It had been 3 months and 3 days since Dad went missing. I felt like a pilgrim on the Mayflower waiting to see land. Everyday seemed longer than the next. Nothing seemed to change, the news barely covered it anymore. The world was beginning move on, but I wasn't. I could tell Pepper was beginning to start having doubts. I tried to stay tough but some days were harder than others. Sometimes I woke up thinking that it was the day they would find him but ending up disappointed.
It was around 8 p.m., I was flipping through photos. I'm one of those people who takes a lot of photos. Back in highschool I was a member of the photography club and I won some awards for some of my pictures. I was never really serious about it but it was something to do other than working on cars and missiles. "Elizabeth," Pepper knocked on the door, "Rhodey's on the phone, he wants to speak to you." Something was different I couldn't tell what. "Okay," I said unsure of what to expect as Pepper handed me the phone. "Hey Rhodey," I said. "Really you going to do that to her," I overheard in a familiar voice. "Dad!" I exclaimed. "Hey Les, I'm sorry about what Rhodey did," he said speaking louder just to annoy Rhodey. "I don't really care. I'm just... You're alive. I've missed you so much," I said beginning to tear up, but these were tears of joy not sadness. "I've missed you too. We have a lot to talk about when I get back." He replied. "When will that be?" I asked. "Tomorrow afternoon," he answered. "I can't wait," I said, "Pepper's going to be so happy." "Tell her I said hello," my dad told me. "I'll be sure to tell her. She's done so much these past weeks. She's been staying with me at home with me," I said. "How has home been?" My dad asked. "Boring without you. Dum-E's been really confused; he's been running into walls a lot more than he normally does." I told him. "Mr. Stark," I heard someone say in the background. "Les, I have to go now but I'll see you tomorrow." He said. "I love you," I said. "I love you too," my dad said before he hung up.
I processed what I had just heard and ran into the hall to find Pepper. "Pepper! He's alive! He's coming home tomorrow!" I shouted giving Pepper the biggest hug ever. "Oh Les! That's just amazing!" She replied. "I knew they would find him, I never doubted it. And now he's back and he'll be home tomorrow." I told her. "He also told me to say hello to you from him," I added. "I'm glad he'll be back, I really really am," she said. "This is the happiest I have ever been in my entire life. This has been the first time in three months when I have actually smiled," I tearfully admitted. "Are those tear of joy or of sadness?" Pepper asked. "I don't know. Both," I began to start laughing. "Elizabeth?" Pepper asked. "It's over now. Life has been crap but now its over. And what can you do but laugh?" I explained. "I see in a way how that could be funny," she sighed. "Here's your phone," I said handing back her phone. As soon as I handed back her phone she got a text. "It's from Rhodey," she looked at the message, "I should call him." "Okay, I'm going to go down to the workshop anyways," I said.
I hadn't been down in the workshop for a few days. Dum-E and U hadn't had an update in months. Dad normally does them every three weeks. I watch my dad do them all the time but I haven't done one all by myself. Updating the bots would definitely be an interesting challenge. On paper it seems so easy, all you have to do is connected them to the computer, but it isn't like plugging an iPod to add new songs to it. I grabbed a screwdriver to remove to cover to get to the main circuit board. I was reaching back past some wires when Dummy started to move. "Stay still," I said but it was too late, my wrist was cut on one of the wires. "Shitshitshitshitshitshit," I grumbled pulling my hand out. The cut wasn't very deep but bleeding steadily. "Jarvis, where's the first aid kit?" I said looking through the cabinets. "It should be in the top right cabinet," he answered. I opened it got out a bandaid and some neosporin. I cleaned the cut with some water and neosporin. I struggled to put the bandaid on with one hand. I looked over at dummy, "I'm done with you. Look I just cut my hand because of you." I sighed and got up, "I'm going upstairs. Don't do anything dumb."
"I'm going to bed now, Pepper," I said while I passed her as I was going up the stairs. "Okay. You're dad will be back around two p.m. tomorrow," she told me. "Great!"
