Tony thought about the little girl he'd met at nanna's on his way up the elevator. She looked about nine or ten he'd never met anyone jumpier. Poor kid had clearly been through a lot. He walked into the office to find pepper, arms crossed foot tapping expectantly.
"You're late Tony." She said irritated.
"Am I? Are ya sure?" He asked offering her her coffee.
"Yes quite sure everyone's been waiting for you let's go." She replied as she grabbed his arm and began pulling him briskly towards the board room.
The rest of the day went hectically with pepper bustling around her heels clacking against the tiles. Tony grinned mischievously as he trapped her against his desk. "Miss Potts im afraid you're going to have to slow down for a minute."
"Tony we really don't have time for this today." Pepper replied exasperatedly. She looked pointedly at Tony's phone, that had begun ringing, laying on the edge of the desk.
"Well in that case you're entirely too busy and we should hire someone to help with that." He said as he kissed her.
"Tony really." Pepper said trying to be stern her smile giving her away. "You should answer that."
Tony groaned and picked up his phone. "Tony Stark?" He answered a questioning tone in his voice.
"T-t-Tony! H-h-h-help!!!" A small voice gasped out between sobs. "N-n-n-nanna fell s-s-s-she won't w-w-w-wake up!"
Tony recognized the terrified stuttering voice from that morning. "Tawny? What's wrong what's happened" he questioned as he sat up alert.
"N-n-nanna f-f-fell! S-s-s-she h-hit her h-h-head!" Tony could hear the young girl's terror and sobbing clearly through the phone.
"Easy calm down" he reassured as he grabbed his coat and headed towards the door. "Pepper call an ambulance nanna fell."
"Oh no!" Pepper responded worriedly as she took out her phone to make the call.
"Now, I'm on my way Tawny I'll be right there I need you to stay calm. Where's Jake?" Tony bashed the elevator button in irritation willing it to move faster.
"H-h-he went h-h-home a-alread-dy." she sobbed in reply.
"Ok I'm coming." Tony reassured. He disconnected as he entered the coffee shop. "Tawny?" He called loudly as he headed for the back.
"H-h-here! T-Tony b-b-back here!" She screamed.
Tony rushed to the back room unsure of what he'd find. He skidded to a halt a few feet away surveying the scene before him. Nancy lay still in a puddle blood mixing with the water near her head. Tawny was kneeling next to her, wet and shaking, tear tracks covered her cheeks. She looked up as he entered fear and guilt shining in her eyes.
"I-I-I-I-I-I-I'm s-s-s-so s-s-sorry I-I-it's all m-my f-fault!" She sobbed.
Tony looked at the small crying girl. As he neared them she cowered away her small form shaking with sobs and fear. He breathed a sigh of relief as he checked and found nanna had a strong steady pulse. "It's not your fault sweetie she clearly slipped." Tony said quietly.
"M-my f-fault I-I-I m-m-made the m-m-mess!!" She wailed.
Pepper rushed through the door out of breath. "Is she ok!?"
"Unconscious took a knock to the head but I think so. You call an ambulance?" Tony replied calmly.
Pepper leaned against the wall catching her breath. "Yes they're on their way." She looked questioningly at the child huddled sobbing in the corner.
"Hey short stuff." Tony whispered as he crawled through the puddle towards Tawny. She flinched back and he held up his hands to her. "Easy sweetheart im not gonna hurt you." He cooed to her much as one would a scared puppy inching forward a little at a time. "It's ok now." He whispered as he pulled her towards him. She stiffened the moment he touched her panic settling in her eyes. "Easy easy easy" he said quickly afraid she'd fight him and hurt herself. "It's ok" he cooed repeatedly while rubbing circles against her back. "It's not your fault accidents happen and when nanna wakes up she'll tell you the same thing."
"Y-y-you s-s-sure s-she'll w-wake up?" The small girl in his arms hiccuped.
"She will definitely wake up. Isn't that right Pepper?" Tony said nodding towards Tawny with his eyes.
"Oh uh yes I'm sure she'll wake up." Pepper replied obviously puzzled by the small child. Her eyes shouted questions Tony knew he'd have to find answers for later.
About that time the ambulance arrived. Tawny refused to let Nancy leave her sight so she and Tony road along in the ambulance Pepper following along behind.
When they reached the hospital Nancy was whisked quickly back into a room. Tawny sat near the door wringing her hands. Tony knelt in front of her. "Hey kid you ok?" He asked softly.
