Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize. Only my OC, Agent Clarissa Melanie Connors, and her story line belongs to me.

~0~ = little break

My heart stopped when Rhodey said those words. It was like a bowl of cold water was being poured on me.

"What do you mean missing?" I asked Rhodey frantically.

"We were on our way back to base when all of a sudden an explosion happened in front of us. It wasn't Tony's car that got bombed. I think they were just shot at," Rhodey explained to me.

At this point I was already changing out of my sweats, preparing to go back to HQ.

"Did you look around, try and see if he walked away or something?" I asked switching to bluetooth as I sped through the streets.

"Nothing, I did find his phone though," Rhodey reported.

I ran my hand through my hair.

"I'll try to see if my people can do anything, call me as soon as you have anything," I told Rhodey as I pulled up into HQ.

"You got it Clara, and hey, we will find him, I will do everything in my power to find him."

Rhodey's voice rang in my ear, but I couldn't help but think of the worse possible thing that could've happened.

"I know, thank you Rhodey, I'll keep in touch. I still have to call Pepper and tell her what happened, tell Obadiah for me though, I'll handle Pepper," I told Rhodey before I hung up.

I strode through the building not even bothering with security. I barged in Nick's office and was glad to already see Hill and Coulson there.

"We were just about to call you," Nick started.

"Do we have any idea who it is?" I asked, getting right down to the point.

"Coulson thinks it might be the Ten Rings," Hill explained, gesturing to Coulson.

"Well, it's a logical assumption," Phil started to explain, "they have been active there."

"What would they want with Tony?" I asked aloud.

"Who wouldn't want Tony? He's the best engineer in the world and no doubt the smartest, we would've probably recruited him if it weren't for you," Nick explained to me.

"I have my reasons, but I want every person looking for him and the Ten Rings. I want them dead. Hill do a background check on anything going on in Stark Industries that had anything to do with the Middle East, orders, imports, exports anything," Hill nodded before leaving the room.

I turned to Coulson, "Phil, I want you to track down the Ten Rings, their last location, where their camp is based, who they talk to, whatever. I want eyes and ears on everything. Nick, I want you to supervise, call me as soon as you have something. Colonel James Rhodes is also on the case, feel free to hack your way in the Army or something and get me a jet ready to leave for Malibu in 10 minutes," I ordered around.

Phil left to do as I said which left me with Nick.

"Why are you going back when you just got here?" He asked me.

"Pepper doesn't know yet, and I feel as if this shouldn't be done over the phone. I'll stay there for the meantime, I really need to be with Pepper," I explained to him.

"Understood."

With a nod, I left his office and went to the roof where the jet should be. The flight back to Malibu felt long. I didn't even get the nervousness I usually got whenever I rode on planes because my mind was so distracted at the thought of something bad happening to my baby boy. I know he's not a baby anymore but after practically raising him, the nickname never went away.

Flashback

The driveway that led up to the Stark Manor was long. The grass was well kept, not a single leaf or plant out of place. The fountain stood gloriously near the door and was practically glistening as the sunlight hit the water. My driver stopped and opened the door for me, shutting it as I got out. Edwin Jarvis, the Stark's butler greeted me as I walked up the few steps of the porch.

"Ms. Clara, how are you this fine day?" Jarvis greeted me as he led me inside.

"I'm wonderful, thank you and yourself?" I asked, looking around the Manor.

"Fine as well, Miss. Mr. Stark is in his study waiting for you," Jarvis stopped at a door which I can only assume was Howard's study.

"Thank you, Jarvis, be a dear and call Tony in for me in a few minutes. I want to say hi to my favorite godson," I smiled at Jarvis who nodded before I went inside the room.

On Howard's desk was the map we've been using to mark where we've looked for the Valkyrie and Steve. Howard was hunched over it, looking closely at more areas we haven't checked. Over many years, we have put x's on the map where we searched but found nothing.

"Busy?" I spoke aloud making Howard look up.

