As much as I love Thor in the movies, I must confess that Tony Stark, played by the very talented Robert Downey, Jr. is the most fun to read in fanfiction and to write. You can see how much he takes over all my Marvel stories even if I don't intend him to. I have read a few great stories on TTH with him as Oz's father and Buffy's. I've toyed with writing both. Then I decided to try something a bit different using Dawn, who is my LEAST FAVORITE of all Whedon's characters. However, I have read some really great Dawn-centered stories, and I always attempt to write her as likeable as possible.
This story will be in season 5 of BTVS. It will be right after Ironman 2 where Tony has told the world who he is and gotten the poison out of his body. In this reality, Avengers hasn't happened, but the world knows Steve Rogers is alive and a few of the superheroes. In this story, he will believe he is Dawn's father. I did a similar bit with my first SG-1/BTVS story where Daniel Jackson was Buffy's father. In this story, Tony will not be Buffy's father, only Dawn's. Also, Daniel Jackson DOES make an appearance in this story, but it is NOT a STARGATE crossover.
Disclaimer: I don't own BTVS or Ironman or their characters. Only this story is mine.
Chapter 1: Surprising News
*****Sunnydale*****
Buffy's mind still couldn't grasp the fact that her mother, the woman who loved her no matter what and supported her in everything, was gone. She stared down at the grave with dry eyes. Others came and spoke to her, and she barely registered the words. Eventually, the sun went down, and Angel was there.
"You came," she said, letting herself be weak for a time as she leaned against him, holding him. Only him could she hug with all her strength, and he never complained.
Angel breathed her in, feeling the peace that only her presence brought him.
"I am so sorry, Buffy," he said after she looked up at him.
"Me, too," Buffy said. "I appreciate you coming."
"I would've even if you hadn't asked," he said.
"You understand what I need to do?" she asked.
Angel nodded. "Yes, Wesley and Cordy are going to hold down things in Los Angeles, so I can be here while you're gone," he said.
"Thanks," Buffy said. "I know you have your own mission, and I wouldn't ask if I didn't need you."
"Buffy, you know you can ask me for anything," Angel said. "I might not be able to be here all the time, but I hope you know that anytime you need help, I can be here. Wesley and Cordy would be happy to be as well. Gunn, one of the guys we have working with us, is going to be here tomorrow to keep an eye on Dawn when the sun's up, and I can't."
"I appreciate it," Buffy said. She pulled him down to sit against a nearby tree.
"Do you think he'll be willing to take Dawn in?" Angel asked.
"He's her father and a very public figure," Buffy said. "The attention might actually throw Glory off."
Buffy found out after her parent's divorced that Dawn wasn't Hank's biological daughter. That night five years ago, Joyce was drinking a glass of wine and looking over the divorce papers when Buffy asked her if it was her fault their dad left.
Flashback
Buffy's expulsion seemed to be the act that broke her parents' marriage. When she got out of the insane asylum her parents sent her to, her mother told her that Hank had moved out. Their marriage was over.
"What do you mean he moved out? Where did he go?" Buffy asked, sitting down next to her mother in dining room.
Joyce took a long drink of her wine before gesturing to the paper. "You father is a divorce attorney, honey. He wasted no time in ending it. This house will be sold, and the money split," she shared.
"Does Dawn know?" Buffy asked.
"She's at her ballet class, and her friend Tonya's mom will bring her home in an hour," Joyce said.
"Is this because of me? Did I do this?" Buffy asked, feeling sick.
"No, honey, you are definitely not responsible for the break-up of my marriage," she said, a note of bitterness that Buffy had never heard before in her voice.
"Then what? I thought you guys were happy," Buffy said.
"Sure, I'm happy pretending to be a trophy wife, keeping house," she said with a hollow laugh. "You know I have a master's degree in art? I have never used it for anything but buying expensive things for this house we live in. I've wasted my life." She took another long drink of the wine.
"Don't say that Mom," Buffy said, feeling a wave of panic. Her mother had never spoken like this to her. She seemed fragile and more than a bit broken.
"Why not? It's the truth," Joyce said. "I'm a lousy role model. Nothing like the proud feminist I was in college."
"You are a wonderful mother. Dawn and I are very happy because of the home you've created," Buffy said, hoping to make her mom feel better.
"At least someone is," Joyce said. She drained her wine and poured another glass.
