Tittle: A Better Sort of Happiness

Fandom: Iron Man & Thor & Avengers [films, not comics]

Pairing: female!Loki/Tony

Summary: After this cycle of Ragnarok, Loki is nowhere to be found on the higher realms. On earth a green eyed baby is born.

Divine Comedy: Inferno

There was a very, very good reason Laesa did not work on the weapons vault. Tony knew it and Laesa, of course, knew it too. She was uncomfortably reminded of that when Obie Stane called them for a video conference, not even ten hours after they had gotten to Malibu.

"Really, Tony," the man started, the paternal tone making her even more itchy. "In bed? A bit late for that, isn't it?"

"Sorry Obie, bit of a late night."

"And still with the bird in bed, that's a new one." He snorted, and Laesa fought the urge to curl in on herself. She had nothing to be ashamed off. Tony's hand found her hip, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Yeah, about that actually… It's Laesa."

There was a noticeable pause, enough for Laesa to get her bearings and start to properly wake up, stretching her arms high above her head.

"Yes? What about her?"

"Don't play the oblivious Obie, doesn't really suit you." Tony sighed, annoyed.

"So, how long…?"

"Around four, five years," Laesa muttered, getting up. She had one of Tony's old band shirts on top, the Aerosmith design making it hard to trace her breats. "Hello Mr. Stane."

"Laesa," the man nodded, eyes focusing on Tony, "Is this why you two took the day off?"

"Not really, no. It's because we needed to have a serious discussion about the future." Tony shrugged, his arm easily going around Laesa's shoulders and pulling her close.

"The future about...?" The man trailed off, clearly expecting an answer.

"I'm pregnant." Laesa shrugged, feigning unconcern. "Therefore we needed to talk." Simple, logical decisions. That's what she was known for.

"And...?"

"Tony left it up to me," she shrugged again, stretching and yawning, "I haven't decided what I'm gonna do." She finished with a yawn, rubbing her eyes with her fingers, trying to chase away the remnants of sleep.

"You two do realise this changes everything." It wasn't a question and neither of them took it as one.

"I have a plan," Tony said beside her, and Laesa felt the urge to facepalm as she looked at him and then at Obie.

"I'm afraid of your plans." She muttered, grinning at Obie. "I'll take care of him, and of the little leech growing inside me."

"Leech?"

"For now, yes." She yawned, giving Tony a kiss on the cheek and getting up, ignoring Tony's protests "gotta get ready for the day!" She went to the bathroom wearing only Tony's old shirt, paddling through on bare feet and Tony was suddenly glad he didn't allow J.A.R.V.I.S. to hook calls on the big screen.

"So, you and Laesa?" Obie asked, unimpressed.

"Yes. Before you ask yes, I do know my reputation and so does she and yes, this is pretty serious."

"Tony…"

"This is serious, Obie. We haven't… I haven't…" Tony sighed, sitting up, dressed up in boxer shorts only and picking his phone, where Obadiah's image was being transmitted, "look, this is serious, as serious as I could get with anyone."

"What of Pepper?" The man asked, frowning.

"What about her?" Tony asked confused. "Pepper's busy with my schedule after that award thingy today."

"I… I see. I'll let Laesa's second in command know this then. And I shall let you two have your day out." Obie smiled and Tony smiled back, that polite half-smile he showed when uncomfortable.

"J.A.R.V.I.S. already did that, but be my guest." Tony shrugged, sitting on the side of the bed, looking at the bathroom door. "Are we ready for the party this evening?"

"Yes, yes… everything's fine. Are you actually showing up?"

"Yes, I told you, I have plans! And I might need Pepper actually, thanks for reminding me Obie! Bye!" Tony hung up without another word, dialing Pepper's number and rolling his eyes as his PA immediately asked after her friend. "Yes, she's fine. We're pretty well and the whole crisis thing is over. Well sort of." He listened for a bit, grinning at Pepper's voice took on the motherhen tone of voice Laesa was always going on about. "We're fine Pepper, scout's honour. Yes I do know I've never been a boy scout, thanks for reminding me. I need you to come in today." He grinned, staring at the closed bathroom door. "Yes, yes I do remember I gave you the day off, but I need you for something. Call up my lawyers, about my will."

