Being Tony Stark's daughter was never easy. You had been in the public eye since you were an infant and although he tried his best to be a good dad, he wasn't always the most attentive. He got caught up in work a lot and got distracted, leading to more than one missed school play. He tried to make it up to you with lavish gifts and insight into the newest technology he was working on, but it was never the paternal relationship you had longed for.

Things only got worse when Peter Parker came into your lives. He was the same age as you, but he was a superhero, which interested your father far more than you did. He was caring and supportive of Peter in a way you had only ever dreamed of. Part of you had always assumed maybe he wasn't the supportive, loving father but with Peter, he showed he was capable of it, he just couldn't do that with you, so maybe you were the problem.

You decided to do what was necessary to get his attention- be a hero. Maybe he would be able to treat you like he did Peter if you were more like him. Sadly, you weren't bitten by a spider or wearing a super suit, you weren't anything much more than a teenager running around trying to stop crime. In hindsight it was a terrible idea and led to you having been beaten to a pulp and left in a hospital bed after trying to stop a man from stealing an older lady's purse.

You begged the nurse not to call your dad, but she had already made the call and within a few minutes you could hear him shouting as he made his way to your hospital bed.

"What the hell were you thinking?" He shouted as soon as he reached your bedside.

"What do you care?" You snapped, attempting to role over to look away from him but it hurt too much to move.

"I'm your dad, of course I care that you went out in the middle of the night and almost got yourself killed," he frowned.

Tear begun to brim in your eyes and no matter how hard you tried to fight it, the fell regardless. Your dad's anger settled as he rested a gentle hand to your shoulder, his concern and worry overtaking the frustration that he had previously succumbed to.

"I'm not angry with you," he sighed. "I just don't understand what could compel you to go out and do something so stupid."

"I just wanted to make you proud," you croaked through your strangling sobs.

He raised an eyebrow. "I'm so proud of you. Not for the decision you made tonight but I couldn't imagine being prouder of everything you've accomplished so far."

You tried to take a couple of deep breaths to settle the sobs, but they continued to make your breathing and thoughts shaky.

"I wanted you to look at me how you look at Peter. He's a hero and I'm nothing," you cried. "You do so much for him, and I feel so alone."

He wrapped his arms around you, propping himself on the edge of your bed. Although he could explain why he felt he needed to be there for Peter, it didn't matter at the moment, all that mattered was trying to make sure you had your dad.

"You are my hero," he assured. "I'd do anything for you. You're my little girl."

You buried your face into his chest, letting your tears stain his shirt as he stroked a hand through your hair.

"It's okay. I'm right here," he said softly, leaning down to kiss the top of your head.

He didn't know how he was going to make things right, but he did know that he needed to spend time with you and make sure he was the father that he never had.

~*~

Written by Charlotte.

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