Irondad Oneshots

High Hopes

"It happens that way when it was partially my fault. I have connections, and worked with Ms Potts."

"Oh yeah, sure. Partly your fault. Feeling guilty now, are you?" She scoffed, tossing back the rest of her water glass, and got up, foot deliberately hitting his leg, and walked past into the kitchen. "Wanting to buy back into my good graces?"

"No. I have something, or someone you need to see."

"Yeah, okay. Let me guess. Another big baddie that will ruin my life even more?"

"No. Your father."

His words stopped her in her tracks. "My father died."

"No." She heard him step closer.

The jar in her hand slipped, crashing to the floor.

She spun around, icy glare burning. "Stop."

"Tony Stark is your father, is he not?"

"Don't you dare." She spat. "Don't you dare say his name, or try to use it against me! I've already paid for my mistakes! Why can't you let me go?"

"Because he's alive."

"I believe Mrs Stark will explain everything. I would, except you would hate me even more, and that may be bad for my health."

Penny ignored him, staring out the window of the plane, mind replaying a loop of 'he's alive'.

He's alive.

He's alive.

He's alive, he's alive, he's alivehe'salive

Penny moved silently down the winding road leading to the cabin.

Leaves glowed brightly, fall colors painting the air.

A bird sang shrill, and the laughter of a child split the air.

Penny rounded the last turn, gazing at the sight before her.

Morgan was playing with an alpaca, riding on back of the fluffy creature. "Go Gerald!" She yelled. "Go go go! We gotta beat daddy!"

A laugh rang out, and a familiar figure stepped down from the porch.

"How about we go to the house to wait, like mom said?" Tony Stark laughed softly, picking the six year old off the animal. "C'mon. Penny will be here soon."

Penny caught what the child could not, the undertones of relief, and expectancy, and joy, and... love.

The teenager moved closer, rounding the corner of the house, and rapping lightly on the wooden railing.

Father and daughter looked up, identical expressions of surprise.

"Penny!" Morgan squealed, throwing herself at her 'older sister'. "We missed you!"

The older kept her gaze on her mentor, who seemed to be struggling to find words. "Hey." She couldn't disguise the soft sob that followed the words.

Until now, he had been a body in a casket for her.

She hadn't really believed Nick Fury, but now she wasn't quite wanting to murder him.

"I'm gonna go tell mommy that Penny's here!" Morgan said brightly.

The door slammed shut, and Penny moved forward hesitantly, eyes welling with tears. "I thought you were dead," she gasped. "I thought you were dead."

He covered the last few feet, pulling her into his arms. "I'm here. I'm here."

Pepper hurried out, stopping when she saw the tearful scene in front of here. "I'm- going to let you two catch up. I'll keep Morgan inside with me."

The eighteen year old smiled softly. "Thanks."

Tony mirrored her, kissing Pepper's cheek. "Thanks Pep. We'll be back in a bit."

"Don't wander too far, you two." The woman warned. "Lunch will be ready in about an hour."

Giving her a thumbs up, Penny looked up to find her father's eyes already on her. "C'mon. I want to show you around."

Not having the heart to tell him Morgan had already done it, she followed.

"Course," he continued. "I'm guessing Morguna showed you around."

Ducking her head to hide her smile, Penny nodded. "Yeah."

"Didn't show you my favorite place though." He ducked under a low hanging branch, holding it away for her to come through.

They stepped out into a small clearing of flat rock, surrounded on three sides by the pines, and on the other by the lake.

"This is georgeous," Penny murmured, gazing in awe at her surroundings.

"Yeah."

Her dad's eyes kept returning to her, as if he couldn't stop making sure she was there.

It was five years for him.

"Did- did Nick tell you?"

Penny pursed her lips. "In between the yelling I was doing."

A soft laugh escaped her father. "Did he break in and sit in a dark corner waiting for you?"

"It's Fury. Course he did."

"Right."

"But he said he would let Mom explain, cause I'm less likely to cause her physical harm." Penny rested her head on her father's shoulder.

"Yeah."

She lifted her head. "You are okay- aren't you? You're not gonna disappear on me again?"

His dark eyes glittered. "Look who's talking."

The teen couldn't disguise the shudder that ran through her. "Don't. I just- I need you to promise me." Her voice broke. "Just promise you won't do that again. I can't go through that again."

The dark eyes softened, gleaming with love. "Don't worry, Pen. I just barely got my family back this time. I'm not risking it again."

Update: so the story I was looking for is Wither, by viviixen, and it is soooooo good go check it out!