"Are you sure that what happened with me didn't run Dad off?" Buffy asked.
"No, Buffy, your father and I were broken long ago," Joyce said. "But this time I decided I had had enough."
"I thought you were happy with Dad," Buffy said, feeling confused. "You have been married over fifteen years."
"I stayed with him this long, Buffy, because of you girls," Joyce said. "But I'm not staying tied to him any longer, and I told him this was the last time."
"What do you mean?"
"I caught him yet again in bed with another woman," Joyce said.
"What? Dad cheated on you?" Buffy asked, shocked.
"The first time I caught him, you were two. The second time, you were four, and I decided two could play that game just as well," Joyce said. "So, I went to this art show and picked up a very cute art lover. Of course, I had no idea at the time that he was so rich or who he was."
"You cheated on Dad?" Buffy asked, stunned at her mom's revelation.
"Only once, Buffy," Joyce said, closing her eyes. "I had this moment of weakness. Your father would cheat and buy me something expensive like it could somehow make up for his betrayals. Then this really intelligent, very attractive man with his own limo, asked me to have a drink with him. I thought, why not? We had a very good time."
"Mom, I don't want to hear any of this," Buffy said, upset.
"I'm sorry, honey. I just got the divorce papers, and I'm trying to decide what I want to do," she said.
"Are we going to move?" Buffy asked.
"I don't see how we can stay here. Los Angeles is expensive, and you are expelled. A fresh start in a new town would be good, don't you think?"
"Probably," Buffy agreed.
"Dawn won't be very happy, but she's like her father. People like her," Joyce said.
"Yes, Dad is easy to get along with," Buffy said, thinking she was referring to Hank, her dad.
"No, I'm not talking about Hank. Dawn's father is the man I picked up when you were five," Joyce said.
Shocked, Buffy didn't know what to say.
End of Flashback.
Buffy didn't find out who Dawn's father was until her mother got sick last fall. Then Joyce admitted that she had sent a piece of Dawn's hair and a letter to the man she'd hooked up with. She had done a DNA test not long after Dawn was born when Hank had hired a new pretty secretary. Joyce said that she wanted to know and felt some relief discovering she didn't have another tie to Hank. Now that she was sick, she wanted the man to know in case she died that Dawn existed.
Buffy was stunned to hear that the man the world had recently learned was Ironman was Dawn's father. She had discussed it with Giles only after Glory was revealed as a threat and Dawn had been inserted into her life. It had been six months since Joyce sent the letter, and Tony Stark had not reached out. Buffy knew the man's reputation and that he had went missing right after her mother sent the letter. She didn't know if Tony had found the letter or not. However, she knew that she could not keep Dawn safe. Glory was too strong.
"What if he thinks I'm insane?" Buffy said to Angel.
"He just told the world he built a suit that allows him to fly. I don't think he will be quick to dismiss Dawn since he's a man of science, and DNA doesn't lie," Angel pointed out.
"We don't know, though, that Dawn is really his," Buffy said. "The Monks built her from me. She has my DNA, which is Summers' DNA. Mom hasn't tested her since we moved to the hellmouth. The entire thing was a made-up reality. Mom never gave actual birth to Dawn. That means she might not have hooked up with Tony Stark."
"True," Angel acknowledged. "However, the monks sought to protect Dawn. It does make sense that they would choose a man who they knew to be strong as her father."
"That's what I'm hoping," Buffy said. "Because if Dawn is out of town, I can breathe and find a way to take out Glory for good."
"It will upset her to leave you, you know. She just lost her mother," Angel said.
"I know," Buffy said with a sigh. "But I don't know what else to do, Angel. I'm strong, but Glory is so much stronger."
"We'll figure it out," Angel said.
"If he agrees to watch out for Dawn, I'm going to need you to go with her to help protect her. You and Gunn," Buffy said.
"I'm not going to leave you to fight this alone, Buffy," Angel said.
"Spike's here, and he'll fight with me," Buffy said.
Angel looked mad. "Spike? You can't be serious!" he protested. "He can't be trusted."
"Sure, he can. He thinks he's in love with me, and he cares about Dawn," Buffy said. "Of course, I could send him with her. I know he would be happy to do it. He's already proven that he won't betray me when Glory tortured him for information about the key."
"Spike in love with you? Now, I'm never leaving!" Angel exclaimed, clearly annoyed at the idea of Spike loving her.
