Iron Man 3

Location: Stark Tower Laura's penthouse/office. Christmas time

"Ok Jarvis one final time for Tony and then it's Christmas" Laura said as she plugged in her Galaxy Note 2 as "C.R.E.A.M." by Wu Tang Clan came on as she stepped out towards the middle of the room with four large glass cases with her suits in the background as the robotic arm with the camera on it followed her as she walked out with the bracelets on while looking at her arm with the injection marks. "Damn you Tony those things hurt like a mother so this better work" she murmured to herself as the music was blasting from the speakers. "Oh yeah now this is music Tony not whatever that Christmas crap Jarvis played" Laura told herself nodding her head. "Ok… bracelet retraction beta test for the BlackWing Mark 42 day 21 test 3 now Jarvis we're going for accuracy not speed we don't want any more broken windows now do we" Laura asked sarcastically?

"No, we don't Ms." Jarvis joked.

"Right… now 3,2,1" as she gestured her arms and the pieces of her suit flew towards her one at a time and came on and attached to her. "Awesome Jarvis copy that, run diagnostics and send it to Tony I know we've been perfecting this since the thing" Laura asked as the suit came off her.

"Right away Ms. may I suggest getting some sleep you've been up for…" Jarvis suggested but was interrupted.

"Not now Jarvis" Laura said while looking in the mirror at the bags under her eyes. She glanced at the tv and saw a news report of Iron Patriot and smiled "oh, this just made my day I'll make sure to harass Rhodey about this later.


Finishing up the report she sent it to Tony and sighed "and now it's Christmas". Grabbing her case, keys and a small spear handle putting into a secure loop on her jeans as she began walking towards her car in the garage and called Rhodey "Hey Laura merry Christmas" Rhodey answered. "Merry Christmas Iron Patriot" Laura replied smugly as she entered the garage below the tower walking towards her car.

"Yeah yeah" Rhodey sighed.

"I am ashamed Rhodey I thought I would've heard about this from someone I count as a brother not the news tisk tisk" Laura said dramatically as she pressed her hand against the door as it scanned her finger prints on her new black Tesla Model S p85 d with the solar panel roof on top as it unlocked and sat down putting the handle in the cup holder.

"You almost done Laura…" Rhodey said unimpressed as Laura started the car.

"No Tony and I would hold an intervention for you as this is just embarrassing for us along with you it's like if Steve had a suit" Laura joked.

"Anymore one liners" Rhodey asked?

"Not now but I'll call when I think of them" Laura finished.

"So seriously, how are you" Rhodey asked concerned?

"I'm fine" Laura answered quickly hoping to get out of the conversation.

"Are you sure" Rhodey asked knowing she was lying again.

"Yes, Rhodey I'm fine" Laura answered annoyed.

"Look Laura as I've already said before I'm not trying to be a dick ok I…" Rhodey tried but was interrupted.

"As I said for the millionth time I'm fine" Laura said through her teeth gripping the steering wheel tightly.

"Ok ok" Rhodey said giving up.

Sighing "Yeah… so I'm spending Christmas with family not working for once so… Merry Christmas and see you at some point after New Year's" Laura told him. "Ok Laura have a good Christmas" Rhodey said hanging up.

"Breath Laura breath" she told herself looking in the mirror as she turned on the radio hearing a report about the mandarin and began driving towards her sister's apartment building to bring to their parents house "I should call Tony about this guy later" she told herself. A short while later she pulled up to the entrance of Jessica's apartment building and she got into the passenger seat "So this is the new car" Jessica asked looking around?

"Yep the Tesla Model S p85d #002" Laura said using her fingers. "Elon sold it to me for a $1 thanks for my consultant work with Tesla working on the supercharger network" Laura said as they drove onto Riverside Drive as she turned on the auto pilot barely holding the steering wheel.

"Are you ever going to tell me what this thing is" Jessica asked grabbing the handle as Laura took it from her quickly?