His smiled softened as the door opened, Laesa coming out still wearing just Tony's shirt. "Yes, yes I'm pretty sure." He heard Pepper sigh on the other end and hung up again with a call of "thanks Pep."

"Didn't you give her the day off?" Laesa asked, stepping into Tony's space, smiling as he hugged her middle, his goatee scratching her skin even under the shirt. She held onto his shoulders, smiling.

"I did, but I was reminded I just need a tiny little thing from her before today ends." He muttered, bringing her closer and letting her fall on his lap, she did it with a laugh, holding on as he scooted a bit more to the middle of the bed.

"Do I need to know?"

"Nah, not yet, hopefully not ever!" He grinned, goatee scratching Laesa's chin as he kissed her, going down her neck and behind her ear. He grinned as she started squirming trying to get away.

"Tony…!" She whined, pushing against him and laughing, trying to get away without any sort of success. "Tickling!"

"I know, what are you gonna do about it?" He grinned and she could hear the laughter in his voice as he mouthed her neck, arms holding her in place as he tickled her.

"No!" She whined again, laughing against her will as they fell onto the bed once again. J.A.R.V.I.S. turned the windows black again, putting a warning to any who came to disturb them, though none did, none but the two of them could hear the laughter.

(~o~)

Tony Stark. Visionary. Genius. American Patriot. Even from an early age the son of legendary weapons developer Howard Stark quickly stole the spotlight with his brilliant and unique mind.

At age four, he built his first circuit board.

At age six, his first engine.

And at 17, he graduated summa cum laude from MIT.

Then, the passing of a titan.

Howard Stark's lifelong friend and ally, Obadiah Stane, steps in to help fill the gap left by the legendary founder, until, at age 21, the prodigal son returns and is anointed the new CEO of Stark Industries.

With the keys to the kingdom, Tony ushers in a new era for his father's legacy, creating smarter weapons, advanced robotics, satellite targeting.

Today, Tony Stark has changed the face of the weapons industry by ensuring freedom and protecting America and her interests around the globe.

Laesa snorted as silently as she could sitting next to Tony as everyone clapped, clapping politely as well.

"And then he hired an engineer also from MIT who he would eventually become fuck buddies with."

Tony grinned beside her, nodding at the people around him and ignoring Pepper's warning look for them to behave. "I thought we were in a relationship!" He whispered, frowning in mock anger.

"I've no idea what you're talking about Mr. Stark." Laesa muttered, turning her nose up and away from Tony. Their banter was interrupted by another round of applause and Tony quickly stepped out of his seat, going to the stage and taking the award.

He lifted it up, as if toasting the crowd. "Thank you, Rhodey for that lovely introduction. Oh boy this is awkward, I didn't even prepare a speech! Well, thanks to the Army, the Navy and the Air Forces, I guess, for being wonderful customers!" He grinned at the laughter that scattered around him. "I think I should also thank my IT crew, seriously have you seen what they're doing? Look for news in March or April... Who else? Ms. Virginia Potts, Pep you're wonderful, you know that... Get yourself something nice for your birthday, on me." He pointed, winking at Pepper.

The cameras turned and Laesa just smiled as Pepper blushed. On the stage Tony continued, "Obie, can't forget Obie. My father figure after mum and dad passed away, he... Well there's no nice way to say this, he actually did finish raising me, so thank you!"

Obadiah Stane smiled, Laesa was uncomfortably reminded of those hyenas in the Lion King smiling, sly, dangerous... She shook her head as Obie spoke, "Trust me, Tony, it's a full time job! Someone has to do it"

Everyone laughed, but Laesa was still reminded of Hyenas and those little odious pigs from Angry Birds.

"I think I grew up very well..." Tony replied with a winning smile, more laughter around him, "speaking of growing up, I'd also like to thank Laesa, my Director of IT, we wouldn't be where we are without you darling." Laesa smiled at the flash of camera, green eyes bright and inviting.

"Speaking of Laesa," she stopped smiling, just staring at Tony. He wouldn't! "I think it would only be fair to announce it now..." Tony was speaking, Laesa was sure he was speaking, she could see his lips move, could feel people staring at her in either delight or shock. Her smile was frozen on her lips and she couldn't feel her legs anymore.

