AN: Three more chapters after this, everyone! Just THREE. MORE. CHAPTERS!

It was almost four hours after they had learned Tony had been exonerated of all the charges and would be released right away from prison that they arrived in New York. Immediately they set out for the tower with Happy driving (of course) and yawning in the front.

"I can't believe how awake you are right now," Pepper said as she watched her husband stare out at the tall New York buildings as they drove by them. Even with the couple of hours of sleep they'd managed on the jet before landing, Pepper was finding herself suppressing more than a dozen yawns, and found herself fighting the urge to close her eyes.

Stealing a glance at her, Tony shrugged, "What can I say? The city looks more stunning than usual tonight." His eyes went back to the passing skyscrapers, "Honestly, Pep, I believed the last time I saw New York was in fact going to be the last time. I really… I really believed that when I returned here again, I'd be a dead corpse that you'd have to plan a funeral for."

A sharp intake of breath, and biting her lower lip were the only things that kept Pepper from commenting on what he had just said. Instead of speaking, she tightened her hold on his hand, drawing his attention back to her.

"I'm so glad, no I'm very grateful that things didn't turn out the way you believed they would."

"Yeah me too… I've never been so grateful in my life to be alive! The thought of leaving you and the kids behind… that was really the worst part of it." He kept his eyes on the passing city, but pulled her hand up to his lips, kissing it. A moment of silence, and looking over the window was broken by him saying, "Wow, the city's never looked more beautiful than does tonight! Don't you think that it looks..."

His voice trailed off when he turned to look at her, and saw her hand over her mouth, covering up a yawn, "Pep?"

Pepper finished her yawn, and sheepishly said, "I'm sorry. What were you saying?"

"Oh, I was just saying how much I want to volunteer to be your personal pillow right now."

"What?"

"I said, I'm volunteering to be your personal pillow," he said, tapping his shoulder, "C'mere."

Pepper only hesitated a second, then scooted over to him. She sighed happily as she laid her head down on his shoulder and he wrapped his arm around her, "Sorry."

"No, it's okay. Go ahead and take a little nap. I'll wake you when we're home."

"Ooooh... okay."

When her breathing evened out just a minute later, Tony smiled, and kissed the top of her head before returning his eyes back to the New York skyline. He was just starting to get sleepy again himself when Happy made the turn to enter the tower's private parking garage.

"Pepper?"

"Huh?"

"We're home, my love."

"We're home?"

"Mmmhmm, we're home. I expect Hap to open the car door in three… two…" Their friend and bodyguard did not disappoint them as the door opened right at that moment. He offered Pepper one hand to help her out of the car while covering up a wide yawn with his other, and then as Tony got out of the car he said, "Welcome back home, Boss."

The billionaire gave his friend a smile, and patted him on the back, "Thanks, Hap."

Happy swayed on his feet a little, "Come on, I'll see you upstairs."

Pepper yawned, then said, "Thank you, Happy, but we can make it from here by ourselves."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded, "Yes, I am."

He yawned again, "Okay if you're sure?"

"We are sure, Hap. We'll be okay," Tony assured him, "Get yourself upstairs to your floor and into bed."

Happy yawned, and nodded, "Okay, then boss, sounds good." He started towards the public elevator, and after pushing the button said, "Have a good night!"

"Thanks, Happy. You too," Pepper replied, adding as he stepped into the elevator, "Oh, and Happy? Be sure to take tomorrow off, okay?"

He nodded, "Yes, ma'am."

They watched him disappear behind the elevator doors, and then taking her hand, Tony said, "What do you say that we get upstairs and go to bed?"

"Sounds like Heaven to me," she replied with yet another yawn.

After wrapping his free arm around her waist he said, "Come on."

There was no need to push the button to summon the elevator car as the doors opened time they stepped up on the outside.

"Welcome home, Sir," JARVIS said the moment they were inside and the doors closed behind them.

"Oh, it is so good to hear your voice again, JARVIS," Tony said with a tired but wide smile.

"As it is with you, Sir."

