Trip
The next week was crazy planning the trip with Pepper and then getting ready to go. I was ready to get away and have some fun, maybe enjoy some time away from all that was going on in our lives. We had decided to go to a little island that grandpa had got grandma years ago. Pepper and I figured that it would be perfect to get away from the public eye after the Iron Man announcement dad had made.
I looked over to dad who was looking out the window as we flew in the private jet to the private island with Pepper. Pepper was going over things that all needed to be done in the next few weeks. Slowly I put the book I had been trying to read for the last half hour down on the table by me.
“Dad are you alright?”
“Why do you ask?”
“You seem kind of out of it like you're here but you're not.”
“I'm fine, just a lot has happened in the last little while.”
“I know, one of the reasons I wanted to go somewhere away from it all. Are you sure you want to be on this trip though? If you don't, that's alright I understand. You can do whatever you would like, it's your vacation as well.” With a sigh, dad got up to come and sit by me and Pepper was trying to watch us without making it obvious that she was watching us.
“Sweetheart, I want to spend time with you. At the moment nothing sounds better, I just keep thinking about the promise I made to your mom.”
“What do you mean?”
“Before she passed we were talking about our family birthday trip and she told me she was going away for a few days for work. Said you were staying with a friend and you would be fine, but she was not sure what would happen with the trip and that it had got her thinking about how much she traveled. Said that anything could happen at any time. She made me promise her that if anything ever happened to her that I would keep you safe and be the parent that you would need. I know I have done a pretty crap job of that. But when I saw Obadiah standing over you trying to hurt you. When he told me that he had to take care of you because you were too involved and you would keep him from doing what he wanted. I have never been more afraid, not even when I was being held, hostage. Baby girl I know I make a lot of mistakes and I promise I am trying to do and be better. Just know that you are and always will be the most important thing in my life. Even if you need to remind me at times.”
“Daddy, you do know that you're a good dad. Just mom had more experience because you both were trying to keep me safe from everyone that might come after me knowing who I was. You do a great job at looking out for me and alight I might have been a little scared but I was more afraid of losing you. I have lost mom and I don't want to lose you as well dad. You're the only parent I have left and we will figure out all of this together like we always have and like we always will. No parent is ever perfect but just being here you are already so much better than so many. Plus you're a good dad because you worry about being a good one.”
“I don’t know how I got so lucky to have such an amazing daughter but I'm glad you are my daughter.”
“Well, I'm glad you're my father.” He pulled me into his side and I laid my head onto his shoulder.
“I love you, baby girl, never forget that.”
“I love you, daddy, Forever.” We stayed like that holding onto each other and I let myself fall asleep.
The next thing I know is I'm slowly being woken up.
“Baby girl we are here,” Dad whispers to me. I open my eyes and look out the window.
Sure enough, we had landed and were here just in time for the sunset. I stood up and dad followed. We all made our way off the plane and onto the landing strip that was made. Our things were already being taken to the house and I made my way over to the dock that was not too far away to watch the sunset.
After a few minutes of standing there, I heard dad walk up to me.
“Mom always loved watching the sunset from here.”
“That she did. That first time I brought her here we came out here the first night, then every night we were hereafter that we came back out to watch the sunset. You know we even told your grandparents about you on a trip here. Your mom stood out here watching the sunset while she calmed down enough so that we could tell them. Then after you were born this was the first place we brought you. That first night your mother could not wait to show you the sunset. She was glowing with excitement to have you watch even though you had no idea what was even going on. Your mother loved it so much though every time. No matter how many times she watched it from this spot it was always like magic to her.”
“I didn’t know all of that.”
“You are so much like your mother in so many ways. I'm grateful for that because she was a remarkable person and I know things didn’t work out for us while we dated. She was always one of my closest friends and had no problem calling me out on my crap, another thing you get from her.”
“Would you have it any other way though?”
“Never, you know she gave me the best gift ever. One I didn’t think I would ever need or want. I was so wrong though because now that I have it I could never give it back.”
“What's that?”
“You. You being born the day after my birthday was the best late birthday gift ever, You are the greatest gift any father could be blessed with because I didn’t know what life was truly about until you came into mine.”
“Well, I'm glad I can be that for you. You're a pretty amazing gift to me and being able to be your daughter. Thank you for never giving up on me.”
