Disclaimer: All characters other than some friendly nurses don't belong to me.

Warnings: I don't know for sure yet but there might be some swearing in the next few chapters so I'm rating it to be sure.

This fanfiction will be set in the Iron Man 1 movie, I hope I find the inspiration to continue it through the second movie and the avengers. If there are things unclear don't hesitate to ask me about them in a review, I'll always try to answer them.

So I now proudly present Life isn't always fair! Chapter 5

After a short ride, Tony parked the car. Leaving his jacket in the car and unbuttoning the top button of his shirt, the genius finished his look of with sunglasses.

He permitted Alan to take off his jacket but insisted it would go along in the breathing pack in case it would get chilly. The first stop was a small store where Tony bought a blanket and some toys he could play with in the sand. At the second stop, the waffle stand, ordered Tony enough lunch to feed his whole staff.

The duo ended up picnicking on a private beach, and when the food was gone, father and son build a sandcastle.

Tony hadn't missed the paparazzi watching the two from a distance. They couldn't enter the private section but there was nothing he could do about them making pictures. Besides, Alan's existence had to come out one day. Luckily his son was unaware of the people watching them.

When the father noticed Alan watching the ocean with longing eyes, he kicked of his shoes and socks and rolled up his pant legs. Repeating the same with Alan, he picked the kid up and walked to the water. "It's a bit chilly because it's still spring, if you think it's too cold you tell me okay." Tony said. "And don't get your pants wet."

The first few times pulled Tony the six year old through the water without the feet actually touching the soft sand so he was used to the cold water. Then Alan was put down. Giggling, Alan walked to deeper into the ocean, running back when a wave came after him. Tony observed for a while, finding to his amusement that Alan was playing tag with the waves.

The watch told the father it was four o'clock, so he scooped Alan up again, kissing the boys forehead. "Time to go home little guy."

"But I want to play." Whined Alan struggling in his father's hold.

"Keep still Alan Anthony, it's dinner time so we have to head home." Said Tony, tightening his grip on the small body. "Now behave or there won't be any story tonight."

"Okay dad." said Alan, he came closer for a moment and Tony thought he was getting a kiss on his cheek. But Alan only rubbed his nose against Tony's. "It's a Eskimo kiss, I read about it today."

"Oh I like that one. Can I get another?" Tony asked, carrying Alan back to the blanket where they had left their shoes. Alan repeated it with Tony also moving his head to rub the tops of their noses against each other.

Using the blanket to dry Alan's feet before putting the socks and shoes back on. "Go grab your toys." Tony said cleaning his own feet from sand and placing the socks and shoes on. Seeing the press blocking the way to his car, Tony pulled a face and picked Alan up. "Tony 2, those people will try to ask a lot of questions and take pictures of us. But they're not nice, they twist your words to sell their magazines or TV shows. I want you to be really quiet and hold on to me okay?"

Alan nodded and buried his face in the crook of his father's neck.

"Mister Stark!" voices shouted when Tony reached the gate. "Mister Stark! Whose child is that? Are you filing for custody? What's wrong with him? What's his name? How old is he?"

"If you could be silent for a moment, I'll release my statement." Tony said. "This little guy is Alan Anthony Stark and I met him through the hospital fundraising. After getting to know him the last few weeks, I made the best decision ever by adopting him as my son and heir of my company. Tony 2 has some health problems, he needs a constant flow of oxygen for which he's carrying a backpack. I would like to remind you that he is a young boy and I don't want anyone harassing him. His medical file is doctor confidentiality and not to end up the papers or magazines."

Off course, the press wasn't satisfied and kept firing questions.

"Out of our way," from out of nowhere Rhodney appeared clearing the way to the car.

Tony quickly strapped Alan in his car seat, giving the boy his bear before stroking his thumb over the pink cheek he asked if his son was okay.

Alan held Koda to his chest. "I wanna go home now."

"We're going." Tony gave one last kiss to Alan's forehead and closed the door. "Want a ride Rhodey?"

"If I would give you a choice Stark." Rhodes took place on the passage seat. Turning around to face the wide eyed kid, Rhodes offered his hand. "Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes, at your service."

"Alan Anthony Stark." Alan said, holding Rhodes hand short.

"You're a cute one." Noted Rhodes before turning to Tony who was driving by now. "So care to tell me why my supervisor informed me that our weapon specialist who happened to be my best friend adopted a kid and failed to inform me?"

"Jealous that he replaced you as my best friend. Don't worry Rhodney, I have enough love to give, even for you." Tony grinned.

