A/N: Hi. I'm gonna try my hardest to finish up IM3 before the 19th, because I'm going to Mexico to visit family for three weeks and I won't have any internet. Literally, back of beyond. So you may get extra postings! Woohoo! In the meantime, have this very short chapter...

"Reports indicate the Mandarin is behind this latest bombing-"

"JARVIS, turn it off," Tony ordered.

The TV switched to a documentary about penguins.

Jaya glanced at Tony. "Shouldn't we do something about that? A giant evil spooky terrrorist sounds like an Avengers thing."

Tony rolled his eyes. "Steve called me this morning to talk about it. Apparently, the government thinks it can be handled by Iron Patriot alone."

"Who's Iron Patriot?" Jaya asked.

"War Machine."

"Wait, that's your friend Rhodey right?"

"Yep."

"Ah." Jaya tightened another bolt. "Are we going to do something anyway?"

"Yup. Steve is gonna pull the 'now look, son' on the President. Highly effective, I've been told."

AV-AV-AV

Jaya stared. And then stared some more. Then she moved to the stairwell and shouted down to the workshop. "Hey, Tony!"

"Yes, dear?" came the answering shout.

"What is this?"

"What is what?" he hollered.

"Can you come here?"

He came out of the workshop, wiping his hands on a greasy rag. "What's up?" He frowned at her hanging over the banister. "Safety violation!" he proclaimed, pointing at her.

"You're one to talk," she retorted. "What is that?" She pointed to the giant stuffed rabbit leaning against the wall.

"It's for Pepper," he said.

Jaya raised both eyebrows. She and Pepper had become friends over the last couple of weeks and, "I don't think that's her style," she said carefully.

He scowled at her. "JARVIS, why didn't you tell me earlier?" he demanded of the ceiling.

"You told me to butt out, sir," JARVIS replied placidly.

Jaya covered a giggle with her hand.

Tony glanced at her and snorted. "Fine, I admit it, not Pepper's style."

"You could try getting her an antique rocking chair," Jaya suggested. "Something with good back support, something restful."

He tugged at the end of her braid. "You just want to get your hands on more furniture."

She gave him a wide-eyed innocent look. "Who, me?"

"Brat," he said, without heat. "Fine. Order whatever, just, have it done by six okay, it's date night."

She nodded solemnly. "I won't let you down, Tony."

"Cool. Burn the rabbit." He went back downstairs.

Jaya tilted her head to look at the massive stuffed animal. "J?"

"Yes, miss?"

"Do you think he'd mind if I kept it?"

"I do not think Sir would notice, actually," JARVIS replied, sounding far too amused for a computer.

"Cool." She left it there for now and went to scour the internet for an appropriate gift.

She found a perfect antique rocking chair for sale further down the coast. "Delivery by five pm," Jaya said, satisfied. "I should have just enough time to restore it."

By the time Pepper came home the gift was polished, prepared, and Tony had tied a ribbon on the arm. "At least I can make some contribution to my own gift to my girlfriend," he muttered, no heat in his tone.

Pepper came in the door five minutes later. "Good eve...what the heck is that?" She pointed at the giant bunny still propped up against the wall.

Tony blanched, noticing its presence for the first time. "I thought I told you to burn it!"

Jaya burst into giggles. "Sorry, sorry, I meant to get it out of the way, but, it doesn't fit through the hall."

Pepper bit her lip in amusement as Tony scruffed his hands through his hair. "Ugh. Ignore that. This is yours." He presented Pepper with the rocking chair.

Jaya took the opportunity to escape from their 'horribly sappy date night'. She went to work on her homework and watch Dhoom 2.

AV-AV-AV