I wouldn't know what to do (I'd be lost without you)

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Tony's world crashed around him, and he could only focus on one thought.

He's gone.

He's gone.

He's gonehe'sgonehesgonehesgone-

"Tony! You need to breathe!"

Firm hands jolted him back to the present, followed by the concerned eyes of Gloria, who pulled him inside.

It was surprisingly empty, and looked dusty, as if it hadn't been used in a long time.

She caught his bewildered look, sighing heavily as she sank to the couch.

"They're all gone." She stared at her hands. "Someone complained. Said that I was too old to be taking care of my kids anymore. CPS took them away from me."

A tear dripped out of her eye. "They put him in a foster home."

He could only stare blankly at the floor.

His kid-

His kid was gone.

In a foster home, who knows where, with who knows what kind of family-

"They told me the name of the foster parent," Gloria said softly. "But they wouldn't let me visit."

"Who-?" He managed. "Where?"

"Steven Westcott." She whispered. "It's a boy's home near Queens."

Tony shook his head. "Nope. Not happening. I'm going to get him."

"Tony-" her voice caught. "You can't. Your history- I didn't care, but they do- they won't let you!"

He inhaled deeply, clenching his fists. "I don't care. Pepper will help me. I'm going to get him."

"Just be careful, Tony, please?" Her voice was impossibly fragile, and for the first time he realized how old she really was. "I don't want either of you hurt."

He hugged her gently. "Don't worry. We'll be fine."

















He strode into Pepper's office an hour later, surprising her as she talked on the phone.

Her eyes narrowed, and she pointed to a seat in front of her desk, then continued to talk.

"Yes, yes I know- I know what happened, but I'm not entirely sire that you do!" She slammed the phone back into it's cradle, then pointed her finger at Tony murderously. "Explain," she growled. "Now."

"Pep-" he faltered. "Pepper, I need you to understand-"

"I'm trying, Tony!" She nearly yelled. "You disappeared for three months and come back to drop a bombshell and then disappear again!"

"Please."

She had never heard him sound so defeated, and so she sank back, closing her eyes briefly. "All right. Okay, just- explain."

"I saw people- young people, killed by my weapons. Things I built to save them. I'm not going to do it anymore. We can focus on other stuff. Clean energy, stiff to help people- but jo more weapons."

Pepper leaned forward, crossing her arms over her desk. "Okay. I believe you. It was just a shock. But-" she hesitated, studying him. "That's not all, is it?"

"No." Tony shook his head. "No it isn't. I need your help."

The blonde shook her head. "Always. With what?"

Tony took a deep breath, trying to hold it together. "Remember Peter?"

"Your kid at the orphanage? Of course I do. You never shut up about him. I presume that's where you went?"

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