It was after he had convinced Pepper and Rhodey that he didn't need to go to the hospital, and when they were on the way towards the closet fast food joint that he decided to play catch up with Pepper.

"So Pepper how's the company been, has Obadiah been keeping an eye on it" What Tony wasn't expecting was Pepper to avoid his gaze, and for Rhodey to cough awkwardly.

"What?" He grinned at Pepper "Did you take over the place yourself pep? Gave yourself a promotion huh? Well if my boss was pretty much declared dead, I would. "Pepper scowled at him, and he found himself laughing.

God he'd miss this.

Pepper shook her head in dismay for a moment, before she looked at him nervously, but before she could speak, Tony continued

"How's Gracie doing anyway pep? She finally got a social life? Mm maybe that's why she's not here."He placed his hand over his arc reactor

"Oh the pain! My only child doesn't ca-"

"Tony" Pepper snapped, "It's about grace" He noticed the sombre pair, and how they were avoiding eye contact. He paused.

"Don't tell me she's got a boyfriend already! He asked jokingly, however when no one laughed, his eyes widened.

"She did? Damn it Pep, she can't have one! She's too young and I didn't get to meet him and threaten h-"

"Tony-"

"She's not pregnant is she? Oh I'm too young to be a grandad pep-"

"TONY." Tony paused in his ramblings, to see and exasperated Pepper

"Grace… she's been running the company"

Well, he hadn't been expecting that.

Pepper watched as he stared at her blankly, his mouth agape in shock. For once, Tony stark was speechless.

This was a first.

He finally seemed to function and he laughed.

"Really? Wow, you're sense of humour needs some work"

"She's telling the truth" Tony turned his attention to had been silent as Happy drove them towards the closet fast food joint.

"Tony, she's not been the same since you left…She locks herself in your workshop, she doesn't sleep, she doesn't eat" Pepper looked up at him sadly

"She's not the same anymore Tony."

Now Tony had hoped that Pepper was playing some sick joke on him but even he knew that was unlikely, he walked alongside pepper in a silence that was unusual for him, and he continued to do so when they reached the lab.

It was strange still, being back, it was a huge contrast to the conditions he had been living in.

"Grace, I've been calling your phone! Why haven't you answered?" That was true, pepper had been on and off the phone, whilst trying to keep a conversation with him. Grace usually answered the phone straight away. She wasn't the type of kid to go off the rails like that. For a moment, he considered that maybe she was going through a rebellious age… How the hell would he handle that?

"The board of directors have been calling me, The Senator is requesting a meeting to discuss the agreements from the last meeting" Her tone was harsh and cold, and she hadn't even turned to face them at the door, it was nothing like the soft voice she usually used. He noted the mess her brown locks had become and the large coffee cup next to her workstation, she never liked coffee. He felt a smile pull across his lips as he remembered when she had tried it when she was 'd begged to try it, only to scrunch her button nose up at it as she had a sip.

He then let it sink in what she'd just said… those miserable old men, were actually requesting a meeting with her? Were they actually relying on his little girl that much? He was used to the pressure that came with being a CEO, it was a role he had perfected years ago. Plus if it didn't feel like putting up with them, he would just skip a meeting.

He was tony stark after all, and he could do what he wanted.

He was ruthless like that. Grace…

Grace wasn't like that.

She would let it all pile up, because she took everything so seriously. And that would slowly weigh her down.

"Jarvis, forward my instructions to Pepper's computer, and we can hope that the board actually listens to me this time"

Ah, so the board were still the same arrogant, know it all asses he had left behind. Guess not everything changed

"Yes Miss, though Miss-"

Pepper interrupted Jarvis, much to his annoyance, heck maybe his AI was going to alert the kid of his presence.

He smirked slightly.

Least he could surprise her now

."Grace! I needed to talk to you! Listen Rhodey wanted to tell you about your father. H-"

"Pepper, I don't have time for this." He was surprised at her how she quickly dismissed pepper, and in such a harsh way. Grace looked up to Pepper, she was her role model, and they were as close as close could be.

"I don't care if Rhodey still hasn't found my dad, tell him to keep looking. I don't want him trying to convince me to give up, just because everyone else has." He gave Pepper a mock glare, which he was sure conveyed that he was disappointed in her lack of faith. Pepper scowled at him, which made him chuckle lightly. He wasn't mad about the idea they had thought him dead. He was lucky to be alive .Heck even he didn't think he was going to make it out.

However it was then, that despite not seeing her face, he realised how tired the girl was. Her posture was slouched, and she just sounded so exhausted. It hurt him to see her like this.

She reminded him too much of himself, so tired with the world and everyone in it.

"The media, the company, Rhodey, you, why is that everyone else has given up on him? I'll never give up on him, because he never gave up on me like everyone else"

His eyes widened when she this, and like he was, Pepper was in a stunned silence, Rhodey, who was with them, blinked a couple times, before he smiled at him. Getting the message, he smirked, and after hacking into the lab.

"Hey kiddo, fancy a burger? I got you a chocolate milkshake too, with extra cream. It's your favourite"

She turned her head so quickly, he jokingly thought that she would get whiplash. It was then that he got a good luck at her.

She was thinner and paler then he remembered, and dark bags weighed her dull brown eyes down. She hadn't reacted yet, and was staring blankly at him, as if she was seeing a ghost. Much to his amusement, she rubbed her eyes before looking at him again.

"It's me in the flesh, though I'm glad you see me in your dreams, kiddo, heck with me in them they must be damn good dreams" From the corner of his eye, he saw pepper face palm, much to his amusement and Rhodey chuckling slightly, as he shook his head in dismay.

Grace didn't laugh like he had hoped, instead she stood as still as a statue, watching him, in amazement.

"D-dad?"Tony smirked.

"That's right kiddo! You miss me?" Before he had chance to balance himself, Grace had run towards him, and wrapped her arms around his chest, in a tight, and due to his wounds, slightly painful hug.

"Ah, so you did miss me! Well that's a relief, otherwise this would have been pretty awkward." A choked laugh came from the girl, and it dawned on him that the girl was crying, as she held onto him for dear life. It also dawned on him, that Pepper and Rhodey had abandoned him. It's not that he didn't appreciate the fact that they had left the two of them alone to have some time together.

It's just that Tony didn't really know how to comfort his crying daughter.

Geez he had such great friends huh?

When pepper went back to the lab, she found that they were nowhere to be found, puzzled, she asked Jarvis, who told her that the two Starks, where in his room. Curious, she went to Tony's room, and found the most heart-warming thing.

Tony and Grace were cuddled up together on Tony's large bed. His head rested on top of hers, and her head rested on his chest, next to his new arc reactor, that that the glowing or the humming of the device seemed to bother her. They had each other wrapped in each other's arms, and Pepper couldn't help but take a picture.

Satisfied with her work, she was quietly about to leave.

"…You make sure you send that to me Pepper" She jumped, startled, so she turned around only to see Tony's eyes still closed, but instead of his previous relaxed expression, his signature smile was in place.

"But next time, make sure you get good side" Pepper laughed slightly.

Tony stark was an arrogant ass.

But she was glad he was back. Because without him, things just aren't the same.