"I could have helped you know," Rhodney said. "I may not think that you're the perfect person to be a father but I could still helped you."

"My daddy is the best daddy in the world." Alan said from the back seat.

"Thank you Tony 2. As long as that's clear." Said Tony. "We're still figuring a few things out about the father part, you know how my dad was and Alan Anthony can't even remember his father ever taking care of him. But I read this parenting book before I went to pick up Alan Anthony so I'm sure we'll be fine."

"A parenting book?" James asked disbelieving.

"Yes a parenting book, telling me all about letting the children make decisions and make sure they get to bed at a decent time, healthy food and variation and stuff. We'll be fine, besides Pepper and Happy are around constantly, they're smitten with my little mini me."

"He doesn't look like you at all." Remarked Rhodney.

"He's already studying the fourth grade work and likes fast cars. He totally gets that from me." Tony bragged. "Even though he won't be able to sit in a race car until his sixteen birthday."

"Why can't I sit next to you during a race?" Alan questioned.

"Because it's too dangerous, we'll talk about it when you're older." Tony drove into his garage. "Let the blanket and toys in the car. Rhodney can you help him out?"

"Sure." Rhodney lifted Alan from the car, careful for the breathing pack and strapping it on the thin shoulders.

"Thanks!" Alan smiled before running in the house.

"Go wash up and come straight back to me! I have a surprise for you." Tony called after him, turning to his best friend he asked whether the man would stay for dinner. "I'm going to order Chinese from my favorite Ping."

"I would like to join if I don't interrupt anything. But Tony. You'll have to learn how to cook for the little guy." Rhodney frowned. "He can't live on take out."

"No take out, I order from restaurants who deliver at home. So it's actually healthy cooked food but not me behind the counter." Placing the Spiderman pack with toys against the couch, he strode to the fridge. "Want something to drink?"

"A beer is fine." Said James dropping on the couch.

Tony pulled a guilty face. "I'm afraid I don't have any beer in house and I don't allow any strong drinks around Alan Anthony. Pepper did the groceries and I have several fruit juices, lemonade, Coca Cola and milk."

The Lieutenant Colonel stood in shock for a moment before scraping his throat and asking for a coke. The billionaire took two glasses of coke and a plastic cup apple juice to the table. Sending a quick text to Pepper asking if she wanted to come over for dinner and bring Chinese over if she wanted.

"I have to admit I'm surprised." James said. "the old Tony would have opened up the whiskey by now."

"I can't." sighed Tony. "I even have trouble sleeping last night because I'm afraid that something happens to him. His heart or lungs give out and I don't notice it, he wakes up and wanders off… even with Jarvis keeping an eye on him the whole night I can't stop worrying. I can't even imagine what might happen if I'm drunk and pass out and Jarvis can't wake me up when something happens. I think I woke up every hour at least to check if he was breathing fine."

"I never would have figured you to be a protective dad." Grinned the colonel, his smile widened when the pitter patter of small feet running towards them sounded through the hall. As if it was an automatic response, Tony kneeled with open arms just in time to catch the little blond in a hug.

"Shall I show you the surprise?" Tony asked, keeping a firm hold on the kid. Without waiting for an answer he turned to his best adult friend. "Rhodney, we'll be right back, can you keep an eye out for Pepper?"

"I can and will." Nodded Rhodes.

Tony walked up the stairs, "Close your eyes Tony 2." He ordered and Alan frowned but listened. A feeling of relieve fled through Tony when he saw the room, it was precisely as he imagined it would be. Carefully Alan was placed on his feet. "You can open your eyes now champ."

Alan peeked through his hands before gasping. He was standing in the doorway of a boy's room. The racecar bed he had chosen was rested in the middle of the right wall, with a night stand next to it. The floor had a red carpet and the walls had a jungle on them, complete with blue sky. The ceiling was the same light blue but with stars. A corner desk with laptop was next to the entry door, going on until it touched the bookcase. The treasury was next to the bookcase and a closet next to the toys. There was a door leading to a private bathroom, complete with bath and shower.

The view from the window that acted as wall, was the sea, going on for miles.

"Is this mine?" Alan turned to his father, his blue eyes wide.

"It's all yours." Smiled Tony accepting the hug and rubbing the tears away from Alan's eyes. He had to blink fast not to cry himself.

After dinner with Pepper and Rhodey, Tony walked with Alan to his room. After changing and a wash up, Alan crawled into his new bed pulling the blankets over his shoulders. Tony set up the oxygen tank and exchanged the nasal cannula before taking a book and sitting next to his son wrapping an arm around him.

