A/N: Hey guys, sorry for the wait, but it is now over and here is the next chapter.
"I can walk by myself, thank you very much." Ruby snapped, as Tony took hold of her hand and led her into the Malibu mansion.
After a lot of arguments with doctors at the hospitals, Tony finally managed to get Ruby out of there and back home where she belonged. Liam had been a great help, defending Tony's decision and making a few threats of his own. That was when Tony realised just how much of a friend he was to his daughter.
"Has she always been such a diva?" Tony called to Liam who was walking behind them, carrying his luggage.
The man let out a chuckle. "Oh no, this isn't Diva Ruby. Dive Ruby is lot worse, trust me, you never want to meet her."
"I am still here you know." Ruby moaned, wanting the pair of them to just leave her to walk on her own. "And I have never been a diva."
Liam couldn't help but smirk. "You were in 9th grade, you had Mr Trizor for chemistry…" Ruby's eyes suddenly widened as she remembered the memory, of her totally bitching at a teacher for giving her a less than satisfactory grade. Liam just looked at her. "You were a total diva, Ruby."
"Excuse me, but who was right? I was. The idiotic man needed to pick up a dictionary, learn proper English, including grammar, and make sure he knew what the hell he was teaching." She called, trying to defend herself.
"Oh, and Overbearing Ego Ruby decides to rear her head." Liam said, making Tony chuckle. He was finding it amusing, the little names he had for his daughter.
Ruby turned around sharply and glared at him. "Do you want Murderess Ruby to make an appearance? Because that can be arranged." She warned him, her eyes darkening a little. It was clear that she really wasn't in any mood for jokes right now.
Liam just lets out a sigh. "Oh the Furious Ruby, how I have not missed seeing her." He grumbled, dropping his bags on the floor and taking in the sight around him. "Any of your other sides going to make an appearance, Rubes?"
All she could do was continue to glare at him. "Murderess Ruby is getting closer, and she's coming for you, Liam Roberts." Her voice was low and threatening, and Liam knew in an instant that she was deadly serious. "Now leave me alone." She yanked her arm away from Tony and slowly made her way over to the couch, flopping herself down on it the moment it was in reach.
Liam shook his head as he went to stand next to Tony. "Seriously, is she always this grumpy?" Tony whispered to him.
"No, that's just going to be from the pain and the meds." Liam replied, not taking his eyes from Ruby. "Give it a few days, she'll be right back to causing trouble."
"I know you're still taking about me." Ruby growled, lying on the couch and making herself comfortable. She really was completely fed up, and was not going to admit to how much pain she was currently in.
"Do you want me to get you anything, Ruby?" Tony asked, watching her closely.
"No, I want to be left alone." She growled back at him.
"Okay, well I'll give Liam the tour, find him a room. You going to be okay?" Yes, there was still concern in his voice, but he couldn't help it, he was worried about her. Ruby just glared at him. "Yeah, you're good. Come on, Liam."
Ruby just watched as the two men walked out of the room, finally leaving her on her own. She didn't want to admit it, but she was exhausted and just wanted to curl up and go to sleep. Ever since her mother had died, her life had just spiralled into one great big blur, and she no longer knew where it was heading.
By the time Tony and Liam returned to where they had left her, she had fallen asleep. Tony just let out a sigh as he scooped his daughter carefully into his arms and carried her to her room, gently placing her down on her bed and pulling the covers over her. He knew she had been through a rough time, and that none of this could have been easy for her. But he was determined to make it work, and to make her happy.
When she finally decided to wake, it was dark outside, and not because JARVIS had tinted the windows. "JARVIS, what time is it?" She called, slowly pushing herself up and letting out a slight groan from the pain she felt.
"It is almost 10pm, Miss Matthews-Stark. Your father and Liam are in the living room, would you like me to tell them you are awake?" JARVIS asked her, sounding a little concerned.
"Um, yeah, can you ask one of them to bring me some water and some pain killers please?" She asked him, throwing the covers to one side and letting her feet touch the ground.
