A/N: Hi! my intention is to post new chapters everyday but yesterday my boyfriend wanted to see Pacific Rim haha...I'm sorry... but here I am again! I hope you enjoy this. Things will get a little troubled in New York and here is where it all starts! Thanks for all your reviews and I'm looking forward to read your thoughts on this chapter.

PS: Pacific Rim was great! go see it!

Let's reaaad :)

Chapter 9: The ghosts

Tony was feeling nervous. When the pilot announced they were about to land he shuddered, he felt cold and sick, maybe he wasn't ready after all.

Pepper was saying something about the Stark Tower but he was ready to faint and, of course, he didn't hear a word though he nodded and smiled. When they hit the ground he jumped in his seat, tapping with his fingers. Things got worse when they came out of the plane.

"Mr. Stark, we have to leave, there's a lot of press in and out the airport" His driver said as they approached the town car. Pepper felt Tony's grip on her hand tighten. The man spoke again. "Also, Mr. Banner is already waiting for you at Stark Tower." Tony nodded and pulled Pepper in the car with him. She knew he was sweating and cold. They were quiet for almost the whole ride to the tower.

"Talk" She finally said

"It's great to be back, do you want something for dinner? It's about midnight here but I'm a little hungry. Did I tell you Bruce is going to work with us? He was in Canada, but got my message and came here to help. I need to call Fury too"

"What was that?" she frowned.

"Pretty much…everything that's going through my head"

"I see. I'm still not sure this was a good idea"

"Please" he turned to her "this was a great idea, we can relax and work without anybody bothe…" he stopped when he saw pepper looking something behind him with a worried expression "Oh God, the sooner I get you better, the sooner we'll be outta here." He added when he turned to see a horde of reporters crowding outside the tower. She felt when tony gripped her hand.

"Please, take us inside the tower" she said to the driver as the young man tried to honk his way to the underground parking in the building. They saw flashes and barely heard voices calling their names until they were inside. Tony rushed out of the car.

They were on the elevator. Tony was a little sweaty, and quiet again.

"Tony, I've been with you for years; when you are quiet, and that never happens, I can notice"

"Gimme a break here Pep, I'll be fine when I get to do a little work"

"Oh yeah, forgot you have a play date with Bruce. I normally hate when you bury yourself in the lab but if that will keep you relaxed it's fine for me" she caressed his arm.

"Though I prefer to bury myself in some other places" he turned to Pepper and put his hands around her hips "A little work is just what I need… especially considering that said other places are not currently available " he smirked. At least, inappropriate innuendos were enough to know her Tony was there.

"Work hard and they will be very soon" she put her hands on his chest with a suggestive smile. Tony blinked. And hugged her closer to kiss her softly. Jarvis interrupted them when they reached the top floor.

"Welcome home, it's nice to see you both"

Pepper struggled to pull Tony away as he was kissing her cheek and then her neck. She giggled when tony begged to stay in the elevator with a soft whisper to her ear.

"Sir, I'm sorry to interrupt your affective activities but Dr. Banner is already waiting for you at the medical floor." Tony stopped and sighed against Pepper's neck, then lifted his head.

"J, we have talk about this. What do we do when I'm with miss Potts?"

"Don't interrupt you, sir. But due to her condition I assumed you can't…"

"Enough of that!" Pepper interrupted and finally pushed Tony away. "Is Dr. Banner already installed in the building?"

"Yes, he took possession of one of the apartments; and Miss Potts, I have 79 messages for you, most of them requiring an interview regarding the events of the past days"

"Oh my God" She said as she walked in the penthouse "We'll need to schedule a press conference" when Pepper didn't hear steps she turned to see Tony paralyzed and still in the elevator. "Tony" she said with a low voice

"Right…" he walked in looking to every corner of the big living room, everything looked just like he remembered before Coulson arrived that night, t was almost like anything happened.

"The place looks great, don't you think?"

"I would prefer to redecorate a little" he stared at the window, remembering how a god threw him like he wasn't heavier than a feather.

"I brings bad memories for me too"

"I know"

"Well, that's what I get for being a super hero's girlfriend" he smiled. "We will redecorate. And now I can do all the heavy lifting" now they both laughed.

