Meanwhile Ellis is boarding Air Force One when Savin lands in the Iron Patriot suit as Ellis turned around at the bottom of the stairs "Glad to see you could make it, son. I feel safer already" Ellis told him, and Savin gave a salute.
On the speedboat Laura is standing next to Rhodey and Tony is in his suit. "We gotta make a decision. We can either save the president, or Pepper. We can't do both" Rhodey tells them.
"Sir, I have an update from Malibu. The cranes have finally arrived, and the cellar doors are being cleared as we speak" Jarvis announced.
"And what about the suit I'm wearing" Tony asked?
"The armor is now at 92%" Jarvis replied. "That's going to have to do" as Laura and Rhodey look on nervously.
Later on Air Force One Savin burns the door handle and an aide approaches him "Everything all right, Colonel" he asked as Savin killed the aid and agents began firing at him and Savin killed everyone with ease excluding Ellis who's holding a gun as he reveals himself.
"It is an honor, Mr. President" Savin joked.
"If you're gonna do it, do it" Ellis yelled over the hole in the side of the plane!
"Whoa! Cool your boots, sir. That's not how the Mandarin works" Savin joked as he put Ellis in the suit as it took off.
"Sir, Air Force One has been compromised. Internal shots, temperature spikes" the officer said looking at the screen back on the ground.
"Get me eyes on it now" the other officer asked?
"Image coming through now, sir" as an image of the Iron Patriot suit is seen flying away from Air Force One.
"Was that Rhodes" the agent asked while looking at the monitor?
Tony lands on the plane and pinned Savin to the wall who was strapping on a parachute "The President now" Tony threatened.
"He's not here" Savin said while burning Tony's suit.
"Try the jet stream? Speaking of which, go fish" as Savin blasted the door open and people begin flying out as they lose altitude as Tony blasts Savin in the chest.
"Walk away from that, you son of a bitch" as Savin falls on the floor dead.
Tony jumped out of Air Force One as it explodes behind him. "How many in the air" Tony asked?
"Thirteen, sir" Jarvis announced highlighting them.
"How many can I carry"?
"Four, sir" Jarvis answered.
"Laura for once I could use you" Tony sighed as he flew down towards the woman falling grabbing her who's screaming.
"Slow down. Slow down, relax. What's your name? Heather" Tony asked looking at the name tag?
"Oh, God! No! No" Heather yelled!
"Listen to me. See that guy? I'm gonna swing by, you're just gonna grab him. You got it" Tony asked flying down towards the others?
"What? Oh" Heather said while panicking!
"I'll electrify your arm you won't be able to open your hand. We can do this, Heather. Easy, see" as Heather grabbed someone?
"Eleven more to go. Remember that game called Barrel of Monkeys? That's what we're going to do" as they flew towards another.
"18,000 feet" Jarvis announced.
"Come on, people. Everybody grab your monkey. Nice" as more and more people grabbed onto each other as they fell fast.
"10,000 feet. 6,000 feet" Jarvis continued.
"Come on, people. Come on, come on, come on! Yeah" as almost everyone is holding on as they approached the bay fast!
"1,000 feet. 400 feet. 200 feet, sir" Jarvis continued.
"He's a chunky monkey, let's get him. Hello" as Tony he was grabbed barely above the water as they skimmed it and Tony drops them into the water a few feet above it.
"We made it" the man yelled as they're seen cheering and giving thumbs up!
"Nice work, guys! Excellent. Good team effort all around. Go us. All right, Jarvis. But it's only half done. We've still got to get Pepper..." as Tony flew above a bridge and a truck drives into it shattering it into pieces.
"Wow that came out of nowhere" Tony said disconnected from the suit with Laura and Rhodey holding their breath.
"Give us some good news, man" Rhodey asked?
"I think they all made it" Tony told them.
"Our hard worked paid off" Laura said falling back into the seat relieved.
"Oh, thank God" Rhodey added.
"Yeah, but I missed the president" Tony told looking between them.
"You couldn't save the president with the suit, how are we gonna save Pepper with nothing" Rhodey asked?
