"What do you think of the suits?" Grey asked, walking along the shore with Bucky. They were holding hands, pretending to be just any other couple on the beach.

"I think they're sweet, but I… Grey I don't want a suit," Bucky said, slightly braced for her to be upset.

"Okay," Grey said, shrugging it off. "Do you think you might want to help us fight anyway? Or was there something else you wanted to do?"

Bucky looked at her in surprise, even pausing their walking. Grey looked up at him, slightly confused, until she understood. Grey's heart clenched at the reminder of what he went through.

"What?" Bucky was confused, bracing for rejection, but Grey looked at him with such softness that he could feel himself relaxing.

"Oh, sugar, what did you think? That if you said no, we'd kick you out? Or that you'd be forced into it anyway? You should know me better than that, what's the one rule?"

"I can say no to anything except loading the dishwasher," Bucky said dutifully. There was something indecipherable in his eyes. Maybe it was hope, or love, or excitement, but it was shining bright in his ice blue eyes. "Even as an Avenger?"

Grey noted the wording but didn't comment. If Bucky was thinking of himself as an Avenger, it was a positive sign. Not only was he recovering, he was looking forward. And it meant he would stick around.

"Of course. You still get free will. If you want to just work back end you can, if you don't want to join at all, that's an option too. I seem to recall Pepper and Jim offering to set you up with llamas or goats in Ohio if you want to retire." Grey may have had to lean up on her tip toes, but she pressed a hand to Bucky's cheeks, smiling up at him warmly. "If you don't want a suit, we won't make you one. If you'd rather be the cavalry as you are, that's up to you. We'll support you no matter what."

"I did so much as the Winter Soldier," Bucky said, looking past Grey at the setting sun. She watched him as he thought, watching the sun share its warmth with the man that deserved it. "There's so much blood on my hands, I want to save the world, the same way I was ordered to destroy it; with my own two hands, prosthetic or not."

"I'm so very proud of you, James Barnes," Grey said. If his eyes filled with tears, neither one bothered to mention it. "You continue to astonish me, every single day. You are the best man I've ever known."

"Not yet," Bucky said lowly. "But one day."

He spun her around, surprising a laugh out of her, and tugged her back in the direction of the house. He could see Pepper looking out the living room windows for them.

"Do you think Pepper could use an assistant?" Bucky asked. "I have a lot of down time, and I'd like to do something more productive than reading Lord of the Rings."

"Oh absolutely," Grey nearly cheered. "We were talking about that during our run yesterday, we're both drowning in paperwork, we'd love the extra eyes on them, or even just someone to deliver it to where it needs to be at Stark Industries. Were you thinking about coming back to life, legally?"

"Not until after I can tell your dad what I did." Bucky was always solemn when talking about his deeds for Hydra. "Using his money to bring me back, without him knowing seems wrong."

"If I hadn't pulled you out, Hydra would've sent you after Steve in 2014," Grey said. Bucky looked down at her in surprise. "He would've managed to knock the conditioning out of you, so you recognized him. You end up on the run, Steve spends two years chasing you with dad's money, without telling him about pops. His big thing was that it wasn't you."

"But it was," Bucky snorted in disgust. "Stevie's always been a bit naive. It might not have been my choice, or done by my free will, but it was still my hands that did it."

"I know," Grey said softly. Steve approached Bucky being the Winter Soldier poorly. "But we have the chance to do it right. And we will, right?"

"We've got this," Bucky said. "Shall we head home? I'm surprised you're not sunburnt."

"I probably am, my cheeks feel hot."

"C'mon." Bucky picked her up and slung her onto his back. She wrapped her arms around his neck and giggled as he carried her back up the cliff-face and into the living room, where he dropped her unceremoniously onto the couch.

"There you are, oh, your cheeks and shoulders are burnt, Bucky, there's aloe under my bathroom sink, would you go get it for me. Grey, we're flying to Seattle in three days, you gotta do better than this."

"It'll fade, I promise, I get burnt just by thinking about the sun, this isn't that bad," Grey said as Bucky walked away. "We're going to Seattle?"

"They hired a new department head, as CEO you have to welcome them in person, it's policy," Pepper said sourly.

"You know we can change that," Grey said. If she had Hamilton stuck in her head, that was her business. "Right? Cause I'm the CEO. We can make that policy change."

"No, because it's Stane's policy. It was how he got everyone's loyalty. He made the policy change, didn't tell Tony, and started going in his place. It even took me a few months to notice."

"So, the two of us go, full on charm offensive. Is this the first hire since we took over?" Pepper nodded, and Grey grinned as she thought through their latest obstacle. "So, he won't be expecting us to be there, we can surprise him, knock him off his game. Jesus Christ that's cold!"

Bucky laughed as he rubbed the aloe on Grey's shoulders with his right hand. She erupted in goosebumps.

