Happy Birthday
Chapter 1
"The Worst Birthday Ever"
There was no rule that said you had to spend your birthday whooping it up, especially if celebrating was the farthest thing from your mind. There was even a song in the sixties that said you could cry at your party if you wanted. That was exactly how Pepper Potts felt. Despite the fact it was her birthday, there wasn't anything she wanted to celebrate.
Obadiah called as she was packing up for the day. Pepper had planned on leaving early. It was her birthday, after all, and she had plans with friends who were taking her out. One phone call changed everything. Any activities for the night were canceled when she learned Tony had disappeared in the middle of the desert. In an ironic twist of fate, it had been her birthday plans that most likely saved her life. If this trip had been on any of the other 364 days of the year, Pepper would have been right there in the sand with Tony. In all likelihood, she would have been riding beside him when the firing started. Right now, she would be experiencing whatever hellish torture Tony may be suffering if not for her insistence that she be given one day that was hers.
Pepper stared at the phone on the nightstand. As soon as the news broke of Tony's disappearance, the phones at Stark Industries became inundated with calls. Board members wanted to know specific details. Business associates wanted to know how it would affect their various enterprises. News hounds wanted whatever scrap of gossip they could get out of her. She had said "no comment" until she hated the phrase. Calls didn't stop when she got home, forcing Pepper to unplug her land-line. That only left her cell phone as the way for anyone to reach her and it had been oddly silent for the biggest part of the day.
She replayed Obadiah's call over in her mind. At first, she thought it was the shock that made her think he seemed so unaffected. It was as if he wasn't surprised at all. For someone who claimed to love Tony like the son he never had, it was like he took some perverse pleasure in telling her that his caravan had been attacked, there was no trace of Tony, and it would probably be the best for her to assume he was dead. Then, he ended it with "Happy birthday, Miss Potts," in a snarky, superior tone. Something wasn't adding up, but Pepper didn't have time to dwell on that right now.
Rhodey had called, too. He couldn't say a lot. Mainly, it was just to let her know he was looking for Tony and not to give up. He had promised to call her tomorrow and tell her as much as he could. Rhodey she could trust.
With a sigh, Pepper pushed herself off the bed, trying to believe eating something would be the best thing, although she was pretty sure everything would taste like cardboard. That's when she saw it, lying across the foot of the bed where she put it that morning...her birthday gift from Tony. She had intended on wearing the blue dress for her "birthday night on the town." It was something she more than likely wouldn't have bought for herself under normal circumstances, but, the moment she saw it in the store, Pepper knew it would have drawn Tony's attention and his approval. Suddenly, she missed Tony very much. Pepper reached and touched the silky fabric. That was her undoing. All of the pent-up emotion broke down the wall she had erected. Clutching the dress to her chest, Pepper curled up in the middle of the bed and cried. Everything she'd held inside came pouring out. She had no idea how long she lay there, but she cried until she was exhausted. Her breathing changed from soul-wracking sobs to smaller gasps and, finally, evened-out with the occasional sniff. Pepper sat up and brushed away the last few tears. She searched for a Kleenex and blew her nose. Holding the garment out in front of her, she made a decision. She would wear the dress, but not until he could see her in it. Tony would be back, of this she was sure.
Pepper stood and shook the dress, hoping to remove the wrinkles her crying jag had caused. The rest would come out as it was hanging. She found a hanger and hung the dress in the doorway of her closet. She gave it one last look before turning out the light and crawling under the covers. Bone-weary and all cried out, Pepper decided to sleep away the last few hours of the worst birthday of her life. "Happy birthday, Pepper," she said aloud into the darkness, before falling into a fitful sleep.
Author's Note: I always thought one of the saddest yet overlooked parts of IM was Tony disappeared on Pepper's birthday. I know this was kinda sad and angsty, but, Pepperony goodness will follow. : ) Please let me know what you think. There are more to come, but only if you are interested. I *heart* reviews. I just want to know I'm not wasting my time. Happy reading and PEPPERONY FOREVER.