First Meeting

"So I'm your uncle?"

"Half-uncle"

"Huh"

"I know it can be a shock. I thought I only had two blood relatives."

"That's putting it lightly. Why did you decide to look for me though?"

"I wasn't planning on meeting you. But your father had left a really long letter and my mother died before she even got to read it. I'm pretty sure she didn't know he was her father. I just figured his other kid should know."

"Right. What are your plans then?"

"Nothing major. I just graduated and was a little stressed lately so I'll probably spend some time relaxing."

Little stressed was putting it lightly Tony thought. This kid, his half-nephew looked like death warmed over. He had dark circles under his eyes, he was extremely thin and his new and high quality clothes couldn't hide how bony he was. Tony wondered if he had some disease or something was going on. The boy had contacted his lawyers, explicitly stating he didn't need money or publicity, just a chance to meet Tony. He hadn't been sure if he wanted to meet him. Howard had never been a good father or even an attentive husband but to Tony's best knowledge he had never cheated. Harry's mother had been born before Howard's marriage but Tony hadn't been excited about seeing the result of another one of his father's mistakes.

But he had realised the boy just wanted to meet him. Tony was sure no one had wanted to meet him just for getting to know him before. It felt kind of nice. Tony had had a sister and she had died. Harry Potter was the only living family he had. Family. Harry was family. It sounded strange but made him feel warm in his chest at the same time.

"Well you can stay here if you want. It's a big house and I've got a private beach. Relax all you want."

"I wouldn't want to bother you. I've heard you own some big company. You must be a busy man."

Tony wondered how the kid didn't know about Stark Tech but waved his hand, "Its fine. Obi handles all the day to day stuff. I focus on inventions. I'll be at home unless I'm needed at some meeting. We can spend some time together."

Harry's eyes lit up and how weird was this kid. He didn't react to private beaches and looked happy at the thought of spending time with Tony.

"I'd like to get to know you. Are you sure you don't mind me staying here? I can stay at a hotel."

"Why? There is plenty of space here."

"Thanks" Harry grinned and it took years off his face. Suddenly his eyes which had looked dull and sunken shined bright green. There was something fishy here. The kid was 18. Even when Tony was spending all his time on drugs, alcohol, sex and machines at 18 he hadn't looked like that.

"So you've got two more blood relatives? How do they feel about me?"

"I haven't told them. You're not related to them and it's none of their business anyway." The way Harry said that with a firm voice and rigid shoulders that suited a soldier more than a teenager told Tony the blood relatives were a no-go zone. He could respect that. He had enough of them himself. Maybe that's why the kid wanted to get to know him. But Tony knew nothing about being a family. His father and preferred his lab to him and his mother had taken refuge in alcohol and society parties. He could count Jarvis as his family but that relationship had been so different to this. He didn't know how to proceed. His frustration must have shown on his face because Harry smiled at him.

"I don't know how to be a family either. My parents died when I was one and I didn't get along with my relatives very well. Let's take this one day at a time."

"I can do that"

"Great"

"Come on, I'll show you to your room and introduce you to Jarvis. Then we can go partying tonight. You can take the women I reject" Tony said and winked.

Harry rolled his eyes but grinned, "I've got a girlfriend back home."

"Oh Harry where is your sense of adventure? No one gets a girlfriend before 40."

Harry didn't reply but kept grinning.

He got Harry settled in his room and was about to leave when Harry called him.

"Yes? Do you need anything else?"

"No. I just wanted to thank you. It can't have been easy for you to get to know something like this but you've been very accommodating and generous."

Tony would never admit it but his eyes prickled. After years of hearing he wasn't good enough, that he was just a playboy living off his father's brains or that he was the Merchant of Death it was nice to hear a genuine compliment. He cleared his throat and Harry pretended not to notice that they were having a moment. Tony was thankful.

"Don't worry about it. You're family."

Tony wouldn't realise it until later but that one sentence changed his life forever.