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capsicle1919

*sitting in the car, looking out the window, he has never actually been anywhere else in New York state, always stuck to the city, too poor to get a train anywhere further than New Jersey, so he's real interested in seeing the houses going by, the glimpses of the Hudson, as they make their way up to the foster home where Tony's daughter - and if that ain't a weird thought - has been living since her mother died*

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From:

thestarkside

*can't stop fidgeting, legs jittery, wishes he had had a drink before he left, or at least taken an Ativan, she's going to think he's a lunatic, he is a lunatic, who in their right mind would entrust him with a child* What the hell do I say?

From:

capsicle1919

*startled, looks over at Tony and sighs* Listen, Tony - she's probably just as scared as you are. Just... you know. Say hello. Ask her how she's doing, that kind of thing. It'll come naturally, I bet.

*eyes him* Can I ask you... How did you not know about her? I mean... What happened?

From:

thestarkside

*looks out the window, drumming his fingers on his thigh, silent for a moment before he starts speaking* Carol -- her mother -- Carol and I were together for a few years. Longest relationship I've had, uh, ever, still. She got pregnant, it was an accident, we talked about it, decided we'd be extremely shitty parents and it was better for her to -- to terminate the pregnancy. *swallows, cracks his knuckles* She went with her mom, which was, you know, totally fine, but she was so weird after, and then she disappeared. Ran off upstate, sent me a vague letter about how she couldn't deal with me after what happened, and it was -- difficult, but I -- I respected her wishes and I left her alone and -- *his face twists up and he suddenly slams his fist hard against the door, so angry at the betrayal* She didn't tell me, not fucking ever, as if I don't have a fucking right to know she kept the kid.

From:

capsicle1919

*is quiet while Tony speaks* ...I'm not going to say it was right for her to keep you in the dark, but maybe she thought you'd try and talk her out of keeping it? Or that you'd take the baby away. I mean, you're rich, Tony. You can do whatever you want. She probably thought she had a better chance if you didn't know. *shrugs* I know you wouldn't have done that, but I guess maybe she didn't? *looks at him* Do you wish she'd have done it? The- y'know. Got rid of the baby?

From:

thestarkside

...I don't have enough information to answer that yet. *glances at him* I'll let you know in an hour or two.

From:

capsicle1919

Okay. *looks down at his hands* In my time, where we lived, everybody had too many kids. My neighbor had seven, and my dad's sister had nine. We lived with them when I was real little, in a two-room apartment. It didn't have a bathroom, and we kids all slept on the same mattress, pretty much on each other. Ma and my aunt slept in the kitchen. *laughs a little* It was rough, always having somebody's elbow in my face, and my cousin Barry used to wet the bed. *shakes his head* I remember wishin' my aunt didn't have 'em all, that it was just me, or maybe just me and my cousin Anne, because she was my age and the least annoying. But then I think about playin' with Malachy and Barry and all the rest of 'em and even though it was pretty hard growin' up like that, I'm glad they were there.

*sighs* I dunno why I'm telling you this. Sorry. Just saying that I get why sometimes it's a good idea, but... I'm kinda glad she didn't do it. 'Cause now I get to meet your kid, Tony. *gives him a sheepish little smile* Sorry, I know that's selfish of me, but I'm kinda excited.

From:

thestarkside

*huffs a shaky laugh* You didn't know me as a kid. If she's anything like me, she'll be a terror. *eyes him, doesn't know how to express how much he enjoys it when Steve talks about his life before, it's fucking fascinating* Thanks for, um. Telling me all that.

From:

capsicle1919

*shrugs* Sorry, I was babbling. I'll- oh, hey. I think we're here. *they're pulling up to a nice little house on a shady road* This looks real pretty. *opens the door, turns to Tony* Do you need a minute?

From:

thestarkside

*shakes his head, even though he feels like he's going to be sick, and climbs out, tugs nervously at his t-shirts, glancing down to make sure the light of the arc reactor is somewhat muted, glances at Steve* Don't let me fuck this up, okay? *doesn't wait for a response, just walks up to the door, takes a deep breath, and rings the doorbell*

From:

capsicle1919

*stands behind him, notices Tony is shaking, just a little, presses a hand to the small of his back, just enough to let him know he's there, he's not alone*

From:

supportingcast

*opens the door, looking a little flustered but smiling anyway* Hello, Mister Stark. *nervously, offers her hand* I'm Gina Garten, CPS told me you'd be coming by. *looks at the tall, handsome man behind Mr Stark, shakes his hand, too* Come on in. I've got some lemonade, coffee, sodas. Can I get you anything?