"Its not a toy and no you don't need to know everything about me" Laura answered.

"As your older sister I do it's the law and what is it I still haven't figured out what your boyfriend gave you since you carry it with you everywhere" Jessica asked again while smiling as Laura gave her a death stare.

"Don't even try to deny it now the five minutes I saw you with him as he picked you up confirmed everything, I already knew and you still owe me 20 bucks by the way" Jessica said smugly since they bet $20 Laura wouldn't end up with him.

"I will neither confirm nor deny anything" Laura said as she plugged in her phone's in the usb as "Master of Puppets" by Metallica came on.

"You have a weird taste in music" Jessica told her as it came on.

"It's called having a wide palate" and they drove up to their parents house seeing cars of her family members.

Pulling up at her parents' house they got and walked inside "Hey mom, dad, David, Ashley and hello John getting down towards her toddler nephew hugging him as she greeted everyone with Jessica next to her.

"Merry Christmas" her brother said hugging her.

"You to guys" Laura said looking around.

"New car Laura" her Uncle asked looking out the window?

"Yeah, the Tesla Model S p85 d #002 thanks to my work with Elon Musk 100% electric, super-fast, has autopilot and everything.

"I see you fingers, and arm are fully healed" her aunt noticed.

"Yeah has been for a while" as Laura moved them dramatically.

"I do wanna show what we've been working on" Laura told them as she opened the door and they all watched out stepping out towards the yard putting on her earpiece

"Jarvis you their buddy".

"For you Ms. always" Jarvis gave his usually response.

"Let's give my family a show" as she flicked her arms and the suit came on her in pieces and gave a bow.

"Wow…" her mom said impressed as the suit came off her and back in a case.

"Yeah now we just gotta improve the distance and speed" as they got out of the cold. Later that night after dinner with a bowl game on in the living room Laura was talking with her mother holding a wine glass.

"So Laura how is T' Challa" her mom asked smiling amused at her attempts at hiding her feelings as Jessica walked over overhearing her.

"He's fine I guess…" Laura said vaguely trying to maintain a neutral expression while drinking from her glass as her sister smiled smugly at her.

"I know you Laura you might as well stop hiding it, come clean and give your sister the 20" her mom told her while smiling as Jessica held out her hand.

"Traitor" Laura murmured as she walked over to her bag and pulled out a $20 and gave it to her annoyed.

"Thank you" Jessica said dramatically.

"We're fine I guess" Laura finally admitted.

"Now was that so hard" Jessica said smugly.

"Again, I know you you should stop resisting it he seemed like a nice guy when we met him" her mom told her.

"He is mom and that trip was amazing" Laura said smiling.

"Your Wakanda trip" her brother asked walking over? "

Yeah and sorry I can't explain anything about it sorry…" Laura tried explaining.

"It's ok mom sort of explained it to us its fine".


Flashback: "Sure why not can't be the craziest thing I've seen the past few weeks" Laura answered nonchalantly shrugging her shoulders.

"I would be honored to take you there" T' Challa said smiling.

"Uh here is the address to my parents house don't worry they're fine I'm staying there since the tower is being remodeled don't worry it's not far" Laura said as she texted the address to him.

"It's not a problem" T' Challa said checking his phone.

"So, see you in two days I guess" Laura said hugging him.

"I will let you know when we're arriving" T' Challa said as she walked towards 42nd and called Happy.

"Hey Happy". "Hey Laura, what's up" Happy answered.

"Uh are you doing anything right now" Laura asked?

"No why"?

"Mind giving me a ride to my parents house up in Scarsdale since I still can't do anything" Laura asked while looking at her cast annoyed?

"Yeah no problem where are you" Happy asked her?

"United Nations" Laura answered.

"United Nations what are you doing there" Happy asked confused?

"Sorry Happy can't explain kind of a secret" Laura tried explaining.

"Yeah no problem be there soon".

