Hello! I know you all are probably wondering where the heck I've been for a year. Long story short my parents banned me from writing on this website and I had to wait until I got to college. I'm so sorry you've had to wait so long for this. So instead of making you wait longer I included the Epilogue with this final chapter. It's hard to believe this whole series I've created is really over. Thank you all for embarking on the journey with me. And my most loyal follower Jimenush. This story is dedicated to you. I hope it is worthy enough for you. And I hope you all enjoy this ending. Leave me a review please! even if it's just to reconnect and say hi. It's good to be back guys. :)

Chapter 10: Bittersweet Endings

When they reached the hotel Peter bought another for John and put the girls in the one beside his, which had previously been occupied by John. He led them first into his room and motioned for them to try and get comfortable while he rummaged around for some clothes that they could change into. All he had was a pair of basketball shorts and two sizes too large tees.

"Sorry, this is all I have right now. I can get some better fitting clothes tomorrow."

"Thank you…for getting us out of there." Pepper said shakily, ready to break down and just sob.

"Can I get you something to eat?" He asked his heart aching.

"Kai, are you hungry?" Pepper asked softly. The girl nodded shyly hiding behind her.

"I'll get some ham sandwiches from downstairs." Peter said grabbing his wallet.

"I'll just have a salad, thank you." Pepper said softly.

"Alright. I'll leave the clothes out. When I come back I'll knock four times, alright?" He asked not wanting to alarm them. "Any less or any more and don't open the door, got it?" Pepper just nodded and watched him leave.

As he walked towards the elevator, he withdrew his cell and dialed the number Tony had made sure to plaster anywhere he could concerning Pepper.

"Tony, it's Peter Bedford, from M.I.T. You need to fuel your jet and come to Russia. I found someone you've been looking for. Yes. I found her and her friend in a strip club. We were shot at on our way out so I have no doubt they'll be looking for and find us if you don't hightail it over here. I'm at Holiday Inn, Moscow, Lesnaya, Room 320. See you soon." He hung up and made his way to the open market in the hotel and purchased two packaged ham sandwich meals and one Caesar salad.

It wasn't long before he was back upstairs and knocking. It took a minute but the door opened and Pepper stood in his clothes, swimming. Kai lay in the bed under the covers with the T.V on. He noticed she had on the discovery channel with the volume off.

"I brought food." He handed out everyone's respective items with a small smile. "I called Tony. He's on his way as we speak, you're safe now." Peter reassured.

"Thank you." Kai spoke softly.

"You're welcome." Peter replied giving her a small smile. "I'll take my friend's bed tonight so you guys can sleep there." The two nodded.

"May I have some water please?" Kai asked politely. She almost seemed afraid as though if she said the wrong thing he would hurt her. His heart broke even more, he couldn't believe just how strong the two of them were.

"Of course." He replied setting down his food and withdrawing two water bottles from the fridge.

Pepper had only eaten a quarter of the small salad when she pushed it aside. Kai on the other hand had already finished her sandwich, pickle, and pudding, and was currently eating the doritos. If he had to take a guess, he'd say that Pepper had been sacrificing most of her food ration to give it to Kai so the little girl would remain healthy.

"Pepper, you have to eat more. You've been starving yourself and you need to start eating again." He said gently trying to push her to eat more.

"I'm just full." She dismissed not fooling anyone.

"Pepper, I need you to eat at least half of that salad, you need to get some nutrients back into your body." She listened once Kai probed her to do so and forced another quarter of the salad into her stomach.

Not a minute later however, her frail legs carried her to the bathroom in a hurry. Peter could hear her retching and saw Kai cringe in the bed and begin silently crying. The girl appeared to be aware that Pepper had made herself ill so she in turn could maintain a normal appetite. Peter abandoned his food and went to tend to Pepper in the bathroom and assist her in cleaning up. She was so weak and mal-nourished that when he helped her up she collapsed in bed next to Kai and fell asleep.

"It's my fault." The little girl said looking at Pepper as tears streamed down.

"No it's not Kai, she knew what she was doing." Peter tried to calm the girl.

"She's dying because she tried to save me." Kai cried putting Pepper's arm around her and curling into her chest.

"Don't say that Kai." Peter said.

"Mal-noutrition. I'm young, not stupid. She's dying." Kai said bitterly.

"Tony will save her." He said trying to give the little girl hope. Kai continued crying until she finally fell asleep from exhaustion. Peter texted John about the room change and said he'd explain tomorrow. Shutting off the lights and locking the door, Peter got himself ready for bed and before laying down in bed to finish eating. He felt immensely proud and happy a reunion would soon be taking place.

XxxXXxxxxTerrorxxxxXXxxX

A series of knocks on the door woke up everyone and Peter was the one to quickly get up and assure safety was at the door and not harm. "Shh, don't move." He warned cautiously. He opened the door with the lock still on the door and peered through the crack. There was a desperate, ragged looking man with hope in his tired eyes. He closed the door and unlocked it completely. Peter opened the door and Tony came rushing in.

