Hospitals, Courts, and Airplanes
CHAPTER 6: HOSPITALS, COURTS, AND AIRPLANES
Harry had to stay for two more days in the hospital for his treatment and another night for observation. It involved a lot of IV fluid changes, multiple assisted trips to the bathroom, careful support during mealtimes, and one bout of crying due to the stuffed lion’s appearance. Harry promptly named it Ronald and thanked Tony until he was blue. Why the boy decided on that name was anyone’s guess.
The days also gave Tony enough time to deal with the police and the child protective services while they were still in the UK. Unlike some cases, Harry wouldn't have to be present at his aunt and uncle's trial, much to Tony's relief. The evidence of neglect was so profound in the Dursleys' home that there was basically no chance of the Dursleys being set free. The fact that the child they hurt was the son of a multi-billionaire made it twice impossible.
Like Tony expected, the news of him being seen in a hospital with a child caused a media storm. From Pepper's rundown, the main story was that Tony Stark had recently found out he had an illegitimate child with a married woman whose husband had been abusing his kid. When Tony supposedly found out about it, he flew straight to England and almost killed the husband. It explained the presence of the police officers and the CPS coming and leaving the hospital.
Against Tony's better wishes, he wasn't allowed to release a statement until the Dursley's trial finished. Pepper was already doing all she could to keep the press at bay back in New York while Tony worried about taking Harry home.
Because apart from the trial, Social Services had also almost blocked him from keeping his son. The Termination of Parental Rights he signed 6 years ago was still in effect, at least in England, which meant in the eyes of their law, he wasn't Harry's father.
They forgot they were dealing with Tony Stark— and Starks always come prepared.
He pulled documents stating everything that happened years ago were made under duress, both from Tony and the Potters. With him were Lily and James's will that wrote Tony as Harry's guardian, three different paternity tests showing the same result, and statements from the judges and lawyers involved in the case. The statement from the Potter's lawyer regarding Mr. Stane's successful attempt at blocking him from informing Tony regarding his clients' deaths and last will cemented his appearance as an anguished father whose chance to be a parent was robbed from him.
In the end, after two grueling days in court, they considered his Parental Rights Termination void.
Tony hated the fact that he had to step away from Harry's bedside throughout the process. For two days, Tony had to leave early to attend hearings and questioning from both the police and social services. Happy had kept Harry company all day, having had the experience of handling children before in the shape of his nieces and nephews. Harry kept saying it was okay and Tony didn't have to be sorry, but Tony still felt so guilty for having abandoned Harry again, not even a day after meeting him.
When the court was through grinding him for his past, the first thing Tony did was call Happy and had him put Harry on the phone.
"’ello?" came the small, adorable voice of his son.
Tony gripped the phone tighter, suddenly feeling overwhelmed by the ultimate fact that Harry was now officially his son. “Hey, buddy. How are you feeling?”
There were shuffling sounds over the phone, and Tony imagined the little boy getting settled in bed with Ronald the lion tucked beside him. “Feel nice. The nice doct’r gave me crayons!”
“That sounds very nice, Harry. Did you thank Dr. Kline for the crayons?”
“Uh-huh. Said I get more if I be good!” Harry narrated happily. “You coming back now?”
Tony had just arrived back at the car in time for the question. He had one more stop before going back to the hospital. “Of course, kiddo. I’ll be there in an hour or so. Make sure you listen to Dr. Kline and Happy, okay?”
“Uh-huh. Okay! I see you soon?”
Tony’s chest warmed. “Yes, sweetheart. You’ll see me soon. Can you give the phone back to Happy please?”
“Hey, boss—”
“Hap, listen, I’ll have to stop by the Potters’ family lawyer’s home first to pick up something, but if Dr. Kline comes back before I get back there, could you ask when can Harry be discharged? I need to call Pepper beforehand so she can set up a fake arrival time and date.”
“Roger that. They administered the last IV this morning. Might not be too long now.”
Tony sighed in relief. He wasn’t hurrying Harry’s recovery, but he sure was ready to get back home and set up a proper pediatrician for his son. Dr. Kline is good at her job, but child care isn’t her specialty. “Great. Awesome. Thanks for looking after Harry for me.”
“No problem, boss. He’s a great kid.”
“The very best,” agreed Tony wholeheartedly.
The Potters’ lawyer, a man named Theodore Nott, lives a couple of miles north of Surrey. They met again the second time since 6 years ago when he was called up as a witness earlier that day. He said he had some of Lily and James’s personal belongings in his storage unit, including a couple of albums filled with Harry’s baby pictures. The opportunity was too special to pass up.