"Sorry Grey, but it's for your own good," Bucky said. "Especially if you're going to Seattle. You want this to heal before you start wearing a blazer again."

"You hover more than Pepper does," Grey accused. She shivered as the cool air hit the aloe vera.

"No one hovers, Grey, gravity exists for a reason," Pepper said with a perfectly straight face. Silence reigned for three seconds before Grey cracked up, dissolving into laughter.

Line Break

"I'm so glad you don't have any notebooks with you today," Pepper said as the two women settled down at a table in a coffeehouse in Seattle. It was raining outside, and they were killing time before their flight was allowed to take off. "That meeting just took what few brain cells I had left."

"That man is so dumb, how is he qualified for the Pacific Northwest Regional Director?" Grey demanded, her voice a furious hiss. "Who hired him? Because I want that person fired too."

"I'll get you a list of names," Pepper said, her mind racing as she considered what could be done. Grey hadn't stopped preaching about raising the standards at the company. Better hiring practices, better sustainability, better employees, all of it meant a better company. "We need to put one together anyway."

"Stane versus Stark," Grey complained. She felt like she was going to vibrate out of her skin, they had so much to do. For the company, for the Avengers "Thankfully, we've got everything in place for Dad, we just have to wait."

"I hate waiting," Pepper said. Grey stood smoothly and crossed the room, scooping up the two lattes for them. A lavender honey latte for Grey, a pistachio latte for Pepper; Grey flashed a grateful smile at the barista and dropped a few bills in the tip jar. "I finished proofing the iron contracts. You did really good on those, I only had to adjust the language in a few places. And you did put fuck in the Air Force contract, and it still sounded professional, I almost missed it."

"My true superpower. I can make fuck sound professional," Grey giggled, sipping at her latte. It wasn't her favorite, but after three days of eating the same meal, Happy insisted she try new things while she was out of town. "Other than that, though, were they decent?"

"Decent? Grey, they were fantastic, they sound fair to both parties, but still give us a huge advantage. And if they break the contract, you managed to make it punishable the same way we attacked Pym!"

"While we can break it with no penalty to us," Grey said softly. "And they'd never notice it."

"How the hell did you do it?" Pepper asked. "Wait, let me guess, Slytherin politics?"

"Betrothal contracts," Grey replied, looking smug. "And Leverage, which I'm both heartbroken and excited about being a TV show here. I wanted the characters to be real here."

"I'm kind of glad we're the only fictional characters here," Pepper said quietly. It had taken a while, but Pepper had finally started wrapping her head around Grey's truth – even if she didn't necessarily like to think about it. She much preferred believing the lie they told everyone else. "You scare me sometimes."

"Says the woman that judo threw the freaking Winter Soldier!" Grey grinned, glad that things were starting to shape up. Despite a rocky start, Grey and Pepper formed a team that worked well together.

"I did do that, didn't I?" Pepper asked, pleased. "Jim went further though."

"Less mass," Grey pointed out. "Bucky's got an adamantium arm, that fucker is heavy. I would know, I accidentally got stuck under it in bed. Had to pee, had to wait an hour for him to roll over. Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, Potts. My boyfriend has a metal arm, yours has a nightlight in his chest."

"Rude!" Pepper was still laughing at the thought of Grey getting trapped under Bucky's arm.

"True," Grey said. The two girls snorted and returned to their lattes. "Did you have time to check over the September foundation paperwork?"

"I did. It's amazing, all that funding for student projects at MIT, Tony's going to love it." Grey flushed. She hated taking credit for things the movies did, but she really liked the praise. "How many years do you think we can run it for?"

"I think if we fund it for four years, alumni will fund it for a half century," Grey theorized. "I'd also like to make the September foundation our first stop for future employees. Allow them to publish all their things through Stark Industries. Jarvis was telling me that most companies impose a publishing fee of a good percentage of profits or something. If Stark Industries imposes a four percent publishing fee, with a four percent rider for the September Foundation, they'll get to keep ninety two percent of what they earn."

"We'd have scientists flooding our gates to get to work under that contract," Pepper said, amazed. "What about us though, would four percent be enough to stay out of the red?"

"Pepper, you forget, that's the tiniest thing that Stark Industries is going to rely on for profits. We'll have the Iron contracts, the New York contracts. Not to mention the entertainment contracts we're announcing next year at the Stark Expo."

"I still think running the expo this year is a bad idea," Pepper said. "We don't have time for it."

"Maybe not, but it's something we'll need once we officially shift gears. So, we'll keep prepping for it, and I'll keep pissing off the contractors by issuing changes," Grey said, shrugging softly as she took a sip of her latte.

"When?"

"Next year." Grey leaned back in her seat, lounging. "In May. The second movie spans a two-month period. Most of which I've negated already, we just have the antagonist role. That's also when we'll officially offer Christine the job."

"No wonder you're exhausted. You're working almost a year ahead of the rest of us. We're all working on the first movie, you're already on the second?"