"Once there was a prince, living in a large castle…" Tony started, it was a thin book and he continued reading even when Alan had fallen into slumber. "And they lived happily ever after. Just like us." He placed the book back on the shelf and kissed Alan's head before tucking the blanket tighter around the small boy. "Watch him Jarvis, and notify me immediately if you even think something is off."

"Yes sir." The British voice said and Tony went back to the living room.

His two friends were watching the TV, which was showing commercials, but looking up to Tony when he entered. "Tony, you might want to sit down." Pepper said, her hands wrung together. "They're doing a special on you and Alan Anthony tonight."

Tony forced himself not to smile at the name, Alan made it quite clear during dinner that his name was Tony 2, or when it was too complicated since they called his dad Tony, Alan Anthony. His name was not just Alan, no it was Alan Anthony.

"… Welcome back. With us today are Hillary, Astoria, Tess and myself Francine, before the commercial we were talking on the richest man on the world, Owner of Stark industries, Tony Stark. Known playboy, alcoholic and reckless driver, but according to our sources he's now a father of a three year old sick boy."

"He's six." Growled Tony. A picture was covering the better half of the TV, he was holding Alan on his hip while they were walking to the car yesterday after shopping. Alan's head was rested on his shoulder and the thin arms were loosely rapped around Tony's neck. Tony was wearing his jeans leather jacket and sunglasses making them a stunning pair, if he may say so.

"According to the same source, the two met at a fundraising a couple of weeks ago. The local hospital tried to gain support for children from poor families so they could continue their treatment. Mr. Stark first supported the little boy financially and turned out to be a familiar face at the hospital after that night. Visiting every free moment and even staying the night after a major surgery. Two days ago it was made final and Mr. Stark took his new son named Alan shopping for supplies."

"Ill prepared." Hillary sighed. "Stark should have had the room ready before the adoption."

"Well the shopping assistant did say that Stark allowed young Alan to choose his furniture. With the way Stark throws money around, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a room ready but he changed it so it would be precisely as the cutie wanted." Offered Tess.

"They do make an adorable pair don't they?" Astoria sighed.

"Yes one bystander heard Stark call Alan 'Tony 2' and Alan explained that everyone named Tony was handsome and smart. Apparently Stark changed the child's name to Alan Anthony Stark during the adoption." Tess said.

"Back to the matter at hand. Many people wonder if Stark is fit to be a father." Francine cut in.

"Absolutely not." Hillary said. "Tony Stark is irresponsible and an egocentric narcissist. He can't cook, clean or do anything than make weapons. That's not an environment in which a young boy should grow up."

"He's doing a fabulous job so far." Defended Astoria. "Look at the pictures. Healthy breakfast, sand castles, playing at the beach. He even has a car seat and didn't even crossed the speed limit. I must say I'm surprised."

"But for how long?" Tess asked. "We all know that Stark loves toys for a month or two and then throws them away…"

Pepper turned the TV off when she noticed the anger on Tony's face. "Tony…"

The man just held up his hand, minutes ticked by in silence.

"I'm going upstairs." The billionaire said calmly after a half hour, rising up. "You know your way out."

Rhodey jumped on his feet. "Stark."

"Just don't." Tony disappeared upstairs. Arriving in is room, he threw the door shut and sank down on the bed with his head in his hands.

Eying the cabinet which contained his liquor for a second, he started to rub his eyes with his hands. He had been struggling with his drinking since his father died, maybe even before that. But he promised himself he would stop from the moment he wanted to visit Alan again after the first day in the park.

He broke that promise when he heard that Alan would go back to a foster family. That night he drank way too much, waking up in some motel in the middle of nowhere with a gorgeous but strange woman with no memories of how he ended up there. He hadn't touched alcohol since, but he did deserve one sip.

On the other hand he had promised he wouldn't drink around Alan, in case his son needed him.

But then, one drink wouldn't hurt him. Tony didn't know how long he stared at the cabinet weighting his options before he broke.

Retrieving the key from that back of his sock drawer, he opened his cabinet pulling out the whiskey. Sitting down back on the bed he started to open the bottle when a soft voice startled him.

"Daddy?" clad in his light blue cookie monster PJ's, his hair sticking every direction and pulling Koda along, Alan stood in the doorway. "I had a bad dream."

Tony looked at the bottle in shame, dropping it on the bed and moving towards the six year old. Picking him up to place him on his lap. "What was it about?"

