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Chapter 4

Jade sat on her bed, reading through one of her books. Apparently two of her daddy's friends were coming to visit tonight, and he was going to introduce her to them. She was nervous. She never did well around strangers. Hopefully they'd be nice. Jade looked round her room. There were plenty of things in there now. They had all been brought earlier on today. Jade opened her book, and looked down at the page. She had mostly taught herself, with some help from her teachers. She began to read, hoping to pass the time.

Rhodey and Reed watched Tony with curiosity as he sat down. He'd been extremely secretive these past two weeks, and had promised them an explanation tonight.

"What's going o Tony?" Rhodey asked. "What have you been so secretive about lately?"

"It's been annoying Fury especially you know." Reed said, stretching his arm to grab his drink instead of leaning over to grab it.

"Yeah well, Fury can wait. Rhodey, you remember Lily, right?"

"The red head?" Rhodey asked. "The one you slept with before she went back to England and dropped off the grid so well she may as well have never even existed?"

"That's the one." Tony agreed.

"What about her?"

"When she went home, she was pregnant." Tony said.

Reed spat out his drink. "Oh Tony, you aren't?" He begged.

"I am." Tony nodded.

"You are a father?" Rhodey asked, clarifying what he'd heard.

"That's right Rhodey. I'm a dad. And that's not all. But first, I think I should introduce you to Jade. Whatever you do, do not and I repeat do not raise your voices, and don't make any sudden moves that make you look like you're going to lash out. She is extremely skittish."

"Why?" Rhodey asked.

"Lily died when Jade was one. Jade was placed with Lily's sister and Brother-in-Law. Let's just say that their treatment of hers wasn't the nicest."

Both Reed and Rhodey's faces grew dark. They couldn't stand any sort of abuse. But an innocent child? Unforgivable.

Tony left the room, and found Jade in her room, reading. "Enjoying the book?" He asked, sitting down next to her. She looked up and nodded.

"It's great. I never had my own books before."

"You can have however many you want now. Just ask, and I'll get them for you."

"Thank you daddy." She said.

Tony smiled at her. He'd never get board of hearing her call him daddy. "Rhodey and Reed are here to meet you, Jade."

"Already?" She asked, chewing on her lip.

"Yeah, already. Come on. They won't bite. I promise." Tony said. "Come on then." Tony stood up, and held out his hand. Jade put her book back on the shelf, and walked back to Tony and took his hand. Tony then led her from the room, and to the living room.

When there, Jade's grip on Tony's hand tightened, and she moved so that she was just behind his leg, and peering round at the two strangers.

Reed looked at Jade. She seemed to be trying to make herself smaller than she already was. She looked to be three years old, and severely malnourished. The abuse she'd suffered was clearly evident in her terrified demeanour. Reed smiled at her, and stretched his wrist out, for her to shake. She gasped slightly.

"Reed Richard's. It's nice to meet you Jade."

"Y-you too Mr. Richards." She said, tentatively shaking his hand.

"Just call me Reed." He said, pulling his hand back.

Rhodey waved at her. "Rhodey Rhodes." He introduced himself, smiling warmly.

"Hello" She replied shyly as Tony sat down, and she sat next to him.

"I think I'd better explain everything that happened." Tony said.

When Tony was done, Rhodey was stunned. Reed however wasn't as stunned.

"I wonder if how Agatha's and Jade's powers will differ." Reed mused.

"Who?" Rhodey asked.

"Franklin's nanny. Agatha Harkness. She's a witch. And someone you don't want to get on the wrong side of." Reed explained.

"Oh." Rhodey said, nodding.

"I don't know. Lily left me some books. After I've looked through them, you can borrow them if you like."

"Oh definitely." Reed agreed.

Jade lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. The bed she was currently laying in was far more comfortable than any of her other beds. Granted her first proper bed had been in the care home, but that didn't remove anything from the fact. But no matter how comfortable the bed was, Jade just couldn't sleep. She sighed and sat up, and got out of bed. Perhaps a glass of water would help.

Jade was almost to the kitchen when she heard a noise coming from downstairs- where daddy had said his lab was. Curiosity overcame her, and she headed downstairs. There was glass panelling, allowing her to see inside the lab, and she saw robotic arms removing the armour from Iron Man. Jade's jaw dropped as the mask was removed, to reveal her daddy. She knew Iron Man worked for him, but she didn't think he was Iron Man!

He noticed her, and when all the armour was removed, he came out of the room, and knelt down in front of her. She hoped he wasn't angry.

"I didn't mean to see you as Iron Man daddy, I couldn't sleep and I went to get a glass of water and heard a noise and" She said quickly. Tony cut her off.

"Hey, it's alright. I was going to have to tell you at some point. This actually makes it easier. Now, how about that water? Or even a hot chocolate?"

"Really?" Jade asked. She'd never had hot chocolate before.

"Yeah." Tony picked her up, and carried her back upstairs.

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