"Thanks, Happy" Laura said as she got out of the front seat of the Rolls and walked inside her parents house.

"Hey Laura, how did that errand go" her mom asked since Laura gave her vague details.

"Uh great better in fact uh there's something I need to ask and tell you" Laura asked cautiously as she sat down next to her?

"What is it honey" her mom asked with an eyebrow raised?

Sighing "how much did my birth parents tell you about Wakanda"?

"Not much that there's more than meets the eye why" her mom asked confused?

"Wow same exact words" Laura replied in shock.

"What is it honey" her mom asked?

"Uh… after the mess at the expo I received a call… from the prince of Wakanda prince T' Challa Udaku somehow he figured out I'm Wakandan which I still haven't figured out which annoys me since I've never really brought it up since it's never been relevant but long story short we've been friends for the past two years and he asked me if I wanted to go there… and I said yes" Laura answered unsure of her mom's reaction.

"I see…" her mom said unsure what to say.

"…And I will be leaving in two days as my birth parents said there's more than meets the eye and I wanna see where they came from".

"Laura… honey we were friends with your birth parents I'm sure there's a very easy explanation what's it like and why they left…" her mom replied slowly but Laura interrupted.

"I know I know you've told me before and I've read everything about Wakanda that I could find like multiple times but he's hiding something because every time I've asked he's avoided the question so I won't figure it out unless I go and see for myself… and I can take care of myself" Laura finished shrugging her shoulders.

"Ok… I guess" her mom replied unsure what to say.

"You can meet him if you want since he's picking me up here since I can't drive, use my arm or fingers or do anything at the moment" Laura said annoyed looking at her cast.

"And I'll forever be grateful to Tony for that" her mom told her firmly.


Two days later Laura was dragging her suitcase down the stairs where she saw her sister and parents waiting by the door "All set" her mom asked?

"Should be" Laura said checking her phone.

"And what are you doing here" Laura asked Jessica not expecting her?

"Really… you'd think I'd miss meeting my little sister's future husband" her sister joked as Laura rolled her eyes.

"I'm not even going to dignify that with a response" Laura replied.

A few minutes later Laura saw two Black Audi's pull up and the five get out. "Well that's me so I'll see you guys in a week" Laura said hugging them and walking out struggling with her large suitcase.

"Here let me help you" T' Challa said grabbing her suitcase.

"I promise you I'm not this useless all the time" Laura joked.

"It's quiet all right" T' Challa said smiling grabbing it and noticing her parents and sister.

"Are those your parents" T' Challa whispered looking at them on the porch.

"Yes, mom dad T' Challa, T' Challa my parents… and my sister Jess" Laura sighed while gesturing between them.

"It's nice to meet you Laura is an amazing woman" T' challa said shaking their hands as Laura looked down trying to prevent a blush.

"It's very nice to meet you… very nice" Jessica said while smiling at Laura who warned her through her eyes to not say anything else who smiled back amused.

"Keep an eye on her she tends to get into trouble" her dad joked.

"I will" T' Challa nodded as they got in the car and began driving towards a private airport.

"So now that we're alone can you what's so secret that couldn't be discussed earlier" Laura asked trying again?

"Why spoil the surprise" T' Challa teased her smiling.

"This is just you being mean now" Laura smiled back as they approached the hangar and Laura noticed a Quinjet reveal itself from and parked next to it.

"That's not yours is it" Laura asked T' Challa confused pointing at while looking at him.

"As I said you're in for a surprise" T' Challa repeated as they entered the jet and took off.

"So how did you figure out that I'm Wakandan" Laura tried asking again?

"I am not the proper one to tell you, but I promise you will find out" T' Challa told her.

"I'll keep on asking until you tell me you know how stubborn I am" Laura joked as the two talked and laughed during the flight until they began descending through the clouds and flew below them.

"Look Laura we're approaching T' Challa pointed at they flew through the canyon and saw a "covered hillside" in the distance.