“I could never, I love you way too much for that.” I smiled as he kissed my head.
“Just remember no matter how old you get you will always be my baby girl and I will always be the guy that loved you first.”
“I will always want to be your baby girl no matter what.”
We stayed until the sun was gone and slowly made our way to the house where Pepper greeted us with dinner.
Laughing and having a good time through dinner and then cleaning it up I wished them a good night before making my way up to my room and getting ready for bed and heading to bed after a long day knowing that the fun would start in the morning.
‘Looking around I was not sure where I was. There was so much destruction all around me. Buildings were destroyed the ground covered in rubble, cars flipped everywhere. There were people around me that I could not quite make out. Then I looked down and in front of me and fell to the ground. There laid dad in his Iron Man suit that you could tell had been in battle his mask was gone from his face and I could tell he was not breathing.
“Daddy please you have to wake up you promised you would not leave me that you would always come back. Please daddy don’t leave. I still need you. I'm so sorry about our fight, If you wake up I promise I will listen. Just please wake up.” I fell onto his chest crying so hard that I was having a hard time breathing. I felt someone grab my arm.
“Rebekah, you have to let go and breathe. Breath Rebekah It’s alright.”
I felt like I was floating and had no idea what was going on. Something was wrong though.’
3pov
It was almost midnight Rebekah had gone up to bed a few hours ago and Tony and Pepper were both in the living room doing some work before going off to bed as well.
That is when Tony first thought he heard something. A muffled cry but was not sure. Until a loud yell came from Rebekah’s room piercing the quiet night air.
“DADDY” Tony and Pepper looked at one another before both running up to Rebekah’s room in a panic not knowing what was going on.
The door flew open as Tony turned the knob and Rebekah was tossing and turning in bed still asleep in the clutches of a nightmare. Running to her side both adults are unsure of the best way to wake the crying girl in front of them who keeps calling out for her dad.
Tony took his little girl in his arms gently rocking her and bushing her hair back.
“Breath Rebekah, you are alright I'm right here.” Slowly the girl started to calm before waking much to the relief of her father and Pepper.
Rebekah’s pov
I open my eyes to find myself back in my room in dad’s arms and Pepper sitting on the other side of me. I quickly realized it had been a dream but had felt so very real.
“Daddy, it felt so real.”
“It’s alright, I'm here, it was just a dream.” He told me still holding me tightly.
“Please don’t leave me.”
“I’m not going anywhere, I'm here baby I've got you.” Slowly I feel myself start to calm down once more and my eyes get heavy before I drift back off to sleep.
3pov
After a half-hour of Tony holding his little girl, he felt her calm and fell asleep.
“What do you think that was all about?”
“I'm not sure, I have not seen her have nightmares for quite a while.”
“She did while you were gone.”
“What?”
“About a week after you went missing she kept waking up in the middle of the night calling out for you or her mom. It got so bad that she started to have a hard time sleeping. She would only sleep when she had to. After a little while, she was a walking zombie.”
“Do you think I should worry Pepper? Because the truth is I am worried about her, she needs to sleep, she can’t be like me, Pepper. I don’t want that for her.”
“I think we keep an eye on her, she's been through a lot the last little while. She might just need some time and space. This trip could be really good for her, for all of us. She needs to know you're not going to disappear Tony. Even Though I love her with all of my heart and the others love her as well. You are her only family left Tony. She lost her mom and never really got a chance to grieve before being thrown into the public eye. I’m sure she will be alright. Let's just give her some time while we are here.”
“Alight, I think I am going to stay with her a little longer but you should get some sleep, Pepper.”
“If you are fine here, I will be off then. Good night Tony.”
“Good night Pepper.” Pepper placed a kiss on Rebekah's forehead before heading out. Tony moved a little to be comfortable and then settled in for the night.
“I'm here baby girl, sleep well,” Tony whispered to the girl kissing her head and holding her tight. Trying to get some sleep as well.
Rebekah’s pov
I woke up to sunlight coming through the crack that was in the curtain. When I opened my eyes to see dad asleep still. Slowly the events of the previous night came back and I felt bad. I thought the nightmares were getting better but I guess I was wrong. Slowly I got up and made my way into the bathroom to get ready for the day. Slipping into a swimsuit and then putting on a sundress over it. I walked out of the bathroom and put my hair up in a ponytail. Looking over to see dad still asleep I walked out quietly to let dad get some sleep because I also knew that he was not sleeping well. Making my way downstairs I saw Pepper in the kitchen making breakfast.