“Mr. Stark, come in,” a slightly woman who introduced herself as Mr. Nott’s wife, greeted him at the front door, even before Tony could start knocking. “Theo will be down soon.”
Tony thanked her and politely refused the offer of tea. He never got the taste for it, regardless of how much Jarvis used to drink them.
Mr. Nott entered the living room with a young boy around Harry’s age following behind him. “Teddy, go play in the yard for a bit while I talk to a client. We’ll finish your puzzle later, hm?” The boy, Teddy, nodded and scurried out of the room.
“Sorry about that,” Mr. Nott waved a hand mindlessly.
“Your son?” Tony asked.
“Yes. Only kid. Teddy just turned seven last month. It took me and my wife years to get pregnant. We’re lucky we even got Teddy now even though we’re older than most new parents. Anyway, I’m glad you came over, Mr. Stark. I’ve been meaning to send these to you for years but the agreement Mr. Stane forced me to sign would not allow me. You wouldn’t believe how ecstatic I was to receive your call a few days ago. I hear congratulations is in order?”
Tony nodded, eyes darting towards the cardboard storage box Mr. Nott pulled up from beside the couch. “Ah, yes. Received the final court ruling just before I came here. Didn’t realize these things could go on forever.”
“You are actually very lucky it only took two days, Mr. Stark, since you had about every legal document prepared and ready for your case. Most of these hearings take weeks, sometimes months before it goes through.”
“Huh, I didn’t know that,” mused Tony, immediately feeling grateful for the duration of the proceedings. “So, this is it?” He gestured towards the box.
“Some, yeah,” responded the lawyer. “These are the ones willed to you which is why I kept them in my storage unit. The Potters are in fact quite rich. Their house in Godric’s Hollow was just their cottage. James’s parents owned a manor over at Wiltshire. Everything to their name including two more properties, one in London and another in Scotland, was placed in young Harry’s name— his to access when he turns eighteen. I doubt the Dursleys know of this, though. The only time I was allowed to see the boy was the moment social services handed Harry to them. I wasn’t even allowed contact as the family lawyer until he’s of legal age.”
Tony was stunned. From the very few interactions he had with James and Lily Potter, they never appeared more than a middle-class British couple desperate for a child. “I want the list of properties in Harry’s name and everything left to him sent to my lawyers. They’ll deal with the property tax and all that stuff. I can’t have Harry inherit something dilapidated from the years that’s only going to cost him money.”
“If I may, Mr. Stark, my father had been the Potters’ solicitor long before I was born, and I for Lily and James. If fate allows, my son will do so to young Harry. I can look after the Potters’ estates from here until Harry comes of age.”
“Very well,” agreed Tony, but making a mental note to double-check the Notts’ background. “But I want a yearly report on them. God knows Harry is set to inherit more than enough properties from the Carbonell and Stark estates, but the Potter estates are what’s left of his parents’ memories. I want them taken care of properly. I’ll pay for all the repairs and the maintenance. The money left for Harry will be placed in a trust.”
“Thank you, Mr. Stark,” responded Mr. Nott appreciatively.
Checking the time, Tony realized he should head back soon if he wants to arrive before dinner. He picked up the moderately heavy box and settled it between his hip and arm, then reached a hand towards the lawyer to shake. “Thank you for this, Mr. Nott. And I apologize you had to deal with Stane.”
“Think nothing of it, lad. Now, you take care of your little one, alright? Kid’s been through a lot,” Mr. Nott sadly implored.
“I will.”
By the time Tony arrived back in the hospital, Harry’s meal had just been served. Tony didn’t look inside the box yet. He knew if he started browsing through the albums, he wouldn’t be able to stop. He’ll just have to do it when they’re home.
Tony can't help the sad smile reaching his face as he watched from the door his son gaze happily on the meal placed in front of him. Harry always seemed so happy with every food they gave him— even the puke-looking porridge from yesterday's breakfast.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Tony announced his presence loudly, prompting Harry to gasp and giggle. "Ohh, dinner time for the munchkin! Is it jello? Or mashed potato? Or ohhh, is it yummy porridge?" He singsonged playfully, reaching over to brush the wayward strands off Harry's forehead.
"No, silly," Harry beamed at him. "I gots soup tonight! The lady said it's called, uh—"
"Leek and potato soup, kid," supplied Happy from the chair near the window.
Harry glanced at Happy and smiled gratefully. "Yeah, that! It looks yummy."
Tony chuckled and settled himself on the bed beside Harry, peeking over to check his meal. It looks kind of gross, actually, but Tony supposed these things are healthy. "Wow, it does look yummy, huh? Think you can finish it all?"
