A/N: Huge thanks to Browarod, who has read every word multiple times in the process of helping me proofread and critique this story, to say nothing of the verbal debates we have occasionally had as a result. 3

Many, many thanks also to those who have commented along the way! Seeing the story through your eyes in your comments has improved it considerably.

It's been a pleasure to share this thrilling and exhausting experience with you. Thank you for coming along for the ride.

"I have something I want to ask you and it might sound crazy, so I want you to promise that you'll think about it before you answer."

Pepper immediately looked wary. She glanced around the busy restaurant as if checking for paparazzi, then leaned toward him and hissed, "You'd better not be proposing to me right now."

"What?" Tony asked in genuine confusion, mentally reviewing what he'd said and realizing how she'd drawn that conclusion. "No, no, this is company-related," he assured her quickly.

She didn't seem convinced. "Go on."

"You know I'm streamlining my properties, shedding the stuff I don't use for anything."

"Which I don't entirely understand, when you can be getting rents that more than cover your costs."

He waved that away. "I'm simplifying. It's not like I don't have gobs of money already. So, there's this property I think SI might be interested in. More specifically, I think the CEO would benefit from relocating there. Great location. No earthquakes, a better time zone for meetings with European stakeholders, a helipad for easy commuting-"

"Tony," Pepper interrupted. "You're rambling. Spit it out."

He blinked, then obliged. "SI should buy the tower from me."

Pepper carefully set down the glass of wine she'd been about to sip from. "You're selling the New York tower and you want the company to buy it."

"Yes," he said simply. "The Avengers have the compound, so I don't need it anymore. It would be great as the company headquarters. It's a nice proof of concept for the energy side of the business."

"Until the next time aliens invade and destroy Manhattan," she said sarcastically, picking up her wine glass again. "Do you seriously want me to literally live at work? Because that's what it's sounding like."

"I mean, you could stay there if you needed to, but I was kind of hoping you'd bunk with me again."

"Don't tell me you're going to be living at the compound right after you've been talking about taking a step back from the team."

"Of course not. I'm going to live in the old family mansion. After I remodel it to my satisfaction. Haven't I told you about the mansion?"

"You haven't talked about it for a long time. I thought you sold it years ago."

"Nope, it's been quietly decaying under my neglectful care," he said cheerfully, watching their waiter approach with a tray. "Just think about it. I know you don't like to talk shop while you eat, and here's our food."

"I think you're letting having your money back go to your head," she teased fondly.

That may have been partially true; the euphoria of the afternoon call from Bill that his assets were back under his control hadn't fully worn off. He'd immediately contacted Hill to have her put right the Avengers' financial situation, starting with the paychecks, and he was busily plotting at least six projects to do now that he had money again.

One of them was to transfer a good portion of the proceeds of his real estate sales into an account to make sure the Avengers' funding stream wasn't put in jeopardy like that again. Another was remodeling the compound like he'd threatened, after which he'd donate it to the Avengers organization officially, assuming the nonprofit status was official and his accountants could do their tax deduction magic (he may be generous, but he wasn't stupid). And, of course, remodeling the mansion, after which he'd pursue rebuilding in Malibu. Then there was the kids' college fund, and the foundation to help with medical needs for the earthquake victims, to say nothing of the resources it would take to make the nanosuit that was only a half-formed idea but he knew he could get it to work.

He watched Pepper as she was distracted by the food placed before her, as she smiled at the waiter and thanked him politely, as she turned back to him and flushed when she noticed his gaze. He chose not to comment on her discomfiture, instead waiting until the waiter departed before asking slyly, "Why were you so bothered by the idea that I might be proposing? Does that mean you'd say no?"

She flushed a deeper red and took a hasty sip of wine. "I would have to think about it," she said evasively. "And I'd like to not be blindsided with it in front of complete strangers."

"So maybe you'd prefer a secret engagement, or even eloping," he said, nodding as he picked up his fork to prod at his meal, trying to remember what he'd ordered. "We could make that happen anytime, you know," he added just before taking a bite.

Pepper was becoming downright flustered, which was fascinating as it was so rare. "Why are you making a big deal out of this?" she demanded. "You asked me to have dinner, a little celebration for the things that went well today, and now you're pestering me about marriage? We've been back together for less than a month!" She punctuated her statement with a jab at a grape tomato in her salad, which promptly shot off the table and rolled away in the direction of an older couple who fortunately didn't notice. If she could have turned any redder, she would have.

Tony reached over and gently placed a hand on her arm. "I'm sorry," he said seriously. "I only wondered because you brought it up."

She huffed a sigh and took a long drink of water. "I know. I had to deal with a lot of reporters hounding me while you were incommunicado in Mexico, and now you're here and they're all speculating we're not only together but we're married or having a love child or some nonsense. It's annoying in the extreme."

"Believe me, I know. But I would've thought you'd be used to them by now, having been around me all these years."

"I haven't always been the focus of their attention."

"Oh, yes you have. You just weren't always aware of it."

Pepper wrinkled her nose as she chewed. "Paparazzi are the worst," she declared.

"All the more reason to move to New York with me. I've gotten pretty good at keeping them away."

"What about my condo?"

"I'm pretty sure you can rent it out," he replied with a wink.

She laughed and changed the subject, and they spent the rest of dinner debating his remodeling plans. They returned to his penthouse afterward and spent a while in the hot tub.

Pepper inquired idly about what he was doing with the nanotech team, and he told her in broad strokes as he massaged her neck and shoulders, then turned the conversation to what she had going on the next day. Upon discovering her first meeting of the day had been cancelled and the next wasn't until eleven, he not so subtly hinted that she should tell her PA she'd be in late and she asked curiously, "Are you propositioning me?"

He paused a moment. "I just thought you could use more sleep, but if you'd like that added to the evening's agenda, it can be arranged," he said, kissing the spot on her neck that made her shiver.

She sighed languidly. "I need a shower first."

"The hot tub isn't good enough for you?"

"Not for cleaning," she retorted. "Unless you want soap suds all over your hot tub."

Which he didn't, so he gallantly helped her out of the tub and escorted her to the shower, where she had him join her.

Tony woke up from a nightmare, as he had every night since the bad one in Mexico. It was early enough that Pepper wasn't awake yet and wouldn't be for at least a half hour, but late enough that trying to go back to sleep was only going to make him more groggy when the alarm went off.

It was also late enough that everyone should be awake back at the compound, so he carefully slid out of bed and padded into the living room. Mel had left him a message the previous day, and he'd wanted to ask her about a couple of things anyway. He slouched into the couch and jabbed at his phone.

"Mel's phone, this is Sara."

His train of thought was halted abruptly by the unexpected voice. "Um, hi," he said awkwardly. "Is . . . everything all right?"

"Oh, yes, Mr. Stark," she assured him.

"Then why are you speaking so quietly?"

"Mel is still sleeping, and it would be better if she stayed that way. She's been too busy lately."

He glanced toward the bedroom, understanding all too well, then realized the implications of her statement. "Wait, are you in her room?"

There was a long silence, then Sara cleared her throat and answered, "Yes, Mr. Stark."

That she didn't try to qualify her statement told him a lot, and he raised his eyebrows. "Well, that's nice for both of you," he said carefully. "Do me a favor?"

"Of course, Mr. Stark."

"First, call me Tony. Second, tell Mel she can call me back whenever it's convenient. No hurry."

"I will pass on your message, Tony," she said, hesitating on his name.

"Thanks." He hung up and shook his head with a chuckle, then made another call.

"Bored already?" Rhodey teased.

"I can't want to bother you?"

"So you want something, then."

"All I wanted was to hear your sexy voice," Tony retorted with a laugh. "But seriously, fill me in on how everything is going. And no, I haven't read your emails."

"Did you at least see the message from the chairwoman about the meeting next week?" Rhodey asked with exasperation.

"I did. You and Steve have seen the new language?"

Rhodey hesitated just long enough for Tony to notice. "Yesterday. And I have to tell you, I think they've got it."

He sat up straighter. "Seriously? The definition revisions finally work?"

"I think they do, but you know how legalese makes my brain hurt. We sent it to your lawyers yesterday for a second opinion, but the U.N. legal liaison has already approved."

The real test, however . . . "What does Steve think?"

"He thinks their suggestions make sense. As usual he won't guarantee anything, but he says he can support it if nothing else changes."

