It was the next morning when Clint remembered. He had written her a few love letters in the past. She could recognize the writing. He groaned at the realization, rubbing his hair while he still lay in bed in the early morning hours. He had just gotten to bed at 6Am. He got up, feeling near panic. pacing. Why did he write that note? Running his hands through his hair. She was sure to recognize the hand writing. but he couldn't let her put herself down like that and the pain the in her heart, it ripped at him. Pacing the small room he felt caged, he needed to be set free, he needed answers but he would never risk Kim or his son. He just knew she was carrying his child it had to be his.
Letting loose a heavy sigh he went to the door his hand on the knob when the door opened on him nearly knocking him back. "Dammit." Gage smirked weakly."Where do you think your going?" Clint scowled. "I'm going to find Kim and protect her..." Gage interrupted him."No your not..." Raising his voice."Why Not?!" Gage came in, pushing in and closing the door behind him."shh keep your voice down they'll hear you."Clint nearly growled. "I should be protecting her, not hiding out in this room." "I know man and you will, but you can't creep her out by stalking her. She has had too much of that already...besides if you hadn't notice you almost walked out without your disguise on." "I was distracted. I forgot about everything but her."
Gage crossed his arms over his chest."I realize that but now you have to work with a partner, a teammate ..Me! You can't go rogue and renegade on me here I'm trying to help you and you need to realize that.." Clint felt himself soften and deflate. "Your right. I need to stick to the plan,but I want to know also. I want to feel the child growing in her. I know she chose Tony but God I love her. .. I can't help but want to be near her." He sat down on the edge of the bed his face in his hands than running them through his hair. Gage actually felt sorry for his brother. He had always looked up to him since he found out he had a brother and he had never seen him like this. Never especially over a woman."Clint, it will be fine she is up late almost every night. You'll see her often and I'm sure she will let you ..um...er.. feel the baby if your just patient and don't freak her out." Clint sighed again." I know, I know. I just.. feel like I need to be near her. Its..its this connection. I can't help it. I need to work out or practice or something I can't just sit in this room" " You really need to make sure your disguised before you leave this room. Maybe change the way you walk too, you have a strut about you. Very distinct. " "A strut , really?" Gage smirked while grabbing his iPod and headphones." Yeah you've always been a bit cocky. "
Tony was in the bathroom adjoined to his bedroom. He was dressed nicely, crisp white shirt, black blazer and dark dress jeans. He was nervous as hell. He was going to his first AA meeting. He wasn't too nervous about the meeting itself, he was nervous because well being famous has it's draw backs, like leaking info and gossip. Which was just why he was terrfied. It was noon and it was gonna be at one. Kim knocked on the bathroom door. "Baby, you ok?" He swallowed. "Y-yeah. Fine angel." He sighed, spraying some old spice on before exiting the bathroom with his charming smile. "So? How do I look?" She smiled sadly, walking closer. "Scared. You look scared." He sighed, his mask gone, holding hr hands. "It's that obvious?" "A little but every one whose going to be there is." She saw he still wasn't buying it. Feeling his body was tense, as if he was about to jump and hide under the bed. She smiled. "Just think of you and all the other first timers going, think of this fear as an essential first step." He smiled weakly, holding her hands tightly. "Taking that first step with me?" "Even if we fall." He smiled, kissing her before hugging her, wrapping her in his arms. "I don't want to know where I would be without you."
She smiled, holding his hand. "Com'on, I got a surprise for you." he smiled, letting her lead him down the stairs. There he saw Quinn, Gage and Jason(well he and Gage knew it was Clint) all in the living room, looking ready go somewhere. He smiled weakly, a little scared. "Whats going on?" Quinn smiled. "Were gong to help you daddy!" He smiled, looking to Kim. "Angel, whats going on?" She smiled. "I may have told them about your brave first step into recovery. There coming with us." He smiled softer, a little scared. Quinn smiled, walking to her dad who picked her up. She hugged him around his neck. "I did say I want to save the world. I can start by saving you." Tony smiled, kissing her cheek, hugging her close. "You already have princess." Gage got up, smiled weakly. " .." Tony smiled weakly, still holding Quinn. "Gage.." Gage smiled. "Thank you for including me, again. Well, thank you for including us. I'm sure Jason is just as honored to go thru this with you as I am." Clint fought the urge to roll his eyes. He nodded silently.
Kim smiled. "Well, lets go then. Were going to be late if we keep waiting." In no time they were in one of the more normal cars, no fancy license plate. He drove to the hotel it was being kept at. He felt his hands shaking more and more with each mile. Kim saw this, reaching over and holding one of his hands. Clint watched this from the back seat, mask on and felt such jealousy he was glad Tony was driving.
