Wednesday

February 9, 2016

Pepper Potts' Apartment

9:45 PM

Morgan felt like her heart had dropped into her stomach, there was an aching pain rippling through her chest. Her lungs were on fire, she couldn't remember how to breath.

The phone drops from her hand, hitting the carpet with a muffled thump. She barely notices.

Liar. He's nothing but a liar!

Even with those thoughts she couldn't help but tremble at the possibility of truth. What if he was being completely honest? Then what? There's no way that she could be the daughter of Tony freaking Stark. No chance in seven hells. She wasn't smart enough to be his child.

She'd read enough articles about him. He graduated as the top of his class at MIT at fifteen. She was still in high school and trudged through chemistry.

Her most extraordinary invention was a just a bracelet. He had to be wrong. A girl like her could not be the daughter of someone like Tony Stark, it was impossible.

...

February 10, 2016

Midtown School of Science and Technology

Hallway

9:30 AM

Peter Parker knew something was wrong with Morgan the second she stepped into the building. She was aloof and distant. Not cracking jokes or teasing Ned. It was like she had her whole personality drained right out of her. It was an unsettling sight.

"Hey guys," she mumbles, glancing around nervously. She calms when no one is nearby, "What if one of us had a famous superhero parent?"

That was not what Peter was expecting.

"Depends, who's my famous parent. Mom or Dad? I think the Black Widow would be the most badass mom ever. She could teach me all kinds of awesome moves, not to mention weaponry. Ooh or maybe Scarlet Witch, do you think her kids would inherit some powers? As for a dad, obviously Tony Stark," Morgan tenses up. "He's super famous and not to mention totally rich. I'd have anything I could ever want, maybe even my own Iron Man suit."

"Imagine how awful that would be though," Morgan says, closing her locker. "It might seem awesome to be Tony Stark's kid, but you'd never be left alone. Paparazzi would follow you everywhere, dig into all your personal business. Not to mention that you'd only exist from a one night stand."

"What makes you say that?" Peter asks, moving closer.

"Think about it? Before he was kidnapped in Afghanistan he was whoring through as many girls as possible. It's in all kinds of tabloids. He only settled down after that and still hasn't had a single stable relationship so if you were his kid, you'd be illegitimate."

"Who cares, I'd still be the son of a billionaire. That's cool."

"But you'd always be slandered on TV. People calling you a mistake, or an accident. A burden of you 'father' and you'd always feel like you weren't wanted. Plus what if he didn't want to be your father? Maybe he paid off your mother or something. They guys isn't exactly known for being the greatest person, at least not back then."

"Dammit, you're bumming me out," Ned complains.

The bell overhead rings it warning.

"Time for class," Peter says with a sigh. "See you later. And happy birthday, Morgs."

...

Pepper Potts's Apartment

6:00 PM

Pepper Potts steps through the door to her apartment. She managed to get boss to let her off early so she could celebrate her daughter's fifteen birthday. Morgan in sitting on the couch beside Ned and Peter, they're watching a Star Wars movie. She doesn't remember which one.

"I'm home, happy birthday sweetie."

Morgan gets up and makes her way towards the kitchen where her mother is currently setting the cake she'd bought down. "Red velvet, my favorite."

Pepper laughs. "Of course it is, That's why I picked it, silly. Ned. Peter. Want to join us in the kitchen?" Pepper opens the lids of the plastic container and places fifteen candles on top, lighting them with matches. They each start singing to her and she nearly squirms under the attention.

She leans forward and blows out the candles.

Yet all she can think about is Tony Stark and what the man on the phone told her.

"Morgan Potts, I've been looking for you. Your mother's been lying to you."

She narrows her eyes, tempted to hang up the phone. "You've got ten seconds or I'm hanging up."

"Don't you want to know the identity of your father?"

Morgan freezes in place. How would this man know anything about her father? Even she doesn't have information on him, only her mother knows.

"Ah, now that has your attention, doesn't it? Have you ever wondered why your middle name is Howard? It's such an odd middle name for a young lady. It's because that's the name of your grandfather."

What?

"Your mother work for Stark Industries you know. She was the personal assistant to Mr. Tony Stark himself. This was long before you were born of course. Until one night..."

"Until what?"

"I'm sure you know that Tony Stark liked to sleep around. Anyone would do really, as long as they were attractive enough. I don't know the details, but needless to say your mother got screwed by him."

Morgan felt her face heat with uncomfortable disgust. Even if she did, Morgan didn't want to know who her mom had been sleeping with back then. Wait a minute...

"You're not saying...?"

"I am. Mr. Stark is your father."

Morgan gives a broken laugh. "You must be mistaken. There's just no way."

"It doesn't matter to me if you believe my words or not, Ms. Stark. However, you are quite valuable even if your remain ignorant."

