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 6

Weeks passed by and the Malibu beach house was unrecognizable. There was no alcohol laying around, the fridge was filled with healthy snacks and there were toys laying around everywhere. Happy had transformed a room to an indoor playground with a jungle Jim with a swing, tunnel and twist slide, monkey bars, ball pit and seesaw where the duo spend a lot of time. Alan's condition improved greatly now he was able to move around. Tony still kept a close eye on Alan but wasn't afraid to let the boy run around a bit, when the kid was carrying his breathing pack. Tony found himself actually enjoying running around after Alan and climbing through the tubes or sliding down proving Pepper's statement that he was secretly still a child.

That was until the boy, with wide blue puppy eyes asked if Pepper wanted to play with him because Tony had to finish paperwork and Pepper spend an hour before dinner playing. "Maybe we're all still children in our heart." Said Pepper in passing but refused to say anything more about it no matter how much Tony teased.

Father and son settled into a routine quickly. Every morning during work days, Alan would wake up first, wash up and go watch cartoons or play quietly until Tony entered the living room around nine. When they went to Bianca's dinner for breakfast.

Then they went to the office, where Pepper made sure that there was a healthy snack waiting for Alan around eleven, lunch for the duo at half past one and Tony finished his day at four so they could visit the Starbucks across the street before going home. There the duo spend some time together, either solving puzzles, playing in the playroom or working in the garage until dinner. Thank god for take-out. Alan went to bed around seven and Tony never failed to read a chapter of whatever book they were reading at that moment. When Alan was asleep, Tony went to the garage to tinker around until two a.m. and the next morning around seven Alan woke up and the circle was repeated.

On Saturdays Tony took Alan somewhere, whether it was the zoo or the movie it didn't matter. They ended up in the playroom or the garage and afterwards they went to a restaurant. Sunday were spend in PJ's around the house.

CPS had visit and promised to visit one last time but they didn't see any problems. And Tony kept his promise to the nurses and they visited the girls a few times after Alan's check-up and sometimes during lunch time.

Tony had yet to find a school for Alan and secretly loved having the kid around in his office while the father worked. Pepper loved having Alan around as much as Tony, checking in regularly to see if Alan needs something to drink or had enough to do.

The only one not happy with the new arrangement was Obadiah Stane, Tony's business partner. That was until he saw the stockings shooting up. Unlike the first few days, the press now simply adored the new Tony Stark and young Alan, and it wasn't strange to see pictures of the two in magazines or television holding hands 'Tony and little Alan at the zoo' or Tony carrying his son with 'Alan supporting his father's race team'.

It was also good for Stark industries, Tony got business offers from other fathers. Asking Tony to come over to discuss business over dinner and to bring Alan along to play with their children.

So Tony wasn't that surprised when he got an invitation to Tracy tower in New York. Jeff Tracy used to be an astronaut but was also a famous engineer. His company was rising fast and apparently Jeff wanted to discuss something over dinner and if Tony could bring Alan along that would be marvellous. The ex-astronaut was sure that Alan would get along with his sons just fine.

Pepper found it a wonderful idea. Thus Tony packed an overnight bag for him and Alan, an extra breathing pack and some toys.

Alan vaguely remembered flying, but that was with his mother so he was too young to remember clearly, making him nervous.

Luckily Tony could use his private jet, he kept Alan on his lap during take-off and settled the boy at the table for schoolwork while Tony read through some more papers Pepper offered him.

"What if they are like the others?" Alan suddenly asked, looking up from his math.

Tony frowned and laid the papers down. "Well, then we had the chance to visit New York, we'll go sightseeing before we return home. So you only have to spend a little time with them, and who knows. Maybe his sons are not like the others or Jeff didn't order them to be nice to you for our money. We don't know yet Tony 2, and like Obi said, give the man a chance."

"What if they are mean to me?" pressed Alan.

"Then you call me, I'll come to pick you up immediately and they can put the deal where the sun doesn't shine." Promised Tony.

"Where?

"Never mind." Mumbled Tony

Alan was silent for a few seconds before firing his next question. "And what if they don't like me?"

"Alan Anthony. If you even manage to melt my ice cold heart, you can make everyone love you. You're the sweetest, smartest and kindest boy ever. Off course they will like you." Reassured Tony. "Besides you have my charms and everyone likes me. Don't worry."

"Okay dad." Alan focused back on his work, and Tony turned back to the paperwork.

After a six hour flight, the plane landed on a private airfield close to New York. A rent car, with car seat, was waiting for them and a napping Alan was soon buckled in.

Pepper had made sure they had a penthouse at a five star hotel and lunch reservations. Which they were late for since Tony wanted to make a sure that Alan had everything for his stay with the Tracys.

After lunch, they went to the Tracy tower where they waited for the ex-astronaut to come down.

