(Disclaimer:I own nothing) I think this is one of the best IM:AA stories I've written so far:)

Also, this story is dedicated to anonymous reviewer "hey" who wanted me to write more for this category, and I've been walking around with this idea in my head for a while now like a zombie so thus this was born:) And to "Hey": If you want to watch the Iron Man movie for free on-line here's the web address: watch-movies-online .tv Trust me, once you watch it...you become OBSESSED with it:) No polls or questions needed to watch it either:) Okay enough blabbering, onto the story...

Pepper walked into the lab and was not surprised to see Tony and Rhodey working, well Tony was working Rhodey was just doing his homework. It's been a month now since the incident with Gene and Pepper was still depressed out that, and along with all of her other stuff going on in her life she felt terrible. She walked up to them and faked a smile.

"Hey Pepper, I didn't even see you come in" Tony said as he put down his screw driver. He got the lab fixed up and he was always in it now.

"Hi...you wanted me to come over?" She asked. He indeed called her from her house. He sounded a little desperate on the phone so she hurried over.

"Yeah, um I was wondering if you guys would do me a favor. Tonight is a big Gala for Stark International and I was hoping you both can come with me." He said sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"I thought you hated going to those things." Rhodey said.

"Yeah I do but Stark International thinks it would be really good if I were to go. They said something about me keeping up appearances. Plus, now that I know my dad...is alive, I just want to make him proud. He used to love going to these things." Tony said.

"Oh, alright man. We don't have to stay long though, right?" He asked.

"Yeah, just long enough to make an appearance." Tony said. He looked over at Pepper and she nodded her head yes.

"Thank you Pepper." Tony said with a smile.

"Well, hopefully it won't be too bad. I'll just have to dig around in my closet for a dress...shouldn't be to hard." She said sarcastically as she turned and left.

--15 minutes later--

Tony and Rhodey were outside of Pepper's house, facing the Limo Tony rented, waiting for her. Tony heard a click of a door opening and he saw Pepper step out, walking towards them, with a backless blue gown, she also had soft curles in her hair. (Anyone who has seen the Iron Man movie knows what dress I'm talking about:) Tony's mouth dropped when he saw her and tried to close it as she approached them.

"...Wow, you look...amazing. Was this really something you dug out of your closet?" He teased.

"Thank you, and it was just something I found lying around." She teased back with a smile.

"Come on guys we're going to be late." Rhodey said as he got in the Limo. Tony and Pepper followed him. Twenty minutes later they arrived at the Gala, which also happened to be a big beautiful building Stark International owned. They walked inside and they heard a shrill girly voice.

"Tony! You made it!" Whitney Stane said as she hugged him. Pepper gave an annoyed look at her. She dragged Tony off by his arm and Rhodey also left when he went to dance with a girl around his age. Pepper was left feeling very lonely all of a sudden. After a few minutes of just standing around watching people have a good time, she stepped outside to the garden. The garden was decorated beautifully with lights and Pepper was the only one there at the moment.

She stepped up to the alter they had there that was center of the garden next to the pond. She suddenly wished she could see Gene right now. She could still hear his soft voice in her head. She had so many questions to ask him that mostly started with the word "Why". She closed her eyes and images of Gene flashed through her minds eye. The good memories she smiled at while the bad ones had tears fall from her eyes. A young boy's voice broke her thoughts from behind her. She turned around and felt a little sad when she saw it was only Rhodey.

"What are you doing out here?" He asked.

"I dunno. Look tell Tony I'm leaving. I'll walk from here to my house. See ya." She said sadly as she left out the back entrance. Rhodey went back inside to find Tony. He saw him with Whitney in the crowd of people. He waited for Whitney to leave before he approached him.

"Hey Tony, Pepper just left. She wanted me to tell you." Rhodey said.

"What? Why?" Tony asked confused.

"I guess she felt left out and decided to go. We shouldn't have left her." Rhodey said sadly. Tony nodded his head.

"...Yeah, I know. Whitney just wanted to be alone." Tony said.

"Well I'm gonna leave too. You coming?" Rhodey asked.

"Yeah. I'll go say goodbye to Whitney first." Tony said as he went to go find her. A few minutes later he came back to Rhodey and they started walking home. Tony and Rhodey forgot to call Pepper to see if she got home okay as they crashed on they're beds'.

The next morning was a Saturday and Pepper got up early after a late night anyway. She got dressed and left a note for her dad telling him she'll be gone most of the day but gave no indication where she was going. During the night and the walk home from the party gave her time to think. She mostly thought about Gene and the many questions that were still lingering in her head. She decided she needed to see him, even though he tried to kill her and her friends.

She first wanted to see if he, or anybody that might know where she can find him, was in his house. Pepper knew it was a long-shot to think he still might live here but she had no other leads (and was surprised at Tony when he never even thought about checking here). As she approached his door she became nervous but pushed it aside as she knocked on the door. An older man came to the door. He must be the butler she thought.

"Can I help you?" He asked.

"..Umm, Is Gene home?" She asked. Pepper expected him to look at her like she was crazy or simply say that he does not live here anymore. So she was surprised at what he told her.

"Yes ma'am but he'll be leaving soon." He said. He made a gesture for her to come in. She did so and the butler walked her down to where Gene stayed. The place looked much bigger than the outside to Pepper. He stopped in front of a fancy double door with a dragon symbol on it and told her this is Gene's study. The butler left and Pepper took a deep breath as she knocked.

Here we go...

Wow! There's the first chapter for y'all! I already have the second and third chapter written up and they're laying in the Doc. Manager waiting to be uploaded. But I won't do it unless you People Please Review!!:)