2011

Avery entered the lab, Jarvis had alerted her that Tony was on another all-nighter. She knew something was off with her husband, even Pepper had contacted her about it, and she was going to get answers. Entering her access code, she entered to find Tony tinkering with his newest suit. "Aren't you supposed to be at the Expo?"

Tony jumped, spinning to find his wife smirking at him. "I've got a few," he walked towards her and pulled her into a deep kiss, "I thought you were in the middle of a project."

Kissing him again, she said, "I finished early and missed my husband."

smut*

Lifting her to sit on the worktable, he began to kiss down her neck, "Well, your husband missed you too."

No more words were spoken as he pulled her shirt over her head and kissed down her chest, not missing a spot. Avery didn't bother pulling his shirt off, instead she waved her hand and made it disappear.

Taking the hint, Tony pushed her to lay back and unbuttoned her jeans, pulling them off before kissing her thighs. When he reached her panties, he slid his fingers under the hem and felt how wet and ready she was.

Avery moaned as Tony slipped his fingers into her, she needed more but knew he liked to play first. Her back arched off the table when she felt her panties rip off and his mouth connected to her core.

Tony held her hips down as he dipped his tongue in and out, she always tasted so sweet. Continuing, he alternated his tongue and fingers, feeling her begin to tighten.

Using his free hand, he unbuttoned his jeans before pulling her to the edge of the table and lining himself up. Tony thrusted fully into her and leaned down to kiss her, hard.

Wrapping her legs around his hips, Avery held on while he worked her body into a frenzy. She could feel the knot tightening and knew she wouldn't last much longer. Tony must have noticed too because he picked up his pace, holding her hips firm.

Leaning down, Tony nipped at her breast and thrust once more. Avery moaned as her release hit, she could feel as Tony's followed.

~~~

Avery smiled as she watched Tony make his entrance, he always did things big. She knew the Expo was something he had a love, hate relationship with, due to his father. She watched as he exited the stage and moved to follow. He wasn't paying attention to the people around him, so he didn't notice her approach.

The device in Tony's hand, that he had just used to prick his finger, made her worry. What was he hiding? Once he had pocketed the device, she walked over to him. "That was some entrance."

Tony smiled, "I do try to make it memorable." They walked over to Happy, "So, we're done here," he looked to Avery, "You coming with me?"

Nodding, she was about to answer when they noticed the woman standing near the car. "It seems you have a fan."

Tony growled at her while Happy spoke to the woman. Avery's opinion on why the woman was here changed when she noticed the folder. "Uh, oh."

"Mr. Stark, you've been served." The woman tried to hand the paper over but Happy took them.

Once they were alone, Tony looked through the papers, "Seems I'm needed in D.C., oh and looky here, I have to be there by 9am." He handed the papers to Avery as they got into the car. "Settle in, we're going on a road trip."

~~~

Avery sat next to Pepper in disguise as she watched the shit show play out before her. These morons would never get their dirty hands on the Iron Man suit, she would make damn sure of that. She couldn't help but glare at the Senator when he called Rhodey to the stand and then kept cutting him off. Dirty politicians.

Pepper sighed for the hundredth time. She leaned in towards Avery, "I swear, he does this on purpose."

Laughing, Avery could only nod. Their attention was pulled back to Tony as he stood.

"The point is, you're welcome, I guess."

Stern glared, "For what?"

Tony smirked, "Because I'm your nuclear deterrent. It's working, we're safe. America is secure. You want my property? You can't have it. But I did you a big favor." He threw up the peace sign, "I've successfully privatized world peace!"

Avery shook her head and made her way out, trying to catch up with Tony. She smirked when she found him surrounded by reporters. Happy appeared next to her. "Shall we save him from the vultures?"

Happy grimaced, "By we, you mean me, don't you?"

"Of course," she laughed, "I'll meet you at the car."

~~~

Tony checked his blood levels again, he knew he needed to tell Avery, but he didn't want to make her worry. He was hoping to find a solution soon, so he wouldn't leave her a widow at thirty-one.

Sirius and Remus had been helping him with his latest suit but were out today, something about a 'boys' weekend'. He knew better than to ask, Sirius wasn't shy about sharing the details.

Jarvis alerted him to Peppers arrival, she must have stopped to chat with Avery before coming down. He had talked to her about giving Pepper more control in the company, and though she agreed, he knew it worried her.

~~~

Avery watched her husband closely, she needed to know what he was hiding. Moving to their security room, she locked the door behind her before pulling up old recordings of the lab. There had to be something she was missing.

