. . .‧₊˚ ✩ CHAPTER TWO ⁺◟༉ . . .ꜜ
❨ ∘ 𝔞𝔠𝔱 𝔦𝔦 ∘ ❩
CUDDLY BUNNY JR
❛panic attacks and depression❜

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Pepper walks through the Stark Mansion. She stops at one of the mirrors making sure her mascara wasn't running and wiping the tear marks off her cheeks.

Everyone looks sad realizing what Pepper was about to do. She was about to tell Lydia.

Pepper walks into the room to see Lydia with everything ready for the tea party waiting for her dad.

Hearing the heels Lydia looks up at Pepper.
"Peppie daddy said he was supposed to be back already," Lydia tells Pepper sadly.

Tony looks down at that biting his lip from making any sound.

"Lydia there's been a problem. It might be a little bit longer," Pepper tells Lydia who looks at her confused.

"Oh then we can just put everything in the fridge for when he gets back," Lydia says shrugging as she begins to get up to take the food to the fridge.

Pepper shakes her head as she stood Lydia. Pepper kneels in front of the girl grabbing her hands.

"Lydia sweetie I'm sorry but Tony's missing. He went missing doing his trip," Pepper tells Lydia who pauses.

"No Daddy fine. He's fine. He will be back soon. Just wait. He's Tony Stark. He's fine," Lydia tells Pepper shaking her hand as she steps back.

"Lydia," Pepper tells her as Lydia brings grabbing the food and takes it to the fridge.

"He'll be back. He'll be back. He wouldn't leave me," Lydia says more to herself than Pepper who looks at the little girl sadly.

Tony shakes his head running his fingers through his hair as many look at the man sadly.

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Tony had been missing for a week now. Every night Lydia fell asleep on the couch waiting for him to come through the door.

Tony heartbreaks at that as he closes his eyes.

Pepper was walking through the hallways when suddenly J.A.R.V.I.S begins to speak.

"Ms.Potts you need to get to Miss Starks bedroom. Her heart rate is raising and seems very upset," J.A.R.V.I.S tells Pepper who freezes before running towards Lydia's room.

"Tony," Pepper says sadly making him look at her.

"I'm sorry," Pepper tells him making Tony confused and even more worried. 

Rushing into Lydia's room Pepper looks around wide-eyed seeing Lydia throwing everything around as she shakes her head.

"I can't find it," Lydia mutters shaking her head and making Pepper confused.

"Lydia what's wrong what are you looking for?" Pepper asks worriedly as she walks towards the little girl.

"Cuddly Bunny Jr! I can't find him. I lost him," Lydia says shaking her head as Pepper nods.

"Alright, I'll look for him. J.A.R.V.I.S tell Happy about the situation and get him to look in the living room and Tony's bedroom," Pepper says as she begins to look.

"We will find it, sweetie. I promise," Pepper says before she hears sniffling making her look toward Lydia.

"Oh don't cry sweetheart I promise he is around here somewhere," Pepper tells her as she goes to hug Lydia who clutches onto her tightly.

"He's really not coming home is he?" Lydia asks heartbroken as she begins to sob.

And that is what made Tony begin to cry as he shakes his head.

Pepper hugs Lydia tightly as the blonde little girl sobs in her shoulder. Pepper looks to see Happy looking at the two sadly.

"He promised he would come back. We were supposed to have a tea party," Lydia tells Pepper who holds her tightly letting her cry.

"I know sweetie. I know," Pepper tells Lydia trying not to cry herself.

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Next, a month was shown on the screen and Lydia was shown crying in Tony's bed clutching his pillow. She looked exhausted and as if she hadn't slept in days.

Happy walks in with a few cheeseburgers and hot chocolate.

"Lydia I got you some food. Cheeseburgers your favorite," Happy says but Lydia shakes her head sobbing. 

"No I don't want it," Lydia tells him as she shakes her head.

"Lydia you need to eat something. Just a bite please," Happy tells the girl worriedly.

Lydia hadn't eaten anything in a week. Happy and Pepper could get her to drink some protein shakes but they knew she needed actual food. They didn't care what it was just something.

Tony just sighs at that holding back tears as he looks at his daughter heartbroken. He was supposed to protect her. But he was the one that was hurting her the most.

"I want my daddy," Lydia tells him weakly as she sobs making Happy look at her sadly.

"I know you do," Happy tells her as he looks toward Pepper not knowing what to do.

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Two months were shown as Happy and Pepper laid in the living room watching tv when suddenly a scream was heard.

A heartbreaking painful scream making them run upstairs.

"What's going on?! What happened?!" Tony asks terrified hearing his daughter's screams.

"Watch," Pepper tells him wiping her tears sadly.

Happy and Pepper rush into the room and J.A.R.V.I.S turns on the lights the two see Lydia asleep screaming bloody murder.

Pepper runs towards Lydia and begins trying to wake her up.

"Pepper your not supposed to wake her up," Happy tells her as Pepper shakes her head.

"I don't care," Pepper tells him as she wakes Lydia up who begins sobbing and looking around.

"Daddy! Daddy?! I want my daddy!" Lydia sobs as Pepper pull her into a tight hug Lydia sobs trying to push her away but Pepper holds her closer.

