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Chapter 28 - Ginger

Rose and the Doctor popped into a restroom in a loud New York bar. Lance laughed as soon as he saw them. "Sorry. I should have mentioned it was the loo."

Rose rolled her eyes at Lance, "Had one to drink already?"

"At least three. I'm celebrating!" He shook the Doctor's hand. "Stark's at the bar with the rest. There's a fantastic bet going now that you're going to want to get in on."

The Doctor took Rose's hand and they followed Lance into the bar.

It was crowded and loud. The atmosphere was exciting. Music played loudly. The Doctor recognized it was 'No You Girls' by Franz Ferdinand. Rose spotted the Quauthin and Tony. She pointed and they walked over to join them. The Doctor put his free hand on Tony's shoulder. "Room for two more?"

Tony became excited. "Hell yeah! You two are on my team. Lance! You can kiss both cheeks of my ass!"

Lance laughed.

Rose shook her head. "Teams? What are you talking about?"

Tony yelled to the bartender. "Hey! Beer for the gentleman, and start this one with some white wine. I need my team card back. The rest of my team just made it."

The bartender nodded her head and handed Tony back a card. She poured the drinks and sat them on the bar in front of them. She looked up and asked, "Will that be-?"

Her mouth gapped open as she recognized who was standing in front of her. The Doctor smiled and pointed at Rose. "Rose would probably like a plate of chips. Could we get an order?"

The bartender nodded her head and cleared her throat. "Of course. Chips. You mean, fries. Right?"

The Doctor smiled, "Yes. Sorry."

She smiled back at him. "No problem. Yes. Mr. Stark. Your card."

Tony handed it back to her. Then pointed at them. "Let's get a seat. You two are just in time."

They walked over to a tall table with bar stools around it. Poltious sat there already and was pouring himself another pint. He smiled as the Doctor and Rose sat down next to him. "Hey! Didn't think you were joining us."

Lance sat down with them. "Pepper will be here shortly. Exton told me they are on their way down."

Tony slapped the table. "I love this shit! She's on our team, too. We're going to kick this entire bar's ass. Lance, you and your shit needs to go sit someplace else. I have the Primus here."

Lance pointed at Tony, "Having another drink just for that."

Tony growled at him, "Look closely at my face, man. Do you think I care?"

Lance laughed and waved at Poltious, "Come on, Timon has our table."

They walked away.

The Doctor leaned over and asked Rose, "Do you have any idea what he's on about?"

Rose asked Tony, "What is going on?"

Tony looked around. He was clearly distracted. "Do you see her? Where is she?" He spotted something that made him stand up on his tall seat and get a better look. "Huh, well look at that."

Rose rolled her eyes at Tony. The Doctor drank his beer and looked around the bar. Everyone seemed to be getting a group around a table. The bartender seemed to be the only one that had noticed that he and Rose were there. Rose grabbed his hand. He could feel her eyes on him.

"Are you alright?" He asked her. "There are a lot of people here."

She smiled at him. "I'm with you. The guys are just there. I'm fine."

He leaned over and kissed her quickly. "It's late. I should have you at home-"

She smiled, "Stop worrying about me. I'm fine. You are the one that keeps saying I need to get out and have more fun."

He smiled at her. "Right."

Pepper walked up to the table with Exton. "Tony. Get down! What the hell are you doing?"

Tony jumped out of the bar stool in front of her and smiled. "Hi! You're just in time."

Exton looked over at the Doctor. "John? Got this?"

"Got it. Poltious is over there."

Tony added. "And drinks are on me, Exton. Whatever you like."

Exton shook Tony's hand. "Thank you. Don't mind if I do."

Exton walked away as Tony stood in front of Pepper. "Ummm. I'm fuzzy on this. So, do we…."

She laughed and pushed him to the side. "You are such an idiot. I'm sitting down."

Tony threw up his hand as she sat down behind him. "Answers that question."

Pepper smiled at them, "Good evening, John. Rose. Didn't know you were coming."

The Doctor smiled, "We ended up with a last minute baby sitter."

Tony sat down next to Pepper.

Pepper smiled, "Really? That's wonderful. I wanted to ask you, John. You are Tony's doctor, correct?"

