A/N: This is kind of a test and will contain the one shot called Driven to Tears I posted at some point. Please let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything Iron Man, Avengers, or Marvel related. I simply enjoy writing fan developed stories.

A very deep, important song once said, 'can't you see, you belong to me'. Do I know the name of the song? That's not important. It was a guy, that's all I remember. He wasn't talking about ownership, or slavery, or anything like that...get your head outta the gutter. It was about love and commitment and...shit I know nothing about - knew nothing about. Actually, it's a pretty creepy display of that. Whatever.

You get my point.

Before Afghanistan, before the arc reactor, before Iron Man...I was a different man. And despite

only being labeled a superhero for six months, I felt...changed. Superhero status does that to people. Right? Big transformations and gaining a heart and all of that fun stuff...

Anyway, while I was away, I realized...I only have one thing keeping me in place. One thing

that's stabilized my bullshit and put up with all the crap I've thrown at Stark Industries, at...her.

Pepper.

And I'm sure you know the story. Boss hired assistant. Assistant dated boss. And, well, then, girlfriend left boyfriend. Or fiance, I guess, for a while. But who could blame her, right? I'm a hot mess. And now, I'm more of a crumpled mess, sitting here making sure Friday gets this shit right, in case anyone ever cares to find out what happened to the great Tony Stark.

But it's okay. It'll all be okay, Pep. You saved me, in so many fucked up ways...in every way I could be. And I love you so damn much for that. That's something I never say enough, huh? But you deserve to hear it.

Now, honey, I know you'd be the first to listen to my rant, but you really, really need to let me talk here. If I still know you, and I think I do, I know you'll try to interrupt me and talk some sense into this thick skull.

I'm not blaming you for anything, either. I guess I just...what I mean is...shit, how do I say this...you're probably ready to hurl something at my head about now, I bet. That's if you haven't already for realizing what happened to Rhodey. Or the kid. God, I fuck everything up, don't I? All the things I cared about...poof, gone. The house, Jarvis, Rhodey, Capsicle...you. That's the Stark effect, I suppose. I bet you I got that from my father.

But being Iron Man...it does things to you. Things I can't even begin to explain. You've seen it; the nightmares, the sleepless nights... I can't live with it, and I can't live without it. I am the suit. The suit and I are one. With or without the arc reactor. But honey, I can't live without you, either, and God knows I've tried.

I just need you to know, despite all the bullshit I put you through, it was always you, Pep. You were right about me. About all of it. And I'm sorry. And this...ridiculous monstrosity of an apology before I... Fuck. I'm just gonna recap it, because I need you to understand how I got here. And then...maybe you can forgive my selfish ass.