The Next day
That morning after Tony called Katie, going out to where Kim couldn't over-hear. He knew Katie would be upset and didn't want her to hear. He smiled weakly when he heard her voice. "Dad?" "Hey sweetie." "Whats up?" He sipped his coffee, over looking the city. He had his Iron Man case with him while Gage caught up on some sleep after his first night as there guard. "Well I got some good news but don't think you'll like it." He felt a pause before she spoke, sounding annoyed. "Shes pregnant isn't she?" He sighed. "Yes, she is." "I knew it! Dad, why are you with her again? She's having some other guys baby." He took a long gulp of coffee. This was gonna be a long (or short) conversation.
Once inside after a grueling calling. (he honestly didn't get her hate) he stopped, hearing someone in one of the downstairs bathrooms reaching. He sighed, Kim was awake. He got some crackers and ginger ale, making his way there. She was already standing up, wiping he mouth of with a towel shakily when he came in. She looked up, looking weak but smiled weakly to him, seeing what he brought. "Thank you. I didn't know I was so loud." Tony shrugged, handing her the crackers. "It's normal" He smiled sadly as she took them from his hand. "This will be a stupid question but how are you feeling?" She smiled weakly to him before sighing. "A little weak. A lot weaker then I was with Quinn." He nodded. "Why don't you go back to bed, you can tell JARVIS whatever you want and I will be there with it." She smiled. "ok. I'll be laying down then." He smiled, kissing her. She made a face before pulling away after it. "You realize I just threw up before right?" He grinned. "Yeah, not stopping me from kissing you." She shook her head, laughing lightly. "You are mad." "And your marrying me." She smiled softer. "I know." She frowned, feeling her stomach starting to come up again, kneeling back down to the toilet quickly as she started retching again. He knelled down as well, rubbing her back and holding her hair out of her face.
Quinn was in the lab, as useasl, working on a repusler hand. She smiled bright as it glowed. One step closer to actual combat. One step closer to fighting and saving the world. She started writing down the formula she used quickly on her notepad her father had gotten her, her little tongue sticking out as she wrote quickly. The side of her hand turning gray from her pencil. She heard the error beep from the lab door, looking up, she saw Gage had gotten the number into the lab wrong. She giggled as he put it in a second time, getting it right. He smiled as he walked in, hands on his hips as he talked to her. "What is so funny?" She giggled. "You are!" He chuckled, kneeling down to her. "Me?" "Yeah! You got the number wrong and the door told you no." He smiled. "Oh so your saying I'm not smart now? I'm hurt." he pouted, looking away. She giggled, getting up, going to him and place each small hand on his face, forcing a smile on his face. "Your silly. Sillier then daddy." He chuckled, holding her little hands."Really? Daddy is silly?" "Uh-huh! He does a lot stuff that isnt good for him. He doesn't like to sleep, he forgets to eat because he's always working on his suit." He smiled, poking her tummy. "sounds likes some little princess I know."
Day two
Gage was hidden behind a wall. His breathing coming in hard pants. He was worn but was more then willing to keep going. Quinn jumped from a cornor, her Iron Man consume on and water vapor repuslers her dad made her for Christmas, shooting at Gage. "Pew Pew!" He smiled, pretending to get shot. "Oh No! You got me!" He fell down to his knees, making sure to make his "death" dramatic. His eyes were closed. He heard heavier footsteps, a lot heavier then Quinns, he opened one eye, looking up, he saw Tony looking down at him with amusement. "oh no, Quinn you killed our Bodyguard. Whose gonna protect us now." She giggled. "I can!" He chucked, kneeling down, picking her up. "You can?" "Yeah! I'm Iron Man!" Gage chuckled, still on the ground, playing along. Tony smiled. "Oh, your Iron Man now? I thought I was." His little princess just smiled brightly before speaking. "I am now because Fury Made you retire because your old." Gage couldn't be held responsible for the burst of laughter that escaped him. Tony was stunned a moment before laughing as well, kissing her head, placing her back down. He saw Kim was walking up behind him, looking better then the last few days with a smile, watching the scene before her.
Three days later
Gage was starting his Patrol when he saw Quinn asleep in her spot in the lab. Among her papers and equipment, goggles still on her head. He's made it a habit to check down here before patrolling. He smiled sadly, putting the numbers in and walking in quietly and picking her up. She was so tiny in his arms. He made sure to take the googlies off carefully before going over to the elevator and taking her up to her room. He tucked her in, brushing some hair out of hr face with a smile as he walked out of the room, gently closing the door, hoping she can sleep thru the night. As he walked down the hall, he heard whimpers from The main bedroom, Tony and Kims room and it sounded as if Tony was in the middle of a severe nightmare. He shook his head sadly. This family had so many demons yet came thru with shining colors every time.