"I will never love another vampire. I promise," Buffy said, pulling his head down to kiss him.
For a long moment, they pretended things were normal, and it was just the two of them. Then the sun came up, and Angel left. Buffy went home, determined to find a way to protect her sister.
*****Malibu*****
Tony Stark, who told the world he was Ironman last summer, was tinkering with his suit. He had defeated Vanko and ended his palladium dependency. He bought a new house near the one that had been destroyed while it was getting rebuilt. All the windows would be bullet proof in this one.
"Tony," Pepper said, coming into this lab.
"Hey," he said, smiling at her. Their relationship status was new, but his world finally made sense. She fit him like nothing but his suit ever had.
"I have been going through Stane's paperwork, and I found out something shocking," Pepper said.
"Do I really want to know? Did he have a small tribe somewhere massacred because they had minerals he wanted to mine?" Tony asked.
"It's nothing like that," she said, smiling. She handed him the paper.
Tony read the results of a paternity test. "He had a daughter? I didn't know that," Tony said in bemusement.
"No, that's your DNA, Tony," he said.
"I have a daughter, and the bastard never told me?" he asked, shocked.
"It looks like he intercepted this letter that was sent last fall," she said, handing it to him.
Tony sat down and read the letter.
Dear Tony,
I feel strange calling you Tony when we only met the one time. But since you saw me naked, Mr. Stark seems stranger.
Tony smiled as the woman seemed witty enough to hold his interest.
We met nearly fifteen years ago at an art show in Los Angeles. I was upset that my husband cheated on me yet again and let you flirt with me. Nine months later, I had my sweet Dawn. She is smart and witty and beautiful. My ex-husband has loved her and raised her as his own, but he stopped seeing both her and her older sister Buffy a few years ago now that he works more overseas. I have been diagnosed with a brain tumor, and I am having surgery this week. I wanted you to have a sample of her hair to run a DNA test to prove what I'm saying. If something happens to me, I want you to help my daughter Buffy. Buffy is the strongest girl you will ever meet, and she loves her sister. However, she is only nineteen, too young to raise a child. I have included a few pictures as well as my contact information. I hope that I survive the surgery, but if I don't, I hope you will do right by our daughter, Dawn. She is very special, Tony.
Sincerely,
Joyce Summers
Tony looked at the postmark. "This was months ago. Is she still alive?" Tony asked, feeling a bit overwhelmed.
"I haven't checked. I was just so stunned to read this that I came right to you," Pepper admitted.
"JARVIS, check for Joyce Summers in Sunnydale, California," Tony said. "Is she alive?"
"An obituary was posted yesterday, Sir," Jarvis said. He read it to them.
"Damn it," Tony said. He looked down at the photos and saw a baby picture, a kindergarten picture, and a more recent picture of Joyce with both her daughters. Now Tony could recall the woman. It was his third stop that night. The woman with the sad eyes had drawn his interest, but she wouldn't give him her number.
"I remember her," Tony murmured, looking at the photo.
"She survived the surgery, but must have had complications," Pepper said, feeling sad for the poor girl.
"Her funeral was yesterday," Tony said. "I will contact my lawyers, so we can get the stepfather to sign her over to me. He is probably listed as the father on the birth certificate."
"Sir, there is a woman at the door," JARVIS announced. "She says her name is Buffy Summers."
"Well, this is convenient," Tony said, wiping his hands. "How do I look? Fatherly enough to impress my daughter's big sis?"
Pepper smiled. All women were putty in his hands, and he knew it. "You look fine," she said. He was in a jeans and t-shirt, which made him seem very approachable.
Buffy Summers was recognizable thanks to the picture her mother had sent him. Her hair was pulled back, and she wore a black leather jacket. Her expression was grim even as she tried to smile in greeting. Tony could see the strain the young woman was under and held out his hand.
"Hello, I'm Tony Stark," he said.
"Buffy Summers," she said, surprising him with her very strong grip.
"This is Pepper Potts, who I boldly proclaim as my girlfriend," Tony said, gesturing to Pepper with a wink. Pepper smiled warmly at her as she shook hands with the younger woman.
"Nice to meet you both," Buffy said.
"Please sit," Pepper said, gesturing to the living room. She sat next to Tony on the sofa while Buffy took the chair to Tony's left.