"Uh... Say, Jarvis, is it that time" Tony asked?
"That time meaning…" Laura asked, and Tony nodded.
"The House Party Protocol, sir" Jarvis asked?
"Correct" Tony answered looking at her and Laura smiled.
Later that night the three are climbing a ladder on to a large crane at the docks avoiding the numerous guards with Laura with her spear out as they get on top of it looking around.
"You aren't going to have another freak out are you" Rhodey asked Tony?
"I hope not" Tony replied.
"Yeah we had a heart to heart back in Tennessee we're good" Laura added as Rhodey looked up.
"Oh, my God. He's strung up over the oil tanker. They're gonna light him up, man" Rhodey said while panicking.
"Viking funeral" Tony added.
"Public execution" Laura finished while swallowing.
"Yeah, death by oil" Rhodey said while nodding at Laura as the P.A. system comes on getting their attention.
"Broadcast will commence shortly. Take final positions". The three continued to climb up as a guard spots them and begins shooting at them pinning them.
"ls your gun up" Rhodey asked Tony?
"Yep. What do I do" Tony asked looking around?
"Stay on my six. Laura you cover high and don't poke my eye out with that thing" Rhodey said nodding towards the spear by his face.
"Yes, Christmas Story" Laura joked as they moved into position.
"Six, high, back. Alright" Rhodey told Tony who shot at the light and missed as the bullet bounced off the crane.
"You see that? Nailed it" Tony said quickly crouching back down.
"Yeah, you really killed the glass" Rhodey said sarcastically.
"You think I was aiming for the bulb" Tony asked?
"You can't hit a bulb at this distance…" Rhodey continued.
"For the love of" Laura interrupted them while shooting the bulb above their heads with her spear with ease as both of them looked at her in shock.
"What" Laura asked confused giving them a look?
"You forget Nat trained me for this crap" Laura said annoyed.
"All personnel, we have hostiles on east unit 12" the P.A. system announced.
"Whoops… sorry" Laura said while cringing.
"Over there" a man yelled as a spotlight is shown on them!
"Yeah… great training" Tony told Laura sarcastically as she rolled her eyes.
"I repeat, hostiles on east unit 12" as the three were taking out guards approaching them, and Tony ran out of bullets.
"I'm out. Give me. You got extra magazines" Tony asked with his hand out?
"They're not universal, Tony" Rhodey told him.
"Well this is" Laura said shaking her spear getting their attention as Laura got in front of them covering for them.
"I know what I'm doing, I make this stuff. Give me another one" Tony asked again?
"Ok" Rhodey said giving him another gun as Tony went through the ammo quickly.
"Give me one of yours" Tony asked again?
"I don't have one that fits that gun" Rhodey answered annoyed.
"You've got, like, five of them. Here's what I'm going to do. Save my spot, ready" Tony said as he got in front of Laura quickly looking around her and moved back quickly?
"What'd you see" Rhodey asked?
"Too fast. Nothing" Tony said hiding behind the support beam.
"God, I have to do everything" Laura said annoyed while looking up.
"Three guys, one girl, all armed" Laura said using her fingers as Rhodey nodded.
"God, I would kill for some armor right now" Rhodey said.
"I agree I feel naked without it" Laura added, and Tony nodded.
"You're right. We need backup" Tony agreed.
"Yeah, a bunch. You know what" Tony nods at something in the distance as Laura hears a boom and gasps.
"Is that..." Laura asked while smiling seeing them come closer?
"Yep" Tony nodded smugly.
"Are those..." Rhodey asked pointing at them and Tony nodded.
"And mine…" Laura asked seeing them come closer.
"It is Laura it is Merry Christmas" as the suits including one of Laura's BlackWing suits flew above them.
"It's so beautiful" Laura said dramatically.
"Yeah. Merry Christmas you guys. Jarvis, target Extremis heat signatures. Disable with extreme prejudice" as the suits flew above them.
"Yes, sir" they heard Jarvis through the suits.