“You're up early,” I said sitting on the stool in front of the counter.
“Years of practice. Your dad still asleep?”
“Yes, how bad was it?”
“You were pretty upset, crying and all. You yelled out for your dad. He was worried about you. Do you want to talk about it?”
“Dad, he was hurt and wasn’t breathing. I wanted him to wake up but he wasn’t waking up. Pepper, I'm so scared of losing dad. It's like I can't breathe because I'm so afraid of losing him at any time.”
“I know but things will work out. Your dad is as stubborn as they get. I don’t think he is going anywhere anytime soon.”
“Well, I owe you a thank you as well because I remember you coming in last night as well. Plus all you did for me while dad was gone and since he has been back. You are just always there for me no matter what might happen. I love you as well Pepper.”
“I always plan on being here for you. I love you, sweetie.”
“Well after breakfast do you have any plans?”
“Not really.”
“So maybe you want to go for a swim at the falls?”
“Sounds like a plan.” I finished helping her get breakfast ready and as we were finishing up dad came down ready for the day.
“How’s my favorite girl today?”
“I’m good, after breakfast do you want to come with Pepper and me and swim at the falls?”
“That could be fun.”
We talk and start to laugh through breakfast just enjoying being together. I saw dad relax and Pepper as well. Truth was, I was feeling calmer as well.
Once we were all done we cleaned up together Pepper washed the dishes, dad drying and I put them away. After we were all done they went and got ready as I put together a lunch and things to go swim at the falls. I was trying to braid my hair as Pepper walked back in.
“Would you like some help?”
“Yes please,” I told her because I had started it three times now only to undo it because it was a mess. Sitting in front of Pepper she started to braid my hair and I let it completely relax me. I always love her doing my hair because it reminded me of being a little girl and mom or Pepper doing my hair. Dad walked down while she was working on my hair.
“Just about ready ladies?”
“Need to put an elastic in and we are done,” Pepper said as she finished wrapping the elastic around my hair.
“I even packed us a lunch as well,” I told them both with a smile.
“Then let's get going,” Dad told us both. Dad grabbed the cooler I had put our lunch and some drinks in and Pepper and I grabbed the bags that held towels and sunblock and anything else we thought we might need and we went out to the golf cart putting the things in and used it to get to the falls. Right before the falls, we had built a little area to do family picnics and be able to spend time together. We parked and left the cart parked, leaving the lunch there, and went through the trees that opened up to a clearing and the waterfall that was there as well. I smiled, I loved the view in front of me. One of my favorite places dad and mom would bring me growing up. Putting my bag down I smiled, I already put sunblock on and was ready to swim.
“The last one in is the loser,” I called and pulled my dress off as I kicked my flip-flops off and ran into the water.
Looking back I saw dad and Pepper getting in the water.
“Don’t worry it's not that cold,” I called over to them before making my way to stand under the waterfall. I let the waterfall rain down on top of my head and listen to the calming sounds of the water all around me. Knowing full well that I could stay on this island forever and be fine with that.
We played in the water for a while and just had some fun. Once we were ready for lunch we all got out to eat and talked as we did so. All I knew was that at this moment as I sat at the table with dad and Pepper laughing and having fun that I wanted to freeze this moment because I knew all too well that moments like this never really last.
A few days later I found us on the beach and I had found my old sand toys and brought them out. Dad and Pepper were both in lounge chairs and I went to stand in front of them holding the bucket up.
“So who’s ready to build a sandcastle with me?”
“Really?” Dad asked, looking at me.
“Yes, no one is around to know that you build sandcastles in your off time, don't worry. Plus it has been a long time and you used to love to build them with me.”
“Is this really how you want to spend your time?”
“Please Daddy?”
“Alright, come on Pepper, let's build this castle.” They both got up as Pepper laughed at us and we got to work on our castle.
It started really well. A beautiful base with a moat around it, drawbridge and all. Working on the towers dad sent me to get some more water. When I got back to them I accidentally spilled some of the water on him.