"Miss, sir would not appreciate you doing this." Jarvis sounded.

"Well, unless you or Tony care to tell me what the hell is going on, you can both get over it."

"Sir doesn't wish for you to worry." Jarvis replied.

Having enough of the secrets, Avery replied, "J, do you remember our testing phase, when Tony would test my magic against your systems? Let's just say, if you don't show me what I want, I'll make that look like child's play."

She smirked when the most recent recording was pulled up and began to play. As she watched, she began to realize just what her husband had been hiding from her. Her heart dropped and she rushed from the room.

~~~

Tony could only shake his head, Pepper was one of his closest friends, but she was too soft hearted. He barely caught Jarvis alert when Avery burst into the lab, tears running down her face.

"How could you!" She walked to stand before him.

Utterly confused, he asked, "What's wrong?" She couldn't possibly know.

"That," she poked at the reactor, "That's killing you, isn't it?"

His heart broke at how devastated she sounded. Tony hadn't wanted to worry her, hoping he could figure out a way to reverse what was happening. Looks like he was out of time. Wrapping her in his arms, he held her as she broke down. "I'm sorry I kept it from you, I've been trying to find a way to stop it and reverse the side effects. I didn't want you to worry."

"You're an idiot," she managed to choke out, "I could have been researching a way to help you this whole time!"

Tony sighed, he knew she was right. "I'm sorry," he held her tighter, "If I ask, will you help me now?"

Avery shot him a look that said he'd be sleeping on the couch but nodded. "I'll see what I can find and have Remy and Siri speak to some healers."

~~~

Avery had spoken to over forty healers from around the world, an Unspeakable in six different Ministries, had Siri and Remy searching through muggle texts, and had only found a temporary fix. She refused to let anything take Tony from her and would figure it out.

Tony stared down at the concoction his wife had made, it looked like sewage, smelled like it too. "Are you sure it's safe?"

Glaring icily, she said, "Yes. Now, you need to drink four of these a day and take the potions as well."

Deciding it best to not argue, he downed the sludge and washed the taste away with the potions. "Ugh, that was nasty."

"Well, it's keeping you alive and the metals from your heart." She put the vials back into her bag just as Pepper entered and Tony hopped into the ring with Happy.

Pepper hugged her, "Avery, I thought you were on assignment?"

"Luckily, they understand I need my personal time." She laughed, Pepper knew how she got when she was away from Tony for too long.

"I have the notary coming up, do you want to stay?" Pepper asked.

"I'll hang about." Avery smirked before changing her face.

The two women spoke until the notary entered and Tony put on his act. Something about the woman put Avery on alert so she took a little look in her mind.

~~~

Agent Coulson entered his office, the report from Agent Romanoff in his hand. He had just sat at his desk when he noticed he wasn't alone. "Miss Potter!"

Avery stared the agent down. "Would you care to inform me why a spy in following Tony Stark around?"

"I'm not sure what you're talking about." He tried to lie, still unsure why Avery Potter would care.

"Agent Coulson, you should learn to lie better. Or learn not to lie to someone like me." She stood and walked closer, "Tell me why you have an agent on Stark."

Sighing, he weighed his options. Potter was not an enemy one wanted. "Director Fury is looking for individuals to bring into a group, like Stark and his Iron Man suit."

Avery didn't like the way that sounded. "Is this group to be controlled by Fury or the government? I highly doubt Tony will take orders from either."

"Our agent is only there to gather information and make sure Stark is not a danger to himself or others." Coulson looked to her curiously, "Why do you care who's following Stark, Miss Potter?"

Standing before his desk, she smirked, "Keep your agent away from Tony. It would be a shame for her to overstep and then be of no use to you, Agent Coulson."

Coulson stood at the threat, but she was already gone. "Shit!" Pulling his phone, he sent a warning to Natasha, praying she didn't try to seduce Stark. Coulson had a feeling there was more than friendship between Stark and Potter.

~~~

Tony had to talk Avery off a cliff after the stunt he pulled in Monaco, she was in the middle of her project and didn't need him putting more on her. Thankfully, he had her calmed and she waited until he was home to rip him a new one. Now, they were getting ready for his party.

Avery stared at the blue veins coming from the reactor on her husband's chest. She knew the cores were burning out faster, but the potions were keeping it controlled. Runing her hand over his chest, she smiled as he sighed in relief and the veins shortened slightly.

