Tony was sitting in his room working on something with Pepper and Rhodey. It was a typical Saturday afternoon. Pepper was sitting on Tony's bed reading a fashion magazine. Rhodey was working on some software and Tony some mechanical device. Tony and Rhodey were talking about what they needed the program and device to do and how to work with each other correctly.
"Try the other way." Tony said over his shoulder to Rhodey, and he switched something, and Tony tried again.
"Oh my gosh! There is NO way that she had a baby 5 weeks ago." Pepper said rolling over on her stomach and looking at the picture. Rhodey and Tony both looked at her with that look on their faces.

She looked up at both of them, "What? Look how thin she is!" Pointing at the picture, both boys rolled their eyes and went back to work. When a news alert appeared on his computer, "Henchmen downtown…" he said

"What's going on?" Pepper said

"I don't know." He said getting up from his computer, "but I'm going to find out." He said running out of his room. Rhodey and Pepper followed.

Before they knew it Iron Man was on the scene. It wasn't long before the thugs were sent away in large police vans, and Iron Man disappeared as quickly as he appeared.

A couple weeks later, the henchmen came back, this time they were after Iron Man. The henchman took hostages at a local grocery store, close to the school. Iron Man was there, "Let the hostages go! Your attack is against me not the innocent." He said in the mechanical robot voice.

"Iron Man so glad you could show up!" Clearly the one in charge had spoke. Iron Man was the decoy he was to draw out the hostage takers so they would fight him and S.W.A.T. personnel could get the hostages out without any injury.

"I'm so glad you have taken an interest with our little situation." He said walking out on to the sidewalk holding a young girl. Wearing a purple sweater, black tie and short strawberry blond hair.

Tony's mind went blank, "Pepper" he said quietly.

"LET THE HOSTAGES GO!" he said again louder.

"No, I don't think so."

Iron Man came over to the henchman, both hands out in front of him as he walked slowly toward the two. Tony could see some bruises on Pepper's arm.
"I'll trade me for all of them. Please let them go." He said quietly. The henchmen thought about this deal, "I'll trade you for her." He said jerking her arm. Pepper screamed and he hit Pepper a crossed the face, blood trickled out her nose and lip, as she cried covering her mouth with the free hand.

"No. You only get me if you let all the hostages go." He said again. Before anything could be exchanged S.W.A.T had taken control of the situation inside the store, and had snuck up behind the one in charge and cuffed and got Pepper to safety.

"I'll take her to the hospital." He said scooping her up "It will be faster." The S.W.A.T. Leader nodded his head, and turned to check the other hostages.

The next couple of days were very slow and tiring. Tony spent all his free time by Pepper's bed side, she was pretty beat up, with a concussion and heavy bruising to her eyes and face.

"It was my fault that you were hurt." He said looking at the floor holding her hand

"No…it wasn't Tony; I went out looking for trouble." She said, "I thought I could handle the situation or at least get enough dirt on them so you could find out who they were working for or what they really wanted." She said tears welling in her eyes.

"Pepper." He said softly and kissed the top of her head. "I thought I was going to lose you."