Time has been kind to Howard. Though he's aged, he still looked as handsome as ever. He was well in his mid 50's but doesn't have a single grey hair. I'm starting to wonder if he dyes his hair.

"Mels! You're here!"

Howard stood up from his desk and walked over to me and wrapped his arms around me tightly.

"I'm glad you're here!"

Howard led me over to a chair in front of his desk. I placed my bag on the ground beside me.

"How've you been? How's Maria and Tony?" I asked him, crossing my leg over the other.

He looked up from the map he was checking over and answered me distractedly.

"Huh? Oh, they're good. Maria's really busy with her boutique and I think she's planning on opening another shop somewhere in Brooklyn. Tony's well, he's a little genius isn't he? I think he just made a circuit a few years ago," He told me offhandedly.

"Oh! That's amazing," I exclaimed feeling immensely proud of Tony.

"Anyways, I was thinking of checking out somewhere near the coast of Greenland, I already got the boat at the dock ready to leave tomorrow so you can come along," Howard informed me.

I sighed heavily.

"That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about. It's been 30 years of looking for Steve and I just feel that-"

I was cut off when the door to the office opened to reveal a little boy with a big grin on his face.

"Rissa!"

"Tony!" I exclaimed opening my arms and beckoning him to give me a hug.

"Tony, what have I said about barging in here," Howard scolded.

"Oh, Howie, it's fine. I was the one who requested him to be called here," I told Howard.

I looked at Tony, "Look at how big you've gotten the last time I saw you!"

He started rambling about all the circuits he's built over the past year and was talking about the engine he's almost done building down in the workshop when Howard cut in.

"Tony, go downstairs. Your aunt and I were talking about something important and you've just interrupted," Howard chided.

The light in Tony's eyes dimmedwhen he was told to leave. I could tell he was sort of used to it when he sighed and went to leave the room before I called him.

"I'll come down later baby boy, I just need to wrap things up with your dad," I promised him with a smile.

He gave me one as well which put a bit of a skip in his step. Once the door shut, I lightly glared at Howard.

"Please tell me that's not how you treat Tony whenever he has something to show you," I said to him, crossed about his attitude towards his own son.

"Mels, I'm just busy. I want to find the Captain as soon as possible for you," Howard tried to explain to me.

"I do too, but I have already told you that I want you to put your family first. That's the thing I was wanting to tell you about," I said softly.

He looked at me curiously, "What is it?"

"I think... I think that we should put a stop to this," I said reluctantly.

"Mels, I-I don't understand... Don't you want to find Steve?" Howard asked me, moving to take a seat next to me.

I ran a hand through my hair.

"Of course I do, but I feel as if I've taken you from your family too many times. It's been thirty years, it's time that we move on... It's time thatImove on."

I looked at my hands that were clasped on my lap. Howard placed his own over mine.

"Are you sure Mels?" Howard asked, making sure that I was to go through with this plan.

I swallowed a lump in my throat before answering.

"Yes."

Howard heaved a sigh before standing up.

"Alright, I'll stop the expedition," Howard turned his back on me and faced the window.

I stood up from my seat and walked over to him and made him turn to face me and enveloped him in another hug.

"I can't thank you enough for what you've done. This is my way of repaying you, letting you get a chance to spend time with your family, something you deserved," I spoke in his ear.

I pushed myself off of him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He gave me a smile that showed the wrinkles by his eyes.

"I'm gonna go check what Tony's made," I told him before leaving the office.

Right before I left, I stood by the doorway and looked back at him.

"You know, he just wants your approval right? I can say how proud I am of him and Maria can say it to him countless of times, but he wants to hear it from you. I know you think he is but saying it to him would mean the world," I advised Howard before giving him one last smile before I head down to the workshop.

~0~

There was a lot of scrap metal lying about in the workshop. In the back though was Tony, sitting on a stool in front of what seems to be an engine.

"Hey, baby boy. What are you working on?" I asked him as I looked over his shoulder.

"A motorcycle engine," Tony replied, putting down the wrench he was using to wipe the sweat off his brow.

"And I'm not a baby anymore so you can't call me that now," Tony huffed.

