A/N: The penultimate chapter, guys. Can you believe it? :D

I still have one more big scene to write in the next chapter, and then it's all just coasting into the epilogue. Yay!

Glad folks enjoyed Darcy in the last chapter, because there is more of her in this one and the last one. It's too much fun writing for her not to let her out to play. ;)

And thank you as always to all of my lovely commentors. You guys rock. XXX

Chapter Seventy-Six

Pepper slowly woke from her dreamless sleep. Her eyes flickered open as she struggled to remember where she was and all that had happened to her. The memories came and she battled to put them in some kind of order. A figure moved to her left and she blinked at him with bleary eyes, still trying to focus. "Tony?"

Clint moved into view and smiled down at her as he sat on the side of her bed. "No, Pep, it's just me, sorry."

Pepper smiled, glad to see him. "Clint," she said huskily, "how are you?" More memories came back to her. Pepper's brow furrowed. "How is Natasha?"

"Resting comfortably, or so the doctors tell me." He sighed. "We just have to wait for her to wake up now."

Pepper felt a surge of compassion for the other man, seeing how hard it was for him. As someone who'd worried over Tony's bedside more than once, she had a special empathy for him. "It gets better, you know."

"Does it?" asked Clint, not looking so sure. "I knew it'd be hard, but I've never felt this helpless before in my life. I hate it. I want to do something, anything to help Natasha, but there is nothing I can do."

"Loving a person is something you can do, and you don't need them to be awake for that," she said quietly.

He gave a lop-sided smile. "Am I that transparent?"

"Let's just say I've had a lot of experience at loving someone from afar," said Pepper with a wry smile.

"Things are more complicated with Natasha and me," said Clint hesitantly.

"I don't think that is possible," said Pepper dryly, "but every couple is their own brand of complicated. But if you're lucky enough to love the right person and be loved back by them, then your love can be bigger than any complications." Pepper reached out and laid her hand on top of Clint's. He looked surprised, but didn't pull his hand away. She smiled at him. "All relationships are a leap of faith, Clint," said Pepper softly. "There are no guarantees with anything in this life other than one day it's going to be over. The scariest leaps are the ones which make you feel most alive and are always the most worth it, no matter what happens."

Clint gave a wry smile. "As someone who recently leapt off a cliff, I think I know what you're saying, Pepper."

"Of course you have," said Pepper with dry amusement. "Well, you're ready for love then, because when you're in love, that feeling of falling never stops."

"Then I guess this must be love then," said Clint huskily.

Pepper squeezed his hand tightly. "Clint, Natasha's going to come through this. You know that, don't you?"

"I do," he said quietly. "I just wish she was awake already. This waiting is killing me."

"Whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger," she reminded him gently. Pepper wrinkled her nose. "I know that's cliché, but it happens to be true. There are times when it feels like loving Tony is going to be the end of me, but I always come out the other side so much more than I was before."

Clint gave her an admiring look. "Tony is very lucky to have you."

"And Natasha is very lucky to have you," Pepper countered.

"I hope she'll feel that way when she wakes up."

"She will."

"How do you know?"

Pepper gave him a little wink. "Call it woman's intuition."

Clint laughed. "Well, I never like to argue with that."

"Smart man." Suddenly Pepper heard Tony's voice down the corridor. "That's Tony," she said quickly. "He'll be devastated to think I woke up without him here." She sent Clint a conspiratorial look.

Clint smiled and winked at her. "Got you."

He stood up and Pepper quickly feigned sleep again. She heard Tony's footsteps enter her room.

"How is she? Has she woken up?"

"Nope, the beauty is still sleeping. I guess she was waiting for her prince."

Pepper's lips twitched, fighting a smile at how easily Clint carried on the charade.

"I'm going back to sit with Natasha."

"Okay, thanks for standing in for me."

"Of course."

"I'll be round to see Natasha soon."

"Okay."

There was the sound of Clint leaving and then Pepper heard Tony walk round to the side of her bed and let her eyes flutter open. "Tony?"

"I'm here, Pepper," said Tony hastily, taking her hand. "I'm here."

