Chapter 1
Tony sat awkwardly on his couch across from his three year old. It's been a year since he has since his own child. He hasn't even seen the second child he created. Tony had convinced Loki to take Magnus and go spend a day with their son while Tony sorted things out with Sigrid.
After all, a daughter needs her father.
"So." Tony started.
"You look good, daddy." Sigrid broke the ice.
"You think so?"
"Yeah."
"I try."
"Does that mean you're coming home?"
Tony grimaced. He really wanted to tell Sigrid yes but he couldn't.
"It's a little complicated, Sig." Tony sighed in defeat.
"It's because of me, isn't it?" Sigrid quivered her lip.
Tony really hated himself.
"Sig, it's not you. I promise." Tony wanted to reach for her but didn't. He wish he did.
"I've really tried, daddy." Sigrid hiccuped. "I try to take care of Mama and Uncle Thor and Mag. I know I was really angry but I'm not anymore. I just want my daddy."
"Sigrid, stop. You're gonna hurt yourself if you don't take a deep breath."
"Okay."
She did stop and Tony waited a few moments. She was just like him.
"Listen, baby. It's not you. There's nothing you can do that would ever make me leave. I'm proud, you know? You're a better Stark than I ever was and definitely better than grandpa." Tony tried to not break. "What is going on, it's between me and Mom."
"Mama says it's because you're sick and you're getting better for us." Sigrid sniffed. "But you look fine right now!"
"It's complicated."
"But you're okay now!"
"Sig-"
"No! I don't understand!"
Tony was close to breaking but he took the biggest deep breath he could and started again.
"A while back, I hurt Mom really bad. And I'm sure you know but you aren't sure what happened between us, right?" Tony breathed.
"Yeah. Mama is really hurt but I was never told what happened." Sigrid agreed.
"I made a bad choice and hurt Mom in the process. I didn't mean it. We talked about it but it was decided I had to go away for a while. And a while turned into over a year. And I look okay now but there's still stuff in here."
Tony patted his heart.
"Stuff in here that is still pretty bad." Tony continued.
"Like a broken heart?" Sigrid asked.
"Kinda. Just like how you're hurting inside too. Mom is hurting a lot too."
"Like how Uncle Thor still hurts in his heart. For Jane."
"Yeah. He looks good and fine but there's still stuff inside that gets to him. Just like why Mom is still sad. Or why I haven't come home yet."
Sigrid nodded. She didn't like it but she had to accept it. She was so intelligent. Smarter than she needed to be. She was like Loki in a lot of ways but she was like Tony too. She had a big heart. And she wore it on her chest like Tony wore his arc reactor for everyone to see.
"I got very mean with Mom." Tony suddenly said. "I got mad at Mom and Bruce. So I got mean. I scared Mom but I stopped and I scared myself even more. I was drinking a lot. Mom is a good person though. He still talked to me even after how scary I was. A lot of people were mad and they're still mad. That's why Uncle Thor doesn't talk to me anymore. He's still really mad at me for what happened."
"You made up, right?" Sigrid asked.
"Not completely but I tried. I had to go away to fix my scariness and my bad habit. I did get better but I still have some problems to fix so I have to go talk to a doctor. Mom has some stuff to deal with too even though he's much healthier than me."
"You mean when Mama got depressed when I was a baby?"
"Yeah. Like that."
Sigrid didn't say anything for a while. She was a little girl but she didn't feel those dark feelings towards Tony anymore. She felt...empathy instead.
"Can I ask you something?" Sigrid asked.
"What is it, baby?" Tony nodded.
"I've had some nightmares and it's about a little boy."
"Okay."
"His parents are missing but I don't know how to help. He told me his name."
"What's his name?"
"Magni."
And Tony's heart dropped.