Hi all. Wow, time won't stop will it? One week to Christmas and I am so not even close to finishing this story. Will be some more chapters I just have to decide on ending. This is first time I actually have an idea for story and whole plot or least most of it. I am excited and happy now.

To my new anon reviewer. Don't worry, I am going back to Pepperony this chapter. Yes, Pep is fine she is just a little bruised.

While Natasha had been getting shot down by the doctor, Clint and Steve were having the same luck with Tony.

Steve parked his bike and Clint gratefully let him go. "Now there is something I don't want to experience again" he said as he stood up.

Steve smirked at him. "What, I thought everyone was a huge fan of Captain America?" he teased.

Clint threw him a withering look. "Sorry to disappoint you grandpa" he teased back and Steve only smirked. "Whatever Barton…come on lets go see Stark" he said and led the way.

"Welcome back Mr. Rogers…Ms. Potts is doing a little better…she woke up five minutes ago and recognized Mr. Stark" the nurse told the men.

"That's great to hear Alison…has Tony ever left her side?" Steve asked and she shook her head. "Not that I know and that man has so much money I doubt he ever will" she answered.

"Thanks…my friend and I will go visit him now" he said. Alison then noticed his companion.

"Aren't you the man with the bow and arrow?" she asked. Clint nodded with a small smile. "You have amazing aim…I can't believe I met half of the most amazing heroes who saved New York a month ago" she swooned.

"Thanks…nice meeting you too" Clint said. "We have to go visit our friends now though…lets go Cap" he added and dragged him away.

Alison waved with a small smirk. Clint then let Steve lead him to Starks room and they walked in.

"Well, if it isn't Capsicle again…I see you found Legolas" Tony greeted them.

"Be nice for once Tony" Pepper hissed. "Its nice to see you again Steve and Clint" she added.

She had met the team briefly after the battle. Tony got his Shwarma and set the team in his tower for the night before they got rid of Loki and Thor.

"Nice to see you again as well Ms. Potts" Steve greeted. She narrowed her eyes and the Captain squirmed under her gaze. "I mean Pepper" he corrected and she smirked.

"See that you don't forget Captain…" she ordered and he nodded. "All right enough with the greeting crap…the hell you two want?" Tony cut in and Pepper glared at him.

"Be nice" she hissed and pinched his hand which was all she could reach.

"Ow…even injured your brutal woman" he hissed. "I hate to break this touching moment here but Steve dragged me here because he doesn't want us broken up" Clint piped up.

Steve glared at him. "Gee, thanks Hawkeye…" he hissed. Clint only smirked.

"All right fine…I am here also because I was bored…plus it was kind of fun being a team" he added.

"Well sorry to burst your bubbles but I still quit" Tony muttered.

Pepper shook her head. "Tony…you love being Iron Man…you know you do" she said. "Well, maybe I love you more…I don't want to see you hurt again" he answered.

She smiled and lovingly squeezed his hand. "It wasn't Bruce's fault Tony" she said.

He sighed. "Yeah…I know…I don't even hate him for it…but I don't love him right now either" Tony answered.

"Well…it's a start…does that mean you'd talk to him then?" Steve asked.

Tony looked at him with a small look of betrayal. "Are you telling me or asking me Rogers?" he demanded.

"A little both…Natasha is talking to Bruce…I am just trying to keep us together" he answered.

Tony studied his face a few seconds then scowled. "That and your trying to win a bet with Fury" he muttered.

Steve tried to mask his shock and failed. Tony jumped up then and grabbed his shirt.

"Lets finish this conversation outside Capsicle…you stay here birdbrain and try not to kill my girlfriend" he ordered and angrily dragged Steve out and down the hall.

"How are you feeling?" Clint asked as he realized he was trapped again.

"About as well as you can after the hulk tosses you like a rag doll across the room into a wall" Pepper answered.

"Ouch" Clint hissed. Pepper shrugged. "This is my own fault for surprising Bruce…I screwed up everything Clint" she said.

Clint sat in Tony's chair and took her hand. "Don't worry about it Pepper its not your fault" he said trying to sound convincing.

Pepper sighed but didn't respond. She still had a look of sadness and guilt on so Clint knew she didn't believe him anyway.

'Yeah, this is turning out fun' he thought and wondered why he even cared if the Avengers split or stayed.