"Pepper, I've already got plans for 2012 drafted and ready to go. This here? All these contracts? Those are baby steps. You all are just learning how to walk, I'm already running. With ideas anyway."

"You deserve a vacation," Pepper said, impressed even with the concession. Grey was such an idealist with the world, and sometimes, the way she spoke made them believe it was all possible. "And I'll make sure we take some, I refuse to be all work no play. It's already almost August, and I haven't been surfing once this season."

"You surf?" Grey asked, surprised.

"I've won a few competitions in my day," Pepper said, proud for surprising Grey. "Tony's been known to surf too. He's not bad."

"I don't think I have the balance for it," Grey said. She tapped the table three times in front of her, slightly straightening her posture and putting on a smile. There were reporters around. "Thank goodness I grew up in New York. Stane's face though? When he walked in to find us there?"

"Oh my God, I almost died laughing," Pepper said, also subtly straightening up. Her smile grew a little wider, posing for the camera. "I could not keep it together. He looked constipated."

"He looked like we slapped him with a fish," Grey said, wheezing with laughter. "He could not have been more surprised, unless Dad had been there."

"Can't wait to see his face when Tony gets home," Pepper laughed. "Are we telling him, or just letting him find out at the press conference?"

"I've just had what might be a terrible idea." Grey had a smile on her face, and a look in her eyes that promised chaos. Pepper leaned forward in anticipation. "Let's set me up with a press conference once they find him. I'll do the song and dance, you and dad walk out, I don't say anything but that he's late – instant chaos."

"I think you might just break people if you do that. Let's set it up. We can gather the press conference as though you want to announce something, then we give them Tony instead of you."

"What if you're late?" Grey asked. "Think about it. We will know Dad's out easily twelve hours before he gets home. Jim can have the Air Force keep his rescue classified, so only he and General Morrow and those directly involved know. Dad or Jim will call us immediately, we schedule the press conference, then you show up hella late, Dad in tow."

"The press won't know what to do because you and I are always perfectly on time, then we can cancel the weapons program, and while everyone is freaking out about it, Jayne will be the only one publishing about the investigation and our push into green energy." Pepper looked at Grey in awe. "Let's head back to the plane, we can start drafting the speeches, and you can let Jayne know to start working on her article."

Grey stood and scooped up their mugs, returning them to the bin with a soft thanks toward the barista. With a smile and a wave, the two women left the coffee shop and climbed in their rental. It was a quick drive to the airport with Grey behind the wheel.

"You know, I've always wanted to do a car chase," Grey said as she sped along the highway.

"That's not something I want to hear while you're driving," Pepper said, reaching up to grab at the handle. Grey scoffed, glancing at her speedometer that was showing her cruising at 75.

"I mean it, I want to drive a car at mach Jesus listening to Freebird. I think it'd be badass," Grey said, grinning.

"You're too much like your father. Maybe he'll put you on Top Gear for your birthday! He did that himself one year, talked about it for months." Pepper paused. "I think Barnes would like it too. He's probably bored out of his mind, just training us."

"He threatened to go on a killing spree after listening to Fox News again, didn't he?" Grey asked, shifting lanes to go around a pickup truck. "To be fair, that's the energy we're gonna need in 2020. Fuckin' Fox News. If I have to live through my version of twenty sixteen onward, I'll be the one going on a killing spree."

"That bad?" Grey swerved around a car, murder in her eyes. "That bad. Well, that's still six years away, let's get through the first alien invasion. What even is my life? Fuckin' aliens, an assassin lives down the hall from me. I mean seriously, the man killed JFK, and he eats my cereal."

"Don't think about it too much, it gets weirder," Grey promises, relaxing again. "Trust me. I try not to think."

"We know you don't think, Grey, you walked into a window yesterday," Pepper teased. Grey laughed, shrugging her admittance.

Line Break

"Of course, Lieutenant," Grey said trying her best to not roll her eyes. She already had a headache and was one issue away from just breaking down in tears. "Stark Industries would be happy to help finance the replacement of the C-17. And we're happy to chip in for the funeral costs of the four who were on board. As far as us redesigning it? Kick it up the chain and we'll take a look, but if you haven't noticed Lieutenant, my dad is still missing in the damn desert. Fill out the paperwork. I'm not my father – protocol is there for a reason."

Grey ended the call with a snap, tossing her phone on the dining room table. Pepper was shaking her head while replying to emails, and Bucky was in the kitchen, pulling out something to eat.

"If I get one more phone call from the Air Force today, asking me to help clean something up, I'm going to cut our contracts out of spite," Grey said, thunking her head down on the table.

"Obadiah is trying to expand the weapons program," Pepper said, and Grey let out an exaggerated groan, reluctantly pulling her head up. She frowned at the other woman, waiting for her to make sense. "Not sure how he plans to do it without the agreement of the CEO, but Sam sent me a copy of the contracts he tried to file with legal."