"Of course, Miss Matthews-Stark. Will there be anything else?"
"No, thank you." Ruby called back, sitting on the edge of her bed and gazing out of the window.
A few minutes later there was a light knocking on her door, and her father opened it, standing there with a glass of water in one hand, and tablets in the other. "Hey, how you feeling?" He asked, walking into the room and handing her what he was holding.
"I'm in absolute agony." She replied, popping the tablet in her mouth and washing it down with the water. "How are you getting along with Liam?" That was one thing she had been worried about, how her father would react to her best friend, and the fact that he was so much older than her.
Tony jus smiled at her. "He seems like a good guy. Told me so many stories about you, which have been rather interesting I have to say." There was a slight grin on his face as he spoke.
Ruby just rolled her eyes at him, she already knew that Liam was going to spill the beans on some of the things she had been up to as a child, but she also knew that he would spill too much. "Well, you can't ground me for any of that, it's in the past and already dealt with." She warned him, knowing he would love the chance to ground her some more.
"No, but maybe I should ground you for not telling me that something was wrong." The grin had turned into a frown and Ruby knew that he was serious. "You really should have told me, honey, it could have been a lot worse."
"I'm sorry. I was just thinking about getting through the press conference." She told him, hanging her head in shame once more. Ruby already knew how serious it could have been, she wasn't stupid, but she decided to ignore it and that it could wait until after.
"The press conference could have waited. You're more important than a press conference, Ruby." Tony told her, taking her hand a giving it a quick squeeze. "So, you feel like something to eat? I'm sure you're hungry."
Ruby shook her head. "I'm not really hungry." She mumbled. "What did the press have to say?"
That was the question that Tony had been waiting for her to ask. After her little stunt at Stark Industries, the whole media industry was booming trying to work out who she was. "Well, none of them have worked it out yet. You were right, they really are idiots." Ruby let out a chuckle, but had to stop when the pain flared in her side. "Are you sure you don't want anything to eat?"
"No, I'm fine, thanks. I just wondered what was going on, that's all."
Tony just smiled at her softly. "Okay, and before I forget, I think you may be wanting this back." He pulled out her SWAIN earpiece and passed it to her. "I think he's missed you."
"Thanks. I hope he wasn't too much of a pain." She asked Tony, fiddling with the bud. She wanted to call someone, someone that she knows her father wouldn't have called. Only, Ruby was worried about doing it while he was in the room.
"JARVIS has been keeping him entertained. Is there anything else that you want?" The look in his eyes just showed how much he was worried about her.
"Uh, no, I'm good. Thanks. And, uh, thanks for putting up with me recently as well." She mumbled.
Tony just smiled at her. "I'm just glad you're okay and back home, Ruby. Get some more rest, I'll look after Liam." He told her, kissing her forehead before leaving her alone in her room.
The moment he was gone, she put the bud in her ear. "Welcome home, Miss Matthews." SWAIN called to her.
"Hey, SWAIN. I do hope you have been behaving." She asked, glad to have him back again. It had been so weird not having him around, and now she was even more determined to get him set up in her new home.
"I dare say I have, Miss Matthews. It is good to have you back." He replied. He did actually sound happy to Ruby, which was always a good thing. He probably had been worrying, he had been annoying her when she first started getting the pains to tell her father, but she was stubborn and refused.
"Thanks. Call Tasha please, might as well tell her what's been going on." Ruby said, laying back down in her bed and getting more comfortable. It was still hurting her to move too much, so she planned on staying in bed for a while longer.
"Of course, Miss Matthews."
It didn't even ring once before the call was answered. "Ruby, are you okay?" Tasha asked her, not even bothering to say hello.
"Hello to you as well, Tasha. And yes, I am fine."
She heard Tasha let out a sigh of relief. "Thank God. We were so worried when we found out."
"Uh, how did you find out, exactly?" Ruby was wondering if it was from the press, or from someone else.
"You mean you haven't seen the press pictures?" Tasha asked her, a little surprised.
"Clearly not. That's how you found out then?"
