Saving Grace

Five

Right when it happened, right when everything started going wrong, he thought of her. He thought of her back home, with Pepper and Happy, waiting for him to come back.

Just before the bomb exploded he remembered what Rhodey had said.

"Who's raising her right now? Happy?"

"I am."

When the bomb went off, for the briefest moment, he thought he wouldn't get to. But he knew that he had to.

And now, sitting here with Yinsen across from him, that's all he thinks about. Getting back to her. No matter what.

"You still haven't told me where you're from," he says to Yinsen. They're taking a break from their work.

"I'm from a small town called Gulmira," Yinsen replies. "It's actually a nice place."

"Got a family?" Tony asks.

"Yes, and I will see them when I leave here. And you Stark?"

Immediately, a small smile grows on his face. "A daughter-" then, he sighs "-though I wouldn't blame her if she wanted a new dad."

"Why?" Yinsen asks, brows furrowing.

He recalls his conversation with Rhodey. "I feel like I've failed her, especially recently... I'm not the father I promised myself I'd be for her. And now I'm not with her. I'm not there for her. And I don't think I was when I could've been."

Yinsen, surprisingly, smiles. "The fact that you care for her like that — that you think that way — says everything. And when you get out of here, you'll have a second chance. Don't waste it."

Tony remembers that conversation as he, in the suit that they built, watches Yinsen dying because he put himself in danger to buy Tony time.

"Come on, let's get you out of here," Tony says, denying what he already knows.

Yinsen ignores what he said. "You never told me your daughter's name."

"Grace," Tony replies, feeling tears pooling in his eyes.

Yinsen smiles. "That's very fitting..." He takes in a labored breath. "Remember, Stark: Don't waste it. Don't waste your second chance."

"I won't."

And with that, Yinsen is gone. Tony, heartbroken, goes to take his advice.

~~~~

"Grace," Pepper says, gently shaking her. "Grace, get up."

She rolls over in her bed to look at Pepper, holding her teddy bear. She sees the smile on Pepper's face and, immediately, her eyes widen. "Did they find him?!"

Pepper nods. "We're going to meet him and Rhodey at the airport."

Grace jumps up, already ready to go, leaving Pepper to quickly grab everything she needs — a change of clothes from her dresser, a pair of shoes from the shelf in her closet. The entire way to the airport, she can't keep the smile off her face. She's impatient, every minute seemingly crawling by.

But then she finally sees him.

On the tarmac of a military airport, Grace stands, holding Pepper's and Happy's hands. Her teddy bear is in the car. Tony steps out of the plane that rescued him from the desert. His arm is in a sling, and Rhodey is holding on to him.

He sees Grace and immediately smiles. She runs to him. "Daddy!"

He crouches, and she nearly knocks him over when she throws herself at him. He wraps his good arm around her, tears falling. "I told you I'd be back before you knew it."

"You were gone for forever!"

He picks her up with his good arm, then kisses her forehead. "I know. My bad."

"It's okay." Her arms are wrapped around his neck, her head on his shoulder.

He walks over to Pepper and Happy, then looks at Pepper. "Your eyes are red," he says. "Shedding tears for your long lost boss?"

"Tears of joy. I hate job hunting," she replies.

"Well, vacation's over. Back to work."

They get in the car, Grace sitting in between Pepper and Tony. Happy's driving. "Where to, sir?" he asks.

"Take us to the hospital," Pepper says.

Tony argues. "No."

"No? Tony, you have to go-"

"No, I don't have to do anything. I've been in captivity for three months. There are three things I want to do: I want an American cheeseburger, I want to be with my daughter, and the other..."

"Tony-"

"I want you to call for a press conference. Right now."

Pepper is amazed. "Call for a press conference-?"

"Yes. Hogan, drive."

"What for?"

"Cheeseburger first." He looks down at Grace. "Grace, you want a cheeseburger?"

Through it all, she's been grinning, holding onto Tony and her teddy bear. "Yes."

"See?" Tony says. "She wants a cheeseburger, too, and you can't argue with that adorable face, can you? No, you can't."