I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Oh, you're not a baby anymore huh?" I asked him amusedly.

"Nope, nuh uh. I'm a man now, I just built an engine all by myself," Tony said proudly, puffing his chest slightly.

"You know how your parents and I explained to you that I can't age? Well now I'm currently 130 something so you're still my baby boy," I opened my arms and he immediately came to me for a hug.

"Tony, sweetie, you'll always be my baby boy you understand? Even when you're old and wrinkly," I told him as I dropped a kiss on his head.

He pulled away and made a face at me.

"Old and wrinkly, like dad?" He clarified making me laugh slightly.

"Yes, old and wrinkly, like your dad," I said, "So, tell me, why did you build a motorcycle engine? Isn't a car engine more intricate?"

"Dad keeps talking about how Captain America used to ride a motorcycle so I built one. Maybe now he'll notice the things I work on and be proud," Tony confessed to me, playing with his oil greased hands.

I looked at the little boy in front of me sadly and ruffled his hair before tilting his face to look at him.

"Sweetheart, your dad is very proud of you, so is your mom and me. He... just isn't very verbal with it as we are," I explained to him, making sure he understood everything I was saying.

He nodded slowly and I gave him a smile before he wrapped his arms around my neck once more.

"I love you, Rissa," He told me softly.

I smiled against his hair, "I love you too baby boy."

I didn't even give the pilot a chance to land on the private runway. I told him to just hover over the house and I'll just jump out. He tried to change my mind and tell me it'll be easier if he just landed, but I argued with him that it would take longer for me to get to the house that way.

Once the jet reached the house, I opened the hatch and jumped out. I landed and did a roll. I did a little wave at the jet to let the pilot know I was alright. I brushed the little bit of dirt that was on my clothes before making my way down the roof. I walked to the entrance on the ground that I had Tony installed that led to my room.

"Ms. Clara, Sir did not inform me that you were coming," JARVIS said to me once he detected I was in the house.

"JARVIS, run a search for Tony, he's missing in Afghanistan. Also look for anything related to the Ten Rings, I've got Phil and Maria doing the same thing, but I'll take all the help I can get. Give Rhodey unrestricted access to anything. If he has to hack into anything, do it, I don't care, I want him found." I ordered JARVIS.

I walked out of my room, "JARVIS, is Pepper here?"

"Yes, Miss, I have told her you were here, she is currently in the living room," JARVIS told me.

I walked to the living room to see Pepper sitting with her laptop perched on her crossed legs as she watched the news.

"Clara, I didn't know you were coming back so soon," She told me about to stand up to give me a hug.

I put a hand out to stop her from moving any more than she already did. She looked at me confusedly.

"You might want to stay sitting for this," I told her quietly.

"Clara, what's wrong, you're practically shaking," Pepper told me.

I didn't even notice as I walked closer to her and took a seat beside her. My eyes started to water as I began to tell her.

"Pepper, it's Tony," I started, "He's missing."

Pepper's eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hands.

"Rhodey said his humvee was bombed and shot at. He was the only one not there, my people think he's been kidnapped by the terrorists that are currently active there," I continued to tell her.

I looked down at my shaking hands and held them together trying to make it stop as my vision went blurry.

"I-I know it's wrong for me to be thankful he's just kidnapped. Kidnapped I can handle, I can find him. I will turn over every stone on this planet to find him, but if he's... d-dead, I don't know how I'll cope Pepper, I just don't. He's my entire life and I can't lose him."

Pepper took me in her arms and comforted me for the rest of the night as I cried for my baby boy.

AN: Pretty short chapter compared to the previous one, but here we see a bit of a flashback! I love love love writing Clary in Tony's life because I really love the thought of Tony having a mother figure in his grown up life and I hope I bring that by writing Clary. There might be a bit of a wait for the next few chapters seeing as I haven't even finished the chapter after this one because of my school but let's all hope I can finish it before the week ends and start on the next one! Thank you all for reading and if you liked the story please leave a review! It means a lot to me! -E