So here we go, some people asked for Tony asskicking! Don't worry, there will be muahauhauha, emotionally and physically! So hang in there! I've also got some brutal emotional scenes planned for the upcoming chapters, I actually feel really evil writing them, but I feel, as a writer, that it's necessary sometimes, so hopefully it fits in :)

I stood at the window watching him fly off to face his destiny; I couldn't help but let my tears fall.

So much happiness yet fear of the unknown wracked my body; I watched as the blur of his suit disappeared into the sky, I looked down at the ring which now had its rightful place on my finger. It was so much more than the symbolism of marriage; it was his promise to me. It was his promise to come home, to fight for our future and to fight for us. The symbolic colors brought fresh tears to my eyes as I remembered the first time I saw his bullet riddled armour. He asked me to trust him, and I did. Years later I'm crusading for his work and his life. I am forever by his side.

'Pepper?' Rhodey's called from outside the room, 'can I come in?'

I cleared my throat, 'yes Rhodey.'

The door creaked open slowly, 'I thought I heard Tony?' he said quietly as he walked up to me.

I wiped the tears from my cheeks; I offered him a weak smile.

He shook his head, 'don't tell me you're still fighting.' He looked at me with concern.

I shook my head this time, 'no.' I whispered and held out my left hand.

He looked down with a slight hint of confusion, 'Oh Pepper, wow.' He smiled too, he swiftly pulled me into an embrace.

'The son of a bitch didn't even tell me he was planning this.' He laughed.

I shook my head again, 'I never would have imagined this.'

'I'm so shocked, but so happy, congratulations!' He said excitedly, 'you know how long we were all waiting for you to just get together.' He grinned.

'Thank you.' I laughed.

'Does anyone else know?' He asked with a brilliant grin.

'No, he came early this morning, and left just now, I'm still getting my head around it.' I smiled.

Rhodey nodded, 'well at least you can say he's never predictable.'

'Yes, predictability is definitely not in his repertoire.' I laughed.

Rhodey hugged me again, 'I'll let you get dressed and we'll meet you downstairs?'

'Yes, thank you.' I smiled.

He left me to myself again, and once more I was plunged into an emotional tear stricken moment. I laughed to myself as I wiped away the tears of joy which fell so effortlessly.

Once I was changed and ready, I made my way downstairs, never once failing to sneak a glimpse whenever I could of the ring on my hand.

'Congratulations!' Happy yelled as soon as I walked down the stairs.

I grinned as I made my way into his open arms, 'I'm so happy for you two.'

'Me too.' I smiled.

Bruce stepped up to me with a smile, 'congratulations Pepper.'

'Thank you.' I pulled him into a hug.

'Tony's gone back?' He asked.

I nodded, 'he did.'

'Don't worry Pepper, he'll finish this and then it'll be over.' Rhodey explained.

'I know.' I tried to offer a confident smile.

Happy squeezed my shoulder, 'try not to let yourself worry, we've got his back as do the Avengers, you know that.'

Bruce nodded, 'we're all in it with him.'

'Thank you.' I smiled sincerely.

'Now, I know this isn't the best time, but there are a lot of things we need to clear up with the press.' Happy handed me the laptop, 'yesterday was a little intense for the media, and the board are stressing out about the future of Stark Industries if anything happens to Tony.'

I nodded, 'I know, it's ok, I can do it, I need a distraction while Tony's away.'

'I've been ordered to watch you and the house, so I'll be floating around.' Bruce added.

I agreed, 'ok, that's fine, both you and Happy will come with me to Stark and Rhodey, I believe Iron Man will need the War Machine?'

'Yes, I'm making some final alterations, good luck everyone.' He nodded to us.

I took the laptop, collected my handbag and retrieved my phone from the bedroom, 'I need to call a meeting with the board, you two won't be able to attend but you'll be able to stand by the doors to watch the entrances, is that alright?'

We made our way to the car, Happy nodded, 'same as always, but we're not leaving the premises, we have to consider every moment as a potential threat on your life.'

'Got it, keep the press away from the exits; I can't afford a run in with anyone today.' I explained.

We pulled into the drive way of the building; Happy opened the door for me. Bruce kept a low profile tagging along behind us, whilst Happy escorted me in the usual manner.

I headed straight to my office, 'I need to gather a few things, the board room is down the hall, if you want to check it out first, I'll be there in five minutes.'