"The CPS lady came to take me back." Mumbled Alan, hiding his face against the broad chest. "You couldn't stop her because all the people from the beach were blocking your way."

"Oh Tony 2." Rubbing Alan's back, Tony sighed. "I will always fight for you, don't worry. Nobody can take you away from me."

Cuddling against his father's side, his eyes started to drop. "I'm thirsty. May I have a bit of your drink?"

Tony looked guilty at the amber coloured liquid. "That's a grown up drink, how about some warm milk and a cookies?"

"Don't forget his air supply sir." Javis voice piped up.

Holding Alan's hand, they made a quick stop in Alan's room for the breathing pack before walking down to the kitchen. Alan climbed on the chair and Tony opened the fridge. "I'm afraid I don't have cookies in house, but I'm sure there has to be a recipe on the internet."

"We're going to bake cookies?" Alan asked, kneeling on the chair to look over the table.

"I don't see why not. I used to do this with my first nanny before she was fired. It helps when you have bad dreams. You look up the recipe and I'll go look for flour."

Alan took the tablet, tapping on the screen while Tony searched his memory for the ingredients, luckily there had been groceries done today and Happy bought a lot. Off course there were some cookies but the six year old didn't need to know that.

"Preheat oven to 250 degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda; set aside." Alan read.

"How much flour?" Tony asked placing a bag and a cup in front of Alan together with a bowl.

"Two and a half." Alan bit his lip in concentration focusing on his task. "And in another bowl we need to mix one cup unsalted butter with one cup granulated sugar and one light brown."

"I only have normal sugar but that will have to do." Tony handled the mixer, which he found with the help of Jarvis. He beat the mix on light speed until the mixture was light and fluffy. Than Alan added the teaspoon salt, two teaspoons vanilla, and two eggs. One minute later, Alan added the flour.

"My mom used to do this." Alan said sadly. "I was too small to help but I sat on my chair watching her while my brothers played in the garden. She always let me clean the spoon after she added chocolate."

"I have some chocolate." Tony pulled out a candy bar. "We can rasp it, it will be like your mom's cookies."

Even though he was Alan's dad now, he didn't want Alan to forget about the woman who gave her life to save him. A mother who loved him, even when his father didn't.

"I would like that." Alan beamed. After adding the chocolate, they placed the dough balls on baking sheets. Jarvis set the timer for 10 minutes and Tony went back to the fridge to grab some milk.

"Jarvis, we do have a microwave, don't we? Pepper used it to warm dinner before I believe?" asked Tony looking around lost in his own kitchen.

"Yes sir, the second oven has microwave function. I'll set the timer so the milk is warm when the cookies are done, you only have to place the glasses in." Jarvis answered.

Filling two glasses, Tony placed them in the oven. Together they cleaned the kitchen quickly and Alan sat back down with a spoon, Tony sat on the other side of the table licking the dough of his own spoon in silence.

"Watch out, they're still hot." Tony said placing a plate with freshly baked cookies and the milk in front of him.

"Mr. Devou used to drink from the same bottle you have in your room." Alan said suddenly, licking away his milk moustache. "Sometimes he would get angrier and hit us after but most days he would fall asleep. He says it helps him sleep, does it help sleep you too?"

Tony swallowed and looked pained. He had heard that Alan's foster homes weren't always that loving but to hear it from the boy self. "I… uh… well the thing is..." wide blue eyes looked up to him and Tony sighed again. Walking over, he pulled his son on his lap and wrapped his arms around him. "Alcohol makes you forget why you're angry or sad for a moment so you can fall asleep easily. But sometimes it makes you more angry."

"What do you want to forget?" Alan mumbled sleepy.

Tony took a napkin to wipe the milk moustache away. "Some people said some bad things about me on the TV. Nobody thinks that I can take care of you, that I'm not capable of loving anyone but myself."

"Why do you care about what others think?" asked Alan. "There was a boy in the hospital, he always said that I was stupid since I had never gone to school. Nurse Lisa said I should just ignore him because she and I knew better and that's all that matters. The people on the TV are the same as that boy, they say you can't love. We know better, that's what matters."

"That's right." Tony smiled. "Nurse Lisa is a really smart lady."

"Not as smart as you daddy." Yawned Alan. Tony chuckled and carried Alan back to bed. When Tony placed another goodnight kiss on Alan's forehead, the six year old mumbled. "I love you dad." Half asleep.

Tony stood in shock for a moment before smiling and whispering. "I love you more."

Everyone thanks for favoring and reviewing ;)