Hello All, just to clarify, this is an Iron Man fanfiction. This story is post Iron Man 1, but before IM2. I started writing this as a writing exercise for my own personal writing, and it started to flesh out, so I decided that I should post it. To clarify, my OC's name is "Luna Strude", but that will soon be changed. Luna has some history of her own before she found her way to the Stark residence, and she wants to keep it a secret, but we all know how nosey Tony is! This is my first fanfiction, so please be kind. I do not own any of the Marvel Characters, the only thing that is mine is my plot and my lovely OC, Miss Luna Strude.

I found myself doing what I did on most days, walking back from school to the orphanage. I didn't really mind the task much because the school wasn't that far away from the orphanage. I did, however, dislike the jeering that I usually got from walking in one of the not-so-nice neighborhoods in my school uniform. My school uniform consisted of a short skirt, red plaid with gold, and a white polo shirt that had red trim and a red and gold insignia emblazoned on my chest. In other words, it is horrendous.

"Hey mama, why don't you come over here?" Asked a group of boys, which is the same question they ask me every day. I smirked at their question, knowing full well I could waste the creeps if I really wanted to. But I can't, I can't risk that, I thought, sighing inwardly. No amount of teasing could get me to lose my control and attack anyone, because I know the consequences better than anyone, except maybe the people who would be giving them.

When I walked up to the orphanage I was surprised to see an important looking limo in front of the unimportant looking building.

That could only mean one thing; someone was here to adopt someone! I felt the excitement run through my mind. I knew that this could only be an adoption because I had taken it upon myself to memorize every car that parked remotely near the orphanage, partly because I liked cars, and partly because this way I knew if there was a potential adoptive parent at what might as well be my home.
For orphanages, it wasn't the worst one that I had ever lived in. Sure it wasn't exactly the cleanest, nor was it rich in any sort of way, but the people were nice. In fact, that was the only reason why I had stayed this long.

I had been living in this particular orphanage for a year, but I had been in the system for five years. In a few months I would be turning fifteen, and, unlike most kids my age, I was not looking forward to my birthday. Turning fifteen would just mean I was another year older, and that meant it would be even less likely for me to be adopted. I understood why parents wanted younger children, but sometimes I wished they didn't. It's not like I'm not happy for the kids who do get adopted, because I am, but I just want to have a family, someone who would love and care for me. When someone else got adopted, that just meant that I wasn't.

I walked into the building excitedly and promptly plopped my bag on the ground. A woman with red hair, well dressed in a skirt in blouse, which wasn't too fancy, but it said that she did work for an important company at the very least, stood talking to Mr. Hayne, the orphanage director.
"Here comes one of the kids now," Mr. Hayne said brightly, smiling at me, "would you like to interview her, like you did the others?" He asked.

I am slightly annoyed that he was talking about me like I didn't exist, but I am too excited about this red headed woman to care. I found myself daydreaming about waking up and walking into a kitchen to the woman in pajamas cooking pancakes for me in the morning, stopping only momentarily to give me a good-morning hug.

"Yes, I would like that." The woman said, smiling encouragingly at me.

I grinned back, following them into the interview room sat down as Mr. Hayne shut the door behind them.

The woman looked at me from across the desk she currently sat behind and scribbled something on the clipboard she was holding. I leaned over to try and see what she was writing, but the woman pulled it back before I could read anything more than the heading, which said "Evaluation Sheet" on it.

"Hello, my name is Pepper Potts, what is your name?" She asked in a friendly voice.

"Luna." I replied. Pepper gave a strange look at the name, but I ignored it. I chose the name myself six years ago when I ran away, I liked the name then, and I still like the name now.

"That's a strange name, so, what do you like to do?" Pepper asked, patiently waiting for me to reply.

I thought over what I wanted to say for a moment and then replied "I like to read, I kind of like school, I like cars. Oh, and I like listening to rock and roll!"

Again, Pepper gave an odd look before scribbling on her clipboard. Then she looked at me again. I felt frustrated. If there was one thing that I do not like, it is being analyzed.

"Why are you here?" She asked, and at this I was slightly taken aback. Who asks that kind of question?

"Oh, you know, at first I was at a five-star hotel, but then I thought that an orphanage sounded more fun." Even I was shocked at what came out of my mouth, but it had happened before I could stop it. That was it; I had just ruined my interview. I wanted to cry out in frustration or maybe even slam my head on the desk, but that could wait for after Pepper left, I had decided.

To my immense surprise, Pepper laughed. Why did she laugh? "I mean your parents Luna, what happened to them?"

I felt the conversation starting to drift into dangerous territory, so I said "If I had parents I wouldn't be here." with a shrug. If only she knew how true those words were.

"What are you like, Luna?" She asked with a smile after scribbling on her clipboard more.

"Uhhh… well I'm smart, probably too sarcastic for my own good, and lazy sometimes. Okay lazy a lot, but I can be hard working if I try." I answered sincerely and Pepper seemed to appreciate the honesty.

"I think we're done." Pepper said with a smile and got up, walking out of the room. I slowly followed her, feeling ashamed. I just ruined my chance at being adopted again. Maybe no one will ever like me…

"Mr. Hayne, I have made a decision. I want to adopt Luna." Pepper said to Mr. Hayne.

Both Mr. Hayne and I stopped in shock. What. Wait. What. What.

"What?" I asked, finally able to voice my disbelief.

"Well, I would if that is okay with you." Pepper said, re-wording her previous statement.

I felt my fourteen year old heart rise in my chest and the only thing I could do was run up to her and nearly tackle her into a hug while wiping tears from my eyes. Quickly, I pinched myself to see if I was dreaming. When a small pain erupted in my arm I felt like screaming. She is adopting me. Me!

Mr. Hayne, who finally seemed to have regained his ability to speak, said "Would you like to fill out the paperwork now?"

Pepper looked down at me. She is asking me? Quickly, I nodded wildly in excitement and could hardly keep myself from bouncing too much as I walked behind them to Mr. Hayne's office.

So Luna is getting adopted? How nice! Who are her parents, why did she run away when she was younger? Luna wasn't always her name?

Thank you all for reading this far, the first two or three chapters are going to be more of an introductory type deal, and then we'll get down to business. This is one of my least favorite chapters, just because it is more of an introductory chapter, but we need to start off from somewhere! I plan on having each chapter about this length, but if you guys want it longer or shorter feel free to ask and I'll see what I can do. I expect this story to have around twenty five-ish chapters, but with editing it may get longer or shorter. Thank you all for reading! Until next time!

P.S. I may upload two chapters tonight!