30th January 1998

'I need an ambulance! 111 South Grand Avenue, LA. I think my daughter is having an allergic reaction, she was eating and coughed, I thought she was choking but there's nothing in her throat, and now she can barely breathe! Please' Tony had never been flooded with so much panic.

Rhodey was holding her on her side on the ground, talking to her calmly, tilting her head back to keep her airways as open as he could.

'An ambulance is on the way, sir. How old is your daughter?'

'She's just turned 3' he could see the fear in her eyes 'it's okay baby, help is on the way. You're going to be okay'

'It's okay Tony' Rhodey looked at him quickly, and back to the little girl he called his niece 'Astrid, I know this is scary honey, but I need you to focus on me, and stay calm. You're going to be okay. Help is on the way' he looked to security who were ushering gala attendees away 'Everyone back! Happy! Get someone outside and bring the medics straight to us!'
Her breathing was raspy, getting more difficult by the second, her face felt hot and prickly, her throat was burning and she couldn't swallow. She could hear her dad on the phone but his words didn't make sense, and things were starting to grow fuzzy.
'You're probably going to fall asleep, honey' Unkaja explained to reassure her 'it's okay. Daddy and I are with you, and we'll make sure you're okay. We'll be with you when you wake up' he kept her head tilted back, kept her as straight as possible, keeping her airways functioning as much as he could. If she did lose consciousness he'd have to start CPR and the thought terrified him. Her little body being forced to breathe manually.

She tried to speak, wanting to calm her daddy who was watching her with tears in his eyes even as he spoke into his phone with increasing worry, but there was no words escaping, and then she did fall 'asleep'.

She had been fine, happy, playing with mechano at their tall bar table with a little platter of canapés she had charmed from a pretty waitress who had stopped to gush over her creation. Tony had been chatting to a senator he needed to charm to keep the Intellicrops favour rolling through to final sign off, when he heard her cough. He took his time to look back, knowing Happy was watching nearby, Rhodey was a few metres away. She coughed again, and he turned. Her little face was flushing and she gulped at a glass of water, the liquid bubbling back out of her mouth. He didn't even have a thought. He dropped his glass and ran, feeling like he moved in slow motion.
Was she choking? No choking was meant to be silent. Rhodey reached her first, lifting her and wiping her face with his suit sleeve. He checked her throat, his hand huge compared to her little mouth, and then he had her on the floor.

'Ambulance, Tony, call an ambulance' he said firmly, taking charge, suddenly violently aware of his friends frozen "deer in the headlights" expression. 'TONY, AMBULANCE, NOW' firm, not yelling, watching him fumbling his phone from his pocket and dial swiftly, shocked back into action.

Watching Rhodey compress his babies chest to keep her alive damn near broke him. He would remember the sound of her ribs cracking and crunching for the rest of his life. He somehow managed to keep it together enough to provide the breaths she needed, but barely. Thank every damn god that Rhodey kept his cool, that he hadn't been alone. If it were within his power he'd award him with every medal possible. He sat there now, beside the hospital bed listening to her ragged breathing, waiting for her to break through the sedation. With the very real fear of losing his baby still pounding through his veins, he worried now how he'd ever be able to leave her side again. How could he risk being apart from her. Cruel fate had nearly taken her from him when he was just feet away, she would never be out of his sight now.

Allergic to shellfish? How had she reached 3 without coming into contact with ANY form of reaction? How had he not known? He should have known, right? This guilt was going to eat at him forever. Paramedics said it was common- kids don't often go near things like shellfish until they're a little older. They look gross so they avoid them. Tony couldn't remember the last time he'd had seafood other than fish, and even the fish... yeah he didn't eat it nearly as much as recommended. He chose fish oil tablets and omega's over the risk of food poisoning from turning fish. And the Javis' were Jewish, so he'd never had Jarvis cook anything like that for him. Slowly he rationalised how they'd avoided contact. The guilt didn't abate.

'Daddy?' Tony bolted to his feet, gently stroking her face as she blinked back to consciousness

'I'm here my love' he managed shakily, relief flooding him 'oh god'

'I'm sorry' her little voice was a raspy whisper 'my chest hurts'

'You don't have to be sorry baby' pressing a soft kiss to her forehead he thanked every god his baby was okay 'uncle James had to do CPR until the ambulance arrived. That's why your chest hurts'

Those beautiful green eyes she'd inherited from her mother shone 'thank you Uncle James' her gaze moved to the silent man on her other side, holding her hand tightly

'Hey, that's my job. Look after my little honey, right? I'm sorry it hurts' he squeezed her hand gently 'hopefully I never have to do it again'

'That would be good' she gave a little nod 'I'm allergic to something?'

'Shellfish' Tony found himself explaining, because she was still expecting the answers to every question 'I don't know how you got to 3 without a reaction, but I'm glad we know now'

'And that was ana… anaphyl..' she paused to take a breath 'anaphylaxis?'

'That's right. So we'll need to carry an epipen from now on'

'Okay' she nodded a little and closed her eyes 'maybe next time I'll stay home. It wasn't even real Disney'

Rhodey shot him a look, a small smirk turning up the corners of his lips. The attitude this kid was developing. The sarcasm. She was a Stark to her core.