A/N: I am so sorry!!! My life got away from me. I'm taking classes and teaching classes and it is all threatening to topple me. The last chapter will be Friday and Saturday, and I really know where it is going. Thanks for hanging in there with me. I love hearing what you think.

Rhodey's house was much smaller than Tony's, and it was something of a comfort. She sat in the breakfast nook, sun streaming in through the sheer curtains. She curled up in a chair and drank coffee. Rhodey was dressed in full uniform when he walked in. He grabbed a cup for himself and looked at her. "So what's the plan for today?"

She lifted one of her mousy brown locks. "I want my natural color back. I want my clothes. I want my laptop."

He smiled. "Well, I think we can make that happen. Are you sure you're ready for the laptop? It might be overwhelming."

"It's time. And I have another motive. I really want you to check on him. It's been three days. I just want to know that he's okay."

"He'll make it. This is humbling. It's good for him."

She smiled and, in his gut, he felt like he was really seeing Pepper again. "He's struggling, Rhodey. We all want him to grow, but maybe we underestimate how hard he works."

He shook head. "Man, you sound like yourself again. Do you have any idea how many times you and I have had this conversation?"

"I do remember. I know that you're going to say that he should grow up, and then I'm going to say that he's under a lot of pressure, and then you're going to say that I only see the best in him, and I'm going to say that he really needs us."

"Man, it feels good to hear you be you again."

"It's coming, Rhodey. There's still a lot of confusion, a lot of chaos. I question parts of who I was. I wonder if I took care of myself like I should have. I'm feeling very sensitive to that right now."

"Right. I shouldn't expect the new Pepper to be the same Pepper."

"Thanks Rhodey."

"Okay, so I'm going to call Happy and get him over here. He'll take care of your hair appointment and getting clothes for you. I'll take care of the laptop."

"And Tony?"

"I'll stop, but I'll do it later. I'm sending a visitor over to see him this morning."

………………………………………………

"Mmmmm! This is genius. What do you call it?"

"Salmon Salade Nicoise."

"Jarvis, do you share your recipes?"

"I am rarely asked, Dr. Fishel."

"Jarvis, how would you characterize the last several months for Tony Stark?"

"I'm sorry, Doctor, I don't understand."

She sighed. "I don't how to ask you a feeling question about your boss. I assume that as an A.I., you don't process feelings."

"Not as humans understand them, certainly, but I am able to monitor the well-being of humans."

She dropped her chin into her palm. "So, how's he doing?"

"He has been under a lot of stress. He has vacillated from signs of sadness and depression to indications of self-destructive behavior. His impatience with myself and other employees indicates a high level of frustration, and his neglect of his own daily care indicates anger directed inward."

"Very good, Jarvis. Let me know if you ever want to freelance, I could use a diagnostician like you in my clinic."

"He is quite frustrated that Miss Potts has not reciprocated his attempts to reconnect. I have video of the most recent evidence of this if you would care to see it."

"Jarvis! You will cease communicating with Dr. Fishel." Tony was standing at the top of the stairs. "Doctor, I thought I told you I wasn't interested in talking to you an hour ago."

"Well, technically, you just stormed downstairs when I attempted to initiate a conversation. Jarvis and I discussed it, and decided in lieu of a definite directive, we'd settle for lunch and conversation."

"Dr. Fishel, my A.I. may need definite responses, but I am quite sure you don't. I think I made myself clear."

She nibbled on a leaf of lettuce. "True, but I was paid quite handsomely to come and offer you support. I don't want it said that I didn't try my best."

"I don't want to talk."

"Well, then sit down and eat because I'm not going anywhere until this salad has been thoroughly ravaged. And as a 62 year old woman, I'm quite sure you are too much of a gentleman to drag me to the door."

Tony sat down and barked at Jarvis. "Lunch!"

"You are in a mood."

"Is this a game to you?"

"No, as I mentioned earlier, this is my work."