"What are you waiting for? It's Christmas. Take them to church" Tony said while gesturing the sign of the cross dramatically as the suits began taking out guards and the crane began to collapse as they held on.
"Incoming! Jarvis, get Igor to steady this thing" Tony asked looking down as Igor ran over and did so as Laura looked around amazed.
"This is how you've been managing your down time, huh" Rhodey asked looking at them?
"You know me Rhodey I work to much" Laura said while shrugging her shoulders and smiling looking around.
"And everyone needs a hobby and Laura here's my Christmas gift for you" as her suit flew by and opened up for her.
"My boyfriend may need to step up his game next time" Laura joked as she casually jumped into her suit and took off.
"Boyfriend" Rhodey asked confused?
"Shush she can't deny it now" Tony told him jokingly.
"Jarvis you their buddy" Laura asked while taking out a guard.
"For you Ms. always". "We have work to do highlight Extremis heat signatures again please" Laura asked as they came on her screen and began working her way towards the president?
Back on the crane "Heartbreaker, help Red Snapper out, will you" as Tony suited up?
"Nice timing" he said leaving Rhodey behind.
"Oh, yeah that's awesome. Give me a suit, ok" Rhodey asked jumping up and down?
"Oh, I'm sorry, they're only coded to me" Tony replied.
"Same here and my other two are back in New York but don't worry we have you covered" Laura told him while taking out another guard.
"What does that mean" Rhodey asked her as a suit flew by him? "Good evening, Colonel. Can I give you a lift"?
"Very funny" Rhodey said while grabbing onto it as both Tony and Laura laughed.
"Sir, I've located Ms. Potts" Jarvis announced.
"About time" Tony said making his way over to her.
"You got this right Tony" Laura asked?
"Yes, get to the President I'll be fine" Tony told her as she reluctantly did so.
She made her way over to Ellis opening her face guard revealing her as Ellis looked on in shock.
"Ms. Watson" he greeted in Rhodey's suit.
"Sir I'm going to grab on to you" Laura said while grabbing him.
"Now I'm going to blast the right wire and you're going to have to grab onto me when I blast it ok" Laura said as he nodded as Laura blasted the wire.
"Now I'm going to do the same on the other side and do that again ok" Laura said as she blasted the other wire as Ellis grabbed onto her shoulders as she flew him down carefully.
"Rhodey I got the President where are you" Laura asked?
"Standby" Rhodey said while taking out guards running over to them panting and covered in sweat.
"Good job Laura" Rhodey nodded at her catching his breath.
"Told you I had you covered" Laura said while smiling.
"You look damn good, Mr. President, but I'm gonna need that suit back" Rhodey said getting him out of it.
"The President is secure, Tony. We're clearing the area" Rhodey spoke in the comms.
"Nice work" Tony replied
"Tony do you have Pepper" Laura asked concerned?
"Kinda" Tony asked seeing Pepper pinned down.
"Kinda…" Laura asked but was interrupted. "Ready, sir" Rhodey asked grabbing onto him?
"What do you mean ready" Ellis asked as they took off with Laura covering looking for strays.
They land a distance away as Secret Service agents and Miami Dade police are seen speeding towards them as Ellis approaches Laura in her suit.
"Ms. Watson I should've known you'd be with Tony" Ellis told her smiling as Laura smiled back.
"It's going to take more than a few rockets to kill me sir" Laura joked back.
"If you're ever in D.C. swing by the White House I'll give you a tour" Ellis said shaking her hand as agents took him away from the scene.
Meanwhile during the conversation between Ellis and Laura in the control room "Pep, I got you. Relax, I got you. Just look at me! Honey, I can't reach any further and you can't stay there. All right? You've got to let go" Tony says as Pepper tries reaching her.
"You've got to let go! I'll catch you, I promise. No" Tony yelled as Pepper fell into the fire!
"A shame. I would've caught her" Killian joked as they ran towards each other and attached with Tony firing his stabilizers burning his flesh.
"Eject" Tony said getting out of his suit.
"Well, here we are on the roof" as Killian sliced the suit in half.
