The Unknown Variable

(Edited as of 8/19/13)

Nope, Nothing, Nadda, is what I own if you recognize it outside of my hidden work. Send the lawyers elsewhere.

I couldn't help the large grin that spread across my face as we pulled up to Tony's house sometime after six pm. But I certainly did not bounce up and down and run around laughing as soon as we entered the door. I was more dignified and mature than that, and NO, JARVIS does not have footage.

"Welcome home, sir, is good to have you back." JARVIS said as soon as we entered the house, all the lights flickering on and I could practically hear the AI's joy at having its creator/father back.

"Good to be back, Jar." Tony replied, looking around at the bright and clean house. Part of me just couldn't believe that we were back, it was so surreal, and another part just wanted to laugh until I cried.

Tony had given Happy the rest of the evening off, and was trying to convince Pepper to go home, and that for the last time, we were FINE!

"Pepper, it's getting late and I'm fine." Tony was practically begging her to leave, and I wasn't sure if it was because Tony was tired of her constant worrying for one day, or if he wanted her to leave so we could talk.

"I'm not leaving until both of you get something to eat!" Pepper said, putting her foot down and glaring at Tony.

I was sitting on the couch, checking my email with my Tablet, and sneaking a glance up at the arguing adults I could barely stifle a chuckle at the sight. They were both practically nose to nose, and were standing right in front of the waterfall, making a picture perfect scene. Part of me was wondering when they were going to kiss already.

With a mischievous grin I quickly exited my email and snapped a quick picture, it was perfect. I quickly saved it and sent a copy to JARVIS' mainframe.

A perfect moment, huh Jarvis?

I attached the note, sending it to the AI, another message popped onto my screen and I silently realized that I was IM'ing with AI, huh.

And excellent blackmail material, Miss Penny.

Stifling a giggle I couldn't help but agree, JARVIS had an excellent personality. But Tony created him so it was to be expected.

"Jarvis! Prepare the guest bedroom; Penny will be staying here tonight." Tony said, breaking the silence that had consumed the house.

"Of course sir, Miss Penny's room shall be ready momentarily." Jarvis's accented reply came swiftly.

"Thanks Jar," I stated, looking up at the ceiling.

My Tablet dinged quietly and I noticed that I had another message from the AI. My eyebrow quirking slightly I reopened the IM box.

Is Mr. Stark aware of your relationship?

Rolling my eyes, I typed a reply. I was not sure how Jarvis had discovered that Tony was my father, but oh well.

Yes, I told him while we were away. Don't talk about it around Pepper, she is not to know.

With another small ping, the message was sent. Tony and Pepper were now in the kitchen, fighting over what take-out to order.

Another ping and I glanced down to see a short reply.

Good, she will not discover it because of me.

I shook my head and turned off the Tablet. At times, Jar sounded more human than computer. But hey, I guess that was the brilliance of it.

I swiftly got to my feet and entered the kitchen, it was getting late, and I was hungry; time to break up the lover's quarrel.

"You are not ordering more burgers!" Pepper was saying as I entered the kitchen. Tony was tiredly glaring at his assistant and looked rather annoyed.

"What is wrong with having burger and fries for dinner?" Tony asked her, exasperated.

"You already had burgers today! You both need to be eating healthy, who knows what kind of food you ate when you were…" Pepper trailed off not wanting to say 'captured', 'in captivity' or anything along those lines.

"But…" Tony started to argue.

"I want pizza." I interrupted, making both Tony and Pepper look at me in surprise. A wide grin appeared on Tony's face and he said,

"Pizza it is then. Jarvis?"

"Ordering now sir, anything else you would like tonight?" the AI replied.

"Hmm, Penny?" Tony asked, looking over to me.

I thought for a moment… what sounded really good…? "Hot fudge Sundays?"

If possible, Tony's grin grew wider and he nodded, "Jarvis, order a few of those as well."

"Of course sir," Jarvis replied before going quiet.

Then he turned to me and said, "You have excellent taste." The unsaid "like me" was obvious.

A large smile appeared on my face as well and I could help the small giggle that escaped my lips.

