Pride and Joy

Prologue

Rory Maria Stark
Born on Thursday, June 9, 2002, at 7:24 am
To Angelina Adams and Anthony Stark
7 pounds, 2 ounces | 20 inches

It was never meant to happen. A random hook-up with a girl he barely knew that led to this exact moment.

Here he was, the famous Tony Stark holding a baby girl. His baby girl. Out of all the situations he could have imagined that would lead him to this moment in time, he never thought it would be this. And he never thought he would be this happy about it.

He should have used protection. He should have ignored the phone call. All of this and more was buzzing around in the back of his head, but at the moment, he just couldn't stop smiling.

You were perfect. Every single thing about you was perfect. The way your eyelids gently fluttered open every once and a while; the way your stomach rose and fell; how your little fingers curled around his; the little tuft of black hair that stuck to the top of your head; your blue eyes that you got from your mother, unfortunately.

Tony looked up at your mother who laid on the hospital bed asleep. They both knew that there was no relationship they could get out of this situation. Maybe co-parents at the most.

However, he was glad to be here. He was glad that he got to see the birth of what could very well be his only child.

But what he didn't count on, was to be left to raise his one and only daughter on his own.

He couldn't believe this woman. He could kill her. How dare she abandon her two-week-old infant. You didn't deserve this. You didn't deserve to be left without a mother. No one did. He knew how that felt.

He begged the woman to let him choose the middle name. She was reluctant due to the fact that the baby was going to carry on the Stark name. She probably knew right then and there that she was going to leave. No wonder she didn't care for holding you. The only name that seemed suitable, was none other than Maria, his mother's name.

Tony sat in the new nursery that occupied his Malibu Mansion feeling so angry he felt as if he would explode. He continued to think about all these things as he rocked you in his arms. No matter what, he just couldn't get you to stop crying, making him even more frustrated and angry. As much of a bad mother as that woman was, he was grateful that she knew how to get you to stop crying.

Tony placed you back in the bassinet and practically ran out to the kitchen, figuring at this point, it's best just to let you cry.

He was stopped on his way to the kitchen by a voice, "she's crying again."

"You don't think I know that," he snapped.

"May I?" Pepper asked as she started towards the nursery.

"You can try," Tony said, following her.

When they reached the room, Pepper went and picked you up out of the bassinet and began rocking you, while tony plopped himself down in the pink armchair and brought his hand up to his forehead. He looked like he hadn't slept in days. And he hadn't.

"There's your problem," Pepper said.

"What?"

"She hungry, Tony," Pepper said in a mother-like tone.

"I'll get the formula-" Tony started to stand.

"An-ah," she said, pointing at him. "You go get some rest. I got this."

Tony watched her set you down on the changing table and leave the room. He walked over and kissed your head, wiping a tear from your red, puffy face before retreating to his bedroom to get some much-needed rest.