so hold me close (and I'll surrender to your heart)

1. Avengers Assemble, Part 1

One of the perks of the Iron Man suits is that I can breathe underwater, which is really helpful considering that I'm putting a mini-arc reactor on the pipeline leading towards Stark Tower. Being the only big name in green energy was awesome. Less guilt-ridden that selling weapons (not that I would ever truly admit it). As soon as I connect the reactor to the pipe, it wraps around the pipe and lights up.

I fly out of the Atlantic and head back to Stark Tower. "You're good on this end," I say into the comm, "the rest is up to you."

"You disconnected the transition lines? Are we off the grid?"

I roll my eyes at Pepper's questions. Hello, genius here! Pepper's face appears of the screen inside the helmet. "Stark Tower is about to become a beacon of self-sustaining clean energy," I say in answer.

"Wow." I roll my eyes again. Really, after all these years, she's still surprised by my amazing skills? "So maybe our arc reactor takes over and it actually works?"

Oh, I know it'll work. "I assume." I around the corner of the building, Stark Tower dim and lifeless. "Light her up."

A few seconds later, Stark Tower lit up like the giant Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center. It was a sight to see. There, Dad, I think, your "greatest creation" did you proud, eh? "How does it look?" Pepper asks, and I can hear a glimmer of awe in her voice.

"Like Christmas, but with more... me," I say, my voice filled with false ego.

Pepper's muffled laugh can be still be heard through the comm. "Gotta go wider on the public awareness campaign. You need to do some press. I can do some more tomorrow. I'm working on the zoning for the next billboards," she says, babbling in her business-like way.

I sigh. "Pepper, you're killing me. Remember? Enjoy the moment."

"Get in here and enjoy the moment with me, then," Pepper ordered. I giggled, knowing Pepper would know I was thinking a dirty thought when I finally landed, activating a cloaking shield around the pad so I can take off my armor without revealing who actually wore the armor. Robot arms (Dummy's children, who I had the great pleasure in naming the Dumlettes) appear from the ground, JARVIS guiding them as they grab onto different parts of the armor and peeling it away from my body.

"Ma'am, Agent Coulson is on the line," JARVIS informed me, sounding tentative.

"Tell him I'm busy and call back later for tea time," I say as I walk down the aisle.

"Ma'am, I'm afraid he's insisting."

"Grow a spine, JARVIS. I got more important business to attend to." I finally cross the threshold, Pepper's back to me as she stares at the monitor. I glance at it quickly to check that the numbers are good before walking over to the small table to grab some champagne. After filling up two glasses, I walked back over to Pepper, holding one out for her.

Pep took the glass, turning back to the monitors. "Levels are holding steady... I think."

I can't help it; I roll my eyes. "Of course they are, I was directly involved. Which brings me to my next question: how does it feel to be a genius?" I ask, taking a sip.

"Well, I really wouldn't know, would I?" she responds, not looking away from the monitors.

"What do you mean? This," gesturing to the Tower, "came from you."

That got Pepper to turn around. "No, all this came from that," she said with emphasis, pointing to the reactor resting comfortably between my breasts.

"Give yourself some credit, please. Stark Tower is your baby. Give yourself... twelve percent of the credit," I teased.

Pepper looked at me indignantly. "Twelve percent?"