Pepper opened her eyes and looked up at him, feeling that same glow of love and comfort she always did at the first sight of him for the day. "Hi," she whispered.

Tony looked suddenly emotional. "Hi," he returned unevenly. Tony bent down and pressed a soft kiss to her lips before straightening up again. "How are you feeling?"

Pepper pondered that question for a moment. "A little light-headed and thirsty, really, really thirsty."

Tony jumped up and went to pour her a glass of water. "How's the pain?"

Pepper moved a little in bed, experimenting. "Not too bad. I guess I'm still drugged up pretty good." She sighed and put a self-conscious hand to her hair. "I must look a mess."

"You look utterly gorgeous," Tony corrected her as he handed her the glass of water. "I can't take my eyes off you."

"People have the same problem with a train wreck," she said mockingly, taking a sip of her water. It tasted so good.

"Maybe if that train was the train of love going through the love tunnel and crashed into another train of gorgeousness going the other way."

Pepper looked over the top of her glass at him. "What?"

Tony screwed up his face as he came to sit on the side of her bed. "In my head that was sweet and romantic." He scratched his cheek. "It's possible it lost something on the journey to my mouth."

Pepper put down her glass of water and reached for his hand. "You look tired," she said sympathetically. "Tell me you at least got some sleep last night."

"You know me, Pep," said Tony brightly. "I can go days without sleep."

"I've always been meaning to tell you this," she said gently, "but when you do that, you're a bit rubbish by the end of it."

Tony pouted. "Rubbish?"

"You need to get some sleep," she chastised him lovingly.

"I will, as soon as I get things sorted over at the Tower."

"No," said Pepper firmly, "that can wait."

"You're very bossy." A mischievous smile came to Tony's lips. "Good thing I find that a huge turn on in my women."

Pepper arched an eyebrow. "Women?"

"Woman," Tony corrected himself hastily. "Woman. There is only one woman in my life." He leaned down and kissed her softly.

"You don't smell like butt anymore," she murmured against his lips, smiling.

"Is that a problem?" he teased her.

"No," she teased him back, "it's nice being able to breathe around you again. I was getting dizzy taking that one breath."

"You always make me dizzy," declared Tony, moving in for another kiss.

The sound of someone clearing their throat noisily came from the doorway. Pepper broke the kiss to see Bruce standing in the doorway. "Sorry," he apologised, "am I interrupting?"

"Yes," grumbled Tony, "go away."

"Tony," Pepper chided him. "Of course you're not interrupting Bruce, come in."

"Or go away," countered Tony, "the choice is yours."

"Ignore him," said Pepper.

"Always do," said Bruce and stepped into the room. "I've got a few people who want to say hi as well, Pep. Is that alright?"

Pepper looked past Bruce to see Steve, Thor, Jane and a short, dark-haired woman she didn't recognise. She smiled and nodded. "Yes, please, I'd love to see everyone."

"We didn't want to overwhelm you," said Steve as he walked into the room and smiled down at her.

"We just wanted to let you know we're all thinking of you," interjected Jane.

Thor put his arm around Jane's shoulder. "Verily, we wished to see with our own eyes that you are much recovered, Pepper Potts. And to thank you for saving all of our lives."

"I did what anyone would have done," said Pepper modestly.

"I do not believe that to be true," Thor disagreed. "Beneath your breast beats the heart of a true warrior."

Tony jabbed a finger at him. "Hey, enough breast talk, Goldilocks. Keep your admiration above the neck."

Thor looked puzzled. "I meant no disrespect, Tony Stark, merely that your maiden is a force to be reckoned with and that I am glad she is on our side."

"I know that, Thor," said Pepper. "Ignore Blinky."

Thor nodded knowingly. "Ah, t'is Blinky. I understand."

Tony sent Pepper an exasperated look. "I can't believe you told everyone about Blinky."

"Not everyone," piped up the dark-haired young woman. "What gives?"

"Blinky is Tony's crazy, jealous alter-ego when it comes to Pepper," explained Bruce.

"Got it." The woman nodded. "Makes sense you'd have more than one person running loose in that head of yours."

Pepper tilted her head and regarded her curiously. "I'm sorry, I don't believe we've met."

