'Take em to church.'

Tony grinned as the suits, his suits, spread out, knocking into the Extremis soldiers and sending them flying. One suit, that was designed to be controlled rather than worn, burst into several pieces, striking several soldiers at once. Another slammed a couple guards into the ground, creating a small explosion that rocked the structure.

'JARVIS, get Igor to steady this thing.'

Tony regretted taking the construction suit out of the battle but it was a necessity. He glanced sideways at Rhodey, smiling slightly.

'So this is how you've been managing your down time, huh?'

'Everyone needs a hobby.' Tony snarked, rolling his eyes. He scanned the battle, sending out instructions. The suits all moved together, JARVIS keeping them controlled.

One of the Extremis soldiers managed to pull the mask of a suit, and it spiralled out control, hitting one of the containers. Tony and Rhodey both flinched when they heard a roar straight after and Tony stood slightly, looking around. He spotted the green skinned monster quickly.

'It's all right, Rhodey, its just Jimmy.'

'Who?' Rhodey said, still holding his gun tight.

'James Banner. How's...Bruce's son.'

Rhodey nodded, not mentioning Tony's pass over his own son's name. Tony stood up completely, a suit appearing behind him.

'Nice timing.'

'Yeah, that's awesome. Give me a suit.'

Tony tilted his head in the suit. 'Oh, oh I'm sorry, they're only coded to me.'

'What does that mean?'

'I got you covered.'

Tony flew away, smirking to himself. Rhodey would be fine, if a bit annoyed and embarrassed. He flew round, helping his suits out as much as he could. Someone entered his vision and he almost shot at them, when he recognised who it was.

'Spiderman!' He shouted, knowing the boy's real name but letting him keep his secret. 'What are you doing here?'

'Just helping out a friend.' He shouted back. 'Jamie dragged me across country.'

Tony laughed as the other hero swung off, pulling soldiers up into the air then dropping them into the ocean.

'Sir, I've located Miss Potts.'

'About damn time.'

He turned his head to the side, seeing Killian knocking someone off the top of the metal structure. He didn't have time to react to the other person, guessing it was probably just an Extremis soldier who had disobeyed. Killian tried to walk off with Pepper but, before he could, Monstrosity went crashing upwards through the floor, roaring at Killian. The guards around Pepper jumped at the creature, taking him down, but it was too late, the structure collapsing in on itself. Pepper and Killian fell away from each other, Tony flying after her as metal fell on top of her.

Tony landed next to the metal, bending down next to it and trying to lift it. He heard the metal groaning and then Pepper was screaming.

'Stop!' She said, making him freeze instantly. 'Put it down. Put it down, put it down.'

He nodded inside the suit, lowering the metal again. He knelt down, lifting up his visor and smiling at Pepper. The wreckage had fallen around her in an almost perfect triangle, keeping her relatively safe.

'See what happens when you hang out with my ex-girlfriends?'

Pepper let out a relieved laugh. 'You're such a jerk.'

'Yup.' Tony said, reaching his hand out to grab her. She reached back, neither quite reaching. 'We'll talk about it at dinner. Come on, a little more, baby.'

Her fingers grazed his armour but something grabbed his chest, pulling him backwards. He groaned, seeing Killian kneeling over him. The guy glanced at Pepper, smirking slightly as her face dropped.

'Is this guy bothering you?'

Tony groaned as Killian laughed to himself, skin glowing and red hot. He started drawing circles on Tony's chest, heating up the metal and cooking Tony in the suit. Killian taunted him, clearly enjoying himself but Tony just concentrated on keeping focus, on being able to hurt Killian back.

Pepper muttered Tony's name and he turned his head to look at her, eyes wide. Killian followed his gaze, tutting slightly.

'She's watching. I think you should close your eyes, you don't want to see this. Close your eyes.'

Killian raised his hand and Tony reacted, the blade out the back of his wrist slicing through Killian's arm cleanly. Killian screamed, pulling away and writhing. Tony stood, stepping out of the suit and heading back towards Pepper.

'Yeah. You take a minute.'

He reached out his hand for Pepper but the structure shook again, causing Pepper to slide out and far away. Tony cursed, running down the track and looking down. Monstrosity was surrounded by guards and was throwing them against them the beams.

'Spidey!' He shouted, getting the web-slinger's attention as he swung past. 'Keep the Monstrosity away from this area, okay?'

'Got it.' Spiderman said, slightly distracted. He swung down, kicking the guards away from James' alter ego and saying something to him. Monstrosity nodded, following Spiderman to the northern side of the structure. Tony ran along the platform, circling around towards Pepper.

'JARVIS, give me a suit, right now!'

He jumped off the platform, spreading out to land perfectly in the armour below. He scowled when something blasted the armour out of the way and he landed awkwardly on the level below him.

'Aw, come on!'

