Thank you again for taking the time to read this story and for the lovely reviews. This chapter is a little longer than usual. It has a little information about the report on Bruce and a guest star. I hope you'll enjoy it :)

From: Tony Stark

To: Stella Moon

Date: May 29, 2012

Subject: Session tomorrow

Stella,

I know I already postponed the session from yesterday to tomorrow. I am glad you agreed to it - you know therapy is all I care about, but I do have some other things to take care of. Business. And things.

Anyway, the problem is that tonight is date night and I can't cancel on Pepper at the last minute.

Thanks for your understanding.

T. Stark

PS: I have an intern guy who would be thrilled to take you out for dinner tonight.

From: Stella Moon

To: Tony Stark

Date: May 29, 2012

Subject: Re: Session tomorrow

Dear Tony,

I can't let you skip the session. Furthermore, I shouldn't have let you postpone it either - take it as my good will just this one time.

Miss Potts is welcome to accompany you to the session tomorrow evening.

I have to point out that two agents will make sure you come to the session if you are not present in my room in time. (It's SHIELD protocol.)

Best regards,

Stella Moon

PS: Not interested. Thank you for your concern though.

From: Corie Summers, WSC

To: Stella Moon

Date: May 30, 2012

Subject: Biweekly report on the Avengers - ID 01836

Dear Miss Moon,

I am contacting you on behalf of Mr Callahan Thorne from the World Security Council. He is in charge of monitoring the therapy sessions you lead with the members of the Avengers group.

In your last report (ID 01836) you missed the notes on Dr Banner. Please send his report over at your earliest convenience.

Thank you in advance.

Best regards,

Corrie Summers

Secretary

WSC SHIELD

Damn. They noticed. Who reads those reports anyway? I was certain they would just put them in a nice yellow folder without even glancing at them. I sigh and start to search for my reports on the other Avengers. I have no idea what to write about Bruce Banner. I let him go early when it became obvious I was the scrutinised one and not him. I can't exactly write it down though, can I? Mr Thorne would probably get me fired. And even worse, he would be right.

File ID: 81302 - May 30th, 2012

Name: Anthony Edward Stark/Iron Man

Species: Human

Date of birth: May 05, 1970

Place of birth: United States of America

Citizenship: American

Occupation: Consultant, SHIELD

Family status: In a relationship (note: patient brought Miss Potts along as per previous arrangement)

Before I could reply to Summers, Tony arrives to my room holding Pepper Potts' hand. Pepper doesn't seem bothered by the fact that she will spend her date night on her boyfriend's therapy, but Tony's expression is still apologetic when he glances at her. I'm actually surprised he decided to bring Pepper along.

"Miss Potts, what a pleasure to meet you," I start with a smile, but Tony interrupts me. He clearly wants to maintain control. Control that he does not even have in this room, according to my plan, at least.

"Pepper Potts, CEO of Stark Industries, Stella Moon, our therapist." I shake Pepper's hand. "Now can we please get on with it?"

I nod. "Please, take a seat." They sit on the couch. Tony still holds his girlfriend's hand.

"I was convinced you are the CEO of the company, Tony," I start.

"It's a technical detail," Tony replies dismissively.

"I was a better fit for the role," Pepper answers at the same time. Hearing Tony she gives him a pointed look.

"And that too," he adds.

"Why is that?" I ask.

Tony shrugs. "You must know I am not really good at taking things seriously."

"You take Iron Man pretty seriously," I point out.

"Yes," he says simply. I wait patiently but he does not want to say more.

"Alright," I move on. "How is the role reversal working out for you two? If I understand correctly, Pepper was your personal assistant, right?"

They both nod. "There is no role reversal," Tony says.

"It's not so easy," Pepper responds at the same time. They seem to have a habit of this. They both reply at the same time, but while Tony dismisses the question, Pepper seems to be straightforward.

"Is that so?" I jump on the response turning to Pepper.

Tony hisses softly. Pepper shrugs. "It would have been complicated enough to get involved with my boss. But add Stark Industries and Iron Man to the mix and it's downright crazy." She rubs her forehead.