It was as if she was in a nightmare and as Tony raised his hand to greet her, to urge her to the stage to make her come out as his lover, the… the… she thought about running, about just turning away and running from the eyes on her, though about just walking out and-

"You can do it," Pepper muttered, grabbing her hand and squeezing it until her ring bit into Laesa's hand. "He's a moron, but you can do it." Laesa just smiled at her with a tiny nod, her hands shaking.

She walked to the stage feeling all eyes, all the cameras on her face, on her walk… She was never quite sure how she got to the stage without tripping, without making a fool out of herself but she did, her shaking hands easily slipping alongside Tony's. She could feel Tony's worried gaze on her as she squeezed his hand. Her hands were trembling, though her voice remained strong.

"Lovely introduction, darling." She grinned and she knew to everyone else it would seem like a woman smiling, happy with her date. Tony would probably know what she was feeling, if not now then later on; he could feel her shaking hand, the odd cadence in her voice as she thanked everyone and made a joke or two with their relationship, the polite laugh that followed more than normal for these situations.

If Tony was a consumed showman, then so was she. If Tony was the ringmaster, then she was the fucking acrobat.

"… but this is not really my show, is it? I should let you all get back to your dinner, and let your award winner say a few more words." She finished, still smiling, shrugging Tony's hand off.

This was not a time to show weakness… it was a time to show at least an united from in front of allies and the press and they would eat her alive if she showed weakness.

She subtly shrugged Tony's hand off hers, allowing him to kiss her and allowing him to run his hands on her arms, she even managed a smile for his benefit. A normal couple by every standard. Inside she was seething.

Now that the shock had worn off, she could feel bile rising up her throat, could feel her hands still shaking but this time with more than fear and shock, she could feel them shaking with hatred too.

Obadiah intercepted her on the way back, on the stage Tony continued to talk about his weapons division and the developments the army and the navy could look forward to. She was certain some generals were creaming themselves as Tony spoke.

"Laesa!" The man called, taking a hold of her arm and leading her away from the lights, "I had no idea you and Tony were coming out as a couple."

"I had no idea we were either," she replied, her smile just a tad side darker than before.

"Tony just dumped this on your lap then?"

"So to speak… I only found out when he mentioned my name at the end, when he actually announced things." She couldn't help but grimace.

"That's our Tony."

"Yeah. You know these things better than I do, Mr. Stane- "

"Obadiah, please." He interrupted.

"Obadiah then," she allowed with a nod and a tight-lipped smile, "would it be bad form to just get out and have some fresh air? I need it after all that." She said waving her fingers in the direction of the meeting-slash-award.

"If you take longer than five minutes, yes… but go, I'll make some excuses about your make up or something."

"Thank you." She replied, side stepping him and going to the little garden in the middle of the hotel, Tony's words ringing in her head, calling her his long time girlfriend, calling her mother of all things. She didn't want to be a mother, she didn't want to have the responsibility of another life in her hands!

She clenched her fists, bitting her tongue to keep from crying in frustration. She didn't want it. She really didn't want it inside her, like a leech or a virus, sucking her dry if not now then later.

And Tony had just gone ahead and celebrated the creation of a child as if it was an occasion for celebration.

A mistake was never cause for celebration. And now she couldn't get rid of it, not now that Tony had gone ahead and announced they were pregnant.

"Laesa?" She sighed in relieve, it was Pepper.

"Where's Tony?" She asked, turning around.

"Finishing his speech, come on before you're missed."

Laesa nodded, taking a deep breath as she turned to Pepper freezing, unable to take another step.

"Laesa?"

"I don't want the baby." She blurted, looking at Pepper, closing her eyes, fists clenched. "I don't want it! I can't stand the idea of it growing inside me!" She muttered, loud enough so only Pepper could hear her.

"Then you should have been more careful." Pepper sighed, looking at Laesa and fighting between business and pity. "Come, we need to go back." She turned around, walking back to the party. She turned around again when she didn't hear the click of Laesa's heels following hers. Her friend was staring at her as if she had never seen Pepper before and the redhead couldn't help but sigh.