Pepper teared up, hearing the unadulterated affection in the AI's voice. So much so that she hated to interrupt the moment but there was something she needed to ask, "JARVIS, are the others here?"

"Yes, Ma'am, they are - all of course except Captain Rogers. Mrs. Rogers has sent word that they should return to New York sometime tomorrow. General Rhodes is also absent at the present, as he currently in Washington D.C. but he asked me to inform you that he has already made plans to return to New York tomorrow as well."

"Hmm, I wonder what Rhodey's doing there?" Tony muttered.

In the meantime JARVIS continued, "The others have all gathered on the common floor, and have been awaiting Sir's arrival since upon their own arrival to the tower earlier this evening."

Pepper felt her husband perk up beside her.

"As tired as I am, I'd liked to go see them before we head up to the penthouse."

"Tony, are you sure?" Pepper asked as she studied him.

His face was haggard both from the long term lack of a quality sleep, as well as the fact that he had not had regular access to a razor regularly during his incarceration. He had bags under his eyes, and he seemed to be leaning heavily against the elevator wall just to remain upright on his feet.

"Yeah," he said, "I'm sure."

"Okay, but just please promise me that we won't stay long?"

He nodded, yawning, then agreed, "Okay, I promise."

"Good," she said, and then pressed the button for the Avengers' common floor.

"JARVIS said that Cap would be back in New York tomorrow. So where is he now and why isn't he here with everyone else?" Tony asked after a beat of silence.

"I guess they didn't tell you anything while you were prison."

"Tell me what?"

Pepper hit the halt button on the panel, and with a sigh answered, "Steve isn't here because he's been in prison."

"What?! He's in prison? What is he doing in prison?"

"Was in prison. He was but he's not now."

"Okay, so he's not in prison now. Great! But I want to know who put Captain America in prison in the first place? And why? Pep, what is going on?"

"The President."

"I'm sorry?"

"The answer to your question as to who put Captain America in prison in the first place, is the President."

"The President? As in the United States?"

Pepper nodded, "Yeah, as in the President of the United States. It's because the way the Avengers... how they got the President to halt your… well you know, that night is by breaking into the White House."

"Wow."

"Yeah, wow," she agreed, "I think the President was going to have them all locked up-"

"Except Thor," Tony interjected.

"What?"

"I mean I bet even President Sadler isn't arrogant or stupid enough to think he can get by without consequences from Asgard if he had Thor thrown in prison."

"Tony."

"Well, he isn't!"

"I think that's beside the point, don't you?" Pepper said in an exasperated yet amused tone, "Anyway, long story short, Steve talked the President into letting him take the brunt of the punishment for the break-in."

"How long has he been in lock up?"

"Since the night of your ex… of your-"

Tony kissed her, silencing her, "It's okay, Pep. You don't have to say the rest of it. I know how that sentence is supposed to end."

She nodded, looking at him her eyes glistening , "Anyway, he's been in there ever since then."

"About a month then, which is not bad all things considered. Still it couldn't have been fun for Cap," Tony mused.

"What do you mean?"

"Think about it, Pep. They probably had to keep him in what amounts to solitary confinement."

She gave him a puzzled looked, "Why would they do that? Steve wouldn't hurt any of the guards on purpose!"

Tony nodded his agreement, "No, he wouldn't. They'd have to keep him in isolation to protect all the of idiots who would love to make a name for themselves by taking Captain America down or out."

The look on her face said that she hadn't yet thought of what he just said, "Poor Steve."

He nodded, and had opened his mouth to say something else but was interrupted before he could say a word.

"Pardon me, SIr, but the others are starting to become concerned that you and Mrs. Stark have yet to arrive."

They both smiled, and Tony said, "Guess we'd better get on up there then before Barton climbs down into the elevator shaft to check on us."

"Yeah," Pepper agreed, and pressed the button to start the elevator back up.

"So they really broke into the White House?" Tony asked in an amused tone..

"Yeah."

"Oh my…" he shook his head, and started to laugh.

"What?"