Tony sipped his drink as the Doctor smiled and nodded at her. "Yes. Why? Is something wrong?"

Pepper looked back at Tony. "He's not had this much energy in…."

"Years." Tony finished her sentence. "Pepper, I had an arc reactor in my chest. Explain, John."

The Doctor smiled. "The palladium from the core of the reactor was leaking into his blood stream and slowly poisoning him. If he hadn't told me, so we could have it removed, he probably wouldn't have lived but maybe…at the most...two more years. It's a very painful way to die."

Pepper looked surprised back at Tony. "In all of that explanation, you didn't tell me that part!"

"Well, it's not relevant anymore. See? I'm fine."

Pepper pointed at him forcefully, "This is something we're going to talk about later."

Tony smiled and finished his drink. "Okay, I've been warned. And, so…. Legate."

Rose asked, "What about Legate?"

"Poltious is…?"

The Doctor finished his beer. "His father. Yes. Why?"

Tony nodded. "So, he'd be alright with him over there…. With that girl…..ummmm….."

Pepper rolled her eyes. "Tony, stop worrying about him-"

Tony threw his arms up, "I'm worried about me! Poltious can be frightening."

The Doctor shook his head, "Legate is of age. He's older than the three of you, together. Don't worry about him. Or Poltious. Although, where is he?"

Tony stood up on the seat of the chair again. The Doctor did the same. A few gasps were heard around the bar as both of the men were seen and recognized.

Rose pulled on the Doctor's jeans. "Get down before you fall and break your neck."

He smiled and spoke in Rose's head. 'Regeneration from falling out of a bar stool. That would be a first.'

Rose rolled her eyes. 'There is always a first.'

Tony smiled, "John, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

The Doctor chuckled, "Oh yes."

Pepper shook her head. "You guys, leave him alone."

Rose laughed and sipped her wine.

Exton and Lance walked over to their table. "Yep?"

Tony and the Doctor both jumped onto the floor. The Doctor put his hand on Lance's shoulder. "Five minutes. Both eyes on the Primary."

Rose groaned, "I hate you calling me that."

He smiled back at her and motioned for Tony to join him.

Tony rubbed his hands together in excitement. "Oh, hell yeah. Be right back, guys."

The Doctor and Tony walked together to the other side of the bar. They found a beautiful brunette, leaning against the wall. Legate stood in front of her with his hand on the wall beside of her. Both of them were smiling and laughing about something.

The Doctor put his hand on Legate's shoulder, and Tony put his hand on the other one.

"Legate! How are you?" The Doctor smiled.

The girl's eyes became huge. She covered her mouth in surprise.

Legate groaned, "Hi, guys."

Tony smiled, "Don't be rude, man. Introduce us to the lady."

Legate groaned, "Ginger. This is Tony and John."

Tony became excited. "Ginger! Really?! Is that your name?"

She smiled, "Yes, Mr. Stark-"

He smiled and took her hand, "No ma'am. Tony. I'm a friend of Legate's, here. Is he bothering you?"

Ginger smiled, "No, sir. He's not."

Legate spoke in the Doctor's head. 'What the hell man?'

'Trust me. I know what I'm doing.'

Legate nodded his head and said unenthusiastically. "And this is John."

The Doctor took her hand and kissed the back of it. "It is nice to meet you."

Ginger was clearly star struck. She looked shocked and whispered, "Doctor Smith."

Tony rocked on his feet, "So, we're going to play the trivia game. We have a bet with our bodyguards. You and Legate can be on our team. Come on!"

Ginger looked surprised, "I'm sorry. Really?"

The Doctor shrugged his shoulders. "Of course."

Tony took her hand and started to walk away, "That's settled. Come on, Legate. The Dream Team is over here!"

Legate exhaled slowly and walked behind them.

They returned back to the table. Tony took over the introductions. "Ladies. This is Legate's….ummm…. Ginger! This is Ginger!"

Pepper smiled at her. "Nice to see you, Ginger."

Ginger smiled, "Miss Potts-"

Tony looked back at Pepper. "You know her?"

"You idiot. She works for you."

Tony looked back at Ginger. "Oh! Well, she didn't mention that. Well, hell, Pepper. Thousands of people work for me."