Harry nodded, determined to do so. He wasn't able to finish all other meals he had beforehand. It was heartbreaking, witnessing a little kid almost break down in tears every time an orderly comes to pick up the leftovers. From what Tony could gather from Harry's previous living situation, leftovers were all he was allowed to eat. Having to witness his own leftovers being dumped in a trash bag must have been very painful.
Because the tubes were attached to his dominant hand and the other still bruised from his uncle's rough treatment, someone always had to help Harry eat. The first time they had to do it, Harry was dazed all throughout the meal and even hours after. It was obviously a new experience for the child.
Like Happy guessed, Harry was discharged the morning after with a full list of vitamins, an acceptable diet, and a teddy bear wearing a lab gown from Dr. Kline. Harry took longer to name it but he ended up choosing the name Poppy. Tony was just glad Harry stopped thanking the doctor after the 10th time because the second they were out of the hospital, Happy straight-up drove them to the airport.
Boarding the plane was much harder than Tony anticipated, mostly due to Harry's hesitation to even step up the airstair. Tony had to coax Harry for 15 minutes, telling him he has nothing to be afraid of, and that if he ever gets scared inside the plane, he can always sit next to him. Eventually, Harry allowed Tony to pick him up and carry him inside. The booster seat Happy bought ahead was already set up and ready for a little boy’s use. He strapped Harry in himself and made sure to place Ron the Lion and Poppy the Medibear close to the boy.
There was a small incident of Harry in tears when the plane took off because his ears hurt, but other than that, it was a smooth ride. Harry spent hours staring outside his window and marveling at the clouds while Tony made use of his time catching up on the work he benched.
"Mr. Tony?"
Tony quickly turned his eyes from the screen displaying the latest schematic upgrade of Mark 41's interlocking system and settled them on the little boy sitting in front of him, still buckled up in his airplane booster seat.
"Yeah, kiddo? You want out?" Tony gestured towards the straps around Harry.
Harry seemed to think about it before finally nodding his acquiescence. Tony immediately set his tablet down on the table between them and reached over to unbuckle his son from his seat.
He thought that was the end of it, but Harry kept looking at Tony like he wanted to say something. Fearing that Harry was hungry but scared to ask, Tony dug into the small carry-on bag beside him and pulled out a pack of butter cookies.
"Here, sweetheart, in case you get hungry. Lunch won't be for another two hours," said Tony, placing the package gently on the table and pushing them towards the boy’s reach.
"Thank you," Harry responded almost by instinct. "Uhm, you.. are you.. can I..."
Tony smiled warmly at his son, sensing the kid's distress. "Hey, it's okay. If you need something or want to ask a question, I'll never be mad.”
"Okay, uh, is it... is it 'kay if I call you d-daddy? ‘cause you said you my bio-biological dad an' all. I just, I just wanna know if-if I'm 'llowed to." Harry spoke so softly, Tony almost couldn't understand them, not with the stuttering, adorable as it may sound. It honestly shocked Tony that Harry might want to call him dad, not with everything he’d been through. They talked about it once before, right after Tony admitted to being his biological father but Tony made sure Harry understood he didn’t have to call him anything he wasn’t comfortable with. He thought he wouldn’t have to have that line of conversation at least for another 3 months or so.
But the fact that Harry even brought it up sparked hope in Tony’s chest. He’s been calling Harry his son in public since the night he took Harry away from the Dursley’s house. There was nothing he would want more than be the dad Harry deserved. "Of course, you can, Harry. In fact, I would really like that."
Harry clearly still felt apprehensive about it so Tony gestured for him to crawl up his lap, which the child swiftly did so. “See this, kiddo?” Tony pulled out his wallet and showed Harry the tattered photograph of a 1-year-old boy smiling with only four of his front teeth to the camera. The sides of the photo were wrinkled and folded, evidence that it had been taken out of the wallet many times before. Harry looked at the photo with wonder and curiosity. “That’s you, buddy. Your mom and dad sent this to me when you turned one. I knew then that there was no one else I’ll ever love more than the little boy in the photo. And I’m so sorry it took me so long to get to you. Nobody told me your mom and dad weren’t around to take care of you anymore. But I’m here now and I promise I will do my best to be the best father I can be for you. You calling me dad would be a dream come true, baby.”
Harry stared at his father with so much gratitude and adoration that Tony couldn’t help but kiss him on both his rosy cheeks. “Wow,” breathed the boy softly, raising one hand to touch Tony’s goatee and then moving to touch his own cheek where one of the kisses landed. Tony saw the gears turning inside the child’s mind, and witnessed the change in Harry’s eyes from apprehension to determination as he said those two words Tony never thought he’d hear,
“My daddy.”