"Pepper?!" He cried. He heard her sobs and found her lying in bed, She quickly stood up and wrapped herself up in Tony's embrace. His eyes were glistening and it wasn't long before he began placing short kisses all over her face. "Shh, I'm here now baby, you're safe. I've got you." He continued to repeat this for the following five minutes until he felt someone tapping him. He released Pepper and turned to see who had touched him.

Pepper sniffled and wiped her tears. "Tony, this is Kai, Kai this is Tony."

She had a wide smile on her face. "I told you that he would save you Pepper. I told you he wouldn't stop looking." Pepper couldn't help but laugh and smile.

"Yes you did." She hugged Kai tightly. "Tony, this is your biggest fan. She's a genius too." Pepper said warmly.

"I love science. Your lecture in Switzerland was amazing. I've watched it like a hundred times on YouTube." Tony couldn't help but smile he liked this girl.

"Tony, she's coming home with us. She has no family except for me now."

"Well then that makes her my family too. Let's get home now. Rhodey is waiting on the plane impatiently." He said with a smile holding Pepper to his side. Kai slipped her hand into Tony's and looked up at him hopefully.

He smiled and squeezed her hand. "Thank you Peter. Whatever you want, anything you need, it's yours."

"I don't need anything man. This is reward enough." He said with a smile. Tony nodded his head and walked out the door with his girls.

XxxXXxxxxTerrorxxxxXXxxX

Epilogue

1 month later

Pepper left her counseling session with a deep breath and waited outside the next door for Kai's appointment to end. It'd been really hard adjusting back to normal life when all she could see was men who wanted to hurt her. Tony had suggested counseling back three weeks ago and it had been helping more than she thought it would for her and their daughter, well, adopted daughter. But it made no difference to both Tony and her. Tony and Kai seemed to connect on a level that Pepper couldn't understand. Kai and Tony both just said it was a science nerd connection but Pepper knew it was more than that. Tony had formed a father bond with her that she could never be able to share.

Pepper leaned against the wall and took a deep breath and closed her eyes beginning to play with her new ring that Tony had replaced. It had taken her three and a half weeks to be able to wear one of her old pencil skirts without feeling like she was going to be used. Tony had been so sweet throughout everything too. Even when she snapped and pushed him away he never got upset knowing that she wasn't doing it on purpose but just out of a defense mechanism that had been built. He never pushed her and was willing to take it easy and not touch her. She knew he had to feel hurt whenever she locked up around him but it was something she was trying to work on knowing that he only wanted to help and make sure she healed.

The door opened and she opened her eyes. Kai came walking out with a smile.

"Hey you, you ready to go meet up with daddy for lunch?"

"Are we going to Neptune's Net?!" She asked excitedly. Pepper just winked and took a hold of her hand. Sure Kai was twelve but they both enjoyed it. When they reached the restaurant Kai went running up to Tony and embraced him in a tackling hug that had him groaning. His ribs were still healing but feeling her hug him was worth the pain. He had become quite the father within the past month and he was rather proud of the change. It had been easy to accept Kai when she reminded him so much of himself. He couldn't help but smile whenever he was with her.

The past month had been one long rollercoaster trying to help Pepper, adjust to adopting a child, and trying to plan their wedding. Rhodey had been more than willing to assist in any way he could and he too had formed a bond with Kai. Everyone she seemed to come in contact with she left them smiling.

"So how did counseling go?" He inquired taking a sip of his scotch.

"Good." They both answered. Tony shook his head and smiled. "So we need to make a quick stop after lunch before heading home, okay?"

"Where are we going?" Pepper asked curiously not having any knowledge of his plans.

"You'll see." He replied.

XxxXXxxxxTerrorxxxxXXxxX

The three of them stood looking at the gravestone marked Happy Hogan. "Who was he?" Kai inquired wondering why they were both getting teary eyed.

"He uh, he saved us. Saved Pepper, from the people who kidnapped us and he took a bullet to save us." Tony said trying to hold back the tears.

"Oh."

"He was Tony's bodyguard and driver for the longest time and was one of his closest friends, my closest friends." Pepper sniffled as her tears began to fall. "God I miss him. He didn't deserve to die."

Tony chuckled. "Do you remember the time when Happy kept trying to ask you out?"

This drew a laugh from Pepper. "Oh god. He kept asking me everyday and bringing me flowers."

Tony laughed even more. "And then you finally told him you only liked girls." They both laughed and a tear fell from Tony's eye. "He was one of the loyalist friends I've ever had and the best guy I could have asked for to protect me."

"Thank you." Kai whispered to the man buried that had her parent's respect and admiration.

When they turned to leave Kai looked once more at the grave that clearly was well taken care of. She wished she could have met Happy but was grateful knowing he had sacrificed himself to save them.

"Love is invincible facing danger and death. Passion laughs at the terrors of hell. The fire of love stops at nothing—it sweeps everything before it." Song of Solomon 8:6-8 The Message.

End