love you 3000

ch. 3

Ch. 3

Monday came way too fast for Tony Stark, but now that it was here the hands of the clock refused to move on any further.

He was lying on the couch in the living room with his hand dangling from it's side, staring at the ceiling for what felt like days, waiting for happy and pepper to return.

He sat up so fast upon hearing their voices that it made his head dizzy.

Liana looked a little different than before, her  skin was no longer chalk pale but had gained a little color, though she was still skinny her face appeared to be less sunken and her hair that was dry and brittle lay in soft golden waves on her shoulder styled with a little red bow on the side which matched her dress. pepper, he thought, how lucky he was to have her in his life.

she had visited the hospital many times since their last visit, all the while he stayed in the house trying to avoid the topic or prepare the new room.

Pepper looked at him and smiled "Liana you do remember your uncle right" she asked her

Assessing chocolate brown eyes met his as she nodded and then said a small hello, Tony smiled that was the first word she said to him or even acknowledged his presence.

He bent to her level "hello Liana, it's so nice to finally have you here " he stretched his palm and after a few seconds a hesitant little hand met his,

Tony beamed "you can call me uncle Tony"

"Uncle Tony" she repeated after him absentmindedly as her eyes was glued on the arc reactor on his chest, he knew that it will raise her curiosity as it's not everyday you see a man with glowing metal heart.

Liana chewed her lip contemplating if she should ask him about it or not, all the while Tony sat patiently waiting for her to ask it.

"What's that"

"Oh this" he said looking down at his chest not sure that she'll understand terms like arc reactor and Iron Man "this thing gives me power to protect people" Liana tilted her head in confusion "does this helps you when you become Iron Man"

Pepper chuckled at Tony's expression.

"Y-yeah"

" can I touch it"

"Go ahead" wide eyed, she traced her small hand over the arc reactor, Tony smiled at her admiration, if he ever doubted about keeping this child it's gone now, for sure.

"You want one" he leaned in and  asked her in a hushed tone as if it was a delicate secret held between the two of them, she  nodded with delight twinkling in her eyes and a super cute smile, Tony reached into his pocket and pulled out the pendant he made for her, it now was dangling from a platinum chain, another thing he needed to thanks pepper for.

He put the chain around her neck, it reached her stomach, the little girl held the small pendant in both her hands, her mouth wide open in fascination, the soft glow coming off the pendant lighting half of her face, she looked up at Tony and thanked him.

"That's not even the best part, wait until you see your room" Tony said standing, pepper bumped her shoulder with his as they ascended the stairs to liana's room

"Are those tears I see in your eyes"

"Huh what no" Tony frantically rubbed his eyes with his sleeves, pepper laughed and walked ahead of him.