I am NOT dead! I have returned! I'M SO SORRY ABOUT LEAVING YOU GUYS LIKE THAT!

It's just that I wasn't able to get this chapter right. It took me a million tries! I wanted it perfect but it the ideas were just all messed up causing the chapter to not make sense. So, I am truly sorry! I promise that I do love you guys!

Oh, and I now have an updating schedule! It's on my profile so go check it out.

Without further ado, here is Chapter 4!

Tony woke up that morning feeling ecstatic. Today was the day he got to spend with Rhodey. A whole day with his new friend! What could be better than that?!

"Don't give Mrs. Rhodes any trouble, Tony. She's as busy as me right now and doesn't need to be distracted. Is that understood?"

The young boy looked up at his father and nodded. He didn't intend to trouble Mrs. Rhodes; he just wanted to play with his friend. "I understand daddy," he said, "I won't disturb her."

"Good." With that, Howard turned and left for work. It was just Tony and his mother for now.

"Sweetie, do you want some breakfast?"

Tony turned around to see his mother standing near the dining table with a plate of French Toast. It looked appetizing. He immediately ran over to her and took a seat at the table. His mother set the plate down and told him a few things before he could touch the food.

"Take your time and chew. Enjoy it! Oh, and remember that you still have to change out of your pajamas before you go."

"Ok! I will!"

"I know." Quickly, she hurried of to attend to something, leaving her son to indulge in his meal.

…

"Rhodey, your room better be clean!"

The young Rhodes looked up from watching morning cartoons, his eyes as wide as dinner plates.

Uh oh.

Swiftly, he turned off the TV and raced into his small, yet cozy room. Rhodey began to lift if toys off the ground and into a trunk labeled Toys. Afterwards, he picked up his smelly clothes and dumped them in a pile under his bed. Finally, he picked up his scattered books and placed them under his covers since he couldn't reach the shelves.

As soon as he finished, Mrs. Rhodes strode in and looked around slowly. She smiled at what she saw. A smelly, yet spotless room. She then walked over to her son and handed him a key.

"You may use this to get back into the house if you choose to go outside. You may also use the TV to watch one movie. Understood?"

"Mhm!"

"Now, it's time to get some food in that belly." Slowly, she picked him up and carried him to the breakfast bar. She set him down in a chair and then went into the kitchen to grab his food.

"Alright, here you go."

Rhodey looked down at his plate and made a face. There was bacon and eggs on it. Yuck.

"Eww."

"Now James, how can you possibly say that?"

"I don't want."

"This is what I made so it's what you get."

"But mommy..."

"I won't hear of it." She gave him a stern look and said her final words before leaving. " Make sure to drink your orange juice. Oh, and once you're finished, put on something clean so you're presentable for when Tony arrives."

"Okay..." Rhodey said as he looked back at his plate and sighed. Slowly, he ate the piece of bacon while trying his hardest not to puke.

…

DING! Rhodey raced toward the door with his mother trailing behind him.

"Hurry! Hurry!"

"Calm down, James."

"Open it! Open it!" He cried while jumping up and down.

Sure enough, she did. Immediately Tony raced in and did their secret handshake that they had come up with a couple of weeks ago.

"Hey, Rhodey!"

"Hey, Tony!"

Suddenly, the two took off toward the living room. Roberta watched them until they disappeared. around the corner. When she turned around to face the woman who had dropped Tony off, she was a little stunned to see who it actually was.

"Maria? You're the one who dropped him?"

"Um, yes. Howard was busy and I thought it'd be nice to see you again."

"That's sweet of you. Please do come in."

"Oh, no. I can't right now. I should actually be heading back."

"Are you sure you can't stay? I just put some tea on the stove."

Maria thought about it for a few moments before speaking. "Maybe next time. Howard should come by around six 'o clock to pick Tony up."

"Ok. Well, it was nice seeing you again."

"Same goes for me."

With that, Maria turned and left for home. Roberta watched her until her limo was out of sight and then closed the door. As she made for her home office, she heard a CLANK and then something shatter. She knew exactly who had caused it.

"BOYS!"

…

"We're sorry mommy."

"Yea, super-duper sorry."

At their feet lied a shattered glass vase. Pieces of the broken glass were scattered in a hundred different directions.

"You boys have already broken something! It hasn't even been fifteen minutes! Do you know how long this will take to clean up? One of you could have gotten seriously hurt!"

She paused.

"What am I going to do with you two?" She thought aloud.

"The park!"

Roberta looked at Tony a bit confused. "The park?"

