"Mommy, mommy!" Dane shouted "Noooooooooo!" he screamed.
He saw his mother fall onto the floor harshly, head first. Dane started to run toward her but was caught mid-stride by two red and gold metallic arms.
"No! Let me go! I have to go help her! Put me on the floor right now!" Dane yelled at the man in the suit who was now holding him.
"You can't Dane, it is too late" the robotic voice told him.
"No, it is not too late! We have to save her!" Dane shouted as he was swiftly carried away from her "You are a hero! You are Iron Man! You are here to save people not to let them die!" He said as he looked back at the body of his mother. He suddenly saw a tall black man walking towards her body and Dane became even more scared "Tony please! We have to go to her now!" he shouted at Iron Man's helmet.
"I'm sorry Dane, we can't go back. She is dead already! I have to save you now!" Tony's voice said sadly as they continued to quickly move away from the body of his mother.
"Noooooooo! I hate you! I hate Iron Man!" Dane shouted still struggling within Iron Man's arms.
Suddenly, Dane opened his eyes to a darkened room. He sat up quickly and realized that he was in a huge bed, completely covered in his own sweat. He took few deep breaths trying to calm himself when he realized that there was someone snoring next to him in bed. As his eyes quickly grew used to the dark, he recognized his grandmother sound asleep in bed with him, but he was still confused as to exactly what bed he was in. After a few seconds of concentration, he remembered the events of last night: the flight on Tony's jet to California, the ride in Tony's limo, and then nothing. His bad dream still haunted him and he really wanted and needed to see his mom right now. He gently removed the covers from the top of him and carefully stood up on his bare feet, wondering just where his shoes had gone. He glanced around the bed not seeing them and quickly decided that he was fine without shoes as he walked slowly and quietly through the room to the door. He opened the door slowly, not wanting to wake his grandmother and carefully pulled the door closed behind him as he walked down the dimly lit hallway. When he approached a set of stairs leading down he paused and he turned his head to the right, then to the left, not really sure at all where to go now. Suddenly a voice quietly spoke to him.
"Good morning, Mister Potts" the voice greeted him softly and cheerfully.
Dane jumped up several inches, suddenly scared to death at the sound of the British voice coming from nowhere "Where are you? Who are you?" he asked with a trembling voice.
"I'm sorry, it was not my intention to startle you" Jarvis apologized swiftly "My name is Jarvis, the AI designed by Mister Stark to control the automated systems of the Stark Malibu mansion." He explained slowly.
At the mention of the name "Jarvis", Dane remembered quickly what Tony had told him when they had been at the Potts' farm, two days ago. "Ah yes, Jarvis," Dane replied, quickly calming down "I'm very happy to finally meet you," he said with a smile on his face. "Tony has told me all about you."
"Indeed, sir, but the pleasure is all mine, Mister Potts." Jarvis replied politely.
"Jarvis, I want to see my mom. Can you please help me to find her?" Dane asked the AI.
A few seconds passed in silence at Dane's request. "I'm afraid that Miss Potts is busy at the moment, Mister Potts." Jarvis explained.
Dane was surprised by Jarvis' answer and stared at the ceiling full of incredulity "I'm not sure I understand. Why is it that she can't talk to me right now?" Dane asked knowing that it was not at all like his mom to refuse to talk to him at any time of the day or night.
"I am sorry Mister Potts, but Ms. Potts is currently unavailable." Jarvis answered quietly.
"Unavailable?" Dane repeated in disbelief "In the middle of the night?"
"Regretfully so, Mister Potts." Jarvis answered with his implacable logic.
Dane shook his head and tried to pull himself together. After all Jarvis was a computer, and Dane had been creating computer programs for few months now. He was pretty sure that he could out think Jarvis if he put his mind to it, "Ok, even if she is busy, I'm sure it will be OK for her to talk to her son, just for a few minutes," Dane explained, "Please Jarvis, tell me where she is." Dane politely requested.
"I do apologize, Mister Potts, but parts of the Malibu mansion are restricted. Only Mister Stark can authorize any changes to security clearances. My security protocols are really very strict." Jarvis explained.
