Father-Daughter Moments
As the house in Malibu was a mess and was being fixed up we were staying in New York. It was quiet in the elevator as it went up and no one said anything. Once we were up and the doors opened I walked out and made my way to my room and laid down on the bed, deciding a nap would be nice. Falling asleep quickly after closing my eyes.
Third pov
"I don't think she wants to talk to me, Pepper."
"Well, you can't blame the girl. You have kind of put her through a lot, Tony."
"I know Pepper, I get that."
"She lost her mom, you're the only parent she has left. Then she finds out that you are dying and not even from you. She needs you Tony and she's feeling left out by you. You pushed her away after the trip. We had a wonderful time on the trip and then when we got back you started to push her away. She asked me if she did something wrong."
"I know, I just didn't want her to be hurt if I was not able to find a way to fix me in time."
"She would have been more hurt if you died and she didn't get a chance to say goodbye. She would have blamed herself if you died, wanting to know what she could have done."
"Pepper, what do I do? I don't want her to hate me. I want my little girl to know how much she means to me. I don't want her to be my age thinking I didn't care about her or love her, watching a video after I am gone to realize how much she means to me. I think I know what I need to do."
"Then do it, Tony. Remind her how much you love her and show her."
Tony got up and walked over to Rebekah's room and lightly knocked on the door. When there was no answer he slowly opened the door only to see Rebekah curled up on her bed asleep. With a smile on his face, he walked over to a chair and sat down remembering the times she was a baby and he would watch her sleep.
'Young Tony was sitting in his new daughter's nursery watching her sleep in the bassinet. She was two weeks old and Tony didn't want to leave her alone for a moment. He was not close to his dad but he wanted to be a better father than his. Though he had to admit that his father was taken well with the role of being a grandfather. He adored his granddaughter more than Tony thought his father would. Lilly had moved in with Tony a few weeks after they found out that she was pregnant. That way Tony could be there to help when needed. They were friends for years before they dated and ended up having Rebekah. Even Though she was not planned she was the best thing that ever happened to Tony and Lilly. Tony watched her little chest rise and fall just making sure she took every breath. Once he found out Lilly was pregnant he learned all he could about pregnancy and babies. Tony heard the door open and looked up to see his father walk in. Howard walked over to his son and sat on the chair by him.
"What are you doing?"
"I couldn't leave her alone."
"I know, I get that you want to make sure she is alright. You will find that babies are pretty resilient. They will let you know if there is a problem."
"So many things can happen. I am worried about her all the time and she is only two weeks old."
"I know the first few weeks after you were born I watched you every moment that I could. You know Tony there is no perfect way to be a parent but you can be a really amazing one if you do better than I have. That little girl will be your whole world more than you even know right now. She will always be the best thing you have ever done."
"I didn't know I could love someone so much."
"Just wait until she gets older. That first Daddy, all of the first you will get with her. Don't waste a moment with her. Be better than I was for you."
Just then the door opened again.
"If you keep sneaking in here to talk she will never sleep." Tony's mother quietly said walking in.
"I just wanted to make sure she was alright."
"Well I think she is, let's let her rest." Howard and Tony get up, Howard walks over and places a gentle kiss on the baby's head.
"Sleep well little princess." He then walks over to his wife and they make their way out.
Tony walks over to the bassinet and looks down at his little girl.
"I will always be here, and will always love you no matter what baby girl." Kissing her head he looks up to see Lilly standing at the door watching him. He walks over to her and she just smiles at him,
"She has you wrapped around her little finger."
"I am fine with that."
"I know you are. Come on, let her sleep." The young parents walked out softly pulling the door closed.
"Thank you"
"For what?"
"Giving me the greatest gift I could ever receive."
"How about spending your birthday in the hospital while I was in labor with her only for her to be born five minutes after midnight."
"It was my favorite birthday ever."
"Sometimes you are so much Tony Stark."
"I thought that was why you loved me."
"No, it might just be because I like your family."
"You're just here for them."
"Well, I did meet your mom first."
"Well you're my first everything and I will always love you for that."
"As you are mine. My love for you will always be there, even though we are better as friends."
"Friends who are always there for one another. Who are always bonded by the shared love of their daughter."
"My whole life I will love you, Tony."
"I will love you mine as well." Tony wrapped his arms around her in a hug with a kiss on the head. They were forever connected through the baby that was the center of his world.'
RPOV
I woke to see dad sitting by my bed with a faraway look and smile on his face.
"Is everything alright?" I asked him, my voice was still thick with sleep. He looked at me refocusing on the present moment. I sat up and looked at him.
"Of course."
"Is there a reason you are here then?"
"I remembered when you were a baby. How we would all just sit and watch you sleep. From the moment you were born you had all of us wrapped around your finger. I made a promise to always be there for you and I have kind of failed at that lately."
"Dad, what is going on?" He came and sat by me on my bed.
"Baby girl, you know that my father and I were not all that close."
"You always say that yes."
