𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐑 and a half of waiting, Tony finally arrived. His car slid to a stop as Happy pulled up close behind coming in second place as it seemed they were racing. Tony laughed as he got out of the car. "You're good. I thought I lost you back there."

"You did, sir," Happy agreed as he grabbed Tony's things from the trunk. "I had to cut across Mulholland."

"I thought we agreed you wouldn't be late," Julie scolded her younger brother as he approached.

Tony shook his head. "No, you said don't be 'fashionably' late."

Rhodey crossed his arms as he stood at the entrance of the jet. "What's wrong with you?"

Tony played the innocent. "What?"

"Three hours."

"I got caught doing a piece for Vanity Fair," Tony explained nonchalantly.

"For three hours," Rhodey remained skeptical, "For three hours you got me standing here."

"Waiting on you now. Let's go," Tony said as he forced his way past Rhodey onto the jet. "Come on. Wheels up! Rock and roll!"

"The prodigal son finally arrives," Hollyn said, holding an ice pack to her head whilst wearing a large pair of shades as she tried to recline further back in her seat. Julie walked past, snatching the ice pack on her way by.

"Hey!" Hollyn exclaimed, but immediately winced and then whined, "I was using that."

"It's not going to help," Julie explained as she set down a cup of water and some aspirin on the table. "Sip on this."

"What happened to the cappuccino I ordered?" Hollyn asked as she wrinkled her nose while looking into the cup of water.

"Drink the water," Julie instructed before turning her attention to her phone which had started to ring. She walked toward the back of the plane to take the call. "Hey, John..."

From her seat, Lydia looked over at Alex amused. "You're looking a little pale there, Potts."

"I'm fine..." Alex mumbled, which didn't instill confidence in anyone.

"You do realize that we haven't left yet?" she asked.

"Leave the poor guy alone, Lydie," Ephraim instructed as he took a seat across from her. "He's got enough on his plate to stress about without worrying that one of the engines is going to catch on fire."

Alex closed his eyes. "Stane... I hate you."

"You hate everyone," Hollyn noted, only to put her head back down on the table as Julie rejoined the group.

Once everyone was situated, the plane lifted up from the runway. Only a few fluffy white clouds blocked out the clear blue sky. Most of the passengers had kept to themselves, staring out the window or handling business, but Tony only allowed the ensuing silence to go on for ten minutes before trying to create a conversation. He tried to look across the table at the article that Rhodey was reading, but the lieutenant colonel quickly pulled it away as if trying to ignore him. Less than five minutes later, drinks were ordered for the table despite Rhodey's obvious disapproval. His restraint was never very strong when it came to Tony though, forcing Julie to shake her head as she watched the colonel finally give in and accept the alcoholic drink.

"So much for professionalism," she muttered under her breath.

"I think you should loosen up." Hollyn nudged her sister and slid a glass across the table.

"When did you have time to order this?" Julie raised an eyebrow, incredulous.

"When your back was turned." Hollyn shrugged and motioned for the other three to join them.

Alex shook his head to decline the offer, but Ephraim and Lydia had no reservations. It didn't take long for the effects of the alcohol to build up. Hollyn cheered as Tony pressed a few buttons on the control panel attached to the wall and the party officially started. The lights dimmed, but we're quickly replaced by more colorful ones as a group of flight attendants joined Tony in dancing.

As things settled down, Tony and Rhodey placed themself on the back couch to continue watching the flight attendants while the others scattered themselves around various other locations of the plane.

Ephraim took a seat beside Alex and gestured toward the flight attendants. "Didn't feel like dancing?"

"I—" Alex shook his head and seemed to grow nervous, "I'm working."

"I mean so's Tony." Ephraim chuckled gently.

"You weren't exactly dancing either," Alex noted defensively.

"Not my type," Ephraim admitted with a shrug. "Plus, I'm happily in a relationship while you on the other hand..."

Alex fervently shook his head. "I just don't believe in encouraging Stark's behavior, especially not while I'm working."

As Lydia walked by, she smacked her brother upside the head. He frowned and rubbed the sore spot while calling after her, "What was that for?!"

"Can't hear you, Remy," Lydia sang as she ignored him and danced over to where Julie and Hollyn were sitting. She slid into the seat beside Hollyn and laughed, "You should convince me to get out of the lab more often, Hols."

"That's what I've been saying," Hollyn laughed in agreement. "Now I've just got to get Jules here to loosen up."

"I'm more concerned with keeping you out of trouble," Julie retorted.

"You used to be so much fun," Hollyn joked, "What happened?"

"I had twins," Julie rolled her eyes and laughed, "on top of the two kids I was taking care of before."

"I can take care of myself." Hollyn waved her comment away. "So what did Johnny want earlier?"

"John," Julie corrected her. "He was upset that I didn't ask him to watch the kids."

"And?" Lydia leaned in closer, sensing the drama.

"And I told him if it mattered that much to figure out something with Pepper," Julie retorted, "The plane was getting ready to take off, I really didn't have time to deal with—"

"You need another drink," Hollyn interrupted, refilling her glass.

"One is enough," Julie said, but accepted the drink. Truth be told, she didn't have enough time to herself.

Hollyn refilled her own drink as well as Lydia's and then proposed a toast. "To freedom!"

Julie laughed and clinked her glass against the other two. Even though they had left later that she would have liked, Julie knew that Tony's presentation should pretty much go off without a hitch. Even if he did make a mistake, he had a way of turning it around if he talked long enough. She leaned back against her seat and simply enjoyed the moment of peace.