"Well, while we're waiting for that, let's go see how the lab's been without us." Tony said, rubbing his hands together, and I wondered how he did that since his arm was still a sling.

I nodded, my grin remaining, and with Tony's hand on my shoulder we both walked quickly down to the lab.

"ARG!" I heard Pepper exclaim, frustrated, "You are incorrigible Tony, and you're corrupting Penny!"

"Naw," I called over my shoulder as we descended the stairs, "I've always been like this."

Tony's laugh echoed throughout the large house as we entered the lab/garage.

I was still laughing uncontrollably, leaning on one of Tony's cars for support. I had tears rolling down my face and I could barely breathe, but at the same time, I couldn't stop laughing, it was too hilarious.

U, Dummy, and Butterfingers were overjoyed that their creator was home… though they had an odd way of showing it.

As soon as Tony had entered the lab all three bots were literally on top of him, and each one was holding on to some part of Tony's body while clicking and whirling, 'talking' to him.

U was refusing to let go of Tony's arm, and Dummy had tried to sit in his lap, while somehow ending up with Tony's sling on his 'head'. Butterfingers was standing close to Tony's head, while holding Tony's foot, with the said foot's shoe on Butterfinger's 'head'. Each one was clicking, chirping, and whirling, while refusing to let go of their creator, or let him stand.

Pepper had come down when the pizza and ice-cream arrived, took one look at the scene, and stated she was going home. Ignoring Tony's pleas for help, she left.

Also, at some point between now and then, Dummy had also managed to get a fire extinguisher and now everything was covered in foam.

And I had yet to stop laughing.

"Penny! Come on! Give me a hand here!" Tony's desperate pleas were becoming more and more hysterical.

"Oh," I managed to say between laughs, "They great Tony Stark needs MY help?" before I collapsed laughing once again.

"YES!" he cried, as Dummy tried to roll into his lap again. "Please, before they crush me!"

Rolling my eyes, I managed to stifle my laughs enough to walk over and shoo them away from my father.

"Go on, Tony's fine, now shoo." Within moments, I helped a disgruntled and irritated Tony to his feet.

"I will get you back for that." He muttered under his breath, but hey, I didn't really care. The bots still had both his shoe and sling, and his hair was ruffled and his clothes wrinkled. He also had a bit of foam still in his hair and goatee.

"Come on, it was hilarious." I stated, shrugging, a few giggles passing my lips.

I heard Tony sigh, a lot louder than necessary, but admit, "It was."

"Well, at least you know that they love you." I told him, as we settled down into one of Tony's convertibles. Personally, I always thought we needed a couch down here.

We were silent as we ate our (now somewhat melted) ice cream and pizza.

"Do you think I did the right thing?" Tony asked abruptly, as he stared at his last bite of ice cream.

I looked over at my father with a soft look on my face. There was no need for him to explain, I knew it was going to come up sooner or later… along with everything else.

"Yes," I answered simply. Personally, I was proud of Tony, he was taking responsibility for the things he had done, even if not everything was his fault.

While Tony was thinking, I let out a strong wave of electricity, searching the whole house for any kind of bugs, and found a few. There was one in the living room, one in Tony's lab, and another in his pants' pocket, which the wave fried, and destroyed.

I let out a huge yawn, and as my eyes widened as I spotted the clock on the wall, it was already eleven. Huh, the bots must have been torturing Tony longer than I thought.

Putting my trash into the pizza box I told Tony "I'm going to bed."

I received a grunt in return and I could tell that Tony was lost in thought, his mind in his own world.

Biting my lip, I leaned over and wrapped my arms around my dad, and whispered "Good night," into his ear.

As I slowly stood up and walked out of the lab, I heard a soft "Good night, Penny," in return.

Ok, more fluff! Serious stuff coming up next chapter though… so be ready for that. Oh and if any of you think that Pepper is being a little OC or if I'm bashing her… I'm not. I love Pepper, but she and Penny are going to clash for a while. Think of it like this, one some level, Pepper is both concerned for and jealous of Penny… it'll get dealt with soon though.

Thanks to my Beta, Expecto Prongs, and to all of you wonderful people.
Cp