━━━━━━━━━━━

𝐌𝐀𝐘𝐁𝐄 𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 the fact that Valerie was tired after all the test runs she had completed with the 'NSDP' a day prior, but Val didn't give a very exciting reaction to the announcement that Tony made in the morning.

"We are going on a trip!" 

The words might not have processed in the girl's brain just yet as she just stared at her father's smiling face while her brother rejoiced and danced around in joy, "I'm so excited! Let's scream! Ahhhhhh! IAM SCREAMING--Why aren't you screaming, Val?" Alex dialed down his excitement as he saw his sister's blank expression, "You, of all people, love to go on vacations! Remember the ski trip last December with mo—"

Talking about Athena was still a sore topic for Valerie. She missed the woman immensely. Alex stopped as his sister glared daggers at him daring him to complete the last word.

"Where are we going?" She asked, although still rather less enthusiastic about it. 

"Some place." Tony answered.

"Which one, though? Where is it?" 

Tony noticed his daughter's snappy behavior but just left it at that, thinking that she was just not a very pleasant morning person, "Some place on the face of this earth. The location is a surprise."

Valerie opened her mouth to let out a snarky comment in the form of a question, "Don't. I'm not taking anymore questions." Tony stepped in as the girl rolled her eyes while muttering something along the lines of  'stupid secrets',  under her breath.

"When will we leave, dad?" Alexander asked, struggling to keep his chuckles in as he watched his sister's agitated state in amusement. 

"In an...." Tony checked his probably expensive watch, "...hour! Go to your rooms and get ready! Your new stuff is already packed in brand new suitcases." 

Just as the man said that, Happy came at the breakfast table with a total of four bags in his hands. All of them were packed with new clothes that Tony had personally selected (with the help of Pepper but he won't admit that) for his children. He'd picked all types of clothes for the two; swim wear, tops, t-shirts, even summer and winter wear--everything from scarves to socks. Of course, not to forget designer jewelry.

"New..." Valerie trailed off,

"...stuff?" Alex completed the thought.

"Yeah, it's nothing. Just go and get ready." Tony shrugged off the questioning looks his kids gave him before they finally left the room. 

He was determined to patch things up between himself and Valerie on this trip.

━━

Things weren't off to a great start. 

Turns out, the private jet that they were going to be taking broke down at the last minute. It malfunctioned out of nowhere. 

Tony was pretty bummed out by the news that Happy gave him, 'Just great..' , he thought. It would take at least three to four hours for it to be repaired. 

Tony Stark was crazy rich and had a ton of private jets under his name, but, he only had two kids, who requested that he book the trio some tickets from normal airlines. 

Normal,  was an unfamiliar term, almost hurtful to Tony's ears.

If you even know a smidge about Tony Stark, you'd know that he isn't the person to take normal and low-cost  plane tickets. But when his kids persuaded him with Alex's puppy eyes and Valerie's albeit rare, grumpy-pouty face, he caved.

That's right, folks. Tony Stark caved for puppy eyes and grumpy-pouty faces.

Thus, here they sat in Business Class seats.

Tony was sandwiched between an old couple and they kept on falling asleep on his shoulders; both of his shoulders.

His children watched him writhe around in attempts to get comfortable, with giggles. It was obvious that they were enjoying their father's discomfort a lot. The trio had caught seats facing each other. The kids had gotten lucky as the seat beside them was occupied by a sweet brunette lady who was very outgoing and made small talk with them. 

No one had yet recognized Tony, credits to his children--who made him--forced him--to wear normal (again, the word just hurt) clothes. Khakhi Shorts with a very colorful t-shirt and some classy sunglasses, his face was covered with a big hat.

The billionaire had made sure to not let his children know of the location they were flying to.

It was a 9 hour long journey.

And Tony was certain that he was not going to get any sleep with the two old geezers having their naps on his shoulders. He was flat-out appalled when both of them started to snore. Right. Next. To. His. Ears. 

Yeah, he was going to be wide awake for a while.

Valerie had been clicking pictures of Tony being the pillow of two elderly people. She was enjoying this way too much. After a while she stopped and conversed with the lady sitting right next to her on the aisle seat.

"So, where are we going?"

Val hadn't forgotten about the fact that she was still not aware of the location. The woman beside her was the answer to everything. 

"Greece, of course, why do you ask?" Now the lady didn't know the shock she had brought upon the siblings. 

'Mom' 

The first word that popped into both of the children' heads was 'mom'. They missed her terribly.

'Maybe....Mr. Stark wasn't as bad as I thought...' 

The possibility of the idea that Tony was taking the kids to Greece to meet their mother brightened up both Alex's and Val's day and faces. 

"It was supposed to be a surprise from our dad...." Alex said with a sheepish yet happy expression as the woman gasped slightly, "Oh my god, I've ruined it now!" 

"Oh, no, you just did us a huge favor. We were kind of worried since our father's choices in giving us surprises are.....terrible." Valerie smooth talked her way out of the woman's curiosity but she still remembered the day that Tony had told them that he was their father, it was hardly a week ago.

It was the fact that he was taking them to meet Athena that made Valerie give her father a piece of advice on the normal situation he was in. 

"Wake them up and just tell them that you are a smoke addict and that you haven't showered in weeks, maybe even add in the mention of a potential disease. Works even without the bad odor and the disease factor just keeps people away from you. Also, they're severely senile and just gullible," 

"Or you could just call them out and embarrass them. That's what I'd do." Valerie had heard Athena saying something about some girl falling asleep on her shoulder a long time ago. She had taught the kids how to get out of such a situation, which is exactly the same thing Val did to Tony.

The man wouldn't last two seconds in a women's sale market, or any market of any sort.

Alex chuckled as his sister told that to Tony.

"Uhm, what? Where'd you eve--"

"Just do it or do you want me to do it for you? Cause I promise I'll be much worse and much meaner than you could ever be.." Tony shut his mouth and listened to Valerie.

"Excuse me? You're awake? Good. So, I actually smoke a lot of weed and I haven't showered in a week--" The couple immediately moved away from the man, making him blink in surprise, "I'm also a druggie and most probably have Hepatitis."

The old couple retracted themselves completely from Tony making him breathe in relief.

"Works every time. Good improv, though...buddy." 

She called him buddy. It wasn't much but it made him happy. She had finally called him something much more warmer and much less colder than, 'Mr. Stark,' and that was progress. It showed that she was letting her walls down. 

Alexander could only watch his sister and father throw small smiles at each other, making him smile the biggest smile he had smiled in a while. He squeezed Val's hand that rested in the arm-rest and mouthed the words, 'Thank you, Val'. 

Valerie just shook her head and rolled her eyes slightly, still unable to get rid of the small smile on her face. She felt as if a slight weight was lifted from her heart. 

In the plane, at that exact moment, a family of three wished for the same thing, as they looked at each other with love hiding behind their irises.

'I wish this moment would last forever,'

━━━━━━

𝟎𝟕-𝟎𝟕-𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏

𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘦, 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥!