It's been two years since Tony told Grace about her mother. Since then, she's only asked about her once — she wanted to know what her name was. Tony said it wasn't important. (He does remember it, but, really, it's not. Knowing it would just make her think about her more.)

She's also grown a foot — at least — and convinced Tony to let her have bangs. Just like Pepper's, though she never explicitly said that. It makes them look alike enough that he can almost pretend that Pepper's her biological mom when he sees them together. In every other way, she already is.

Grace's art "phase" didn't go away, either, and she's gotten pretty good at painting. She's entered her reading phase, too, though Tony suspects that won't go away either.

It's been two, great years of chocolate chip pancakes, Disney movies, periodic excursions outside, and self defense lessons. And that's just with Grace. His relationship with Pepper is thriving.

The company is, too. He's developed Stark Energy Reactors, and the tower he's built in New York is now being powered by it — clean energy. In his Iron Man suit, with Pepper's help, he's just turned it on.

He comes back to Stark Tower and, as he takes off the suit, Jarvis informs him that Agent Coulson is calling him. He tells him to ignore it; he's got a date with Pepper.

They drink champagne, talking in their usual banter-y way. Grace is upstairs, decorating her new room. Stark Tower is now her, Pepper, and Tony's second home.

The date doesn't last long. Coulson overrides Jarvis' protocols. His voice rings throughout the room as his face appears on Tony's phone. "Stark, we need to talk."

Tony picks up the phone, looking at him. In an attempt to impersonate an automated voice, he says, "You have reached the life model decoy of Tony Stark; please leave a message." Pepper laughs.

"This is urgent," Coulson replies.

"Then leave it urgently." At that moment, the elevator doors behind Pepper open, and Coulson steps out. Tony says, "Security breach," then looks at Pepper. "That's on you."

"Mr. Stark," Coulson says.

Pepper smiles, getting up to greet him. "Phil, come in."

"Phil?" Tony asks. "Uh, his first name is Agent."

Pepper ignores him. "Grace is upstairs, if you want me to call her down. I'm sure she'd love to see you-"

"I'm sorry to say, but I can't stay-"

"Oh, look at him, he's rhyming," Tony interrupts.

Coulson continues, holding out a file to him. "We need you to look this over. ASAP."

Tony shakes his head a little. "I don't like to be handed things-"

"That's fine," Pepper says, "'cause I love to be handed things. So, let's trade." She hands Couldon the champagne glass she's holding and takes the file, then takes Tony's champagne glass and hands him the file. She takes a drink out of Tony's glass. "Thank you."

"Official consulting hours are between eight and five every other Thursday," Tony says to Coulson.

He replies, "This isn't a consultation."

Pepper perks up. "Is this about the Avengers?" Coulson gives her a look. "Which... I know nothing about."

Tony snorts, walking away. "The Avengers Initiative was scrapped, I thought — and I didn't even qualify."

"I didn't know that either," Pepper adds.

"Yeah, apparently I'm volatile, self-obsessed, and don't play well with others."

"That I did know."

"This isn't about personality profiles anymore," Coulson says as Tony begins accessing a nearby computer.

"Whatever," Tony replies. "Miss Potts, got a sec?" Pepper excuses herself and walks over to Tony, who says, "You know, I thought we were having a moment."

"I was having twelve percent of a moment," Pepper replies. "This seems serious, Phil's pretty shaken."

Tony stops typing. "How did you notice?" He looks over at her. "Why is he Phil?"

She ignores his questions. "What is all this?"

"This is, uh..." He puts his hands on the computer, which the file has been copied to, and spreads them, blowing the pictures up to be projected in the air in front of them. "This."

There's Captain America, the Hulk, videos of them and a few others fighting. Pepper turns more serious. "I'm taking Grace back home tonight. I'll leave with Happy and head to D.C."

"That sounds like a good idea."

Pepper kisses him. "Word hard. I'll call you when we get there."

As she leaves, asking Coulson for a ride to the jet, Tony grabs the projection of glowing, blue cube. According to the file, it's called the Tessaract.

~~~~

Two Shield agents — including Clint Barton — have been mind-controlled by Loki, who's taken the Tessaract. He just forced a crowd to kneel to him, and Captain America and Agent Romanoff are still fighting him. Meanwhile, Tony's been studying the file.

He's finished.

~~~~

Natasha is flying a Quinjet, looking for Loki. Suddenly, an AC/DC songs comes over the speakers. Then, in her headphones: "Agent Romanoff, did you miss me?" The PA system has been overridden.

She sighs. Deeply.

On the ground, Captain America and Loki look up as Tony gets closer to them, fully armored. Before he lands, he blasts Loki with all three blasters, knocking him backwards. He points his blaster and a missile at him, looking at his ridiculous helmet. "Make your move, Reindeer Games." Captain America walks up and stands next to Tony, brandishing his shield.

Loki's helmet and armor disappear, so Tony puts away his missile and lowers his hand. "Good move."

Captain America looks at him. "Mr. Stark."

"Captain."

Natasha lands the Quinjet behind them, and they grab Loki and drag him onto it, handcuffing him. Natasha takes off again, and the head back to the Shield Helicarrier. It's storming. Natasha is talking to Fury through her headset.

"Said anything?" Fury asks.

"Not a word," she replies.

"Just get him here. We're low on time."

Meanwhile, Tony and Cap are in the back of the jet, whispering to each other. "I don't like it," Cap says.

"What?" Tony asks. "Rock of Ages giving up so easily?"

Cap shakes his head. "I don't remember it ever being that easy. This guy packs a wallop."

Tony shrugs. "Still, you are pretty spry, for an older fellow. What's your thing? Pilates?"

Cap's brows furrow. "What?"

"It's like calisthenics," Tony continues. "You might have missed a couple things, you know, doing time as a Capsicle."

Cap bristles a little. "Fury didn't tell me he was calling you in."

"Yeah, there's a lot of things Fury doesn't tell you."

Lightning cracks and thunder rolls, cutting their conversation short. The Quinjet shakes, as it was so close. "Where's this coming from?" Natasha asks.

Loki looks out the window. Cap raises a brow. "What's the matter? Scared of a little lightning?"

Loki rolls his eyes. "I'm not overly fond of what follows."

Almost as if on cue, outside the jet, there's a light — so bright, it's blinding. Suddenly, a man, almost a blur, tears into the Quinjet through the ramp, grabs Loki, and pulls him out.

Tony puts his helmet on. "Now, there's that guy."

"Another Asgardian?" Natasha asks.

"Think the guy's a friendly?" Steve says.

"Doesn't matter," Tony replies. "If he frees Loki or kills him, the Tesseract's lost." He moves to jump out of the back of the ship.

"Stark, we need a plan of attack!" Cap shouts.

Tony looks back at him. "I have a plan. Attack." He jumps.

And, reluctantly, Cap follows.