DISCLAIMER: Own absolutely nothing. Everything here belongs to marvel I am just a bored fan.

I would like to thank : Wolvmbm, Ceres McClure, and Ice Dragon3 for their lovely reviews. I hope you guys enoy this chapter as well. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

All is quiet when I arrive back at Stark Tower using my new third floor entranceway. I sigh as I look at the floor and slowly make my way through the room, the glass from the destroyed window crunching noisily under my boots. Thank God Pepper is such a heavy sleeper. Although it might have been easier if she had woken up. I was going to need to come up with a good reason for why I needed her to call the contractor to replace the window for the second time in three weeks. But then again, did I need to give a reason? I decided that I didn't as I made my way to the kitchen. Once there I jotted down Pepper's note to call the money leach and then went to retrieve the two things that I specifically came in here for:

Water and Aspirin.

Two things I seemed to be living off of after my latest run ins with Peter.

I opened the door to the fridge to get the water, and when I closed it something pinned to its surface catches my eye. I hadn't paid much attention to the picture that hung up there on the refrigerator door for I don't know how long. But this night it just stood out to me. I star at it for a while before I find myself removing it from it's place. A place in which it had been proudly displayed since the day it had been given to me by Peter. I can't take my eyes off of it.

I quickly retrieve my needed medications before I carefully make my way back down to my workshop. I pop the pills in my mouth as I place the photo into the scanner. Maybe what I am about to do could be considered a small form of self torture but it's what I feel I deserve as I upload the picture to the computer system and pull it up on all the screens in the workshop. It isn't long before I find myself sinking down to the floor. Just studying the people before me. I honestly don't know how much time has passed before Jarvis speaks up:

"Sir…"

"what is it, Jarvis?"

"May I ask a question?"

"Be my guest…"

"What good is coming from your actions? Starring at this picture won't fix anything…"

Good point. Though I don't feel the need to admit it and return to my silent state as I stare at the faces in the picture that fills the monitor screens around me. I had been so proud of that picture because to me, it was proof that I had finally made good on a promise I had made Yinsen. I hadn't wasted my life. On the day this picture was taken I was an Avenger. I was in complete control of my company and ALL it's dealings. But most important to me was that I had family and friends. They were all in this photo: Peter and MJ stood on either side of me, the three of us in front of May, Pepper, and Happy. Steve Rogers, and the rest if the avengers behind them and, if you look close enough, Logan can be seen looming in the background glaring as the rest of us grin.

It was a horrible fact that none of us would ever together like this again. With the acceptation of Pepper my family and friends are gone and hate me with a passion. I sigh and close my eyes as I let my head fall back. No that was wrong. There was someone else here before me that I know doesn't hate me even though she should. I find myself getting angry. Even though she had to be mad beyond belief for what I did to her Peter, I know May doesn't hate me. I don't think hate is in the woman's vocabulary really. And the thing is that if she was actually here before me now and I asked her to forgive me she would. She would give me that damn motherly look and tell me she forgave me.

But that couldn't happen now because she was lying in a hospital bed dying and it was all because of me. All my fault once again. But that's what happens when you are Tony Stark: The almighty puppet master.

"There is no way to fix this…" I mutter to myself. How do you fix something like this?

"Fix what your window?"

My eyes snap open and I quickly turn my head in the direction of the familiar voice and finally notice Pepper standing in the doorway, "I wish," I reply after a few seconds.

I can see her studying me and I wonder what possibilities she is coming up with for the sight of me in full armor, sitting on the floor surrounded by that damn picture. She doesn't say anything else until she is seated on the floor next to me:

"What happened here tonight, Tony?"

I shake my head. I can't tell her about May. Pepper had become extremely close with MJ and May when they moved in here and I was afraid this news might make her break, "Nothing."

"Nothing. Nothing broke the window. Nothing is making you look this depressed." she is eyeing me suspiciously now, "You are a terrible liar so why don't you try telling me the truth, Tony."

I don't want to tell her the truth. I'm honestly afraid of what might happen when I do. But then again, she should know about May, "Peter came here tonight," I finally admit to her.

She is frowning at me now, "Don't tell me you sent him out the window again…"

"Fine. I didn't send him through the window."

