There's A Spark

Part 1: The small girl with a large future

"Excuse me sir" the little girl spoke to Happy as he stood just inside the main hall of the Stark tower. "My mom told met to deliver this letter." The girl looked oddly familiar as she looked up at him holding the letter in her small hands. Her eyes large as she looked at him with hope and determination.

"And where is your mother?" Happy leaned down slightly, but not to her level, as he spoke to her. The girl looked back to the large glass door she had entered through and he followed her gaze to the usual large crowd walking outside the building. He caught a glimpse of another familiar gaze; one he had seen once or twice in the past yet not recently. however, the face disappeared in an instant as if the woman had just materialised into thin air. "And who are you supposed to deliver it to?" he smiled, not showing his concern.

"Uncle Spark!" Her grin widened from ear to ear as she bounced with excitement at the thought of him. Of course, now he knew who the woman and child were. The only people Mr Stark still called family. The cousin he would visit with his mother when he was young felt more like family than his own bother Gregory. Not like they had much contact. Katherine, the little girl's mother, used to work at Stark industries. Until she quit so she could focus on caring for her daughter as a single mother. Tony would still visit and vice versa, when it seemed necessary.

"Your uncle is very busy right now I'm afraid. How about I deliver it for you, and I bring you back to your mom." Happy offered his hand to the girl, already turning himself to the door.

"Can't! mommy told me to deliver it myself and to let no-one else touch it and to stay with him until she comes back someday." She nodded off everything her mother had told her very clearly just moments ago.

"What do you mean someday?" was all he could mutter.

"She needed to go for a while on a very important mission and I need to stay safe with Uncle Spark." She nodded matter of fact, as if she didn't realise the weight of the words she just spoke. She really didn't. In a way she knew that she wouldn't see her mother in a long time, but she assumed it would be the same long time as when she had to work a double shift at work. She blinked expectantly at Happy to lead her to her uncle.

"Oh boy." Happy took the girl's hand in his and led her to the elevator, not sure what to talk about with such a young child. He guessed she was about 6 years old, but he really couldn't tell. They stood quietly as they went up as far as the elevator went, the girl's hair swaying along with her giddy movement.

"So, what's your name?" He asked

"Y/N Carbonell" she smiles sweetly "What's yours?" she asked kindly.

"Happy" he stated, knowing it would make her giggle. "I like that name. I wish I had a name like yours."

The elevator doors opened making Tony look up as he walked past. The little girl ran with the highest speed her little legs could muster. "Uncle Spark!" she yelled; arms wide open so he could pick her up. "Hehey sparkle, you're getting big. I can barely lift you." He chuckled as he put her on his arm. Happy walked over to them with a comfortable stride. "See, you do have a name like mine. It's sparkle." He poked her tummy as she sat on her uncle's arm, making her smile with delight.

"What is she doing here? Where's Katherine?" Tony's face turned serious. This wasn't exactly a usual occurrence.

"I honestly have no idea. She dropped her off outside the building and disappeared." Happy shrugged, he honestly knew what was going on just as much as Tony himself. Y/N held out the envelope to her uncle, staring at him expectantly. "In a second, sparkle." He said before noticing his name on it in an elegant yet shaky handwriting.

"JARVIS, call Katherine Carbonell for me." He told his AI who soon answered, "I am sorry sir, her phone number is no longer in use." Making Tony's frown deeper.

"Make sure you find her; I want to know what's going on." He said to happy, dismissing him with a nod. He sat Y/N down on his chair and handed her the little box of metal disentanglement puzzles he knew she liked to mess around with, before taking the envelope from her hands and reading it. Slowly walking through the room as he did.

Dear Tony

I wish to start this letter with an apology. I have been keeping secrets from you. Secrets that are not mine to keep.

Y/N is not my daughter. I honestly am not sure whose she is. I found her one night in the building all alone, your building Tony.

She had barely just been born and was already sitting in a carrier with a note that wrote 'Solve this one Tony'.

I was so lost. You know I longed for a child so badly and I was convinced that I could take better care of her than you and I left the company.

That was until I saw you with her.

I don't want to give her up. But I have to.

For her sake.

I can't explain it but please take good care of Y/N. That's the last thing I ever ask of you. I do not know if she actually is your daughter but please treat her as such.

I wish you all the best

Katherine

Tony was stunned. First, she disappears leaving her child in his care. And then she claims that this girl is not her child at all but might be his. He was conflicted. He wasn't about to drop his life for a child he didn't ask for. Katherine was right about the fact that she took better care of Y/n than he ever would have. But then again, he cared deeply for the child. Maybe not as if she were his daughter but at least as family.

"Done!" a little voice brought him out of his train of thought. There she sat with all 6 of the tedious puzzles unentangled in front of her on the desk. Her head barely reached above the desk as she sat expectantly in his chair. He chuckled at the sight. He was sure he'd find out more later but now he'll just keep himself busy with his little genius niece. "Come on sparkle, let's go."