Chapter 16: Ivy, Meet the Press.
Thanks for all the reviews.
While not writing every day is less stressful, my memory is not what it could be. Having said that, if you see something I messed up on feel free to point it out. I do go back and skim the former chapters, but don't read them in depth.
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Tony stood stunned for five minutes, until Sirius grabbed his shoulder and squeezed. He looked at the other man, shock evident on his face. "She called me daddy," he said with surprise. Then he became a bit worried. Sirius was Ivy's godfather; he might get upset over this new circumstance.
"She was going to call you that eventually," the dogman said as if it was a forgone conclusion. He was sad that it wasn't him that Ivy had called daddy, but he was also content in being Padfoot to her. He would be the loving godfather that James and Lily wanted him to be. He had already missed out on so much of her life, he wasn't going to mess up any further over jealousy.
Remus came up to them and stared at Ivy and the Avengers getting ready for the party. He too was sad that it was someone not James that got the title Daddy in Ivy's life. He was always destined to be the fun-loving uncle. "Sirius is correct, it was something that was going to happen sooner or later," he added his two knuts worth in.
"You don't mind?" Tony asked, coming out of his stupor. "You two are closer to her family than I am," he added, looking at Remus as well. "I don't want to replace her father." Even though he said the words, his heart was soaring. Not even the arc reactor could make his heart feel this good. He sincerely hoped he didn't wreck this relationship as he had many others. Then again, no one made him feel like his little bug did. Though Pepper did come close.
"No, I will always be there for Ivy, but in a uncle-like capacity," Remus said, giving Sirius a side-eyed glance. He was very concerned about his reaction. Padfoot was always the more volatile of the group.
"No," Sirius said with a sad smile, "I don't mind. I'll admit, it hurts to see her call anyone but James, or myself, that, but you saved her and that makes an impact." The three of them watched the rest get ready to party with the now seven-year-old. They had slowly gotten closer to the rest of the group but were hanging back to talk.
The others were putting on silly hats and gathering around the birthday cake to sing Happy Birthday to You. There was a huge chocolate cake with strawberry icing. The table also had three different ice creams, and assorted snacks and beverages. Tony spared no expense for this small party.
"Come on, Daddy," Ivy said, waving them to join them. "Padfoot and Moony, we can't have the party without you," she said, smiling her cute little smile. She giggled her cute little giggle, and everyone smiled and waved for them to hurry.
The three men looked at one another and nodded. They were going to be alright. They went and joined them, for all the world happy to be a part of this little girl's life.
The party was a small one, with just the members of the household. Even Jarvis joined in on the birthday song. Tony's three robots were acting as servants, though they weren't particularly good at it. Party games were played, like Pin the Tail on the Werewolf, and Duck, Duck, Goose. Silly children's games that everyone struggled to remember the rules too. Laughter was heard throughout the mansion as the grownups had a great time being kids for little Ivy.
Afterwards, while there was still light out, Loki and Remus kept their promise and let Ivy watch them house Frank. It was a simple task building the stable for Frank with magic. The materials were all there, having been delivered while they were at the zoo.
It wasn't quite as simple keeping it from the muggles, who seemed to be camped out on Tony's doorstep, or gateway, for some reason. They showed up during the party and were promptly ignored. Jarvis had kept them at the gates and had identified them as the press, so they were left alone but watched.
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The gatecrashers were still there the next morning and Tony, Pepper and Ivy were standing at the window staring at them. They were making quite the ruckus and all clamoring to get pictures of the small family. They were shouting questions as if the trio could hear them through the glass and distance.
The reporters couldn't see more than just the front of the mansion from the gate, but there was a helicopter buzzing around, so they were staying inside. The cliffs that surrounded the back of the house kept people from sneaking in that way, and the fences kept most of the others out. There was only the one gate to the front door, and it was protected both mundanely and magically.
"Why are all those people there, Daddy?" Ivy said, glad that Frank was finally hidden from sight.
The stables were glamoured to appear as if they had always been there. Loki was the one who did the mind trick on that one. If anyone non-magical saw Frank, he was just a Shetland pony. Sirius did that glamour. Still, she didn't want to take the chance that her unicorn would be taken by the government. She was beginning to not like the government with the stories that all her adult friends were telling her. Though the ones she met a MACUSA were nice.
