December 19, 2012

"Tony please tell me you didn't forget we're coming over the 23rd?" I spoke to Tony on the phone as I was working on packing up a few boxes in my bedroom.

"Forget? Why would I forget? Of course I didn't forget," he replied.

"Well it definitely sounded like you forgot."

"No, I just forgot that you're flying commercial during the busiest time of the year for absolutely no reason and that I need to pick you up from the airport."

"Steve's never done it before, he thought it would be fun."

"Oh yeah, it'll be so much fun for you guys to be bombarded by people who recognize you in the airport. You can always take 'Air Stark,' or better yet, get your own private plane," he teased.

"Maybe another time," I replied with an eye roll to myself. "So how are you really doing?" I asked him tentatively. Pepper told me over a recent work call that he wasn't sleeping much, and I wasn't surprised. Tony had been a great person to talk to about my own issues, and I wanted to make sure I was there for Tony at his low points too. He was a pro at hiding his feelings and making himself worse in the process, and I didn't want him to go through it alone.

"Oh come on. Let me guess, Pepper sent you after me?" he asked.

"Maybe I just have a certain intuition when it comes to you," I countered. After a pause I continued "You know it's my job to make sure you're okay? I took that job back in 1970, and maybe I haven't been the best at it sometimes, but I'm not about to neglect it right now."

He sighed through the phone. "I'm glad you're coming over for Christmas," he said quietly. "I don't know, it's been a weird year without you here, Maddi. And now with The Mandarin, and you're moving in with Steve in DC… it's just that there's a very few amount of people in my life that I need to keep safe at all costs, and it's getting harder to do so."

"When you were really little, you built circuit boards," I began my response as I thought back to those memories long ago.

"Okay I know I've always been amazing, but I think this is a little off topic," he replied.

"You were tiny," I continued. "When everyone else your age was playing with legos, you were playing with circuit boards. Do you know how dangerous that is for a tiny child? But you were good at it, you were so smart and knew exactly what you were doing after just one time of watching your father work. If I had my way, I would have kept the dangerous electricital equipment far from your little hands, but you knew what you were doing. When I helped raise you, I could have spent the entire time protecting you from all the dangers of the world that I saw, but then you would have never gotten to experience the world to your potential." Tony stayed quiet after I gave my little story. I decided to speak again to bring my point back. "Even if nobody in our lives were superheroes, there would always be something that could keep us awake at night. The world is a dangerous place, and we can't guarantee anyone's safety. Sometimes we just have to take a break from thinking of all the dangers or else it will eat away at the good parts of our lives…. I learned that in therapy," I added with a laugh.

"Well I'm glad that's working out for you," he said.

"It is, you should try it, I highly recommend."

"Hmmm maybe."

"Just try and get some rest," I told him. "We'll be there in a few days, we'll have a wonderful Christmas. Don't try to put the safety of everyone on your shoulders because you cannot keep carrying it all without it breaking you."

December 22, 2012

"Steve there was an attack in LA, Tony texted me that Happy is in the hospital," I told him as I turned on the news. There were reporters outside of a hospital, and I was trying to call Tony while I watched but he wasn't picking up.

"What are they saying?" Steve asked as he stood next to me in front of the TV.

"We're waiting the arrival of Tony Stark. We're hoping he'll give us the reaction, his reaction, to the latest attack," The woman in front of the camera said.

"He must be in there, he's not picking up his phone," I told Steve.

"Mr. Stark, Mr. Stark! Our sources are telling us that all signs point to another Mandarin attack. Anything else you can tell us?"

I could see he was ignoring their questions until another reporter nearby caught his attention. "Hey Mr. Stark, when is somebody gonna kill this guy?" Tony turned around to look in his direction. "I'm just saying," he added and I scoffed.

"No regards to the fact that he just walked out from visiting someone who is basically family that got hurt from this attack. I hate reporters," I angrily voiced.

"Is that what you want?" Tony snapped at him and nobody else on the live feed spoke a word. I held my breath, I could see how hurt Tony was and I was worried for his reaction being broadcasted. "Here's a little holiday greeting I've been wanting to send to the Mandarin. "I just didn't know how to phrase it until now. My name is Tony Stark and I'm not afraid of you. I know you're a coward. So I've decided that you just died, pal. I'm gonna come get the body. There's no politics here, just good old fashioned revenge. There's no Pentagon, it's just you and me. And on the off chance you're a man, here's my home address. 10880 Malibu Point, 90265. I'll leave the door unlocked." He took the man's phone and asked. "That's what you wanted right?" he threw the phone at a brick wall and said "Bill me." before driving away. I sank into the sofa sitting behind me as I blocked off the rest of the reporters' ramblings.

"Maddi?" Steve sat next to me trying to get my attention but I just kept staring blankly in front of me.

"Dammit!" I yelled as I chucked the remote at the wall next to the TV. I didn't care if it broke or not, I was just scared and angry and needed to throw something. "How could he be so stupid?"

After Steve's failed attempt at calming me down and several missed calls made to Tony again, I finally was able to reach him.

"Don't be mad," was his greeting when he finally answered the phone.

"Don't be mad?!" I asked him in shock. "I'm well past mad, Tony! You and Pepper are getting on your plane and coming here immediately."

"That's not happening, the safest place for us is right here-"

"Are you kidding me, Tony? The entire world knows exactly where you are right now, there is absolutely no way you can think that is the safest place for you. You are coming to New York and that is final."

"Maddi," he began but I cut him off again.

"Please Tony," I started to cry and Steve grabbed my hand in support. "I need you here, you should understand that."

"Is that Maddi?" I heard Pepper's voice in the background and soon she took the phone from Tony. "Maddi, we're coming to you okay, cancel your flight here, it's Christmas in New York this year." I could tell she was just as on edge as I was, and rightfully so.