"Holy shit," he murmured. "That's-that's huge."

"Yeah. You know what else is huge?"

"My ego?" he joked absently, not quite ready to believe they were so close to fixing the Accords.

Rhodey ignored him. "The very first thing Rogers did when he got back was apologize to me for his part in my injury."

The surprises just kept coming. "Huh," he said eloquently.

"Yeah. And he's been acting less uptight and now apparently he's Steve to you instead of Rogers, so I'm wondering what the hell happened out there."

"Well, we saw some gritty stuff and then Doc T supervised while we got a few things off our chests."

"Were you satisfied with what he said? Because I'm not sure what to think about this change of heart."

"I think he thinks he means it," he said slowly. He'd been mulling over the conversation a lot in the intervening days. "There were some things he shouldn't have said, but he apologized and that's enough for me to be willing to work with him to see if he actually walks the walk now that he's talking the talk. And if what's coming is as big as I think it will be, we're going to need all hands on deck."

"So you think he should stay on the team."

"They're all on probation, but yeah. If you have a different opinion, though, you're the boss."

"For how much longer?" Rhodey asked bluntly.

"As long as you want it."

Then there were additional voices in the background, and as they came closer he could tell it was the kids. Tony could hear Rhodey talking to them, then Rhodey spoke to him again. "Lila wants to know if she can talk to you for a minute."

"Sure, put her on," he said, grinning.

"Uncle Tony, when will you come back?" Lila asked plaintively.

"I don't know, little bit," he said. "It will be at least another week."

"And then will you read to me? You promised." She was pleading but not whining, and he felt guilty for disappointing her.

"I did promise, and I don't break my word. We'll read as long as you like and as long as I have a voice when I come back, okay?"

There was a moment's pause, and it sounded like she was sighing. "Okay, Uncle Tony," she said reluctantly.

After some rustling, Rhodey was back. "She's got you wrapped around her little finger."

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Tony said defensively.

"Nah, I think it's cute. I never thought I'd see you do so well around kids."

"I can deal with them in small doses. And I might as well humor her while I'm still living at the compound."

Rhodey was silent for a moment. "When will that change?" he asked cautiously.

"When the mansion renovations are done."

"So when you said I'm in charge as long as I want to be, you meant it."

"Don't I usually mean what I say? On second thought, don't answer that. But yes, I meant it."

"We'll have to talk in person about what that looks like. I'm not interested in supervising the administrative nonsense you've got Hill doing."

"We can hash out whatever you want."

"Uh-huh. Is there anything else you've got going on that I should know about? Like, speaking as the guy in charge of the Avengers, will Iron Man be in play?"

"I'm not giving up the suit," he said immediately. "But I'm shaving it back a bit. Alien invasions, potentially world-ending events, that sort of thing, I'm definitely still on board. And I'll keep improving the team's tech, that won't change."

"I'll believe it when I see it," Rhodey said dryly. "You've said similar things about stepping back before."

"That was before . . . all that crap. Things are different now. My priorities have shifted somewhat."

"Of course they have."

Tony could hear in his voice that Rhodey was just humoring him. "You'll see."

"Sure. So what have you been doing, if you're not reading my messages?"

"Oh, you know. I've spent time with Pepper, talked a lot with the doc. I saw Dr. Mann on Tuesday and got a clean bill of health. I had to meet with the board yesterday which was annoying but I was messaging with Happy so it wasn't as bad as it could've been. I've improved my repulsor bot design, and I'm starting designs for a nanosuit."

Rhodey was very interested in the nanosuit idea and he eagerly explained in more detail than he had for Pepper, who wandered out of the bedroom and quietly laughed at him as she headed to the kitchen. He watched her go, very interested in the fact that she seemed to be wearing a t-shirt and nothing else.

"It's always good to see you busy," Rhodey was saying when Tony dragged his attention back to the conversation. "I think I know the answer, but I want to hear it from you: with everything that's gone on, are you all right?"

He thought about the long conversations with Dr. Tanya and the nightmares and the lingering feeling of foreboding they left him with, weighed against Pepper and the team and the kids and the things he wanted to do and make, and there was only one answer he could give. "Not yet, but I will be."