"No more heavy lifting for you. It was embarrassing enough the last time" she rolled her eyes "Wanna come to say hi to Bruce?"

"Not now, I have to make a few calls, and it's late"

"Actually, it's pretty early" he said looking to his watch. It was 1:30 am

"You go, but hurry" she gave him a peck and went to their bedroom, ordering Jarvis something Tony didn't pay attention to. He took the elevator again; he was a little edgy, but better than he thought.

"Look who's finally here" said Bruce when Tony entered one of the labs in the huge medical floor.

"Miss you pal!" they hugged "I really need your brain right now" Tony said as they sat in the couch Bruce was before.

"I did read your notes. This thing is amazing" Bruce said holding a folder.

"Dude, it's not amazing when it's threatening your girlfriend's life. And thanks for the help by the way…what an Avenger"

"You said you didn't want us to be the justice league." Bruce teased giggling a little.

"Yeah, I know"

"You still defeated the bad guys, didn't you?"

"Totally kicked their burning Asses. I'm Iron Man"

"Yeah…then why do you want to get the arc reactor out of your chest?" He said pulling document out of the folder.

"We can talk about that later. Extremis first"

"Do you realize that the procedure takes more time than what the shrapnel needs to get to your heart right? If you take it out…"

"It's an option Bruce, forget about that" Tony said with an irritated voice.

"If you love Pepper as much as you said you don't have to just cure her Tony. You have to take care of yourself too, don't do anything stupid"

"Just drop it"

"I'm not talking about the surgery. Have you seen yourself in a mirror? You fought like three days ago. You need a doctor, and rest"

"Look, I didn't came here to take a lecture so…" he tried to stand but Bruce interrupted him.

"Fine. I won't talk about it. We'll start in the morning"

"That's better" Tony both stood up, Bruce was still reading documents from the folder

"We'll fix her. But go to sleep now, I need you 100%"

"Thanks man. I can't trust many people you know, and she's my entire life" Bruce nodded with a smile as Tony hugged him and then walked away.

When he entered his bedroom Pepper was watching the news. They were slowly getting back to reality. One day Tony Stark was dead, the world was mourning their most beloved hero, and the next one he was alive and defeated a whole terrorist group, a normal one for the world.

"You look tired" Pepper said

"I am. I came back from the dead" He went to the bed and placed his head on her legs. Pepper massaged his scalp softly. "Oh, this feels so good" he sighed while relaxing at her touch.

"What did Bruce say?" she continued, looking at Tony with love in her eyes.

"We'll start tomorrow" he yawned.

"Get out of those clothes" she said trying to pull his t-shirt.

"Yeah baby…" He was half asleep. She giggled a little until she saw the bruised back of his boyfriend.

"Tony" she sounded severe and he frowned. "Tony get up" He sat, looking exhausted.

"Before you say something. I feel completely fine." She continued pulling out his shirt "Don't do this Pep"

"Arms up" He obeyed. When he was shirtless Pepper looked at him with her angry Pepper face, as he called it. "Any broken bones?"

"No, just a dislocated shoulder, but the doctor at Shield fixed it. I swear I'm fine honey"

"You don't look fine" she touched a cut on his stomach

"I've been worse" he reached her hand and kissed it

"Do you want a massage or something?"

"I don't think I could… resist… that, and I'm not talking about pain" she caressed his face softly "I've been taking some pills" she sighed.

"Well, then just sleep. We'll talk about this tomorrow. You need to slow down Tony" He lay back again and snuggled her closer, kissing her softly without a word.

He was fast asleep, again. She was happy that being in New York didn't affect him, but it was affecting her. She was worried about what happened in the plane. She felt like she was about to explode, what if the virus was becoming unstable? But she didn't want Tony to work as tired as he was. And what if she had another nightmare?

At 7:00 am Jarvis woke Tony up.

"Good morning sir. It's 7 am, December 27th."

When he reached to Pepper she wasn't there. He opened his eyes to find himself alone; still shirtless and wearing his jeans.

"Jarvis where's Pepper?" he said still tired.

"Miss Potts is sleeping in the guest room, sir."