*leads them into the house, which is spotless, obviously professionally cleaned, the SECOND CPS called to say that her foster's father, TONY STARK, was going to come and see her*

From:

thestarkside

No, thanks, I'm fine. *smiles nervously, slides his hands in his pockets to hide the fact that they're shaking* Sorry, hah, kinda nervous right now, is she -- Amelia, can I, uh. See her?

From:

supportingcast

Of course! Have a seat, I'll go get her - she's out in the backyard. *scurries off*

From:

comealongstark

*comes in, obviously nervous as well, barefoot and wearing jeans and a Black Widow t-shirt, her hair in a messy ponytail, hovers in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room, regarding the men on the sofa warily* Um, hi. *softly* Gina said to come see you. *swallows* Hi.

From:

capsicle1919

*feels a little like he's been dropped into the frozen ocean again when Amelia appears, she looks so much like Tony that he wonders why they had to do a blood test at all, gets to his feet immediately and nods at her, smiles* How d'you do, miss. *fills the silence so Tony can have a moment to react* I'm Steve Rogers, and this is Tony Stark. *hand on Tony's shoulder*

From:

thestarkside

*stares at her, she looks -- well, she looks like him, mostly, but there's Carol in her eyes and her nose and he suddenly realizes he doesn't know how Carol died and Jesus, Jesus, this is his daughter* Hi. *manages eventually (and thank god for Steve), stands up slowly and goes over to her, and she's small, about the same size he was at that age, and he crouches down, meets her eyes, hopes against hope he doesn't fuck this up* It's really nice to meet you, Amelia.

From:

comealongstark

*sticks out her hand, because that's how her mom taught her* It's nice to meet you too, Mister Stark. *looks at him* You look like me. Mom said we looked alike. You look a lot better in person, Mister Stark.

From:

thestarkside

*laughs and shakes her hand, his chest tight* We really do look alike, huh. And wow, seriously, please call me Tony. Er, that is -- if you want to. You don't have to. But I -- I'd like you to.

From:

comealongstark

Okay. Mom only called me Amelia when I was in trouble, so I like Amy better. But you can call me Amelia too if you want. *looks at him* Gina said since you're my dad I might go live with you but you have to decide. I don't have to live with you if you don't want me to. Gina said my best friend's mom offered to let me live with her if you said no. *notices a really tall, blond guy behind Tony, but doesn't say anything*

From:

thestarkside

Amy. *and it's not even a choice, is the thing, it's not even something he has to think about* Amy, right -- I'd really, really like you to come live with me. If you want to. *wants to barrage her with questions, wants to know everything about her, but he's also hyperaware that she's just lost her mother, and yeah he was six years older than she is now when his parents died but he gets it, to a certain extent, he does, and tries to be careful*

From:

comealongstark

*surprised, her eyes go big and her mouth opens a little, she'd honestly expected to be allowed to go live with Lily and her mom, had never really thought someone as busy and famous and Tony Stark would want her around, even though her mom had said Tony could be a really nice guy* Really? *a very faint smile, the first one in a week* To your house? Where do you live? I know you got a house in California but I thought I saw online you live here too. 'Cause I don't want to go to California, unless it's just for Disneyland. Have you been to Disneyland? Could we go, maybe? Um. *realises she's babbling and feels like a complete idiot* Sorry. I talk a lot. Mom was always telling me I talk too much at once. Sorry.

From:

thestarkside

*grins, utterly delighted* Yeah, me too, actually, don't worry about it. I live in the city, in a really big building Steve here says is ugly but it's totally not, it's awesome, and yeah, we can definitely go to Disneyland sometime, that's a promise from me to you.

From:

comealongstark

Really? Can we bring Lily? Oh, I know about Stark Tower! I saw it on the news when it blew up. Mom cried a lot because she said it was like 9/11 again. But I like the new sign with just the A. Who is that? *points at Steve* Is that your boyfriend?

From:

capsicle1919

*starts, had been lost in watching her and Tony interact, started grinning like an idiot when Tony immediately invited her to live with him* Oh, uh. No, ma'am. We aren't- *comes over and offers a hand* I work with, uh, your dad.