starks daughter | avengers au fanfic

4 | surprise

"Happy? What are you doing here?"

Angelina opened the door, letting him in.

"They found Tony yesterday, he's alive."

She laughed and rolled her eyes, glad that he was okay but not surprised.

"That's good. But you couldn't have told me this over the phone?"

"He wants to see Mads, and you."

"Really? Because according to Maddy he doesn't even acknowledge her existence when she's there." She scoffed.

Happy sighed. "I know, okay. But look - he almost died. All he wants is to see her. I think something changed while he was gone."

"Something?"

"I don't know, he just cares a lot. About a lot of things. Stuff he didn't care about before- look, can you guys just come back to New York with me?"

Angelina stood with a neutral expression on her face before rolling her eyes again and agreeing.

"Fine! We'll go. Let me pack our things."

-

"Maddy, honey, you okay?"

"I don't wanna see daddy. He's boring."

"You like me though, right kid?" Happy asked, picking her up and putting her on his shoulders.

She giggled and held his hands to steady her balance as they walked away from the private jet and over to the stairs leading into Tony Starks Malibu mansion.

"Okay, not on the stairs, Mommy can take it from here." Angelina said, holding Maddy's hand as they walked down.

"How you been, Hap?" She asked, turning to him but making sure to keep an eye on her daughter as she jumped from one stair to another.

"Good. Other than searching the world for Tony the past few weeks, it's all been great."

"That's good, listen i'm not too sure about leaving Mads with Tony at the moment-"

"Oh you won't be, he wants you to stay too."

She didn't have time to respond as they were at the bottom of the stairs with Pepper waiting for them.

"Assistant! I'd say good to see you, but i'd be lying." She smiled, picking up Madeline and walking straight past. "Tony?" She called out. "Where you hiding?"

"Right here Honey." He came out from around the corner and for the first time ever he actually looked excited to see his daughter.

"Hi daddy." Maddy said quietly, as her mother set her down.

"Hi sweetie." He kneeled down to her level. "I'm sorry i couldn't see you for your birthday last month."

"It's fine i didn't see you last year either."

"Or any other year for that matter." Angelina mumbled, but covered it up with a cough.

"I got a surprise for you, come on." He stood up and walked over to a door. "You too Angie!"

He opened it and it was a room with light pink walls, fairy lights, a child's bed, and lots of hello kitty teddies and decor.

Madeline squealed and ran over to her new bed, jumping up and down.

"I love it!"

"I thought you would."

"Tony, a word." She said leading him out of the room. "Happy,"

"Play with her? Got it." He nodded and Angelina thanked him as she sat down with Tony.

"What's up Ange?"

"What is this? Maddy says you don't pay her any attention when she's here, she has to sleep in a guest room, Happy cares about her more than you-"

"I know. I know." He looked down and was suddenly serious. "I've been a shit Father. And a shitty ex boyfriend."

"If you're pausing to give me time to disagree with you we're gonna be here a long, long time. Assistant, can i get some coffee? This might take a while."

"Make that two- and a soda for Maddy."

Pepper rolled her eyes as she went to the kitchen, leaving Tony and Angelina to talk.

"I'm going to be a better father. I promise. Listen, when i was in that cave-"

"You were actually kidnapped?"

"Yes! It was all over the news! Did you seriously not believe it?"

"No, I thought you were just trying to get out of seeing our daughter." She shrugged.