"Little bug, meet the press," Tony said, glaring at the people destroying his peace. He put his hand on the top of her head and ruffled her cute curls. She looked up at him and smiled.
"Why are they here?" she asked, looking back at the people gathered at the gate.
"I think it might have to do with your disappearance from Britain, little bug," he said, once again glaring at the reporters who were snapping pictures of the three of them standing at the window of the manor. He thought for a moment to hide Ivy, but what was the point? They had been seen in public quite a few times by this point and it would be futile. "Or someone finally questioned who that cute little girl is that I've been showing around town. I am quite famous, you know?" he said with smugness.
"Silly Daddy," Ivy said, though she was proud of her new daddy. From the stories that Padfoot and Moony had told her of her real father, he was quite smug too.
"Do you think we should talk to them?" Pepper said, knowing they wouldn't leave until they got their story. She voiced her thoughts and looked to Tony on what to do next.
"I'm not sure yet," Tony said, looking to Ivy. It would be her introduction to the world after all.
"I could tell them about Mr. Loki and how he was controlled," Ivy said, remembering her promise to do that. "I did promise," she said with wide pleading eyes.
"Well, I don't know," Tony said, loath to introduce his little girl to the press. He looked at those eyes and sighed, knowing that she was right. Loki was promised. "Okay, fine. I don't want you to break a promise. However, I will be there with you," he caved.
"I'll call a press conference, and we can control what they ask," Pepper said, thinking they could hold it somewhere, not here. Like SI headquarters. They had rooms set up just for this purpose.
"Yeah, I'll have Happy go and chase these guys off," Tony said, picking Ivy up and taking her away from the window. She waved to the cameras, and the flashes were blinding. "I wish you wouldn't do that, little bug," he whined. He could see her face plastered all over every newspaper by noon.
"Why?" she asked, confused. "I was only being nice." It never hurt to be nice to people, even when they weren't nice to you.
"They're vultures," he complained, setting her down so she could walk. They were making their way to the living room, breakfast having finished earlier. "While Pepper sets up a press conference, let's study some more. Or you could go find Natasha and do that ball game we picked up at the mall. You like that," he suggested.
Anything to get her mind off the press that was camping out at his gates. He hoped Happy was able to make them leave. They should with the knowledge that a conference would be later. Natasha would keep her busy for an hour or so until it was time to talk to the vultures. Until then, Tony would think on what he was going to say and allow Ivy to say.
"Yay," she said, going to find the Widow. She loved the ball game. It made her fast and flexible. She was getting really good at not being hit. Not that it hurt too much being stung by the ball, but it was useful in letting her know that she needed to be faster. She knew that there was a bad man that was still after her and she needed to be able to escape if he came for her. This game was helpful in that respect.
"I'm going to hold a press conference," Tony announced to his housemates as Ivy left. They were all gathered around the tv, watching some of the news programs. There wasn't any coverage of the manor, but they were waiting for some snippet as to why the press was camped there.
"Do you need us to come with you, friend Tony?" Thor asked, sitting on the couch, and watching his friend get worried over the coming confrontation. He didn't understand why the man had to talk to these people, but the ways of Midgard were strange to him. On Asgard, if Odin spoke then all listened. That was the way of things. Here there were too many voices in charge.
"No, just me and Ivy will talk to them. Well, and Pepper. It is best you guys stay here," Tony said, pacing in front of the group of Avengers and magicals. "I mean, you can come, but stay in the background. I'm not trying to tell you where you can and cannot go," he amended. He didn't want to come off as a general or some such.
"I'll stay," Bruce said, not wanting to go into a volatile situation. Ivy was still pestering him to meet the Hulk, but he was still leery of it. Even if the Other Guy did coo every time he was around her. Years of hiding the alter ego still had that effect on him. It was an internal debate that was ongoing. He had never been closer to his alter ego in all the time he had had him. His anger was getting under control because of it too. Meditation was something that he was doing every day and calmness was coming faster.