Rose laughed, "I'm Rose."

Ginger giggled, "I'm so sorry. I'm….a bit, star struck. I've known Legate for a while. I had no idea he knew you."

Legate pulled a couple of chairs over to their table. The Doctor sat back down next to Rose and nodded to Lance and Poltious. They went back to their table.

Tony slapped the table. "Known Legate a while, huh?"

Legate groaned, "Yes. We've known one another a while."

The Doctor held his hand out, "Well, hang on. How long is a while?"

Tony popped some of Rose's chips in his mouth. "I'm encouraged, Legate. I thought you had a thing with Logan."

Legate had been drinking his beer. He spit it out in shock. "Logan?!"

Ginger laughed. "Logan is such a nice guy. Legate told me that Ashena and him had went back to wherever she was from. Where did you say, Legate?"

Legate was busy pouring himself another pint. "New Zealand."

Tony and the Doctor looked back at one another in oblivious relief. The Doctor smiled and started to drink his beer again. "Of course. New Zealand."

Tony pointed at Ginger. "You work for me? What do you do?"

Legate rested his head on his fist. "We don't have to sit here with these guys-"

Ginger smiled, "I'm alright. I work in Natasha's office."

Tony looked confused back at Pepper. "Natasha? That Natasha?"

Pepper put her hand on his forearm. "Don't start."

Tony groaned.

Rose smiled at him. "What's with that?"

"I can't put my finger on it, but…."

Pepper pointed at Ginger. "Don't repeat anything he might say next."

Rose laughed, "Or at all. That would probably be a safer thing to say."

The Doctor laughed, "That's always good advice."

Ginger laughed, "Of course."

Tony tossed another chip in his mouth. "Well…. Natasha is a friend of Pepper's. She's…. ummm… How would you describe her?"

Pepper rolled her eyes. "Nice. Professional. Intelligent-"

"Weird!" Tony insisted.

Ginger laughed with Legate.

"Does she ever smile?" Tony asked.

"I've never seen her smile." Ginger insisted.

Pepper rolled her eyes. "Natasha does smile. Geez. Tony. She's just extremely intelligent-"

Tony pointed at himself. "I'm extremely intelligent and I have a sense of humor!"

The Doctor added, "That's true. It's a rather sick sense of humor, but it's there."

Tony seemed satisfied. "See! He knows me!"

Pepper groaned and looked at Rose. "Do you see what I have to deal with?"

Tony leaned onto the table. "She speaks something like six languages. Is that right?"

Pepper shook her head, "I think it's seven. Including Latin."

"Latin? Who speaks Latin?"

"No one speaks Latin. It's a dead language, Tony."

Rose and the Doctor looked at one another and laughed.

Tony remembered and pointed at the Doctor. "John speaks Latin! I think Legate does, too!"

Ginger looked back at Legate, "You do?"

He smiled and nodded to her. "Yes."

They were interrupted by the bartender. She spoke using a microphone and the bar got quiet. "Welcome to Trivia Night, New York! We're thrilled we have so many here tonight! All teams have two minutes to turn in their cards. Starting now!"

Rose smiled, "Trivia? That's what we're doing?"

Tony pointed at her. "Us versus those damn bodyguards. I'm going to win some money from Lance. That jerk. He got $10 grand off of me tonight, already!"

The Doctor pointed at him, "I thought that bet was for $5 grand each?"

"Poltious. Lance. Two turds on my shit list. Same matter."

Legate shook his head in complete disbelief.

Tony leaned back on the table and mumbled. "Natasha. I know why I don't like her. Her name backwards is 'ah Satan'!"

Pepper smacked him in the shoulder. "Would you stop?"

"What? What did I do?"

Pepper pointed at Ginger. "You are going to scare Legate's date."

Ginger laughed. "It's alright, Miss Potts. If I may ask, how do you know Legate?"

A waiter brought over a bottle of wine to their table. The Doctor poured a glass for Pepper, Rose and Ginger, "Legate works with us."

Legate nodded, "Well, John. Not Tony. Not normally."

Ginger smiled, "You told me you worked in security."