"One more fucking month," Grey said, looking up for divine intervention. "One more month and Dad will be home, and he can have his company back, and I can have that man arrested. And I can take a nap."

"Once he's gone, we're having a party," Pepper said dryly.

"Absolute rager," Grey added. "Gonna get drunk for a week to celebrate."

"Grey, one glass of wine is enough to get you drunk, you drink too much you'll be hungover for a week," Pepper said. "And then you'll be miserable."

"But that's not going to happen, because dad is coming home, and what the fuck could you possibly need from me now?" Grey cried, staring, not at Pepper, but her phone, which had started ringing again. Grey let out a sob and answered the phone.

"Feel bad for whoever called," Bucky muttered to Pepper as he brought her a bowl of soup, and a grilled cheese. Another bowl was put in front of Grey, who nodded her thanks. "She's either gonna cry or give them the disappointed mom voice."

"Anything but the disappointed mom voice," Pepper whispered, watching Grey. "She's too good at it, even makes me feel bad."

"Me too."

"Hi, General, how can I help you? Oh?" Grey sounded surprised, but her face stayed blank. "Well, that's very interesting. And the time frame we would be looking at? Oh, really, twenty-four hours. I think I can work with that, absolutely. Thank you General, we'll see you soon."

Grey tossed her phone down and left the dining room, heading to the kitchen. She shook her head and ran her fingers through her hair as she dug through the fridge for the shredded cheese before coming back and dumping a handful on her soup.

"Well, what was that one about?" Pepper asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Oh, that? That was General Morrow, they found dad, he's landing at Andrews in twenty-four hours," Grey said blandly, her eyes twinkling madly. Pepper burst into tears.

Grief

Virginia Potts

When Tony was first declared missing, even though Pepper had been warned, she collapsed. She barely locked her door behind her before she collapsed on the carpet.

After an hour, Pepper had finally found the strength to stand up, only to see the flowers that came every year on her birthday. Usually, she received vibrant red bouquets, an inside joke about her hair and temper, Pepper was sure, but this year was different.

Red and white roses with sprigs of lavender and forget-me-not. White freesias, her mom's favorite flower, with ivy and sweet pea. A single peach blossom. Pepper took a dozen pictures of the flowers once she stopped crying. There was a framed photo sitting next to the flowers, a posed shot Samantha had taken at a party the previous year. Tony had reached up and given her bunny ears, something she hadn't noticed until she received the frame.

It took another hour before she could fathom packing a suitcase to stay with Tony's pretend daughter on the off chance, she wasn't completely crazy. If Pepper had the energy, she'd rage against this new change, this new thing that was threatening her normal life.

As Pepper locked her condo behind her, two suitcases waiting for her, and she swore that if this woman was crazy, or malicious, Pepper would kill her herself. And if Tony didn't come back? It didn't bear thinking about.

James Rhodes

Jim didn't know what to do. Obadiah had stopped by their apartment to give Tony the news, then left, leaving a distraught seventeen-year-old alone with no coping skills, and enough grief to kill a stronger man than Tony was.

"Come here," Jim said, finally giving up and settling for pulling Tony into his lap, holding the younger boy the same way Mama would hold him when he was young and upset. With one arm rubbing soothing motions on Tony's spine, Jim hummed softly, wishing he had the words to make this right.

"He killed my mom, Jim! Mia Madre," Tony managed before collapsing in on himself again. Jim shushed him, even rocking slightly back and forth as Tony sobbed. It was the first time he'd heard his name come out of Tony's mouth, and personally, he hoped he never heard it again. Jim vowed that he would protect Tony from everything he could, for as long as he could.

Grey Stark

One picture, hidden in the back of her tablet's case, the edges already worn from Grey rubbing her thumb back and forth. Grey was in the picture, with long brown hair that was already aiming for silver, and a blonde woman with a warm smile.

Grey would take it out and look at it whenever she was alone, and this was one such time. Alone, lying in a strange bed in a strange city. Everything in the house screamed wealth and status. It made Grey long for her shitty apartment overflowing with stuffed animals and books.

"You ready for tomorrow?" Jim asked, just pushing open the door to her bedroom.

"Ready to lie my ass off to a head of Hydra so I can steal their prized assassin? Ha, yeah right," Grey said, rolling over to sit up, but keeping the picture in her hands. "Mom would call me a nut if I told her these plans."

"Is this her?" Grey nodded, and Jim sat next to her, looking at the picture. "You look like her. Not physically, you look too much like Tony for that, but your expression."

"Mom and I are definitely too similar for our own good," Grey said, laughing. "We were driving to Chicago for a conference she was going to, and this semi cut us off. Even though she was driving, and I was buried in an intro to psych book, we both cussed out the driver, and his mom as we flipped him off."