"Approaching what all I see is jungle and… ranchers" Laura asked confused seeing the men on horseback in the clearings of jungle below.

"And shouldn't we be going up" Laura said cringing as she saw the "hillside" approach them quickly.

"Just watch" T' Challa nodded as they approached it as they went through the blue barrier as Laura went wide eyed and saw the modern city by the water and grasslands and hillside below in shock.

"But… how" Laura said pointing at it while looking back and forth between it and T' Challa standing next to her.

"Told you" T' Challa said smugly. "Come we're landing I'll explain everything" as Laura saw a large procession of people waiting for them at the landing pad.


Getting out she walked between guards with spears still looking around confused and saw an older man, woman and younger girl looking excited as they walked towards them.

"Hello, I am T' Chaka king of Wakanda welcome" T' Chaka said bowing slightly.

"Hi, I'm Laura Watson" Laura said while attempting to shake with her right arm and quickly stopping herself.

"Sorry I'll stop doing that eventually" Laura joked smiling while shaking with her left hand.

"It's quite all right we know what you did we were watching it live. This is my wife Queen Ramonda" T' Chaka greeted them and Laura noticed tears in her eyes confused.

"Sorry its nice to meet you" Ramonda managed to say.

"It's an honor to meet you sorry" Laura said still looking around distracted.

"It's all right I'd imagine this is a shock" T' Chaka said as Laura noticed the girl next to them barely able to contain their excitement.

"Ah this is my sister Shuri" T' Challa added quickly as Laura nodded.

"I'm so happy to finally meet you" Shuri said excitedly.

"Thank you" Laura shifted uncomfortably still not liking being known as an Avenger by everyone.

"Come my son will show you to your room" T' Chaka said as they left the landing pad and entered the palace. Walking down the hallway Laura was still looking around amazed as they entered a large room and T' Challa put her suitcase down

"Sorry I still don't understand but how…" Laura asked him?

"Come I'll give you a tour" T' Challa interrupted as they left and T' Challa played tour guide for the afternoon. T' Challa was showing her the main labs by the mine as Laura was asking him an endless amount of questions. "And here is another lab Shur will probably be in charge of it when she gets older" T' Challa said as they walked around it.

"Wow these things are more impressive than the ones we had at M.I.T. and what's that" Laura asked as she went wide eyed staring at the Vibranium mine through the window pointing at it while looking down seeing the large hole in the ground with ships and equipment move around at high speed as T' Challa walked up besides her.

"That is the Vibranium mine here we can go inside" T' Challa nodded while grabbing her left hand as he showed her around as she continued to ask questions.

"I just… how have you kept all of this a secret" Laura asked still looking around and up at him?

"We have our ways and now as a fellow Wakandan and one known by the world over because of your actions in New York it's your duty to keep it a secret as well" T' Challa told her seriously.

"Oh, don't worry our situation remains the same as before if anything even more so and besides you know me you know I don't like public engagements or public speaking anyway so don't expect me to go on Good Morning America anytime soon" Laura joked as T' Challa smiled amused. "How did you figure out I'm Wakandan by the way" Laura asked trying again?

"Speaking of that Baba wants to have tea with you he's the proper one to explain it to you" T' Challa told her as they left the mine.


Entering T' Chaka's office Laura saw him get up by a table with tea. "Hello, thank you for joining me" he said as Laura sat down and grabbed her cup.

"It's no problem so what did you wanna to speak with me about" Laura asked drinking her tea?

Sighing "how much did you know about your parents" T' Chaka asked cautiously?

"A lot I guess my adopted parents, my parents who adopted me, were good friends with them, helped them when they moved to New York so they told me everything they knew about them I guess and I know how they died with the drunk truck driver and everything my parents were honest and it's not like they could hide the fact if they wanted to" Laura finished shrugging her shoulders. "Why do you ask" Laura asked with an eyebrow raised?

"Believe it or not I was good friends with your parents especially with your father" T' Chaka answered.

