Faith in her Timing

Chapter 8: Sit and wait

"Rio! What is wrong with you!" Timothy bellowed in response to Rio's actions. Tony grabbed hold of her from behind when he noticed this was going in the wrong direction. Rio struggled to break free, most likely to attack Roman again.

"That motherfucker brought them here! He came to me in my dream! He did this!" She shouted, beads of sweat starting to roll from her forehead and tears rolling over her cheeks.

"I-I, miss Taylor, I-I don't know what you mean, this is the first time I'm meeting your parents." Roman stammered, grabbing his hurt cheek in shock. "Please, calm down, I don't want you worked up like this."

"Calm down, Dexter!" Tony yelled and pulled her towards him. "Hey! Hey! Look at me! Look at me!" He said forcefully as he grabbed her shoulders firmly, forcing her to look into his eyes. "Calm. Down. This is not helping! You need to calm down and take a seat and then take a breath, okay?"

Rio's breath became regular again and she nodded, telling Tony without words that he was right and that she would indeed calm down. Tony nodded too and sat her down in a nearby chair. Then he stood in front of her like some bodyguard that was ready to strike at anyone that wanted to hurt her.

"Hey all. I let myself in." A voice suddenly sounded and Natasha made herself known. "I'd thought it best not to disturb, sir." JARVIS explained, when Tony opened his mouth, to ask why JARVIS didn't warn them.

"So. Your real family." The red-haired spy addressed her friend. She frowned, a look of sympathy came over her. "I'm sorry that they're barging in like this. It's not right."

Calvin stood up and wagged his finger at Natasha. "Now see here, missy! I don't know who you are and why you're here but we are Kara's family! We have the right to barge in any day we want!"

Natasha gave him the glance over, slowly. Slow enough to make the man obviously uncomfortable. Under her willing eyes, the man sat back down and cleared his throat.

"No, you don't. RIO banned you all out of her life for a reason. And she does not like the fact that you're here. So no. You have zero rights in this house. Now, why don't you start by telling us how you found her." Natasha finally concluded as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Rio was touched. Her friend asked no questions, kept calling her by the name she picked for herself and told her parents that they were to explain herself after this rude entry.

"We got a letter. From miss Potts here, to tell us that Kara lived with her. That she wanted us to find her!" Harlene blurted out, crying heavily now.

"I knew it! You want me out of this house! Away from Tony!" Rio growled. Tony took a deep breath.

"Dexter? Pepper didn't send that letter. You know that. I know that. We all know that. This is someone else, trying to get us to fight. Do you agree?" Pepper nodded, teary-eyed. "I didn't send it, Rio."

"No Tony! She thinks you and me are fucking! Don't you see?" Rio raged on, jumping up from her seat and pacing back and forth. Meanwhile Timothy did his best to calm down mrs. Black.

"Rio, why don't you come and comfort your mother? I think she can use it." He said softly, extending his hand to her. He still thought that reconciliation was possible.

To Tony's amazement, Rio accepted the hand and hugged her mother. "Stop crying, mom. Please." Rio said through her own tears. Her mother just clung to her for dear life.

"Sir, we have enough rooms here, if Rio consents, you can stay the night." Tony told Calvin, who took a deep breath to think it over. "We are here to take Kara home, just like your wife here promised." He finally stated.