“So that is how we are doing this now?”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“O I think you did.” Dad got up and started to chase me around. I ran as I laughed trying to get away from him. Pepper was watching with a smile before moving out of the way. Dad got me wet with the bucket so I got more water before dumping it on him. I ran with a giggle as he came after me. Once he caught up he picked me up and walked over to the ocean.
“NO, I'm sorry, don’t throw me in.” My cries went unheard because he put me down in the water. Once the shock wore off I threw water at dad and we had a water fight. Before we came up with an idea. I went up to distract Pepper and dad grabbed her bringing her to the water as well.
We all then went on to have a water fight and our castle was forgotten as we laughed and played in the water. I looked at dad and Pepper.
Dad had his arms around her waist and was swinging her around as they both laughed.
I had a smile on my face because it was nice to see them both relax and have some fun. Plus I also was on board with how close they were getting.
My mission became obvious at that moment.
Make dad and Pepper see how much they liked one another. Challenge accepted.
Dad looked at me.
“What baby girl?”
“Nothing, I'm just glad we came on this trip.”
“So am I baby girl.” Continuing to play in the water until just before sunset Pepper went in and dad and I went to the dock for another sunset.
The next two weeks fly by so much faster than I thought that they would. I knew that we had to go home, all of us having so much that needed to be done there. So I convinced dad to let us leave after sunset so I could watch one more from mom’s favorite place. Everything was ready to go but I wasn’t. I had felt close to my mom these last two weeks, I felt close to my grandparents if we are telling the truth. I sat at the end of the dock, my feet hanging off sandals off as well. I smiled thinking about how dad and I got Pepper to go out on the boat with us.
‘We were trying to get Pepper to come out on the boat with us but she was not having it.
“Pepper, come on, it will be fun. We'll be safe, we are not going out far, and we will have life jackets on. I promise it will be fun.”
“I'm not sure there are all kinds of things that could go wrong.”
“If you live your life in fear, are you really living though?” I asked her with a smile.
“Don’t try to play mind games with me right now.”
“Pepper, it's fine, what are you so worried about?”
“Well for starters I have seen your driving Tony. You like fast and crazy, I can’t imagine what you are like on a boat.”
“It’s not that bad Pepper I promise. I have been on the boat so many times and I am fine. I promise it will be fun.” Even though Pepper had come to the island before with us she had never come on the boat with us. It was always just dad, mom, and I.
“I don’t know about this.”
“I promise I will start off slow,” Dad told her.
“Plus you can come to have fun or do boring work, the choice is yours,” I say in one last-ditch effort to get her to come.
“Alright but don’t go out too far and not too fast.” Dad smiles and helps her climb in.
“Now let's have some fun.” After a little while of being out on the water Pepper started to relax and have some fun. It was one of the best days.’
“What are you thinking about with that smile?” I looked up to see dad standing above me before he sat down by me.
“Pepper on the boat.”
“I think that will be one of my favorite moments of the trip.”
“It was pretty amazing.”
“The best part was getting to spend time with my little girl.”
“That was my favorite being with you dad.” We had spent every night out on this dock watching the sunset together and had just talked the whole time about everything we could think of. It had been the best two weeks I had in a long time. Laying my head on his shoulder we watched the sunset on the last day of our trip.
“Are you ready to go?” He asked a few minutes after the last of the sun was gone.
“Not really but I know that we need to get back to the real world.”
“We will try to come back soon alright baby girl?”
“Ok, thanks for this dad.”
“You are most welcome.” Dad stood up holding his hand out to me and I grabbed it as he pulled me up. I grabbed my sandals and we headed to the plane.
As I got to the top I took one last look around before walking into the plane. I made my way to my seat and sat down.
“I hope you had fun.” Pepper said as dad came in. I thought for sure he would sit in another seat but he sat right next to me.
“I did thank you for coming with us.”
“You're welcome, thank you for having me.”
“Let's face it, you're part of our messed up crazy family. You're stuck with us now, can't get away, you are ours.”
“There is nowhere I would rather be.” I smiled at her and laid my head back on dad's shoulder. He wrapped his arm around me and I let my eyes wander around for a moment before they started to get heavy. It was a long plane ride, a little nap would not hurt right now. So I gave in and slept the whole plane ride home.