Life's True Purpose
Chapter 1:
The Proposal
For centuries now, people have been trying to figure out the true purpose of life. I have to say for the most part that they are all wrong and I'm right. Why? Don't argue with me because I'm always right. I am Ironman, after all, I'm never wrong. Ok, I'll admit I have been wrong in some instances but this, this I'm right about. When asked what the purpose of life, people get all philosophical or they use science and they are those people who think money, success and whatever superficial, the materialistic thing that they can think of is the purpose of life. people think that you need to work hard to get money, you work hard to determine the kind of person you are. Money is just a bonus that shows how hard working and dedicated you really are. I know what you're gonna say, but what about the people who come into money? These people are lazy, spoiled, entitled, opinionated but stupid and will give bad advice. yes, I have money and success and a lot of other things but that's not what brought me happiness. All that was a short happiness but this, this was long lasting and you have to work hard, the people who work hard are guaranteed to have or get this but the entitled people never will. Then there's me, sure I might be full of jokes, sarcasm, money, good looks, charm, success and a whole list of other things. The one thing that has brought me true happiness, the one thing has been the light at the end of my tunnel, the one thing that I need to stop doing is saying so many puns or whatever I'm doing. What I'm trying to say, the only true purpose in life is finding someone to share it with. I have to admit that I wasn't exactly looking, I was having too much fun. Lucky for me, the one thing that I wouldn't be able to live without walked through my door. She came to me but she didn't make it easy and I suppose I didn't make it easy either. I was tough to deal with, too much to handle, to a point that we had to take a "break". But then she came back to me, you can only imagine my excitement. I was so overwhelmed by her presence, I thought it was a dream because I couldn't remember a time when I was this happy. I was kissing her feet until she rolled her eyes and demanded I stopped, I laughed and then hugged her and she hugged me back. My heart was racing and I had a huge smile on my face and then we kissed. Oh man, that kiss; it brought back so many memories and feelings. In that moment it felt like all the pain and anger over what happened with Bucky and Steve and everything else had melted away. I hugged her tight and she stroked my back and asked me what's wrong? And it felt like we were us again like nothing had changed and we never broke up. I did change though, we did more stuff together, we communicated more and leaned on each other. I told her everything including what went on with Bucky and Steve, let me tell you she was not happy, I had never seen her that angry before and I had done a lot of stupid shit that pissed her off. This was a whole new level of anger but what fun would that be if I told Steve that she hated him, he would just have to find out on his own. Anyway, this all leads up to the big moment, I was going to ask anyway and pepper and I discussed it one day being a possibility but she had no idea that it would be at this moment.
Tony: Honey, we've been through a lot together and gotten through a lot of tough times together. I mean you've dealt with me for 20 plus years and you still stuck around, some people would applaud you just for that alone. All joking aside, you have made me the happiest I've ever been and things are better when you're around. I didn't need to search for the perfect woman because she was standing right in front of me the whole time. You make me better, you know me inside and out better than anyone. I love you and couldn't bare a second without you. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife and making me the happiest man in the world?
The reporters all remain silent, either by complete shock or awe. The one thing that was for sure that Tony Stark could always steal a scene. Pepper just stood there smiling but Tony was having a heart attack. No, not a literal heart attack, his heart was just racing a mile a minute.
Someone from the crowd said: well what are you waiting for, say yes!
Pepper and Tony look around to identify the person and see that it was happy. They both shake their heads at him and laugh.
Happy: what? It's like I said before, I've been waiting since 08 for this and I don't wanna wait for a second longer.
Tony (looks at pepper) so what do you say, I mean really because you're killing me. My heart feels like it's going to explode from anticipation. Come on honey, give me an answer here because I feel like I'm going have a heart attack.
Pepper: even worse than before ( she smiles as she says that)
The reporters go oooh!
Tony laugh and pepper closes her eyes and puts her hands on her temples.
Pepper: that's not at all what I meant, I was referring to another time but that's not the point.
Tony: yeah, I'm still waiting down here. They gaze lovingly into each other's eyes as pepper smiles at him.
Happy: well woman!
Both: happy!
Happy: Well, I'm just saying we've all been waiting for a long time for this. We need answers, today!
Tony: well pepper?
Pepper: (she smiles at him again) of course I'll marry you.
Tony :(stands up and continues gazing into her eyes) now, is that a yes because I just wanna confirm so there's no confusion.
Pepper: (gazes deeply into his eyes and smirks at him sideways) that's a yes
Tony looks at her sideways like he's waiting for something from her. She just shakes her head and shouts at the ceiling yes! And then she looks back at him in the most lovingly way possible and says yes again. Tony places one hand on her face with a huge grin on his face and pepper places both hands on his, then their foreheads touch and they kiss. The newsroom goes crazy with excitement reporting their story.
Happy: put the ring on!
They laugh again and Tony stops for a second and looks deeply into pepper's eyes and smiles. He looks at her finger.
Tony: he does have a point, looks a little bare. Hold on let me fix that( he grabs her hand with one hand and grabs the ring out of his pocket with the other. He slowly places the ring on her hand). There we go, I fixed it and now it's perfect, just like you. (They smile at each other as the reporters berate them with a million questions, pepper and Tony manage to knock each one down like a boss.)
They leave the press conference on a plane
Pepper: I must say this completely caught me off guard. I wish you would've told me this ahead of time so I could've worn something a little more…. Appropriate for the event.
Tony: what are you talking about? You look great, you always look great. (they smile at each other). To be fair I was off guard too and so was everyone else but it was the best decision I made in a long time.
Pepper: so what date did you have in mind? So we can start planning and have everything ready on time.