"Really" Laura asked surprised as they got up and moved over to another table with pictures with her parents with T' Chaka and Ramonda.

"Wow I obviously never knew" Laura said picking one up with her left hand.

"Yes, from childhood we were great friends and I considered him a brother then he met your mother who I and Ramonda became very close with as well" T' Chaka told her.

"So why did they leave I mean this place is amazing" Laura asked?

"Well Wakanda isn't perfect and their families didn't approve of their relationship, they were both from different tribes and among other reasons that caused problems for them and even though they were happy they decided to leave for New York to live on their own".

"Wow" Laura said not sure what to say.

"In any case they were happy here and even happier when they left since they had you" T' chaka added as Laura couldn't come up with words.

"In fact, you look a lot like your mother" T' Chaka added.

"I know I have a few pictures and belongings of theirs" Laura said unsure what to say.

"As I said we were really close and receiving the news that day was one of the worst of my life I lost a brother and sister that day and they would have been proud of what you've become" T' Chaka finished as Laura wiped her eyes.

"Sorry its been a crazy few weeks" Laura said trying to regain her composure.

"Thank you for telling me all of this" Laura said as they hugged.

"Come let's have a proper Wakandan meal" T' Chaka said as they met with the others for dinner.


Later that night Laura was up reading with the lights on since she refused to sleep unless she had to since her nightmares began when she heard a knock on the door and opened it seeing T" challa "Oh hey T' Challa" Laura greeted.

"I apologize if I work you, I saw…" T' Challa started but Laura interrupted.

"It's fine I'm not use to sleeping with the cast yet" Laura lied as they stared at each other as Laura hoped T' Challa fell for it.

"Come" T' Challa nodded towards the hallway as they left the palace and walked outside.

"Where are we going it's the middle of the night" Laura asked him?

"It's a surprise" T' Challa said as they walked towards a tower and went to the top seeing a lab and the view outside (the lab Shuri used to take out Vison's stone in Infinity War).

"Wow nice view" Laura said looking out as T' Challa stood next to her.

"Best view in the city" as they stood in silence.

"Sorry it's just today has been a lot to take in" Laura said as they stared at each other.

"I can imagine" T' Challa joked as they moved around the lab.

"Geez how many of these things do you have" Laura joked while walking around the table.

"Vibranium has many uses that we take full advantage of it's in everything you see here" T' Challa told her.

"Do you want to know when I first saw you" T' Challa asked?

"Let me guess… the senate hearing" Laura answered smiling remembering that day.

"No" T Challa answered shaking his head.

"As entertaining as that was it was the day Tony Stark announced he was Iron Man Baba saw you behind him standing next to Colonel Rhodes in shock thinking you were your parents daughter which of course you were…" T' Challa explained.

"Well I'm glad my "annoyed at Tony" look stands out" Laura joked using air quotes.

"It was before that I assure you" T' Challa lied to her as Laura interrupted quickly.

"How did you get my number and figure all of that out"?

"Stark Records and U.S. immigration records" T' Challa finally told her as Laura went wide eyed figuring it out.

"That security breach... was you? That "Private Number" was you that entire time..." Laura said as her mind went a mile a minute.

"I just got my promotion when that attack happened and when I failed to stop it and got chewed out by Tony for that until I explained to him word for word what happened and outside consultants confirmed it to him and he still bugs me about it by the way and it's not like you stole anything except of course my personal number somehow" Laura said smiling looking up at him.

"I'm sorry for the trouble it was the only way" T' Challa told her as they stared at each other and kissed for a few moments. "Uh… I should get going" Laura managed to say.

"Yes, I will show you the city tomorrow" T' Challa nodded as Laura made her way back to her room and slowly slid down to the floor against the door since her mind was racing. "Damn you Jess" Laura said thinking about their bet.