"Well, I've never been there. I thought maybe we could go since we can't really play here now."

"You've never been to the park?!"

All eyes were now on Rhodey because of his sudden outburst.

"Yea. My parents have never taken me."

He's never been to the park? That's just wrong. Maybe I should take him. Roberta pondered this for a moment. At least this way she could clean up the mess without having to worry about the boys. Plus, Tony would finally be able to go to the park for the first time. The only problem was finding someone to take them.

"Alright, but I can't take you. Let's hope Carol is free."

"Carol!"

"Who's Carol?" Tony asked.

"She's the best babysitter in the world! Hurry and call her mommy!"

Within moments, Carol and Roberta were conversing. "So, can you take the boys to the park? It's only an hour and I'll pay you."

"Sure thing! I'd love to see Rhodey again. It's no problem at all. In fact, I'm already on my way."

The call ended.

"Well, she's on her way. Why don't you guys go put on your shoes and coats?"

"Ok!" Is what both boys said in unison before running off to do as they were asked.

…

Rhodey had been right. Carol truly was the best babysitter ever! She was so kind and had offered to take them to a small shop to each get cupcakes after the park.

"Tony wanna play Hide-n-Seek?"

"Sure!"

"I'll count, you hide!"

"Ok."

As fast as his legs could carry him, Tony ran over to a bunch of bushes that had different types of flowers in front of them. Quickly, he hid himself behind them, trying to make sure he wasn't visible. Sadly, his efforts were in vain.

"What are you doing?"

Tony turned his head to the right and saw a girl about his age with red hair looking at him curiously. Somehow, he couldn't take his eyes off her. When he realized that she had asked a question, he scrambled for an answer.

"Oh, I'm hiding. Me and my friend are playing Hide-n-Seek."

"Ooh, cool!"

"Shh! You'll give me away."

"Oh," said the girl before crouching down next to him. "sorry."

"It's fine."

"My name is Pat...ric..ia, but you can call me Pepper."

"That's a super long name. I'm Tony."

"So, do you live around here?"

"Yea, it's near that building." Tony said as he pointed to a tall building. "What about you?"

"I don't live here. I'm just staying with my aunt for the winter."

"That's cool."

"I guess. I want to be with the rest of my family but something weird is going on and they didn't want me involved."

"That's strange."

"Tell me about it," she said while making the most hilarious face Tony had ever seen. He had to hold back his laugh. "I think it's all ridiculous."

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know. My aunt said it once."

"Oh."

There was a comfortable silence between the them. Though, it was soon broken because someone called her name; her aunt, he presumed.

"Well, I have to go. Maybe I'll see you before I leave the city."

"I hope so. It was nice meeting you, Pepper."

"You too, Tony."

Pepper gave him a small hug before running off to her aunt, leaving Tony slightly shocked. A girl he had only known for a few minutes gave him a hug. He felt all warm and fuzzy inside. He watched her form until it was gone from view. Tony truly hoped that he saw again.

…

Needless to say, they had had fun at the park. By the time Carol had dropped them at the Rhodes household, it was time for lunch. They had been served Mac 'n Cheese and it was delicious. Tony would never admit it to anyone but it was better than his mothers'. Tony wiped his whole bowl clean and even asked for a second serving.

Once lunch was over, the two friends decided to watch a movie. They had chosen to watch Cars 2. As they watched the movie, Tony's mind wandered back to a certain red-head. He wanted to see her again. She seemed very nice. He wondered if he'd see her before she left New York. He wondered if he would forget her. Hopefully, that would not be the case.

"Tony?"

Tony was snapped back to reality. "Huh?"

"I asked you something."

"Oh," he said feeling a bit dumb. "Sorry. What did you ask?"

"I asked you if you were fine. You seemed to be zoning out."

"Oh. Well, I'm fine. Let's just finish the movie."

"Ok..." Rhodey said a bit skeptically.

As they turned their attention back to the movie, the phone rang. They heard Roberta pick it up in seconds, and soon they found themselves hiding outside her office. The two listened as best the could.

"Ok, I'll tell him. We'll be there in a few moments."

The line cut and Roberta came out of the room only to find her son and his friend right outside.

"What's wrong?" Tony asked nervously.

Roberta took a few moments to respond. It was as if she didn't really want to say it. Finally, she spoke. "Tony, it's your mother. She's in the hospital."

How was it? Was it worth the long wait? Tell me your opinions! Oh and just a reminder: Make sure to check my profile for my updating schedule!

Until next time...

Cya!