"Look, I know it's tough, and Tony's being an ass for dropping this on your lap like that, but now is not the time to have a breakdown! So pull yourself together and go back there!"

"You're right… I just…"

"Don't think about it. Pretend he just asked you to marry him or something like that, whatever you need to think to get through tonight as if you're still the same happy couple you were before that travel to Africa."

"Just… just one moment." Laesa sighed, closing her eyes and thinking; mentally wrapping all her emotions, all her memories of this night in a marble box, locking it behind a door leading to nowhere. She straightened, her fears and anger wrapped tight for the moment as she headed back to the party.

Pepper looked on, her own masks falling down and showing her pity. She walked behind her friend not touching her the way Pepper wanted to, she knew all touches would be refused. Including Tony's which Laesa would just have to endure due to the announcement.

(~o~)

Tony could tell something was seriously off the moment he saw Laesa walking back to the party. She was in no way different, though Tony could swear he saw the poisonous aura around her. He didn't actually believe that bullshit, but still!

He saw some of the women throwing his Laesa dirty looks and even envying looks. He would be sure to research them further, especially now that the game was out for everyone to scrutinize them.

He knew she would be mad, knew she would be pretty fucking pissed. But it was something he had to do if he wanted to protect her and the child from the vultures. He had made her part of his will, had made the child part of his will too regardless of the fact Laesa might abort it. He had left it open enough to allow the abortion though he was hoping she would choose against it.

He finished his speech, bowing to the mass of vultures and friends bellow as he walked back to their table, smiling at his girlfriend – and wouldn't that be in the news?! – sitting down beside her. He could feel the click of cameras and the flashes on them as he leaned towards her.

"I know you're angry, but I had my reasons." He muttered, just between the two of them.

"I give a rat's arse about your reasons, Tony. I wanted to be consulted before you dropped this shit on my lap." She muttered back, all smiles for the cameras, two consummate ringmasters.

Tony refrained from touching her the way he wanted, letting his hands roam on her back and on her arms or just pulling her close, he restrained himself to only holding hands and smiling, knowing that regardless of where they were Laesa would walk away if he crowded her too much.

"Just trust me in this, it was for the best."

"Really, Tony? Really? Announcing an unwanted pregnancy was for the best?!" She hissed back, letting Tony order them water and wine as she pretended to look at the choices in food.

Tony just smiled charmingly at the waiter, ordering food and drinks and remaining quiet. It might be worse, but it would be better to let Laesa cool down before he said anything that would make her even more mad.

They spent the evening quiet between each other, his hand holding hers for brief periods of time, and both of them talking to people, getting news and ideas and promises. He thought he would have been able to hug her, to actually cuddle in public... Not so apparently. And that had been something he had wanted to try for some time now.

Things started to go downhill when they headed to the car, Laesa walking in a step or two before him, Happy giving him a deer-in-headlights look as she approached, all womanly fury and high heels. Their bodyguards keeping a respectful distance from both of them as Laesa marched, Tony following behind her with an easy step though dreading the moment they would be alone.

"Mr. Stark! Excuse me, Mr. Stark!" A female voice called from behind, Tony didn't turn to look though Laesa did, her mask easily coming to place and Tony could feel his stomach drop. He knew that easy smile, had become acquaintances with it one or four times during their time together.

"Christine Everhart, Vanity Fair magazine, can I ask you a couple of questions?" The voice sounded determined if exasperated by their bodyguards.

He made eye contact with Happy, quickly turning around once Laesa greeted the reporter, he reached for her hand, loathing to play the happy couple while they had Things To Talk About.

"Hi," he greeted and he knew he could count on his ringmistress to follow his lead. That was part of the reason they always worked well together.

"What can we do for you Ms. Everhart?" Laesa asked, all easy smiles.

"Just a couple of questions." The blond repeated, and Tony would admit if he didn't have Laesa, if he didn't love her as much as he did – even if she was foaming at him – he would at least be tempted, the reporter was cute.

"Yeah, okay, go."

"You've been called the Da Vinci of our time. What do you say to that?"