"Got your road rage from her then," Jim noted.

"Drive like dad though," Grey said, a longing look on her face as she thought back through twenty-four years' worth of memories.

"I can't tell if you mean your dad, or Tony, and I can't tell which scares me more," Jim said, furrowing his brow. Grey laughed brightly, throwing her head back.

"Dad was taught to drive in the Netherlands and has one speed-"

"Go," Jim finished, a ghost of a smile on his face. "Tony is the exact same way."

"Is this when you threaten me into giving you all the information, I have so you can get rid of me?" Grey asked, smiling despite herself.

"No. This is when I tell you that I think you know what you're doing," Jim said, surprising her. "You're voluntarily kicking the hornet's nest to rescue a man history thinks is dead. You're going in with no weapons, no back up plan, no extraction. You're walking into an intelligence agency alone."

"Yeah, well, it doesn't really matter if I make it out, does it?" Grey mumbled. "Listen. I've stashed a notebook in the garage – U knows where it is. It's got my most up-to-date timeline, the timeline, and several lists of people to look out for. When this goes badly – protect dad, will you?"

"Hey, no, none of that crap," Jim said, putting his arm around Grey and pulling her close, the same way he always did with Tony. "You're part of the family now. That means we look after you. You do whatever you have to, to get out of SHIELD tomorrow morning."

Line Break

Pepper felt ridiculous. And she knew exactly who to blame for it. Well, sort of. Apparently, there was a fanfiction that didn't exist yet (or might never exist in this universe, Pepper, how the fuck am I supposed to know?) where Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy used symbolism to accidentally invoke a mythological figure and take over the wizarding world. When Grey mentioned it to Jayne, she grew so excited at the idea of it, that there was no deterring her. Which brought her to that day. And Pepper felt ridiculous.

Pepper was dressed in white. It was cream, the stylist had said, her Italian accent full of joy as she got to explain her vision. With gold accents, warm undertones bringing out her peach skin and red hair. The only color she had was a light red lipstick, and Persian blue gemstones in her hair. Pepper felt like a spotlight. Grey said she was angelic. Jayne muttered something about a bride, and Pepper felt like smacking her.

"I think you look nice," Happy said, drawing Pepper away from her musing. She blinked, looking away from the runway. She frowned. "You keep tugging on the jacket. Figured you were uncomfortable."

"Feel like a show horse," Pepper complained. "I'm not even going to be on camera today."

"Everyone's going to be on camera today, Pepper, especially today," Happy said, shrugging. "Today's practice for the rest of our lives. Gotta do what we can, right? Besides. You look nice."

"Thank you Happy. We don't say it enough." They both knew it wasn't for the compliment. "I still feel like a show horse."

"Here he comes," Happy said absently, turning to find the C-130 in the sky. He pointed it out for Pepper, who was shielding her eyes from the sun. He grew serious for a moment, "I don't know what I would've done if she'd been wrong."

"I would've let Stane have her, then turn him in to the FBI," Pepper said smartly, straightening up as the military transport landed and started taxiing. She sniffed once and stepped forward with a trembling smile. "Tony."

Tony stood next to Jim in a brown suit, and a sling. Jim was still wearing his fatigues; his dress blues were in the back seat of Happy's SUV.

"Your eyes are red, shed a few tears for your long-lost boss?" Tony asked, a smile starting to form on his face as he closed the distance between them and pulled her into a hug with his good arm. "Actually, you look good, don't let me mess that up, what's the occasion?"

"Your press conference," Pepper said, smiling lightly. She took a deep breath and swallowed the sob and the cheer she wanted to let out. Her hand trembled as she pressed it gently to his cheek. "Your daughter plays the press better than you do; she's had us wearing mourners' blacks while you were… gone."

"Surprise vacation," Tony supplied. Pepper swatted him.

"If you call it that one more time, I'm taking you back to the desert," Jim threatened. Happy pulled out Jim's dress blues and handed them over. Jim flashed him a grateful look, seeing the uniform freshly pressed, and the shoes newly shined. "I'm driving General Morrow; I'll see you there."

Jim left, leaving Tony with Happy and Pepper. Tony and Pepper were still staring at each other, both lost for words despite the relief flowing around them.

"You've gotta change," Happy said, shaking his head at Tony's crumpled brown suit. "Not only would Grey throw a fit, but Cynthia might also kill you."

"Who's Cynthia?" Tony asked as he climbed into the back of the SUV and started changing. He was going to be in black and white, almost looking like a tuxedo. There were red socks, red gemstone cufflinks, and a red-faced watch.

"She's the new family stylist," Pepper explained. "We also have a family chef, a family reporter, and a Bucky."

"She did get him out?" Tony asked through the cracked window, surprised. "Is there supposed to be a tie back here?"