Dane started to scratch his head still trying to figure out a way around Jarvis' logic, "Ok, so can you please ask Mister Stark if you can grant me clearance to where my mother is?" Dane asked.
"I do apologize again, Mister Potts, but Mister Stark is also unavailable at the moment and I regret that I cannot interrupt him." Jarvis replied quietly.
Dane shook his head in disbelief at the AI's stubbornness, "Are you kidding me, Jarvis?"
"No sir. My programming would never allow me to do that, Mister Potts" Jarvis said contritely and Dane could almost hear a touch of sarcasm within Jarvis' tone now.
Now becoming slightly irritated, Dane started to walk slowly down the stairs, gripping at the hand rail tightly, "I don't care if you help me or not, Jarvis. I'll find her by myself! This house isn't that big after all!" Dane said in a challenging tone.
"That would be inadvisable, Mister Potts," Jarvis warned.
"But, you can't stop me, are you?!" Dane said as he continued to slowly walk down the stairs "And you know what, if I fall down the stairs and break an arm or a leg, you'll be the one who will have to explain to my mom why you let me go walking down the stairs all alone in the middle of the night!" Dane continued at Jarvis, a smile now appearing at the corner of his mouth anticipating getting the upper hand on the AI.
Suddenly the stairwell lights brightened, fully lighting Dane's pathway down the stairs. "You are without doubt the son of Ms. Potts. Your logic and persuasive techniques are flawless, young Master." Jarvis admitted.
Dane suddenly stopped his descent and his feet froze onto the steps at Jarvis' new name for him. "What did you just call me?" he asked in disbelief.
"Young master." Jarvis stated simply after a few seconds of hesitation.
"Why did you call me that? I am not your master." Dane asked now curious about Jarvis' choice of words.
Jarvis took a little bit more time than usual to answer the question "I'm sorry, Mister Potts, my wording of your title was obviously incorrect,"
Dane stared up at the security camera mounted in the ceiling above the stairwell "Jarvis?"
"Yes, Mister Potts?" the AI answered obediently.
"What are you not telling me?" Dane asked pointedly.
"I can only respond to your questions and concerns as I am allowed to, based upon my programming, Mister Potts. I am incapable of telling a lie." The AI explained.
"Is that true?" Dane asked in surprised "I'm mean, do you always have to tell me the truth when I ask you a question?"
"Yes, except when my security protocols don't allow me to answer you," Jarvis explained patiently.
"Interesting," Dane whispered as he was already figuring out a way to take advantage of Jarvis' inability to tell him a lie. He resumed his walk down the stairs, and as he reached the ground floor he turned towards another security camera. "Jarvis?"
"Yes, Mister Potts?" The AI answered immediately.
"Is my mom is with Mister Stark right now?" Dane asked.
"Yes, she is," Jarvis answered quickly.
A huge smile started to grow on Dane face. "Jarvis, Can you please just tell me where Mister Stark's workshop is located?" Dane asked knowing logically that just he knowing where the workshop was would not directly violate Jarvis' security protocols.
"Yes, Mister Potts, however you will not be allowed access to the workshop without Mr. Stark's authorization," Jarvis explained.
"That's OK, Jarvis, I'll discuss access with Mr. Stark, I just want you to tell me where the workshop is." Dane said still smiling. He knew from his previous conversations with Tony that the only place where Tony was sure to be found in the middle of the night was probably his workshop. And so, by deduction, if his mom was with him, he would found her there with him in the workshop.
"If you will kindly follow my directions, Mr. Potts," the AI started.
Dane followed Jarvis' instruction with a sudden happiness. He was now really quite pleased with himself because he was now sure that he had won the logic battle with the AI. As he was walking slowly through the house, a worried thought began to fill his mind. What was his mom doing with Tony in the middle of the night? Had something bad happened while he was asleep? One confused thought led to another as he continued to follow Jarvis' directions to Tony's workshop. Why did his mom want to be with Tony anyway? Wasn't she supposed to hate him? And the big question remained as just why his mom, grandmother, and he had even come here in the first place?
Dane stopped as he reached another staircase leading to the lower floor. "Jarvis?" he asked suddenly realizing that Jarvis would be able to actually answer some of his questions.
"Yes, Mister Potts?" Jarvis answered.