"Absolutely ridiculous, I don't paint." Laesa just snorted beside him, giving him that arch look she sometimes did during phone interviews.

"You're being ridiculous!" She said, "don't mind him, he's being ridiculous. Though yes he can't paint if his life depended on it."

"I resent that." He frowned, in mock anger.

"You also can't cook if your life depended on it. Anyway, I think they all mean it with the design of inventions, darling, and in that one aspect I think you are like Da Vinci." She gave him that arch look again, before snorting and rubbing her own chin, "though you do need to work on that beard a bit."

"I thought you liked my beard." He grinned, hand going to the small of Laesa's back.

"I like your goatee, your beard scratches." She frowned at him, touching the goatee.

"Yes," the reporter interrupted, flustered. "What do you say to your other nickname 'the merchant of death'?"

"That's not bad," Tony said, glancing at Laesa out of the corner of his eye to see her rolling her eyes, "let me guess, Berkley?"

"Brown, actually." Ms. Brown said with a tight smile.

"Well, Ms. Brown, it's an imperfect world, but it's the only one we got," he begun, fighting the urge to roll his eyes.

"In other words," Laesa interrupted, glancing at the reporter up and down. "The military funding you're so afraid of? If it didn't exist, you wouldn't have that little recorder you have and the hidden camera I can see on your necklace. We wouldn't have the Intelli-crops throughout the world keeping people from starvation, no medical breakthroughs." Laesa shrugged, squeezing Tony's hand. She hated that nickname, Merchant of Death.

The reporter's smile turned sardonic, her eyes hooded. "Do you two ever lose an hour of sleep at night?"

"Sure we do, might even loose a few tonight." Tony winked at the reporter, squeezing Laesa's hand and bringing it to his lips, his eyes turning soft for a moment as he looked at her.

"That's what got us in trouble, darling." Laesa said, her stomach dropping and wishing for one second that the façade they were putting up was true. That she was actually glad to have a child and not considering abortion. No, she couldn't actually get an abortion could she? Tony had made sure the press would be onto her if she aborted.

"I wouldn't mind getting into more trouble with you." Tony muttered, holding his lover close. "If you'll excuse us Ms. Brown?" He didn't wait for an answer, leading Laesa back to the car.

The door clicked softly as they entered, Happy driving away and to the airport and back to California, they made the journey in silence though the tension and frustration were palpable. Laesa kept her distance, looking through the window and the sea of dark clouds around them.

The drive to the tower was also made in silence, it was only as they got home that the silenced shattered.

(~o~)

"Have you found anything of his whereabouts?" Hella asked as Odin entered her domains, she leaned forward waiting for his answer.

"I have felt spikes of magic similar to his old signature," Odin sighed, a chair growing behind him as to his will and he sat down, leaning back. He thought it odd and disheartening that it was only now as they had no familiar bond that they talked and got along. It said something about him that he didn't like.

"Spikes?"

"Yes, emotional spikes as if he's trying to get through, to communicate, but he's unable to."

"You think someone's holding on to him?" Hella asked, blinking. Loki the god of Fire… to hold him still would take enormous effort, something few had.

"I do not know." It irked him to say it, to admit weakness. "Those spikes come from everywhere, from Asgard, from Alfheimr, from here even… I cannot trace it."

Hella frowned, thinking, she couldn't feel it. That bond she had always had with Loki, she could not feel it. "I need to find him." She whispered.

"We all do, we need Loki." Odin whispered back, looking away. Frigga and Sigyn had not stopped mourning the unbirth of Loki, had not stopped looking for him through their means.

He couldn't stop looking for him either but he could remember wasted opportunities as the boy ran after him, when he had been too busy with kingdom and realm to notice.

"Do you think this would have happened if I had ever given Loki more attention?" He asked, not expecting an answer.

"I do not know." Hella replied. But they both knew she was lying.

(~o~)

She was sitting on the couch, refusing to look at Tony, Tony was in front of her, sitting on the wooden table where their tablets usually were.

"Listen," Tony begun, touching Laesa's hands.

"Please don't touch me."

"Laesa, please listen." He pleaded, removing his hands. "I know you're mad-"

"You know nothing!" She hissed, getting up. "Do you know what's going to happen now?"