The next morning T' Challa showed her around the city with the Dora Milaje following closely behind watching them since Laura attracted a crowd everywhere they went trying to get a glimpse of her as she shook a few hands and interacted with children along the way as Laura asked him an endless amount of questions. After lunch they were now walking alone in the countryside "You weren't kidding when you said everyone knew who I was" Laura said relived to be alone.

"As I said you're one of the most famous Wakandans we're very proud to call you are our" T' Challa complimented her. "Usually flattery doesn't work on me but you're the exception" Laura joked as her and T' Challa approached a man.

"Laura this is W Kabi he is one of my closest friends" T' Challa told her.

"W Kabi it's nice to meet you and I hope I pronounced that right" Laura greeted shaking his hand.

"You did and its nice to meet the woman T' Challa has been talking about nonstop for the past two years" W Kabi joked and they both blushed awkwardly.

"Stop it" T' Challa told him smiling. Show her the surprise". T' Challa asked him as they walked around a building?

"What more could possibly surprise… a rhino" Laura yelled in shock seeing it slowly approached them.

"But… how" Laura asked him?

"We have several all tame" T' Challa explained.

"Here" T' Challa said grabbing her left hand and putting it on its nose. "I think it likes you" T' Challa said smiling as she smiled up at him as they left.

After they departed, they spent the rest afternoon together alone and were now walking towards the barrier. "And this is where the barrier is" T' Challa said grabbing a spear poking at it as it sent a blue shock wave high above them as they looked up.

"Wow we should put one of these around New York I hope they can repel invading alien armies" Laura joked as T' Challa shook his head amuses as they turned towards the sunset and kissed again as the cast and sling kept on getting in between them "Sorry this cast is such a buzzkill" Laura joked as they held hands.

"It's quiet all right plus I'm assuming you'll be coming back now" T' Calla asked knowing the answer as they walked back?

"Yes, and besides Shuri would kill me if she didn't see a suit, I need to rebuild mine and make some spares".

They spent the remaining of the week together and with the others and on the final night Laura was having another nightmare seeing images of one of Thanos' ships exploding, the battle and Tony free falling past through the portal and she woke up gasping and covered in sweat "this is torture" she complained as she turned on the lights, walked over to the bathroom to pour water on her face and changed her shirt while looking at the bags that formed under her eyes.

"I'm a wreck" she sighed.

The next morning at the pad after saying goodbye to the others she was hugging T' Chaka "Thank you for everything" Laura thanked him.

"It's my pleasure you're welcome back anytime" as Laura walked over to Shuri.

"You have all my music, tv and movies I expect review" Laura joked as they hugged as Shuri had headphones in.

"Come back with a suit you promised" Shuri told her.

"I promise as soon as I get rid of this cast, I will make one with reflective panels and come back" Laura said as they hugged and T' Challa walked her to the jet.

"You're a bad influence on Shuri" T' Challa joked as he grabbed some things.

"She'll be fine I listened and watched that same kind of stuff when I was her age and I turned out fine" Laura answered.

"This is a Vibranium spear used by the Dora Milaje I had it custom made for you" T' Challa said bringing the Vibranium spear out. "Wow I'm honored but I can't accept…" Laura rambled but was interrupted.

"You're an Avenger now take it I insist" T' Challa said as Laura grabbed it and got into a stance. "Wow just wait till I get this stupid cast off" Laura joked. "And here" T' Challa said giving her a secure tablet as she unlocked it reading the title. "Language tablet" Laura acknowledged as she unlocked it going through it briefly.

"Thank you I will get working on the language" Laura said smiling as they kissed again at the ramp and Shuri shrieked and ran over to them.

"I'm so glad you guys are together" Shuri said failing to hold her excitement as Laura looked down embarrassed.

"Enough" T' Challa told her. "Thank you. For everything" Laura told him seriously while hugging him tightly as he hugged her back and nodded as Laura boarded the jet. Later that day flying back Laura was listening to her music lost in her thoughts and feelings and sighed "boy what a week".