It all started when there was an unexpected knock on your bedroom door. It startled you a bit and you wondered who could be knocking on your door at 2 a.m. You shut the book that you were reading and put it on the table.

"Tony?"

A frown took over your face when you saw the billionaire in front of you. Cold sweat formed on his skin and he was trembling. You turned into your protective mode when you saw tears in his eyes.

"It's okay, Tony. I'm here."

You said, letting him in your room. You shut the door with an inaudible click and sat with Tony in your bed. His eyes were red and puffy.

"Y/N, I'm a mess. Why are you still by my side?"

His voice cracked as he looked you in the eyes. You kissed his cheek softly and gave him a smile.

"I'll be by your side to chase your nightmares away. Always."

You said, squeezing his hand to assure him that you were there for him. Tony buried his face in the crook of your neck, tears streamed down his face as he let his walls crumbled.

"You deserve a better man, Y/N not a pathetic person like me. You should've walk away---"

"Stop talking and let me hold you."

You shut him up for good, running your fingers through his hair. Tony let out a content sigh and a smile cracked on his lips as your touch comforted him.

"I love you, Tony. If you need me, wherever you are, I'll be right there."

You whispered into his ears, wrapping your arms around him. Tony nodded weakly at your words. He needed you, he always did.

You promised that you would be there for him. No matter how hard things got. You would stay by his side through his ups and downs. Your heart was his, and that was all mattered.

Even when the world was against him, even if everyone was putting the blame on him--- You were there for him.

"It's all my fault, Y/N! The mission won't failed if I wasn't careless."

He was pacing back and forth, guilt was clear in his eyes when he looked at you. You walked over towards him and caressed his face gently.

"Stop blaming yourself, Tony."

Your soft voice comforted him, and he smiled at your touch. He kissed your hand and slowly, he calmed down.

"I was wrong, sweetheart. Everyone is blaming me."

Your heart broke when you saw tears in his eyes. This man was doing everything he could to be the hero that the world wanted, and yet, sometimes he could not give what they wanted and they turned against him.

"I'm not blaming you."

"You're--- You're different, Y/N."

He shook his head and looked away from you. You frowned at his words.

"You don't understand what I'm going through."

He said, without realising that he was hurting your feelings. Once he did realise it, he quickly took your hands in his and kissed your knuckles.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way."

You silenced him by pressing your lips against his. He kissed you back immediately, wrapping his arms around your waist.

"I might not understand every thing but I'll be by your side if you need me, Tony."

Your kind and loving words made his heart swelled in happiness. He smiled and pulled you into his warm embrace. Somehow in this tormenting world, he found his home when he was with you.

"I love you so much, Y/N."

He had never experienced this kind of love before. He was falling in love with you every day and he never wanted to lose you. You promised that you would stay, and you never broke that promise.

You would do anything for him and he found it sweet but funny at the same time when he caught you baking a cake for his birthday.

"I made this cake from scratch, Tony. You should have a taste!"

You said, joy was bubbling in your chest and you were jumping on your feet. Tony smiled broadly at you, kissing your forehead and lingered there for a while.

"I've never had anyone to do this for me."

He mumbled under his breath, grateful to have such a loving person by his side. You grinned when Tony tried to eat the cake.

"Please don't judge it because you know, I don't cook so I'm not sure about the taste---"

"It's good, sweetheart. I love it."

He grinned at you. Your eyes widen and you squealed in excitement. You were happy to know that Tony loved his birthday cake.

"This cake is sweet, just like you."

He pointed out, poking your nose playfully. You giggled and put a hand on his chest, your fingers were tracing his arc reactor. It became a thing that you loved to do, and Tony did not mind it.

"Sometimes I wonder how did I get so lucky to have you loving me. I've never felt so loved, accepted and appreciated. You're always here with me."

Your face flushed when you heard his sweet words. You kissed his jaw and chuckled under your breath.

"If you need me, I'll be right there."

You stood on your tiptoes and pecked his lips softly.

"I'll be by your side even if I'm not next to you. I love you, Tony."

Happy tears gathered in his eyes once you said those words. He felt as if the world was built for two, him and you. Nothing else mattered. Heaven was a place on earth with you. He never wanted to let you go.

Days turned into years and everything happened so quickly. Tony could not believe it when that morning, he woke up next to you while the other morning, he had to face the fact that you were not there.

Tony sat up in bed and he stared at your empty and cold spot on bed. He could still remember your sleepy smile and how it would send butterflies fluttering in his stomach.

He needed you, but you were not there.

Not anymore.

He missed how you would snuggle into his arms just to get his warmth. A smile was painted on his face when he could still hear your adorable giggles in his mind. The memories were fresh, running through his mind like a broken record.

"I'm sorry, Mr Stark. We couldn't save your wife."

Those wounding words created a scar in his mind, reminding him that you were gone. A tear rolled down upon his cheek as his heart was yearning to see you.

Just one more time, and it would be enough.

"She was so fragile. She couldn't take the pain. We're so sorry."

Tony did not want to have these memories. Memories that reminded him of the tragic demise when he lost you, his precious gem. The one who would always be there for him.

You were the most important part in his life, and right now, he needed you more than ever. He sobbed uncontrollably, his body was trembling as he could not hold back his sorrows any longer.

"I need you, Y/N..."

He knew you would never hear him. But he just needed to say it. He was used to having you in his life. You were the love of his life, and he had to live without you.

"Daddy, why are you crying?"

Tony chewed on his bottom lip when he heard that voice. He always told himself not to cry in front of his son. He needed to be strong for him.

"Do you miss mommy?"

His five-year-old son climbed up his bed and he pulled his son to sit in his lap. He wiped his tears away and smiled at the boy.

"I miss her very much, Thomas."

Tony opened up to his son, smiling sadly at him. Thomas never got to know his mother, you were taken from him far too soon.

"If you need me, I'll be right here. I love you daddy."

Tony breathed sharply as tears pooled in his eyes. He hugged his son tightly and he nodded. You were gone, but you had left him a son that would always be there for him.

"I'll be by your side even if I'm not next to you. I love you, Tony."

Your words from years ago, the only thing that kept him going rang through his mind. He looked at his son and gave him a smile.

"I miss mommy too. Daddy, what was she like? Mommy must be beautiful."

Tony chuckled and planted a kiss on his son's head, agreeing with Thomas.

"She was the most beautiful person on earth. She was always there for me."

That morning, Tony continued to tell his beloved son about you. You might not be there next to him, but he knew you were by his side, urging him to live his life perfectly with his son.

In his heart, you had never left.