Tony came through the doors of the elevator and into the tower's living room. Pepper was up making coffee in the kitchen in sweat pants and a tight tank top that hugged her around the waist.

"Good morning." Tony said, making Pepper jump and Tony smirk. She glared at him then continued to make coffee.

"Eesh, someone's cranky today." Tony said as he walked over kiss Pepper on the cheek.

"I just don't like having heart attacks before 9 am." she remarked. Tony chuckled and poured himself coffee.

"Hey, by the way," Tony started Pepper looked afraid of what was coming next, she always did when he started off a sentence like that.

"I think I need to go over to the office."

"Stark industries? In Malibu?"

"Yeah, there's some stuff there that could potentially help me with the anti-serum

Pepper nodded which surprised Tony. He hadn't expected her to go along with traveling to California when they just arrived at the Tower in New York.

"So... that's a yes? Just like that?" Tony asked, suspiciously. Pepper took a sip of her coffee before answering.

"Well, Rhodey called me this morning. Someone's waiting for us there."

Tony's thoughts first moved to some other genetically mutated villain, or maybe even worse: SHIELD. But Pepper didn't look worried at all.

"Happy woke up this morning." Pepper told him. Tony smiled instantly.

"Wait, really?"

"Yes, Tony. Really." pepper responded, quite sassily. Tony finally felt like things were getting better. He'd been baring the awful truth of Happy potentially dying for days now, one of his only true friend.

"Good, didn't want to go through the trouble of replacing him." Tony lied. Pepper rolled her eyes.

"Would it kill you to show some compassion?" Tony smiled at this and hugged Pepper close.

"I'm kidding, calm down." he said into her hair.

"Mr. Hogan, there are people here to see you." The same nurse that Tony had met earlier that week said.

The room hadn't changed much, still the same white walls and the Tv was still playing Happy's favorite show which always seemed to be on. Happy Hogan himself looked completely different in the best way. For one thing, he was awake. The scars and burns still covered his face and arms, but Happy didn't look like death anymore.

Tony's chest clenched up when Happy's face lit up at the sight of them. He felt guilty. Probably because he wasn't able to save Happy either. Man he was bad at that.

"Hey, Hap. How are you feeling?" Pepper asked, walking into the room first.

"Better..." Happy croaked with a raspy voice. Tony pulled up a chair for Pepper then for himself.

"You sound like Darth Vator." Tony remarked. Pepper lightly punched his arm to tell him to shut up which actually hurt seeing that Tony was banged up practically everywhere.

"What!" Tony said defensively. "I never said that was a bad thing!"

Happy chuckled which made him cough.

"Careful Hogan. I'm not giving you anymore time off that what's needed." Stark said, handing him a glass of water from the table beside his bed. After a long drink, Happy smiled.

"So in Tony Stark language, does that mean you missed me?" Happy asked Tony was about to make another snarky comment, but couldn't.

"Yes... yes, but don't get used to it." He told him.

"You should be proud. That's the most anyone has ever gotten out of him." Pepper said. Happy nodded, but instantly his face changed to a grave frown.

"Tell me about what happened with the Mandarin." Happy prodded. "It's all over the news."

Tony sighed and stretched out on his chair.

"Get comfortable, Hap. This may take a while."

Pepper held Tony in her lap once more on the plane ride back to New York. He had been watching Criminal Minds on TV, swearing he wouldn't fall asleep, but in a matter of minutes he was fast asleep in Pepper's lap. She was alright with this. She was grateful for any moment he was catching up on his sleep and it allowed her to get some work done as well. She used Tony's back as a surface for her paperwork, she was sure he wouldn't mind.

It was completely silent until a ringtone made Pepper jump and Tony groan in his sleep.

"Answer." Pepper commanded as quietly as she could above whispering level. She hadn't even had time to check the caller ID, but Criminal Minds faded away and was replaced with a number that she didn't recognize.

"Stark Industries, this is Pepper Potts." She said while looking down at Tony to make sure he was still asleep. He really is a heavy sleeper. She thought to herself.