Tony sat back, "What is it with all of your guys, John? They never mention they know you. Is that a thing?"

He shook his head. "I have no idea."

Legate groaned, "I didn't mention it because….well…."

The Doctor nodded. "Oh. Right. Yes. That does make sense."

Rose laughed into her wine. She knew that Legate had finished whatever he was saying in the Doctor's head.

Tony didn't like being left out on the conversation. He threw his hands up, "Stop that!"

The Doctor laughed. "Quite right. Sorry. Legate." He shook his head.

Legate laughed. "Right. I'm sorry."

Ginger looked confused, "I feel like I'm missing something here."

Tony groaned, "It's common around these two guys."

Rose smiled, "They have worked together so long, they can tell what the other one is thinking."

Ginger looked back at Legate, clearly impressed. "You've known Doctor Smith, that long?"

Legate sat with his face propped up on his fist. "It's just John. Not a big deal."

The Doctor sipped his beer. "Trying hard not to be insulted here, Legate."

Legate laughed.

Rose giggled, "Legate is our daughter's bodyguard."

Ginger smiled as she realized. "Genie. You have talked about her. I didn't realize she was Genie Smith!"

Legate smiled and nodded his head. "Yeah. That's her."

Rose smiled, "What did he tell you about her?"

Ginger smiled, "Well, I honestly thought she was much older. She must be extremely intelligent."

Rose smiled proudly, "She is."

Ginger continued, "He said she built a robot-"

Tony pointed to himself, "With her Uncle Tony's help."

Pepper looked impressed. "Really?"

Tony shrugged his shoulders. "We needed something to do."

Ginger giggled, "Now that makes sense. He also said that she doesn't approve of him surfing."

The Doctor asked, "Well, have you seen Legate surf?"

She shook her head. "No."

The Doctor sipped his beer. "Well. Let's just leave that there."

Legate nodded his head. "Thank you."

The bartender announced that the teams were closed and the game was starting. Poltious walked up behind Legate and put both of his hands on his shoulders. "Hey, Legate. Thanks for your help tonight."

Legate smiled. "Yes, sir. Happy to help."

The Doctor pointed, "Ginger, this is Poltious. He works with us, too."

Poltious smiled and kissed her hand. "The famous Ginger. It's nice to finally meet you. Logan and Legate told me good things. You can come sit with us if Tony and John are bothering you. Tony can be a bit….rough around the edges."

Tony smiled proudly. "Well, thank you."

Ginger smiled. "Thank you, but I think we're alright."

Poltious smiled, looked back at Tony and became serious. "The bet is $1,000 a point."

Tony slapped the table top, "$1,000!"

Poltious pointed at the Doctor. "And he can't play."

Tony looked betrayed, "The actual hell? Why not?!"

"Come on, Stark. You know why!"

"That's why I want him to play!"

The Doctor held out his hand. "Relax. I wasn't going to play. Legate was going to take my place."

Legate seemed surprised to hear this. "I was?"

The Doctor sipped his beer. "Oh yes."

Tony smiled, "You know, you can't come over here and make demands of my team and who can play. But, if that's how you want to be, fine. I've got Pepper, Rose, and Legate, too. They aren't sitting in the back of the classroom eating glue. The bet is now $1,500 a point."

Poltious clapped and rubbed his hands together. "Oh yes. Lance agrees to that."

Tony waved his hand. "Go away, Poltious! Don't worry about what we're doing."

Poltious slapped Legate on the shoulder proudly as he walked away.

Pepper laughed, "Eating glue?"

Rose shook her head and laughed, "I really don't want an explanation for that."

Ginger watched Poltious walk away and spoke to Legate, "He likes you."

Legate nodded, "Most of the time."

Tony rolled his eyes, "Hell, I would hope!"

Ginger looked confused. Right before she could ask why, the first question was asked.

"Who ruled Egypt after the death of Alexander the Great?" the bartender announced. "Discuss it with your team and submit your answers. You have two minutes!"

Rose looked back at the Doctor. "Who was it?"

He smiled, "I can't tell you that."

Tony groaned. "I'm not completely useless. I think I know it."

Pepper rolled her eyes. "Well, I have no idea."

Legate smiled and cleared his throat. "Hand me the paper. I know it."