"Dammit Tony! This is why…"

I twist my body to face her and grab her gently by the shoulders and lock eyes with her to cut her off before she can go any further with her rant, "Pepper he came here because May is in the hospital…"

Well that did the trick. I watch as the blood drains from her face and I can see her tense but she stays quiet waiting for me to finish .

"From what I know she was injured by an assassin sent for Peter. But she is dying and Peter doesn't have the money to pay the bills."

"So he came here for help," Pepper whispers quietly in understanding, "What are you doing?"

"What do you mean?"

Pepper frowns at me, "What are you going to do to help him?"

I let my eyes drop from her face to the floor. She was going to hate me now I know that for sure, "Nothing. Pepper, there is no way I can give him the money. If they traced it back to me everything I worked and fought for will be destroyed."

Oh yeah. She is pissed. Come to think of it, I don't think I have ever seen her face this shade of red before and I quickly let her go.

"You care more about the government's opinion than the well being of someone you love?" The disgust in her voice is horrible, "Honestly, Tony, what's wrong with you!?"

I burry my face in my hand and groan, "Pepper, I could careless about he damn government right now! Why does everyone think that I care about them so much? I'm the one that flew to DC to try and stop this stupid Registration Act in the first place remember!"

I realize when I pause that I am actually yelling. She's shocked by my rant but I don't care. I've had enough of being painted like the most horrible person involved in this situation .

"Do you want to know something Pepper? I am the one that orchestrated the attack with Titanium Man. Things fell into place perfectly. Peter's new armor captured his speech and I thought his threat of attack after the Super Heroes were gone would be a sure thing to sway them and if it wasn't I had a few more tricks up my sleeve,"

I'm still yelling and I have to pause to catch my breath. I can feel my heart slamming in my chest and I realize that my body is shaking beneath the outer layers of armor. I have the feeling that if I were Bruce Banner I'd have switched to Hulk mode long ago.

"It doesn't explain why you won't help Peter though," Pepper quietly replies, obviously afraid of setting me off again. I make it a point to stay calm for her sake.

"Pepper, as director of SHIELD I am the person who knows the secret identities. Me. I can keep them secret and better yet stand between my friends and the pissed off US Government. If I help Peter and they find out there will be no one there to protect the heroes anymore. Everything that everyone fought for on both sides will have been for absolutely nothing and I'll be damned if I let the war have been for nothing. That Stupid war cost me everything! "

I can't look at her anymore and quickly turn my head away while I try to calm my breathing. For a long while we are both quiet. Suddenly I feel Pepper's body move closer until she is leaning against me. I can feel her eyes on me but I can't bring myself to look at her. "I'm sorry," my voice is horse and much quieter now, "I didn't mean to yell at you it's just---"

"It's ok, Tony, really," whatever harshness there had been in her voice was gone and I glance at her out of the corner of my eye. She sees me watching her and its then that she continues, " I understand believe me I do. But we just can't sit back and let this happen to May."

Did she just say "we"? I turn back to face her again and I find myself momentarily distracted. She is giving me that smile. That special smile that she seemed to reserve just for me. I'd missed it and I tune everything out as I watch her. I suddenly can't help but feel a little bit of jealousy towards Happy. He had been a lucky man to win her over…

"Tony, are you listening at all?"

She is starring up at me and I try to recover myself quickly, "Pepper, I want to believe me but there it no way. And what is this we business? "

"No way for you," She's smirking now, "But I can hence the "we". Put the money in my account."

I find myself shaking my head, "Absolutely not. You could be arrested for aiding a felon if you give him the money."

"Really? Tell me, Director Stark, are your people really going to care what I do with the money in my bank account? If I am correct you have them working overtime on catching your rebel heroes…"

I look away from Pepper and back to the photo still blown up on the monitors, "It's a possibility," I mumble as my resolve to not get involved crumbles. I was the puppet master after all and no one would look at Pepper for a thing unless I gave the order to.

Suddenly I feel Pepper leave my side and I know I'm not doing a great job at hiding my disappointment as I look up at her triumphant face, "So. Which Hospital am I going to, Mr. Stark?"

"You, Miss. Potts, aren't going to any hospitals," I pull myself to my feet and stand face to face with her. I may end up regretting this later but to hell with it. I owe it to Peter, "This is something I need to do myself."