Without you (Tony Stark - Pepperony)

Chapter 12 - Waking

"Ready or not here I come!" Tony called to his now four year old daughter, entertaining her with a game of hide and seek in the garden while Pepper was pre-occupied. The two were rather hands on parents, choosing to care and raise their beloved child rather than hiring nannies like his own parents did for him as he was growing up.

Tony couldn't recall ever being happier than now with his darling angel and perfect wife. Though he still tinkered in his workshop on different projects, he hadn't risked his life as a superhero since the day he made that promise to his family. To himself. And truthfully, being able to witness Tori growing up and being a part of her childhood made his decision all worth it.

"Tori baby, where are you?" The proud father called out in a sing-song tone while exploring the garden, checking the patio, the seating area. Even Tori's tent. But she was nowhere to be seen in any of her usual choice of hiding spots.

Oh she's good

"Oh where oh where could my little miss be?" he pouted playfully as he went to see if his daughter had decided to sneak away to the garage. That was when he heard the sound of muffled giggles emanating from near the bushes behind him.

Isn't she just the sweetest?

"Hmm.. I can't find here anywhere," he grinned to himself, feigning ignorance regarding Tori's whereabouts as he crouched down in front of the bushes. "In that case, I suppose I'm going to have to eat the cookies we baked, all by myself."

Just as Tony predicted, the little Stark squealed and bounced out from the bushes to her father. "No! Those cookies are under my protection! Be prepared to face the consequences!" Tori exclaimed in laughter, embracing her father, causing him to fall back against the grass.

"Oh, you've defeated the Invincible Iron Man!" he declared in playful surrender as his little genius clambered onto him.

"Yay!" Tori clapped and hugged her arms around her father's neck. "Daddy you can't have all the cookies to yourself, but we can share, me and mommy have to have some too. We made them as a team."

It always left Tony astonished at how bright his pride and joy was even at the tender age of four years old. She looked just like him with her brown her and gorgeous brown eyes but reminded him of Pepper in so many ways, she was the perfect blend of them both. He let out a wholehearted soft chuckle filled with nothing but love when Tori gifted his cheek with a kiss after her sweet suggestion.

"Ooh you make quite the negotiator princess, how could I possibly say no to that. We have a deal," Tony he smiled widely, still laying down on the grass outside in the garden. "Daddy loves you so much, you know that don't you?"

His little girl nodded eagerly, knowing full well she was loved and safe with her mommy and daddy. "Uh-huh, and I love you more than this much!" Tori giggled and spread out her arms as widely as she possibly could and laughed more when her father responded by tickling her. "Daddy!"

"Yeah? Well I love you infinity and beyond, because my love for you is endless Miss Tori Marie Stark," Tony beamed, cuddling his little girl. How did he get so lucky? He thought back to the three months he was trapped in the cave, when he realised how alone he truly had been, with no family. Like Yinsen said, he once was a man who had everything but nothing. Yet now, all that had changed, as he promised Tony didn't waste his life and found the most incredible happiness in the form of Pepper and Tori.

"I see Iron Princess has conquered her predecessor again," Pepper spoke out when she finally joined the father and daughter pair outside. Kissing her husband's lips softly and gave Tori a peck on the cheek.

"Of course she did, Tori here is the most powerful and intelligent superhero the world has ever seen," Tony was quick to gush about his daughter. As a stark contrast to Howard, he was quite the doting father. What more could he want than this? This was what mattered.