Tony: come on, pep! We don't need to start thinking about that right now. What we need to focus on is going to Venice for some alone time. We haven't had any of that in a while, just some time to get away.
Pepper: why do you always suggest Venice? What's so great about Venice?
Tony: Venice was the most fun we ever had, I just want to relieve those great time with you and I just know that they are going to be better because you're there with me.
Pepper: fine. We can go to Venice, it was really fun.
Tony: see! That way we can get away from all the stress and relieve ourselves from any tension.
Pepper: why wait to Venice, to relieve our stresses?
Tony is in complete shock, a huge smile spreads on his face and he nods his head. Yes! Why wait. ( he rushes to close the door to the airplane and lifts the plan up in the air and puts it on autopilot) he grabs the champagne and glasses and pours them each a glass, they drink some and once they're done they start kissing.
An hour later, Tony has pepper in her arms and they are asleep. Tony slowly wakes up and he looks down and smiles at pepper. Friday alerts them that they have reached their destination, the plane lands but Tony doesn't wanna wake pepper. So he continues to watch pepper as she sleeps. Friday beeps in again, we have reached our destination.
Tony: gives us a moment Friday, will ya. I'm lying here with my fiance
Friday: but sir, theirs-
Tony: mute.
Pepper slowly wakes up and tony just sits there smiling
Tony: hey.( he says as he smiles at her)
Pepper: (smiles and looks at Tony) hey. That was great.
Tony: (smiles) that's only a taste of what's ahead, I have so many things planned.
Pepper: I thought we agreed on no planning.
Tony: this was effortless, no stress included.
Pepper: ok. They shower together, dry off and then get dressed in different clothes. They both have shades on and they ride a cart to their destination.
Tony: so the first thing that we can do is go to the beach, go have lunch and end the night at a hotel.
Pepper smiles at him and nods): sounds like a nice evening.
Tony: wow. I didn't think you agree so fast. Ok, then how about we skip the beach and just get dinner and then go to the hotel.
Pepper: (winces) then why not just have dinner and wine sent to the hotel.
Tony: even better!
They both smile at each other
After 3 months in Venice, pepper and Tony return back home
Pepper: that was a great vacation!
Tony: see! I told you that you would and you still managed to handle stark from Venice.
Pepper: yeah I did even meetings, it was amazing to get out of my head for a while. Now can we discuss the guest list?
Tony: we can.
Pepper: who do you wanna invite?
Tony: whoever you want to come.
Pepper: Tony( she pleads with him)
Tony: ok. Obviously, rhodey's gonna be there and happy. After that I really don't care, I don't really have a long list of friends.
Pepper: Tony,( she says as she smiles at him). It's alright if you want to invite some of the Avengers, I feel indebted to them after all of the times they had your back and saved your life.
Tony: ( Tony can't help but smile at how well pepper knows him. That's what he always loved and respected about pepper. She knew him so well, sometimes it amazed him at how well she knew him and all he could do was smile. These were one of those times but he wasn't just smiling at how well she knew him, he was smiling because he was finally happy. Really happy with the woman that he loved, the one woman he could turn to when his world was literally falling around him. He would only say cheesy stuff like that to her because Rhodey and Happy would tease him about but he didn't care because that's how much he loved her). You know me so well.
Pepper: (Gets closer to and places one hand on his shoulder and another on his face. Almost like she was telling him to relax, Tony let's out a sigh and smiles lovingly at pepper. But you already knew that( they both smile at each other). But you already know that.
Tony laughs in disbelief as pepper once again was able to read his thoughts. " I love this woman so much, what did I do to ever deserve such a perfect woman like her".
Pepper: because I love you and you finally worked up the courage to tell me the same.
Tony: can you read minds, seriously?! Because you always know what I'm thinking.
Pepper: I just know you, you're not that difficult to figure out.
Tony: yeah well tell that to everybody who's met me.
Pepper: oh I never said that you weren't hard to deal with. You are definitely hard to tell, like a non-stop pulsing migraine. I mean sometimes you would just really send me over the edge, that even Rhody and happy are willing to help kick your butt. I mean-
Tony: ok. Is this going somewhere or?
Pepper: (smiles at Tony) but at the end of the day I love you. I love you and care about you more than I have ever cared about anyone, you make me so happy that at times I can't contain myself. You're the best part of my life, you complete me. Which makes all of the fighting and bickering worth it.
Tony: really?(smiles)
Pepper: mmm-hmm
Tony: that was beautiful, did you practice that?
Pepper: no. I got it online actually.
Tony: really which site?
Pepper:
Tony: ah! I've heard of that site.
They both burst out laughing. Tony lends in for a kiss when they are distracted by a knock at the door.
Pepper:(looks at tony confused) were you expecting company?
Tony: right now, no! ( whoever was interrupting pepper and Tony's intimate moment better had been bleeding or they were going to be)
Pepper (goes to the door) I'll get it. ( pepper laughs)
Tony: honey, no. I don't know who it is. No one knows were back home, so I don't know who is at the door.
Pepper: you told Rhody and Happy drove us here.
Tony: Well, they know better. ( tony grabs pepper and puts her behind him) who is it?!
The guy behind the door: it's Steve!
Tony opens the door and pepper rolls her eyes and sides steps tony to exit the door.
Steve: bye, pep! (Steve waves smiling)
Tony: what's going on?
Steve: (smiling) nothing's going on.
Tony: you look a little weird.( Tony looks suspiciously at steve)
Steve:( his smile fades) Nah man I just wanted to congratulate you and pepper for getting back together and now you're getting married.( Steve smiles and laughter as he stares at Tony, he claps