I was still adjusting to the time difference between America and Australia, so when everyone was in bed and I was struggling to sleep, I decided to go for a walk, see if I could wear myself down. I slipped on a pair of rubber-soled boots, wrapped my dressing gown around myself, and headed out quietly, trying not to disturb anyone else. I passed Bucky watching television in the lounge room and waved at him when he glanced my way. He inclined his head casually and turned his focus back to whatever programme he was watching. I left the mansion and breathed in the cool night air, sighing contentedly and looking out across the open horizon. Light caught my attention, and I looked over to the converted stables, frowning at the light in the windows. Curious, I made my way over and opened the door.

Inside, Tony was perched precariously on a stool with an almost empty liquor bottle clutched in one hand as he half-sprawled across one of his work desks. As I watched, he sighed, tilted his head, and drained the remainder of the alcohol before tossing the bottle away. It shattered against a wall and I stepped forward carefully, watching Tony as he pushed back his hair with one hand, cushioning his head on the opposite arm on the desk. "Tony," I called hesitantly. Tony looked at me blearily from under his hand.
"Hey, El. What's going on?" I shrugged.
"I'm still on Oz time. How full was that bottle when you started?" I asked, pulling another stool over to sit in front of Tony, studying him closely.

"Not sure," he replied evasively. I frowned reprovingly.
"Tony." He held up his hand in front of my face, slowly shaking his head.
"Don't! Just… save it for someone who cares, El." I shook my head, confused.
"Tony, what are you doing? I don't understand…"
"No, of course you don't. How could you understand; everybody just loooves you, Ellie. You're such a beautiful little girl, and so easy to get along with; nobody ever gets upset with you, do they? You're just perfect; you could have any man you wanted. And they'd love you! Who cares that you don't have money?!" Tony turned his face away, tucking it into his arm, groaning. "If I had no money; no-one would want me," he muttered bitterly. I blinked, shocked.

"What in the Nine Realms are you talking about?!" I gasped. "You're a genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropist! You're freaking Iron Man!"
"But if I wasn't!" Tony snapped, glaring up at me. "If I was still me; but without the money and the inventions… the suits… If I was just plain old Anthony Stark, nobody would care about me, Ellie. Not like you. You just served coffee, and people missed you! No-one would miss me, if I wasn't Iron Man." I shook my head at him, thoroughly baffled.
"Okay, I think something's happened here. What's brought on all this, then, Mate?" I asked gently. Tony's eyes narrowed with pain and he buried his face again. He mumbled something indistinguishable and I leaned over him. "Sorry, sweetie. Didn't catch that."

"I SAID, PEPPER'S GETTING MARRIED!" Tony roared, voice cracking audibly on the last word. Tears seeped from his bloodshot chocolate eyes, usually full of humour and warmth, and I pouted sympathetically as he breathed raggedly, trying not to sob as he buried his face in his arm yet again. "She's getting married to some… some sensible business type…" I sighed, put an arm over Tony's back and rested my head against his shoulder, rubbing his back comfortingly.
"I'd care," I murmured gently. "If you weren't famous. You're kind of an ass, sure. But you're a really charming, charismatic ass, with a good heart. I like that. I've got a few friends like that, and they aren't famous or superheroes. It didn't work out with Pepper, but you know what? I never really liked Pepper anyway. She was so snooty and set on herself. And not in the cute, cocky way you are, but a really judging way. Not nice. You've got so much going for you, Tony! Don't let one stuck-up Barbie-doll break you down, sweetie. Please don't; you'll break my heart, carrying on like this! Okay?"

Tony sniffed, shaking his head. "I gave up everything for her! When she left… I always thought she'd come back…" I clicked my tongue sadly, sitting up.
"Come here," I murmured, taking hold of his shoulders and helping him to sit up before folding my arms around him. Tony tucked his face into my shoulder and cried, shaking slightly and wrapping his arms around me, bunching my robe in his fists and squeezing me tightly. I hushed him, combing through his disheveled hair with my fingers and rubbing his back, kissing him lightly on the temple. And so we sat until he stopped shaking and he started to breathe normally.
"I feel sick," he moaned, swallowing loudly.

