Tony learnt many things about Grace during the beginning of their time together.

She was small for being 8 years old and she constantly carried the bear, Phil with her were ever she went. Her favourite colour was Lilac, and upon knowing this he had made sure her room conveyed, this colour, much to her surprise. She had little interest in dolls, like most little girls her age, and instead was content to read a book, write, draw or listen to music. He found that like he, she was very intelligent, and much to his excitement, found great interest in watching him in his workshop.

However he also noticed, that she was very shy, painfully so and was very quiet. She was the opposite of him in this extent. He lived in the spotlight, and she liked the shadows. Grace was also very mindful of what she said and did, whereas he didn't care what he did. They were polar opposites in personality, but they both got along so well, it was hard to believe that they hadn't known each for that long.

Grace however comfortable she was with Tony, showed the signs of what her past had done to her, something Tony knew would never truly heal. She would flinch if went to pat her head, and she always wore long sleeved clothes. If she did something she deemed as wrong, or if she felt she was in the way, she would apologize repeatedly.

And then there were the nightmares.

He didn't know when they started, but one night, after a late night in the workshop, he had been about to go to sleep, when he heard crying from Grace's room, as he had walked past. Upon going on to check on her, he found her bed empty. He'd panicked, but then noticed that the cries were coming from her large closet, in the corner of the room.

"Grace, kid you okay?" Tony wasn't the comforting type, so naturally he was out of his element. He hadn't asked grace as to why she was so fearful, or why she had been covered in wounds, not because he didn't care.

But he hadn't a clue how to help her.

So simply hadn't asked her. He had kept their conversations light-hearted.

Opening the closet, he noticed the small bundle that was his daughter, as she cried in a ball

"G-"

"I-'m s-sorry! I-'m s-sorry, I'll b-be g-g-ood! I-I won't get in your way! D-Don't h-h-h-urt me, please I'm sorry" She sobbed louder, and tony felt his heart ache and he quickly scooped the thrashing and screaming girl in his arms. He rocked her in his arms with a gentleness that he didn't know he even possessed. He stroked her soft hair as she clung to him as if her very existence depended on it. He also wasn't surprised to find her stuffed companion, Phil close to her chest.

"Grace, you're alright kiddo, it's okay" He repeated this mantra until her sobs began to die down. It was then that she seemed to finally notice where she was.

"D-addy?"She croaked.

"You were having a nightmare kid" Grace hung her head at this.

"You wanna talk about it?" Grace shook her head solemnly, but then looked at him sadly and then asked him a question instead

"Daddy, is there something wrong with me? Tony blinked his eyes in disbelief, and looked into the matching brown eyes of his daughter.

"Why the hell would you think something like that?" Grace averted her gaze.

"B-because m-mommy didn't want me and-"she paused for a moment, and Tony could feel the slight tremors of her small body.

" C-c-al hurt me, s-so it m-must be my fault!" Tony shook his head, though he didn't question he girl on who this "Cal" was

"You listen to me grace" She blinked and met his eyes.

"There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with you, they are the ones with something wrong with them, there's something wrong with them, if they could treat you the way they did. Do you understand Grace? There isn't a damn thing wrong with you"

The words that he spoke had been the words that he had so desperately wanted to hear when he was younger. Despite his intellect he had always thought there was something wrong with him. He had been placed with Nannies, with his father caring more about Captain Spangles them him. No matter what he had done, he was never noticed by either of his parents. It must have been something he had done, he had also thought, and no one had told him otherwise.

But he refused for his daughter to feel the same way he did.

"Plus you're my daughter! You are practically a mini version of me, so there couldn't possibly be anything wrong with you!" Grace laughed slightly at this. He was surprised however when she sat up in his arms, and wrapped her small arms round his neck, and nuzzled her head under his chin.

"…I love you Daddy "Tony felt eyes water before he returned the hug.

"…Love you too kiddo"

And then no more words were needed as father and daughter took solace in each other's embrace.

Pepper, once again found herself smiling softly to herself as she watched the two Starks. It was hilarious to see the usual arrogant Tony Stark, being followed like a mother duck. He also wasn't even annoyed, and he seemed to take great joy in grace following him about. And if she wasn't following him, Tony could be seen carrying the small girl.

In all honesty, she had worried that Tony wouldn't be good for grace, due to his… well personality. It was in fact the opposite. They bought out the best in each other. He was less arrogant and the cocky façade he usually had all but faded away, and Grace's shyness seem to dissolve around her father.

Though Pepper feared she was starting to pick up on his sarcastic sense of humour.

Another plus to having Grace around was that Tony had put a stop to his playboy ways. It was most likely temporary, but it was a good start none the less.

However, as much as she enjoyed seeing the pair together, it had dawned on her that Grace needed friends of her own age.

Grace needed to go to school. So during the rare moments that Tony wasn't in his workshop, Pepper decided to mention it during dinner. However, both father and daughter didn't seem too keen on the idea.

"S-school? Grace looked at her Take out burger that she was eating with unease, having suddenly lost her appetite

"That's right, I was thinking we could enrol you next week"

"Pep, don't you think that's a bit soon, she hasn't been here that long" Pepper had been hoping for Tony to back her up, and she shot him a disapproving look.

"Tony, I just think it would be good for her to go back to school" Grace suddenly looked sheepish, which tony noticed

"Grace?"

"I w-well d-didn't e-exactly um" Tony felt his anger grow.

"You didn't go to school?" Grace nodded and hung her head.

"I-I'm n-not s-smart e-enough t-to go to s-school" An awkward silence descended before, well Pepper exploded in a fit of rage, suprising both of the starks.

"WHAT?! Grace you are one of the smartest children I've ever met. I mean I don't know a lot of children, but how in god's name did you get that idea in your head. Honestly, how ridiculous. And even if you weren't smart, which you are, the whole point of go to school, is to get smarter and get yourself an education" Pepper continued her angry rant, which went from comforting a stunned Grace, to pointing out how horrible it was for someone to even suggest such a thing.

Tony raised an eyebrow, as Pepper took a deep breath.

"You done?" Pepper narrowed her eyes, and Grace giggled when Tony backed away from the strawberry blonde woman. He grabbed Grace from her seat, next to him, and began to use the giggling girl as a shield.

"Oh no! Grace protect me from the angry pepper" Pepper clearly was amused by Tony's dramatics, but the less tried to appear serious.

"Really Tony?" Tony held Grace close to him, in a bear hug, but to her joy.

"Grace protect Daddy!" Pepper however burst out laughing, as the shy little girl, displayed a small smirk that was clearly the smirk of a stark

"Wow Daddy, You need actually need a little girl to protect you, I'm disappointed."When Tony didn't reply to that, she suddenly felt that maybe she had said something wrong.

"I-I'm s-sor"

She was interrupted however by, Tony lifting her in the air, a grin spread across his face.

"Did you here that one pepper? She's just like her dad" Pepper nodded in agreement, whilst trying to stifle her laughter.

Returning his attention to the girl held above his head, his eyes lit up in amusement

"Nice one Kiddo!" Grace, who had been shocked, found herself smiling, her eyes lighting up, and tony felt that was the first time, that Grace had truly been happy. And it brought a warm feeling to his chest.