Tony was absorbed in his own little world—surrounded by two of his non-human loves: rock music and technology—when the music suddenly went silent, replaced by a, "Daddy?"

Instantly, Tony's attention snapped to the little redheaded figure in the doorframe. Brielle shouldn't be up; even without knowing the proper time, he knew that much, based solely on her rubbing her eyes and wearing one of his old AC/DC shirts as pajamas. Just seeing her, the fragile little creature, amongst all of his Iron Man models felt strange, but he didn't dwell on it. Instead, he asked his daughter, "What's up, buttercup? Can't sleep?"

Nodding, she replied in her tiny voice, "Mommy read me a story and I thought too much." He extended his arms to her, which she ran to, enveloping herself around his torso as he lifted her into the air, setting her on one of the lab desks. "Aunt Tasha and Uncle Clint were asleep, so I didn't visit them," she informed him, playing with a tip of her hair by twisting it around her finger until it became knotted. "Uncle Steve still screams sometimes, and I thought Uncle Bruce would be in here with you, so I came in here to see you and Uncle Bruce both. I guess Uncle Bruce is asleep though."

"Why didn't you go talk to Mommy?" he asked, running his fingers tenderly through the four-year-old's hair. Even though it was kind of strange, he thought she was cutest when she was half asleep, her eyes heavy with the sandman's gift and her words slurring into one when she was especially out of it.

Brielle wasn't quite that out of it, but her eyes were heavy. "I woke Mommy up last night too; I didn't want to do that again."

"Oh." Pepper hadn't told him about that. He'd have to ask her in the morning if Brielle was becoming afraid of the purple giraffe nightlight again.

"So," he said, deciding to venture in the area of what Pepper had read, "what did Mommy read that kept you up thinking? I hope it wasn't Hansel and Gretel again; I know that gave you nightmares last time."

That got her giggling slightly, as she looked at Tony and shook her head eagerly, as if he was crazy for suggesting such a thing. "Nooo, Daddy," she whined, burying her face in her hands. "Mommy won't read that book anymore."

"Good," he said, smirking as he continued playing with her hair. "That was a disaster last time."

"Yup," she agreed, nodding. "No, Mommy read me a story about this prince and princess who fell in love. She said they stared 'deeply into each other's eyes,' and I asked her why they did that."

"Well," Tony said, tapping her on the nose affectionately, because her nose was so much like Pepper's and so adorable, "it must've been because one of them had an eye-booger in their eye!"

"Nooo, Daddy!" she exclaimed, squealing and writhing as his hands tickled her under the armpits. "Mommy didn't say that was why! You're just being silly!"

Yes, yes he was. "Why did Mommy say that they stared into each other's eyes?" he asked, beginning to wonder why she couldn't sleep because of this. It was leaving him really curious, and he wanted to discover what was keeping his baby girl up.

"Well," she said, staring at him with eyes that were the same as his—an odd shade with her pale complexion and hair, but it made her all the more beautiful—as she pondered how to explain it. "Mommy said that it was because they loved each other, and wanted to study each other's eyes."

Study each other's eyes? Wow, Pepper came up with lame explanations.

"That's silly," he said, tickling her under the chin. But, while she did laugh, she tried to be solemn, which wasn't like her at all.

"No, Daddy," Brielle said, moving his hand away so he would let her talk. "It's not silly. It's serious!"

"So is that why you're still up?" he asked, sincerely curious as to how this was important enough to keep her from a good-night's rest. "Because it's too serious for you?"

Her face still was serious as she said, "She was right, though. Mommy told me people in love stare into each other's eyes, and Uncle Clint and Aunt Tasha do that. Uncle Thor and Aunt Jane do that too. Everyone I see does it, except you and Mommy."

He blinked, completely startled by the last bit. It was completely out of nowhere; he loved Pepper, and he was pretty sure he stared at her quite a bit. Maybe not at her eyes, but affectionately. "What do you mean?" he asked, studying his daughter. "Mommy and I stare into each other's eyes all the time."

