"Same drill. They've been dealing under the table, and I'm going to stop them," Tony said. "I'm going to find my weapons and destroy them."

Pepper considered this man before her. Her boss. "Tony," she said. "You know I would help you with anything," she began. And part of her honestly intended to tell him she couldn't help him with this. That she would quit if he really intended to put on that suit of his and put himself in the line of danger again. Those months he'd been in Afghanistan, status unknown, had been enough.

But the words got stuck in her throat, and really, as much as she liked her fancy dresses and nice shoes..

"So where the hell is my suit?" she asked.

Tony looked up from his work, surprised, and then he grinned. "Jarvis, pull up Pepper's measurements and the suit design. Miss Potts, would you like to join me in designing your awesome, kicking-ass suit?"

Pepper smiled back. It was a little nervous at first, but her resolve firmed and her smile grew brighter and less shaky. "Just don't make it pink," she said as she pulled up a stool to perch on at Tony's side.