The woman grinned. "I'm Darcy. Friend of Jane, and the person who welcomed Thor to earth by hitting him with a car."

"I have had less painful introductions to worlds," said Thor dryly.

Darcy waved a dismissive hand at him. "You're fine. Don't go all drama queen on me now."

"It makes me glad we just met in the hallway," said Bruce in amusement.

Darcy was looking at Bruce with interest. "Someone got lucky tonight," she announced unexpectedly.

Bruce looked at her in surprise. "What?"

"I know a post-sex look when I see it." She cast a look over at Jane, lips twitching. "Isn't that right, Mother Goose?"

"I hate you," said Jane flatly.

Darcy just laughed.

"Betty was here," Bruce explained, looking a little awkward.

"Oh," said Pepper in delight, "Bruce, that's wonderful."

He smiled. "Yeah, it was."

"Told you," said Darcy knowingly.

"So, when is Betty moving in with us?" asked Tony. "Cause the Tower is going to need a lot of work before I know for sure it's safe. At least a week of 24 hour days."

"Betty isn't staying," said Bruce with a tinge of sadness. "At least, not yet. I've got a lot of work to do with the other guy but when I'm happy I've got some real kind of control-"

"You mean like I said all along," Tony interrupted him. "You're agreeing that the Hulk can be an asset if you just work with him rather than against."

"I'm not saying you were right-"

"Even though I was."

"Are you going to be annoying about this?"

Steve snorted. "Like you even have to ask, Bruce."

Darcy was now eyeing Steve off, clearly not interested in their conversation. "Looks to me like someone else has been fighting off the ladies with a stick." Her finger whipped out and swiped along Steve's chin before he could stop her, picking up a streak of red lipstick which was on his chin. Darcy sniffed at it. "Cherry flavoured," she surmised and waggled her eyebrows at him. "So, where's your cherry pie now, Cap?"

Steve blushed as he scrubbed furiously at his chin. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"There is either a woman or you're the messiest cross-dresser ever to crack open the old cosmetic bag." Darcy put her hands on her hips and feigned a disgusted look at them all. "What is wrong with you people? Suddenly you're in a hospital and all you can think about is getting some. That's weird and sick." She grinned. "I'm so going to fit right in here."

Pepper fought a smile at the young woman's unabashed enthusiasm. She was indeed going to be an interesting addition to the group's dynamic.

Darcy looked Steve over and took in the way he was still pink-faced. "Wow, so Captain America is a blusher, interesting."

"I'm not blushing," said Steve stiffly. "I'm pink from the magma flow."

"You mean the magma flow you were nowhere near?" Tony quizzed him.

Darcy was still staring at Steve. "Boobs," she declared.

Steve's blush deepened even more. "Wh-what?"

"Nipples," continued on Darcy, clearly enjoying how Steve was getting. "Okay," she announced, "I have a new favourite game."

Tony looked back at Pepper, a kid on Christmas day expression on his face. "And FYI, I have a new favourite person."

"You don't say," said Pepper in wry amusement.

Steve was side-eyeing Darcy warily. "Of course he's going to love the female version of himself," he grumbled.

"Hey," said Darcy sharply, "if anything, Scarecrow is the male version of me."

"Scarecrow?" questioned Pepper, looking between them with interest.

"Something really cool happened in your apartment," said Darcy animatedly. "And, oh yeah, you're going to need new carpet."

"It's nothing important," said Tony hastily. "We'll talk about it when you're feeling a little stronger, Pepper."

"If it's nothing important, why do we have to wait until I'm stronger?" reasoned Pepper.

"She's got you on that one," piped up Darcy.

Tony frowned at her. "You're not helping."

"Helping wasn't part of my mission statement," she shot back.

"I saved your life," Tony pointed out.

"It was my water."

"It was my idea."

"But without my water, what was your back up planning, spitting on him?"

Pepper made a worried face. "What are you two talking about?" She held up a hand. "Wait, is everyone safe and unhurt?"

"Yes," said Tony quickly, "absolutely."

She gave a tired smile. "Good, then you can tell me what happened another day."

