Gemma looked at herself through the mirror in the small room at the Stark Industries headquarters. The room was sparse with two TV screens broadcasting the press conference that was taking place right outside. Behind her, Pepper and Agent Coulson were discussing something inaudible and Tony was reading the newspaper. It had been two days since the fight between Tony and Obadiah, and Tony was going to give his statement at the press conference momentarily. Gemma was wearing a crimson pencil skirt and a white blouse. Her hair was in a neat, wavy side-ponytail. On the TV screen, Rhodey was giving a statement about non-military involvement. "'Iron Man', it's got a nice ring to it," Tony said, catching her attention. "Well technically, the suit's made of gold-titanium alloy, but I like it," Gemma added. Tony ruffled her hair, and she gave him a friendly glare.

"Here's your alibi," Agent Coulson said, giving him a couple cue cards. "You were on your yacht," he continued. "We have port papers that put you in Avalon that night and sworn statements from fifty of your guests."

"See, I was thinking that we could say that it was just Pepper and me, alone on the island," Tony said. Gemma cleared her throat. "And Gemma would be there," he added as he put his arm around her. "Yeah, I'd be one chaperoning you guys," Gemma said and Pepper chuckled. "That's what happened," Agent Coulson agreed. "Just read it, word for word." Tony skimmed the cards, and then looked back to the agent. "There's nothing about Stane here," he told him. "That's being handled," Agent Coulson reassured him. "Small aircrafts have such poor safety records."

"But what about the whole cover story that it's a body guard? That's kind of flimsy don't you think?" Tony asked. Gemma didn't really understand what he meant, but she assumed that the story would raise suspicions. "This isn't my first rodeo, Mr. Stark. Just stick to the official statement, and soon, this will all be behind you." Agent Coulson turned to leave, but both Gemma and Pepper stopped him. "We just want to say thank you very much for all your help," Gemma told him. "That's what we do. You'll be hearing from us," Agent Coulson replied. "From the Strategic Homeland…" Pepper started but was cut off. "Just call us S.H.I.E.L.D.," he told them and then strode out of the room.

"Let's get this show on the road," Pepper said as someone told Tony that he'd be on it ninety seconds. "You know, it's actually not that bad," Tony said gesturing to the cue cards. "Even I don't think I'm Iron Man."

"You're not Iron Man," Pepper told him, straightening his tux. "Am so," he retorted. "You're not," Pepper said sternly. Tony gave up. "All right, suit yourself." He paused for a couple seconds then said, "You know, if I were Iron Man, I'd have this girlfriend who knew my true identity."

"Oh god," Gemma said and rolled her eyes. "She'd be a wreck," he continued. "'Cause she'd always be worried that I was going to die, yet so proud of the man I've become. She'd be wildly conflicted, which would make her only crazier about me. Tell me you never think of that night."

"Are you talking about that night we danced and went up on the balcony, and you went downstairs to get me a drink, and you left me there by myself? Is that the night you're talking about? " Gemma remembered the night of the charity gala. Mostly her sitting out on the balcony, watching the stars, and being pulled out by Tony. He blinked. "Thought so," Pepper finished. She was still in front of him, fiddling with his tux. "Will that be all Mr. Stark?"

"That will be all Miss Potts," Tony said, kissed Gemma on the forehead and exited the room to give his statement. Gemma and Pepper watched him on the TV. "And now, Mr. Stark has prepared a statement. He will not be taking any questions. Thank you," Rhodey said, as he got down from the podium and her father got on it. "Been a while since I was in front of you, I figure I'll stick to the cards this time," Tony joked to lighten the mood. A few people in the crowd chuckled. He cleared his throat. "There's been speculation that I was involved in the events that occurred on the rooftop and freeway-"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Stark," a female reporter interrupted him. The camera panned and Gemma saw that it was Christine Everhart from the night of the Apogee Awards. Gemma wanted to tell her to shut up, but only gritted her teeth. "Do you honestly expect us to believe that that was a body guard in a suit conveniently appeared, despite the fact that-"

"I know that it's confusing," Tony cut her off. "It's one thing to question the official story, and another thing entirely to make wild accusations or insinuate that I'm a superhero-"

"I never said you were a superhero," Christine corrected him. Gemma narrowed her eyes. Beside her, Pepper was twiddling her pen. She could tell that Pepper was beyond annoyed. "Didn't?" Tony continued. "Well good, because that would be outlandish, and fantastic. I'm just not the hero type, clearly," he was starting to lose it. "With this laundry list of character defects, all the mistakes I've made, largely public…" he trailed off. Get back on track, Gemma thought. "Tony, read the cards," Pepper muttered quietly. On the screen, Rhodey whispered something to Tony. He was probably telling him exactly what Gemma was thinking. "The truth is…" Her father looked down at his cards and then back to the crowd. It seemed as if he was looking directly at Gemma. She stared into his eyes through the screen. There was a prolonged silence. She started to twirl her hair, nervous about what he was going to say. He wouldn't do it. Would he?

Tony opened his mouth to speak. Gemma held her breath. "I am Iron Man."

Author's Note: This is the last chapter! Thank you so much to all those who have read and reviewed/followed/favourited etc. I am working on a sequel to this story so stay tuned for that. I'm not sure when I'm going to publish it but I hope soon. Please note that future updates will not be as frequent so I apologize for that. Anyway thanks again for reading!

-CaptainoftheUSSTardis