Rose looked surprised, "How the hell do you know that?"

Legate wrote down, "Cleopatra." And sat it on the middle of the table.

The Doctor smiled and nodded. He added, "VII Philopator" behind what he had written.

Rose looked up and smiled, "Dare I ask?"

He smiled and shook his head. "I'll never tell."

Tony laughed. "That tells me everything I need to know about that. You dog."

Legate laughed and turned in their answer. He walked back over to the table just in time to see Tony covering his face and laughing.

"What did I miss?"

Ginger smiled, "I'm not sure."

Tony wiped the tears from his eyes and continued to laugh. Pepper rolled her eyes at him. "Tony! I swear." She looked back at Legate. "Tony is just being a pain."

Legate smiled as the Doctor reassured him, "To me. He's teasing me about my love life."

Legate narrowed his eyes for a few moments as he listened to the Doctor speak in his head. "Oh! Okay."

Rose looked back at the Doctor. "You're doing it again. Stop it."

He smiled, "Sorry. So, Ginger!"

Ginger smiled, "Yes?"

"How did you and Legate meet?"

She looked back at Legate and smiled, "He was here one night with his friends, Logan and Ashena, when there was a live band. There was dancing….and he asked me for a dance. Ashena asked me to join them for something to eat. And….well….I suppose we've met here whenever we can, since."

Legate propped his head up on his fist.

Rose smiled at him. "Ashena asked you to eat with her?"

Ginger smiled, "I love how she speaks. I believe she asked if I would 'care to dine' with her."

Legate smiled, "You know Ashena. Has she ever met a stranger?"

The bartender announced, "Awesome! Leading the trivia game for giving a complete answer, which our judges actually had to look up to ensure was correct because we had never heard of it before, Team 'Spice Girls' has the lead!"

Tony celebrated as he saw the points put on the screen, "Hell yeah!"

Rose looked confused back at Tony. "Spice Girls?"

Tony nodded his head. "Well, yeah. Makes since. You are English. And we have Pepper and Ginger."

Rose sat back and pointed at Tony as she told the Doctor, "That's YOUR friend."

The Doctor laughed. "I find that clever."

Tony bit his lip and laughed. "Yeah? See? John approves."

Pepper groaned and rolled her eyes. "Sometimes, you ….. I just have no words."

Tony held out his hands. "What?"

Ginger smiled at Legate, "Are they always like this?"

He nodded, "Usually. We can sit someplace else-"

Rose grabbed Legate's hand. "Not at all. I'll keep them off of your case."

The bartender announced the next question, "Sometimes known as the 'Virgin Queen', which of the last monarchs does this refer to?"

Rose looked surprised back at the Doctor. "I'm sensing a theme here."

He chuckled and busied himself pouring her some more wine. "My dear, I have no idea what you are on about."

Tony leaned back and crossed his arms, "Right. I know about this one."

He sipped his beer and looked back at Legate who smiled and grabbed the paper. "I've got it." They watched as he wrote, 'Elizabeth I, Gloriana or Good Queen Bess, the childless Elizabeth was the last monarch of the Tudor dynasty.'

Rose read it and looked back at the Doctor. He smiled and winked at her.

Ginger laughed, "Legate. I had no idea you were so smart."

Tony looked suspiciously at the Doctor. "Neither did I."

Legate took their paper to the bar and handed it to the bartender.

Rose turned and spoke to the Doctor in his head, 'You are feeding Legate the answers. Aren't you?'

He smiled, "As Elizabeth used to say, 'video et taceo'."

Legate smiled and sat back down.

Ginger smiled, "'Video et Taceo.' What does that mean, Doctor Smith?"

Legate didn't look up. "Video et Taceo? Ummm…. I see but say nothing."

Ginger smiled at him. "What language is that?"

He smiled back at her, "Latin."

She giggled at him. "That's remarkable."

Tony typed something on his arm and the Doctor's bracelet beeped. Tony had sent him the message, 'Someone is getting laid tonight.'

The Doctor quickly turned his laughter into him clearing his throat. "You know, this is fun. I've never done this before."

Pepper asked, "What? Played Trivia in a bar?"