"Mark 42, inbound" Jarvis announced.
"I'll be damned. The prodigal son returns" as the suit flies towards him but crashes and breaks into pieces.
"Whatever" Tony said annoyed.
"You really didn't deserve her, Tony. It's a pity. I was so close to having her perfect" Killian told him.
"Ok, ok, wait, wait, wait! Slow down! Slow down! You're right. I don't deserve her. Here's where you're wrong. She was already perfect" as Tony gestured the suit and it flew onto Killian attaching itself to him.
"Jarvis, do me a favor and blow Mark 42" Tony said as Killian yelled and ran towards Tony.
"No more false faces. You said you wanted the Mandarin. You're looking right at him. It was always me, Tony. Right from the start. I am the Mandarin" Killian yelled as he his hit by something from behind as Pepper is revealed glowing from the inside. "I got nothing. Jarvis, subject at my 12 o'clock is not a target, disengage" Tony yelled as Jarvis did so as Pepper stared at him!
"What? Oh, what, are you mad at me" Tony said quickly as Pepper ran towards Tony, flipped in the air, punches through the Iron Man suit and destroyed it blowing up Killian as Tony stared in shock. "Honey" Tony asked cautiously?
…Meanwhile back on the ground after seeing Ellis escorted from the scene
"Tony hey Tony is Pepper ok" Laura asked with worry as Tony heard next to Pepper?
"Yeah she's fine Laura in fact look back towards me" Tony asked as she did so.
"Uh... I'm going to shave them down a little bit. Jarvis. Hey" Tony asked?
"All wrapped up here, sir. Will there be anything else" Jarvis asked?
"You know what to do" Tony replied as Laura smiled.
"The Clean Slate Protocol, sir" Jarvis asked?
"Screw it, it's Laura's baby and it's Christmas. Yes, yes" as Laura saw all of the suits explode looking like fireworks from a distance as Tony and Pepper hugged looking at them.
"Merry Christmas you guys" Laura said.
"You to" Tony and Pepper say while hugging and looking at the fireworks as Laura takes off going Supersonic flying towards New York.
Landing in her parents front yard Laura saw her parents and siblings walk out looking like wrecks as the suit came off her feeling guilty as her mom embraced her crying.
"Oh, thank god they said that you died… we saw the rockets… hit Tony's house…" her mom said fumbling over her words with tears.
"I'm so sorry but we really didn't have a choice I swear... The good news is I haven't slept in over 3 days and I could sleep for a week now" Laura joked trying to lighten the mood.
"You can sleep until 8 because I guess Christmas is back on" her mom said firmly while smiling as Laura smiled back hugging them.
"And so, as Christmas morning began, my journey had reached its end. You start with something pure, something exciting. Then, come the mistakes. The compromises. We create our own demons" Tony said as his voice is heard in the background.
"Oh! Great to see you! Oh, bloody hell" Trevor said handcuffed as the press is taking pictures of him and the V.P. was arrested.
"But then I thought to myself, "Why stop there?" Of course, there are people who say progress is dangerous, but I'll bet none of those idiots ever had to live with a chest full of shrapnel. And now, neither will I. Let me tell you" Tony said as he was having his surgery getting the shrapnel out of his chest as Laura and Rhodey gave him thumbs up with Pepper next to them. "That was the best sleep I'd had in years" Tony said as the scene changes to Happy waking up gasping.
"It's ok. It's ok. It's ok" the nurse told him. "No, look" Happy said while pointing at Downton Abbey on the Tv as Tony throws his Arc reactor into the ocean and walks towards his car with Dum-e in a trailer attached to it.
"So, if I were to wrap this up, tie it with a bow, or whatever... I guess I'd say my armor, it was never a distraction, or a hobby. It was a cocoon. And now, I'm a changed man. You can take away my house, all my tricks and toys. One thing you can't take away... I am Iron Man".
