Disclaimer: They aren't mine…I'm only borrowing them…except Harper. She's mine.

Please R&R. Show some love. Help me improve. BE CONSTRUCTIVE, NOT DESTRUCTIVE. Thanks ;)

Author's Note: For the sake of this story and my peace of mind, Coulson is still alive. I make mention of him and I didn't want anyone to stop me with a "HEY, NO!" moment. Besides…we all love Coulson.

Enjoy!

Starksassemblyrequired

Song for Ch. 1: Green Eyes by Cold Play

Chapter 1: You Are a Rock

Honey, you are the rock upon which I stand

True to his word, Tony waited until 8:15 before finally having Jarvis patch through the phone call to Harper. The speakers in his lab blared out the ring back tone she had set specifically for him. He couldn't help but smile as the familiar strains of Black Sabbath's Iron Man played to him. The manner in which she answer the phone only made his smile widen.

"Ello?" The young woman's voice was groggy, thick with sleep.

"Harpsichord! Wake up, you perfect assistant, you." Tony made his tone overly chipper just to annoy her. He could see it in his head, her little button nose scrunched as she screwed her brilliant jade green eyes closed. Her indeterminately long, honey blond hair would be up, as it always was, as she sat up, annoyance making its way onto her features.

"Stark…"Harper growled, the sleep still thick in her voice. He was holding back laughter, unsure as to whether or not Harper was pissed about the nickname or the hour at which she was awoken.

"Yes, green eyes? " His voice was not sickeningly innocent.

"What the fuck, Tony?!" She sounded more awake now, her voice clearer. "It's 8:15!"

"Actually, now, it's 8:17." Tony was having too much fun. He felt better, fully recovered from the dreams he had had that night. "Now, get your ass in the shower, get dressed and get up here."

"You know, Tony, I moved in to Stark Tower so I could get an extra hour of sleep in the morning instead of waiting in traffic for an hour to get here. I'm three floors down. I can be there in five minutes. My hours are from 10am to 7pm. It's 8:20 now and I could be sleeping. What do you want?" Harper sounded calm and level headed, but he knew she was clenching her fists. She had been his assistant for three months and he had learned to read her well.

He had a hard time at first agreeing to having her as his assistant. Pepper insisted on it. She even pulled the "CEO card" on him. Tony had laid eyes on her and immediately felt like she was going to be hard on him. She looked so smart he had sworn he felt his brain flex, and while she was smart, she wasn't "Tony" smart. She watched too much Nat Geo Wild and read too many non fiction novels, but there were things about her that he began to appreciate.

She was patient with him, more so than Pepper ever had been, and she didn't treat Steve and Thor like they were morons or meatheads just because they were technologically impaired. Harper had gifted Bruce with a very calming oolong tea with lemon essence package, she had taught Clint how to perfect his cross stitch and she had even gotten Natasha to laugh. She didn't curse around Steve, she watched Super Nanny with Coulson and taught Thor how to make Nachos.

Pepper had insisted on having Harper as his assistant, not because of what she did professionally, but for how good a friend she knew Harper would be to everyone. And now, at 8:21 am, Tony Stark truly appreciated his meddling ex girlfriend/ boss/ ex assistant because without Pepper, Harper wouldn't be so crucial.

"I need you here. I had another one of those nights and I want to forget." Tony's voice was serious, but soft, not stern like it usually was when he got serious. From the sound of the shuffling on the other side of the phone, Harper was getting out of bed and getting undressed.

"I'll be there in five." The water turned on. "And you had better tell Steve to save me some coffee."

"Done." The call was disconnected and Tony smiled and then proceeded to shout out at the top of his lungs. "CAPSICLE! SAVE THE HARPIE SOME JAVA!"

Harper was showered, dried off and dressed in less than four minutes. Her hair was still soaking wet and in a sternly braided bun at the top of her head. She had her palm pilot in one hand, her shoes in the other, her glasses slipped onto the bridge of her nose and the handle of her briefcase in her mouth. She put her watch on in the elevator, smoothed down her skirt and slipped on her shoes in a matter of seconds. With four seconds to spare, Harper's very punctual, if not slightly frazzled, self, came through the elevator doors to the top suite of Stark Tower and was greeted with a fresh cup of coffee, with cream and three sugars.

"Steve, never let it be said that you aren't a saint, sweetheart." Harper still had to stand on her tippy toes to reach Steve's cheek, even in her high heels. She laid a kiss to hiss stubble free skin and walked in to the kitchen. "Good morning, team."

"Good morning, Harper." Bruce and Natasha said quietly, albeit distractedly as they both did the crossword in their respective papers. Clint was too busy mending his quiver to do anything but nod and grunt, and Steve just smiled.

"LADY HARPER OF MOORE! Good morrow," Thor boomed, his voice loud and cheerful. "I trust your night was spent resting well and not spent…"he thought a moment before continuing," counting the fluffy farm animals you midgardians seem fond of envisioning. I often envision them escaping their confines to be eaten by what I can only assume will be wolves."

Harper blinked at Thor for a moment before laughing lightly to herself. "Thank you, Thor. I slept well and no sheep were counted."

"Ah. I am pleased with this." Thor nodded and opened the refrigerator. "I find that I hunger for more midgardian food. Perhaps I shall make nachos?" Thor announced, his face lighting up and the thought of doing something helpful.

"Ah…nachos are more of a lunch thing, buddy." Bruce said smiling as well. "It's too early for nachos."

"I can make you some eggs." Steve offered the god, kindly.

"I wish to have something large. Have we any boar?" Thor asked, his hand on his stomach.

"No…no boar…" Harper shook her head and chuckled as Thor and Steve argued food.

"I'm going to the lab." As Harper was walking away, Natasha and Clint shared a look, which then drew Bruce's attention, and soon drew Thor's and finally Steve's. Steve sighed and looked down.

"Think she can help?" Clint asked, his expression open, yet guarded.

"Maybe." Steve shrugged. "If anyone can, I'll bet it's her." They knew something was wrong with Tony. They just needed help to figure it out.

"What makes you say that?" Bruce sounded curious, his face open.

"Because it's her job." Natalie stated, her eyes still on the crossword puzzle.

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