Rose put her hand on his thigh. "Have you not?"

He sipped his beer and shook his head. "I don't think I have. Do you do this a lot?"

Tony crossed his arms, "This is my bar. Well, we're in the building. Stark Industries in New York. I wanted to have a bar I didn't have to call a cab to get home if I got trashed. It really shouldn't surprise me that you work here, Ginger. You have to have a special ID to get in. Most people in here, work here. See, Rose. I'm trying to keep an eye out for you."

Rose smiled and the Doctor could feel her relief. "Thank you, Tony. I really wasn't worried, though."

The Doctor kissed the side of her face and smiled at her.

Tony pointed across the room, "And that table full of….what should I call them? A good British insult, John."

The Doctor shook his head, "I'll never insult my guys. You're on your own with that."

Tony nodded, "Fine. Fair enough."

Ginger smiled, "I still don't understand why that gentleman was so insistent on you not playing Doctor Smith."

Tony rolled his eyes. "Because he knows everything! It's rather impressive. For example, John. If someone was to dig a hole to the core of the earth, how long would it take for them to reach it?"

"Like, if they jumped into the hole?"

Tony slapped the table, "Yes! Dug a hole and jumped in. How long would it take them to fall to the center of the Earth?"

The Doctor sipped his beer. "Now, why would I know that?"

Tony pointed both of his hands at him, "Because you do. Just tell us."

The Doctor groaned, "42 minutes."

Ginger smiled, "How do you know that?"

Rose smiled, "He's a bit of a science geek."

He smiled at her with his 1,000 watt smile. She looked back at him. "What?"

"You've never called me that."

She smiled at him. "Well-"

"Science geek. That means I'm obsessively enthusiastic about science. I remember that! Yes." He laughed.

Tony leaned on the table and smiled at him, "Now, who explained it like that to you?"

Rose smiled, "Martha, I imagine."

He shook his head. "Her sister. I think. Anyway. So, what sort of thing do you and Legate do together? Just come to the bar and hang out?"

Ginger looked at Legate and smiled, "Well, we just enjoy hanging out together. Talking about things to keep children occupied. Keep them busy."

Legate sipped his beer and pointed back to her. "She has given me a lot of ideas with Genie. Ginger has a little brother."

Ginger smiled, "Colin. It's just the two of us."

Legate nodded. "She's been extremely helpful. We talk about that sort of thing, or whatever."

Ginger giggled, "I can't imagine trying to keep a child occupied on a Zeppelin as much as you travel, Doctor Smith and Mrs. Smith."

Legate took Ginger's hand. "Excuse me. We're being summoned to the bodyguards' table. We'll be straight back."

Ginger smiled, "Excuse us."

They watched them walk away and Tony groaned. "Zeppelins."

The Doctor looked back at Tony. "You know? I've never thought about it, Tony. Do you have a Zeppelin?"

Tony sat back and rubbed his face. "I have several. I don't travel on them, though. They honestly scare the hell out of me."

Pepper took his hand and he relaxed a bit. She explained, "Tony and Rhodey were on a Zeppelin what? Seven years ago?"

He thought, "Eight. It's eight now. It was docked in San Francisco, there on the bay. Another Zeppelin, few by this idiot, ran into the one we were in. We never knew anyone had hit us. We just knew, that we were thrown to the ground and an alarm went off. I didn't have time to think. Rhodey tackled me and pushed me through the plate glass window. Cut the hell out of my back. I had to have…"

Pepper thought, "53 stitches. The explosion happened almost immediately. Rhodey suffered 3rd degree burns on his legs and feet."

Tony nodded, "Burnt his shoes completely off his feet. Killed the other nine people that were on the Zeppelin for….various reasons. I've not been in one since."

Rose covered her mouth. "My God."

The Doctor nodded his head, "Just like the Hindenburg. It hit a mooring mast as it was docking and exploded. Killed 35 of the 97 people onboard, and one guy on the ground. Crashed in 37 seconds. Extremely dangerous. It's just the way it's made. Well, the ones …. Well…hell…. Rose, that didn't happen here, did it?"

Rose shook her head. "No. And these are not that dangerous. But, I didn't know all of that. You're not going to get me on one ever again, either."