"I'll stay here too," Remus said, much for the same reason. He too wasn't comfortable in conflict.
"I will be by your side," Thor said, standing and clapping Tony on the shoulder. "Or as you say, in the background," he stated, laughing a hardy laugh. He wandered off to find something to eat. Those Pop-Tarts were good, but they were not filling. He thought there was some ham in the ice box. Tony was good a stocking meat for him and the others that had big appetites.
"I think I will remain here. Until more time has passed, or my story gets out, I will not be welcome outside," Loki said, grumpy as ever. Even though he still did his community service every morning, and more people were seeing him out and about doing good, he was still not well received. "I do not fancy spending time defending myself to your government quite yet."
"I'll come," Steve said, thinking he might be needed to reign Thor in. The Thunder God did tend to leap first and ask questions later.
"I'll come too," Sirius said, though not for as reasonable reasons as Steve. He just wanted to be near Ivy.
"We need to check in," Clint said, pointing towards the door were Natasha was training Ivy. "If you're going to put Ivy in front of the press, we'll need to tell Fury about her," he said, looking at Tony, who nodded.
"Pepper will be with me," Tony said, covering the last person in their group. "Tell Fury to keep his opinions to himself," he added, knowing the one-eyed man would put his two cents worth in.
Pepper walked in and said, "It'll be in an hour." She settled on the couch and took up the remote. There she cycled through the channels trying to understand why they were being hounded by the press. There was a snippet that there would be a conference, and that the world would finally know who the little girl was. At least they now knew what started the whole thing.
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An hour later, Ivy, Tony, Pepper, Steve, Sirius, and Thor walked into the Stark Industries' lobby. They beelined to the pressroom. It was a medium sized room that only had chairs and a podium in it. It was paneled with wood and had blue carpet on the floor with matching curtains on the staging area.
The reporters were all seated and for once didn't start shouting as soon as Tony walked into the room, though the cameras started flashing the moment they appeared. He had Ivy on his hip, and she was waving to them all. They all cooed.
Tony went to the front of the room and put Ivy on a stool that had been put there for her to stand on. He made sure to keep his hand on her waist so she didn't fall. Steve, Sirius, and Thor were standing behind Tony, Pepper and Ivy.
"As you can see, I have a new addition to my family. No, I won't tell you how I came to have Ivy in my life. That is a story for when she is older and can deal with you vultures," he said, making many of them chuckle. "Ivy, introduce yourself," he said to his new daughter.
"Hello. My name is Ivy Harriet Potter-Stark," Ivy said, cutely waving to the audience. "I love living with my new daddy, Mr. Tony." She smiled and giggled her new giggle, making everyone believe that she was just a harmless little girl.
"You are so cute," many of the press said, writing down what she said, what she was wearing and how she was acting. She was standing there in front of them with a pink dress on, and cute little black shoes. She looked like a doll come to life. Her red curls didn't clash with the dress like one would think. Instead, they complimented it. It was like she could wear any color and it would flatter her.
"Thank you," Ivy replied sweetly. She gave them a small curtsy and put a hand to her mouth and giggled again.
"I'll let you ask a few questions, but keep them polite," Tony said, pointing to a woman in a purple pants suit.
"Pamela Bitters, L.A. Times. Miss Ivy, how did you come to live with Mr. Stark?" the woman asked, in a polite tone.
"Mr. Tony came to my aunt's house looking for a phone, after his car broke down. His phone was dead, you see. We liked each other very much, so he adopted me," Ivy said, simplifying things for them. Tony and Pepper had coached her on keeping it simple. Only answering what was asked, and only telling what you wanted them to know.
"And your aunt was okay with this?" Bitters followed up.
"My aunt is not a nice person," Ivy said, her face looking sad, making everyone glare at the woman for taking the smile away.
"Her aunt was more than happy to let me adopt Ivy," Tony said, pointing to the next person showing that that line of questioning was over. A man in a rumpled dove grey suit was next.
"Stan Overdove, New York Times. There are reports that Ivy Potter disappeared from Britain. Can you put these reports to rest?" the reporter asked Tony.
