It was a regular Sunday Morning in Avenger's Tower. Steve sat quietly in an armchair, reading a well-worn copy of the bible, with the news playing a "Money Matters" financial segment on low volume in the background.

Natasha was working quietly on her Stark Pad, Bruce was pouring over a medical textbook, and Thor was watching the TV intently, wondering how the people could fit into the box and how they'd gained such knowledge of this 'fiscal responsibility.'

Pepper was watching intently, as well, seated beside Amy on the couch. Today was one of her days off, and instead of her normal put-together appearance, she was in sweatpants and one of Tony's t-shirts.

Tony walked out of the kitchen, bearing three glasses of a golden, bubbling liquid. He grinned, handing one to Pepper and one to Amy in turn, before settling down on the couch between the two most important girls in his life, sighing with contentment.

HE caught the glare Steve was giving him and rolled his eyes. "Chill, Spangles. It's sparking grape juice."

Steve nodded, satisfied by the explanation, turning back to his bible.

"Stark Industries has skyrocketed over the past few months- what do you say, Marlin- good long-term investment, or no?"

The man onscreen grinned "Absolutely good. After the Iron Man innovation, Stark is taking the company in an entirely new direction- releasing new lines of defense tech for our armies, advanced IED detectors, everything. And after adopting his successor, Amy Khan, the company had definitely has a long, prosperous future ahead of it."

Tony sipped his grape juice nonchalantly, unaware of how Amy was staring at him, wide-eyed. After a minute or so, he finally noticed.

"What?"

"I- I'm gonna have to run Stark industries?" she said, voice shaking a little.

Tony shrugged. "Maybe. If you want to. It's all up to you, Amy- it's your life."

"But they just said…."

"You're his successor. But you can always be like Tony and find a charming, more-qualified person to get them out of all their business meetings and be CEO…." Pepper said, eying Tony.

"Did I mention you look beautiful today?" Tony asked, giving Pepper a cheesy grin.

"It's going to take more than that to make up for that drag of a meeting I was just at in Toledo." Pepper said seriously.

"Oh, don't worry- I'll pay up tonight." Tony said, a suggestive grin lighting up his features.

Steve blushed, suddenly feeling like he shouldn't be witnessing this conversation, while Thor grinned at their banter.

"Not in front of everyone!" Pepper said, indignant, and punched Tony on the shoulder.

"We interrupt this with breaking News from Boston. There's been a major catastrophe- A commercial plane has apparently crashed in the city center. Jet fuel from the failing liner began to leak, as a result numerous city blocks are now ablaze- it's estimated around a thousand people are either trapped in their homes or unable to escape the fire's path as a result. Rescue teams have begun to descend, but there is little hope of putting out the fire before it spreads…."

Everyone in the room looked up, shocked, at the footage of apartment complexes burning, people standing on roofs waving their arms, trying to get the attention of rescue helicopters….

"Oh my god…." Pepper muttered. She'd gone pale.

Steve had already closed his bible and was running towards the stairs- faster than the elevator, he figured. He needed to change. Thor was doing the same, and Natasha hurriedly stood, getting onto her communicator.

"Clint! I don't give a damn how hung over you are, we need to suit up! Now!"

Tony stood, shoving his glass of juice into Amy's free hand.

Pepper stood, looking shaky. She eyed Tony carefully- she hated it whenever he had to go out into these situations. Ever since the battle of New York…. "Be careful- okay?" she said, voice barely above a whisper.

"I will." Tony said, looking equally as mournful, before heading downstairs towards the lab, where he kept his suits in a locked bunker below….

"I love you…." Pepper whispered, but he didn't hear her, already racing downstairs to try and do what he was born to do- save lives.

BREAK

The next hour and a half was, to say the least, tense. The Avengers arrived on scene and were doing their best to put out the fire and save the civilians. That was when everything went to hell.

"We've just gotten word that New York is officially in a state of emergency. Governor Cuomo recieved a terrorist threat minutes ago from the terrorist group X-pol, and Drone strikes have been predicted in New York City. With the Avengers absent, residents are advised to remain in their homes...

Pepper's breath caught in her throat for a moment before her breathing quickened. A moment later she was curled into a ball, knees to her chest, hyperventilating.

"Oh my god. Oh my god, Tony, oh my god, what do we do!?"

"Come on!" Amy seized her by the wrist, pulling her to her feet and racing to the elevator, slamming the button for Tony's lab/workshop, emerging a moment later.

"This floor is twenty feet below ground- we'll be alright, Pepper." Amy said absently, running over to the computer terminal. Tony had briefed her on an emergency procedure, one he'd never had to use before...

She punched in the code, and a small circular door opened up. Amy found herself staring at the suit- the one Tony had replicated from before when he'd destroyed them all...

"Open." she commanded quietly.

With a hiss, the suit slowly opened, revealing a human-shaped half of armor could step into.

Pepper wiped her eyes, looking shocked. "I-what are you..."

Amy said nothing, simply seizing her by the shoulders and pushing her into the suit.

"Mode 1. Defense." she ordered calmly. She'd never forget the look of shock and fear on Pepper's face as the mask came down, as the other piece of armor slid back into place, completely incasing her in the suit.

"Amy! Amy, what are you doing!?" she demanded, anxious voice an octave higher than normal with fear.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Pepper- Tony, I... the plan. You're supposed to be protected."

"What the hell!? I can't move, I can't control it..." Pepper was forced to be still in the suit- it wouldn't respond to her moving, it was like she was in a metal coffin...

"It's in defense mode. It won't act until it detects a threat- it keeps you safe. I'm sorry, Pepper..."

"Amy! Amy where the hell are you going!?" Pepper screamed, as the suit came online, She could see Amy racing around the room anxiously, grabbing this and that...

"Answer me!" Pepper screamed, tears of both fear and terror streaming down her face.

Amy had a screw driver and one of her ionizing glove prototypes in hand, and was hurriedly screwing it shut over her arm carefully. She gave Pepper a nervous smile.

"Tony taught me a thing or two. He's busy now, so... I have to do what I can.

"You can't do this! You're going to get yourself killed!" Pepper stared at the image on the screen before her eyes. At the incredibly naïve, brave child standing before her.

Amy shrugged, finishing screwing on the one ionizing glove and moving to put on the other.

"Miss, I must advise a more reasonable course of action..." Jarvis spoke calmly, as always. Amy looked frustrated, prying open a control panel and tearing out a fistful of wires. Jarvis's voice instantly cut out, and she let out a relieved sigh. No one was going to tell her she couldn't make a difference anymore- no one was going to stop her from trying to help people.

She finished getting on the glove, and wordlessly started pulling on the rocket boots-they were just prototypes, she and Tony hadn't finished them yet, but they'd have to do...

She found a discarded helmet Tony had left and managed to wire it up to a battery- the optics came online, she could aim, possibly... And an prototype for a newer model of Cap's shield. She didn't have a chest plate, so she just had to hope the shield was as reliable as Cap said it was...

She nodded to Pepper, giving her a weak smile. "It'll be okay, Pep. I have to go..."

And she was gone.