"It's just hard for me to imagine that Captain-Always-Does-Everything-By-The-Book-Without-Any-Exceptions-Like-Ever actually broke into the White House. Cap's such a stickler for the rules, you know?"

"That may be the case, Tony, but Steve saved your life by making an exception-"

"A big time exception!"

Pepper nodded in agreement, "I want you to promise me that when you see him again, you are not going to give Steve a hard time about his breaking the rules?"

"I…"

"Because you wouldn't be here right now if he hadn't made that exception."

"I know, and I won't-"

The elevator doors opened, and they were greeted by the sight of the Avengers standing there in a half moon formation, their face all aglow with welcoming smiles. One by one they began clapping from the moment they saw them, and Tony found himself blinking away the tears his wife began outright crying.

As they stepped out, Clint and Sam began making whooping noises while Thor clasped Tony's forearm in the style of welcoming another warrior. "It it is most good to see you restored to freedom, my friend, and have you within our midst once more."

The billionaire had to swallow a few times before the lump in his throat would allow him to say, "Thanks, Hammer Time."

The Asgardian nodded, and stepped away to allow Natasha to approach next with her hand extended, "I'm glad that you're alright, Stark."

Releasing his wife's hand to take hers in both his own, Tony looked into her eyes for a moment before nodding, "Thanks, Red." He had turned to speak to Clint next when he turned again to address her, "Oh, and Natasha?"

"Yes, Tony?"

"If you didn't already know it, you've had my trust for a long time now… but now you finally have my forgiveness too."

The former assassin knew he was referring to that time she spied on him for Fury didn't have to ask what he meant. Instead, she nodded and said, "Thank you, that means a lot."

With a final nod, Tony turned his attention to the archer. After they went through one of the elaborate handshakes that Clint always seemed to favor, the billionaire nodded to him, "Thanks, Barton."

Clint nodded, lightly smacking him on the shoulder, "Not a problem, Stark."

Moving on to the last member of the team present, Tony extended his hand to Sam first, firmly shaking it when the other man clasped his hand, "Wilson… thank you."

Sam nodded, "You're welcome."

Releasing the man's hand, Tony shoved his hands in his pockets, obviously unsure about what he was about to say, "Uh look, I know I haven't exactly fully welcomed you to the team…"

The other man snorted, "That's an understatement I think." Truth was Sam had often felt the only reason the billionaire had accepted him in the least little degree was because he had married Rhodey's youngest sister.

"I'm sorry, and I wanted to say that once the dust from all this settles, I think you should come to my workshop, and while we'll work on upgrading your wings, we can work on our relationship from being strictly a working relationship towards being something more."

"Like an actual friendship?" Sam inquired, with only a touch of heat.

"Yeowch!" Tony said, clutching his heart, "That hurt but sadly it isn't anything I didn't have coming."

"But it doesn't have to stay like that from here on out."

"No… no it doesn't, and we'll… I'm gonna work on making it a thing of the past!" Tony said, offering his hand hand again.

Sam took it after a second, and they firmly shook hands, "Sounds good, man."

Pepper had stood back and quietly watched as her husband thanked their friends, their family for fighting to save his life. She wanted to do the same but her time would come in the following days. She let Tony have the spotlight because she knew that he needed to do this before he rested. But when she saw that he was beginning to flag, she stepped forward.

"Tony?" she said softly.

His eyes met hers, and he nodded. Looking around at the others he said, "Sorry, guys, but I think that's our cue to head on upstairs now. It's been a long day…"

"And even longer night," Pepper said coming up beside him, taking his hand.

"It is well, dear friends, if you have need to take your leave. We know that you are both in need of rest." The others echoed Thor's sentiments, and everyone quickly said their their goodnights to the exhausted couple. They had been about to step into the elevator when the Asgardian called out, "Anthony?"

"Yeah, Point Break?"

"When shall I return Ethan and Eva?"

The billionaire's eyes widened, and he looked at his wife before turning back to Thor to answer, "I wish I could say tonight, right now but-"

"You are far too weary," Thor concluded.

