Chapter Two

After a restless night of sleep Tony awoke to a rude awakening the next day; Senator Stern was demanding that he turn in his suits and was calling a hearing.

"What do you mean?" Tony asked indignantly after hearing the news.

"He feels that such power could only deal to more havoc." Pepper explained.

"That's complete crap! Pepper, I'm trying to make this world a better place!"

"I know, but he doesn't think so, he thinks it's too much of a risk." She said calmly while Tony only got angrier.

"I can't believe this, this is absolutely ridiculous!"

"The hearing is in a week. Make sure you've got everything prepared." She said proceeding out the glass doors.

He sighed, "It seems everything just keeps on getting worse and worse."

Later today Tony's mood had worsened and his desperation had increased within the couple of hours.

"Jarvis, call Ms. Potts down here."

"She is already on her way down, Sir." Jarvis responded.

"Tony, I've got the information you wanted." Pepper said as she entered.

He pushed away from his working desk and looked at her, "Good."

"She's currently residing in, Lincoln Blvd 1872 Santa Monica, CA, 90403." She said handing him the paper.

"Perfect." he said pushing himself off his chair walking to the stairs.

"But, Tony?" Pepper called, "What about the meeting?"

"Don't wait up!" he called.

His heart pounded as he grabbed his keys. Walking outside to his car he thought about all the possibilities of what would happen when his aunt opened the door and saw him. Would she slam the door, would she tell him to leave, would she shun him away? All these thoughts ran through his head. Tony Stark had never feared anything, well except when he was captured, but he had always been brave and hopeful. Right now he wasn't very confident or brave, he was scared. Tony Stark was scared, scared about his aunt rejecting him.

Tony feared that he looked and sounded like a, well, pansy for lack of better words. Could you blame him? If he didn't find a solution for the palladium, he didn't want to leave without having made peace with his family. He knew he shouldn't be ashamed to tell Pepper and Rhodey, but one bad trait Tony had was that he was proud. He wanted everyone to think he was a tough indestructible guy. For crying out loud he was Iron Man, he couldn't let people think he was a big softy. He sighed, at the same he knew it was nothing to be ashamed of, but he was too hard headed.

Once he had arrived in Santa Monica his nerves intensified, he couldn't remember the last time he had ever felt this way. He took deep breathes but it didn't help, he wouldn't calm down until he had the security that his aunt wouldn't kick him out. He pulled up and stayed in the car playing over the scenes of what could happen. He banged his head against the head rest, thinking how much of a jerk he had been to his family. He felt like he was going to be sick, his feelings had overwhelmed him. He thought about just leaving and not doing this. What was he thinking, he thought, she would never forgive him, never, he was just wasting his time

He hurriedly got out of his car before he could regret his decision. He marched across the street toward the house. He was in the middle in the street when he let out a frustrated groan and pulled his hair walking back to his car.

"She's not going to let me in, I should just leave." He spoke to himself, "No, no, I can't think like this!" he screamed at himself.

To an outsider Tony probably looked like a crazy person, walking toward the house then walking back to his car not being able to decide. He didn't care about what people thought at the moment, he was distressed and he needed to get things straight. Finally he walked to the house, facing his fears and maybe deception. The only thing he could do was hope that his aunt didn't push him way, even if she had every right to do so.