DISCLAIMER

"Tony!" Lisa waved as Tony and Alan walked out of the room holding hands. "Can you take John home for the night, his brother will pick him up in the morning."

"Off course." Agreed Tony tired. "Come kid, I have to put my little one in bed. It's getting late and it has been quite a day."

"Yes sir." On shaky legs walked John towards father and son. "Do you want me to I carry you Sprout? You look a bit tired."

Alan looked up surprised at the new nickname but nodded anyway. There was a new cast placed around his broken arm, this time light blue and Tony had drawn a superman logo on it. Pepper had brought pyjama's which replaced the oversized clothing from the army base.

"My driver is waiting for us outside." Reported Tony, "Jarvis is going to order Pizza. Do you have a preference, John?"

"Everything is fine by me. I'm just glad that I don't have to take the night bus back to campus." Said John slightly in shock. Tony and John took the back seat with Alan crawling back on his father's lap.

They entered their Malibu house for the first time in three months and Alan immediately ran off to his bathroom. "I better go help him. Walk with me," ordered Tony. Silently they climbed the stairs until Tony stopped at a door with several wildlife animals painted on it. "You can have Tony 2's bedroom for the night. I think the nightmares will hit full tonight and I rather have him close."

"Thanks." smiled John.

"Fresh up and we'll meet you down stairs." Tony walked a few doors down and disappeared in the room.

With a sigh, John opened the door, only to find a very well cleaned boy's room. The Ferrari bed against the wall, toys in a crest, books and a desk. It was clearly Alan's room by the sight of the oxygen tank next to the bed. Letting his backpack fall of his shoulder, John dropped on the bed running his hand through his hair. Did they know that he was Alan's biological brother? They must have or not?

Walter, his little brother, was alive and his father had lied to him all these years. What would Scott say? Even worse, what would grandma do?

Okay, just try to act normal. Get through the night and when he gets home, he can get to the bottom of this.

John took a quick shower, grateful for the change of clothing he had brought with him just in case, and made his way down. There was a kitchen and large living room looking out over the ocean, John looked around only to see a blue panel at the next to a door. Curious he tried to touch it.

"You are not authorized to access this area." A computer voice called out.

"Jesus." John pulled his hand back and took a step away from the thing.

"That's Jarvis. He runs the house." A soft voice called. The red head was holding several pizza boxes and a white bag on top of it.

"You must be the famous aunt Pepper." Said John.

"Indeed I am." She smiled sadly. "It's been three months since I've heard that name. Are you hungry?"

John nodded, moving over to the woman. "A bit. Can I help?"

"There are plates and cups in that closet. Could you help set the table for four… no five people. Alan Anthony likes his… the brother bear plate if you can find it. I put it in the right upper cabinet"

"Yes ma'am." Said John. Pepper placed placemats on the table and John set the plates and cups. The brother bear plate was placed at the booster seat and Pepper set apple juice and other drinks on table.

Tony carried Alan down with his good arm, his other still in a sling. Carefully Alan was lowered at his seat. His bottom lip poked out as he saw his plate.

Uncle Rhodey also entered and they started eating with Tony and Alan only nibbling on their slice. Pepper and Rhodey started to inform the two of what they missed over the past few months, what the company stocks did, the important news objects. When the table was cleaned and Alan was fighting sleep, Rhodey remembered something.

"We searched the Humvee after the attack. One of my man found your little friend. He has some battle wounds but I took him to the bear doctor and he's fine now." explained Rhodey, he pulled a familiar bear from the plastic bag. "I've been looking after him until you got back."

"Koda!" the bear was enveloped in a hug and Alan started to sob. "Koda." Tony quickly pulled him to his lap to wrap an arm around the child. "Daddy… Yinsen… bullets… fire…" were a few of the recognizable words as he cried on his father's shoulder.

Tony just whispered "I know, shh it's okay, let it out." And rocked back and forth. Giving a dismissive look at his friends he moved to the couch.

"I'll come back tomorrow." Pepper whispered and Rhodey nodded.

John fled to Alan's room and laid down on the bed. Everything is so messed up. He turned on his side, his back to the door, only to find a black well-read notebook laying on the nightstand.

Curiosity getting the better of him, he started to read.

**TB**IM**

After Alan fell asleep in his arms, Tony stayed on the couch for another few hours just holding his son. They were home, they were safe. But it didn't feel like it.

**TB**IM**

The next morning Tony helped Alan dress and in return Alan helped Tony. "Want to watch a movie until breakfast or play?"

"Play." Mumbled Alan.

Tony nodded. "Jarvis, can you inform our guest where we are when he leaves his room?"

"Yes sir." The A.I. replied.

For a moment, everything looked like the last three months hadn't happened. Alan was running around, climbing and sliding, like he did in May. The only thing missing was the twinkle of joy from those blue eyes and there was no giggling.

At least he was speaking again.

"I'm ready." Alan reported at the top of the slight, Tony was lost in thought at the stairs on the other side of the room and hurried over. "Catch me dad!" Demanded Alan as he dropped on his behind and slid down the slide into Tony's arms. "Again!"

Tony walked after him and gave him a little push in the stairs. It was hard to climb with only one arm, and even though Tony could hardly catch him with his shoulder, he rather dislocated his arm again than watching Alan fall.

Running over the bridge and crawling through the padded pipe, Alan was ready to slide again when the door opened.

"Catch me dad!" Alan dropped down and slid in Tony's arms. "Again!" he ordered.

"Why don't you go on the swing for a while?" pointed Tony. Alan nodded and ran to the elephant swing.

John walked up to them. "What is this place?"

