Chapter Three

Gotham POV

"Its been three months and we have found nothing!" Oliver growled as he and Bruce met for their weekly meet up.

They and Luthor were the only reason the military was still searching for Toni as the military had wanted to give up after the first month with no signs she was alive or any ransom.

"I know. We'll find her, even if we have to order the boy scout and road runner to go sweep the country, damn the consequences."

"That's going to be the next course of action."

"Agreed."

Each of their sons had been worried as Oliver and Bruce seemingly worked on constant fumes between their vigilante lives, play boy lives, and day jobs as well as this search for the missing female billionaire. They were all shocked when they heard Bruce talking to Luthor amicably so that meant that he was also looking for Stark as well. To try and lessen the stress from them, the batbros and arrow duo were picking up the slack and sort of enjoying having more freedoms while on patrols.

"I hope she is okay." Oliver said softly.

Afghanistan POV

"Okay, Yinsen, times up." Toni said softly as Yinsen helped her into the suit that they had spent the past three months building so that they could get out of there. The suit was powered by the junky miniature arc reactor that was installed in Toni's chest to keep the shrapnel pieces from making their way to her heart. "Help me into this thing and push the space bar once I'm in."

Yinsen did so quickly, knowing that their time was very limited. Luckily, they heard explosions and gun shots occurring, causing them to exchange glances as they sounded far enough away.

"What are they firing at?"

"Probably a rival trying to attack. This is the perfect time to escape." Yinsen said as he pushed the spacebar on the computer to commence the loading.

It was only at 75% when the doors were blown off by the bomb that they had placed there earlier to go off when Yinsen pressed a key on the computer once the loading was complete.

She swore. "That wasn't supposed to go off for another few minutes!"

"Yes, I know. The computer is very frayed… and you need a distraction." Yinsen said, determination in his eyes as he suddenly raced out of the prison that they had been in and taking a couple of the guns that the soldiers standing guard had before they were killed by the explosion.

"Yinsen! Wait!" Toni cried out. She knew that he would get hurt or killed out there. But there was no stopping him, he wanted to take out as many of the Ten Rings as he could and buy her enough time to get free. She had a home to return to, he didn't.

When Toni turned back to the computer, she saw it said 100%. "Show time."

Toni began to move. It was time to escape this place.

Two hours. It took her two hours to escape the terrorist cell and walk from the crash site of when the suit had landed after she fell from the sky. She mourned as she staggered through the desert at the loss of Yinsen. It felt like an eternity before she heard the blades of a helicopter, looking up she was just about able to make out the American flag on the side of it. She collapsed to her knees and waved her arms.

Finally the helicopter landed and a figure ran towards her. A very familiar figure: Rhodey.

"How about next time you ride with me?" He said. She sobbed as he drew her to her feet and into his arms before leading her to the helicopter.

She was going home.

Gotham POV

For once, the three billionaires were in the dining room, taking a slight break while the rest of the family of Oliver and Bruce were in the room.

Luthor had come over to see if there had been any developments on Bruce and Oliver's side of things and Alfred had forced them all to take a break and eat dinner.

Once again, the radio was playing in the background as silence fell over them all.

"Breaking news! Toni Stark is alive and is calling for a press conference immediately. What could the billionaire have to say? Stay tuned where we will have it live on Channel 82 news."

They all scrambled to the living room to turn the TV on and could only stare in awe and shock at the sight of their best friend standing alive.

One of her arms was in a sling, cuts on her face, bruises barely covered by makeup, and dark circles under her eyes… but she never looked so beautiful to them.

Toni had a burger in her hand and she slowly sat down in front of the podium Stane was behind, leaning her back against it.

"Can everyone just, sit please? Can we all just sit down?" Slowly everyone lowered to their knees, Stane coming to sit beside her.

She turned her head and said something softly to Stane before turning her attention onto the crowd.

"You know, I never got to say goodbye to my dad, to my mom. I almost didn't get to say goodbye to those that I love…" she trailed off as she saw something off camera. "Yeah, Ben?"

"What happened over there?"

"I watched as our soldiers were killed with no remorse. Those soldiers had families that they'll never be able to see or talk to again…" she stood and made her way to the podium, knowing that she would have to make a quick get away. She wanted to go home but she couldn't without this next statement. "Which is why, in honor of not only them, but also all soldiers, the Weapons division will be shut down and reworked into anew direction." Pandemonium erupted as the reporters rose to their feet, shouting questions as Stane tried to work crowd control. But Toni ignored them all as she walked towards the door where Happy was waiting, the camera following her movements.

Finally, the news anchors came on but those in Wayne manor ignored them.

"How soon can we fly out to Malibu?" Oliver asked.

"As soon as I call the pilots," Bruce said. "Boys, get your bags packed. You're coming with. Lex? You coming with us?"

"That is a dumbass question, Bruce. I'll be ready to go as soon as I grab my bag from the car."

"Let's get going then," Oliver said.

Malibu POV

Toni follows Happy to the limo, ignoring how she could still hear the shouts from the reporters and even hear Pepper calling out to her faintly from where she was following briskly with Rhodey and another suit following.

"Toni! Wait!" Pepper called out. Toni couldn't help the relief that filled her when her eyes landed on Deckard standing by the driver's door and the rest of her bodyguards waiting on either side of the limo. She knew that all five of them were not going to be letting her out of their sights and she needed that right now. Bryan opened the back door for her as Happy got into the passenger seat.

"Miss Stark?" Bryan asked in regards to her three shadows. A single shake of her head was all that was needed before Robert stepped into their path even as Clyde and Jason got in from the other side, one sat across from her, the other on her right.

Bryan, Robert, and Deckard were still outside.

"Miss Stark is not up for visitations or questions as of right now. Please know that all codes and passes into Miss Stark's residence is going to be revoked until Miss Stark deems otherwise." Robert said, causing the three shadows to pause in shock, giving the three guards enough time to climb in, Deckard into the driver's seat, Robert next to Clyde across from her and Bryan next to her.

"Home, Miss Stark?" Deckard asked as the locks engaged with the doors closed.

Toni snorted. "Y'all can quit with formality. You know to call me Toni." Small smiles appeared on the tough and dangerous men faces.

"Right, we forgot. Sorry, Toni. Anyway, home?" Deckard said as they began to drive.

"Yes, please." Toni was able to finally relax back in her seat, leaning slightly on Jason, it not bothering him in the slightest. They had all missed their snarky boss.

"So, what was that all about? Shutting down the weapons division?" Happy called back. The others whom hadn't attended the press conference looked at her, questioning her as well.

"Because our soldiers were killed by Stark weapons, the terrorists had Stark weapons, which means that someone at the company is dealing and I'm going to find out who it is."

They were all slightly shocked. None of them had expected that.

"Why not turn it in to the government?" Happy asked. Toni wasn't the only one that snorted at that.

"Because I believe that it was also an inside job. The terrorists sent a video to someone but that person didn't give it to Rhodey, didn't give it to the authorities, nothing. Which means that whomever was sent that video is the one that is dealing and wants me dead."

Silence.

"So, what's the plan?" Bryan asked.

"The plan for right now is to head home and sleep… after that, well, we'll see."

"You know we aren't going to be leaving your side for awhile, right?" Jason asked, gently putting his arm around to let her get more situated against his side. She snorted.

"I know. I was going to ask that anyways. I don't think I'll be able to go anywhere without any of you for at least a year."

"Good." Clyde said with a small smile. "You give us all gray hairs when we can't keep an eye on you."