"Do you know why my mom hates Mister Stark?" Dane asked simply.
"Given the circumstances surrounding your mother's departure from the Malibu mansion five years ago, I can readily understand her feelings of hatred towards Mr. Stark, Mister Potts." Jarvis replied quietly.
"Can you tell me what happen 5 years ago between them?" Dane asked equally quietly.
"Nothing in my programming or protocols expressly forbids me to answer your question. However, I am not at all confident that I should be the one to answer these types of questions for you, Mr. Potts." Jarvis explained patiently.
Dane thought about Jarvis' words for a few seconds and then said "I suppose that nobody else will ever tell me since every time I ask questions like this, everyone either ignores me or just changes the subject. So, go ahead Jarvis, please answer my question."
"As you wish, young Master…"
During this time, in the workshop,
Pepper and Tony were still wrapped up in each other's arms, both silently clinging to one another.
"I've missed you so much." She whispered into his neck.
She felt him tense at her words and then he suddenly he started to tremble again in her arms. He pulled her even closer to him as his tears began to fall again onto her shoulder. She pulled him more tightly into her body as she continued to rub his back soothingly.
"Oh Pepper, I missed you too. God, I missed you so much!" Tony said with a trembling voice full of tears, as he continued hugging her hard.
Pepper just started to realize as much as it had been hard for him too and as much miserable he was. She pulled a little away from him in order to see his face clearly, her blue eyes locked with his dark chocolate ones. His face was covered of tears.
"Oh Tony…" She said caressing his cheek, "I'm so sorry," she said, her voice now full of emotion.
"Sorry for what?" He asked in disbelief, quickly trying to blink his tears away.
"I should have called you," she said softly, "I should have known better than to…." she swallowed hard and ducked her head to stare at her feet, suddenly not wanting to continue.
Tony put his index finger under her chin, tilting her head up gently in order to make her look at him once again "Pep, what are you talking about?"
"Sir, you have to know that…" Jarvis suddenly interrupted the couple.
"Jarvis, what the hell!" Tony exclaimed turning to look up at the ceiling, as Pepper took advantage of the sudden distraction to take one step back from him effectively breaking the hold that they had on one other.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you, sir, but it is quite important for you to know that the young…" Jarvis started.
Tony quickly cut him short "Jarvis, MUTE!" he yelled as he turned back to find Pepper swiftly walking away from him towards the elevator. He quickly walked over to follow Pepper. "Pepper, where are you going?" he asked.
"I'm going back to my room, Tony…" she said with a trembling voice.
As Tony reached her, he gently tugged on her right arm, making her turned slowly back toward him. He immediately saw that her cheeks were now covered with tears.
"You're not going anywhere," Tony said as he slowly wiped the tears from her face with his fingertips, "I'm never going to let you go away from me ever again." And with that he suddenly pulled her into his arms and crashed his lips upon hers.
Pepper's heart felt like it was going to jump out of her chest at the sudden contact of his lips with hers. For the first few seconds, her body felt as if it was paralyzed with the strong emotions his lips had loosed within her. As the kiss continued, she slowly started to recover feeling in her body and she moved her arms to encircle his waist, tenderly gliding her arms up his strong back with her hands finally coming to rest on the back of his neck as she pulled him even closer to her to increase the kiss.
His mouth shifted on hers as he moved his lips to gently suck on her lower lip, knowing just how much she enjoyed him kissing her like that. He had made up his mind that this kiss was going to be the best one that Pepper had ever had in her life. It was a kiss born of desperation, but fueled by passion and love. This was the most important kiss in his life and he was hell bent to make sure that no matter what happened between them in the future, this kiss would be one to be remembered for the rest of their lives. He was thrilled when he first felt her hands on his back and silently rejoiced as he felt them move up to rest at the back of his neck. He immediately deepened the kiss using his tongue to gently beg permission from her to enter her mouth. To his absolute delight, her mouth slowly began to open and he wasted no time in plunging his tongue into her mouth, seeking out her own tongue. He could now taste the mint from her toothpaste, the subtle taste of chocolate no doubt from last night's brownies, and of course, the unique taste that he knew as Pepper herself. A taste that he had missed so much for the last five years and that he was not ready to leave for now.
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