"You'll be out as my significant other, out as the mother of my child. What's so bad about that?"

"I wanted an abortion Tony. I wanted to get rid of it. I don't want to be a mother!" she cried, pacing up and down on the living room. "I don't want to be responsible for the life of another human being!" She took a deep breath, turning her back to him. "The moment you announced I was pregnant I felt like the world was turning on me. I know I'll be judged for my every action… from the place I'm in to the unwanted pregnancy, everything, every action, every invention."

"And you think I won't?"

"I'm gonna be on the spotlight even more. I'm an unknown woman, you were born into it. You can bet your personal fortune that I'm gonna be known as the untalented gold-digger..."

"And we all know you're not."

"We all? Tony, there's only you, me, Rhodey and Pepper. Who else?"

"Happy?" He tried, though he knew she might be on to something.

"Happy is your friend, not mine… I don't think I even have Pepper to be honest." She shook her head at the look she got, "girl-stuff."

"What do you want then? What do you want me to do?" He asked, his mood souring.

"I don't know! I know I didn't want you to announce it, I know I just wanted to be your lover. Damn it!" She shouted, wanting to turn over and hit something, to make something bleed. "I wanted to be your lover, I didn't want to be your significant other. We don't fit that way we never have."

"What the fuck…? Don't you dare say that to me now! You could have said it when we begun, when I fucking invited you to live with me. So don't go shouting that now, not after five freaking years you've been living here!"

" . .TOGETHER!" She shouted, turning to Tony, "we bring out the worst in each other, our ideas fit, our bodies fit, everything else?" She asked, throwing her hands up and walking up the stair. She didn't want to be here.

"You're mad… you're fucking mad! We have always fit! Everything, even the rough edges," he ran after her, grabbing her arm, "don't you run away from me. What's wrong with you? You're not like that."

"What's wrong? You're wrong… I don't… I can't see you right now, I feel like you're making me have his… this monstrosity, this abnormity." She stopped as he grabbed her arm, turning to face Tony. "Do you have any idea how much I hate you right now?" She hissed, leaning forward then wrenching her arm out of his hand, marching up the stairs.

Tony stared after her, wondering if he should just go after her, if he should disappear down to his workshop, if he should just go back in fucking time and stop his speech. Though he knew it was for the best.

It was for the best that everyone knew Laesa was his, it was for the best everyone knew about the child, it was for the best so no one would challenge his will.

But he couldn't remain here. He couldn't remain and look on asLaesa stormed the place, he just couldn't stay here.

"J.A.R.V.I.S. tell me if anything changes, if… if she cools down. I'll be in the workshop."

"Certainly, sir."

He snorted, taking a bottle of whisky with him. He needed to forget about everything right now, including the look of hate in Laesa's eyes.

(~o~)

The music was blasting through the speakers, the bottle of whisky was half-empty (Tony counted that as victory) on the other side of the workshop as he tinkered with one of his cars, he didn't turn as he listened to the heels going down the stairs. Laesa never wore heels while at home, she preferred running tennis and anyway, she had left sometime around 3am to god only knew where.

"Give me an exploded view." He muttered, watching as the screen blasted through the engine view.

"The compression in cylinder three appears to be low." J.A.R.V.I.S. replied.

"Log that." He continued to tinker as Pepper entered the workshop, talking to someone he didn't care about and didn't really need to know. "Please don't turn down my music."

Pepper ignored him, "You are supposed to be halfway around the world right now."

He ignored her, focusing on the car, Pepper continued anyway, her eyes taking in the workshop around her, the empty workshop around her. Usually Laesa would be there as well, tinkering right alongside Tony, unless she had a meeting or actually needed to be at work. Maybe something had happened in her own labs?

"Why are you trying to hustle me out of here?" He muttered, telling himself he was focusing on the engine and not how his stomach burned, how he burned at the knowledge that there was someone missing.

"Your flight was scheduled to leave an hour and a half ago."

"That's funny, I thought with it being my plane and all, that it would just wait for me to get there."

Pepper ignored him complaining. Tony always complained. Always. And it was always harder when Laesa wasn't there to talk sense into him. "Tony I need to speak to you about a couple things before I get you out of the door."

