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Los Angeles, California 16th December 2011
"Happy?!"
Okay, let's rewind. It's been around three weeks since Julianne has seen her father. Face to face that is, because she got the occasion to see him a few times on TV. Having no idea what to do or where to go, she had been staying in a hotel in Los Angeles.
There were a lot of people there, she knew the risk of her father finding her was bigger, but she didn't have a choice. And she liked being somewhere familiar after spending around six years in the hands of mad scientists and sadists in a foreign country. What she didn't know, was that Tony Stark never lost her track, he knew where she was all along but decided to give her some time to think.
But the man has grown impatient and had sent his best friend to get his daughter while he was in his flight from New York with Pepper. They've been working on the Stark Industries building there.
"Am I invisible or is the big guy the only one you're taking interest in?" She looked on Happy's side to see James Rhodes' head peeking out from behind the bodyguard.
"Rhodey?"
"Hey kid." He nodded with smile.
"What the--" She was cut by Happy engulfing her in a tight hug. She was pretty sure he was crying because she heard him sniffling.
"I missed you, mini Tony."
She smiled slightly in the hug and wrapped her arms around his figure. "Don't call me that."
After also greeting Rhodey with a warm hug, she invited them in, closing the door behind her.
"Okay, let's go straight to the point. Come back home." The ex-boxer said.
"No." She shook her head.
"Why?"
"I already told Stark."
"Yeah, and he thinks it's bullshit, so do I, so does the big bear, and so does your mommy." Rhodes crossed his arms.
"How is she?" Julianne's eyes softened.
She had spent the first nine years of her life glued to her mom's hip. And when she finally discovered who her dad was, she wanted to be accepted by him so bad, somehow to prove to herself that he wasn't present because of some grown adult problem, not because he didn't love her. Yet, it wasn't because of the new bond she created with her father that the one she had with her mother was broken, they were as close as ever.
"Come home and find out." Hogan shrugged, receiving a jaded look from the strawberry-blonde girl.
"Seriously, she's not well." Rhodes answered. "She misses you a lot. A bit more every day. She was crushed when you were gone, and she had a bit of hope when Tony became IronMan but they couldn't find you."
The girl looked down, she knew that her mother would be the most affected by her absence. But because of the emotional, mental and physical abuse she's been receiving, she thought she was undeserving of that love. She was a monster. Her mom was better off without her. "Did you come here to guilt trip me? That's low." She scoffed.
"She's waiting for you to come back home, she'll always wait for that, you do know that?" The colonel continued, ignoring her.
"So how much longer are you gonna make her wait?" Happy asked.
Malibu, California Later that day
Tony and Pepper just arrived back home, it was late in the evening, and they were pretty tired with the events of the day. Well, work events, not superhero stuff.
"Oh, you're back! Good, we have a surprise for you." Rhodes walked in the living room with a smile, followed by Happy.
Pepper looked between the two men and her boyfriend. "What surprise?"
"You did it?" Tony asked with a hopeful tone, receiving nods from both of his best friends.
"What's going on?" Pepper asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
"Let's just say we got your Christmas present in advance."
Little did she know that her daughter, her baby that she had been seeking all these years, was behind the wall, calming her breathing before she stepped out after hearing James clearing his throat as a signal for her to come out.
Pepper's mouth parted in shock and the billionaire broke into a smile upon seeing the girl. Julianne Mary Potts was standing there, her hands laying awkwardly in her dark jean's back pockets, glancing between her shoes and her mom, the only person she hadn't seen yet.
"Lia?" Her voice came out as a whisper and wavered towards the end. In fact, it took another glance from her daughter for Virginia Potts to start crying, rushing to embrace her daughter.
The blonde immediately hugged her mother back. "Hey, mom." She whispered.
After Pepper had calmed down, all five were sitting down on the couch, telling stories and laughing.
"Happy was down in a second?" The nineteen year old chuckled and leaned in her mom's embrace.
"Yeah, and Tony was very impressed with her." She then turned to Tony who was sitting on her left with a bright smile. "Remember what you said to me?"
"I want one." He smirked.
"And what did you say?" She lifted her head towards Pepper.
"No." She said, with pouty lips, playing out the same scene that had happened a few months prior.
After a few giggles, a comfortable silence fell before the girl sighed. "I can't believe I missed this much."
"We can catch up, nothing's lost." Pepper kissed her daughter's forehead. "But for now, you're off to sleep. All of us actually, it's late."
The others agreed and everyone stood up, Tony telling James to stay for the night before they all went to their own/designed bedrooms.
"It's just like I left it." Julianne blurted, walking around her large room that seemed very clean for a place that didn't look touched at all.
"Yeah, Pepper didn't want it to be touched. She said that once you'd be back, you'd be mad about things not being at their place." Tony smirked, leaning in the doorway.
The young Potts grabbed a picture frame. She was eight, and on a picnic with her mom near a lake. It was a good day. She put it back down.
"Hey." Her father called softly, catching her attention. "I was wondering-- After everything that happened--" He stammered over his words.
"What's up?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Don't you wanna go to therapy?" He sighed. "I think it might help you."
"I don't need help, I'm fine."
Tony decided not to push it. He was scared that she would leave if he tried to force her into it. And he couldn't stand seeing Pepper sad again. Nor could he stay away from the lovely girl. It was his daughter, and he wanted to protect her. He wanted her to be safe, and in control. And he got an idea.
"If you ever change your mind, or see that you need help, don't hesitate to tell me. If you don't want to go therapy, you can still talk to us, we're your family." He said, giving a very short hug before telling her goodnight and leaving her with her dark thoughts.
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I'mworkingon the next chapter of Amethyst at the same time so I'm hoping I didn't write bullshit