"Weary doesn't begin to cover how tired I am but yes we are weary Bone tired weary!"

"Understandable, my friend, given the ordeal you have passed through."

"Since we're probably going to sleep late tomorrow, why don't we have JARVIS alert you when we're awake and ready for the kids to return home?" Pepper suggested.

"That is a good plan, Lady Stark," Thor said. "Very well, I shall await word from JARVIS."

"Thank you, Thor."

"Hey," Tony began as soon as the doors had closed, and the elevator was in motion, "I know I agreed to going straight to bed after seeing the team, but-" He yawned widely, "As tired as I am right now, and I know they let me have one before I came out to you in the prison,,, but I think that I want to… no need get a shower first ."

It was obvious to Pepper as she watched him yawn again that he was now running on whatever reserve of energy that laid beyond fumes. It had only been a reserve of energy in the first place, one that he had quickly burned through during their brief visit to see everyone.. But even with those reserves gone she could see that he had meant what he said about needing a shower.

"You want to wash whatever is left of that prison, off." It was not a question.

"Yeah," he confirmed.

"I can understand that."

The doors opened, and as they walked through the penthouse with arms wrapped around each other, Pepper said, "I want to take a shower too, so why don't we just take one together?"

"Good idea 'cause with the way I can't seem to stop yawning, I might just drown like a rat in there if I take one alone."

Pepper bit her lip at the word drown since it implied dying but said nothing about it. Instead she just nodded, and said, "Okay, we will take one together then."

By the time they stepped into the bathroom, JARVIS already had the shower started and the steam from the hot water had warmed the room nicely. After getting undressed, Tony stepped into the hot water first, closing his eyes with a sigh as it ran down his tired body.

"Oh my... this feels so incredible!" he said and leaned back against the wall to let the water just fall over him. "They only let me have a shower two times a week, and the water was never hot. It wasn't really that cold, like freezing take away your breath cold, but it was not as hot like this water is either."

Pepper listened to him, and blinked away tears the mention of that place was always going to cause. She cried not because his experiences in there had not been luxurious but because he had almost died there. But he had not died in that awful place, and after she had pushed aside the thoughts of what almost happened, and she returned to the present.

Tony was still enjoying the euphoria of the hot water on his tired body when Pepper asked, "Would you like for me to wash your back for you?"

Pepper watched as Tony climbed into their bed then sprawled on his back against the pillows. He closed his eyes, and let out the biggest sigh of contentment she had ever heard in her life. She had been half watching him half pulling on her pajamas when she saw Tony become so completely still that she was sure that he had already fallen asleep. With her own sigh, Pepper finished getting dressed, carefully slipping into bed as the lights shut off.

"Thank you, JARVIS," she said softly, looking over at Tony.

"You are most welcome, Ma'am."

Since she didn't want to take a chance of waking him, Pepper satisfied herself with just being able to look at her husband again. She sighed again, and after a little while begin to feel sleep come over her. Her eyes had just closed when she heard Tony's voice quietly ask, "Hey, are you going to come over here or what?"

Her eyes snapped open, and she looked over to see Tony's eyes half open looking at her, "I thought you were asleep!"

"I will be… as soon as you come here, and get into my arms."

Pepper needed no further invitation, and scooted over to his side of the bed where Tony wrapped his arms around her. She felt him kiss the top of her head.

"I've missed you," he said, "Oh, man how I've missed you!"

"I've missed you too," she said quietly, "Go to sleep, Tony. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

"I'm so tired."

"I know, honey, Sleep now, okay?"

"Okay," he said, his voice slightly slurring from the exhaustion. "Love you."

"I love you too," she said. closing her eyes. "Sleep."

After one last hmph from him, Pepper could tell that Tony had at last fallen asleep when she heard his breathing even out. She laid there for a little while, just listening to his breathing, so grateful to hear the sound she never thought she'd hear again. Still that sound wasn't enough to lull her to sleep completely, so Pepper carefully shifted her head over to his chest to listen to Tony's heart beating underneath her ear.