What now
The weeks and following months after our trip were busy with so much going on. Trying to juggle all that was going on in my life was getting a little hard to handle. Working with dad and Pepper on Stark Industries, though mostly Pepper, helping with things at SHIELD, plus helping set up the Stark Expo and dad being Iron Man. On top of everything, dad was starting to act a lot more different from normal. I had no idea what was going on with him and I was also trying to plan his birthday party with Pepper and my birthday as well.
Walking into dad's office he was sitting at his desk.
“Dad, you need to get going if you are going to get on the plane in time.”
“Alright, I'm going. Where Is Pepper?”
“Pepper is going to be with you in the air and I'm going to be on the ground waiting for you.”
“Well, then I best get going.”
“Dad are you alright?”
“I'm fine, I'm Iron Man.” He said walking out.
“You have got to stop saying that to me,” I called out to him as if he was actually listening to me. I sight and got ready to go letting Pepper know that he was on his way to her.
I walked outside to see Happy waiting.
“Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, thank you, Happy.”
“Of course” He opened the door for me and I climbed in. He got in and we headed to the expo.
Once there Happy helped me to get into the expo and backstage to wait for dad. I was then in charge to make sure that everything ran smoothly.
I sent the dancers out who were wearing very little and waited for dad to fly in from the sky. Which he did and everyone loved it. Dad talked and intruded on the expo and the video of grandpa before walking backstage. I saw dad pull something out of his pocket and look at it before slipping it back into his pocket before I could see it.
“Well things went well, are you still doing good?”
“I promise things are fine at the moment. I will let you know if it changes.”
“You better.” Dad left with Happy while I took care of everything else here only to find out about a meeting in the morning from Pepper about dad. Just when I thought I could not possibly have any more to do.
The next day I found myself sitting by Pepper in the meeting wishing that I was anywhere else.
“This is bad,” I whispered to Pepper.
“Most likely, you know your father though.”
“I know that is what I'm worried about. He’s been acting differently lately.”
“We will figure it out, sweetie.” I listened to them going back and forth and dad not really caring that the senator didn’t like him. I mean I didn’t blame him, the Senator was a jerk but that's beside the point. Pepper saw Phil and talked to dad a moment before walking to the back where Phil was. When Rhodey was called in I went up to dad and slowly sat by him.
“You know this guy is a jerk, there is something I don’t like about him,” I told dad quietly.
“I know that's why I have fun at his expense.”
The senator and Rhodey started to talk until Rhodey tried to make the senator see the pros and cons and not just the cons before showing some pictures overviews. That was until dad took over the screens.
I tried to hide the smile on my face as dad showed them what was really going on then went off on them. With a smirk to me, he looked at the senator one more time.
“After all, I have always taught my daughter to not give into people bullying her to do what she knows should not be done. So I'm going to take her away from this.” Then we left him leading me out as people clapped around us.
“Well that could have gone better,” I told him once we were in the car.
“It was not that bad.”
“I don’t think Mr. Senator likes you very much.”
“That's alright. Ready to go home?”
“So very much.” We drove on and made our way to the plane before taking off back home.
A few hours later we walked into the house and I was thrilled to finally be home after all of the long days we had been having. Dad went down to his lab and I went up to my room. Once in there I shut the door and pulled out a file and looked at the info on it. I had a lot I needed to do. But first I had to find Dad and Pepper.
Walking into Dad’s lab I saw him handing a glass to Pepper.
“What’s going on?”
“I just promoted Pepper to CEO of Stark.”
“If you want to be the CEO I will be more than happy letting you take over whenever you would want to. Just say the word.” Pepper said at the same time. I could tell she was worried I would be mad.
“I’m fine with that, I have so many things I am doing right now. You will make an amazing CEO Pepper, congratulations.”
“Thank you, Rebekah.”
“Well, I just wanted to see what all was going on. You go back to celebrating and I will be in my room if you need me.”
I walked out of the lab and back up to my room before shutting the door and pulling out my phone. I dialed the number and waited for the answer.
“Hello, Rebekah.”
“It’s time to send in a backup. I don’t think I can do it all on my own.”
“They will be there soon.”
