Now that Tony was gone, Mira felt a slight ping of relief. He was none the wiser to what actually went on these past few months. But her relief was nothing compared to the worry she felt for her uncle. That energy source in his chest may have been efficient, but she knew it was doomed to fail somehow. Even though Tony and her had a lot of money, their family hadn't been lucky in a long time.

Feeling her right hand begin to shake, Mira knew it was time to blow off some steam. She hastily made her way back to her room, not sure how long Tony would be out. In seconds, her dress was unzipped and thrown to the floor and her shoes were kicked off. They were quickly replaced with a hot pink sports bra and tight yoga pants. Her sneakers were within arms reach as were her hair ties.

"Would you like me to prepare your office, Ms. Stark?"

"Yes, Jarvis. And turn up the heat. I want to sweat."

"Very well, Ma'am."

Mira started warming up by jogging in place. She wanted to get her heart pumping and the adrenaline surging. She needed to forget everything for just a little while and this was the best way to do it.

"Your office is ready."

"Thank you, Jarvis." Mira's legs sprinted across the hall and pushed open the door.

One dim light hung from the ceiling along with a long, brown punching bag. Weights lined the right wall and a treadmill sat mostly unused on the left. Mats covered the floor completely. A hologram projected the beginning of an exercise video on the far wall. Under it, a table stood with bottles of water and one set of wireless earphones. Mira grabbed the earphones and placed them in her ears.

"The usual music choice, Ma'am?"

"No," she answered sternly.

"Then what would you like to listen to?"

"Anything but that."

"Do you want me to compose a playlist of songs like AC/DC without AC/DC?"

She stopped jogging next to the punching bag. "Just... no classic rock. At all."

"Some new rock then?"

"Jarvis, just play something that will get the blood pumping. I don't care what it is. Play the video."

"Very well."

The video began and Mira moved her body in every direction the instructor demanded. She hit the bag with as much force she could muster up as the music began to play. Jarvis had chosen Dance Dance by Fall Out Boy. Mira knew the tune well and timed each hit with the beat. This was her typical workout routine. To her, timing was everything.

Song after song blasted on the speakers in the office. She could hardly hear the instructions in her earphones, but that was the way she liked it. The instructions were only good for when she didn't know what she was doing, which rarely happened.

Sweat dripped down her face and her hands began to bleed at the knuckles, but Mira didn't stop. Even though the bottoms of her feet were starting to burn, she pushed through the pain. This was her most intense workout yet. She wasn't going to let some pain and blood end this rush.

Halfway through Blink 182's First Date, Jarvis interrupted. "Ms. Stark, I believe you are well overdue for a break."

"What the hell, Jarvis? I'm fine," Mira snapped.

"Ma'am, you should really have some water."

"Put the music back on, Jarvis."

"But I think there's something you should see."

Feeling her adrenaline start to die down, Mira gave in. "Okay. What?" She popped open a bottle of water as Jarvis played a video on the television.

A man in a white button down shirt and a blue pokadotted tie appeared. "Stark Industries. I've got one recommendation. Ready? Ready?" He slammed his hand on a button. "Sell! Sell! Sell! Abandon ship. Does the Hindenburg ring any bells? Let me show you the new Stark Industries business plan." He took a bat and smashed a the closest mug. "That's a weapons company that doesn't make weapons."

Mira had enough. "Shut it off. You know I never really gave a crap about the company. Not my problem."

"I thought you would have been interested in seeing what's going to happen when they shut down weapons manufacturing."

"That was Tony's call, Jarvis. Now, put my music back on and let's keep going."

Without another word, Jarvis resumed the music and Mira carried on. Without intentionally doing so, she imagined that stock guy's face where her fist landed. Her mind was riddled with negativity. "He's doing a good thing, you dillhole, she thought to herself. He's finally making this world a safer place. Took him long enough. Why can't the rest of you just see it? All you people care about is money."

She continued this thought process for awhile, each and every thought more pressed than the last. Her mind races, constantly changing topics. She often liked to have her mind clear when working out, but there was just too much stored up there to ignore. She would rather be keeping herself busy than be alone with these thoughts.

Mr. Brightside by the Killers started to play overhead, but was cut short. Mira furiously ripped out her earphones. "Damn it, Jarvis! What now?"

"That wasn't me, Ma'am."

Mira's head whipped around, fearing that it was Tony that would be standing there. To her relief, it was Pepper.

Pepper held her hands away from her body, not wanting to touch anything. "You've got to be kidding me."

Mira's face scrunched. "Can I help you?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact you can, Mira," Pepper snarled.

Mira grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her neck. "Why are you getting mad at me?"

"You were supposed to talk to him, Mira."

"He came home and left. Didn't offer me much time."

"He's been home for hours."

"No he hasn't. He just left. Right Jarvis?"

Jarvis took a second to respond. "Actually, Ma'am, he's been home for four hours. He knocked on your door, but you didn't answer."

"Are you serious? Jarvis, why didn't you tell me?"

"You were in the middle of your workout and he told me not to bother you."

"Wait. Did you tell him I was working out?"

"No. I just said you were working."

Pepper stepped forward. "Mira, you need to talk to him."

She ignored Pepper's statement. "Why are you standing like that?"

She sighed. "He made me change the thing in his chest."

Mira couldn't believe it. "He took it out? Did you take him to a hospital?"

"No. He made a new one and I had to stick it in his chest."

Mira crossed her arms, feeling how warm she actually was. "How did he make a new one so fast?"

"I don't know. That doesn't matter. What's important is he knows something's wrong. He thinks you're not telling him something because you want to leave. That's why he asked me to change the glowy thing."

"Arc reactor," Mira corrected.

"Whatever it's called. Mira, just talk to him." Pepper turned her back and began leaving the room. "Oh, and Mira, take a shower. You smell."

"Yeah, well, you don't smell like a basket of roses either."

Pepper popped her head back into the office. "That's because my hands were in your uncle's chest. I washed them three times already and I can't get the smell off."

Mira shook her head. "That is disgusting."

"Tell me about it."

Once Pepper was gone, Mira felt the true weight on her shoulders. She had missed her uncle greatly from the moment she got the news and, even though he was back, something wasn't right. This event made the both of them completely different people. Tony Stark was home, but Mira still missed her uncle.