"No. We found out before the press even had the chance to print it. We are still keeping an eye on you, Ruby, you know that right?" Tasha told her, just wanting to be honest with her.
"I know, Tash. At the moment I'm glad you guys are. At least I know there is someone out there who can control the press better than I can." She said, making Tasha laugh. "Seriously Tasha, I don't care that he is keeping tabs on me anymore. Means he will know the instant Tony does something stupid."
"Still not on father daughter terms then?" Tasha asked her, sounding a little disappointed.
Ruby just let out a sigh. "No, we aren't. Come on, I hardly know the guy. So he is my biological father, big deal. We share the same DNA, but that doesn't make up for the past."
"But it wasn't his fault, you know that."
"I know, I've always known. But you have to understand, it doesn't instantly making him a father to me. I have never had a father, or anyone close to a father figure." Ruby told her. "The only male role model I ever had was Liam, and he is more a big brother than anything else."
"So give him a chance to be the father you missed for 17 years." Tasha said to her softly. "Come on, Ruby, I know you're stubborn, but this is just silly."
"Tasha…" She moaned, really not wanting to go into a conversation about her and Tony.
"No, Ruby. Stop being a brat and start being a daughter." Tasha told her firmly.
"Yes, ma'am." She mumbled, knowing that her friend was serious. "So when are you and Robin coming to see me? I'm out of the hospital now, and I'll be back to causing chaos in a few days according to Liam."
Tasha laughed down the phone. "Soon, Ruby. I promise. We'll come and see you soon."
"You better. Seems like the only way to get your attention is to end up in hospital." Ruby was starting to sulk a little. She may have had Liam there for her, but she had other friends that she wanted to see, mainly Tasha and her Robin Hood.
"You know that is not true. We have both been busy here, Ruby. I should have some time coming up next month. We should be finished with this assignment by then. We'll sort something gout closer to the time. Okay?"
"Yeah, okay. Just please come and see me soon, Tasha. Otherwise I might go crazy and do something stupid." Ruby told her, missing her friends and her old life.
"Ruby, you do crazy and stupid things anyway. I'll get it sorted, okay? Now you just take it easy, and rest up." Tasha told her. "No more getting rushed to hospital, understand?"
"Yes ma'am." She grumbled once more. "Catch you later, Tasha." Ruby said, before the call was ended. She was desperate to see her friends, to just talk to anyone other than Tony. Although she had Liam there, she hadn't spent too much time talking to him, she hadn't had the chance.
Ruby closed her eyes as the pain in her side started to fade a little. The painkillers were finally kicking in, and if she was lucky, she was going to be able to sleep through the entire night. She was just glad to be out of that hospital and back to somewhere that she could feel at home.
When Tony came in to check on her, before going to bed himself for a few hours, he was pleased to see that she was fast asleep. Although he was not too impressed with her having not eaten since leaving the hospital. Certain that she was okay and sleeping peacefully, he left the room, letting out a sigh.
Come the morning, Ruby woke to the smell of pancakes wafting into her room. She had no idea what the time was, but the smell was making her stomach grumble. Because of how hungry she was, she didn't even bother to get washed and changed, she just threw the bed covers to one side and started to plod towards the kitchen.
"Morning, Ruby." Liam called to her as she walked in. "I hope you're hungry." He said, putting a plate stacked with pancakes down on the table.
"Starving. I could smell these all the way from my room." She told him, sitting down in front of the plate, ready to start tucking into them. She hadn't realised just how hungry she was until that moment.
"Good. At least my pancakes can still get you out of bed in the mornings." He told her, sitting down at the table with her. "Well, tuck in."
Ruby didn't hesitate, she grabbed her cutlery and started devouring the lot of them. She had always liked his pancakes, no one else's ever compared to them.
"Painkillers?" Liam asked her, getting up and going over to get her a glass of water. She nodded at him and he returned with the painkillers and a drink for her.
"Thanks." She mumbled, swallowing the pills and glugging down some of the water. "Where's Tony?"
