Dad had always had a reputation for being the life of the party and having a slight drinking problem. Okay a major drinking problem. The man was the definition of a high functioning alcoholic. He worked and partied and reaped the rewards. Stark Industries became the United States' armed forces main contractor. Dad was rich before but now he was way richer. And if you think all the fame, power and money didn't go to his head, you're dead wrong.

Things between us were tense. Don't get me wrong dad still made it a habit to visit on my birthday, Christmas, and other vacations but he would either leave early or cancel at the last minute. And when he was around his cocky attitude and drunken antics made it hard to be around him. Eventually all the built up tension and bottled up annoyance made me go off on him.

Nora's POV- Age 16, third year at MIT

It was winter break and I decided to go back to the ranch for a few days to unwind and work on a few side projects. I had recently found my grandpa's original notes and designs on the arc reactor. I figured maybe I could toy around with it and see what comes out of it. As I walk into the basement lab I look around and see empty bottles littered all over the place. There's a few broken ones lying on the ground, and at the center of this giant mess is my dad passed out on the futon. I have got to get rid of that thing maybe that way he'll stop drinking that way.

I grab a trashcan and broom and cleaned up my dad's mess yet again. This was not how I pictured spending my vacation but what can I do. After about two hours of cleaning the lab is back to its normal unorganized mess.

"Jarvis please show me file Arc 2," I say.

"Right away Ma'am, shall I prepare a pot of coffee for when your father wakes up?"

"No, let him make it himself." I reply annoyed at the reminder of the drunken man-child that is still passed out on the futon.

I look at the original blue prints and edit them out on the hologram projection. I'm in the zone and just focus as everything else just ceases to matter. I have Jarvis run about ten different simulations each having no success. On the last one Dad finally wakes up.

"Hey kid didn't know you were here. Aren't you supposed to be in school? You said you had a presentation for your Quantum Mechanics class." He says.

"That was two months ago Dad. Besides its winter break figured I'd come here to unwind for a bit." I reply with a bit of annoyance in my voice.

"Why didn't you call? We could've made a trip somewhere like I don't know Cabo or Hawaii or wherever you students go for spring break." He asks

"I did call, like five times. I even left a few voicemails and sent you a few texts that you never answered. I figured you were busy so I just decided to come here and tinker with some things for a bit." I ask trying to not get myself worked up.

"Oh, I must've left my phone at the bar or the club or wherever I was before," He says looking around to see what I'm working on. " Is that the Arc Reactor?"

"Yeah, I found an old journal while looking for some stuff in storage. Figured I could fix it or somehow miniaturize it but so far nothing." I say disappointed.

"Yeah the Arc Reactor is a bust. It was one of your grandfather's publicity stunt to get the hippies off his back for starting to expand the weapons division at SI. You should check out some of the new repulsors I've been working on for the missiles I'm showing and the Exhibition in a couple of months." He replies, "Hey where's the coffee? There's always coffee in front of me when I wake up hung-over." He mutters.

"Don't know there's probably some upstairs if you want to make some." I reply.

"So did you end up getting that internship you applied for?" He asks casually. I know where he's headed with this and I don't want to have this conversation, not while he's still hung-over.

"Yeah I did, But I decided not to take it. It isn't the right time." I say, dreading what he's about to say next.

"You know there's an internship and job after graduation waiting for you at Stark Industries. You could work around your schedule and even independently if you wanted." Says Dad trying to talk up his job offer not so subtly.

"I appreciate the offer dad but I don't think the weapons industry is for me. Besides I got an Internship at John Hopkins working at the free clinic."

"Clinic? Eww sick people" he says with a face of disgust, "Come on Nora Its our legacy, the thing that will make us be remembered long after we're dead. You would fit right in at SI. You could even help with the demonstration I have in a couple of months."

"Dad I don't want to make weapons of mass destruction. I want to help people not hurt them." I argue.

"I do help people I help keep our country safe. Besides it's where our fortune came from, its what we've done for generations."

"We keep our country safe but who keeps everyone else safe dad. How many lives are we responsible for ending? We need to change. Its not right."

"Are you saying I'm a murderer? Because if that's the case so are you. You helped design those weapons. You are as much responsible as I am."

"I never said I wasn't, what I'm saying is-"

"What your saying is that you have a conscious and I don't is that it? That you're too good to work at Stark Industries? Is that it? Well let me tell you something everything you have is because of my work, because of my weapons. Without me you are nothing."

"Really, I'm nothing, says the half drunk man-child that can't deal with his problems so he just drowns them in alcohol. I am so sick and tired of your self-centered narcissistic, arrogant ass. I'm sick of having to see your face plastered on tabloids everywhere because of something stupid you did. And I'm sick of having to clean up your messes. Life sucks, deal with it the way everyone else does you amoral jackass." By the end of my rant I'm out of breath and immediately regret everything I said but of course I'm too proud to admit.

Dad just glares at me, his nostrils flaring up, the vein on the side on his temple is popping up. I wait for him to yell or scream but he doesn't.

He just says, "Fine then your on your own, you'll never have to put up with your jackass of a father again. Have a good life Nora."

I follow him out of the House and watch as he gets in his car and speeds off. So much for us against the world. I pull my phone out and send a text to Rhodey:

Dad and I got in a fight. He's mad and probably drunk. Take care of him because I just can't do it anymore. Tell him I'm sorry. –Nora

I go back inside and head to my room. I lay down on my side and look at the picture of my soul mates "Looks like it's just me now. I'm really all alone."

Thanks to all my readers. Please Review I'd like to know what you guys think. Also next chapter will be the beginning or Iron Man.