"I was convinced you liked crazy," Tony remarks. A glance at their knees confirms that he let her hand go. He obviously doesn't like that Pepper talks to me so easily and honestly.

"I like you, Tony. I just put up with crazy because that's the price that comes with you," she replies.

Tony is clearly taken aback. While I am content some real discussion is about to be happen, I can't stop thinking about possible ways Tony will get his revenge on me later. "Are you saying it's too much for you to handle?" he asks rather defensively.

"I don't think that's what Pepper is saying," I interrupt earning a glare from him. "But she does have a point. Your lifestyle can be exhausting not only for you but for those in this environment as well."

"My lifestyle is called saving the world, Stella," Tony snaps. "I'm so glad we skipped that dinner in a high-end restaurant so we can talk about how difficult it is for everyone to be around me."

I sigh. Why did I even offer to him to bring Miss Potts along? There is no way we can talk about his real issues now as he is determined to prove to her that this is just a waste of time. And now, when his girlfriend actually tries to use the situation well and talk about her own experiences, he thinks it is all about him once again.

"Tony," I start. Now it's Pepper to take his hand in hers. The simple gesture has Tony relax against the couch. He probably does not even pay attention to my words. "Nobody says that it is not just as difficult for you as it is for others. I was just trying to point out that perhaps you don't take the time or energy to think about the influence these things can have on you or those around you."

He rolls his eyes in annoyance but I continue. "You gave the CEO position to Pepper and you say it was a technical detail while it is clear that for her it was a lot of work and responsibility to take on." I look at Pepper. "Am I correct?"

"Yes," she answers simply.

"But I knew you could take it," Tony protests. "She already knew a lot about the position beforehand," he explains to me.

"You're missing the point completely," Pepper says. "I can take it. But I have a lot of work in it. And I might even have difficulties."

"Fair enough," Tony nods. "So you want more people or another personal assistant, or-"

"I want you to recognise that it's not all your hard work. Stark Industries, even the Iron Man project or the innovations for the Avengers or SHIELD. I have my share in it too," Pepper cuts in. I am glad to see how eloquent she is. It makes sense; Tony needs someone who does not beat around the bush just like he doesn't. I'm quite certain at this point that my presence is unnecessary.

Tony raises his eyebrow. "Can we go and start the date night if I promise I will?" he asks. I can't help my smile. He looks quite pleased with himself catching my expression. I am not sure who he wants a response from.

"If you answer a couple more questions, I will let you early just this one time," I bargain.

"You get two," he replies.

"Tony," Pepper reprimands him.

"Three," he corrects.

"I can work with that," I nod. "Do you sleep well?" I start. The question sounds innocent, but ever since Hawkeye told me none of the Avengers sleep well, I couldn't get the thought of a group of exhausted, sleep deprived superheroes crammed together in this tower out of my head. This situations is like a barrel of dry gunpowder and a kid playing with a box of matches.

"What do you consider sleeping well?" he asks back. Pepper elbows him in the ribs. "Ouch," he frowns at her. "Not really," he shrugs. "Never have though. I am just better at thinking at night." Before I could react, he looks at me pointedly. "Two more."

"What are your plans with this relationship?"

"Stella, are you seriously bringing this up in front of my girlfriend?" Tony asks. "You are just my therapist. Nothing more." Pepper can't help her chuckle. Good. At least he makes her laugh.

I sigh and shake my head. "You promised me three answers."

Tony bites his lip for a moment while Pepper looks at him curiously. "Things are good, alright? They are great, really. Our plans are that they will remain great." It truly wasn't that nice of me to ask him about it in front of Pepper, so I will let go of the second question with basically no acquired information. Pepper seems just as disappointed as I feel. Perhaps they don't really discuss it in private either.

"Okay, I have a deal for you, Tony. I keep my third question. Next time I will bring a topic up and you will have to talk about it for at least five minutes. Honestly."

Tony doesn't care about my conditions. He just wants to get out. "Fine," he says and he is on his feet holding out his hand for me to shake already. I barely have time to say goodbye to Miss Potts as he drags her out of my room.