AN: Hey guys! Thanks for the reviews! I'm so happy to finally be writing this story again. just so y'all know, While I'm in NY, I do not have MS word, so if there are grammar or spelling mistakes, I'm sorry...

Chapter 13

Tony launched an attack on Hammer Industries, almost literally. Once he had a hint of what was going on, it didn't take long for the Mighty Invincible Iron Man to locate what was making it snow and destroy it, much to the fury of it's creator. But Tony was Tony Stark for God's sake, like he gave a damn what that asshole Justin Hammer thought of him!

What did take a long while was the return of Nicole to Los Angeles. The months slowly rolled by, and during those months, Justin Hammer had decided to fight on another plane entirely, the corporate plane. He was attempting to undercut Tony's deals with the U.S. Army, as much as possible, but as long as Tony had Rhodey, he saw the futile attempts as nothing more than a pain in the neck.

Tony was a mathmetician with a brain that seemed akin to the latest computer system, it didnt take him more than a few seconds to think of how long Nicole had actually been gone, nor did it take him that long to calculate around when she was due.

'Less than two months,' Tony's mind told him as he leaned back in his chair behind his desk in his office and propped his feet up. 'Damn, she's really been gone for over seven months?'

"Actually it's been seven months, two weeks, three days, five hours, thirty two minutes, and... eleven seconds" A small voice from the doorway said. Tony's eyes rose and he nearly fell backwards. Nicole was standing in the doorway, looking very much pregnant, and smiling somewhat bashfully. "Not to be technical or anything," She added as Tony got to his feet.

"Oh, no," Tony's voice dripped with sarcasm as he walked to her. "Not to be technical at all! Are you really here?"

Nicole smiled as she looked up into his eyes, "Would you believe me if I said no?"

"Not in a million years," Tony responded. He leaned down and met Nicole's lips with his. The kiss was hesitant at first, but it deepened, their tongues reaquainting themselves. Tony's hands found Nicole's soft fire engine red hair and got lost in the dark red curtain immediately. Everything about her was familiar, and yet...

"Ahem!"

Tony looked over Nicole's shoulder, and to his surprise, saw Bruce Wayne standing alongside Pepper.

"To what do I owe this bittersweet surprise?" Tony inquired.

"You didn't think I'd let an eight month pregnant woman travel on her own, did you?" Bruce inquired. "Especially when she's one of my best friends..."

"Tony, play nice," Nicole warned.

Tony backed up, his hands raised in mock surrender, "Relax, Nikki. I won't do anything to upset you, I promise."

"Thank you," Nicole said and kissed his cheek. She exhaled and Tony could tell she was relieve that he wasn't about to start up with Bruce. She sat down on the couch and Tony couldn't help grinning.

'She's fucking beautiful,' Tony thought.

"Thanks," Nicole said outloud.

"She always does that to you too, huh?" Bruce inquired as he took a seat next to Nicole.

"That mind reading thing?" Tony inquired. "Yeah, she does it to me a lot actually."

"If EITHER of you would actually listen to me, you would both know that I can't exactly control it," Nicole said. Her eyes narrowed on Tony, and he knew she was about to be pissed at him. Damn, he knew her almost too well... "Speaking of being able to control this curse, Tony, have you spoken to Nick Fury yet?"

"I've been dealing with that asshole Justin Hammer," Tony said in his defense.

"For seven months, three weeks--?"

"Okay, okay, okay," Tony cut her off, heading off the steam that was about to pour out onto his office floor. "I forgot, I admit it. I'm sorry."

Nicole smirked and glanced sideways at Bruce, "All you had to do was admit it," She said reasonably.

"I meant what I thought, by the way," Tony said. "You look amazing."

"Thanks," Nicole responded, running a hand through her hair. It was then that Tony realized her hair was no longer fully red, but the roots were growing out brown once again. "Hormones can work wonders on a person's appearance."

She looked around the office. It was all very familiar to her, it should, considering that she had owned the entire building once upon a time.

"I haven't touched your office," Tony said as if he had read her mind.

Nicole forced a smile, "You're a mind reader now as well?"

Something in her voice sounded slightly bitter, both Tony and Bruce noticed it.

"I'm fine," She said shifting to look at Bruce. Bruce nodded, though it was obvious he didn't believe Nicole. Nicole smiled, shaking her head as she got to her feet. "I am exhausted, I don't know about you, Bruce, but not sleeping is finally starting to wear me down. But then again, you're probably used to not getting a lot of sleep."

Bruce smiled, "You want me to take you back to your house?"

"That'd be nice," Nicole mused.

"Hey, Bruce," Tony said offhandedly. "Can I have a quick word before you do?"

Nicole looked suspiciously from her past lover to her present one, a look of confusion and suspicion on her face, "Since you obviously want me out of here," She said to Tony as she turned to the door, "No problem."

Bruce gave Tony a suspicious look of his own once Nicole left them, "What are you playing at, Stark?"

"Nothing," Tony responded. "Honestly. I just wanted to ask you something since getting a straight answer out of Nicole is nearly impossible."

Bruce's eyes narrowed, "Mh-hm..."

"How has she been?" Tony inquired, surprising Bruce slightly.

"Not the same," Bruce said. "She's much different than she used to be. She's got none of her spark left."

"PTSD?" Tony inquired.

Bruce shrugged, "She still keeps all her pain inside, but she tries hard not to let it control her. Once in a while, on the occasion she did get some sleep, she would be up within two hours screaming for help."

"Shit," Tony sighed. "She needs help, and soon... She's going to self destruct..."

There was suddenly a shriek, followed by rapid knocking on Tony's office door and Pepper ran in, "You need to go, now!" Her voice was shriller than Tony had ever heard it. "Nicole's unconsious!"

TBC!