"Mmmhhmmm" Tawny said softly leaning her chin against her knees she'd tucked up against her chest.
"Why don't we go wait in the waiting room hmmm?" Tony questioned offering her his hand. "I promise they'll take good care of Nanna and they'll let us know as soon as they have her settled ok?"
Tawny eyed his outstretched hand hesitantly before finally placing her own tiny hand in his. Tony couldn't help but feel he'd made a huge win the second she let him hold her hand. "Alright short stuff lets go."
They walked hand in hand down the hall and settled next to Pepper in the waiting room. Tawny eyed Pepper before settling back into her chair next to Tony.
As the hours passed Tawny's eyes grew heavy and her stomach grumbled. She was used to that though her meals hadn't been regular even before she'd run away.
Tony glanced at the obviously exhausted child next to him. They'd been here since 2:00 pm and it was now 12:23 am. She hadn't made a sound since they'd gotten to the waiting room. "Hey kid" Tony said quietly so as not to scare her. "You hungry?" Tony watched as she looked at him hesitantly. She seemed to be looking for the right answer.
"N-no I'm o-o-k-k." She whispered and averted her eyes.
"Really cuz I'm starved haven't eaten since lunch have we Pep?"
Pepper smiled gently at the little girl. "No we haven't I'm quite hungry myself would you want to go to the cafeteria with me and get Tony and I some food Tawny?"
Tawny looked up at the door as if to check for nanna.
"I'll call Pepper right away if they come while you're gone." Tony said reassuringly.
"Ok P-pepper." Tawny said as she slid down from the chair.
She eyed Pepper's outstretched hand choosing to walk just out of her reach instead.
"So how do you know Nancy, Tawny?" Pepper asked trying to make conversation.
Tawny hardly spared her a glance and shrugged.
Pepper could tell the girl wasn't trying to be difficult she simply wasn't comfortable talking. Pepper knelt down to be at the girls level. "Hey why don't you and I play a prank on Tony?" She suggested trying to lighten the mood.
Tawny looked at pepper with a horrified, frightened expression. "N-n-no he-he'll b-be m-mad!"
"No he won't I promise he won't Tony likes pranks that's his thing." Pepper reassured. "He'll laugh I promise. Even if he does get even the tiniest bit irritated I promise I'll tell him it was all me."
"N-no h-he m-might h-h-hurt y-you!" Tawny insisted her breaths coming in gasps.
"Tawny calm down sweetie look at me." Pepper said sternly placing her hands gently on the frightened girl's cheeks. "Tony would never, ever hurt me, he'd never hurt you either. Tony is a good guy ok?"
Tawny nodded trying desperately to calm her ragged breathing.
"It's ok I'm sorry we don't have to prank Tony ok we'll leave him be I promise."
The small girl nodded and continued walking to the cafeteria.
Pepper watched her a pang of sadness digging in her chest. 'Poor baby.' She thought to herself.
Pepper couldn't help but notice the child's eyes light up with hunger as she eyed the many options. As she quietly grabbed herself a salad and tea she eyed the other options. "What do you think we should get Tony hmm?"
"Uh I-I-I d-don't k-know w-what he l-likes." Tawny stammered out as she looked around at the food.
"Hmm well what do you like?" Pepper prompted.
"W-well one t-time I h-had a b-burger I-I liked t-that."
Pepper fought against the lump in her throat. "Ok we'll get two burgers and some chips that sound ok?"
Tawny nodded and trailed along behind as pepper paid for the food. They stopped at the vending machine to get drinks.
"What's your favorite soda Tawny?"
"Um m-my m-momma liked that." She said pointing to the Dr. Pepper sign.
"Ok Dr. Pepper it is." Pepper bought two and had tawny carry them.
"We're back Tony." Pepper called happily as they entered the room. "Tawny was a big help."
Tony walked over to the girls smiling and took the wrapped burgers and chip bags out of Pepper's full arms. "Awesome I knew she would be. Well come on short stuff dig in." Tony said pointing at the second burger and chips.
The child gave him a confused look before realization dawned on her face. "T-that's why you a-asked a-about my f-favorites? You w-were t-tricking me s-so y-you could g-get me s-something t-too?"
Pepper smiled sheepishly. "Guilty, now eat up sweetie."
Tawny dug into the food a large grin plastered on her face. So far these people were great, she really hoped they stay that way.
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Chapter 3 😄😄 are you guys loving this as much as im loving writing it? Let me know comment please?