"Pepper could do with some rest," interjected Bruce. "I think she's had enough visitors for one day." He walked over and kissed her forehead. "It's good to see you, Pepper. Call me if you need a break from this guy."

"Hey," said Tony with feigned indignation.

Steve was smiling as he walked up to her and kissed her cheek. "And you can call me if you get sick of Bruce."

"That's pretty unlikely," deadpanned Bruce. "I'm a really interesting guy. Two interesting guys actually."

"A Hulk joke," said Tony, looking pleased, "that's a thawing in the relationship between you and your inner giant, B. I like it."

"We're not exchanging friendship bracelets yet," admitted Bruce, "but let's just say we've handed over each other's cell phone numbers."

Jane smiled as she walked over and gave Pepper's arm a squeeze. "And if you need more female type company, Darcy and I are here for you."

Tony had other ideas. "Yes to you, Jane, but that's a big no to Darcy spending any alone time with Pepper."

Darcy's eyebrow shot up. "Excuse me?"

"And excuse me too," agreed Pepper, giving Tony a pointed look. "I think I'll make my own calls on who I befriend, thank you very much, Tony Stark."

"And besides," interjected Darcy, "I thought I was on your favourite person list."

"You are." He looked back at Pepper. "And I also know you happen to be extremely attracted to loud-mouthed, over-sexed, obnoxious, overly-confident smart asses, Pepper." He cast Darcy a wary look. "I'm not taking any chances."

Darcy nodded knowingly. "That's probably a smart move, Scarecrow. I am pretty damn irresistible when I want to be."

Pepper couldn't help but give a little giggle and immediately regretted it as her wound complained bitterly. "Oh," she grimaced laughingly, "please don't make me laugh."

"Okay, everyone out," Tony ordered them. "Pepper needs some quiet time."

"Thank you for coming," she said with a smile which included them all. "I'm really glad to know you're all safe and sound."

"You too, Pep," returned Steve. "Feel better."

They all murmured their goodbyes and then there was just Tony left in the room.

He blew out a breath. "I thought they'd never leave." Tony looked down at her and smiled warmly. "Alone at last."

All the activity had exhausted Pepper more than she'd expected. "Then we should take advantage of it." She held out a hand to him. "Come here, Tony." He walked over to her and took her hand. "Come and lie down with me," she coaxed him. "You look exhausted."

Tony half-smiled. "Why are you always trying to get me into bed, Potts?"

Pepper just smiled. "You've never complained before."

"What can I say, I'm so your love slave." Tony very carefully lay down on the bed beside her, making sure not to bump her. He stretched out beside Pepper and laid his head on the pillow.

"Hi," said Pepper huskily.

"Hi," returned Tony, looking at her lovingly. He rested his hand on her midriff, just below her breasts, making sure to keep clear of her bandaged wound. Tony was staring at her with those liquid brown eyes of his. "I don't think I've told you how much I adore you today."

Pepper felt suddenly emotional, her eyes pricking with tears. "Still?" she asked unevenly.

"Always," declared Tony, his expression intent as he gently stroked her midriff. "You're never not in my thoughts, Pepper Potts. You're always there, tucked away in the corner of my brain, in the centre of my heart." He looked emotional too. "I'm so crazy for you, beautiful girl. There are some days I just can't stand it." Tony's face clouded over. "I'm so sorry that loving me has cost you so much."

A tear streaked down Pepper's face as she lifted a hand to stroke Tony's cheek. "Did I ever tell you what my favourite book is?"

"No, but I know it's Wuthering Heights."

Pepper gave him a surprised look. "How did you know that?"

"You read it at least twice a year." Tony gave a lop-sided smile. "You see, I'm not completely oblivious."

"I know you're not," said Pepper sincerely. "There's this line in the book that every time I'd get to I couldn't help but think of you." She took in an unsteady breath and quoted the line. "If you ever looked at me once with what I know is in you, I would be your slave," Pepper whispered. She looked at Tony and felt her heart turn over with the way he was holding her gaze now. "There is this blinding light inside of you, Tony, this brilliance that draws people in but you've always tried to hide it away." Her voice wobbled. "That night on the roof, you looked at me with that blinding light in your eyes and I've never wanted to be anywhere but where you are since."