"Yeah, surprisingly well. And no, no tie. C'mon, dressed and out, we're on a clock," Happy said briskly. Tony changed quickly, gingerly removing his sling. "We'll give you a rundown in the car on the way, but we gotta move, or Grey's going to run out of things to talk about."

"It's Grey, do you really think she'll run out of things to say?" Pepper asked, amusement clear on her face.

"I think that the worst-case scenario, is her announcing her presidential run for 2024," Happy laughed. "Or perhaps she's running for Governor of California. Did you hear her rant about celebrities as politicians?"

"Happy, I'm surprised Tony didn't hear her all the way over in Afghanistan," Pepper said dryly. "That was something, for sure."

"What'd she do?" Tony asked, bewildered as he tried to imagine what his family had been up to without him. He tried to quell the feeling of being left out, knowing he'd be caught up soon. Tony opened the door to the SUV and stepped out, still putting his shoes on. "How do I look? Also, when did we get an SUV?"

Pepper undid the top button, giving him a slightly more relaxed look, then ushered him into the passenger seat.

"Here's a tablet, you'll probably want to take notes," Pepper said, sliding in the backseat. "Happy, we should get a move on."

"Right away Miss Potts, boss," Happy said, beaming that Tony was back where he belonged. "We'll start with that question – we got the SUV a couple days after we rescued Barnes from Hydra. Needed a bigger vehicle with five of us cramming in sometimes."

"Okay, so walk me through what you can, in order would be appreciated," Tony said, settling in with his tablet.

"Well, after you left, we went to New York," Pepper started.

Line Break

Grey was starting to enjoy her press conferences. Once she'd gotten the hang of them, she started looking forward to them.

"So Stark Industries is going to reopen weapons production?" A reporter asked again, clarifying. It was the third rephrasing of the same question, and several reporters rolled their eyes in annoyance.

"Yes. At this time, Stark Industries as a company has been cleared of any intentional wrongdoing. The person or persons behind this nonsense is acting exclusively to their own benefit. Therefore, we are planning on reinstating production as early as Monday, August second," Grey explained, checking her notes for the exact date. The only hint that there was something else afoot was the sparkle in her eyes.

"Something else is going on," Jayne whispered to Christine, glaring at Grey with suspicion.

"What do you mean?" Christine asked, leaning over. "What do you know?"

"Look at her, she's vibrating with excitement. She has something to announce," Jayne said, subtly pointing to Grey's right hand, which moved from the podium, her notes, her jacket, then back to the podium. Then her left, which held her watch - her blazer sleeve was scrunched, showing she kept checking the time. "And she didn't tell me, which means there's a second story hiding behind the first."

Just as Jayne expected, after a few more questions, Robbins, one of Happy's security staff, slipped into an empty seat next to Jayne, handing over a few index cards with new questions, before disappearing again. Jayne held the cards in her hand, waiting. Christine glanced at them, looking for a hint. She could only make out one word, Tony.

"Miss Stark, in recent press announcements, you've typically shied away from making a solid decision on the future of your company's weapons program, is that because you know that you're going to make moves away from weapons?" Jayne wasn't surprised it was Marsha Smith asking, that woman was determined to drag Grey through the mud.

"Stark Industries leadership has tried to change the direction of the company, yes. In 1992, after the death of my grandparents, my father did attempt to change the direction, but was deterred by then acting CEO Obadiah Stane," Grey said firmly, expertly keeping her eyes away from the steaming Stane, lurking in the back. "My father also attempted to change the direction in March of this year, but this time was stymied by a kidnapping in Afghanistan. So yes, Stark Industries is looking into expanding the company. We're full of wonderfully intelligent people, so we have to ask – why aren't we doing all we can? While we're a little early to be making announcements, I can confidently say that Stark Industries can expect some magnificent changes in the coming year."

"Can you give us any hints to look forward to?" An ABC correspondent asked after he was called on.

"Well…" Grey glanced at Stane, who looked like he was one word away from storming over to the podium to stop her, then at the door behind everyone, that no one was paying attention to. A beaming smile slowly appeared on her face, lighting her up like a sunrise. "Actually, I can. Stark Industries is proud to announce that I was so fucking right."

Grey choked down a sob as she sprinted away from the podium, stopping just before she crashed into Tony Stark, back from the dead. Pepper, resplendent in white, nudged Tony forward, and smiled as father and daughter were reunited.

"Sorry I'm late, you wouldn't believe how hard it is to find a cab in the desert," Tony said, loud enough that the press could hear. Behind them, Happy casually cut off Stane from joining them. "Let's wrap this up and head home, shall we?"

Line Break

Tony stared at the arc reactor that his father built and relished the air conditioning. To anyone watching him, he was marveling at the technology his company would soon see the use of. To his family, they knew he was still sifting through the sands in Afghanistan, taking stock and making sure he was okay.