Tony parked in the hotel parking lot before looking at it with a heavy sighed. Admitting to his family was hard, he knew he would have to admit it to the rest of the world. This was just another step closer. Kim held his hand. "Tony?" He looked to her. "Yeah angel?" "You ready?" He swallowed. "No." He smiled weakly to her before getting out of the car. Kim smiled, shaking her head before getting out, hand on her belly. Gage was next to get out, helping Quinn out, holding her close. Then was Jason...Clint to come out of the car. Kim held Tony's hand. "Com'on, it's gonna be starting soon." He let her lead him into the hotel. They found the AA meeting and Tony thought he was gonna have an anxiety attack. He had to do this. Kim held his hand. "Tony?" They still stood in front of the oak doors with golden handles. She brought his hand to her belly. "remember who your doing this for.." She spoke softly. Tony felt her belly and her warm hand on his. He calmed. She could always clam him down. "OK. Lets go." He pulled open the door.
Clint watch from behind Gage with a glare. How dare he touch her belly as if it was his child. His hands fisted. He knew he had to calm himself as they walked in. Kim lead Tony to the circle of chairs and few other participants. Gage was about to walk in when he saw his past sitting where families were. Delilia. Clint noticed this and put a hand on his shoulder. Both urging him to sit and support. Gage nodded, holding Quinn closer as he went to sit. Clint sat next to Gage, Quinn on Gage's lap. Delila saw him, smiling weakly to him. "Gage?" He swallowed, putting on a smile. "Delila, hey, what are you doing here?" "I'm here for a friend of mine. Over there." She pointed her friend out in the circle. Gage nodded. "I'm here for -Tony. I'm here for Tony." She smiled. "He's finally quieting?" "Yeah." "Good for him." Delila saw Quinn in his lap with a smile. "Is this quinn?" He held Quinn closer. "Yeah. Quinn, this is Delila, a friend of mine." Quinn saw her,curling into Gage. He smiled, holding her. "Shes shy." Delila nodded with a smile. "I promise Quinn, I don't bite." Clint tapped his shoulder, signaling to be quiet. They were starting.
It went around the people, telling there horror stories of drinking and why there quieting. It finally got to Tony who was so zoned out it took three times saying his name to get his attention. "Huh?" He was so into his thoughts he didn't know he was next. What should he say? The organizer of the group smiled. "Are you ready to speak ?" He sighed, holding Kims hand tightly. "As I'll ever be." "I understand your nervous, that's normal."
Tony nodded, standing up, taking his hand gently form Kims, into his pockets. Kim watched him with a small, proud smile. "I'm gonna guess you all know who I am..." He paused. "I'm The queen of England." He felt some of them chuckle and saw Kim shake her head. He smiled weakly. "No, I'm...I'm Tony Stark and I do that. I hide. I hide behind humor and masks and confidence. I hide because the world doesn't need to know my demons, the world doesn't need to know me but unfortunately they do. That was all that mattered to me is how strong my mask was. Then my amazing wife came along and changed me. I have a near two year old daughter and another on the way. My drinking needs to stop. I can't be the father and husband I want to be if I'm still downing a bottle of Jack every night. I want to be there for every step they make, good or bad." He felt his eyes watering. "I'm Tony Stark and I've been an alcoholic for too damn long. Now I'm doing something to fix it." He sat back down, reaching for Kims hand. She smiled, holding his hand tightly as everyone clapped. Once the meeting was done, Quinn went over to her father. He picked her up, hugging her close. "Hey princess.." She smiled, hugging him. "It's ok daddy. It's ok not being perfect." He chuckled, feeling a tear go down his face, kissing her head.
Gage got up, wanting to go over there and follow Quinn but a hand stopped him it was Delila. "Can we talk?" He sighed, before looking to see Quinn with Tony and Kim before nodding. "Yeah." Delila nodded, signaling for him to follow her out into the hall. Once into the empty hall he crossed his arms, wanting to keep his distance from her. She sighed. "I'm kinda glad we ran into each other. I haven't bothered to call because I'm sure you would just ignore it and I don't blame you for that." His posture softened, listening to her. " I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things to you or about your new family. I don't know them and it was wrong of me. I was just frustrated." He raised an eyebrow. "About what?" She sighed. "About us. I wanted something more, something deeper and you didn't and I wasn't gonna force you to."
He sighed. "I'm sorry to then. I shouldn't have lead it on like that. I just couldn't be alone." He shivered at the thought of being totally alone. She smiled softer. "It's ok. Nobody wants to be lonely. Maybe we could have a drink sometime? You have another bodyguard so you could-" "No." He stated softly but sternly. She nodded. "Alright." He sighed. "Look, it's not you. Your great but I need to be with them, to protect them. Anything could happen at a moments notice." Why did he feel like he was lying to her? To himself? She sighed "I understand. I don't like it but I understand. Your just he nicest guy I've met in a long time. Well...Gage Smith, you go enjoy your family." He felt guilt pick at him seeing he eyes well up. He nodded before turning and walking back inside the room.
AN:please review :)