Christmas rolled along fairly quickly and with it came some bad news.
"I'm sorry Tony but...you have to go to boarding school at the end of winter."
"WHY!?" he yelled. "I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE!" He cried. Tears streaming down his face. "If you love me, then you wouldn't send me away."
"Tony sweety we love you. That's why we're sending you to boarding school." Maria reasoned.
"No! You hate me!" He screamed running to his room. "This is the stupidest Christmas ever." With that said he slammed the door.
"Jarvis, would you go and reason with the boy?"
"Terribly sorry sir, but he is your son is he not?" Jarvis shot back with a raised eyebrow.
"Jarvis, come on I'm not paying you to talkback to me."
"Quite frankly I don't remember when my last paycheck was." Howard let out an exasperated sigh.
"Please Jarvis, as a friend."
"Very well sir. I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you Jarvis." Jarvis walked up to Tony's room and knocked on the door.
"Go away." Came a mumbled reply.
"Really now Tony. It's just me." Feet were shuffling around the room and the door unlocked.
"What do you want?"
"Just to talk if that's alright with you?" Tony nodded and opened the door for Jarvis to come in. The room was fairly clean, albeit Tony's desk/area was another story.
"...I think they hate me…" Tony mumbled laying down on his bed.
"I don't think so sir. They love you."
"I don't know J...They just..don't have time for me. When they do, mom is either too tired to do anything and dad just works in his lab or just goes on and on about how great Captain America was. I know Captain America was a pretty cool guy. But sometimes it can get annoying when he just keeps going on and on about him." He ranted. "Sometimes I wonder if he's even proud of me."
"Sir...Tony. I think that Captain Rogers was a good role model. And a good man. I may have encountered him once or twice but he seemed to have his heart in the right place. I do agree that Howard's stories tend to drag on and on. But you must admit the stories are quite fascinating." Tony nodded. "I believe that boarding school is just another way of showing how much you mean to him." Jarvis advised. "Not everyone has the privilege of attending one."
"Really?"
"Of course. Your parents just have a different way of showing you their affection. And on the bright side. You'll be able to come home during holidays."
"So that means I won't be stuck there forever?"
"Of course not? And if you were I'd break you out. With the help of your aunt Peggy of course."
"That's really cool Jarvis. Thanks...hey is it okay if you like..um record your voice or something?" Tony asked. "No..no that's stupid…"
"Sir, I'd be happy to. What would you like me to say to you in these recordings?"
"Um...you know just what you'd normally say. I could write letters asking questions for you to answer while you record. Or something….we could work it out."
"Indeed we can sir. Now why don't we go downstairs and apologize to your parents."
"Okay, but you have to make gingerbread cookies."
"Absolutely sir." Tony smiled and got of the bed grabbing Jarvis' hand and leading him downstairs.
"I'm sorry...I love you guys and I don't hate you…" Tony apologized.
"Come here squirt we love you too." Tony went up to his parents and was pulled into a big hug.
"Come on Jarvis join the hug!" Tony exclaimed.
"I don't think it's necessary sir."
"Nonsense come here Edwin." Howard demanded good heartedly.
"Very well." he sighed joining the hug. For once Tony actually felt like his family was complete.