Tony took Pepper back to her apartment so she could help Jade call people who could fix the apartment's front entrance. Jade had already called the dean to ask for advice on what to do; she was just left to contact a trustworthy contractor. The dean had explained that as long as they called the contractor, the university would pay the insurance or the bill, since the damage done hadn't been through any fault of their own.

"Are you sure you don't want to come back to the city with me, at least to assure your dad that you're okay?" Tony asked.

"I want to, but I don't think I can take the time off. Besides, I don't know if the government considers it safe enough yet to let me stay there again." Pepper responded.

"Alright…are you sure you want me to go back? I can always stay with you as long as you need." Tony offered.

"No, Tony, I'm okay. If I need you I'll Skype you or something. Jade and I can probably handle it for now." Pepper explained.

"Are you sure that you're sure?"

"Yes, Tony, I'm definitely sure that I'm sure that I'm sure. And if you ask me one more time if I'm sure, I'm just going to make you leave." Pepper explained, sticking a warning on the end before Tony could say anything more.

"Alright, then, I guess I have to get going back. Lots of work to do…I'll call you, okay?" Tony began the farewells and they said their goodbyes for a few more minutes; that mostly meaning their words turned into kisses very quickly. Jade had to clear her throat very loudly and obnoxiously to get Pepper off of Tony. Rhodey and Tony just began their journey back to the city.

"I kinda feel bad that he has to leave so suddenly," Jade said.

"Yeah, that's what I get for falling in love with an important businessman…" Pepper sighed. They continued their search the phone book for a contractor.

~…~

Back in New York, Tony had just landed on top of the Stark building when suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his side and he went flying back. When he stood, he found Whiplash looming, waiting for Tony to stand so he could strike again. Rhodey had gone to put War Machine in the armory and back home for some rest; Tony was on his own.

"What, you two aren't done yet? You haven't realized that that was four, five years ago even, and by now it has little to no effect on any of us? We've forgotten the whole incident; it's just a funny incident and memory by now. Revenge really isn't necessary." Tony said tiredly. He really just didn't want to deal with such a thing right now.

"Tell that to my boss. But for now, this will be fun." Whiplash responded.

"Yeah, for one of us…" Tony mumbled. Keeping in mind that they probably knew his secret identity, he knew he needed to stop them. Them knowing Pepper's secret location was enough to anger Tony, because he knew that they could hurt her and he couldn't do anything about it. He knew he had to stop them, for his loved ones' sakes.

Whiplash thrust his dangerously electrified chains at Iron Man; they wrapped around his abdomen area, but he ripped them off and they fell to the ground. Tony fired his repulsors at Whiplash, which delayed the villain momentarily. After a brief pause Whiplash shot a chain which broke into tiny, individual bombs that were aimed to pierce Tony's armor, but Tony deflected them with his force field.

The tiny bombs hit Whiplash and exploded; yet this still did not stop him. Tony aimed his shoulder missiles at Whiplash and fired them, sending Whiplash spiraling to the ground, but after a minute or two he shook it off and lashed his whips at Iron Man. Iron Man stopped them by catching them in his hands and spun Whiplash around, then let go, sending Whiplash into a building.

Whiplash did not stir for a little bit but then shook it off once more and flew up on his flying saw blade, by now aiming to just push Iron Man around. He threw out his hands and grabbed Iron Man by the neck, causing Iron Man to grab Whiplash's arms, trying to push him away. After a moment of struggling Tony finally threw Whiplash into a building.

This went on for a while, the effect-less back and forth punching and repulsors and whips, until finally Tony gained the upper hand on Whiplash. He had managed to weaken him significantly throughout the dispute, and had him pinned to the wall of a building.

"Where is Fix?" Iron Man demanded.

"I won't tell you!"

"I have sonic disrupters and a flame thrower adapted into this armor. And that's the least of it. I'm not afraid to finish the job if I have to. Tell me where Fix is!" Tony demanded.

"Fine, I'll tell you! His headquarters are in an abandoned warehouse on 4th street!" Whiplash explained. Iron Man dropped Whiplash to the ground far below, where S.H.E.I.L.D. was waiting to arrest him and find Fix so he could be arrested as well.

~…~

As Tony was landing in the armory, exhausted, he answered a call on his phone from Rhodey.

"I heard on the news you were stuck in a battle with Whiplash, you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I managed to get him to spill Fix's location and by now they're both in S.H.E.I.L.D. custody." Tony explained.

"Good. I'm gonna go back to my nap." Rhodey hung up. Tony tiredly stumbled out of the armory and drove home to his house (he had bought out the house that he and his father had lived in a half a year after graduating from high school and taking over Stark International. The time in between he had an apartment, but he had slowly realized that he had missed their home.) He threw his car keys in his key bowl, and when he walked into his living room to sit down on his couch, Pepper was already standing there.

"Pepper? What in the—how did you get here?" Tony asked, surprised.

"It only took me a few minutes after you left for me to realize that I can't bear to be far away from you." Pepper explained.

"But what about school? You need to finish college?" Tony asked.

"Jade and I were given a few days away from our studies to compensate with the damages done to our apartment. In the meantime I decided to meet you back in New York because I miss you." Pepper explained. Tony shrugged, wrapped his arm around Pepper's shoulders, then proceeding to plop himself on the couch, taking Pepper with him. Pepper nuzzled into Tony's chest and together they drifted off to sleep.

In their minds, the perfect happily ever after.

Well, there's our lovely ending. Took me long enough, right? Lol :3 well happy New Years to you all and I hope you have a good holiday (: P.S. I'll update my other stories some time tomorrow. Review?