Three days later the Stark's drove me home from the hospital. I saw the grassy hills roll past revealing the mesmerizing wave of the ocean, I sat up quickly, I love the beach. "We're here."
"Wow!" The view of the mansion we drove up to was massively beautiful, the buildings round features revealed a modern sort of elegance. I knew that they were rich but still! A private road along the Pacific Ocean leading to a mansion overlooking a cliff!
Tony grinned, "Do you like it?"
"Yeah," I nodded.
I looked in front to see Pepper smiling at me... She didn't look as sad as she did before, but it was still there behind her eyes. "So after we get you settled in today we were thinking about taking you shopping for new clothes."
"You-you already bought me new clothes..." I looked at the comfortable and yet anxiety inducing clothes. I didn't feel comfortable with them buying me anything. Let alone something this expensive!
"Do you plan on wearing that outfit everyday?" Tony joked.
I bit my lip, "You don't have to... Really... I'm fine..."
"Actually yes, we do. Not only is it something we want to do but we signed a legal document saying that we have to. So tough luck kid," he teased.
Him explaining that they legally had to do it oddly released a little tension in my chest. "... Okay..."
My jaw dropped at all of the expensive cars lining the the massive garage. He parked next to a red sports car that had to be over 50 grand before getting out and opening my door. "Come on kiddo, time for your tour," he took my bag before helping me out. I wanted to do it myself but the doctor warned me to take it easy and rest and Tony was afraid I'd pull some of my stitches if I did anything by myself, cue eye roll. I smirked, it was nice to finally get to relax though... Honestly I'm surprised I'm not afraid of him, but then again, he's always been my hero. I always told my dad that I wanted to meet him someday. They led me down a maze of elegantly decorated hallways before parking me outside one of the guest bedrooms closest to theirs.
Tony grinned wildly before opening the door. My face lit up when I saw the big bundle of white and brown fur on my bed, "Night!" We ran to each other and he knocked me to the ground.
"You okay?" I didn't have to say anything, as the big lug started licking my entire face making me laugh. I love how he still acts like a puppy.
His leg looked so much better! A knot in my chest loosened and I let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you so much!"
"Of course," he grinned at me. "Now." He walked over to my giant window overlooking the ocean and explained to me how the tech worked. They had already introduced me to Jarvis when we came in. He knocked on the glass, "I made sure to reinforce all the windows and doors. So no matter what happens nothing's getting past that window or our security. Or that dog," he smirked. He sat on my bed and pat next to him. As I sat down Pepper came to sit down next to me. They wrapped their arms around me, "You're gonna be safe here. I promise. I'll always protect you." He was silent for a moment, "I'm still looking for our daughter Katie. I won't ever stop looking. But I promise not to neglect you two, okay?" I looked over to Pepper, had they had a fight recently? "But I'm human so if I do make sure you snap me out of it."
Pepper snorted, "Well I'm glad you're trying."
"Always," he chuckled. "Now! Come on! I bet you're hungry! Do you wanna go out to-."
"No," she glared at him, "You promised me you were going to eat healthy from now on!"
His mouth gaped like a fish for a moment, "But-!" The look she gave him silenced him.
"I'll make dinner. Now, Theresa what's your favorite food?"
"You-you can call me Resa if you want..."
"Alright, Resa. What would you like to eat?"
I thought for a moment... A memory flashed to my mind but before I could settle on it it slipped away leaving me only with a dish and a nostalgic feeling... "Potato soup and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies," A look passed over her face but disappeared in just a moment. "And carrot cake! Oh! And tripleberry pie."
He chuckled and ruffled my hair, "She sounds a little like me huh?"
Pepper smirked and shook her head, "Alright. Jarvis do we have all the ingredients for the soup and cookies?"
"There are two ingredients missing from the pantry; potatos and chocolate chips."
"I just bought some last week! Tony!" she glared.
"I... Got hungry..."
"So you ate two whole packages of chocolate chips?"
"It... Uh... Was a long night...? Happy and Rhodey had some too! In fact Happy's the one who took them from the freezer!"
"Sure he did," she got up, "Come on you two. Let's go make lunch."
Pepper let me help her cook as Tony watched with a smirk, I asked him why he wasn't helping, "You want it to be edible don't you?" He joked.
"Sadly he's right," she gave him a playful face, "He burns water. Without me he wouldn't be able to survive."
"I could probably live on pizza and sour gummy worms," he grinned. "Maybe even a trip to Burger King here and there."
