During the ambush I was trying to message erica one last time when I was hit with one of own bombs. But waking up in a cave with a battery attached to my chest I knew I had to get out of here. I had one true weakness and thankfully only Rodey knew about it. pepper did not even know I was in love with erica thanks to my playboy life. I am a merchant of death and she is a nightingale she deserves better than me. But I still had to live after all even if I never told her I still had to have her in my life.

After my escape I could her here crying when Rodey told her I was found after all she was the first to know I was alive. But after landing in Malibu and making the announcement I knew she would try to see me. So, while breaking my own heart I refused to see her. Monday the AI I had built for her kept me in the loop on how she was taking it and honesty I wanted nothing more then to go to her and confess my love, but I can't not yet. But when Obadiah whispered in my ear that if I did not die, she would. I had to save her and ill be dammed if I did not get now to the lab at the last second.

Finding her was not hard since she was tied up on the roof of the arc rector. The hard part was getting to her without the glass breaking.

"Tony?"

"Easy, don't move or the glass will break."

"Tony what's going on and what are you wearing?"

"right, I'll explain latter just know Obadiah's a bad guy."

She looked around then looked behind me her eyes going big which would only mean he was behind me.

"you can't save her Tony. Your only weakness is right in front of you and when I kill her you will be cripple."

Now I was pissed dropping now the face plate I launched at him fighting tooth and nail with him. By the time we made it back to the arc reactor she was gone! Looking around in a panic Pepper called and told me Eric was with her. She was safe and based off what I was hearing over Peppers phone she was pissed.

"Tony Erica's going to blow up the rector!"

God she is a genius I guess she was paying attention when I rambled on while helping build her museums.

"do it!"

"you'll die."

"not if he gets off the dam roof! Tony you got one minute then she will be primed to blow!"

One minute now I just had to keep him up here that long before he realized to plan. And of course, it did not work out that way.

"Erica! Do it! Hit the button and get out of there!"

"you better live through this so I can kick your ass."

"just do it!"

The last thing I remember was the blast taking out Obadiah and Erica standing over me with tears in her eyes. Whispering she loved me.

Weeks went by and I just kept pretending I did not hear her confession. I did apologize for ignoring her when I got back but I explained it was because I did not know how my weapons got out in the open. She understood and forgave me thankfully. She never talked about what she had said and acted like it did not happen. Even though it hurt I stared to act like I had feeling for Pepper which I knew would not be returned. It was to keep her safe that is what I kept telling my self at least.

Since I came out as Iron Man the kids wanted there, I be an Iron Man room. so here I am in one of the soon to be open museums trying to fast track a room to Iron man.

"well looks like I got your name in here after all."

I was worked on a hologram platform when she came in and she looked like crap.

"board meeting?"

"unfortunately, since you're now working in the defense industry."

"oh crap, I am so sorry I didn't even think about it."

"its fine besides, I see it as friendly competition."

"and how do they see it."

"oh, they are pissed your getting a room in the museums and that we are friends."

Standing up I stretched cracking my back in the process as she looked around and smiled.

"now when I left you in here the wall were bare and had no color. But now there's your life story with is friendship mostly?"

"loke I have said before this is your legacy not mine."

"yes, but you're trying to chance yours."

"it was my father's not mine."

She walked up to me and hugged me tight. She knew how I felt about my dad since she was the only one, I would talk to about it. I could not help it, but I held her close completely wrapping my arms around her. I would always forget how short she was or how thin she is sometimes. I was at least a good six inches taller than her making it to were if she put her head on my chest, I could put my chin on her head with out a problem. that is how we stood for a good five minutes until Jarvis spoke up.

"sirs miss Potts is trying to reach you regarding the Stark Expo."

"fine put her threw."

"Tony, where are you?"

"working on a project. Why?"

"Tony the Expo is."

"happening end of discussion."

"fine what about the ridiculous donation you just made!"

"sorry you're breaking up can't here you Jarvis."

I hung up on her and let erica go. She looks worriedly at my arm. Looking down I saw the dark veins and pulled my sleeves down.

"Tony?"

"I'm fine just a side effect off the mini reactor."

"your dying"

"nope"

"Palladium poisoning, I'm not like Pepper tony I can actually follow you when you talk."

Sighing I hung my head and nodded. Looking around I realized what I was doing, I was making my obituary.

"I'm not dead yet there's still things I can try to reduce it or try and find a new core. I tried looking for a surgeon to get the pieces out, but no one is skilled enough."

She took my hand and gave it a squeeze smiling at her she nodded and kissed my cheek.

"well like you said your not dead yet so what's left to do in here?"

"simple flip the switch and she's good to go."

"you didn't sleep again did you."

"what's sleep?"