"He went into work. There's a few things he needed to get sorted, but he said he should be back just after lunch time." Liam told her, smiling as she carried on eating.
"Anything been going on with the press?" She wondered. Ruby still wanted to see what they had said about her when she had ended up in hospital.
Liam shifted in his seat a little, giving Ruby a nervous look. "Maybe. Look's like someone may have finally worked out who you are." He told her.
There was a smirk on Ruby's face now. "Hey, JARVIS?" She called.
"Yes, Miss Matthews-Stark?" The British voice replied to her from, well, everywhere.
"Who's the clever little journalist that worked out the biggest mystery of the century?" She asked, the smirk still on her face.
"That would be Christine Everhart, from Vanity Fair, Miss Matthews-Stark." JARVIS replied to her.
"And what exactly did she say? I'm kind of curious to know what I've been missing."
"Ms Everhart refers to your mother and her relationship with Mr Stark. She then proceeds to go into the details of your mothers illness and death before discussing your sudden appearance with Mr Stark." JARVIS informed her. "She also commented on your 'stunt', as she called it, at the press conference. Ms Everhart believes that you are too young to have such responsibility in a company as Stark Industries and that the pressure from your father is what made you ill."
Ruby just snorted a little. "Oh, please. Tell you what, JARVIS, send her a lovely bouquet of flowers, along with a note." She said, a little plan forming in her mind.
"Oh no, I know that look. Ruby, don't." Liam warned her.
"Congratulate her on being the first to solve the mystery, that I am impressed with her detective skills. However, clearly she didn't do her homework into my 'illness' if she is blaming Tony for that." Ruby told him. She wasn't happy that someone was blaming Tony for her ending up in hospital.
"Of course, Miss Matthews-Stark. Will there be anything else?" JARVIS asked her.
"Nope, that's all. Thanks." Ruby said, a smile on her face.
Liam just shook his head at her. "You really are impossible, you know that right?"
"Yup, and you wouldn't want me any other way. Think how boring your life would be if it wasn't for me and my impossible ways." There was a hint of mischievousness in her eyes as she spoke.
"You mean how peaceful my life would be, right?" Liam asked her, doing his best to sound completely serious. "Since meeting you I have not had an ounce of peace, Ruby Matthews-Stark." He could stop the smirk from forming on his face as he used her new name.
"Oh, shut up, Liam. No matter what, you still love me." Ruby teased.
"Miss Matthews." SWAIN called, getting her attention. "I have 'the organ grinder' on the line. He wishes to speak with you urgently."
She let out a groan. "Tell him I'm too drugged up to talk to him right now. Maybe he could call again in a few weeks. Or maybe months. Or better still, never again."
"I highly suggest you take the call, Miss Matthews." She could tell he was being serious, and that was never a good thing.
"Yar!" She shouted, as the call connected in her ear. "How be my least favourite pirate?"
"Another stunt like you pulled at the press conference and you will be straight back here. Is that understood, Miss Matthews-Stark?" A voice growled at her.
"Stunt? Seriously? You read Ms Everhart's article as well then, huh?" Ruby asked him, sensing he was in no mood for her jokes right now. "Honestly, I just wanted to get that press conference over and done with. I didn't almost die on purpose."
"Your mother asked me to keep an eye on you, to make sure you stayed out of trouble. I doubt she would be happy if I let you die on my watch." He told her, sticking with his serious tone. "And it is always my watch."
"Oh gee, well doesn't that make me feel special and loved." Ruby grumbled to him. "Anything else you want? I'm sure you have loads of pillaging to do and people to walk the plank."
"Yes. Stop pestering my top two. They will get time off when I say so, not when you demand it."
"Then you had better say so soon, you know how easy I can hack in and give them the time to come visit me." Ruby said, knowing she could do it in minutes.
She heard the man let out a sigh at the other end. "I'll see what can be arranged. But until then, stop calling them and get on with your own life."
"Yes, Captain Grumpypants. Whatever you say." Liam couldn't help but let out a small laugh. He loved it when she started to wind people up, and the person she was currently talking to was always the most fun.