Post Credits Scene 1: "...To be able to share all my intimate thoughts and my experiences with someone, it just cuts the weight of it in half. You know, it's like a snake swallowing its own tail. Everything comes full circle" Tony rambled as Bruce Banner is shown asleep on the chair. "And the fact that you've been able to help me process..." Tony stopped as Bruce dropped his glasses waking himself up. "Are you with me" Tony asked annoyed?
"Sorry... I was, yeah. We were at, uh..." Bruce asked?
"Are you actively napping" Tony asked in disbelief?
"I was... I... I drifted" Bruce fumbled over his words.
"Where did I lose you" Tony asked?
"Elevator in Switzerland" Bruce answered.
"So, you heard none of it" Tony asked unimpressed?
"I'm sorry. I'm not that kind of doctor. I'm not a therapist. It's not my training" Bruce justified.
"So" Tony replied?
"I don't have the..." Bruce tried explaining.
"What? The time" Tony asked?
"Temperament" Bruce answered.
"You know what? Now that I think about it... Oh! God, my original wound. 1983, all right" Tony rambled as Bruce sighed. "I'm 14 years old, I still have a nanny. That was weird…".
Post Credits Scene 2: Laura is one of her suits flying towards Wakanda as she approaches the African coast. "Jarvis activate retro reflective panels" Laura asked?
"Yes Ms." as they came online.
"Awesome now activate Incognito mode" Laura asked as Jarvis went offline and she went off radar.
"Sorry buddy but this is top secret" as she saw the familiar jungle clearings and flew through the canyon approaching the "Hillside" approach her rapidly.
"Ok this better work without any issues this time" Laura told herself cringing while looking at the flight tracker hoping she was flying towards the barrier again as she flew through with ease breathing a sigh of relief as she turned off the panels and approached the landing pad seeing T' challa and his family waiting for her as she landed and came out of her suit as they hugged her.
"I'm so glad you're ok" T' challa told her as they embraced and kissed.
"Yeah again I'm really sorry I swear but… Shuri the incognito mode worked without any issues this time so there's that" Laura told her while shrugging her shoulders as she smiled trying to lighten the mood.
"I'm glad you're ok but this conversation isn't over but come I bet you're hungry" T' chaka told her firmly while smiling as they left to eat dinner and Laura sighed.
"Take down a terrorist get yelled at by everyone" Laura murmured as they walked inside.
Later her and T' Challa were out walking outside at sunset as Laura told him what she could about the mandarin.
"Well I'm glad you had fun with Tony Stark but Shuri and everyone else were not happy about your adventure" T' Challa joked as Laura smiled back.
"Well I'm glad I reassured you at least but it wasn't just them I'm 30 years old and I never got shouted at and chewed out by my parents and everyone more than I did in my life when I got back and I had to deal with the same thing again with yours even though we literally took down a terrorist" Laura said while smiling up at him.
"As long as you don't play dead again, they'll be fine they like you you know" T' Challa told her as they held hands.
"I know" Laura said smiling as they kissed again.
"The spear works really well by the way" Laura said smiling as they looked at it attached to her jeans.
"I may have made a mistake giving that to you" T' Calla joked as Laura smiled back.
"You don't have to go back you know" T' Challa told her as Laura looked up at him confused.
"What do you mean" Laura asked?
"Will you stay... here with me with us? This is your home" T' Challa told her as she was speechless with her mouth open for a few moments.
"But my job, my family, The Avengers..." Laura rambled but T' Challa held his hand up.
"It's just a suggestion" he said while shrugging his shoulders.
"I mean… I'd continue being an Avenger that's nonnegotiable, but I'd have to quit my job and that's not going to be a fun conversation with Tony" Laura joked as he smiled.
"So, is that a yes" T' Challa asked cautiously?
"I'm also going to need do something here to keep my mind occupied if I say yes again that's how my brain was wired, I need to something stimulating and… you're going to have to meet my parents as we…" Laura gestured with her finger between them. "…Explain to them the best that we can that I'll be safe here since they don't know anything obviously" Laura told him.
"We can work something out. So, is that a yes" T' Challa asked again smiling knowing the answer?
"Yes, yes I wanna stay here. Here with you" Laura nodded happily as they hugged.
