Together we suited up and Monday walked me threw the new suit. Granted I have only used the other one a few times but this one was designed for defensive tactics only. The weapon system was for emergency use only and I was fine with that.

"when we get there stay back let me talk to Rhody first."

"Tony if Vanko is already in his system."

"I know ill handle it. remember your not there to fight. I don't want you hurt."

"I will be fine. You do what you have to."

"ready to speed it up."

"Monday set a fight path you go I will catch up."

"ok if you need me, I'm one call way."

"Tony go, save lives."

"god I love you."

He blasted away as I followed him slower so I could finish going over the new suit. He had gone all out with it technically it was faster then his and had more power. Leave it to Tony to be overprotective but that was nothing new when it came to me.

February 14, 1999

It was my birthday party, and my grandfather was throwing a massive party at a five-star hotel for the occasion. I was waiting in the presidential room her had rented for me when Tony came in.

"ok no I don't like it. there are to many drunk guys down there and to many men waiting to get you drunk. I mean you've never drank before!"

"yes, I have Tony you know that you were the one who poured the whiskey."

"that doesn't count you never got drunk. I made sure you never got drunk."

"and you've made sure I some kind of alcohol tolerance Tony. What is really bothering you?"

"nothing!"

"Tony I've known you since I was sixteen, the real you not the playboy you want people to see but you."

"Fine! I don't want to share you!"

"Tony you've had my back since we meet, I know you'll always have it and one day I will have yours. I'm not going any were Tony."

He nodded and sighed pulling a gift beautifully wrapped out of his suit and handed it to me. Slowly I opened it and gasped. inside was I small yet elegant hair piece. It had white carved roses with small branches that held diamonds as rose buds. He pulled it from the box and slowly pined a piece of my hair back then turned me to the mirror. The piece stood out against my deep almost black hair and even brought out my steel blue eyes.

"happy birthday nightingale"

Turning I hugged him tight to which he laughed holding me tight.

"all right lest get down there before your late."

"but your always late."

"for you never"

Smiling I came to at the sound of my name.

"please be ok."

"I'm fine was just lost in thought."

"ok bad idea when in the suit anyway I need you to speed up Peppers not answering me."

"right, I'm on my way. Monday"

Within seconds I was going faster than I thought I could but when I came up to his location, I could see him. Soon he was to my left and his head popped on the screen he looked worried.

"you ok?"

"I'm fine I was just remembering how overprotective you are of me."

"what brought that on?"

"maybe because the way you built my suit."

"right not apologizing."

"never thought you would."

"so which time were you remembering."

"my twenty first birthday"

"right, I wanted to cancel because of how many guys wanted to get you drunk."

"we almost did when you punch that one guy out."

A dark look fell on his face as he remembers that night.

"right, you do realize that was Hammer right?"

"no but now, I do, that gut don't know when to quit."

"meaning."

"meaning break his jaw next time you see him."

"done" alright were coming up on the expo remember the plan."

"I get civilians you get the bad guy."

"good if you need me call ill get to you as soon as I can."

He broke off and landed beside Rhody as I stayed on the roof waiting to jump in if it came to it. but what we did not expect was for the drones to come online and start attacking the crowed. Quickly I took out as many as I could that were blocking the exits and were the biggest threat to civilians.

Looking up I saw tony protect a kid with an Iron Man mask. He did not leave until I was with him.

"hey kid let find your family, my name is Erica."

"petter"

"well, Peter"

A woman was running up and grabbed him she gave me her thanks and I nodded to her. There were screams coming from my left and the woman told me to go they would be find, so I left. The drones were easy to take down once I had a lock on them but for the most part, I was holding walls up so people could get out or lifting rubble for the first responders. I know tony will not like it, but I had to get out of my suit a few time and craw under the rubble to get to some kids who were too sacred to move. By the end of it I was scratched up and covered in blood only not all of it was mine.

I saw Pepper standing at the entrance when Tony told me to get out of there because the drones were going to explode. Running up to Pepper I grabbed her and flew off as explosions erupted around us. We landed on a roof and soon Rhody and Tony both by us. I stepped out of my suit and Tony did to.

"what happen! You were in the suit!"

"had to get to some kids under the rubble, I'm fine tony most of its not mine."

He nodded but still looked me over with worry as Rhody yelled for us to get a room. He flipped him off as he took pepper and to help with the cleanup. Sighing I made him stop and then I looked him over. Just a few cuts and bruises. He grabbed my hands and brought are foreheads together.

"what would I do without you?"

"be insane."

"that's debatable concerting what I'm about to do."

"Tony?"

He walked over to his suit and pulled something out but kept it behind his back.

"so, remember when I went to Paris for about two months?"

"you mean the political nightmare you gave Pepper?"

"yes, that one, well about halfway through it I was incredibly drunk even by my standards. Which I know is bad and had the worst hang over of my life after."

"to which you called me the next morning until you hung up."

"right well the reason I hung up was because I actually remember buying something and had to find it really quick. Thankfully, I put in in a safe before passing out. My point is even then I knew I wanted to do something and in my drunken state a pretty much said fuck it and bought the prefect ring. And since I found out I was dying I didn't know if I would be able to ever do this but now that I'm not in the foreseeable future."

"wait ring?"

He walked up to me and kissed me lightly then went down to one knee.

"Erica rose Davidson will you do me the honor of being my wife?"

I was frozen in spot shocked and for the first time in my life I panicked.

"me? I mean yes! I love you and hell yes! Are you sure we haven't even dated! Wait you have had that since Paris! How in the hell have I not found it in your house I know it better then Pepper for god's sake!"

He was laughing actually laughing at my panic.

"ok first you said yes so no going back and second yes I sure, I've been sure for at least since my drunk self-bought the ring and I had a life changing realization. Three let's face it we have been dating for just as long we just never called it that. Last but not least, you have seen it you just thought it was my mothers."

I looked closer at the ring and he was right I had seen it before. It was a white gold wedding set with rose vines engraved around the outer bands and the center ring had a rose with stem on each side of the diamond which was in the center of a rose itself. The first time I saw it Tony just took it from me and asked that I don't touch it. when he had placed it by a picture of his mom, I just assumed it was hers. He took it out and put it on my finger and it fit perfectly. I looked to him I question, and he surged.

"I've had time to have it sized. When you saw it, I had just got it back from the jeweler I use for all the pieces I give you."

"well good thing we went through with the merger."

another explosion ruined the moment it must have been a propane tank form a food venter. Either way the moment was over as we looked at the destruction. Taking his hand, I nodded to him and we got back in the suits to help with search and rescue. It was not long until I realized he built me suit it fit my ring in the glove. Leave it to Tony plan way ahead of himself.