"Well, Dr. Fishel, you predicted that my impatience would be harmful to her and you were right. I am a selfish, narcissistic bastard, and I drove her away."

"And self-pitying, don't forget that."

Of course, how could I forget that."

"You're quite disappointed in yourself."

Tony ignored her and dived into his salad.

"You'd think a man of your talents would not have so much self-hatred."

"You'd be surprised."

"It started long before Pepper ever came into your life."

"Brilliant, talented, rich people don't engender much sympathy."

"To whom much has been given, much is expected."

He rolled his eyes. "I can't tell you how many times my father said that to me."

"It's a lot of pressure."

"What Pepper asked of me should not have been that hard."

She pushed the remains of her salad away from her. "Maybe what she was asking of you was to be less self-loathing. Maybe, that's where the better man is hiding."

"What do you mean?"

"Self-loathing. Maybe that's your problem. You spend too much time fulfilling the worst of what people think because you don't deserve better."

"Okay, that's enough psychobabble."

"The best way back to Pepper might be for you to give yourself a break."

"Right."

Do you want her back?"

He glared at her.

"Then convince yourself you can be the man she's always believed in."

He frowned for a moment.

Fishel smiled. "Honestly, she's worried about you more than anything else. She remembers more every day."

"She's doing well?"

"Yeah. She is. It's your turn."

"What do you mean?"

"Stop punishing yourself. The minute you do that, you are on the way to becoming someone healthy in her life."

He stared at her. "That's not so easy to do."

She nodded. "You strike me as someone who is quite motivated."

"Okay."

"So, I'm thinking of coming back for lunch again tomorrow."

Tony shook his head and then smiled. "Sounds like a plan, Dr. Fishel."

…………………………………………………………………………

Sikko stood over the body of a man on the floor of his motel room. An inexperienced killer would be shaking right now; panicked about what to do with the corpse, but Sikko had been in this place many times. Sikko was an identity he'd held for the last five years. Before that, he'd been other men who'd manipulated, hurt, and killed people.

Sikko was the identity he was going to use to break into the ranks of super villains, but he'd lost that opportunity. The only way to get their attention again was to follow through on his original plan to destroy Ironman. He would still try to do it psychologically as this would always be his trademark. As a super villain, he would need a unique identity. However, this time he would do it more purposefully.

He didn't care about his super villain identity for the man on the floor. He had seen that man emerging from Stark's house just this morning, and getting in to a company car. Sikko followed him and engaged him when the man stopped for lunch. Soon, he had enough information to know that the man worked for a water proofing company. The drug Sikko slipped into his iced tea made everything easier. Soon, the man was telling Sikko that Ironman was having trouble using his suit for underwater work. Circuits would almost immediately jam. Another drug administered, and the man docilely followed Sikko out of the restaurant, into his car, and to the motel where Sikko was staying.

Sikko nudged the poisoned corpse, and noted that rigor mortis was setting in. He dropped a piece of plastic down, and rolled him into it. The fluids left behind were urine only. He'd picked a rundown motel, and the smell of urine wouldn't be out of place. Sikko dragged the body into the bathroom, and then returned to planning the downfall of Ironman.

…………………………………………

Pepper walked up to the house with as much courage as she could muster. There were still plenty of holes in her memory, but she had gathered enough to be able to feel confident about her responsibilities. Jarvis let her in, and she could have sworn he sounded excited. She settled in at her desk, and started working. She'd had your laptop for over a week, and had spent much of that time trying to make sense of the chaos surrounding Tony's business affairs.

"Jarvis, I remember correctly that you sometimes helped me with the backlog of work. Can you remind me how that went?"

"Of course, Miss Potts, and may I say that it is wonderful to have you back."

Pepper smiled. It was starting to feel wonderful to be back.

"Jarvis, can you hook up and go through the 6,754 email messages we have here, and separate everything into urgent business, board business, new ventures, and miscellaneous?"

"It would be my pleasure."

