A/N: Okay, So I've had this story idea in my head for about a year so finally, I wrote it down. Before you start reading, theres somethings you need to know. 1- I'm not gunna hassle you to review. I you do, you do, if you dont, you dont. 2- If there are any spelling mistakes, sure point it out but dont give me comments saying my grammer or punctuation is horrible. I know it is, get over it. Thats the way I write. I'm not publishing a book, so it's not gunna be perfect. Okay, thats it. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Iron Man or any of its affilicated characters. Only Morgan.
I descended down the stairs of the Stark Mansion that lead to the main area of the house. Glancing out the window, I saw it was just touching on night as the sun was setting and a few stars could be seen shining in the darkening sky. Turning my gaze on the vast living room, I discovered it surprisingly empty. Usually Pepper was sitting there this time of day, typing away on her laptop or getting a few moments of peaceful rest. But today, empty.
A frown formed on my features as questions began running through my mind. Where the hell was everyone?
"Jarvis, where are Dad and Pepper?" I asked the AI, knowing it would be able to tell me in an instant.
"Mr. Stark is currently in his wardrobe, preparing for the Apogee Awards tonight. Miss Potts is in the guest room, doing the same, Miss Stark."
"Jaarrrvisss...? How many times have I told you.....?" I drew out his name as I gave one of the security cameras a knowing look.
"Sorry Miss Stark...I mean Morgan."
"That's better." I said with a bright smile. Even though he was a machine, I still preferred it when Jarvis called me Morgan, not Miss Stark.
I turned my mind back to the information I'd just been told. I had completely forgotten about the Apogee Awards tonight. Dad and Pepper were going (but I knew Dad would skip out before the opening music would even be played), but for once I was staying home.
Sure, I liked getting dressed up for a nice evening but when you have to do it twice, sometimes three times a week, it begins to tire. Plus, I was sick of explaining to everyone who I was.
By now, after going to dinners and awards since I was 10, most of the regulars knew who I was, but there were always a few unknown people who wondered why a 16 year old girl was there. Then began the tiring explanation of who I was. Most people didn't believe me at first, I mean who would? Tony Stark was known for his playboy was, not his fatherhood ways. But after I began talking, most people would remember seeing my face in paparazzi shots every now and then. If not, they would walk away shaking their heads, thinking about the delusional girl who believed she was Tony Starks' daughter. They soon learnt how wrong they were.
But I had to give them some credit, I looked nothing like my father, how were they suppose to see the resemblance? I was around five foot five, with strawberry blonde hair that went just past my shoulders in soft waves. The only resemblance I could see was in my eyes. They were the same caramel brown as Tony's. But of course, there were other indicators of my relation. I was just as stubborn as my father (something both Pepper and Rhodey always pointed out), just as smart as my father (I had followed in his footsteps by graduating MIT summa cum laude just three months ago with double majors in physics and engineering), and was just as into designing complex mechanics beyond most normal peoples imaginations (I had designed and built my own car engine by age 7). All anyone had to do was spend one hour with my and they would leave without a doubt that I was Tony Starks daughter.
Turning around and walking back up the stairs, I made my way to my father's room. I was careful to knock first even though I knew he was alone (after a few...incidents involving my father and unknown women doing things I really did not want to see, I always knocked. I did not want to see anything like that EVER AGAIN). After hearing a muffled "Enter!", I swung open the door and saw him standing in front of a full length mirror. He had on a reddy burgundy shirt with long black pants and a black jacket over the shirt. I caught his eye in the mirror and gave him a big grin. I always wondered how he could look good in anything. In fact I often wondered the same about myself. Even in sweatpants and a singlet, I still looked like a model (actually I thought I looked like any other girl but the modelling agencies that were desperate to get me begged to differ). This would explain why I had many guys running after me, but I contributed some of this to the fact that I had a multi-million dollar fortune that many wanted to get their hands on.
"Hey darling, why aren't you dressed?" He asked, still standing in front of the mirror.
Of course I knew of my father's way with women, but he always showed his fatherly side whenever I was around (but he would never show this side in front of people. He would be horrified to be caught showing a softer side and saying 'Darling'. Only myself, Pepper, Rhodey and Happy got to see that side of him. But I didn't mind, he had to maintain his "I'm so tough" personality that all guys had. What's with that? It's like the asking for direction thing!)
"Dad, I discussed this with you last week. I'm not going. Besides, you'll stay for five minutes then scuttle away to the casino then I'll be left watching a stupid awards ceremony and have to listen to boring speeches!" I sighed as a sat myself down on the end of his huge and extremely firm mattress.