"Thank you, Pepper," I told her.

"I'm packing now, we'll be out of here within the hour," she replied.

"I love you both, please just get here quickly and safely," I told her.

"Of course," she said and then hung up before Tony could begin arguing through the phone again. I put my head in my hands as I felt my heart race.

"They're gonna get here," Steve reassured me.

"What do you know about the Mandarin, Steve?" I asked him.

"Honestly, not as much as I wish I did. SHIELD has information on him, but the Department of Defense is the lead source on him. SHIELD won't let me in on the job yet because they're trying to keep it in the military's hands for now." I sighed as I wish he could have given me more.

I looked back at the TV, which I had on but muted, and saw the news focused live on Tony's house in Malibu. Soon their focus was on what appeared to be a missile heading straight for the house. "Steve!" I shouted as I stood back up and pointed at the TV. Within seconds the entire house began to blow up. I jumped at what I saw, knowing that Pepper and Tony were still in there. "Oh my god," I brought my shaking hand up to my mouth.

"Dear god," Steve said at the same time and brought me into his chest.

"Oh my god, oh my god," I just kept repeating as I looked away from the screen because I didn't know what else to say. Steve wrapped his arms around me.

December 23, 2012

"Maddi?"

"Oh thank god," I felt more tears run down my face as I heard Pepper's voice over the phone. I had been up all night trying to figure out if her or Tony were okay. The news was claiming that Tony had died, but I didn't want to believe it until I had proof. "How are you? Where are you? Are you okay? Is Tony there?"

"I"m okay I think," she replied. "Tony isn't here, but he left a message in his suit, he's okay. I don't know where he is, but I have someone here who can help me find him and help him."

"Do you need my help, Steve and I can help," I told her.

"No, there's not enough time and it's too dangerous to even be talking about it on the phone right now. I'll try to call you later to update you."

"Please be careful Pepper," I said.

"I'll try my best," she responded and then the line went dead.

"He's alive," I told Steve and he nodded. He had been in communication with SHIELD all night trying to get more information. Neither of us could just put on a suit and go fight the bad guys when we didn't even know where to go or what to expect. SHIELD didn't want us getting involved so it was really hard for him to get anything that could help us go anyway. I hated that all we could do once again was wait, and I knew that Steve hated it just as much.

December 25, 2012

I ran into the wing of the Hospital that Tony and Pepper were supposed to be in, and I saw James Rhodes standing outside what I figured was their room. I wrapped him in a big hug when I got to him, and Steve stood next to me. "How are you, how are they?" I asked quickly.

"I'm good, they're gonna be okay." he responded as he opened the door and Tony was sitting pretty banged up on the bed with Pepper looking surprisingly unscratched next to him.

"I hate you," I said as I started crying once again and ran to his bedside to give him a gentle hug.

"Merry Christmas to you too," he replied.

"This is not the first Christmas with all of us together that I wanted," I said as I pulled away from our hug.

"Ah this is nothing, you've seen me in worse shape," he told me.

"Yeah I know, and I would like it to stop being the norm around here," I replied.

"You're not the only one," Pepper added.

"I'm really glad you guys are okay," I said again. "Has anyone heard any word on Happy?" I asked.

"He still hasn't woken up yet but the doctors are hopeful," James said.

"Okay, that's good," I voiced. "I'm gonna visit him as soon as I can, I have to give him his Christmas gift too," I smiled.

"Speaking of," Steve spoke up with his own smile. "We brought a few small things with us, it is still Christmas and we are really glad that we're here together to have at least a small celebration. I think these last few days showed us how much we can appreciate the small things and just that we have each other on this holiday."

"Alright, 'It's A Wonderful Life,' enough with the sappy talk and just hand over the presents," Tony teased.

"He's never seen that movie," I gave Tony a light push to knock it off.

"Ow!" Tony replied.

"Oh so you're too in pain for that but not too in pain for your teasing nicknames? Maybe you're in too much pain for your gift?" I questioned.

"No no, I'll stop," he said and I laughed. Seeing him okay after everything that had happened was a huge relief. I had been a complete mess the last few days and I felt a little less stressed knowing that they were okay.

December 29, 2012

"Are you sure about this?" I asked as Tony was about to go under anesthesia for his surgery.

"100%," he replied. "It's time to let my body no longer need this little device to keep me alive. We figured out how to get all the pieces out, it'll be safer for me to be living without shrapnel in my chest."

"I know, I know. I'm just worried over nothing. Your surgery will go great and everyone will be happier with that out of you for good," I said while poking his mini arc reactor. "I'm just surprised you are doing it so soon."

"Why wait?" he said. "I figured it out, let's fix everything as soon as possible so we can get on with our lives."

"You're right, I'll shut up now and let the doctors do their best work." I waited with Pepper and James for the end of his surgery. Steve got called in for some last minute SHIELD work, probably wrapping up everything with Killian now that more information about the entire Mandarin ruse was found out.

"He's gonna be fine just like he always is," James stated and I nodded. "The guy's basically indestructible."

"Don't let him hear you say that," Pepper responded.

"Oh of course not," he laughed. "His ego and tendency to disregard his safety is high enough."

"Definitely," I said with a chuckle.

A/N: My Maddi/Tony edit on Instagram works perfectly for this chapter too considering how Tony centered it is. I thought it was best to include the events of Iron Man 3 in this story because of how important he is to Maddi, she wouldn't have ignored it. I also have seen debate over whether it took place Christmas 2012 or 2013 but I just decided to go with 2012 because it makes most sense to me that way. I hope you liked it, I didn't want to spend too much time on it but still give it enough attention. Let me know any of your thoughts! Thanks for still reading, I love updating for you guys!