Pepper agreed, "Me either. That was called the what?"

"Hindenburg. Nevermind. I shouldn't have said anything. Nevermind."

Tony shrugged his shoulders. "Rhodey completely saved my ass on that. He had….trained for that sort of thing. What, with being in the military and such. I just remember as soon as I got up off the floor, he was jumping with me. I don't even know how far we fell. The Zeppelin burnt immediately. Entire thing was gone in seconds."

The Doctor sipped his beer. "I remember seeing the scarring from that on your back. I just thought that was from the kidnapping in the desert, or you were into something….strange."

Tony laughed, "Rough sex, huh? Yeah. Rhodey and I had some really rough sex on a Zeppelin."

Pepper smiled, "That's what you should put on his memorial."

He sipped his drink and nodded his head. "That would piss him off. I really should."

Rose asked, "Memorial?"

Pepper nodded and looked back at Tony. "Tony's doctor suggested, months ago-"

Tony rubbed his face, "No. It's been several years now."

Pepper rubbed his forearm and smiled. "I'm sorry. I've only just been told about it a few months ago. But, the doctor Tony went to suggested that he establish a memorial in Rhodey's honor. It would help him get some closure."

Tony shook his head and sipped his drink.

Rose and the Doctor looked at him.

Rose spoke, "I really like that idea. Where do you plan to put it?"

Tony sighed, "Philly. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rhodey grew up there and talked about it all of the time."

Pepper smiled back at Tony. "And Tony would sing that Fresh Prince song at him."

Tony laughed and finished his drink. "He hated that."

Legate and Ginger rejoined them. Tony, glad to have a distraction, smacked the table again. "So! Meet the rest of the guys, Ginger?"

She smiled as she sat back down. "Yes, Mr. Stark. They were very nice."

Tony pointed at himself, "Tony. It's easy to say. Common name and everything. You've probably met someone else named 'Tony' at some point."

Ginger smiled at him.

The Doctor smiled, "They are great guys."

She smiled back at Legate. "They all have such odd names. Well, like Legate. That's from Heminges and Condell, isn't it?"

Rose laughed and looked back at the Doctor. He closed his eyes and groaned, "Heminges and Condell. I've got to fix that. It's making me mental."

Rose looked back at her. "Yes. It is."

The bartender asked another question. "What was the official title of Jeanne Antoinette Poisson of France?"

Rose snapped her head back to look at the Doctor.

He held his hands out. "Seriously, Rose."

She rolled her eyes, grabbed the paper and wrote, "Madame de Pompadour" on the paper.

Tony looked at it and laughed. "Another one?"

The Doctor sipped his drink. "Not talking about it."

Rose nodded her head. "Oh yes."

Tony laughed, "Wow. That's three for three, man."

The Doctor poured Rose some more wine. "I'm not talking about it."

Legate took the paper to the bartender.

Pepper smacked Tony on the arm. "Behave yourself."

Tony sat back and smiled. "So, Ginger. Did you see me and the good Doctor on the telly?"

She smiled, "Yes. You're talking about when Genie was on with you, right?"

Tony looked back at the Doctor. "We've not been on there again, have we?"

"I can't remember."

Ginger smiled. "Legate speaks of this energetic child and she was so quiet through that entire interview."

The Doctor smiled, "Yes. Get her around Rose's little brother, and she's wild like him."

Rose smiled back at him. "Or you! Who was kicking the football down the hallway?"

He laughed, "Oh yes. That was fun."

Rose asked, "How old is your little brother?"

"He's eight. Legate's never met him."

Pepper asked, "Where is he?"

"He's at home. Legate called me earlier, so I asked for a babysitter. In fact, it's getting close to time I need to get back home."

Legate nodded. "Right. Well, finish your drink….I'll walk you back."

She smiled, "Thank you, Legate."

Tony raised his eyebrows. "You know where she lives, then?"

Legate pointed at Tony and started to say something. The bartender announced, "And the Spice Girls are still in the lead!"

Tony laughed and rubbed his hands together. "Lance can so kiss my ass."

The bartender spoke, "And our next question. Who is commonly referred to as the Father of Science?"

Rose smiled and pointed at herself. "This one, I know."

