Hey everyone so i have the first couple chapters done and for those of you who have never read one of my stories i shall explain what this is. This story here is an alphabetical Pepperony story only I've added in the difficulty of basing each chapter after a song and this is the first one, so i do hope you enjoy this.

A: Afghanistan Aftermath

"Hold: Superchick"

It was black, stone silent, way past midnight nearing four a.m. , the same day Tony had just returned back to her. She could admit she didn't want to leave the house for the fear that she would wake up and realize him returning had just been a dream and that the emptiness upon that realization would return to her heart once more, so she stayed and fought back exhaustion. She didn't want to leave him alone after such a traumatic experience. He seemed like less of the playboy he was before he left but even more secretive. He looked like he too was trying to convince himself that he was safe and it wasn't a dream.

Pepper wanted to be ready to help Tony at a moment's notice, so naturally she was keeping herself busy by fielding the various calls and emails about Tony's 'no more weapons' conference. To say she was shocked was an understatement, to say she was angry would have been a lie, but she couldn't say she wasn't proud of him. He actually looked like he was interested in what was happening with his company.

So as Pepper sat with her back against the wall outside his room, alone in the dark, face illuminated by her phone that she held she battled against her want for sleep and her need to know he was safe. As she sat, she thought she heard a noise come from inside his room. She set down her phone and listened closely and again heard the noise, it sounded like…a sob. She locked her phone and clasped it in her left hand as she stood and her right silently turned the doorknob to Tony's room and pushed it open. She crept barefoot with light footsteps over to his bed. Pepper had expected the room to be completely dark but instead saw a bright blue light thrashing left and right with Tony's body. He was indeed crying and had thrown the covers off from his movements. As Pepper crept closer, curious as to what the blue light was, she gasped. The blue light was attached to Tony; it looked like the arc reactor that was powering the company. Shaking away her curiosity for the moment, she gently laid a hand on Tony's chest to wake him.

"Tell me that it's gonna be okay. Tell me that you'll help me find my way"

As skin met skin, Tony jolted awake making Pepper jump a little. He looked frantically left and right, panting, until finally his eyes found Pepper. The glow of the reactor was bright enough to illuminate both their faces and Tony could see she was concerned. He didn't try to hide his fear and instead reached and grabbed her hand pulling her onto the bed and just began to cry. Pepper held him as he cried and repeatedly said, "You're safe now Tony, I've got you."

"Cause I need, I need Your hand to hold, To hold me from the edge, The edge I'm sliding past. Hold on to me. Help me find the way through all my fears; Help me see the light through all my tears; Help me see that I am not alone in this."

Her heart broke a little more each time she heard him sob. She continued to hold his hand as he leaned against her and just cried. Pepper knew Tony trusted her; he would never have let her see him cry if he didn't trust her. He trusted her to just let him heal and not ask questions knowing he would tell her when he was ready. Pepper began to hear him stop crying and his breathing become even and knew he had fallen asleep. And even though she knew it was wrong to be in such a compromising position with her boss she decided to let it go just or the night because Tony needed her. She slowly lay back on his bed not wanting to awake him and as he head hit the pillow, Tony snuggled into her all the while never letting go of her hand.

"Tell me that it's gonna be okay; Tell me that You'll help me find my way; Tell me You can see the light of dawn is breaking."

Pepper observed the peaceful look he now wore; illuminated by the curious glow of the blue light coming from his chest, and something un-identifiable surged through her heart. She pushed it out of her mind and looked to the glass to see the dawn breaking before closing her eyes.

"Tell me I can make it through this day. I don't even have the words to pray. You have been the only One who never left me. Cause I need, I need Your hand to hold. Hold on to me."

As the days went by Pepper fell into an odd routine. During the day she would work and Tony would act as though nothing was wrong, that he was okay, but once the sun set it was as if he trusted her to always be there right beside him, holding his hand, comforting him. That's when he would finally open up and share memories of his traumatic experience; and that's when Pepper could really see how much his friend's death was weighing on him. That's when he cried, she comforted, he talked, she listened and she never let go of his hand until the new day broke and he put on his mask. Pepper never left the house and she was always two steps behind Tony, ready to help whenever he needed it. Happy helped provide her with clothes and caffeine and grocery shopping so she could feed Tony. And whenever Tony began to have a nightmare she was always right there helping him get better and she could see she was helping. He woke up less often in the night and when he did all she had to do was give his hand a gentle squeeze to let him know she was there, and then he would move closer to her and fall back asleep returning the squeeze. She refused to leave him until he became strong enough and able to sleep without being overtaken by nightmares. She would always be his hand to hold.

So please do review and i'll try and update ASAP. BTW: 60 days til IM3!