He ran down the platform, dodging under the punches of several Extremis soldiers. He turned, pushing them over the side rail and smirking when they hit the ground.

'The President is secure, Tony.' Rhodey said over the comm. 'I'm clearing the area.'

'Nice work.' He smiled weakly, glad something was going right. He ran towards Pepper, wincing when he realised she was too far away for him to reach.

'Pep, I got you. Relax, I got you, just look at me.' He held his arm out, straining his muscles. 'Honey, I can't reach any further, and you can't stay there, alright? You gotta let go.'

Pepper stared at him, obviously scared and frozen stiff. She reached out, trying to touch his hand.

'You gotta let go.' Tony said, practically begging. 'I'll catch you, I promise.'

The metal creaked and Pepper reached out further. Tony held out his hand, pinching up his face in an attempt to reach her. The metal groaned again and the structure collapsed, Pepper falling.

Tony yelled and Pepper screamed, their fingers brushing as she fell past him. He shouted as she plummeted, having to watch another one of his loved ones leave him.

'What a shame.' Tony tilted his head, seeing Killian stood there with a smirk. 'I would have caught her.'

Tony saw red, running at the other man.

'James!'

Peter swung down, hitting several Extremis soldiers straight on. They flew away from Monstrosity, who seemed to be shrinking, the green leaving his skin. Spiderman turned, pulling some more soldiers back with his web slingers. There were still loads, tearing down on James as he lost his defences. Spiderman ran back towards them but they all collapsed, holes in their chests and portals hovering above them. Spiderman looked up as the portals disappeared, Blink dropping down next to him.

'Is he okay?'

'He can talk for himself.' James said, pushing one of the soldier off him and sitting up. He seemed mostly fine, apart from a long cut down his left arm and a jagged scar along his chest. 'And he is fine.'

'You know talking about yourself in third person is the first sign of insanity.' Peter smirked, holding his hand out.

'No, that's talking to yourself.' James said, getting to his feet. He was mostly naked but didn't seem to care. 'Though, I do do that.'

'What happened? Why did you change back?' Clarice said, tilting her head to the side. The soldiers running at them fell down, the mutant's face unflinching.

'I dunno.' James said, running a hand over his head. 'One minute I was fine, the next my head was on fire. I think the Other Guy went to figure out what it was.'

'What d'you mean?' Peter said, pulling guards down from above and causing them to smack the ground.

James shrugged. 'I went to help Howie and then my head just...hurt. Worse than anything I've ever felt.'

'What about Howie?' Clarice said, eyes wide.

James looked between them, eyes wide. 'You mean you didn't...neither of you grabbed him.'

'Grabbed him, when?'

'He fell off the structure, south...south west I think.' James said, his breathing becoming erratic. 'I...the Other...Monstrosity. tried to grab him but well...I'm...he's not very coordinated like that. He fell...he fell in the water.'

'I'll go get him.' Clarice said, patting James' back slightly. The boy looked around wildly, eyes a swirling mass of colours. She disappeared, leaving Peter alone with James as the younger boy gripped his head.

'It hurts, Pete. Make it stop.'

Peter pulled off his mask, trying to pry James' fingers away. There was nothing physically wrong with him and Peter didn't know what to do with him.

'James, it's fine, okay. It'll be fine, the Other Guy's just-'

'No, you utter buffoon, he's not doing anything.' James' head whipped up, his eyes full of fury and the wrong colour. 'You think yourself so clever when you can't even fathom the basics of the situation.'

James was spitting out the words, advancing on Peter as the older boy backed up. James could be rude, saying things to upset people without realising he was doing so but he had never been cruel, never purposefully gone after someone to hurt them.

'Alright, that's enough now. Stop it.'

'Oh, you think you're so tough, Spiderman out to save the world.' James sneered, hands clenching into fists. 'Well, you save New York and when the world actually needs saving, you're no where to be found.'

Something exploded behind him and he turned, seeing most of the southern side on fire.

'James, now isn't the time we have to help.'

'Oh they're dead Peter.' James said, pulling a face. He said it like it wad a fact and Peter was a fool to believe otherwise. 'And if they're not, they're going to be. Everyone is going to die. Every single worthless person on this planet will die one day. I know it, you know it, at least I have the integrity to adm-'

Peter's hand flew out, hitting James straight on. The boy fell backward, collapsing on the floor. Peter sighed, shaking out his hand and looking down at his friend. He'd have to talk to Sophie or Howie about this but later, when there weren't terrorists trying to kill him and his friend.

He flinched as something landed next to him, his arms coming up to fire. He just ended hitting the suit that landed next to him with web, the armour tilting its head at him. Peter just sighed, raising an eyebrow.

'Mr Parker.' A British voice, probably JARVIS, said. 'Mr Stark says the area is secure. You should take Mr Banner to the southern side to meet him.'

Peter raised an eyebrow, looking across at the fires on the southern side.

'I assure you its quite safe.'