"Thanks, Jarvis." A feeling washed through her body. For the first time in over 2 months, she was finally feeling like she was where she belonged.

She looked up near noon. "Has Tony had his coffee or lunch?"

"No, ma'am. He's been working downstairs since 7 a.m."

"Can you put together a tray? I'll take it down with some things that needs signing."

A few minutes later, a tray with filet of sole and rice pilaf appeared. Pepper gathered up her work, straightened her jacket, and picked up the tray. She walked down slowly, working hard to keep her cool. She hadn't seen him since that afternoon that she'd fallen apart in front of him. She pushed on the glass door, but it didn't move. She pushed again, but it stayed locked. She closed her eyes, and struggled to think it through. Was there a key? A code? She thought about going back upstairs and asking Jarvis, but she wasn't feeling patient. In her frustration, she kicked the door, and an alarm sounded. A wide eyed Tony Stark came running around the corner and stopped short when he saw her. She kicked the door again. "How do I get in?!"

Tony trotted up and punched numbers next to the lock. The door slid open, and she stood there holding the tray with a frown on her face. "I was so sure. I remembered so much, and then I got down here, and it was blank."

He reached over and took the tray from her. "You're here, Pepper. You're working?"

She smiled. "It feels good, Tony."

He let out a deep breath. "You have no idea. It is so great to see you. You look…Oh my God, I'm so afraid I'm going to say the wrong thing. You…look like…Pepper."

She smiled crookedly, and when she did this, her freckles seemed to sparkle. "I'm feeling better."

"It's not too early? You're ready to work? You're okay to be here?"

"Yeah, I'm good. I'll take it slow though, okay?"

He put the tray down. "Sit down with me. Can you do that?"

She sat across him. "I have things for you to sign."

He shook his head. "Yeah, let's just talk for a minute. Is that okay?"

She nodded.

"How is it at Rhodey's? Is he driving you nuts yet? Man is anal, you know. Everything is so clean."

"He's okay. He's a little nutty about leaving dishes in the sink, but he's been a terrific friend. He's really helped me."

He nodded. "I know. He was there when I couldn't be."

She looked down at her plate.

"Listen, I didn't mean to make it sound like that. This was really the best thing for you, but I was selfish. I just wanted you here."

"No Tony, let's not do that. You did the best you could. Don't be so angry at yourself. It doesn't help."

He bit his lip. "I want to be good for you."

Her slim hand covered his, and she squeezed. "I'm here because you are good for me. I can't do this without you."

"I'll do whatever you need."

She smiled. "You have to be patient with me. You have to help me remember."

"Anything."

"We were working on something together before…I was kidnapped. I want to remember what we were doing. We were having fun, weren't we?"

He stood up and extended a hand. "Come on, My Dear, I will show you exactly what we were working on before…you disappeared."

He led her into his workroom. The War Machine model was up on the table. Pepper walked around it. "I helped with this?"

He nodded. "You sure did. You worked with me on the suit design. What do you think?"

She cocked her head. "I like it, I think."

He ran a hand down the side of the suit. "I just started working on it again. I made sure that all of your suggestions were implemented. It definitely has your aesthetic."

She stared at it for a while, and her eyes started to fill. "I wish it wasn't so much work to get my life back. It's a constant struggle. I'm impatient. I want it all back right now."

"I don't have any idea what that's like, Pepper."

"I want to be who I was. I want that for you, I want it for me. I'm just not sure I can be what I was."

He started to move toward her, but hesitated. "Don't put so much pressure on yourself, Pepper. I know you're evolving. I'm ready for it, and just hoping that there's a place for me."

She rubbed at her eyes. "I'm trying, Tony. I can't make any promises, but I'm really trying."

"Come here, Pepper."

She shook her head.

"God help me," he said before walking over to her. He enveloped her in a hug. "You're going to be okay. We're going to be okay."

He kissed her check and backed away. He started to talk but shook his head, and left the room.

…………………………………………………………….

Last chapter is Friday or Saturday