"I always wanted to do and be better than him. I don't want you to be watching a video of me when you're my age thinking I didn't care about you when I did. I want you to always know how much I love you and how much you are always wanted."
"Dad, what are you talking about? If this is about what happened at the diner I'm sorry, I was just mad and I took it out on you. I know you love me in your own way, and I love you as well."
"No, you had every right to feel that way and say those things. Fury gave me some things that belonged to my father and there was an old video in there. He reminded me of some things, he also reminded me that in his own way he loved me. When you were a baby he told me that you would be my whole world and you are. I just forget that at times. I never want you to think I don't love you because I love you so much, sweetie. What is and always will be my greatest creation is you." I felt a tear slide down my face before throwing myself into his arms. He wrapped me in a hug pretty quickly.
"Daddy I love you, I'm so sorry I acted the way I did."
"You are just fine too, I love you, baby girl. More than you will ever know."
We sat there for quite a while just a father and daughter stuck in a moment. Knowing that at some point it will end but just enjoying the moment while it lasted.
After some time had passed Tony finally spoke up.
"Would you like to come to have dinner with Pepper and me?"
"I would like that." The Father-daughter duo got up and walked out of the room together.
Once they were out they saw Pepper putting food on the table.
"I thought we would all need some food."
"Thanks, Pepper, it looks amazing."
We all sat down at the table to eat. Dad and Pepper were setting a lot closer than they normally would. Though neither of them said anything, I decided to go with it.
"So did anything new happen?"
"Well, there is one thing we would like to talk to you about."
"What would that be?"
"Well you see Pepper and I are… well we are kind of… umm…"
"Your kind of umm what?"
"Well if you are alright with it, we are kind of sort of dating."
"Only if you are alright with it sweetie. I always want you to be number one to your dad and I would never do anything that you were not alright with…"
"Pepper, dad it's fine. The truth is I kind of already knew that. I knew that you two liked each other for quite a while. I am happy for you. You guys make an amazing couple. Besides, I don't think anyone else would be able to handle dad as well as Pepper so there is always that. You both know that I love you Pepper and I can't think of anyone better than you for my dad. Now, dad, don't screw this up because Pepper really would get me in the divorce."
"You're my kid."
"I know but I love Pepper too much to let her go. Don't worry I'm sure we could set up some sort of custody arrangement. But if you don't want to worry about that then just don't mess this up."
"Not my plan either."
"We will be fine." Pepper adds with a smile. We go back to eating for a few minutes before I say what I think they both needed to hear.
"You know mom would be happy for you both."
"Do you think so?"
"Yes, mom loved Pepper. Always said she was too good for you but if any other woman had to be in my life when I was with you she would want it to be Pepper. She would have been so happy that you guys finally saw what everyone else has for so long that you are kind of perfect together."
"Thank you, sweetie, that makes me feel so much better."
"You are quite amazing, baby girl." I smile at dad and we finish dinner. We all watch movies and hang out for the next few hours before I tell them good night and head to my room to get ready for bed. I was just about to lay down when my phone went off.
"Hello"
"Rebekah are you busy?"
"No Phil, what is it?"
"How soon do you think you could get to New Mexico?"
"I can be there in the morning. What is going on?"
"We could use your help."
"Well, I will be there as soon as I can."
"See you then." Hanging up the phone I sighed and got out of bed. Pulling out a bag and threw in some clothes and things I would need for the trip. Phil sent me the flight info, lucky I would be taking a private plane which was easier in things like this.
Once I was happy with all I had done I looked at the time seeing it was after midnight. I decided to pull out my outfit for the morning and have it laid out so that I would be able to get ready quickly. Once I had that I laid down to get some sleep before the crazy that was waiting.
The next time I opened my eyes it was a little after 6 and I got up to get ready for the day and my flight to New Mexico. I had no idea what was going on but I knew that Phil had called me in for a reason because I was not out in the field very often lately.
I picked up my bag and anything else I could think of that I would need before walking out of my room.
"Good morning sweetie," Pepper said from the kitchen where she and dad were making breakfast. She looked up at me.
"Where are you going?"
"I was asked to help Phil with something for Shield. Don't worry I will be safe and probably only gone for a few days. Then I should be back. I do this a lot to help with little things here and there."
"It has to be you that helps them?"
"Yes, I'm the one that reads all of the files and I'm pretty good at figuring things out. Don't worry I'm sure I will be a lot safer than I have been the last few days."
"Well if you are sure about this."
"I am, don't worry, I will be fine. I love this part of the job."
"Be safe and let us know what is going on."
"I will don't worry Pepper. What dad, nothing to say?"
"They will look after you right?"
"They always do. Mom trusted them with me more than once. Phil used to watch me at the office when mom was busy and no one else was able to. He used to have treats and we would sit at his desk and while he worked I would eat my snacks and color in the book he kept at his desk. I promise he will keep me safe."
"Call us a lot then. I love you, baby girl."
"Love you too daddy, you as well Pepper." We hugged and they sent some food with me. We said our goodbyes and I left to make my fight with promises that I would call soon.