An unexpected friend

December 27 1991 New York City

A week ago you received a letter.. A letter you knew would come someday. You just never imagined it would happen so soon. Your beloved friend Howard was brutally murdered, along with his wife. Howard was going to a convention about immortalizing cells, he died on his way to fix you. He never gave up on you, just like he promised. So just for this one time, you decide to make your way back to New York, to say your last goodbye. You never imagined you'd ever step foot in this city again. But Howard was your friend. You have to do the right thing. Say goodbye to him properly. After everything he's done for you, it's the least you can do. As you walk down those streets everything comes back to you, all the memories. An unbearable pain. You've never felt so hopeless. Howard was the one person that knew about you.. the one person that saw past all the fake personas. He was your friend and now you'd lost him forever. It's like the person you once were didn't exist anymore. 

You stay in the back of the ceremony, there are many familiar faces in the crowd. That means a lot of people with questions you don't have the answers to yourself. So you remain hidden as you watch yet another person you love leave you. It's a beautiful ceremony, filled with honourable people saying their goodbyes. Long speeches, beautiful songs. And tons of roses and gifts. It was a celebration of his life and his legacy.

As everyone leaves you slowly move closer to the grave. Kneeling down before it. You lay down an old pair of sunglasses you had kept from him..  with a bouquet of flowers.

"I'm so sorry Howard.. you truly were one of the most extraordinary people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't helped me that sunny day in the 40s.. And I always knew I would lose you someday.. I just never thought it would be so soon.. I wish I could have been a bigger part of your life. I want to do better.. I need to do better..But without you, I just can't see a reason to try. goodbye Howard stark" you whisper to yourself. Hoping he's somewhere out there watching over you.. like he always has. Suddenly a young man walks up behind you. You turn around to face him. Luckily for you, he didn't seem to be anyone you know. His eyes are red and swollen..

He offers you a cigarette. Which you politely decline. "Did you know him?" He asks softly as he sits down in front of the grave.

"He was my..." you stop yourself. "He was my mother's friend" you lie..

He nods understandingly.. "is she here?" He questions.

"No.. she's dead" you lie again. Seems you've gotten rather used to telling lies lately, luckily for you only people who knew you saw through them. Lying had become easier than running all the time, you had almost forgotten the person you once were. She got lost along the way.

"My condolences.." he says softly.

"How did you know him?" You ask as you sit down beside him,

"He's my... was my dad" the man smiles softly. You feel your heart skip a beat as you look closely at him. "I'm Tony" he introduces himself.

You hesitantly shake his hand. You can't find any words.. His son.

"What's your name?" He smirks.

"Ehm I'm.. I'm" you trail off.

"Is that a difficult question for you?" He grins.

"No sorry.. I'm ... I'm Emma" you smile awkwardly. As you look down at the ground.

"Are you sure that's your final answer" he teases. You feel your stomach tie into a knot.. he's so much like Howard. His eyes it's like looking into an old photo.

"Positive.. Emma Jones" you say. Guess that's the name you stick with for now.

"So how did our parents know each other?" He questions as he throws the cigarette on the ground.

"She was an agent, they worked together during the war.. until she died" you feel your eyes watering as you talk about it. It brings back so many old memories. "Was he a good father?"

"He did his best" Tony scoffs. "It was always like he lived a double life.. he was a man full of secrets" Tony admits sadly.. it pains you to know you were a part of that secret life. "It's hard living up to my dad's expectations, god could that man talk about Captain America" he chuckles. "Guess I was never good enough for him"

You feel yourself getting dizzier and dizzier. As you take a deep breath.. do all you can to focus on his story. But the more he talks about them the more it hurts. Bringing you right back to that magical time.

"Are you okay?" He questions. Noticing your absence.

"I'm fine.. I shouldn't have come... sorry I should go"you breathe as you stand up. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Tony"

As you walk away you hear him following right behind you. What is it with the Stark men and not letting you leave?

"Wait, Emma!" He calls out as he runs to you. "Would you like to grab a beer with me perhaps" he smiles kindly.

You keep walking. "I should really get home" you assure him. Even though you don't have a place to stay.. you have nothing left in New York.

"Let me take you then" Tony pleads.

