First Spark: Chapter One of the Fireheart Saga

Part Three: Words To Live By

The news came suddenly. Amelia had been down in the garage, tinkering with one of Tony's old bikes, trying to fix the bastard and just ended up with a huge mess, when Jarvis called her name, startling her.

After what happened in Virginia, the incident they'd come to calling, Amelia couldn't be left alone. She'd moved back to Malibu, staying in Tony's house on the coast, with Rhodey or Pepper and Happy of course. Obadiah even visited once or twice, sitting with her at the piano as he taught her the latest song he'd learned.

Now, Amelia waited beside Pepper on the tarmac, the bright California sun bearing down on them as they watched the carrier plane land, a warm breeze fluttering the folds of her skirt. The redhead gave her hand a little squeeze, her eyes rimmed with the same red as Amelia's and offered a small smile, both their hearts hammering away like a drum in their chests.

Rhodey found him. "They found him." Pepper gushed as Amelia appeared from the garage, covered in oily smears, but Pepper didn't care, she just threw her arms around Amelia's neck.

"What?" Amelia breathed, slow to return the embrace.

"Amy, they're bringing him home."

Amelia blinked, her knees wobbling as the growing knot that slowly tightened since this ordeal began suddenly released in her shoulders. Rhodey had kept his promise, the plane rolling to a stop in front of them. The ramp snapped suddenly and Amelia's breath caught as it gradually lowered, light spilling inside to illuminate the two figures inside. "Dad?" She breathed, the last three months crashing down on her shoulders when she caught sight of his face, battered and scratched, his arm caught in a sling. But he was alive, he was alive and Amelia was taking off across the tarmac. "Dad!"

"Watch it, Sparkplug." He groaned as Amelia barreled into him, disregarding the sling, the small bandage poking up from the collar of his shirt and the stitches across his forehead, but for once he didn't pull away. With all the pain he must be in, he still didn't pull away.

Instead, he pulled her closer, wrapping his good arm around her, holding her tightly, letting her bury her face in his shoulder. God, he smelled horrible. Like dirt and jet oil, and not the usual kind that followed him around, but Amelia didn't care because he was alive. Tony Stark was alive, and he was here, and he was hugging her back.

"Wow, slow down there." He pulled away a little when he heard her sniffle, cupping her cheek softly, "What have I always said?" Tony wiped away the tear before it could fall and a smile perked Amelia's lips. "That's right, Starks don't cry." A similar smile brightened his hard features as Amelia rolled her eyes. "I didn't know you cared, kid."

Even after all that, he was still just... himself. Amelia really didn't know why she expected anything else, and to find him so unchanged by the ordeal, god Amelia couldn't have felt more grateful. "Trust me I'd rather you died," she joked, tiny laugh escaping her lips, "The inheritance would be huge."

Tony's grin grew, tugging her roughly against his chest, the smile faltering when Amelia flinched, shoulders tightening and he caught sight of the scar marring the corner of her eye, fear flashing in his tired brown eyes.

The question died on his tongue as Pepper stepped over and Amelia swallowed, subtly weaving her way out of Tony's tight grip, hanging her head at the way her shoulders loosened once she was free.

"Your eyes are red." Tony observed, "A few tears for your long-lost boss?"

"Tears of joy." She replied immediately, looking him up and down in return, "I hate job hunting."

Tony shook his head lightly, "God, everyone's so funny today."

Tony stopped to shake Happy's hand as they stepped to the car, fixing him with a look that said a thousand words and Amelia guessed her name were a few of them, by the way his brown eyes kept flicking to her. Amelia held the passenger seat open for Tony, shutting it behind him and slipped into the driver's side beside Happy as he titled the rear mirror. "Where to, sir?"