"Those reports are false. Ivy's adoption was legal and above the board. We kept it silent so that she could settle at home before the public knew about her. As you know, I am quite the public figure, and with my fame she will not have a peaceful life. I wanted to give her that. If only for a little while," the billionaire stated, kissing the top of Ivy's head.
She looked at him with loved filled eyes and then turned those eyes to the press, who ate it up. The conference took off from there as reporters started just asking questions without waiting to be called on.
"Mr. Stark, do you think your life as Iron Man will affect hers? And will you be giving up your heroism now that you are a father?" another reporter asked. Everyone held their breath for his answer.
"I will always stand and defend Earth," Tony said as an answer. "As to how it will affect Ivy, I am unsure, but I, with all those in her life, will do my best to protect her from all that come her way." He gestured to the men who were standing behind him.
They were looking menacing. Sirius even went so far as to crack his knuckles.
"My daddy is a hero, and I love that he helps people," Ivy said, her tone serious. She might not like that he put his life on the line, but he was only helping people and she couldn't ask him not to do that. She would do the same when she was older. She just knew, with her improved way of thinking, that she was going to follow in his footsteps.
"When is your birthday, Ivy?" a reporter asked, hoping to cheer the little angel up. The mood had gotten too serious.
"It was yesterday," Ivy said, perking right up. "We went to the zoo. We got to meet a lot of new animals and a new friend. Hi, Mr. Wade," she said, waving to the camera, making some of the reporters snicker, thinking it was another child she had met at the zoo. "Then we had a party with cake and everything," she added, giggling her cute little giggle.
"What do you think of the Avengers?" was the next question from someone in the back.
"I like them. They teach me so many things," Ivy said, bouncing on her stool, which made Tony hold on to her tighter. "Speaking of the Avengers, I did want to tell you a story," she said, sobering up some. "Mr. Loki told me about the mean things he did. He had to go home and be punished by his daddy. He came back here to Midgard, or Earth, for further punishment, and he told me that he was being manipulated by a very evil person. Can you imagine being controlled into doing something so bad that everyone hated you afterwards? I would be very sad if that happened to me," she said, her eyes filling with tears. "I think it would be good if we could forgive him of something that he wasn't in control of," she said, pouring on the cuteness. Her eyes got wide with tears and her cheeks seemed to sparkle. There was an aura about her that just screamed adorable and trustworthy. She exuded a sadness that made mothers everywhere want to cuddle her.
Many of the reporters folded and were ready to forgive the God of Mischief for his trespasses. They would do anything to take that look off that little girl's face. There were flashes of light as cameras took that picture that would be on many papers that night. The video cameras were zooming in on her tears and making it seem like she was crying for them.
"How do you know he was telling the truth?" someone asked warily. "I want to forgive him, but what if he is lying?" The wound was too fresh to out and out forgive someone, no matter how compelling Ivy was. Though, she did make a good argument. That and she was just so cute.
"His eyes were a different color. All of the Avengers said so, and I trust them," Ivy said, with a serious tone. Her face took on a firm visage. "Even Mr. Thor said that his brother had blue eyes when he was trying to hurt everyone. Mr. Loki has green eyes like mine," she added, batting those big green eyes at them. "Mr. Clint's eyes were blue when Mr. Loki controlled him. His eyes are brown. It's a sign that they are being manipulated by someone else," she explained, hoping Mr. Clint didn't get mad at her for saying that.
Everyone was writing this all down. There was murmuring among them as they did note that the man's eyes had indeed been blue.
"Mr. Stark, can you confirm this?" Bitters asked, holding up her pencil.
"Yes," Tony said, putting Ivy on his hip. They had done what they had come to do. "I have talked with both Thor and Loki. He was controlled into doing the invasion by a being far more powerful than him, and he has been doing community service for weeks now. He knows that it will take time, but he is hopeful that he can make it up to the people of Earth for what happened. That's all we're going to answer for now," he said as he started walking off.
"Mr. Thor, can you confirm this?" someone yelled from the back.
"Yes, my brother was not in his right mind. My father has punished him thoroughly," Thor's voice thundered through the room. He started walking with Tony. He wasn't going to say anything else. He didn't answer to these people.
