Broken Realities

Dream?

Zoe was exhausted over the next couple of nights she had reoccurring dream but it was almost like memory more than a dream. She was a little girl again running down a hallway giggling as dark hair man chased after her. "I am going to get you Zo-zo" said the young man, which made Zoe squeal and try to run faster. "Gotcha ya" said the young man grabbing her and spinning her around. He then stopped only to start to tickle Zoe laughed loudly, "Bubba stop that tickles" she said as she squealed with joy. The young man laughed at her giggles but stopped and pulled her in for a hugs. "I love you Bubba" said Zoe. The young man smiled "I love you to Zo-zo." replied the young man giving her a little squeeze.

"Oh my gosh Tony can you not keep her quiet" snapped a sharp female voice. Both Zoe and Tony looked over to see their mother and dark haired women frowning at them. Tony put Zoe down who moved quickly behind him hiding herself from the two women. "Sorry Mom and Aunt Peggy, Zoe is just excited to go watch The Land Before Time answered Tony. Peggy huffed "The sooner you send that brat to that girls school, the better clearly she has no control" snapped Peggy. Tony frowned "Hey don't call my sister a brat and she not going to some girl's school there is no way my dad would allow that" said Tony angrily pulling Zoe closer to him. Tony's mother frown at him "Tony don't talk to your Aunt that way and she will be going to a school, with you heading off back to collage this fall and your Dad's and my schedule we just won't have time for her" said his mother with disgust. Tony looked at his mother with surprise he had heard her tone on her. "Mom, what does Dad think of you wanting to send your daughter off to boarding school?" asked Tony. "Daughter indeed" sneered Peggy.

Tony gave her a weird look "Mom, what is going on why are you and Aunt Peggy acting like this?" he asked. Peggy took a step closer and with a seriously face "Why don't you asked you dear old dad what's going on and why that little brat is being sent away?" said Peggy with malice in her voice as she caught Zoe peaking around Tony's leg. Zoe looked up at Peggy and stuck her tongue at her before hiding back behind Tony. "Why you little..." said Peggy taking another step forward with her hand raised. Tony took a step back putting himself between Peggy and his sister.

"I would not do that if I were you" yelled a voice from behind them all. They all turn to see Howard with an angered look on his face walking quickly towards the group. "Daddy" squealed Zoe running round the group towards her father. Howard reached down and picked her up. "You will never lay hand on Zoe do you understand me Peggy" snapped Howard. Peggy just shook her head "Howard I don't understand how you changed and risked so much that little girl, mark my words she will be nothing but trouble for you and your family in the end" yelled Peggy. Howard pulled Zoe to his chest as if Peggy would rip her from his arms. "Get out Carter I never want to see you again" snapped Howard. Peggy just glared at him and at Zoe who could just feel the hatred the women had for her. "That's fine by me as long as I don't have to see that girl again" said Peggy and walked out the room.

Tony couldn't believe what was happening his godmother was acting strange and so were his parents. Howard sat there comforting Zoe who had been crying "It's okay princess the mean lady is gone and you will never have to see her again" said Howard rubbing her back. "Dad what the heck is going on? Why did Aunt Peggy treat Zoe that way?" asked Tony. Before Howard could respond Maria pipped up "Well your dear old dad has been lying to us for the past five years Zoe is not the daughter of some old friends who died in a car crash, but the product of a an affair your father had and tried to cover it up" sneer Maria. Tony couldn't believe his ears "Dad is this true is Zoe really my half sister?" asked Tony his voice quivering. Howard looked down at Zoe and into her dark brown eyes that were so like his and Tony's, "Yes, son Zoe is really your half sister" he responded quietly. At that moment it felt like the whole world was ripping apart.

Zoe woke with a start, she sat up and ran her fingers through her dark hair "What they heck was that? And why I am dreaming that Tony Stark is my brother?" she asked herself.