*This is part of a series that will expand into some (slow-burn) romance later on. It is set primarily in the MCU's phase one, but some installments will include interludes (adventures/backstories/lore/etc.) that pull from elements of various comic book runs.

2009

Temperance Ward, true to her nature, was in way over her head.

She pulled at the edges of her blazer, trying to straighten out her rumpled clothing as much as possible. She hadn't taken the time to iron her outfit that morning, having overslept a little too much for comfort. It didn't help that she still hadn't acquired an ironing board. Her new position as a contract negotiator for the AccuTech had certainly given her more disposable income, but she hadn't quite settled into the role yet. Only 6 months ago, she'd been an intern in the legal department of AccuTech, a subsidiary of Stark Industries. She had been lucky to land the internship in just her second semester at Stanford, where her plan was to work toward law school.

Her co-workers and employers began noticing after a month or so that she was the go-getter of her group of fellow interns, quite literally. She seemed to get things with relative ease compared to others. She didn't just get coffee; she got everything. A discount on a new fax machine, a legal document that the public records office wasn't supposed to release, a signature from an unwilling party - every time she was sent on an errand to retrieve something, no matter how difficult, she came back successful. She also did hours upon hours of research and poured over contracts and other legal documents to help prepare briefs for the lawyers and negotiators in the department.

It was when she was retrieving one of those briefs from the printer 2 months ago that she ran into Mr. Andrew Lathey, an irate-looking man in a business suit and loafers. This wasn't by any means a strange or unfamiliar sight for the legal department at AccuTech, but something prompted Temperance to step into his path and inquire if there was anything she could do for him. Mr. Lathey was one of the government's primary representatives in negotiations related to their contract and its fulfilment. AccuTech (and Stark Industries) were contracted by the government to provide weapons using the newest technology - most of the larger negotiations with the government took place at the heart of Stark Industries, but they had a lot of stipulations about how research was done, how and when weapons were delivered, etc. A lot of these smaller details of the contract were negotiated by the AccuTech legal department. Judging by the look on Mr. Lathey's face, one of those "smaller details" had turned into a source of contempt.

She had managed to make a few phone calls from the receptionist's desk and iron out the problem - something some of the senior negotiators had already tried. In the end, her employers and coworkers chalked it up to that "way with people" she had and she began to be viewed as their lucky charm. She was allowed to sit in on meetings and negotiations and soon enough she found herself piping up with suggestions. It didn't take a rocket scientist to see that the negotiations she applied herself to were the most successful. At the end of her six month internship, she was immediately (though begrudgingly by some) made into a junior negotiator.

No matter how quick their rise, junior negotiators had no place in a meeting with Tony Stark. Temperance tried not to think about it at present, as it made her pull even more nervously at her clothes. She wasn't supposed to be here alone, but Joe Akers - the top senior negotiator at AccuTech whom she was supposed to shadow during this meeting - had received a call about some kind of child-related emergency.

The meeting was in reference to some huge changes Stark wanted to make to the corporation. They'd all been made aware of the fact that Stark Industries and, by extension, AccuTech, was no longer going to make weapons. Temperance had heard an endless string of gripes and criticisms from those at AccuTech who were trying to accommodate the change and brainstorm alternatives that would keep them all afloat. She'd heard that Stark was set on the idea of breaking into (inventing, really) the clean energy market. Her coworkers down in research and development were certainly excited by the prospect and didn't need much cajoling - the legal department, however, was up to their ears in the new contracts, permissions and patents that would be required to start such an endeavor. Temperance liked the idea of ditching weapons and starting on something new - something enterprising. For Mr. Stark, the switch was as easy as sending a handwritten note to AccuTech that said "We don't make weapons anymore." In reality, though, stopping the development and manufacture of weapons meant breaking off contracts and ties with the US government that hadn't yet been fulfilled.

Joe had, of course, offered to send someone else to replace him for this meeting, but by the time they would get here, the meeting would have to be pushed back, and that would give them a disadvantage before they ever even walked into the negotiation. That's why Temperance half-heartedly offered to go in and represent them alone; that's why Temperance was minutes away from sitting at a conference table with Tony Stark, Virginia 'Pepper' Potts, and two high-ranking government officials.

She heard Ms. Potts' heels clicking against the floor before she and Stark rounded the corner and she took a deep breath, straightening her posture. Putting on one of her 'everything is going off without a hitch' smiles, she shifted the padfolio in her hands into the crook of her elbow and held a hand out to the tall, strawberry-blonde woman.

"Ms. Potts, I presume?" She asked. The woman's eyebrows raised slightly and she took her outstretched hand, shaking it. "Temperance Ward. I'm a negotiator at AccuTech - I think we've spoken on the phone?"

"Yes, I remember!" Pepper replied, her face friendly. Temperance felt her chest expand just a bit at the friendly reception and resisted the urge to sigh in relief. "Miss Ward helped us sort out the fiasco of the missing release forms a few weeks back." She then told the man standing next to her. It was the first time Temperance had seen Tony Stark in person, and she tried not to size him up too obviously. He didn't give her the same courtesy.