The meeting was long and boring, I spent at least twenty minutes convincing everyone I was well enough to run the company and then I spent another fifteen minutes explaining Tony's unexpected press conference and convincing them that he was well enough to be Iron Man.

Once it was over, I stayed behind and finalised the notes I took. Anna, a young hopeful PA took the notes from me and let Happy and Bruce in. They closed the double doors. Happy's face looked grim.

'What's wrong?' I stood up.

He put his fingers to his lips, 'quiet.' He mouthed.

I sat back down, Bruce rushed over to me, and Happy drew his gun and stood behind the door.

Bruce knelt beside me, 'what's going on?' I whispered.

'He's here.' Bruce whispered back.

I looked at Happy and then back at Bruce, 'Rick?' I looked around at the bare room, damn my interior decorating, not a sharp object in sight, 'how did he get in?' I hissed.

'I don't know, but we can't do anything here, that's why he came, he's asked to see you in person, he doesn't know me, so I'll be here, Happy will be ready should anything come to pass.' He explained.

I shook my head, I felt the anger rise within me, 'no, this is crazy, I'll shoot him myself.' I stood up.

Bruce gently pushed me back down into the chair, 'you can't, this isn't just about you now, all these people are in danger too, you need to protect them and the company, for Tony.' He added.

Now I understood why Tony hated rational decisions, there was nothing more that I wanted to do than to kill him with my own hands. He made me fear for my life, and he nearly cost me Tony, I was furious, there were two men standing between me and him.

I clenched my fists, 'let him in.' I said firmly.

Happy took his stance behind one of the doors, he opened the other one. He discretely replaced his gun, ready should he need it.

The man strode in with a sickly smirk on his face; he wore a perfectly fitting suit, an expensive suit. I knew this guy was not one to mess with. He had money, he had power. And most importantly he had knowledge which was the deadliest thing anyone could have against Tony.

Happy shut the doors; the man looked back at him and laughed.

'Miss Potts we meet again.' He sat in a chair a few feet away from me.

He folded his hands on the table.

'What do you want, Rick?' I hissed.

'I thought we had already been through this?' He asked, 'no?'

I remained still; I gave him a steely look.

'I guess the events of that night may have left you a little traumatised and quite forgetful?'

I looked away from him.

'Don't worry Miss Potts, I don't make the same mistakes twice, I see now, that taking you was quite an insult to Tony's intelligence, so I'm here to offer you something else.'

I glared at him, 'there's nothing you can do to get to Tony, he's not here and I won't call him.'

He smirked and looked down at his hands, 'I didn't think so, so I called him instead.'

I looked up at him, 'no.' I whispered to myself.

'So he's on his way, and one way or another I'm going to get what I've set out to get.' He smirked.

'You're going to lose.' I said calmly.

Bruce standing guard beside me gave me strength. Happy by the doors gave me confidence.

I could hear Bruce struggling with the Hulk; he was shaking like a leaf beside me. From the corner of my eye I saw him fighting against the beast which was threatening to escape; his knuckles had turned a slight shade of green.

I put my hand on his, 'it's ok.' I whispered.

His arm tensed, and then I felt him relax slightly.

I sighed, as much as it would be brilliant to see the Hulk smash this guy, I couldn't risk anyone else being hurt, who knows what he had planned or set up. My mind raced through all the possibilities, bombs, snipers, poisons, the neuron stabiliser again. My heart sunk. I knew I needed more information, there was no way I could let Tony walk into something unknown.

'What are you planning?' I narrowed my eyes at him; I tried to see any tells any signs of what he was doing.

He leaned back in his chair, he smiled at me, 'I'm not going to hurt anyone else here, I just want Tony.' He crossed one leg over the other. 'This is between us.' He said in a matter-of-factly tone.

'You can't have him.' I said firmly.

A knock on the door drew my attention away from him, please don't be Tony, please don't be here. I swallowed hard, 'come in.'

Natasha walked in confidently carrying a large pile of folders, she wore a grey business suit, I recognised it as one of the ones she wore when I first met her, everything made sense, I cleared my throat, 'what is it Natalie?' I asked quietly.

She kept her façade perfectly intact seeing the man sitting before me, 'I have a few things you need to sign Miss Potts, I'm sorry it couldn't wait.' She handed me the large folder, I glanced at her and then at Rick. He seemed completely oblivious.

'Sign here, here and this one.' She flicked through the papers as I signed the documents; they were real files, from the meeting this morning. I had no idea how she managed to just take over Anna's jobs so easily without any questions. I didn't care, I was just happy to have her here.

