Iron Bloodlines

Ellie, go

Tony's POV:

"She just said she would think about it? I swear, that girl..." I sigh in frustration, pacing Pepper's home office floor.

"Is just like her father," Pepper quips, not looking up from her typing.

I immediately stop, glaring at her. "Look, I get it. After everything that happened with Barnes, she distanced herself. But she hasn't been back here in six months. I just..." My words trail off as I take a seat in the chair directly in front of Pepper's desk.

"You miss her, Tony. I know." Pepper replies, finally meeting my eyes. "She needed time. And space. She will come when she's ready," she finishes, her voice calm and reassuring.

"I know. It's just...she never calls...she never writes..." I say in an over-exaggerated tone, throwing my hands up dramatically.

"Tony, she called you two days ago." Pepper laughs, shaking her head with that amused look she always gets when I'm being overly dramatic.

"Details, details," I mutter, sinking deeper into the chair. "A two-minute call hardly counts."

Pepper smiles softly, her fingers pausing on the keyboard. "She's trying, Tony. Just give her some time. She's got a lot to process."

"You're right, dear," I say, slapping my hands down on the leather chair, pushing myself to stand. "You're always right." I grin as I lean forward and give Pepper a quick kiss. "Okay, I'm off to training."

I turn to make my way out of her office, but I hear the ping from her phone just before she stops me. "Tony..." she calls.

"Hmm, yeah?" I reply, turning to face her.

She looks at me with a soft grin. "She will be here tonight for dinner."

"Geez, finally," I sigh.

"She's bringing the new guy with her."

I can't help but grin. "Great. I needed a project today. What's his name? Social?" I say, pulling out my phone.

"Tony, you are not doing a background check on him!" Pepper sighs.

"Oh, come on," I say, raising an eyebrow. "I just want to make sure he's good enough for her."

"Trust her judgment, Tony. She's a smart girl," Pepper replies, giving me a pointed look.

"Fine, fine," I concede, putting my phone away. "But if he so much as looks at her the wrong way..." I say as I exit her office. I make my way through the compound down to the training facility. The group is warming up as I enter.

"Okay kids, let's do it," I say with my usual flourish, and everyone moves to the center of the room.

"Oh, also, announcement," I add.

"Pepper is leaving you?" Nat quips.

"You're not our real dad?" Clint chimes in.

"We...are actually in the Matrix?" Bruce rounds out the commentary.

"What? No! To all of that, well except Clint. What?" I reply, shaking my head at their antics. "Ellie is coming to dinner tonight."

Bucky's POV:

I see Steve's gaze immediately move to me at the mention of her name. The breath catches in my throat, and my heart rate spikes.

"Aww, yay! That's great! Elise hasn't been back for a while! It will be really nice to see her!" Wanda exclaims, almost bouncing with excitement.

*Breathe, Bucky, breathe,* I think to myself as I feel my breath shallow.

"Yeah, how long has it been since she's been here, Bucky?" Nat asks, her tone teasing, and I can't stop the hardened glare I throw in her direction as my mind replays the last time I saw her.