"And you can tell Mr Roberts that I will have his ass on a silver plate of he keeps encouraging you."
This time Ruby laughed. "Liam, he said keep doing what your doing. I want to see him try to get your ass on a silver plate."
Liam just picked up apple from the bowl on the counter and threw it at her head. Lucky for Ruby, she was used to it and ducked in time. "Uh, he just threw an apple at me, which I think was actually meant for you." She said. "So how about I just kick his ass right now?"
"Nice try, Miss Matthews-Stark." The man called. "Stay out of trouble or I promise you, your backside will be back here before you can blink."
"Oh, whatever. I have to go, my ride is here, we're going to rob a bank and blow up a factory. Just for fun, you know." She said, before having SWAIN end the call before he could say anything else.
Liam just shook his head at her once more. "See, totally impossible. Why are you always so hostile to the guy? He's only trying to do what he can for you."
"Okay, I'm not hostile, it's just a little bit of fun. And he annoys me so much. He thinks he bloody controls me, and he doesn't. I'm just showing him that I am my own boss." Ruby told him, sitting up straight and looking proud of herself.
"Uh, actually, I think you'll find that Tony Stark is the boss of you now." He said, getting up from where he was sitting and patting her on the head. "Nice try, kid."
Ruby's mouth dropped open. "Oh, you did not just call me 'kid', Liam Roberts." She said in slight disbelief.
"No, I did. Something wrong with your hearing now as well?" He asked, trying to hold back the new wave of laughter.
"Oh look, Murderess Ruby has come out to play. And she has a target, Liam Roberts." She said, jumping out of her chair and chasing after him.
"Ruby, no. Come on, you should be resting. This isn't going to help you." Liam shouted at her, trying to keep the table between the pair of them.
"I am not a kid. People need to stop calling me a kid all the time." She growled. Liam just frowned, he hadn't know that it was going to upset her so much, it had never bothered her in the slightest before.
"Hey, what's this all about Rubes?" He asked her softly, trying to figure it all out.
"I'm not a kid. I'm not 12, I'm 17. I looked after my mom while she was dying, I looked after the house, I worked 16 hours every day to make sure there was enough money to pay the bills. When I wasn't working I was at he hospital. I didn't eat, I didn't sleep, I didn't do anything for myself." Ruby shouted, making Liam just stare at her with wide eyes. "So stop calling me a kid. I'm not a kid." She said, before doubling over in pain.
Liam was quick to run around the table and get to her. "Oh, Rubes. I was only messing around, you know I didn't mean. I know that you're not a kid anymore, not with everything you have done and been through." He told her, putting an arm around her and trying to calm her down.
"You call me a kid, he treats me like a kid, the only one who seems to treat me like an actual person around here is Tony." Ruby told him quietly, holding onto her side as she tried to ignore the pain. "And he doesn't even know me. Which is probably the only reason why he doesn't see me as a kid. Since everyone who does know me thinks I'm a kid."
Liam was definitely worried, she was starting to ramble, and she only done that when she was struggling to cope. "Ruby, come on. You need to just stop this and calm down now."
"I'm fine, Liam." She said, trying to brush him off.
"Come off it, Rubes. You're not fine. You haven't been in a state like this for about 4 years now." He told her, remembering the last time she ended up so worked up after Tasha went missing. He knew that it was going to take a lot of effort to get her to calm down now, especially since the things she had said were true. He doubted that even Tony knew about most of it.
Liam would make sure he found out, even if it meant he had to tell him about it all himself.
A/N: Now, I know a lot of people are wait for the movie to start, and I promise you it really is coming up soon. Only a few chapters left until we dive into it.
Many of you have been trying to work out who this 'Tasha' is. You'll find out soon enough.
Now, thank you to everyone who has favourited/followed, you guys are fantastic. And an even bigger thank you to everyone who has reviewed, you lot are just brilliant. I love reading your reviews and to know that people are enjoying this story.
So, remember to let me know what you thought of this chapter, be it in a review or by PM, I certainly do not mind.
Pippa.