Home At Last

Chapter One

"James, come to the office!" The intercom called throughout the orphanage. I rolled my eyes and stood up. What did I do this time? I thought to myself. I left my room and walked down the stairs. As I was walking down the stairs, I heard talking in the office so, I stopped to listen.

"James is a great boy. Disobedient and has trouble trusting people but, other than that, he's a great kid!" I heard the orphanage owner, John Thomas, say.

"I want to adopt him." That's when my world stopped. I knew that voice. That was Tony Stark, the strictest man in New York! Why would he want me? I gotta hide or something! The door to the office started to opened and I quickly turned and ran back upstairs. "James?" I heard Mister Thomas call out. I ran to my room and locked myself in there. I grabbed my pillow and cracked the closet door opened to trick them into thinking I hid in there, if they got in, while I slid under the bed.

I heard a knock on my door before the doorknob jiggled. "James?" I heard John asked and knock again. "Jamie, open the door." I heard Tony Stark say followed by another knock. I stayed silent as he juggled the doorknob again. "Peter James, I'm not gonna ask you again!" Mister Stark said stern.

I've heard stories of Tony Stark. My cousin, Joshua, was fostered by Tony for a while. Josh told me, Tony is never afraid to pull you over his knee and spank you if you need it. I don't want that. I actually like being able to sit!

I swallowed up my pride and I slid from under the bed and made my way to the door. I slowly unlocked the door and cracked it opened. I left it cracked opened and backed up. The door opened fully and I lowered my head so I wouldn't have to look at them. "Good work, Mister Stark." I heard John say, sounding impressed. Tony didn't reply but I could feel him staring down at me. Now is a moment I wish I wasn't suspended.

"James." I heard Tony. I slowly looked up at him. His brown eyes staring at me in a protective and stern manner. I looked down again and I could feel his eyes still on me. "James, I want you to get all your stuff and get ready to go." He said. I looked up at him and stayed put. "Now." He added and gave me a stern glare. I shook my head, no, and he raised his eyebrows at me. "I'm sorry. I'm must be confused." He said and stood up straighter. "Last I remember, I was the adult and you were the child. I also remember, I was your legal guardian and you were my legal son, am I wrong?" He asked and raised his eyebrows at me again. I looked down before slowly turning and walking to my closet.

"Good boy." I heard him say as I opened the closet. I reached up to the top shelf to get my back as I turned and looked at them. "Mister Stark, would you like to get his files and everything before you leave?" John asked. Tony turned to him and raised his chin saying, "yes, yes I do," before following John out of the room. I sighed softly and turned back to my closet and got all my clothes out. I didn't have much, just a few tee-shirts and jeans along with pajama bottoms. I folded the clothes I had and put them in my bag. I went to the bathroom and grabbed my toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash. I put them in my bag as well as my pencils before zipping it up and throwing it over my shoulder.

I put my shoes on and stood up. I looked around and sighed. I was so close! So close to being free! I mean I'll be seventeen soon meaning I would only have one more year here before I was free. Now, I'm stuck with the strictest man in New York City. I looked down before walking out the door and down the stairs. Tony was in the office with John talking about, I'm assuming, me. I sighed and sat on the step, half way up the stairs.

"Jamie has had a hard life." "How so?" "He was born in Romania with his mother and father. His father died when he was about two. He mother fell into depression and started to drink. She would bring home men and leave Jamie alone at the age of three. His mother and her... many... boyfriends would drink and do drugs all the time. When James turned eight his mother got remarried. The man was so kind and loved Jamie. He didn't know about the abuse Jamie was reviving from his mother. One day his stepfather came home early from work for Jamie's ninth birthday to surprise him. He walked in the house and saw Jamie sitting in the corner crying. His stepfathers heart shattered as he saw his nine year old step son covered in bruises. His stepfather carefully took him from the house and got his mother arrested. Then he and Jamie moved here and they were happy until Jamie turned eleven. His stepfather got cancer and died when he was twelve. Ever since then he's lived here." "Oh that terrible! Poor boy!" "He's a great kid. He just needs someone to love him like his stepdad did. He's sensitive as well. Some things can trigger bad memories and he may do things he doesn't mean. But one thing I know for sure, is Jamie will always be there for you no matter what. He just needs some time to trust."