He was half way thru his patrol, about 3AM when JARVIS alerted him. " I am sorry to interrupt your nightly patrol." Gage couldn't help but look up at the ceiling as he spoke to JARVIS, he was still getting used to him. "It's no problem, what is it." "It is Miss. Stark. She seems to be in the middle of a nightmare." Gage went to the stairs quickly, nearly running, slowing as he got to Quinns door. He heard Whimpering and crying. It broke his heart someone so young could see such awful things in her sleep. He walked in. She didn't look awake, he walked closer, getting to her bed, holding her little shoulders, shaking her gently. "Princess..Quinn wake up. It's just a dream." Within a few moments she woke, looking around frightened, about to start crying. He held her quickly. "Shh it's ok." She cried into his chest, curling into it. "They were hurting daddy..." He kissed her head. "Your daddy's ok." She sniffled. "When he got stolen before they h-hurt him really bad and I remember it b-because I could feel it. T-they tried to take out his l-light." He tensed, remembering hearing about something like that from Clint. Then he remembered her psychic abilities. She must be able to feel everything that goes on, negative and positive. Pain and happiness and all the horror that can come along with being a Stark. He felt his eyes water at the realization. So much inside someone so small. He rocked her, kissing her head, vowing to protect her with his life if he had to.
One week later
Gage was in the garage getting ready to go out. Tony walked, bringing Quinn with him. He smiled weakly over. " ?" Tony smiled. "Someone wanted to say goodbye." Tony Gently pushed Quinn as a silent go ahead. Gage got off his bike that Tony had given him, going to Quinn with a smile. "I'll only be gone for tonight, I'll be back." She pouted, looking away. "Do you really have to go?" He wanted to say no so badly and just stay here but he knew Delila would give him hell if he didn't see her. He sighed sadly. "I'm sorry, I do but I promise when I come back we'll do whatever you want to do, how does that sound?" She still pouted. "Ok." He kissed her head, feeling guilt well up inside. Why did it feel so wrong to leave?
Gage was at his kinda-girlfriends house, they were ready for some action, it had been a while. He had her pinned to her bed, kissing down her soft neck, feeling her sides but he could tell he wasn't as into it as he used to be. He had been working with Tony at Stark Tower for the last week and a half and had thanked God Tony kept him now as Permanent Guard. She sighed, pushing him away gently. "Hey, whats up?" He smiled weakly. "What do you mean?" She sat up on her elbows, blonde hair going over her shoulder. "I mean you seem...off tonight." She pressed her hips against his with a smirk but it faded. "Your not even hard.."
He sighed,leaning his head down, sitting up. "It's not you, honest-" She started to sit up. "I know that, we've fucked enough times that I know it's not. So what is it?" He looked to her, getting his shirt on. He hesitated and she spoke. "This the second time this month I've gotten to see you. I would like to know whats up." "I know and I'm sorry." "Then what is it? Your job?" "It's not a job." She looked confused.
"Then what is it.." "A carer choice." "As a live in nanny?" He glared slightly to her. "I'm no nanny." She glared, getting her shirt on, standing in a tiny white shirt and panties. "Are you sure because everyday on the phone you have something to say about there spoiled kid." He stood, glaring. "Shes not spoiled." "Oh please. He's Tony Stark, you don't think he hands that brat everything she wants?"
He glared. "Stop talking about her like that. She is no brat and she isn't spoiled." "Then what is she?" Gage glared. "She is Quinn Stark, shes just a little girl who has nightmares every night and wants to save the world when she grows up.." Delila shook her head with a scowl. "If she were older I'd say you were in love with her. You know she isn't your daughter right? There not your real family, there only pretending to be." Gage's hands were fisited, quickly grabbing his keys off the desk, putting his shoes on, ignoring the ache in his chest from her words. "I'm leaving."
She glared, crossing her arms. "Fine, run back to your precious little princess and paper family." He glared at her, wishing to God he could break her nose. "You know. I think I will. This, whatever the hell we are, is over." He glared. She stood back like she got slapped. "Were what.." He nearly growled, walking closer.. "Were over." She shook her head. "Your dumping me for a family that isn't even your family?" He growled, turning away he opened the door before slamming it. She felt her eyes water, sitting on her bed letting it all sink in.
He sped back to The tower on the motorcycle Tony gave him. It was only a five minute drive. Tony was in the lab with Quinn. Kim had fallen asleep on the couch watching TV. A normal night. In the lab, JARVIS spoke up. "Sir, has returned." Tony raised an eyebrow. "So soon? Send him down." Tony turned to Quinn who was by her little area, goggles on her head as she work. He smiled. "Hey, your buddy is back." She smiled brightly, standing. She heard the lab door open, seeing Gage, she ran to him. Gage smiled, kneeling as he picked her up, hugging her. "Hey princess, miss me that much?" Quinn nodded. "Uh-huh!" He chuckled, hugging her, he saw Tony. "You wanted to see me sir?" Tony nodded. "Yeah, just curious. Why are you back so soon. You haven't been gone an hour." Gage sighed. " Uhh it didn't end well. Kinda had a fight." Tony nodded understandingly. "I see. Hopefully you can call her tomorrow and patch things up."
Gage smiled sadly, still holding Quinn." That won't be happening. She said some pretty awful stuff, about you, about Quinn.." He smiled to her. His heart melted as she smiled back, hugging around his neck. He hugged her back. Tony smiled. "Didn't know we were that imporant to you." Gage smiled, almost shyly.. "I hope thats ok." Tony smiled to him. "That is more then ok."
Gage smiled then looked at Quinn. "I did promise anything you wanted tonight. So what do you want to do?" Quinn smiled. "Can we watch cartoons and have banana sandwiches and chocolate milk and..." Gage chuckled, walking with her out of the lab. "Yes, we can have all of that. I'm at your service princess." She smiled, hugging him. "Does that make you my knight in shining armor?" He smiled softer, holding her closer. "Yes it does."
AN: Omg...the adorableness...it's too much.*head explodes* review please!