"This used to be my gym, but I never used it." Tony sat on the couch which was placed to keep an eye over the whole ground. "When I knew that he couldn't play with other children because he can't or couldn't keep up with them, I designed this."

"It's amazing, but what do you do with it when he grows out of it." John walked around the room, slightly bouncing on the trampoline. The slide itself was a master piece, with a whole castle surrounding it and he ended sitting on the part of the seesaw.

"I probably store it," shrugged Tony. "But to be honest, until Yinsen operated on Tony 2 in Afghanistan, I didn't believe he would grow out of it."

"What changed?" asked John swallowing weakly.

"You see that little blue light on his chest?" asked Tony sitting next to John. "It's a magnet that quite possibly can keep his heart pumping without failure for fifty lifetimes."

Blue eyes widened in surprise. "And his breathing?"

"A very risky surgery the doctors were very certain his heart wouldn't survive. In the cave, we were held, they didn't care about that." Smirked the billionaire. "He hasn't used oxygen for over three months and the doctors discovered that there is more oxygen in his blood than he ever had since his birth." Tony looked at John, "You know, don't you? There was something different about you last night and it's not the fact we just got back from being held hostage."

"Yeah." John buried his face in his hands. "Why didn't you say something before?"

"In the beginning, I was to angry. Later on, I decided it isn't my place to tell." Stated Tony. "On the first day I had no idea who your family was when I left MY son in your care only until your father told me the names of his other sons."

John winced at the 'MY'. "I didn't know," he pleaded. "I really thought he died with mom."

"Tony 2 told me." Admitted the father. "I wanted to blow of the deal with your father, I wanted to punch him and call him out in front of everyone but my son convinced me not to."

"Why would he do that?" asked John surprised.

"He told me that if Jeff hadn't left him, he would have never met his real dad." Grinned Tony rubbing his neck. "And then he befriended you. I didn't want him anywhere near you or your family but Pepper made it clear that the CalSi truly was the best school for Alan and I figured you'll be graduating next year and hopefully find a university far, far away from California. Fortunately I got to know you better and it seems that you're not that bad for a Tracy."

"That almost sounds like a compliment." grinned John.

"Dad, I'm hungry." announced Alan jumping of the swing at the highest point almost giving Tony a mini heart attack, but he landed on his feet.

"Miss Potts has stopped at your regular dinner and will be bringing breakfast along. ETA five minutes." Announced Jarvis.

"Wonderful, then we better set the table." Tony ruffled Alan's hair making Alan letting out a small giggle before he battled the hand away and ran towards the kitchen. Tony laughed as he followed, with John following closely behind him.

Alan climbed on his step stool to wash his hands while John and Tony set the table. Pepper was hauled in with cheering and when she told that she already ate breakfast, Alan quickly climbed on her lap to he ate his share of scrambled egg and toast with fresh orange juice.

Tony offered to do the dishes while Alan and John sat down on the ground to play a board game. Pepper took a seat at the dining table to do paperwork, not want to leave Tony and Alan behind so short after finding them. Tony eventually joined the two boys on the ground.

The doorbell rang, making Alan look up in alarm.

"I'll go." Said Pepper. "Finish your game."

She returned with a young man in tow, his brown hair nicely put in model and his face stern as his eyes focused on his younger brother who gulped. "Hi Scott." John waved nervously.

"Well wouldn't you and Rhodey be best friends." Said Tony as he rose on his feet. Alan scrambled after his father holding Tony at the back of his pants, hiding from Scott. "Tony Stark."

"Second Lieutenant Scott Carpenter Tracy." The two shook hands.

John looked up. "Oh, did you get a promotion Scott?"

The glaring eyes turned back to him. "Just before my leave for my part in Afghanistan." Scott answered his brother. "I'm sorry it took so long for us to find you sir." He said back in a much kinder tone. "And the little guy hiding behind your legs must be the famous Alan Anthony Stark. My brother went to much trouble to come and see you. You must be important to him." Alan whimpered and made himself smaller behind Tony's legs.

"Pepper, can you go with Tony 2 to grab his shoes? I have an office to visit." Asked Tony.

Pepper nodded and lifted Alan in her arms. "Say bye to John honey. You'll see him in a month at school."

"Bye John." whispered Alan.

John smiled. "Bye Sprout. I'm glad you're back and I'll call you soon okay?"

When the assistant had carried Alan out of earshot Tony looked at the eldest Tracy son. "I'm sorry, he's still a bit anxious after all that happened."

"Off course, I would be too." Nodded Scott. "Come John, let's take our leave. Thank you so much for taking my brother in for the night, especially since it's the first day back in your home."

"Not a problem." Grinned Tony swinging an arm around the blond Tracy's shoulder. "John, if you ever need somewhere to stay… or to talk… you know." He mumbled soft in John's ear.

"I know." Nodded John, shouldering his back he looked up. "Bye Jarvis."

"Have a nice day sir." The A.I. said.

Small feet ran up to him and hugged his legs as John wanted to follow his brother out the door. Smiling down John kneeled pulling Alan in an embrace.

"I don't want you to go. He's mean and scary." Whispered Alan.

"He's my brother, he won't hurt me. He's just a bit angry that I ran away." John said. "I'll call you when I get home."

"Come here Tony 2." Tony held out his hand and Alan reluctantly took it.

Pepper watched from the doorway, Tony had confined in her about the Tracy situation and it was heart-breaking to watch the two brothers with different father's return to their family. She left with John and Scott, giving the father and son some much needed time together.

**TB**IM**
Sorry for the long time, a year now…

The only excuse I can give that I've been very busy with school and family.

Let me know what you think

Xoxox Flora