"Ironically, I just now had my girlfriend Pepper hand me a letter that your mother sent me last year," Tony said. "I am so sorry that I wasn't there for you girls."
Buffy looked surprised but relieved. "I'm glad we don't have to waste time with me trying to convince you that Dawn is yours," she said.
"Did your mom tell you that she sent a sample of her DNA?" Tony asked. "My former CEO ran it, and I am definitely Dawn's father."
"No," Buffy said. "She just said that she was going to write you." Buffy was a bit shocked that the DNA proved Tony the father. She wasn't sure that it would play out that way since she thought Dawn was basically made out of her. Then again, this would make things a bit easier, so Buffy felt herself relax a bit.
"Can we ask what happened? She said in her letter that she was having brain surgery," Pepper said.
"The surgery was successful, and we thought she was going to be fine," Buffy said. "The tumor wasn't cancerous. She had recovered and was back to work. However, I came home a few days ago and found her body on the couch in my living room. She was gone. One day, she was fine, and the next she was dead. It was a brain aneurysm."
Tony winced. "Those are almost impossible to stop once they rupture," he said.
"So I've been told. The surgery removed the tumor, but it ended up killing her," Buffy said with a note of bitterness.
"Are you in school?" Pepper asked.
"I was until I dropped out to help take care of mom and Dawn," Buffy said. "I don't know if I'll go back. Maybe in the fall." She didn't say what was on her mind—if she survived.
"Tony is prepared to help you anyway he can," Pepper said.
"I hope so," Buffy said. "I need help protecting Dawn."
Tony shared a surprised look with Pepper. "You know I'm not without resources. I will do my best," he said.
"I need to get her out of Sunnydale," Buffy said. "She doesn't know about you yet. I should have told her. Mom and I were going to, but then so many things have happened. My boyfriend left me. I have this maniac always trying to kill me. I don't want Dawn hurt."
"What do you mean?" Tony asked.
"I am an expert in hand-to-hand combat," Buffy said. "My town is full of evil people as the former mayor was totally corrupt. The police are inept. Since my sophomore year of high school, five years ago, I have worked to end the gang problem in the city. It isn't always easy, but I've made some headway. However, this latest threat seems to be the strongest foe I've faced. There have been threats against my family and Dawn. I have been attacked more than once."
"I will be happy to help," Tony said. "I can come to town and help protect you."
"No!" Buffy said, shaking her head. That was the last thing she wanted. Not only was he too smart and observant, but he also hated secrets. Giles suspected the man would announce the existence of the hellmouth and vampires to the world if he found out her full truth. Buffy wasn't going to risk it. "I need to get Dawn out of town until I can end the threat to her safety. With Mom gone, a change of scenery would be good for her."
"I'm a stranger, Buffy. I wouldn't mind getting to know my daughter, but don't you think that would be a bit much?" Tony said.
"I'm going to send two friends to be wherever you are to help watch over her. Angel, another ex-boyfriend of mine, is a detective. He will take the night shift, and Charles Gunn, his employee, will keep an eye on her during the day," Buffy said.
"You know I'm Ironman, right?" Tony said, giving her a charming smile.
Buffy nodded. "Yes, that's good, so I won't worry so much about her presence endangering you," Buffy said. "As long as no one finds out she's with you."
"That may be difficult," Pepper said. "Tony's very popular, and his every move watched. We spend much of our time in New York City. The paparazzi are everywhere there."
Buffy considered it. "Well, give her a New York makeover, and don't tell anyone where she is from. Fabricate a background and give her your last name. Dawn Marie Stark."
"I will need to contact your father, Hank. He's her legal father," Tony said.
"Good luck getting in touch with him. I tried to let him know Mom died, but I got nowhere," she said in disgust.
Tony felt for the young woman, and he wanted to help. "I will find him," he said. "Don't worry. JARVIS, my assistant, is already on it."
"Would you like to come back to Sunnydale with me?" Buffy said. "I can introduce Dawn to you."
"Of course," Tony said. He felt both anxious and excited. He was a Dad!
Damn it. He was a Dad.
Somewhere, his father was laughing.
*****Chapter End****
This will not be a terribly long story. I have about 6 chapters done. It will probably be seven or eight chapters long. I know how it ends, so let's see how long it will take me to get to that end. If you enjoyed this first chapter, take a minute to review! Thanks!