Tony stared at the tesseract-based technology and wondered. He wondered about Howard, Pepper, and Grey. He wondered about Jim and Happy and Obadiah too, as he watched the light show that came with the advanced engine. He wondered what his family had done while he was gone. He wondered what they would do now that he was back. He wondered if he hadn't made a giant mistake.

Obadiah stormed through the doors, shaking off his irritation and frustration at once again being on the receiving end of Grey's fury. He chewed on the end of his cigar, hating the fact that he was expected to adhere to the no smoking policy in the building. But Tony was once again in his hands, his sphere of influence, and would still be the manipulable child he had been at seventeen in 1991. Obadiah would ensure it.

"Well, that… That went well," Stane said around his cigar. Tony cast an unimpressed look at the man. Everyone knew about Tony's dislike of the cigar smoke that constantly chased Stane around Stark Industries.

"I painted a target on the back of my head," Tony said, grinning wryly at his godfather. Tony wondered when Stane changed from his godfather to the terrorist, treasonous snake in front of him. He wondered if Obadiah had always been the snake he was now, if this had been his plan from the very beginning.

"Your head, what about my head?" Stane demanded, as always, putting himself above everyone. The Ten-Rings, Hydra, none of them would be happy with this decision. Obadiah was the more likely victim of targets. He was the one that had made promises he could no longer keep. "What do you think the over-under on the stock drop is gonna be tomorrow?"

"Optimistically, forty points," Tony said, even as he guessedGrey and Pepper would've accounted for that, and likely had a plan to prevent even a ten-point drop. And from what he'd heard about the company, it had been doing just fine in his absence. Grey had made good on her promise.

"At minimum," Stane sniped, trying not to glare at Tony. "Tony, we're a weapons manufacturer."

"And I refuse to have a body count be our legacy," Tony said shortly. He knew this was supposed to be the part of the script where Tony pulled on the family connection to convince Obadiah he knew what he was doing. He always did at this point in an argument. Then, Stane would pat him on the head like a dog and promise to make it all better. Well, not this time, Tony had had enough.

"That's what we do, we're iron mongers, we make weapons, Tony," Obadiah said. Tony locked in on the words he used. Iron Monger was the first bad guy Grey promised. Tony could feel the pain as his heart closed to Obadiah. No longer was the man considered his family, not if he was willing to go this far to work against him. Grey had more than proven herself – it was time Tony started putting in the work too.

"It's my name on the side of the building," Tony said, thinking of his family. Tony Stark, Margaret Stark, Pepper Potts. Jim Rhodes, Happy Hogan. They weren't all Starks in name or blood, but they were his family, his legacy, and to Tony, it was well past time to honor them as they had done him.

"And what we do keeps the world from falling into chaos," Obadiah said, his words running over Tony's.

"Not based on what I saw," Tony said, ending the conversation.

"So, what, you want us to make baby bottles? Pull another publicity stunt like this? The arc reactor?" Stane looked at Tony expectantly.

"Could you have a lousier poker face?" Tony asked, suddenly surprised he'd never noticed on his own. "Who told you? I know it was Pepper or Rhodey."

They both knew it hadn't been Pepper or Jim, even though Tony was content to allow Stane the falsehood. Obadiah would never admit his terroristic connections, so said nothing. Tony unbuttoned his shirt and let Stane see the mini reactor in his chest. Stane looked around like he was expecting the police to jump out of the shadows. He paused as he saw two orange lights in the shadow. Obadiah wondered if it was a piece of machinery, or if Tony's infernal daughter was lurking in a shadow. He quickly closed Tony's shirt. He put his arm around Tony's shoulders. Tony fought the urge to throw him off.

"Listen to me, Tony, we're a team, do you understand? There's nothing we can't do if we stick together, like your father and I," Obadiah pulled out all the stops to convince Tony.

"I'm sorry I didn't give you a heads up, but if I had…" You would've shot the C-130 out of the sky and blamed the ten-rings. Tony left it unsaid, for now.

"You gotta let me handle this. We're gonna have to play a different game of ball here. We're going to have to take a lot of heat. I want you to promise me that you'll go home, lay low." Tony shook his hand and watched him leave the building. By the time the man climbed on his Segway and wheeled off, Happy and Jim had reappeared by his side, this time, Happy carried a sniper rifle.

"We weren't actually going to use that, right?" Tony asked warily, patting Happy on the arm. Tony's two oldest friends merely shrugged. "That's a bit much."

"We put Grey in a crown, I don't think anything is overkill anymore," Jim said, sounding tired. "I'm off to check in with General Morrow, you two should go get Grey and Pepper out of her office before she comes up with another idea. I'll meet you at the car."

Jim left, leaving Tony and Happy alone with the arc reactor and a sniper rifle. Happy put his arm around Tony's shoulders, and Tony leaned against him, so glad to be home and with his family again.

"So, when do we move to New York, because let me tell you, I am sick of sand," Tony said.

"Let's get you home boss," Happy said, leading him out through the back. "We'll talk about it all during dinner."