With that, the suit flew off, exploding in the sky. Peter shook his head, lifting James onto his shoulder and pulling his mask back on. He was grateful James was still quite small for his age, at least weight wise.

'Come on, Jamie. We'll figure out why you're being a dick later.'

James, of course, didn't reply.

'No more false faces.' Killian said, walking towards Tony. His skin was glowing, probably from the explosion that failed to kill him. Tony leaned away from him, trying to think of a way to fix everything. 'You said you wanted the Mandarin. You're looking right at him. It was always me, Tony, right from the start. I am the Mandarin!'

Killian laughed, raising his hand as if to strike. Within seconds, however, he was knocked to the side, Pepper stood there. Tony's mouth fell open and he stared at her, unable to form coherent words. He just stared, and she stared back, the intensity broken by one of the suits flying in.

'Jarvis, subject at my 12 o'clock is not a target, disengage!'

Pepper looked up, her eyes closing slightly. Tony tapped his ear but the comm wasn't there and his face dropped. He turned back to Pepper as she dodged the laser JARVIS sent at her. She spun, glaring at Tony.

'What?' He said as she ran at him. 'What are you mad at me?'

He watched in shock as she jumped off his knee, striking straight through the armour as it flew overhead. She landed again, punching the glove onto her hand and knocking Killian away from her. She kicked an explosive towards him, shooting at him and easily beating him. Tony watched, slowly getting to his feet as she breathed heavily and looked back at him, clearly scared.

'Honey, you're okay, you're fine.' He smiled slightly. He was so happy she was alive, the violence didn't matter. 'You scared the devil out of me, I thought you were-'

'Dead?' She finished, clearly exhausted. 'Why because I fell two hundred feet?'

Suddenly her face dropped and her eyes widened.

'Oh my god, Howie-'

'Shh, its okay. I know.' He muttered, stepping forward, just wanting to hold her. 'I know.'

'He fell, Tony.' She said, as he went to hug her. 'Don't touch me. I'm gonna burn you.'

He held her anyway, smiling even though she couldn't see. 'You're not hot. It's fine.'

'Am I going to be okay?' She muttered, crying slightly.

'No, you're in a relationship with me.' Tony smirked, moving backwards slightly. He stared at her face, thinking of the son he lost and the thought of losing her again, in any possible way. Nodding to himself, he stepped back, kneeling down.

'What are you doing?' She said, staring at him.

'Pep, I'm not very great at relationships. I'm going to make mistakes and you're going to get angry. But I love you and I can't lose you again.'

'Tony...' She said, though she was smiling.

'I lost my son because I was stupid. I refuse to do the same thing again. I'll get rid of the suits and I'll stop the heroics, whatever you want. Just, please Pep, will you marry me?'

She nodded, unable to say anything else. He stood, kissing her and holding her tight.

'I'll get a ring.' He said. 'And get rid of my distractions. JARVIS? You know what to do.'

'The "clean slate" protocol, sir?'

'Screw it, it's Christmas. Yes, yes.'

The suits around them flew at each other, exploding on impact. Tony looked down at Pepper, at his fiancée but she was looking past his shoulder. He turned, seeing a very familiar woman holding an unidentifiable shape.

'Clarice.'

He didn't know why she would be here. He was almost certain she had been Howie's mother, the purple stains on his skin all but confirming it. As she stepped closer, the portal behind her showing another part of the tanker, he began to recognise the thing she was holding.

It was Howie. His son. Even from the distance Tony was at, he could see the boy breathing. Tony felt his own breath catch and tears well up in his eyes. He hadn't failed Howie, his son was still alive. Howie would still joke with him in the lab and throw things at him when we wasn't paying attention and jump out of the vents and so many other things Tony thought he would never see again. But he could now because Howie was safe.

His knees gave out and he collapsed, Clarice smiling as she handed their son over to him.

'Howie...How...I don't...'

Howie was injured, bruises and cuts covering his skin but nothing too serious. His prosthetics were mangled and he was soaking wet and unconscious, but he was clearly breathing and his chest was rising and falling.

'You need to keep an eye on him.' Clarice said, as Peter landed behind her with James. Tony stared at them, all five who were alive and safe. He nodded slowly, Pepper kneeling down beside him to hold both of her boys.

'What do you think?' He muttered to Pepper as Clarice turned to check on the boys. 'Do you like it?'

Howie stirred slightly in his arms, eyes opening. He smiled up at both at them and gripped his dad's shirt. Tony's breath caught as he looked down at his son, his only child, smiling up at him. He was fine, or at least he would be, and Tony hadn't completely failed him. As soon as Howie saw both Pepper and Tony smiling back at him, their entire faces bright and full of relief, he closed his eyes again, leaning back in his father's arms. Pepper kissed Howie's forehead, smoothing his hair down. She looked back up at Tony, still crying but smiling as well.

'It'll do.'