Growing Up

Chapter Eight

"Dad! I thought you were going to be gone all day." Dani stood, shocked that he drew attention to himself. She looked to her mother, trying to gauge her reaction. (Y/n)'s hands were clenched tightly, knuckles white, and her shoulders were raised which reminded Dani of a defensive animal.

"We finished early." Tony couldn't help but meet (Y/n)'s wide eyes. "I won't interrupt, I'll be down in the lab." He tore his gaze from his best friend and rushed down stairs. (Y/n) stood.

"Mum, I-I didn't know."

"It's alright, sweetheart." She squeezed her daughter's hand before slowly making her way down to the lab. She hesitated on the stairs, frozen when he came into view through the window. (Y/n) willed herself forward, her shaking hands pulling open the door. Tony tried his best to ignore her as she walked through his safe space. She was impressed by the equipment and gadgets strewn about the room. Her hand landed on a prototype for his helmet, picking it up and inspecting it. "Red always was your color." She cursed at herself, that was an awful first sentence after twenty four years.

"I guess it was, wasn't it?" He didn't look up from his work.

"I'm sorry about Pepper. She seemed to be doing you some good."

"Yeah, I thought so too." He tried to focus on tightening a screw on one of his suits, his hand too big to properly reach it.

"Move over." She knelt down, taking the tiny screwdriver from him and fixing the problem. Both of them were too scared to speak, sitting in silence. Tony took a deep breathe, (Y/n)'s scent filling him with nostalgia.

"She's amazing. Dani, I mean."

"Yeah she's something." (Y/n) sat, leaning against the work table. "She's smart like her father."

"And she's beautiful like her mother." He added softly. Silent tears ran down her cheeks. "You did a good job with her."

"Thank you." (Y/n) whispered. Tony sat beside her, pulling her onto his lap, struggling to do so as she tried to fight him. "You abandoned me, you abandoned your daughter! You can't just pull me back into your arms like everything's the same!" She cried, punching at his chest.

"I know, I will never forgive myself for the way I treated you when you needed me most." He spoke into her hair, wincing but rubbing her back. "I had so much growing up to do. I never deserved to have someone like you, let alone have a kid as wonderful as Dani."

"Don't say that." He smiled slightly, she always got mad at him when he would degrade himself. She stopped hitting him, whimpering weakly and clutching his shirt tightly in her fists.

"I've missed you so much, (Y/n)." Tony kissed the top of her head.

"I missed you." They sat there for half an hour before (Y/n) made to get up. "They're going to be worried if I don't go back up."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." They helped each other up. Before she could step away, he caught her arm. "Are we going to be alright? I mean, I know it's stupid to ask but I ne-"

"I'm going to need some time, Tony." His heart sank, guilt eating away at him. "I don't know how long it will take to fully come to terms with everything that has happened and is happening, but for Dani's sake I will try."

"I understand." (Y/n) squeezed his hand and led him upstairs. The group grew quiet as they emerged from the lab. Dani walked over and hugged her mom.

"I love you so much, sweetheart." (Y/n) whispered so only Dani could hear. They pulled apart, (Y/n) wiping the tears from her daughter's cheeks.