"Nope. Nada. No. "

"I'm fine now Dad"

"Are you? You don't look so."

"Just because I will be in a wheelchair for a couple of days doesn't mean I'm on my deathbed. "

"Please don't say that, baby girl."

That's how the past two weeks have gone by. Me , healing from the gun wound, Dad healing from almost getting fried, and both us Starks being grilled by Pepper on how to take on the conference we were having today.

Now, my Daddy dearest is adamant that I should not go outside to face the hoard of 'vicious' reporters who would claw at whatever they could put their hands on to. Now, most of the times it was true, but I think that me , already being in a wheelchair, might melt their cold black hearts and they might just cut me some slack.

Also, that not going out to face them would label me as a coward, one thing I don't ever want to be. So, if only to please my hubris, I am going.

Right now we were sitting in a green room, Pepper applying concealer to hide the bruises on Dad's face. A special gift to him from the fight. I didn't have any visible injuries , ignoring my bottom in a wheelchair, so I was fine.

"Iron man, it's kinda catchy. Its got a nice ring to that." I said, as I read the headlines of the newspaper Dad was holding.

"Technically it isn't Iron, it's a gold - titanium alloy." He yelped a bit as Pepper slowly ripped off the tape from his nose.

"Here's your alibi. You were on your yacht –" I turned Coulson out as I turned to Happy.

"Do you think the people will believe the alibi? I mean, it's a pretty strong one. "

He just shrugged as he continued to read another newspaper .

"Ms. Stark we have been doing this for a long time, rest assured. " Coulson clipped as he gave me one warm smile and went out. And I followed him out.

"Think you can go so easily , huh?" I said as I wheeled myself out.

"Damn, with the amount of arm workout, I might just develop some serious muscles in here. " I said, as I stretched my arms, which were starting to get sore.

"I have a lot of work to do, cover up all the mess you and your Dad have created. " He said, with a small smile on his face.

"Well, don't you believe for one second you can leave without giving me a hug. Agents do hug, don't they?" I teased him a bit as he too chuckled. Leaning down he hugged me slowly, careful not to hurt my injuries, then stood up.

"Take care of yourself kiddo." He said as he turned away to walk down to his car.

"I will, if you will too!" I called out, and as I heard his chuckle I walked inside the compound where dad was starting his speech.

"Uh, been a while since I was in front of you, so I'll just stick to the cards then." There were some polite laughs , and he clears his throat.

"There's been some speculations that I was involved in the events that occurred in the freeway and the rooftop –" he was rudely cut off by the one and only, Christine Everhart. How much I hate her.

"I'm sorry Mr.Stark, but you honestly expect us to believe, that that was a bodygaurd in a suit. That conveniently appeared despite the fact that –" she was cut off by my dad, who – judging by his uninterested face – was also irritated by the fact that she interrupted his important speech .

"I know that it's a little confusing. It is one thing , to question the official story and another thing entirely about wild accusations and insinuations that I'm a superhero."

"I never said you were a superhero." She pointed out with a smug smirk , which I wanted to just punch out from her face.

"Didn't? Well, thats good because it will be outlandish and uh, fantastic." He hesitated a bit , clearly thinking through what he was about to say, something which I already had an inkling as to what it could be.

"Thing is, I'm just not the superhero type, clearly. With this um, laundry list of character defects, all the mistakes I have made, largely public." Then uncle Rhodey said something to him, at which he turned to my direction and gave a slight wink.

Knowing already what he was about to do, I just smirked as I got my phone out, ready to capture this epic moment.

"The truth is. . . . . . I am Iron Man."

Boom. Drop the mic. It's a metaphor, because you know, there isn't an actual mic.

We are family.