Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. Marvel does.

Warnings: Swearing, OOC -Especially Howard as he will be nice in this and maybe irregular updates when we might get busy.

This is a collaboration with anxious. soul, who is also posting this in their account while I cross post it on Wattpad under the same title. Hope you all will like this!

This chapter was written by anxious. soul and edited by me.

On the outskirts of the busy city of New York, stood Stark Mansion. The gorgeous building was occupied by three unique individuals; Howard Stark -genius, millionaire and pioneer in different types of technology, Maria Stark -intellectually beautiful and talented in the musical arts, and Anthony Edward 'Tony' Stark -genius, brimming with promise for the future and a talented young boy. Of course, there was also Edwin Jarvis, the ever-loving and trustworthy butler that helped raise the now four-year-old Tony and his lovely wife Ana, who was often over at the mansion playing with Tony and treating him like he was her own.

Getting everything you could ever dream of and wanting nothing should be the best thing in the world. Tony should be living a carefree and happy life, yet the boy often found himself wandering the vast halls and gardens of the too large house when everyone was busy. He found himself wishing for a friend. For someone to play with him, to keep him company when Maria reluctantly left for charity gigs, when Howard smiled sadly as he went to board meeting after board meeting, when Jarvis had gone home to his wife or when he was too busy to play with the child and when Aunt Peggy was busy with the super secret spy stuff that Tony wasn't supposed to know about ('supposed to' being the keyword, but he knew the significance of what she did so he knew he couldn't breathe a word of it to anyone...not that he had anyone to tell. Though, all he knew was that she was an agent of some kind, nothing more and nothing less).

He had always wished for someone other than the adults to take care of him, someone who would be there for him when the adults weren't around, someone he could be childish with when the others were busy, someone who he could be a child with, play with and share everything with. Someone who was a child like him.

He spent most of his days building with the little scrap piles that his dad deemed safe enough for him to mess with. In fact, two days ago he was proudly showing off a working circuit board. When he wasn't building he was learning with his numerous private tutors/teachers because, at age four, the boy was successfully learning and understanding the things that most pre-teens didn't get.

Still, about 1460 days alive with no friends and only five trustworthy adults that he could talk to did get incredibly lonely. Especially for such an intelligent boy, who ended up trying to build a small dog robot to befriend.

—LINE BREAK—

"How was your day, Anthony?" Maria asked as she passed the salad over to Howard,

"It was alright." He murmured digging into his dinner, he missed the looks of concern his parents shared,

"Are you alright?" Howard asked eyeing his son,

"Uh huh." He mumbled around a mouthful of food.

"Tony-"

"I'm fine. Honest." He quickly interrupted and thankfully his parents changed the conversation. The two adults spoke to each other about work whilst Tony sat there lost in thought as he ate.

"I was very impressed with your circuit board and other little creations you left in my office, Tony. They were very well made. You're going to surpass me in what? Two years?" Howard smiled jokingly at the end and was pleased with the adorable little giggle that Tony couldn't hold in. The child's cheeks reddened slightly and Maria cooed.

"Thank you, daddy." He whispered in embarrassment and pride.

"Your Aunt Peggy was in touch, she says she misses you dearly and will try to visit as soon as possible." Howard murmured before taking a sip of his wine, he watched as Tony's eyes lit up in excitement.

"Really? Do you know when? I've missed Auntie Peggy, she's been gone forever!"

"Sorry Tony, she doesn't know. But I reckon she'll be trying her damned-" The man hissed slightly as Maria slapped his shoulder for his language before continuing, "-hardest to get over here and see her little darling godson." Tony grinned, his cinnamon eyes glittering happily at his father's words.

"Jarvis is bringing Ana over tomorrow, so I expect you will be making a mess of the kitchen as per usual. Though I suppose that's the price we must pay for delicious goods." The rest of the meal was eaten in peaceful silence, but Tony was smiling and that was all that mattered.

—LINE BREAK—

Once their evening meal was finished, the family stood up, Maria grabbed Tony's hand and led him away. "How about we show daddy what you've learned on the piano, Bambino?"

"Okay, mama." Howard followed the two with a gentle smile that would surprise the public and press, who knew the coldhearted businessman loved and cared for his family? Maria and Tony sat down on the bench, the little boy sitting on her lap as his fingers touched the keys. Maria sang with a smile as she stared down at her intelligent son.

"Try to remember the kind of September…" Her voice was gentle and soothing like a lullaby, Howard watched with a smile of pride and joy as they finished off, Tony placing his finger down on a piano key for the final time as Maria's singing faded. The older man clapped.

"Brilliant! You should both form a duo." He grinned and reached down to hug the pair, kissing Tony's forehead and then Maria's lips much to the boy's disgust.

"I believe your father wants us to perform an encore, Bambino. Shall we?" Tony's angelic smile was answer enough and soon they were playing again and again and again until the little boy's eyes began to flutter closed.

Howard hoisted the boy into his arms and the pair tucked him into bed.

"Howard, I think we need to go through with it." Maria said.

"I agree, Maria." He murmured placing his hand on her hand which was on his shoulder, the two stared at their little lost and lonely boy, "I agree."

A/N: And that was the first chapter of this new venture. The updates will be irregular as the both of us also have other commitments but I promise it won't be as delayed as my other books.

I hope you all liked it! All comments and criticism accepted and appreciated greatly.

Thank you all for reading!

Rasi10 signing off

Published on 22 January 2019