“Thank you, talk soon.” I quickly hung up the phone before putting it back into the fake bottom of my nightstand. Now I just had to get ready for them to get here.
The next day I was watching dad and Happy boxing when Pepper walked in only to be followed by someone else. Smiling as I saw her I could not wait to see how all of this played out. Of course, they would send her in to help with dad.
Pepper talked to her and tried to get dad to come to sign while Happy got sick of dad.
“What’s your name lady?”
“Rushman Natalie Rushman.”
Dad had her go into the ring and then talked to her for a moment before going over to Pepper and they started to talk quietly. I was just waiting to see what she would do to Happy. Part of me felt bad knowing that she could kick Happy’s butt but at the same time I could not wait to see everyone’s reactions.
She looked away only for her to take down Happy. Pepper was worried while Dad was impressed and Happy tried to brush it off. I was just trying so hard not to laugh and blow the cover. She climbed out and then talked to dad before he signed over the company.
After she walked out dad turned to Pepper.
“I want one.”
“No” As I walked past them with a smile I patted dad's shoulder.
“She would eat you alive,” I told him and then headed out. Things were about to get fun.
I got to where she was and smiled.
“So nice to meet you, Natalie.”
“You must be the daughter, Rebekah right?”
“Yes, I can’t wait to work with you.”
“Well, I look forward to it.” She winked at me as we both smiled and went our separate ways.
We were in Monaco and I was following dad and Pepper in when he told her not to be mad for the next 20 minutes. Once inside we were met by Natalie and I smiled at her as dad and Pepper had a hushed conversation. Making our way to a table dad wanted, they then walked to the bar while I waited with Natalie as she got the table for us.
“I see you got the job.”
“Did you doubt me?”
“Not at all, I know my father too well. I do have to say I hope his behavior does not ruin our relationship.”
“There is no way I will let anything like that happen. We have been through way too much to let your father come between us. Plus I have had plenty of people tell me how he is, including your mother.”
“Well, then I trust you are prepared to work for him.”
“Bring it on.” I smiled at her before we walked over to them. We found dad and told him the table was ready and made our way back to the table. Then dad left for the bathroom.
Pepper and I were sitting at the table when we saw dad on the tv about to drive in the race. Pepper asked Natalie if she knew about this and they talked while I worried.
At that moment I knew there was more going on with dad than he was letting on. I knew he could be reckless and do stupid things but he was worse than normal.
I watched the tv as the race started but then a guy walked out onto the track before pulling out whips made of light before hitting a car with it. I watched it flip and then saw Happy. Pepper walked out with him and I followed. As we were just about out Natalie walked up to us.
“Rebekah, I want you to say here. Natalie, will you stay with her please?”
“Of course I will.”
“Pepper, I want to help dad.”
“It will help if I know you are here safe and I know your father will feel better as well.”
“Alright, please be careful.” I watched them go get into the car and drive off.
“Nat, please tell me that he is going to be alright.”
“Your dad is a fighter, he won't give up that easily. Not when he has you to fight for.” She grabbed my hand and led me back in so we could see what was going on.
I watched dad's car flip in the air and land than other cars blowing up as well. The guy went and attacked dad but dad did well holding him off until Happy hit the guy with the car. I could see that they were talking before the guy hit the car with his whip and Happy kept hitting him with the car. Finally, they threw dad his case and he had his Iron man suit on and started to fight the guy. Watching until dad finally was able to take him down I let out a sigh of relief as the guy was dragged away and help showed up.
“Come on, we should get you ready to go with your dad,” Nat told me and I followed her out.
They got back after a while and I went with Pepper while dad went and talked to the guy.
Once he was done we were on the plane and heading home. I had dozed off but sense woke up and just kept my eyes closed and was listening around me. The Senator was on TV talking about dad and saying all kinds of things before dad muted it and started to talk to Pepper. When he brought up canceling his party I knew something more was going on. Deciding that when we got back I would be figuring out what was going on with him.
Once home dad went to his lab and both Pepper and Nat were on phone calls trying to do damage control. I was listening to them and the tv as I ate a popsicle. Trying to figure out what was going on and the best way to go about it. I did know that the party would be crazy if this is how dad was going to act at the party.
