Pepper came trudging into the armory angrily as she threw her stuff down onto the floor and sat across from Tony, who was working on the armor.

"What's up with you?" He asked curiously.

"Ugh, its my dad. He and Amy got home from their honeymoon weekend not too long ago and he came back completely brainwashed by Amy. He actually agrees with her and wants to send me to some stupid boarding school." Pepper complained.

"Wait, so you're saying he's actually going to go through with it?" Tony responded as he worked on the armor.

"Yes. She's got him wrapped around her stupid finger. They want to send me across the state, in Buffalo. I don't want to be that far away from you, and Rhodey, and Iron Man." Pepper said, her voice subtle yet sad.

Tony caressed her cheek in his hand, brushing his thumb across it.

"Pep, I'd never let them take you that far away from me. I have money, I could take care of you, give you anything you need, want and more. There's no way I'd be that far away from you for that long."

With Tony's soothing words, Pepper placed her hand over hers.

"I know I can count on you, Tony," Pepper said with a small smile. "It's just my dad I'm worried about. He's not acting like himself, but he doesn't even realize it. He thinks everything's normal. And he doesn't even realize that Amy hates me. Every time I try to tell him he doesn't believe me."

"If it'll make you feel better, I believe you." Tony offered. Pepper smiled slightly.

"Thank you, Tony; I know you always believe me." Pepper responded. Tony shrugged.

"What can I say? I'm a sucker for my lady." He said seductively, wrapping his arms around Pepper's waist, kissing her repeatedly.

"Mh, Tony…" Pepper moaned. "Come on, I'm tired." Tony, in defeat, returned to working on the armor.

"I just feel scared, you know? Like Amy's got something up her sleeve. Like somehow I'm not going to be there and she's going to do something horrible." Tony hugged her in comfort. He hated seeing her upset. He hated when she was worried, scared, upset, or anything but happy. He couldn't help it.

"Whatever happens, I promise I'll protect you and your dad." Tony assured her as he held on to her. Pepper snaked her arms back around Tony, letting the warmth of his strong arms take her away and soothe her.

~…~

Later that night, Tony and Pepper went back to Pepper's apartment to hang out for the rest of the night. As they walked casually into the apartment, hands wrapped together tightly, and situated themselves on the couch to watch TV, Virgil sat down on the couch next to the one Tony and Pepper had sat on with a newspaper.

"Hello again, Tony," He greeted. "Nice to see you again."

"Always nice to see you, sir," Tony responded, his arm around Pepper. He knew he dared not bring up the boarding school dilemma, even if he was aggravated by it. He wanted to stay a boyfriend that he approved of.

"Hanging out for the night?" Virgil asked.

"Yes, dad, we're actually choosing to hang out here for the night. Believe it or not." Pepper teased with a smile. True, she wasn't the happiest with her father right now, but she couldn't resist being happy. Heck, until Amy waltzed into the room, it almost seemed as if nothing was wrong.

But of course, Amy had to walk in and ruin that.

When Amy walked in to sit next to Virgil, she noticed Tony sitting beside Pepper.

"Oh, hello Tony! I don't believe we've been properly introduced yet," Amy said. "I'm sure you know I'm Amy," She finished, holding her hand out for him to shake.

"Oh, hi. My name's Tony, but I'm sure Pepper's told you already." Tony said, shaking Amy's hand.

As she went to sit down next to Virgil, she gave Pepper a very unfriendly look. Pepper glared back, whispering to Tony whether or not they could sneak out of there. She didn't want to have to deal with Amy for the night. Unfortunately, Tony didn't want to make a bad impression on them, and he was tired from Iron Man business and then working on the armor for the rest of the day, so once he had settled, he didn't want to move. Somehow Pepper knew that'd be the answer.

~…~

Amy, upon entering the living room, had been hoping Pepper and her stupid boyfriend would've been out for the night so she could make her move and finally kill the stupid old guy off. Now she was frustrated because she had to find a way to get them out of the house.

As she got a page from her boss, she excused herself to 'go to the bathroom'.

"I know I was supposed to finish him off tonight, but his daughter and her stupid boyfriend are in the house. I can't kill him in front of them, they'd stop me too soon."

"Well get rid of them first," Her boss demanded.

"I know that. But I want to spare the girl so I can torture her after I kill her father. That brat has been in my way since day one."

"Well be quick about it. We've got assignments piling up for you."

"Hey, going undercover was your stupid idea." Amy retorted.

"Just do your job."

Amy hung up and stuffed her phone back in her pocket and poked her head out of the bathroom to spy Virgil reading the newspaper, like always, and Pepper and Tony sitting together on the couch. She smiled devilishly.

"Soon, you fools," She whispered. "I will finish you all off."

~…~

After Tony left (due to Roberta nagging to him that it was after midnight and he needed to come home) and Pepper went up to bed, Amy smiled evilly. She felt the sheathed knife in her back pocket, but she also knew that'd be too easy. She knew exactly the way she wanted to go about doing it, and she knew just how she was going to lure Pepper in to watch her father die.

An hour earlier, Amy had wandered into bed to 'turn in for the night'. Bait for the ploy she had brewing.

She kicked off her normal clothes and dawned her favorite assassinating uniform: a sleek black combat suit with a handy belt wrapped around her waist to store guns, laser blasters and knives.

With a rope curled up and hidden behind her back, she snuck up behind Virgil and tied his mouth with a piece of cloth to quiet him before he could call for help.

She tied his hands behind his back and tied his ankles together and dabbed his mouth with an alcohol that made him fall fast asleep.

Amy left a note with a knife sitting next to it on the kitchen counter for Pepper to see when she would wake up the next morning.

Laughing quietly and menacingly, she draped Virgil over her shoulder and slammed the door shut behind her.

Baah that's enough for now…I know, it wasn't as exciting as I wanted it to be. It was a rather calm chapter. But hey, the next chapter will be action-packed, I promise! Review!