Jeff walked into the main area of the penthouse, dressed in one of his best business suits and ready to make the deal that wold possibly put Tracy industries into the top of engineering companies.

His youngest, twelve year old Gordon had just returned for spring break and was playing some violent videogame. Virgil was, off course, working on his schoolwork, Jeff could hear the music blasting from his headphones from the other side of the room. It would be a shame if the fourteen year old would get hearing damage, it would ruin his music career and his scholarship for Juilliard, but the boy was a teenager and would only whine at his father if Jeff said something about it. John was probably changing and that left only Scott away from home.

Jeff felt the guilt in his heart flame up again by the thought of his eldest. Last year he had graduated from high school and the day after he had turned eighteen begin July, Jeff told his son the truth about the boy's youngest brother, Walter. Next morning Scott had packed everything saying he couldn't stand being near his father at the moment. They had been fighting every time they met up since. And the worse part was that Scott had all the right to hate the man. Jeff always preached that since they had lost so two family members, that family came first no matter what.

He shouldn't have let Walter to die all alone in the hospital. Back then it seemed like the right decision.

Off course the younger sons all remembered having a sick little brother before their mother died, his youngest was nine when the accident happened, but Jeff kept hidden what he had done promising himself he would come clean when his sons were old enough to understand.

Now he was seriously considering never telling John the truth when he would turn eighteen next year.

Speaking about John, what was taking so long?

"I'm ready father." John said as he sat down on the couch to tie his shoes.

"Okay, let's go over it one more time." The father said nervous. "When Mr. Stark arrives I want you, John, to take his son along for a day out. Make sure the kid doesn't interrupts me so I can close the deal. Any ideas of where to take him?"

"I plan to visit the new space museum first and then go to the playground." Shrugged John. "Then we meet up with you and Mr. Stark in the tower shortly before dinner."

"Very well." Jeff nodded, pulling the headphones from his fourteen year old he tried to look not that desperate. "Virgil, please try to be social today and Gordo, please, please no pranks today and try to be nice to the boy or at least try to be polite."

Two voices calling "whatever" did nothing to calm the man's nerves.

"Mr. Tracy, they are waiting in the lobby." Anne-Marie voice called through the intercom.

"Let's go John." Sighed Jeff stepping into the private elevator. When the door closed Jeff took a calming breath. "I can't thank you enough John. I know you had other plans…"

"Don't worry dad, I can do those things tomorrow. I only leave for school the day after anyway. I'm glad I have an excuse to finally visit the museum. Virg and Gordo hate museums and Scott promised he would go with me four times already but has been too busy to visit us. You would almost think he doesn't want to come home."

Jeff let out a nervous laugh. "Yeah, I would go with you but…"

"You're also busy, I get it." The doors opened and John stepped out as soon as he could.

In the lobby sat the billionaire with his young son on his lap telling the boy a story. A pang of jealousy ran through Jeff, knowing that time had passed for him a long time ago. "Mr. Stark I presume? My name is Jeff Tracy and this is my son John."

Tony rose up, keeping Alan on his hip securing the light boy with his left so he could shake hands with the Tracys.

John frowned when Alan's already pale skin turned even paler when he looked at them before he hid his face in his father's chest. You would think that being in public for a month or so would help him from his shyness, John mussed.

Tony frowned too and blamed it on Alan's shyness and the fact that he had to wake up Alan from his nap. "Please call me Tony and this shy little guy is Alan Anthony or Tony 2, say hello buddy." Alan shook his head, "I'm sorry, he slept on the flight and only woke up an hour ago. He's still a bit tired."

"Oh, John used to be the same." Brushed Jeff off. "My son offered to take Alan to the space museum. That's way more interesting than a boring meeting."

"Actually it's Alan Anthony, not Alan." Tony corrected. "One name from his mother and the other from his father. Now Tony 2, do you hear that? A museum. I'm getting jealous here. I need you to be brave for me and go with John okay?"

"I want to stay with you." Begged Alan. "Please."

"I'm sorry Alan Anthony but it's only for one afternoon and we're going to spend tomorrow together like I promised okay? Now be good for John, and I'll see you for dinner."

"Okay." Alan said miserable, tears shining in the piercing blue eyes. Tony brushed them away with his thumb before placing Alan on his feet.

"Hey Tony 2, my name is John and I'm sure we're going to have much fun together." John smiled holding out his hand. Alan took it hesitantly.

Tony gave his award-winning smile at the two children. "Alan Anthony needs to carry his breathing pack all the time, don't let him take it off no matter what he says. There are documents explaining his condition in case of emergency and if he has any trouble breathing call me immediately. There is also some toys in there if he gets bored and money for a snack."

"We'll be fine Mr. Stark. Won't we Tony 2?" John said.

Alan only looked pleadingly at his father, who bowed to place one last kiss on Alan's forehead before following Jeff.

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