Pride and Joy

Chapter Two

Rory clung to Pepper's arm as the plane landed on the tarmac. Tears clung to her red, puffy face and clouded her eyesight. Pepper held her close and stroked her head as she watched the big door lower, revealing Rhodey and Tony. Rhodey lifted Tony from his wheelchair and escorted him down off the plane. He had his arm in a sling and limped as he walked. He looked like he hadn't seen the sun in months.

Tony walked up to his little girl and opened his arms, inviting her to hug him. She jumped on him, and Tony lifted her up to his hip. "Hmm," he said, looking at Pepper, who in turn, looked like she was about to cry. "Your eyes are red. A few tears for your long-lost boss?"

"Tears of joy. I hate job hunting," She said back.

Tony smiled and brushed the hair out of his daughter's face. "Yeah, vacation's over." He walked over to the car and put Rory down on the seat. From the other side of the car Pepper stopped, "I don't know what would have happened to her if you hadn't come back. You're one lucky man, Mr. Stark."

Tony smiled in response and then set himself inside the car next to Rory. Pepper did the same.

"Where to, sir?" Happy asked from the front seat as he looked at Tony through the rear-view mirror.

"Take us to the hospital, please, Happy," Pepper said, but Tony talked over her.

"No," he said.

"No?" She looked at him with her brows furrowed. "Tony, you have to go to the hospital."

"No is a complete answer," Rory reached for his hand.

"The doctor has to look at youー"

"I don't have to do anything," he accepted Rory's request and wrapped his big hand around her little one. "I've been in captivity for three months. There are three things I want to do. I want an American cheeseburger, I want to spend time with my daughter, and the other..."

Pepper stared at him in disbelief and then shook her head, "that's enough of that."

"...is not what you think," he reassured. "I want you to call for a press conference now."

"Call for a press conference?"

"Yeah."

"What on earth for?"

"Hogan, drive. Cheeseburger first," he turned to Rory. "D'you want a cheeseburger?"

"Yes, please," Rory said, smiling for the first time since she found out her Daddy "wasn't coming back".

Pepper sat back in her seat and rolled her eyes as Happy started the car and pulled out of the airport.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The black car pulled up to the curb where at least a hundred people in nice suits and dresses cheered.

"Look at this!" Stane said as he went to open the door for Tony and embraced him in a hug as soon as he exited the vehicle. "We were going to meet at the hospital?"

"No, I'm fine." He said back.

Pepper took Rory with her as she got out of the car. Happy also followed, handing Tony the Burger King bag.

"Look at you!" Stane said looking him over as Tony accepted the fast food. "You have to have a burger, yeah?"

"Well, come on," Tony said. He motioned for Rory to join him and started to walk into the building.

"You get me one of those?" Stane said.

"Uh, there's only two left. We need it." Rory took the other burger from the bag as he offered it to her.