I got ready for the party putting on a blue knee-length dress and lightly curing my hair before heading down to the party. People were showing up and before too long that party was getting out of hand. Dad was drunk and in his Iron man suit. I walked over to him and got his attention.
“Dad, don’t you think it is time to end the party?”
“The party is just getting good.”
“But we always have a quiet night after 11 into my birthday.”
“Rebekah, the people want this party. I can't disappoint them.” He never called me Rebekah like that. He almost always called me by my nickname or something but hardly ever called me by my name. It hurt more than I thought it would hearing him say my name that way and not call me Sweetie or baby girl or any of the others he would usually call me.
“But you can disappoint me,” I say before walking away trying with everything in me not to cry and kick everyone out myself. I saw Pepper and walked up to her.
“Pepper, what do we do?”
“I will figure it out.” She talked to Rhodey then tried to shut the party down and talk to dad but he was long gone. He blew up the glass in front of the stairs and then women were throwing things in the air for him to blow up. Rhodey showed up in a suit and told everyone to get out before dad and Rhodey started to fight.
I found Pepper and then we ran into Natalie who Pepper started to yell at when dad and Rhodey fell through the ceiling. Happy came in and got Pepper and me out and I watched Nat run the other way. After the explosion, I walked slowly back over to where the glass wall once was and saw dad on the ground the house destroyed all around. I felt a tear slide down my face as dad looked at me and then I took off. I didn’t care where I went, I just had to get away.
I stayed the night with Pepper and left early when I got a call. I waited for the right time to walk out at the diner and I was mad. Finding out that dad was dying and that he could not even tell me about it. I walked out when Fury called me over.
“Were you going to tell me or were you just going to die?”
“Rebekah…”
“NO, you don’t get to Rebekah me. Do you ever know what today is? I am so sick of sticking up for you and then you doing things like last night. YOU need to figure out what you want. I know you think your dad didn’t love you but he did. YOU have told me my whole life that you wanted to be better than your dad was but here we are. I am your daughter, it would be nice if you could remember that. So decide if you want to be my dad or whatever this is you have become. Because the guy I am looking at right now is not my dad I have no idea who he is and I am done. Once you figure it out let me know because I am not sitting around watching you self-destruct. You will know how to find me once you figure it out.” With that, I walked out and went to get ready to go with Pepper to New York.
My bags were ready to go and I went with Nat and Happy to get Pepper but when we walked in dad was sitting there.
Happy asked if that was all and Pepper answered.
“I lost all the kids in the divorce,” Dad said. I rolled my eyes while picking up a bag.
Dad tries to break Nat’s cover but she’s better and then Pepper and Happy walkout. Just as I am at the door I turn around to dad.
“Be nice to her, she is my friend.” I then leave and head out with them so we can fly to New York where who knows what would happen next at this point.
Once on the plane, we were all in our seats and took off. After we were in the air for a while Pepper came to sit by me.
“How are you, sweetie?”
“Mad at dad.”
“I know.”
“Why does he do this?”
“I’m not really sure. I know that he loves you even if he is not doing too well about showing you right now.”
“He blew off my birthday Pepper. He’s never done that before. Not even when he has had to work. He would at least wish me a happy birthday and remember it. Not just forget it altogether. I want my dad back, not Iron man, not Tony Stark, but my dad. The one who was always there. When he would love me better when I got hurt, was there to pick me up when I fell. The one who stayed up all night when I was sick. The one who scared the bad dreams away and checked for monsters under the bed. I miss how he would hold me when I was little until I would fall asleep because I couldn’t fall asleep without him holding me. Why has he become someone I don’t know anymore? I just want my daddy back, the one I had on the trip.”
“I know sweetie, I don’t know why he is doing what he is doing but I know that at some point in time he will figure things out and remember that you are the most important thing in his life. I think he is just trying to find who he is now.”
“He has been pushing me away since the trip. Did I do something wrong Pepper?”
“No sweetie you didn’t. You could never do anything wrong in his book. I promise your dad is still in there he just needs to find that part of him again.” I laid my head on her shoulder and she held me the rest of the fight. Once again being my rock when I needed it like she always was for me and Like I knew she always would be.