"-gan. Morgan?" Pepper's voice cuts through her musing. She blinks, straightening herself up and looks around to see the concerned faces of Peter, Ned and her mom.

"Sorry, I got distracted," she grins, lying right through her teeth. "Let's have some of that cake."

...

Pepper Potts' Apartment

7:45 PM

Peter and New left half an hour ago.

Morgan was still lost in her thoughts. She was being ridiculous, letting some stranger mess with her head like this. That could've been anyone on the phone.

"What's the matter, Morgan?" Pepper asks, taking a seat on the couch. "You've been too quiet tonight."

"I got a phone call yesterday..." Morgan starts, not sure if she wants to confide this craziness to her mom or not. What if she sounds like a lunatic. For her to assume that someone like Tony Stark could be her father. It was laughable.

"Oh, who was it?"

Morgan shakes her head. "I don't know, but he said somethings."

"Like what?"

"I'm gonna sound crazy but, is Tony Stark really my father?"

Morgan doesn't even need the confirmation. she can see the answer in the widening of her mother eyes, the way her mouth drops open in shock, the color fading from her skin. Launching to her feet Morgan pacing, her hands pulling at her hair.

His hair. The color is from him.

She can't seem to breath, her lungs are hurting. Maybe it's just her but has the room always spun around like that? Morgan drops down, pushing her head into her pulled up knees. Control her breathing. She read about panic attacks.

Though she never though she'd have one herself.

"This wasn't how I wanted you to find out," her mother stammers. "I had a whole speech worked out."

Anger course through her veins, pushing the panic aside. "How could you keep something like that from me? I mean I figured my dad was a piece of shit, but I didn't realize he was some rich asshole!"

Pepper's eyes narrow. "I-I understand you're upset but watch your language."

"Really? You're getting onto me for swearing but you hid the fact that my father never wanted me. My entire life is a goddamn lie. I don't even know who I am. Am I still me or am I suppose to be someone else. What is from you and what is from him? How much do I take after him? Oh my god..."

"Oh, honey," Pepper stands up, moving slowly towards her daughter. "You are still you. It doesn't matter who your father is. That doesn't change anything. In some ways you are similar to him. You're incredible smart like him and you have a similar sense of humor."

"Tell me everything, no more secrets."

"It was either late April of early May of 2000. Tony Stark was throwing some big party at his house in Malibu. I was his PA so I was required to attend. I wasn't planning on participating in any activities, in fact, it wasn't really my scene. Tony encouraged me to have some fun since I was there. He just kept insisting so I gave in a had one drink, then another, and another, and so on until I was reckless.

"I'd always had feelings for Tony but he was also so unstable and he never seemed ready to commit to a real relationship. That night I was drunk and feeling everything and it just, we sorta... we slept together."

Morgan's nose scrunched up in disgust, it didn't matter that she'd been expecting those words to come out. She didn't want to hear the words 'mom' and 'slept together' in the same sentence.

"And when I woke up the next morning I knew how big of a mistake I'd made. I had spent the night with my boss, it was unprofessional and wouldn't have made for a good work environment. So I resigned. Then I found out I was pregnant with you, so I'd contacted Obadiah Stane."

"You mean that evil guy who tried to kill... him?" Morgan said dumbly. What was she supposed to call him now, Mr. Stark, Tony, or dad?

"Yes, but back then he was the acting CEO of Stark Industries and it was easier to get in contact with him than Tony. He'd asked to do a DNA test on you when you were born to confirm your paternity. He told Tony about you and he decided he didn't want to be a parent right then. They did set up a college fund for you, so when you turn eighteen you can go to any college of your choosing."

"So what happened with you and Mr. Stark was a mistake?" she asked, voice wobbly. She wanted to throttle herself for sounding so pathetic, what did it matter?

"Sleeping together was but the result was not. You are not a mistake. I love you more than anything in the world and I wouldn't change a thing. I couldn't imagine my life without you. When I found out I was pregnant I was scared, but I've always been so busy that I knew that might be my only chance to have a family. I kept you because I wanted to and I've never regretted my decision."

"And he didn't want me."

Pepper caresses her face. "That's his loss. You are the best thing in the world. Don't let that get you down, you are wonderful and have every right to be angry at him."

Tears fill Morgan's eyes and she launches forward throwing her arms around her mother. Heavy shoulder wrenching sobs escape her. Pepper just rubs her daughter's back.

"Everything will be okay..."

A/N:

There we go, I may rewrite this chapter at some point because it's not nearly as dramatic as I wanted it to be but who knows, it you all like it I might just leave it alone. This chapter is a bit shorter than the others but we're getting closer to the confrontation. One more chapter and then we'll see Tony Stark again so get ready for that. Next chapter will mostly be about Morgan dealing with the truth.

6/17/21

Wow, didn't realize it's been three weeks since I updated. I seriously forgot this chapter was done. Ha! I've been back at work so finding time to write has been a hassle.