"Where is Joe?" Pepper asked, glancing around and then sneaking a peek at the watch on her slender wrist. Temperance had been hoping that he would call her and let her know so that she wouldn't have to be the bearer of bad news.

"Joe couldn't make it." She replied. The two of them stopped fidgeting and stared at her incredulously. "Some kind of...emergency." She added, more unsure of herself now.

"Temperance, was it?" Tony asked. Temperance nodded. There was certainly a spark of interest in his eyes, but they were also narrowed in suspicion and a bit of disbelief. "How old are you, Temperance?"

"Eighteen, sir." She replied, swallowing hard. "Almost nineteen." She then added, as if it made any difference. She immediately wanted to take it back after she heard herself say it out loud.

"She's an intern." Pepper explained to Tony. "Aren't you an intern?" Her tone was decidedly less friendly now, but probably more out of panic than anything. Tony placed a hand on her arm that was clearly meant to say 'calm down'

"I was, Ma'am. I got promoted." Temperance corrected her.

"Great, congratulations. Did you bring anyone else with you?" She asked, turning to look over her shoulder as the men they were waiting to meet, one of them being Mr. Lathey himself, stepped out of an elevator and made their way down the hallway. Temperance bit her lip - one of the most important negotiations she would probably ever sit in on, and she was going in with nobody's confidence. Except her own.

"No, Ma'am. Just me."

2012

"Temp!" Tony Stark called out in a clipped voice as he fiddled with some items on his desk.

"The temperature is currently set at seventy-two degrees. Would you like me to change it?" Jarvis' voice filled the room. Tony Stark groaned.

"No, Jarvis. And I told you, that joke isn't funny." He said.

"Sorry, sir. Miss Ward insisted."

"You're not supposed to listen to her. Whose side are you on anyw-" Tony began, stopping when Temperance stepped into the room with a questioning and impatient look. Her hand was covering the bluetooth piece in her ear.

"Did you call for me?" She asked.

"Yes, I can't find my Newton's Cradle."

Temperance's eyebrows lowered, unimpressed with her boss. "You called me in here to find your Newton's Cradle?"

"Yes, I did." He replied, giving her an incredulous look. "All enterprising businessmen have a Newton's Cradle on their desk."

"Guess you don't need one, then." She said simply. Turning back to the checklist in the crook of her arm, she un-muted her bluetooth and continued to speak to the person on the other side. She passed Pepper on her way out.

"Remind me to fire her once everything is set up and finished here." Tony told Pepper, pointing accusingly at Temperance's retreating back.

"Right." Pepper laughed. "Stark Tower wouldn't be happening if she hadn't found a way to get those building contracts to go through. Money doesn't buy everything."

"Yes, but what money doesn't buy, charm does. And I have plenty of that, too." He argued, sensing that she was taking a jab at him.

"Not as much as she does, apparently. She gets things done. So she can tease you as much as she wants, as far as I'm concerned."

It wasn't the first time Temperance had taken a shot at Stark and it certainly wouldn't be the last. It was one of the things Pepper liked most about having her on staff. Tony needed to be surrounded with people who could dish it as well as they could take it, especially when it came to women. Besides, Tony liked her a lot more than he would care to admit at this point - Pepper watched them bicker like siblings almost constantly. Temperance had made an impression on him that first day, when she'd pretty much single-handedly changed Andrew Lathey's mind about pursuing legal action in pursuit of fulfilling their contract with the government.

Tony had hired her on the spot to work on his personal staff. They hadn't been quite sure what to do with her until Pepper was promoted to CEO, at which time she took over a lot of Pepper's former duties. Pepper Potts was the kind who wanted to see to all matters on her own to make sure things were done right, so it said a lot that she was able to trust Temperance's work ethic and decision-making.

"Ready to turn the lights on, Miss Potts?" Tony asked with a smirk, bringing a smile to Pepper's face.

After Stark had successfully installed the Arc Reactor and powered on Stark Tower with the new, clean energy alternative it provided, he retired to the penthouse suite to find Pepper waiting for him. They'd had a romantic night planned to celebrate the christening of Stark Tower, but they were soon interrupted by a visitor at the door. The visitor, much to Tony's chagrin, was Shield Agent Phil Coulson.

While the reason for Agent Coulson's visit wasn't completely clear, he insisted that Tony study the materials of a hard drive he'd brought in order to prepare for a situation at S.H.I.E.L.D. which required activation of the Avengers Initiative.

"You have a lot of homework to do." Pepper announced, as she looked at all of the holographic files in awe. "I'm taking the jet to D.C. tonight."

"No," Tony groaned, grabbing her. "What if I finish my homework?" He asked suggestively.

"If you're going to finish your homework, you'll need some help." She retorted.

"So stay."

"Call Temperance." She said simply. "She'll be able to keep you on task."