"I am unsurprised," I responded softly. "Come on; let's get you to bed, Tony." I helped Tony stagger to the mansion, pausing once to support his head and rub his back when he threw up in the garden. From there, I helped him to his room and told him to get ready for bed while I went to find a bucket in case he was still sick.
"Ellie?"
"Yeah, Bucky?" I replied as I rummaged through the cupboards next to the kitchen.
"What are you doing?" he asked indifferently. The fact that he was asking at all pleased me, though.
"I'm taking care of Tony," I told him, finding a bucket and pulling it out of the cupboard.

"Why?"
"He's a little upset at the moment, so he got drunk and now he's sick."
"Yes, I noticed that. I meant, why is it up to you to take care of him?" I blinked at Bucky, surprised by the query. The last time anyone questioned the reason why I was helping, it was Loki…
"Well…Because he's one of my boys," I explained. Bucky tilted his head almost imperceptibly as I got a big glass out of the kitchen and filled it with water.
"One of 'your boys'? What does that mean?"

"Tony, Clint, Bruce, Thor… Steve. They're all my boys. I have more; boys I grew up with, some I went to school with, that sort of thing. They're my friends, and they're boys. I don't know if you've noticed this, or if you're still like the rest of them, but men have a certain… weakness; a certain delicacy that women don't share. They need a special kind of caring, or they fall apart. Like Tony has. That's why I look out for all of them. They're only men. That's why they keep bringing me back. Natasha doesn't have the gentle spirit required to manage them; she has an almost masculine approach to such matters. Of course, the boys don't understand themselves; they just know that they like me. It takes a woman's understanding and perception to put these complicated, fragile emotions into words. That's why I'm looking after Tony. That's why I'll always come when they call. That's what makes them my boys."

Bucky looked me over silently and I waited for him to process what I'd said. "Am I one of 'your boys'?" he finally inquired. I smiled warmly and shook my head.
"No; but I only met you today. I may yet end up claiming you like the others. We'll see what happens. Now, I've got to get back to Tony. Go to sleep, Bucky Barnes," I told him sternly, walking past him. I returned to Tony's room and put the bucket next to the head of the bed. Tony was curled up on top of the blankets wearing nothing but a pair of boxers and a sock with his arms wrapped around his abdomen and his knees drawn up protectively. "Tony, sip some water," I ordered. Tony groaned, ducking his head to his chest.

"I don't want any water."
"I don't care. You need to help flush out your system. Drink." I sat beside him on the bed and held out the glass. Tony glowered up at me and I sighed, reaching out to comb through his hair again. "Come on, Tony. You know I'm only doing this because I care about you. Please, just oblige me." Tony huffed and sat up reluctantly, taking the glass and gulping some of the water before I stopped him. "No, no, no! Not like that!" I took the glass away and shook my head. "You really don't know how to take care of yourself, do you?" I asked rhetorically. "Sip it, Tony! If you drink it too quickly, your body will think it's more alcohol, and you'll throw up again." Tony grunted and curled up on the bed again. I placed the glass on the bedside table and stood up to leave.

"Ellie." I looked back at Tony, tilting my head.
"Yes?" Tony looked up at me tiredly.
"Aren't you supposed to watch drunk people to make sure they don't choke on their own vomit or die of hypothermia?"
"I thought JARVIS could manage that. Can't you, JARVIS?"
"Of course, Miss Carter," JARVIS confirmed. Tony sighed, curling in on himself again.
"Fine. Go, then," he grumbled. I sighed tiredly and smiled at Tony. He was such a man-child. But it was really cute. I sat on the edge of the bed and started combing Tony's hair again.
"I'll stay until you fall asleep. Okay?" Tony nodded, giving me a weak smile before closing his eyes and relaxing.