She scoffed, turning to look him in the eyes and crossing her arms, "Are you implying that you prefer junkfood over the meals I cook?"
He jumped up from the slouching position he had over the counter, "No! Of course not! I was just kidding!"
He grinned, "Relax, Tony. I was just joking." He sighed in relief as he resumed his slouch, making her smirk, "Risa can you put a pot filled with water on the front burner?"
I nodded a smile gracing my face, "Yeah," I remember the first time making potato soup with dad... I stopped working when I realized Pepper stood there frozen, she turned her gaze to me. "Wha-what...? Is something-," I swallowed hard, "Did I do something wrong?"
"No! No. Its-its nothing... You didn't do anything wrong... I'm just..."
"Pepper?" I hadn't realized Tony was so close to us.
"I just-... Where did you learn that song Risa?"
"What song?"
"You were just singing, I heard you, you were singing-," she wiped her eyes, "I-I'll be right back!" She rushed off into the hallway wiping the tears from her eyes.
"What were you singing kiddo...?"
"I-I always sung when I made potato soup with dad... I-I didn't realize I was singing..." I looked down for a while at my hands, before realizing I hadn't answered his question, "I just made up a silly song the first time we made potato soup together. So we started singing it together..." I mumbled suddenly feeling embarassed.
"Pepper and Katie made a potato soup song too..."
"... Oh..." I hugged myself, "I didn't mean to make her upset..."
"Hey, I know, its okay," he hugged me.
We heard footsteps, "I'm sorry..." she came up and hugged me, "It's just that Katie and I came up with a similiar song together... I-," she bit her lip. I could tell how much she hoped I was the daughter she'd lost...
I couldn't look at them anymore, my lips were trembling so I bit them hard, "I'm-I'm kind of tired... Can I go to my room?"
I tried not to look at their faces but I could hear hurt in their voices anyway when they told me I could... When I got to my room I locked the door and searched around for a dark quiet spot where I could cry. I tried to crawl under my bed but I was too big... I guess the walk in closet will have to do for now. There weren't enough clothes in there to make me feel safely hidden, but I huddled into a corner and cried anyways. My heart squeezed tightly as I tried to stifle my sobs so no one could hear me... Why'd they adopt me..? Am I just a replacement until they find Katie...? I wish they loved and wanted me as much as they do Katie... I would almost say she's lucky to have two parents who care about her so much but... She's not even able to enjoy it...
Tony watched Pepper in silence as she cooked, thinking about Theresa and Katie. He dug into his pocket and pulled out his phone, "Jarvis could you please pull up the last file I had open?"
"Will do sir. Pulling up all files on Theresa Jane Almstead now Theresa Jane Stark."
"What are you doing?"
He looked up to see Pepper wiping her eyes with her sleeve, "I want to know what happened to her..."
"Tony... She's..." she took a deep breath, "... She's not Katie..."
"I never said that. I just wanted to know who she was before-," he clenched his fist, remembering the drug addict who stabbed him in the shoulder like the man used it everyday... And from what the doctor had told them about Theresa's medical problems he now knew he did.
She sat down across from him and took his hands in hers, "... We both know that's not the only reason. And you know its not fair to her or Katie if we try to trick ourselves into believing they're the same person..."
His gaze drifted down to their hands, he ran his thumbs over the back of her hands before looking up at her and swallowing, "... You're right... I just..." his voice broke and he covered his mouth with his hand, "I just miss her so much...!" He squeezed both of her hands again before covering his mouth with his hand again, "I'm her dad... I promised to always protect her... And I let her down..."
"I know... But it's not your fault..."
"Yes it is! I'm Iron Man! I'm supposed to be a superhero! I'm supposed to protect people! But I can't even protect my own daughter!"
"Tony... It's okay. You're brilliant," she squeezed his hands, "You'll find her... I-I know you will..."
He shook his head, "But I'm not... I'm just an arrogant, self-entitled, egomaniac..." he scoffed, "Tony Stark... Genius... I've got access to supposedly the best technology in the world and I can't even find one little girl..."
"... It is the best. You will find her... I trust you."
He remained silent for a while, "... I just hope I won't let you two down..."
"You won't and do you know why?"
"Huh?"
"You're stubborn. You don't give up even when others tell you to stop or that its impossible. You never give in."
He chuckled, "Thanks Pep."
She brought his hands to hers and kissed them before resting her chin on them, "Thank you."