They were bombarded with questions, but Tony was a pro at ignoring them. He held Ivy's head to his shoulder, so she didn't get jostled in the crowd. Thor, Sirius, and Steve were holding quite a few of the pushier people back, while Happy got Tony, Ivy, and Pepper in the car.
"What do you want for lunch?" he asked Ivy and everyone else as they all got into the limo. Happy was, of course, driving.
"I want Chinese," Sirius said, having had some the other night and loving it. It was such a combination of spicy and sweet that he had never tasted before.
"You can't have Chinese takeout every day," Pepper said, exasperated. He had asked for it at every meal, even breakfast. It was becoming a running joke.
"You haven't let me," Sirius whined, making everyone laugh.
"Let's just get sandwiches at home. I'm sure everyone else is waiting," Steve suggested. He patted Sirius' leg. "Maybe we can call for Chinese for dinner." He too liked the takeout food. It had come a long way since his time.
"Good call," Tony agreed. "Jarvis, remind me to call for Chinese for dinner," he said into his phone.
"Very well, sir," the AI stated in a bland tone.
"Yay," both Ivy and Sirius said, holding up their arms in a joyous manner. Steve just smiled, and Thor pouted. He didn't like the food as much as they did. It wasn't as filling as say, pizza or McDonald's.
So, they went home to watch the news to see if they even warranted it. Loki, Bruce and Remus were watching tv and were happy to see them. The news was showing the conference in segments. Ivy's cuteness was being broadcasted all over California, and a few other states, for all to see. It would go national before the night was over.
"Your tears are all over the news," Loki said to Ivy as soon as they walked through the door. "I don't think there will be a dry eye in this state for a few minutes," he added, taking up the little girl and kissing her head. "Thank you for sticking up for me," he stated with pride in his tone.
"Of course, I promised," Ivy said, beaming at him. "I only told the truth." That was very important to her.
"I still thank you," he said, hugging her tight.
"You should find your children," she murmured into his ear. She wanted to meet his kids. She had read about them in her books and they sounded like they had a worst life than she had. She hoped he would bring them here to help heal them. Of course, all she knew of them was myth, so…
He pulled back and looked at her with wonder. She looked back with an innocent face, like she hadn't just blown his world. How did she even know about his children?
"I will," was all he said as he put her down. He was already making plans on finding Jormungand, so that Ivy had a snake to talk to. He would have to see if he could find his other children. Well, he knew where Sleipnir was, but how to get him free was the question. Perhaps he could sic Ivy on Odin. Even that man's icy heart would melt under such cuteness. Fenrir was more difficult to locate. Odin had hidden him well on Asgard. Again, perhaps Ivy could get his location from the Allfather. Hel was happy where she was, so he needn't bother her.
"Goodie," she said, clapping her hands and jumping up and down. She was so happy she was correct. Now she would have some playmates. She knew Daddy would let them stay.
"What is going on?" Tony wanted to know. He was warily looking between the two of them. Nothing good would come of them conspiring. He feared for his peaceful life, then he remembered he didn't have one and just shook his head.
"It's a surprise," Ivy said, grabbing his hand and dragging him to the lab. It was the best way to distract him. That and she had a few simple experiments she was working on. She was still trying to recycle plastics into magical implements.
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They did have Chinese that night, and it was late when Clint and Natasha joined them. They were not happy campers.
"You made our lives more difficult," Clint said, grabbing some leftover food. He knew it was going to be a long day, but damn Fury was such a dick when he was caught unawares.
"How so?" Tony asked from his place at the head of the table. He was done eating and was just sipping on some whiskey. Ivy was trying to pick at the last of her fried rice with chopsticks. She had eaten most of her meal with them, but rice was tricky.
"Your press conference," Natasha elaborated, grabbing the last of the sweet-n-sour pork.
"Ah, Fury," Tony said, nodding knowingly.
"Got it in one," she said, shoving some food in her mouth. She was starved.
"When can we expect the one-eyed pirate?" the billionaire asked, looking around as if the man was going to pop out of the woodwork.
"Sir, Mr. Fury is at the gate. Mr. Coulson is with him," Jarvis said, making everyone react.