The final page had a small scribbled note in it, "stay calm and follow Natasha's lead."

I looked up at her as I signed the note and handed it back to her.

'You're eleven thirty is here, and overly impatient, I suggest you make your way there now, Miss Potts.'

I nodded, 'it looks like we'll have to continue this conversation another time Rick.' I offered a smile.

Natasha smiled apologetically at the man, 'I do apologise, the meeting will be quite long, you're welcome to wait in the lobby?' She said politely as Bruce Happy and I walked out through the doors.

He stood up and faced her, 'no that's fine, Ms?'

I glanced back and saw him hold out his hand, she shook it with an ever present polite smile.

'Rushman.' She replied sweetly.

He looked over at me, 'what a beautiful pair of women.' He smiled.

I wanted to punch him; I could only imagine what Natasha was feeling. I couldn't see an inkling of anger or frustration seep through her poised exterior.

'Well it was lovely to meet you, Ms Rushman,' he looked back to me, 'and please tell Mr Stark I will make another appointment with him.' He made his way through the door beside me; he gave me a smirk before he left.

Natasha kept in character as she walked through the office with her pile of folders, 'this way Miss Potts.'

I followed her closely, Bruce and Happy followed suit.

We made our way to the end of the floor and she ushered us into an empty office.

'She's clear.' She spoke into her ear piece.

I dropped into one of the board chairs.

Happy knelt beside me, 'are you ok?'

I nodded wordlessly, 'how dare he?'

Natasha pulled out a small flash drive from her pocket and inserted it into the computer on the desk, 'it's alright Pepper, we've got you.'

'Thank you.' I walked over to the computer.

Within seconds she brought up several security screens within the building.

She pressed the ear piece, 'good on my end, Stark, run it.'

As soon as the words left her mouth, the security feeds quadrupled and every single corner and alley in and surrounding the building came up.

I watched as the screens one by one came up, I knew Tony had his tech everywhere, but this was a surprise even to me.

Bruce and Happy sat in chairs around the table.

'What are you looking for?' I looked at the ever changing locations pop up and disappear.

'We have reason to believe he may have planted something in here, something to interfere with the Extremis, if we're right, we'll find it.' She explained.

I nodded, 'and where do you think it is?'

She narrowed her gaze and pointed to the latest pop up, the touch screen registered and highlighted the area, 'there Tony, see it?'

I looked at the screen and then at her, 'what is it?' I asked curiously.

'If I'm not mistaken, it's a concentrated Nano bomb.' She said dryly.

I looked at her, 'a Nano bomb?'

She nodded, 'unfortunately yes, and if we don't disarm it, it'll destroy everything connected to this grid, including Tony.' She looked at me.

Bruce stood up and came to look at the screen, 'he'll have eyes on it, whatever we do he'll detonate before we get a chance to blink.'

Happy dropped his gaze to the floor below.

'I agree, that's why we need to be quick and efficient, we need to be smart about this.' She looked back at the screen before her.

'Tony, can you get a read on the signal that it's emitting?' She spoke quietly, she frowned at his response, 'ok, alright, I'm coming back to base, Bruce, Happy and Pepper are going to stay here, they're safe so long as you're not here.'

I felt a sickening feeling come over me again, 'why can't they leave us alone?' I muttered. Happy stood beside me and squeezed my hand.

'We have a great chance of beating this from here, this is a good thing.' Bruce tried to explain.

I didn't see how, but I believed him and I believed Natasha. They knew what they were doing and they were doing it in Tony's best interests. I nodded wordlessly.

'What do we need to do?' I asked quietly.

Natasha sat down and exhaled, 'I need you to continue everything as normal, I need you to make sure she's safe,' she pointed to Happy, 'and Bruce, I need you to work with Tony, off the grid, to try and work out what frequency this is running off and how we can get around the surveillance issue.'

We all nodded.

I sat down, I absentmindedly clasped my hand over the ring, feeling it there made me feel Tony, I squeezed my hands together.

"Congratulations.' Natasha said quietly.

I looked at her, she offered me a weak smile and looked down at my hand.

I nodded, 'thank you.' I whispered.

'We'll figure this out.' She said simply.

I bit my bottom lip, 'we have to.'

She nodded.

I knew her consolation was not to be taken lightly; she didn't express her feelings often, but seeing her softer side gave me confidence. I smiled. It would be alright, and we would figure it out. I had faith and I believed in heroes. And that was all that mattered everything else would fall into place, one way or another.