"Oh this is Ms. Potts..." an unsure voice said that seemed vaguely familiar. "This is Bruce Banner." the voice informed her. Something clicked in pepper's head, remembering when she'd first heard Banner's voice over a phone call with Tony.

"Oh! Dr. Banner," she said.

"Bruce. Please, call me Bruce." he told her calmly. It was hard to believe someone so well-mannered was also a smashing green monster of destruction.

"Bruce, then. What can I do for you? Tony's..." Pepper paused, looking down at Tony curled up against her in her lap. "... busy right now, but I can tell him to call back later if you'd like."

"No, no it's alright. I was actually just by new York and heard about what had happened. I was going to stop by if you guys weren't busy."

Pepper smiled at this, knowing Tony would love to see his newish-old friend.

"Of course, of course. We were just in Malibu for a day taking care of some stuff, but we're on our way home. How about we meet you there in the Tower lobby in..." Pepper looked at her watch. "An hour and a half from now."

"That sounds great." Banner said. "Fury also told me that Tony may need some help with an anti-serum." Bruce said. Pepper bit her lip. She didn't like people knowing about what she was and the fact that everyone was going through so much to save her when she couldn't do anything to help. She did appreciate it though.

"I'm sure he'd love the help, Bruce." We have plenty of room is you wanted to stay over a while." Pepper offered. Banner paused then spoke again.

"I'm sure I could stay one night." he told her. "SHIELD has been keeping me busy lately. Thanks for having me." he thanked.

"Oh no, thank you for helping." There was a long pause as if Banner was debating on saying something when he finally did, it was in a more hushed and serious tone.

"How is he?" banner asked gravely. Pepper guessed he knew about the anxiety from the last new York incident.

"He's... better." Pepper said, selecting her words carefully. She looked down to watch Tony sleep silently in her arms, his back rising and falling with her papers splayed out everywhere.

"It won't be bad that I'm coming, will it?"

"No, it'll be great for him. He's just adjusting to everything a little harshly." she said.

"I'll talk with him." Bruce said. "I'm sure he'll be fine though, he's strong." Bruce assured her. Pepper decided she really like Bruce Banner.

"Yes, yes he is."

"Alright, thanks Dr. Banner."

"Bruce"

"Right, Bruce."

The line disconnected and Pepper returned to Tony who groaned and nuzzle himself into her stomach, making the papers on top of him rustle.

"Not your table, Potts..." he mumbled. She grinned and kissed his hair.

"You were fair game falling asleep on my lap like that." She told him.

"Do you ever stop working?"

"If I do, who will do the work?" she asked him.

"Me?" he said, looking up at her innocently.

"Yeah right, funny." She smiled down at him. Tony smiled back up at her and Pepper leaned down to kiss him. Tony gladly accepted, loving when he woke up to this.

"Mmm..." Tony mumbled through the kiss before pulling away, obviously having something to say.

"I could've sworn while carrying out the job of being your workspace that I heard you talking to someone."

Pepper kissed his forehead again. She was about to tell him about their surprise guest, but then decided to keep the surprise an actual surprise.

"Someone from the financing compartment. Just had some questions." she said, knowing this would bore Tony. he nodded and began to sit up so he could face Pepper at eye level.

"Pep..." he began to say, avoiding catching her eye.

"What, baby?" she asked, noticing his trouble tone.

"I miss our house." he mumbled, looking down at the floor. Pepper put a hand under his chin so that he faced her.

"Me too. but you're Tony Stark... rebuilt it." Pepper told him. Tony thought about it.

"yeah..." he said. "I could do that." Tony stared down at the ground for a while in deep thought about something or just dazing off. Pepper smiled; he was so out of it when he had just woken up. He eventually broke out of his trance and just threw himself at Pepper, kissing her hard while pulling her close. That was another funny but great things about Tony. He has many spontaneous moments where out of no where he needs Pepper and need her NOW.

Pepper gladly let Tony do what he wanted. Papers were thrown all over the floor of their jet, but neither one of them were bothered. Tony's tongue found its way into Pepper's mouth and vice versa as she gripped his hips and pulled him down on top of her making Tony moan into her mouth. She had a feeling this would be a nice ride home.