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February 2008,
That day, Charlotte awakened with a bad feeling.
She was only six years old, yet Charlotte was quite a sensitive and emotional child. It was a feeling that followed her everywhere she went while she was away from her parents, particularly during her homeschooling. It was like she had an ache in her chest, but it was worse and she couldn't comprehend what it was. It was unsettling to her mainly because she didn't know what it was, but she could only describe it as a feeling of anticipation. Something told her that whatever was coming, was not a good thing. She knew that her father was going to be away on an important business trip for the next few days, however, the knot that was tightening in her stomach was steadily causing her concern.
Her father had been in Afghanistan for three days now; after taking a lunch break from her homeschooling and lessons, Charlotte and Hugh, her tutor decided to move to the living room. They were both sat on the couch, watching and waiting for Tony's presentation to appear on the news channels, as scheduled. The knot in her stomach was ever more present when the news reporter said that the presentation would not be going along as scheduled due to unforeseen circumstances.
He had not called her yet, and that was strange, as he promised her would call her before his presentation. Charlotte tried to refrain herself from focusing on the negative, as her mom always told her to do. An hour passed and Charlotte was back in the kitchen, studying with her tutor when the landline on the wall started to ring, the sudden shrill was invasive and caused Charlotte to flinch away from it.
"Finish reading the chapter, Charlotte. I'll be back in a minute." Hugh said, walking around the kitchen island to the phone. He answered it and barely finished his sentence before he was cut off. "Hello, Stark reside-."
He stopped abruptly, his brows pinching as he cupped the bottom of the receiver in an attempt to hear better. "Mrs. Stark, I can't understand you. Is everything alright?" Charlotte peaked over the top of her textbook and watched Hugh carefully, the uneasy pressure of the knot in her stomach had now risen to her chest. "Okay, don't worry. I'll take care of her." Another pause and Hugh glanced over his shoulder, narrowly missing Charlotte peering over the book at him. She quickly diverted her attention and pretended to be concentrating on the task at hand. "Of course. I'll see you soon."
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It did not take a genius to figure out that something was wrong. It was currently four in the afternoon and Hugh was still at the house; he was never normally here after two o'clock. Charlotte was a smart child, incredibly smart for her age, and she knew that he was trying to distract her. They had played board games and listened to music in the entertainment room, and he made sure that they did virtually everything apart from turn on the television.
Half an hour later, Charlotte was lying on the couch throwing a ball in the air and catching it. She heard the front door open briefly and close abruptly. She knew that it was her mother, judging by the sounds of heels on the tiles flooring. Hugh was quick to greet her, making sure to keep the door to the study close behind him to prevent Charlotte from hearing their conversation. She was left in the room with her racing thoughts for about ten minutes before she heard the front door open and close again.
Charlotte had been sitting alone in the study for ten minutes now. Her mother had not entered the room once, in fact, she did not think that she had heard her mother leave the kitchen during this time. Ten minutes turned into fifteen. Fifteen turned into twenty. Charlotte tried to disassociate herself from the feeling of nervousness that was radiating throughout her entire body, but with each passing second, the deafening silence became more unbearable.
Thirty minutes had passed when Charlotte decided that she would go and look for her mother. Her barefoot padded on the tiles floor, the faint metallic clicking sound seemed to echo around the eerily silent hallways. Her heartbeat was pounding in her ears, the skin on the back of her hands was clammy and the nervous disposition that had been around her all day was ever more present; it was almost sickening.
Timidly, Charlotte rounded the corner into the kitchen, and cast her eyes upon her mother standing at the island, her upper body was bent over the counter and she held her head in her hands. From the shallow and shuddering movements of her shoulders, Charlotte could tell that she was crying.
"Mom?" She spoke quietly and leaned against the wall. Pepper startled slightly at the sudden intrusion, and she stood up but remained facing the other direction. Pepper wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and sniffled. She straightened completely upright when she felt a pair of small arms wrap around her side; she immediately returned the embrace, crouching down to her daughter's height and holding her head to her chest, hugging her close.
"Charlie, I need to tell you something," Pepper spoke in a serious tone, her voice was lowered - it was unsettling and made Charlotte feeling increasingly uncomfortable. "Something bad has happened. I need you to be strong for me, okay?"
Being an incredibly empathetic person, Charlotte knew that whatever was happening, she needed to be there for her mom. She simply nodded without blinking, tears threatening to spill as the pressure began to internally press down on her.
With a heavy sigh, Pepper continued. "Your dad is missing."
Charlotte stiffened. Her heart was hammering and it felt as though it was trying to violently burst out of her chest.
"Uncle Rhodey called. Your dad never made it to his presentation. His escort vehicle was targeted."
"What?" She didn't register that her voice was trembling until her mom held her tighter, resting a hand on the back of her head.
"Sweetheart, there is no easy way to say this. Your dad was kidnapped."
Kidnapped. She had an understanding of the word, but only to a basic extent. All she knew was that it meant that her dad had been taken against his will. He was more than likely injured, hurt, possibly badly. She had always been told by her parents and Happy, never to talk to strangers or to anyone without either of them present.
Pepper pushed back slightly, holding her daughter at arm's length. She was unsettled by the lack of external response. "Charlie?" The look on her daughter's face broke her heart. Her eyes were so vacant and lost. Pepper could feel Charlotte's chest convulsing as the child tried to steady her breaths as the silent sobs racked through her tiny body.
Her dad was missing and right now her mom needed her.
And that was the biggest reality check she could have ever received. And it was a one that would change her forever. The range of emotions that Charlotte was experiencing was almost overwhelming, and that made her fearful. It was almost as if the dangerous world her father her spent her entire existence shielding her from, had suddenly collided with her idyllic existence. With a flip of a coin, her dad was in danger, and now he was the one who needed saving.
He had to be okay. He was her dad and she needed him. He would come home to her, to her mom.