"These files haven't been cleared for Temperance Ward's eyes." Coulson piped up from the other side of the room. Tony thought to ask him how he knew about Temperance, but then decided against it, remembering that he worked for a covert organization.

"Well, that's probably for the best anyway." Pepper decided. "You gave her the night off, remember? Don't bother her."

"Fine." Tony grumbled, turning back to his homework and beginning to swipe through the projections with his finger.

Temperance sighed as she pulled her vibrating phone out of her pocket.

"Yes?" She asked impatiently as she answered the call. She had only just left Stark Tower a little while ago. Though she'd left Tony and Pepper to celebrate the activation of the arc reactor alone, she had had a million other things to see to in the other parts of the building before she'd actually been able to get out the door.

"I need you." Tony cut right to the chase.

"It's my night off." Temperance replied, rolling her eyes. "You said."

"I know what I said, but plans have changed."

"Then change them back." She retorted. "I'm supposed to meet my Dad in Jersey for dinner."

"Oh, Alan! How is he doing? I haven't seen him in awhile." Tony said.

"Neither have I." Temperance insisted. "What do you need?"

"I need help studying."

Temperance, who had been rushing down the busy sidewalks of Manhattan toward the train station, suddenly stopped, perplexed.

"Studying what?" She asked incredulously.

"Thermonuclear Astrophysics."

"Therm-what? No, Tony." She groaned. "Can't Pepper help?"

"She has to go to D.C. tonight."

"You want me to stand up my Dad, again, so that I can help you read up on a new interest? That sounds urgent to you?" Temperance asked, a hand on her hip as she stood in the middle of sidewalk, blocking the flow of foot traffic. She got irritated grunts and sighs from the people flowing around her.

"I'd invite him, too, but I'm pretty sure this has a top-secret security clearance." Tony replied in that off-handed way that always meant he wanted you to ask him more about it. Temperance sighed.

"Alright, I'll bite. Why are we reading up on Thermophysical-"

"Thermonuclear Astrophysics." He cut her off.

"Thermonuclear Astrophysics." She repeated between gritted teeth.

"Oh, I don't know." Tony dragged it out, "probably because S.H.I.E.L.D. is activating the Avengers Initiative."

"The Avengers Initiative?" Temperance asked, beginning to make her way back toward Stark Tower without even realizing it. "I thought S.H.I.E.L.D. hated you?"

"They do not hate me. They just weren't sure about me." He corrected her. "And they changed their minds. Something's going on, I guess. Look, if you come back now and help me pull an all-nighter, I'll give you the entire day off tomorrow."

Temperance bit her cheek as she thought about it, even though she was already almost back to Stark Tower. Getting an evening off was a rare experience, so getting an entire day off was a dream. And Tony had clearly taken advantage of her interest in all of this S.H.I.E.L.D. stuff. Tony Stark had a loud mouth, and it hadn't taken him long to tell Pepper and Temperance all about Agent Phil Coulson and the Avengers Initiative.

"Alright, fine. Let me call my Dad and I'll be right up."

"This is why you're the chosen one, Temp." Tony shot back before ending the call. The twenty-two-year-old rolled her eyes as she dialed her father. Tony had, at some point, taken to calling her "the chosen one" because of her rise through the company after he noticed her - and every time he said it, it stood as testament to the man's ego. The phone rang as she stepped into the Stark Tower lobby and headed for the elevator.

"Hello" Her father's voice sounded from the other side of the line. "You've reached Alan Ward, of Ward & Crantz design firm. I can't come to the phone right now, but if you leave a message, I will get back to you as soon as I can."

Temperance pursed her lips as the voicemail message played. Her father had probably gotten caught up in some blueprints or gotten an idea for the design he was currently working on and left his phone in the other room. It's possible he hadn't even remembered that they were going out to dinner tonight - he could be scatter-brained that way.

"Hey Dad," She greeted after the beep, "I was just calling to let you know that something unexpected came up at work and I need to stay late. I'm really sorry. The good news is that I get the entire day off tomorrow, so call me back and let me know if you want to have a day out in the city or something! Love you."

Temperance and her father had always been close, as they didn't have anyone else. Her mother had left soon after she was born, and while Alan had tried his hand in the dating world, he was just too engaged in his work and too absent-minded to hold a relationship for long. He was never neglectful of Temperance, though. Even in her adulthood, he took a vested interest in her life and hadn't been happy when she'd chosen to drop out of Stanford to work for Stark Industries full-time. He was an architect and highly valued the pursuit of knowledge, innovation, and creation. For that reason, he and Tony got along splendidly, and Alan eventually came around to idea of her entering straight into the workforce when Tony shifted gears toward the pursuit of clean energy.

Alan's architectural firm, Ward & Crantz, was the behind-the-scenes cornerstone of Stark Tower - they had worked together with Tony to help design and create a building that would work with Tony's alternative power systems.

Having relayed the message that she wouldn't be making it to dinner, Temperance took a deep breath, pushed away the guilt, and asked Jarvis to take the elevator to the penthouse suite. It was going to be a long night.