She had just begun to button his shirt when the spy entered, Avery had been sure to inform Tony of just who the woman was. Since she was standing between Tony and the wall, the spy hadn't seen her.

"Do you know which watch you would like to wear, Mr. Stark?" She placed the box on the table and kept her back to them while she mixed Tony a drink.

"I'll take a look," Tony smirked at Avery's arched brow, "I should probably cancel the party."

"Because it's ill timed?" The spy turned to face Tony, still unaware of Avery. She handed him the drink, "Is that dirty enough for you?"

Tony had barely caught his wife around the waist as she rushed towards the spy. "Calm, please. Don't murder her."

Agent Romanoff was caught off guard by the pixie like woman who looked ready to murder her. She had no clue who she was, but Coulson's message made a lot more sense now.

"Come on, I can get rid of her body and everything. No one would ever have to know." Avery seethed but calmed slightly. "You're a shit spy and should thoroughly vet your marks, better than you ending up the mark."

Tony snorted at the shock on the spy's face, "It seems you've rendered her speechless."

"What's going on here? Who are you?" Romanoff asked, a little unnerved by the woman.

"See, Agent Natalia Romanova, your cover has been blown since day one." Avery smirked, "For ho I am, well, I'm Avery Stark, Tony's wife." She could see the thoughts rushing through the woman's head. "That's a little secret though, so I would try to share it with anyone." With a wave, Avery made sure the spy couldn't speak of their secrets.

Tony smiled, "Let's go enjoy my party!"

~~~

Avery pulled into the parking lot, shaking her head when she found her husband sitting in the donut. She knew last night had been rough, he hated provoking Rhodey to fight, but they didn't want anyone to know he was sick. Exiting the car, her eyes narrowed when a man called out to Tony. He sent her a quick look and she nodded before making herself invisible.

Tony was sitting in the booth when Avery slid in beside him and tapped his cheek, so he knew she was there. He smirked and gave Fury his attention, the man was still lecturing him. He never noticed the spy enter but luckily his wife did.

Romanoff moved to inject Tony when she was thrown back on her ass. Instantly, she knew his wife was with him and couldn't inform Fury.

"What the hell was that?" Fury stood, moving to help his agent up, "She was trying to help you."

"See, I don't know if whatever's in that needle will interfere with what I'm already taking. Now, how about you tell me what you want, and I'll see if I want to help." Tony replied, all humor gone.

Fury noticed the look on his agent's face and moved to sit again. "Since you seem to have found my agent out, let's talk about that technology in your chest."

~~~

Siri and Remy were helping get the lab ready while Tony and Avery were upstairs with Coulson. The agent had threatened to taze Tony and got his ass chewed out by Avery.

"I know you want to get back to your research, leave me with your godfathers and take care of that. They can help me." Tony kissed the top of her head.

"Are you sure? I can stay if you need me to." She watched his face to make sure.

"Promise, we've got this."

"Go do your research fawn, we are here to help him." Siri pushed her towards the floo.

"If you're sure," at their nods she hugged her godfathers and kissed her husband before smiling at them and heading out.

Once Avery had gone, the three men looked to each other before getting to work.

~~~

Thankfully Tony had found a replacement for his reactor. Avery felt so relieved and had been able to concentrate on her research. She hadn't told Tony yet, but she wanted to leave the Ministry and Unspeakables, she wanted to spend more time with him. She also wanted to bring something up and wasn't sure how he would handle it.

Of course, things were never easy, and Tony had to fight someone they thought dead. Seems the creep, Hammer, had been really bitter about Tony showing him up.

Siri and Remy had been at the Expo and helped Pepper clear the place out when shit hit the fan. Luckily, they had been because Vanko tried to kill innocents.

When Avery and Tony finally laid down for the night, he held her close. Relaxing into his hold, she whispered, "I want a baby."

Tony jerked back in surprise, "What? Now?"

Laughing, she shook her head. "Not right this minute but soon. I told the DOM this was my last project. I don't need to work and only did for one reason."

He knew she was talking about bringing Sirius back. Rolling them so he could see her face, he asked, "You want a baby with me?"

"I do Tony. I want a couple of babies with you." She smiled at him, the look of love in his eyes was amazing.

"Should we start now?"

"We can practice now, make sure we've got it right." Avery squealed when he launched himself at her.

I don't own anything! Thank you all for reading! Like I said, this will be a short story so maybe three more chapters, and I won't be going into the full story of Thanos but will deal with him.