Thank you so much to everyone for sticking with the story for so long! And thank you so much for all the reviews, it means so much to me!

Enjoy!

Tony's Workshop – Ed's POV

"So, it shouldn't lock up again?" I asked, eyeing my automail arm cautiously on the table in front of Tony and myself.

"Not unless you ask me that question AGAIN," he replied, sending me a look.

I ignored it, continuing to study the arm before I heard a chime from my cell phone not too far away. "By the way," I began as I went to check what had happened on the device, "have you thought about –"

"The retractable blade," he finished with a sigh, sending me another look. "I know. I told you, you're listening skills need improvement. I'll. Think. About. It."

I picked up my cell phone, turning back to face him. "If you think you're going around as Iron Man from now on doing who know what, then I'd like SOME way to help with the fighting. A blade is a good start!"

Tony just rolled his eyes, going back to finishing whatever else needed to be done on my arm. I, meanwhile, sighed in annoyance before checking on what had caused the chime on my cell phone.

A message from Pepper.

I took me a moment to not only remember how to get to the screen to reply to the message, but to do so with only one hand. I had seen Pepper easily use hers with one hand but I still couldn't get the hang of it just yet.

Pepper

Reminder to both of you to go to sleep. You BOTH need your rest.

Goodnight!

"Pepper wants us to go to sleep," I said, passing long the message.

"That's nice," replied Tony without making any move to do so.

"That's what I thought."

To be honest, I wasn't sleepy either but I did write back to her.

Ed

We will. Eventually.

Goodnight!

I was sure she was sighing upon reading my response.

I almost felt bad but I was sure she was used to this by now… And, here was the thing though: I wasn't sleepy but…

"Food? Coffee?" I asked, turning towards Tony, pocketing my cell phone.

He actually looked up and seemed to think it over for a moment before answering, "You just need me to come up with you since you can't carry much with just one arm."

I rolled my eyes, heading towards the stairs. "No coffee for you then."

He didn't answer but I heard him put down his tools and walk in my direction.

Good, I could maybe get more snacks if he carried some down too!

I wasn't going to say he was right with his assumption though.

Once upstairs, Tony and I crossed the dark living room on our way to the –

"I am Iron Man."

A man's voice came from near the large windows, the ones currently shrouded in darkness, making Tony and I skid to a halt, turning towards him.

What the hell?!

"You think you're the only superhero in the world? Mr. Stark and Miss Elric, the two of you have become part of a bigger universe, you just don't know it yet."

"Who the hell are you?" asked Tony sternly.

"And how do people keep breaking in?" I mumbled in annoyance.

Especially considering I didn't have my arm again… Well, I took care of the other intruders with one arm, I can do the same with this one.

The man stepped closer, finally getting into the beam of light from the kitchen. He wore complete black, including a long, leather trench coat and…

He even had an eyepatch on his left eye.

"Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D.," said the man and my shoulders sagged in surprise.

Honestly, we should have seen this coming. Agent Coulon had even said S.H.I.E.L.D. would be in touch.

However, did the director really need to break into the house…?

"I'm here to talk to you about the Avenger Initiative."

The what…?

And that was it for the 2nd story! :D

I had wondered if I just put all the Iron Man movies together in one story but decided to split the stories by movie :) Besides, it will help with the next installment that will slightly change some of the sequence of events in the MCU ;D It'll be like a .5 story in the collection and I hope you'll enjoy it!

Let me know what you thought! :D

P.S. Next installment is up! It is called "Of Memories, Science, and Postcards"!