"Doesn't it kind of defeat the whole purpose of having your own plane if it departs before you arrive?" He muttered, cleaning his hands on a rag and sitting on the white tire of the 1932 Ford.

Pepper sighed, just staring at him and fighting the urge to roll her eyes, "Larry called. He's got another buyer for the Jackson Pollock in the wings. Do you want it, yes or no?"

"Is it a good representation of his spring period?"

Pepper just looked at him for a moment, fighting a laugh, "Ah… no. The Springs was actually the neighborhood in East Hampton where he lived and worked, not spring like the season."

"So?"

"I think it's a fair example… I think it's incredibly overpriced."

"I need it. Buy it. Store it." Pepper smiled, hiding her laughter as Tony passed by in the other direction, she just followed, crossing another item from her list.

"o-kay. The MIT Commencement speech…

"Is in June," Tony interrupted, "please don't harangue me about stuff that's way, way down..."

"They're haranguing me, so I'm gonna say yes.

"Deflect it and absorb it, don't transmit it back to me."

"I need you to sign this before you get on the plane." Pepper said, shuffling her papers until she got to the one she needed.

Tony just sighed. Scrabbling his name on the paper and handing it back to Pepper, "what happened yesterday between you and Laesa?"

"What do you mean?" Pepper asked, putting the papers in order. They had barely exchanged words during the party, she had only been there as Tony's PA, Laesa needed to be there because she needed to be there.

"We were arguing, she mentioned you had exchanged words." He frowned, putting his tools away.

"I told her she should've been more careful, that's all." Pepper shrugged, following Tony out of the workshop. "I'm gonna leave you alone now, can I trust you're gonna get to the airport on your own?"

"Yeah, yeah… go. I need to get ready just, do me a favour and talk to Laesa, all right?"

"I will, we're supposed to meet tonight anyway."

"Really? What are you doing?"

"Girls night out." At his expectant look Pepper elaborated "It's my birthday."

"It's your birthday?"

"Yes."

"I knew that, already?"

"Yes, isn't that strange? It's the same day as last year." She grinned, wisps of red hair falling on her face.

"Get yourself something nice from me."

"Laesa and I already did that, but you did promise me something yesterday night, I remember."

"Do it again, go spend something, just don't flatline my credit card." He grinned, disregarding how forced it felt.

"All right… do I need to send Happy to get you to the airport?"

"No, I can-"

"I'm sending Happy." Pepper interrupted.

(~o~)

Laesa woke with a start, the old clock ticking… she was in her old apartment, wearing a pair of sweat pants and an old and faded Depeche Mode shirt. She blinked, trying to burrow under the mountain of pillows, her mouth tasted like cheap tequila and sleep.

She likes this place, had kept it, bought it, even after moving in with Tony. She groaned, thinking of their fight… she had to apologize. She didn't actually hate him, quite the contrary really.

The ticking came again, and Laesa finally noticed it wasn't actually the clock but someone knocking insistently on the door.

"What?!" She shouted, holding her head in her hands, fucking hell it hurt! How much had she drank?

"Laesa open up, we need to talk!" A man shouted on the other side. Neil. She had completely forgotten about him. "Laesa!"

"I'm going!" She shouted back, staggering to her feet and to the door, snorting to herself. Tony hated Neil. He had the notion that he was trying to hit on her though nothing could be farther from the truth.

She opened the door with some effort, a part of her brain still drunk out of her mind, why hadn't she stayed with Tony? Oh yeah, that big-ass fight. Damn. "What?"

"What the fuck happened? You're a mess!" He asked as he walked inside, closing the door behind him. "No nevermind. You're gonna tell me later but right now Stark Industries needs you for a collective statement. Stark's gone MIA."

That halted her thoughts, her stomach dropping though she mind was refusing to catch up to her. "What?"

"Stark, Tony Stark, your lover? He's gone MIA."

Laesa blinked again, staring at Neil, her brain still refusing to accept it. He couldn't have. Tony would have alerted her before he went travelling, he always did before, no need to do things differently today.

"He can't have… his flight…"

"Was today." Neil finished for her, sitting her down. "Tony's gone missing in Afghanistan."