I don't own Marvel. Period! This might come out slower because I'm writing a few more fics along with this one, so I hope ya'll enjoy it!

Manhattan, New York, Avengers Mansion, 1400 hours, two days after the capture

Pepper had noticed something, her daughter hadn't come out of her room in two days. She new her daughter was getting tired, but never knew it was exactly like this. She decided, then, to go check up on her.

"Pepper!" screamed a familiar voice, heavy footsteps chasing after her. "Wait!"

She huffed, shaking her head and stopping. The nerve of this man! she thought to herself. He let's me leave? Ugh! Didn't even chase after me!

"Yes, Tony? How can I help you?" she asked, her tone bitter and cold. Her blue eyes looked especially icey today.

He growled like a cat, a fake claw forming on his hand. "I like 'em fiesty. Okay, this isn't the point. Have you seen Maryah? Fury was worried because she hasn't shown up to practice in the past few days and he wants to know what's up." A cloth in his other hand rubbed at his face, grease evident near his goatee. Pepper had to strain herself not to wipe it for him. "And I'm kind of worried, too."

"Oh please," she scoffed rolling her eyes and walking away, "because you actually care for her. You've knew her what, five days, two at the most? You can't just love something or someone instantly!"

He followed her, grabbing her wrist as they neared Maryah's room. "I've changed, you don't know me anymore."

"Obviously." she replied, a less-than-not-even0-playful smirk on her lips. "This definetly isn't the Tony Stark I always knew. Listen, I'm checking out on her now, you can come if you want. Just keep your distance."

He shrugged. "Fine. But be warned, it might not be what you expect."

She turned around to this. "What the hell does that mean?"

"Well, she is does have my genes in her somewhere. That gives her the right mind set to get into trouble whenever she feels necessary. It just might not be what we would expect when we walk into a sleeping sixteen-year-olds room." he replied to her attitude, taking it in rather well. "I was extremely like this when I was her age."

Pepper rolled her eyes. "She's nothing like you!"

"Oh really? Sarcastic, witty, genius like. Don't forget my good looks an impecable charm." he retorted, shaking his head. "Face it, she's more like me than you really want her to be!"

"She's nothing...get it? Nothing like you."

"She built an almost replica of the Mark V suit and got it to power up according to Fury. She did that out of scraps. Scraps. Come on Pep, she is so like me." Tony's eyebrows quirked up in a mocking manor.

She scoffed. "You couldn't move objects."

"Sure I can, with my hands!"

"Not with your mind!" growled Pepper, stalking up to the door. She pushed a button and it opened, revealing the main part of her and her daughter's apartment in the building. It was neat and orderly, except for the water glass laying untouched and full of water. Her eyebrow went up at his, a hint of fear growing in her heart. Maryah usually took in her water to her room whenever she went to bed, always in case she woke up and was thristy. "Something's out of place here."

"What do you mean?" asked Tony, looking at the glass of water with a quizical look.

She shook her head, running to her daughter's room and opening the door. "Oh, my go-" she couldn't finish her sentence because of how upset she had become. Pepper slowly slipped to the floor into a fetal position, silent tears streaming down her face.

Tony looked at Pepper, then at the room. He noticed that no one was there, and signs of struggle were shown. His instincts took over, getting down to Pepper's level and wrapping his arms around her.

"She's gone."