moved away and I gave birth to our daughter: Annabelle Maria Wilde, though her surname is now Cooper. She weighed 7lb 9oz and was born June 5th 1992 at two minutes past one in the morning. Your mothers death affected me to, Tony, and I felt it was only right for her name to be a part of our daughters. She's grown up to be just like you; funny, highly intelligent with a love of business. She doesn't know it's in her genes but she wants to open her own company, she doesn't know what company but she knows she wants one.

You not being a part of her life is due to no fault of your own, it's mine and I'm under the belief that had you of known, you would have been there for her every single day. I ask you to do that now, Tony. The two of us have no family, my parents both succumbed to illness, as did Annabelles step-father. The thought of leaving her alone kills me inside and all I ask is that you care for her until she comes of age. Seeing as this letter comes to you after my death, take this as the last wish of the dead woman you once loved - take care of our daughter. It's my doing that you have no relationship with her and for that I am truly, truly sorry but that is something I can't take back and undo, but you can. You can be a father to her now, please. I know in my heart that you will, and I know that you will come to love her as I do.

I understand that this will have come to a shock to you, and that it's the least you would have expected in a letter from me. My attorney already has a document of legal guardianship drawn up in case of this situation, and I can only hope that you agree to sign, for Annabelles sake. She has been without you for so many years but I know deep down that she will want to know you, I hope you can return that.

I never did stop loving you, Tony, it was just easier to love you from afar than to love you by your side.

Gabbie.

Of all the things the letter could have told him, he never would have expected it to be that he had a child - a daughter. In the seventeen years since Gabbie had been gone, he had never once suspected that he'd had been living without the knowledge that he had a child. His own flesh and blood had been brought up not knowing him and the saddest thing of all - he didn't even blame Gabbie for doing it. He had been a mess, unstable, in no position to care for a baby. He understood now, the true reason why she'd left. He looked at the date of his daughters birth and realised that her birthday was four days from now. A horrible feeling washing over him as he read that she had no family left. If that was true, and her mother was in London then wouldn't she be with her?

"No..."

If Tony could have run any faster to the kitchen he would have. He failed to stop in time and crashed in to the door frame, causing Pepper to scream and drop the mug she held.

"Tony, what the he-"

He cut her off by talking directly to the two men who seemed to know everything on the matter. "Was anyone else with Gabbie in the car?"

Grayson and Ferguson glanced at each other before the younger man took the reins on the conversation.

"Her daughter. She's currently in a London hospital. I'm told she has bruised ribs, a concussion and a few lacerations over her face and arms, nothing too serious though. Mrs Cooper wasn't wearing her seat belt at the time, but her daughter was."

"Oh, thank God." Tony felt his body relax slightly at the news that the daughter he'd never met, but felt instantly protective over, was relatively okay after being in the same accident that killed her mother. "Does she know...?"

Ferguson shook his head. and checked his watch. "My partner should be arriving in London within the next couple of hours. He's spoken to social services and will be meeting them at the hospital and he'll be passing her letter over in person."

"Right." So his daughter still know she was his daughter. He knew what he should do, knew that it was the right thing to do but hell, was the prospect of doing it terrifying. He leaned against the door frame and placed his head in his hands. Pepper stood beside him seconds later, her face clearly showing that she had no idea what was going on now. He handed her the letter, signalling that she should read it. He waited, head still hidden, for her to finish. He heard her gasps and her whispered disbeliefs. Finally, after five minutes, he felt a hand on his shoulder and found Peppers bright eyes searching for his. He wanted her approval, but regardless of what Pepper thought, he already knew what he was going to do.

"I'll support you, Tony. She'll need you. Go and get her." She spoke in a strong whisper and it was strange but, in that moment, he realised that he loved Pepper more than he ever thought he had. He gripped her in a tight embrace before turning to both his and Gabbies attorneys.

"Gabbie mentioned that the documents for legal guardianship has already been drawn up. I'd like to sign it before going to London. Pep, will you -"

"I'll pack you a bag and arrange for your jet to take you to London. I'll have everything sorted for you within an hour, ninety minutes at. I know Happy has a few days off but I'll get him back here to go with you. I'm going to stay here, it will be better you going alone. Plus someone needs to be here to get the house ready for the arrival of a teenage girl." She walked away towards there bedroom, leaving the three men in awe of her efficiency.

Tony led the the men back to the lounge, offering them seats closest to the moderately size coffee table. Having legal guardianship signed over to him was a lot more complicated than he would have managed. Gabriella seemed to have thought of everything. She'd signed any and all papers saying that it was her wish for Tony to take Annabelle in if something were to happen to her. There was also the matter of him taking control over two separate bank account (one which Annabelle would have access to at eighteen, the other twenty-one), the same with the house Gabriella owned, which would be transferred in to Annabelle's name when she turned eighteen. Initially, Tony thought that Annabelle should at least have a say in whether she wanted these things now or later, but in the end decided that if this was Gabriellas wish, then he should honour it. It took them little over an hour for all the paperwork to be signed, copies made for all three of the men. Tony was sure to make it very clear to both Grayson and Ferguson that if word of any of what was revealed today was somehow released to the press before he had a chance to speak with his daughter, he would personally make sure they were finished. Ferguson laughed, not realising how serious Tony was being but Grayson nodded and continued packing away his things, leaving Tony to glare at the younger man.

Pepper returned to the lounge ten minutes after the suited men departed. She wheeled the simple black suitcase he used for short trips behind her. As soon as she reached him, he pulled her in to a hug, kissing the top of her head.

"Everything is gonna change, Pep. She might not even wanna know me. How am I gonna cope? I don't know how to be a dad."

"Tony." She pulled away from him enough to be able to see his face. "Tell me honestly - did you make your decision to take her in before or after I told you I'd support you?"

He sighed. "Before."

"There you go. I can see it in you already - you love her and you haven't even met her. You were willing to live up to your responsibilities regardless of whether I was by your side or not, doesn't that tell you anything?"

She was right, but that didn't stop the feeling of panic wash over him. What if Annabelle didn't want his as a father? What if she refused to come back with him? He was legally her guardian now but if it came down to it, could he really force the nearly seventeen year old to do something she really didn't want to do?

Three hours after signing the guardianship papers and two hours after leaving Pepper in charge of organising the house, Tony, Happy across from him, waited for the okay to take off. Pepper had skimmed the details to Happy when she'd demanded his presence on Tonys trip. Happy hadn't questioned him on it, and for that Tony was grateful, though he would probably tell him everything at some point during the flight. Ferguson had called ten minutes after they'd arrived at the airport to inform him that his partner had arrived at the hospital and Annabelle would be receiving her letter soon. Tony had instructed him to not tell Mr Russel of his decision until Tony landed in the UK himself, wanting Annabelle to have time to think over everything properly before he entered her life.

One of his usual flight attendants, a busty blonde who he didn't even give a second glance at anymore, came over to inform the pair that they would be taking off in five minutes. Happy thanked her before Tony thanked him. He was glad Pepper had convinced Happy to come with him, he didn't think he'd be able to cope with doing this completely alone. Happy had all the details of where they would be staying during their stay and the hospital Annabelle was currently at.

They took off after a few minutes and just over ten hours later, they landed on the tarmac of a private London airport, Tony feeling unbearably nervous.