He gave me a 'fair enough' look and a shrug of his shoulders. He spun around and struck a stupid model pose while saying "How do I look?"
"Women will be falling to the ground in shock at your extreme handsomeness!" After a second we both burst out laughing as he made his way over to a bench to put on some cologne.
"But speaking of women," I began, and he immediately knew where I was heading," can you at least try to not pick up any women tonight? I'm sick of meeting them in the morning in my PJ's while I'm having breakfast!" THAT had happened to many times to count.
"Fine, I'll try.....but no guarantees," He added under his breath.
I knew that in the morning I would be meeting his latest bed partner, but even though I knew this would happen, I still liked to ask if he could refrain for one night. He couldn't.
"Whatever, I'm going to see Pepper before you guys leave." And with that I jumped up from his bed and left his room. The guest room where Pepper sometimes got ready for occasions such as this was just down the hall from Dad's and my own room. Once again I knocked, more out of courtesy this time (I knew there was no chance of catching Pepper doing something like Dad. She was far too professional for that).
"Come in," I heard her call out.
I pushed open the door and as soon as I spotted her, my breath got caught in my throat. She looked amazing. She had on a simple black dress that hugged her in all the right places. Her brilliant red hair was set off against the black, as it hung in curls that cascaded down her shoulders. She wore only a few pieces of simple jewellery that shone brightly.
"Wow, you look amazing Pep!" I was the only one who was allowed to call her that. Dad had tried it once, but the results weren't pretty. After spending years with Pepper, who had often taken care of me when Tony couldn't, she had become like a best friend, if not a mom.
"Thanks Morgan....You don't think this dress looks a bit...bad on me?" I knew Pepper well, and I knew now she was having one of those moments where she doubted her beauty. She was much more comfortable in a skirt and jacket that when she put on a dress, it felt slightly alien to her.
"No, you look great, don't change a thing." I flashed her a brilliant grin, one that reminded her greatly of Tony.
"Okay, Thank you Morgan," Pepper picked up her purse from where it sat on the bed and glanced at her phone. "Gosh, look at the time, we got to get going!"
She double checked her reflection in the mirror before swiftly exiting the room. I followed her out and down the hall where amazingly, Dad was ready and waiting. As soon as he laid eyes on Pepper, he had the same reaction as me.
"You look....beautiful Pepper," He smiled warmly at her before changing it to his well known playboy smile, "Ready to get going?"
"Yes," Pepper turned around and gave me a quick hug, with Dad quickly doing the same.
"See ya kiddo," He said before following Pepper down the stairs, his eyes staring intently at her swaying hips.
"Have a good night!" I called out after them as they went to the ready waiting car outside.
A deep breath escaped my lips as I slowly walked down the stairs. By now the sun had completely disappeared behind the Californian hills, and the moon and stars had replaced it. My stomach gave an unexpected rumble. I walked over to the fridge and pulled open the door. As usual, half of it was filled with chilled champagne and exotic wines with names I couldn't even pronounce. I quickly spotted a leftover slice of pizza from last nights dinner. Dad didn't have an ounce of cooking skill in him, which left me with the dinner duty most nights. Trust me, I wasn't a masterchef but I sure did a mean lasagne.
"Jarvis, what's the time?" I called out.
"The time is exactly 6:12 p.m." The AI answered immediately.
"Thanks." Even though he was just a computer system, I always though of Jarvis as just another person in this household, treating him with the same respect I gave every other human.
Knowing Dad wouldn't be home until late evening, maybe even early morning, I headed for the garage downstairs. After punching the in access code, I found my work station was just as I left it. I had given Jarvis specific instructions to not let Dad go near my work station. He had a habit of taking my tools, even though he had enough of his own. I walked over to my latest project, a 1965 Ford Mustang Coupe V8. I had gotten it at a scrap yard for $2000. It wasn't my favourite car but it was something to keep me busy after completely taking apart and reconstructing my Audi TT engine.
"Jarvis please notify me when it is 11 p.m." I had a habit of staying down here longer than I intended. Once I got started, I couldn't stop.
So I began working on the engine. I wrote down parts that needed replacing and things I needed to pick up to restore it before sliding underneath to check the damage done. Before I knew it, Jarvis was notifying me of the time. I slid out from underneath the car and thanked him again.
"You're welcome Miss Stark," he replied.
I was too tired to even ask him to call me Morgan like I normally do. I was even too tired to have a shower, despite the fact I was covered with grease. I made my way up to my room and stripped off my dirty clothes. After hopping into my PJ's, I crawled into my warm bed and drifted off to sleep wondering who would be the woman I would meet in the morning.