Sonata

Chapter one: On the Heels of Angels

My first Ironman story be kind please.

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He couldn't sleep, the rain was coming down too hard on the roof, and despite all the technological advances, nothing could stop the rain. "Jarvis time." He said with a sigh putting a hand to his forehead.

"The time is four in the morning sir." The response was soft.

"Did Ms. Potts leave?" He asked blinking trying to get his bearings. He rubbed his eye and yawned.

"No sir she is in the kitchen."

"The kitchen?" Tony sat up and stood stretching. "What's she doing in the kitchen at four in the morning?"

"Writing your speech for tomorrow's charity event sir." Jarvis responded evenly.

"Has she slept any yet?" Tony asked grabbing a shirt to pull over his head.

"Negative sir she's been in the kitchen since 8pm yesterday…and she's on her fourth expresso…" Tony shook his head at Jarvis statement. He made his way out of his bedroom letting the glass doors stay open and moved down the hallway of his post modernistic home. He looked around and walked into the kitchen to see Pepper sitting at her laptop with a cup of coffee. She yawned softly, and then let her fingers back down to the keys to prattle away at them.

Tony leaned against the door frame in the shadows and took her in for once, he never did. He started to think when was the last time he told her thank you? When was the last time he told her he appreciated anything she did? Especially like mornings like these. "Jarvis ready the guest room for Ms. Potts she's going to bed, and give her two days off with pay starting now." His voice was even.

"Yes Sir." Came the AIs solid response.

Pepper looked up shocked in the direction of Tony's voice "Mr. Stark I was just…"

"Just about to run yourself ragged." He finished for her and stepped toward her and looked down at the laptop. "You've been in here eight hours." He skimmed the page "I have never seen so many grammatical errors since I was five." He shook his head "And I was in the eighth grade." He smiled and put an arm around her and shut the lid to her laptop. He assisted her to her feet.

"but your speech." She said softly protesting she was trying to turn back to the expresso and the laptop.

"I'll wing it." He said as a matter of fact turning Pepper back around to head out of the kitchen. "Jarvis that room ready?"

"Yes sir." He said. "Will there be anything else sir?"

"No Jarvis not tonight." Tony continued to walk the woman on his arm. Pepper was so tired he didn't think she would remember what was going on. Tony could feel her weight.

"Mr. Stark I need to work." She started to turn away from him. "You won't be ready for Tomorrow…"

"Oh no you don't" He said and lifted her up in his arms. "You are going to bed…" he shook his head "Then so am I." he muttered. Pepper nodded in protest but nothing came out of her mouth. Her head lay against his chest, and he stopped for a moment, but continued to walk. This felt so right, but it felt so wrong. She was asleep in his arms, so he did the right thing he took her to the guest room.

The room was small and dimly lit thanks to Jarvis. Tony walked slowly into the room turning so as not to bump her head on the door frame. "Jarvis lights out." He said softly, the AIs only response was to dim the lights to off. Tony moved to the bed and set her down not bothering to pull the sheets down first he grabbed a blanket and covered her up.

Just as he was leaving he noticed something, she still had on those high heeled shoes. He sighed and thought for a moment to continue, but didn't he sat down on the end of the bed, it moved and she stirred but she didn't wake up. He took one foot in his hand and pulled the dark blue shoe off and set it on the rug next to the bed, and he did it with the second. He could see even in the dimmest light the blisters on her heels and her toes.

He shook his head and winced looking down "What am I doing to you pep?" he asked no one in particular. He sighed and stood moving around the bed he glanced back once and shook his head then turned returning to his room.

His sheets were cool as he lay back as he did he flung his t-shirt down to the floor and sighed. The reactor in his chest glowing softly up onto the ceiling, it was a soft nightlight. He sighed and rolled over onto his side and closed his eyes. Something was eating at him, at the back of his mind. "Jarvis…order Ms. Potts some flowers…and clear my schedule tomorrow…we're going to spend some time together …shoe shopping."

"As you wish sir." Jarvis said.

"Good Night Jarvis."

"Good night Sir."