"Pepper." Tony's voice cracked over her name.

Pepper moved her face closer, so that they were nose to nose. "Loving you is the best thing I've ever done in this world. I am never going to regret it, Tony Stark. You're so stuck with me."

"There is no me without you," he whispered back, voice strained with emotion. "I lost track years ago where I finish and you start. You're so necessary to me, Pepper. I can only make sense of myself when I see me through your eyes. Without you, I don't have any reason, no point in being." A tear trickled down his cheek and Pepper wiped it away. "You can't ever leave me, Pepper," said Tony raggedly. "You're the most precious thing in the world to me. I'd never survive losing you."

"I know," she said softly. Pepper kissed the tip of his nose. "Go to sleep, Tony. Everything is going to be okay."

He blew out a long, tired breath. "I know, because you're in my arms again."

Pepper stroked his arm. "And I'm not going anywhere."

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

oooOOOOooo

The poorly lit bar was filled with stale smoke and grim despair. The few patrons were hunched over their beers, lost in their own dark thoughts. The TV above the bar blared away, delivering its news to the disenchanted masses. The man glanced up from his warm beer in the grubby glass, as CNN ran yet more coverage of the Los Alamos show down.

"-and the clean up continues after the close call experienced here at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Millions of American's lives were at stake when a malignant force, headed by Justin Hammer, the onetime head of Hammer Industries and his team, dubbed the Defenders, sort to wrangle political control of this country, through any means necessary. Details are still unfolding in this sinister plot which would have potentially seen millions of deaths and a reshaping of America's coastline itself. The ramifications would have been nearly incalculable and if it wasn't for the bravery and determination of the Avengers, who knows what kind of world America would be waking to this morning-"

The guy beside him snorted. "It's all spin," he said in disgust. "I saw Captain America on my TV yesterday telling me to kiss his ass or die. Now, we've got the President telling us that it was fake. I say there is no smoke without fire. Those Avengers are dirty."

The man's hand tightened on his glass as he listened to the drunk pontificate and hand out his pearls of wisdom to a roomful of people who didn't care.

"Those Avengers have their own agenda going on. No one does anything for nothing in this world, those guys aren't any different. They'll be looking for their pound of flesh soon enough."

The man slammed his glass down on the bar, ignoring the way flat beer slopped over the sides. "The Avengers are real heroes," he snarled. "They risk their lives every day for guys like you. Guys who don't matter and who never will. They don't do it because they're looking for something, they do it because it's the right thing to do."

"What are you?" the drunk sneered back at him. "The president of their fan club?"

"I'm a guy who knows what the real thing looks like," he bit out. The man caught his reflection in the smudged mirror behind the bar. "And what it doesn't," he continued roughly. A sudden flood of self-loathing had him abruptly standing up, and walking towards the door on vaguely unsteady legs. He pushed on the door and stepped out into the blaring Mexican midday sun.

Abner Jenkins shook his head and blinked against the burning light, his eyes adjusting from the dinginess of the bar he'd stumbled into at some point last night. What had happened at Los Alamos kept playing over and over in his head. Captain America could so easily have let him drop to his death. It was what he'd deserved but the man had risked his own life to save his enemy's. Abner had been so sure that he was due fame and fortune but in that moment he'd seen those things for what they were, nothing. If you weren't someone who could look yourself in the mirror and feel proud, then nothing else was going to replace that in your life. It was a lesson he didn't intend to waste. Abner turned to his left and started off down the street. He didn't know where he was heading, just that he wasn't going back to the man he used to be. It was a new day in Mexico, and it was a new day for Abner Jenkins, and he wasn't going to waste one more minute chasing the things that didn't matter. His future was uncertain, but his resolve to be a better man, a man who might be one day worthy of belonging in a team like the Avengers, wasn't.

A/N: Sorry if that last bit seemed random, but I always intended for the Beetle to have a little story arc in this fic. The Defenders didn't get much of a story in the end, but I did want to stay true to Beetle's history and put him on the path to becoming the hero he did in the comics. :D