"It's really okay, I'll manage," you say hoping to shrug him off, but he keeps following you. Insisting to drive you home. "Fine one beer"

Tony smiles as he follows you to his car. You honestly can't believe any of this is happening. Tony talks a tad more than Howard did. But there's so much resemblance between them.

You spend all night talking in a small cosy bar in queens. It's been years since you've connected with someone so easily. It comes so naturally to you. You completely forget the fact you have no job.. no family.. no place to stay. And very little money. Without Howard, there was no one to help you.. you were all alone now.

"How come we've never met before?" Tony chuckles as he orders another round of beers.

"Well as I said my mother died when I was very young.." you hate lying to him.. but what are you supposed to say. Oh, I knew your father we had a small fling, and then we were best friends. Until I ran off to live an isolated life. Doesn't really work.

"You're a terrible liar.. but I'll let it slip" he smirks.

"I'm sorry it's a long story." You admit.

"We've all got luggage. Don't worry about" he shrugs it off. "I like it..you're mysterious in a weird way"

"Geez thanks" you grin. There's a moment of silence. You look up at him slightly. As his eyes meet yours. He gently removes a strand of hair from your face, tugging it behind your ear.

"So what do you do?" He asks, looking down at the table.

"I'm in between jobs" you answer. That's not technically a lie.

"Are you always this secretive?" Tony looks intensely back up at you.

"You could say that" you nod. You reach for your beer taking a large sip. "Could I perhaps crash on your couch tonight?" You ask hesitantly. But you have nowhere to go. "I know we just met a-"

"Of course, you can, you can even take my bed if you want" Tony smiles. Flashing his kind brown eyes at you.

"The couch will do" you laugh. You mouth thanks to him as you chuck down your beer.

"Wow.. beautiful, homeless and knows how to handle her alcohol." Tony teases. "What can't you do?"

You laugh, as you hit him gently on the shoulder. "You said so yourself I'm a terrible liar"

"Soo now that I'm letting you into my home, how will I know you're not a serial killer or something?" Tony asks jokingly.

You lean toward him. "You won't" you tease.

"Sounds like I'm taking a risk.. should we go?" He smiles softly. You nod as you take on your coat. You take a detour through the park. Tony could talk for hours. You just enjoy the company. He doesn't seem to care about your secrets. He trusts you.. and you strangely enough trust him.

He stops the car in front of a small apartment in the middle of Brooklyn. You look up as your slowly realize .. it's your old apartment.. well technically it was Howard's. He let you borrow the spare room. You can't go back in there. Tony opens the door as he looks back at you.

"Are you coming?" Tony asks gently.

You stand in shock.

"I can't... this was a mistake I'm sorry Tony" you murmur as you walk away.

Tony quickly catches up with you, grabbing a hold of your hand. "Hey what's wrong?" Tony questions You just shake your head. "More secrets?"

"I'm sorry.. we're both grieving it's not a good idea"

"Let me at least pay for a hotel room" he smiles

"I don't do charity" you exclaim.

"Do you trust me?" Tony sighs. You nod your head as you tighten the grip on his hand. "Follow me"

You follow Tony back to the car, as you drive out of the city. To a small airport, there's a private plane with Stark painted in bold bright red letters.

"You can't be serious?" You chuckle as you walk out of the car.

"Well, clearly Brooklyn brings up something from your past you're not ready to face. I'm taking you someplace else" Tony explains.

"How do I know you're not a serial killer?"

"You don't" he smirks as he gestures towards the plane. You sigh deeply as you follow him on board.

"Do you even know how to fly one of these things" you grin.

"Please, I learned from the very best" he scoffs as the plane takes off.

"Howard" you mummer to yourself.

"Yeah.. how did you know?" He asks confusedly. He definitely knows some things up by now.

"Just a guess," you say quietly.

If someone had told you this morning you'd wind up travelling across America with Howard's son. You would have said they'd gone mad. There's a reason you left America back in the 50s.. to prevent anything like this from happening. Yet how much you don't want to admit it. Tony reminds you of simpler times.. of the girl you were back then. Of a love that doesn't just break, burn and end.. You drift off to sleep shortly after taking off. Tony looks at you every once in a while wrapping a blanket around you.