Tony started looking for Biela's father the next day, using a sample of blood he had gotten from the doctors in Afghanistan. Pepper came down while he was working.

"Tony?" she asked. "I just remembered…what were you saying yesterday about a ten-year-old girl who installed the arc reactor?" Tony looked up.

"Her name is Bianca Elaria Evans, but she goes by Biela, and I call her Bee. She was in captivity with me in Afghanistan, the difference being she'd been there since she was six." "Six?" Pepper gasped. "What happened to her? Where is she now?"

"I brought her with me when I escaped, but she got some second degree burns on her back, arms, and legs from the explosions, and she got shot in her upper arm. She's currently in the military hospital in Afganistan. They're going to release her in soon, hopefully."

"What will happen to her then?" Pepper asked. "I'm going to send the jet out to get her, and I'll bring her here," Tony said. "Her mom's dead, she died in Afghanistan, and she has no idea who her dad is. I'm going to help her find him, and if she doesn't hit it off with him immediately, or if I can't find him, or if he's dead, I'm going to adopt her."

"You're going to adopt her?" Pepper asked, surprised. "Yes," Tony said firmly. "That girl has gone through things that no one should have to go to, and I want to help her, because she saved my life. She physically set up the original electromagnet, and installed the arc reactor, and she's the one who gave me the courage to shut down the weapons manufacturing."

He paused a moment. "Uh, Pepper, how do I get clothes and stuff for her? And I want to set a room up for her, so even if we find her dad, and she stays with him, she can come by here anytime…what do I do?"

"I'll help you," Pepper promised. "Do you know her favorite colors? And her size?" "Uh, yeah, she likes yellow, pink, green, and blue, she's a girl's size 6, shoe size 11. She probably would want her room to be colorful and bright, with big windows and a distinct lack mountainous coloring," Tony added.

"Clothes?" Pepper asked. "Any idea what her style is?" "Uh, no," Tony said. "She was dressed in Afghani clothing every time I saw her. So, I guess we should just get the basics until she gets here. Jeans, denim capris and shorts, solid color t-shirts, underwear, sandals, maybe some socks, a couple sweatshirts and a jacket…" Tony's voice drifted off.

"I'll handle it," Pepper assured. "Who knows what the press would do if Tony Stark went shopping for girl's clothing. At least I have nieces." Tony sighed in relief. "You are a saint, Pepper. Oh, and the last reason I don't want her with some random stranger, is because she's like me. A quadruple prodigy. Only the second ever. I don't want her put on show like I was."

Pepper smiled. "I'll take care of it. Will that be all, Mr. Stark?" "That will be all, Miss Potts," Tony said with a smile.