Iron Man

"We're a weapons manufacturer, you can't just stop accepting weapons contracts!" Obadiah raged as he stormed into the conference room Pepper and Grey were working in. "What the hell were you thinking, were you thinking?"

"Yes, come on in, we're not busy or anything," Grey said dryly as she finished typing something out before looking up. Stane was red in the face. Grey leaned back, her red blouse looking like blood under the white jacket. "We're moving away from weapons because it's the right thing to do. The Stark Family owns controlling shares, so while we will have to argue this in front of the board, we are moving ahead with this new direction, and you will not argue with me about it."

"Tony owns controlling interest in the company," Obadiah pointed out through clenched teeth, knowing he was wrong even as he said it. He was the reason controlling interest belonged to Grey, and he knew it, and he hated it.

"He did, until you forced through the death in absentia ruling. He's legally dead, so his will was enacted, giving those shares to me and his daughter," Pepper said regally, glancing up at him. Malice glittered in her eyes, even as her body language was relaxed and calm.

"I am in charge of Stark Industries," Grey said icily. "I am CEO of this company and will remain so until we go to court and have dad legally brough back to life. Thanks to your hasty actions."

"You don't even know how to run a company like this, you'll run us into the ground," Stane sneered, looking down his nose at Grey. She merely smiled up at him, a wide, angelic smile that dimpled her cheeks and gave her an air of innocence that didn't match the rage in her heart.

"It doesn't matter if I run this company headfirst into the ground, I have the legal right to do so." Grey's voice, whipping like an icy wind around Obadiah didn't match her expression, serving to spook Stane. She didn't blink as she stared at him, daring him to continue to question her. "You will remember that you only have your job because my father wishes it. Insult me publicly again and I won't have you fired; I'll have you hanged. Try and stop me."

"Here's where you two disappeared to," Jayne said as she walked in the room, shattering the tension. Obadiah used the interruption to take several steps back, adjusting his jacket to hide his fear, pulling a cigar out. "Henry is seeing the last of them out, Christine has promised a copy of her article before it releases."

Obadiah fled the room, leaving his dignity dead on the floor. Pepper shook her head, finally folding up her tablet case and putting it away. Grey jerked her head to the side until her neck let out a sickening crack.

"Well, that was fun," Grey said lightly. "Who's Henry?"

"Henry Robbins? Happy's left hand in the security department?" Pepper asked, raising an eyebrow at Grey.

"Oh! Robbins. Duh. So used to hearing his last name, I forgot his first. Can we tell I'm tired?" Grey punctuated her question with a jaw cracking yawn, leaving her eyes watering.

"You actually threatened to have Stane hanged, is that still a legal punishment?" Pepper asked, standing smoothly and stretching before gathering the few files she'd picked up from her office.

"Technically, hanging is still the correct punishment for treason."

"Has he committed treason?" Pepper asked.

"Against me he has." Grey stretched out in the chair, leaning back precariously as she yawned again. "And that's really all I care about."

"Nice crown," Jayne said, realizing the symbolism in the hair pins. Grey's smile was sharklike. "Rhodes and Hogan are with Tony, right? I don't like the thought of him alone right now. Are you sure you want me to come over for dinner? I thought you wanted it to be just family."

"Jayne, you are family," Pepper said warmly, placing her hand on the reporter's shoulder. "Besides, Grey cooked enough to feed three of Barnes. Might as well eat."

"Hey, my lasagna is incredible," Grey said, shrugging. "Bucky's bringing you home, right, Jayne?"

"Hang on, I'm still trying to accept the fact that you can cook," Jayne teased, holding out her hand. Grey stuck her tongue out in a petulant pout but grinned shortly after.

"I don't cook, I host," Grey said. "Big difference. Alright, let's get out of here before Obadiah tries something else, yeah?"

"And miss another chance to watch you verbally destroy him? I'm getting the next one on camera," Jayne promised, taking a stack of files. "I've got my article mostly done, even though you didn't give me the courtesy of knowing Tony was safe, you rude bitch."

"It's not my fault you didn't read the cards Robbins gave you. If you had, you'd have known what the plan was. Honestly, the white jacket should've clued you in," Grey said with a shrug. Jayne just rolled her eyes. Fanfictions from the future, just the idea made the reporter giddy. "Go on, go find Barnes, we'll see you at home."

"There you are," Tony said, opening the door just in time for Jayne to step out. With just the three of them, they each relaxed. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah, you?" Pepper asked, reaching out her hand. Two months of Grey calling him her boyfriend almost made her forget he wasn't – yet. Tony took her hand anyway.

"Let's go home," Tony said, choking up slightly at the thought that he was finally going home. He was finally back with his family. He needed to say it again, just to make sure. "Let's go home."

Don't waste it. Don't waste your life. He wouldn't. Not anymore, and never again.