Tony smiled, "I would hope so, Doctor Smith."

A waiter brought over another plate of chips for the table and Tony another drink. Tony shook his head. "We didn't order these-"

Legate nodded his head. "Yes, John asked me to get them while I was over there."

Ginger looked confused. "How did he do that?"

The Doctor threw a chip in his mouth, "Food is strength. Food is peace."

Legate smiled, "President John Kennedy."

Ginger sat back. "You are so clever. I didn't know you knew this sort of stuff."

Legate smiled at her.

Rose handed Legate the paper to take back to the bartender.

Tony leaned on the table and asked Ginger. "So. What can we tell you about Legate to embarrass him?"

Pepper shook her head. "Leave Legate alone."

Ginger laughed. "I couldn't imagine. I know about the tattoo."

All four of them ask at the same time. "Tattoo?"

Ginger laughed and stood up as Legate returned. "And I've said too much. Legate, I need to go home."

He nodded his head, "Right then."

She looked back at them, "It was nice to meet you all. Thank you for the drink Mr. Stark."

He held out his hands, "Tony! My name is Tony!"

She giggled, "Not until I know you better. Doctor Smith. Mrs. Smith, Miss Potts. Good evening."

She turned to walk away. Legate quickly turned and pointed at them. "Cheers."

Tony exhaled loudly. "Ah. Legate has himself a girl. They grow up so fast."

The Doctor shook his head. "I wonder how long that's been going on?"

Rose laughed, "He's a good looking, sweet guy. Of course he has a girl."

Tony picked up a brochure that was on the table and looked at it. "Sweet. That's what women say about stupid guys."

Pepper rolled her eyes, "No, it's not."

Tony leaned on the table and continued to look at the inside of the brochure. "Yeah, it is. And Legate isn't stupid. He's extremely intelligent."

Rose smiled, "Sticking up for Legate. That's sweet."

Pepper laughed and teased, "Extremely sweet, Tony."

Tony rolled his eyes, "Whatever."

The Doctor smiled, "What's got your attention on that brochure, mate?"

Tony scratched his head. "This is a brochure for the Expo. I was looking at this map. I think I've had too much to drink. This looked like something else to me." He showed it to Pepper. "Is this right? Is this what it looks like?"

Pepper took the brochure. "What? The map?"

Tony nodded his head. "Yes. Was there a reason it was made that way?"

She handed it back to him. "It's the same foot path, and everything as the one that was held before. Why reinvent the wheel? It's my understanding that a lot of time was spent on that."

He laid it on the table and looked at it closer, "Interesting. Who arranged this entire set up?"

Pepper smiled, "Howard Stark did. Back in 19-"

"74." Tony finished her sentence. He continued to look at the brochure's map.

Pepper told them. "The World Fair was cancelled in 1943 in New York. Howard Stark wanted to go ahead and have it then, so he sponsored it. That was un-officially, the first Expo. But when he redid it in 1974, he completely changed the footpaths, where everything was located. There's a model of it in the lobby downstairs."

Tony nodded his head. "I remember seeing the model when he first got it. I didn't know it was still around."

Rose asked, "So, how many Expos have there been?"

Pepper smiled, "Counting the World's Fair, three. They have all lasted a year."

The Doctor smiled, "What is it that you think you see?"

Tony looked up at him, and put the brochure in his jacket pocket. "Nothing. I've had too much to drink. You know, I'm rather tired. I think I'll head upstairs. Pepper?"

"The game isn't over."

"I think it is. Legate left. I….ummm….need to go check something." He quickly stood up. "Rose, John. See you, later." He quickly got up and left.

Pepper shook her head and smiled at the Doctor and Rose. "I'm sorry-"

The Doctor held his hand out to her. "Don't feel as if you have to apologize for Tony." He smiled proudly, "He's going to be busy the next few days if he saw what I think he did."

Rose asked, "What do you think he saw?"

He finished his drink and laughed dreamily, "That's for him to tell. Not me. Fascinating, how things that have to happen, manage to find a way to happen."

Pepper looked back at Rose. "Now, he's not making sense. Has he had too much to drink, too?"

Rose shook her head, "This is normal for him."

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