"No you don't," she insisted, shaking her head so harshly that Tony worried for a moment she was going to give herself whiplash. "You don't look at Mommy like that. She doesn't either. You love Mommy, and she loves you, but you stare at someone else's eyes."

Tony stared at her, completely in awe of what she was telling him. She didn't… no, she couldn't possibly… but who else? "Brielle, who do I stare at?" he asked, his voice so serious, he worried he might frighten her.

She suddenly became shy, slouching and looking at her yellow and blue toenails. "Uncle Bruce," she muttered.

Well, she was definitely her father's daughter; too smart for her own good.

Although he'd been trying to hide it for years, even after her married Pepper—both loved each other, but secretly knew it was more in a family way than a passionate way—he'd had an intense attraction toward the scientist. Even though he was practically the polar opposite of Tony in every way—they were each other's reciprocals—Tony couldn't help but enjoy his time with Bruce, talking science and falling even more madly in love with the doctor with each word that was exchanged.

There was absolutely no doubt that Bruce was still pining after Betty, still very much a straight doctor who was too overly paranoid of relationships to even give consent for a kiss. If there had even been a chance, Tony would've talked to Pepper about getting a divorce. He knew she would've agreed to it, because she cared too much about her boss to be mad.

He'd thought he was doing a good job hiding it, but apparently not. If a child—even if she was Brielle Stark, daughter of Tony Stark—could notice his attraction to Bruce, then who was saying Bruce hadn't seen it?

Feeling overwhelmed, he just stared at his daughter, completely lacking words.

"Daddy?" she asked. "Do you love Uncle Bruce? As in, prince and princess and fairytale love?"

For a moment, he considered denying it. Considered telling her no, she was just tired and reading too much into things. But, he knew she was too intelligent to accept that answer. Not when it was already evident on his facial expression. So, instead, he nodded, hoping that she wouldn't hate him for loving someone other than her mother.

But, to his surprise, she just reached up and hugged him. When she spoke, her voice actually sounded excited. "I knew you loved Uncle Bruce, Daddy!" she exclaimed, her arms gripping his neck as tight as she could. "I knew it!" Her arms unwound from his neck, slumping back to her side. "Mommy wouldn't mind; I told her about you staring deeply into Uncle Bruce's eyes, and she thought that was super sweet. You should tell Uncle Bruce! Maybe you can get married!"

He just couldn't believe he was having this conversation with his daughter, when she should be furious that he wasn't as in love with Pepper as a man he worked with. She was acting as if this could all end like the ridiculous fairytales Pepper read her before bed.

So, before she could become too excited—and start planning their wedding, most likely—he took her hands, holding them tight and giving her a sad, serious expression. "Brielle, honey," he said, his voice soft and regretful. Even though he was trying to discourage her mind from running away with the idea, the thought made him quiver with want for the man. He wanted Bruce Banner, but couldn't have him. Because he was married, and had a daughter.

"What, Daddy?" she asked, beginning to deflate as she realized what he might say to her.

"Honey, I do love him," he said, pushing back the top of her hair from her forehead tenderly. "I love him so much. But, I'm married to your Mommy. I've got you. I can't just change it that easily. And, anyways, your Uncle Bruce doesn't love me. He's just my best friend, not some lover."

"Oh Daddy," she said, her voice sounding so much like Pepper's when she was about to contradict him, "Mommy is fine with it. We talked about it, and she explained divorce to me. She said she'd still love you, and you'd still love her. She sounded happy for you, Daddy."

"But he doesn't love me," he breathed, letting Brielle's fingers curl around his thumbs as he lifted her from the table and set her on the ground.

"Yes he does," she replied confidently, beginning to leave the lab. "You probably don't see this, but he stares into your eyes too."

And, as she left, Tony felt a flicker of hope.