"Daddy! I want him to come home. He has to come home!" Lydia sobs as Pepper nods hugging her tightly.

"And I'm sure he is trying to Lydia. I am so sure," Pepper tells her sadly as Lydia sobs hugging her tightly.

"Why didn't I know about any of this?!" Tony asks enraged looking at Happy, Pepper, and Rhodey who look down.

"When you got back you already felt so guilty about everything when it wasn't your fault. We didn't want to add more guilt," Rhodey tells Tony who stands up glaring at the three.

"She's my daughter! I had a right to know what happened!" Tony tells them as the three nod.

"We should have Tony. I'm sorry," Pepper tells him as Tony shakes his head. Truthfully he was madder at himself than he was at them.

This was happening because of him. Because he was gone.

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"Please tell me you got something?" Pepper asks pacing as she talks to Rhodey who was still in Afghanistan looking for Tony.

"No, we don't. How's Lydia?" Rhodey asks worriedly as Pepper looks at the girl who was finally asleep clutching one of Tony's shirts.

"She's getting worse. She won't eat. She finally stopped crying but is now having night terrors every night and I think she's depressed. Can I eight-year-old even be depressed?" Pepper asks stressed as she looks at Lydia.

Tony sighs worriedly. She knew his daughter had mental health concerns. She had separation anxiety. Depression at times and sometimes panic attacks. But to find out that this is when it began. It began because of him.

"I am worried. She's losing weight. She looks exhausted. J.A.R.V.I.S keeps telling me her vitals and they are getting worse. I don't know what to do," Pepper tells him trying not to cry.

"I tried everything. Her favorite foods. Drinks. Desserts. I even gave her coffee and she didn't want it. She won't watch her favorite movies or tv shows. She won't do anything and if does she just stares. I'm worried," Pepper tells Rhodey as she fights back a sob.

"That's depression. Tony is the only parent she ever had. She lost him suddenly and she fell into a state of depression. It can happen at an age," Peggy tells Pepper who nods wiping her tears.

"I'll find him, Pepper," Rhodey tells her making Pepper look at Lydia worriedly.

"Alive. You have to find him alive because I don't know what will happen to her if you don't," Pepper tells Rhodey who nods.

"I won't leave this desert until I do," Rhodey tells her before hanging up.

Pepper sighs looking at Lydia when J.A.R.V.I.S alerts her that Obadiah Stane was there making Pepper confused as she heads downstairs after making sure Lydia was still asleep.

"Mr.Stane, what are you doing here?" Pepper asks seeing the man.

"I come for my goddaughter. With Tony's disappearance, she's in my care now. I already contacted a school she can go to for the time being. It will help her move forward," Obadiah tells Pepper who looks at him confused and slightly angry.

The ones who knew about what Stane did glare at him.

"As if I would ever make him her godfather," Tony says scoffing and shaking his head.

"Actually that's not true. I am Lydia's godmother. James Rhodes is her godfather and after him is Happy. We decide what happens with Lydia, not you. Respectfully sir," Pepper tells him angrily as Obadiah looks at her and nods.

"Of course. I'm just thinking about what's best for her," Obadiah tells Pepper who nods.

"I understand. Have a good day," Pepper tells him gesturing for him to leave. Obadiah nods and leaves although with a slightly clenched jaw.

"Your sending me away?" a small voice asks heartbroken making Pepper turn to see Lydia.

Seeing the girl many looks wide-eyed. She was so much smaller than the last time they saw her. She looked terrible and sick.

You could tell she lost weight and looked as if she hadn't slept. But what worried them was the blank look in her eyes.

No one had ever seen Lydia with that look in her eyes. The girl always had a smile on her face and her eyes lit up brightly. She was a sunshine, especially after her father.

"No. No not at all, sweetheart. I'm not sending you anywhere," Pepper tells Lydia as her breathing begins to pick up.

"I can't. I can't breathe," Lydia says clutching her throat. Pepper rushes towards her worriedly.

Lydia begins to shake and looks dizzy as Pepper looks at her worriedly.

"Panic attack," Tony and Peter say as that the same time worriedly.

"Miss Potts little Miss Lydia's heart rate is speeding up and her oxygen levels are dropping. My diagnostic is she is having a panic attack," J.A.R.V.I.S tells Pepper who looks at Lydia worriedly.

"Hey hey Lydia count my fingers with me alright," Pepper says as she holds up her fingers.

"One," Pepper says as Lydia holds the finger repeating the word still breathing heavily.

"Two," Pepper says as Lydia repeats the word looking at the fingers.

"Three," Pepper says as Lydia repeats the word looking at the fingers her breathing slowing down.

"Four," Pepper says calmly as Lydia starts to begin normally.

"Five," Pepper tells her smiling at the girl as Lydia calms down.

"It's okay. You're okay and you aren't going anywhere. I promise you," Pepper says holding Lydia tightly and kissing the top of her head making Lydia nod.

"Thank you," Tony tells Pepper who smiles nodding.

❀ ༄ ❀ AUTHOR NOTE ❀ ༄ ❀
I'm sorry but the next chapter will be the reunion! So I hope that will make up for this chapter.

I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! I love you all! <333