Hey guysss! I know it's a little late for a new year's story, but I got the idea and really wanted to write one! So here ya goooo (:

Tony sat on his bed, in his bedroom. He looked sad and frustrated. He looked out his window at the factory and saw how burnt down it was. He didn't want to go in there, not just yet. He walked out of his room and met Rhodey and his mom in the kitchen. They were talking about what had happened to it a few months back. She wanted to give the boys time to relax and calm down before asking. "Why is it all destroyed?" She asked.

What happened to it? Was one of you part of it? Roberta asked them more questions.

Over at Pepper's house, Pepper sat on the couch in her living room. She slouched and looked down towards her feet. She began to travel deep into her thoughts.

Why did he have to hurt me like that? I gave him a chance. I..i was right about Gene all along! Tony never believed me…..but I can't blame him. He thought Gene was on his side. And, Tony would never hurt me like that. He's the good guy. Tony always cared for me. Gene didn't, I know he didn't. I can't believe Gene blinded my feelings like that. Before I gave him a chance, I was hooked to Tony. Like the day I figured out he was Iron Man…..how much I just loved being alone with him up in the air. Oh, what I would give to do that again. But we're only friends. Just close friends. Aren't we? Pepper kept wondering, telling herself. Suddenly, a different voice popped into her head.

It's not that, dear. You love him. From the day you met the poor boy, you have been clinging on to him. He is your heart and your soul. Go to the boy, go to him. The voice implied. Pepper didn't want to listen to that right now, not now. Pepper's dad walked into the room and noticed his daughter slouching sadly.

"Pepper? What's wrong?" He asked, sitting next to her.

"Nothing, dad, you wouldn't understand." Pepper said, sighing.

"I'll try my best. Go for it, kid." He replied.

"Well, fine. You know how I was friends with Gene, right? Well he….uhhh….turned evil, and ummm, joined his step-dad and stuff, and all along, he was just fooling me, and he was pretending to be Tony's friend, just to get information from him. Now he's evil, like his step-dad, and, well I don't know!" Pepper poured out to her dad, getting exasperated at the thought of Gene.

"Well, if Gene is on his step-dad's side now, then just forget about him. You have other friends, don't you? I'm sure you and your boyfriend will get over it soon enough." Her dad answered.

"What? What boyfriend? Dad, I think being an FBI agent is making you crazy." Pepper asked, getting freaked out and curious at the same time.

"That Tony Stark kid you keep babbling about all day. Didn't you say something about being with him?" He asked, like any parent would.

"DAD, NO! Were just friends! That's ALL!" Pepper replied, furiously blushing. She remembered talking to herself in her room one day about being together with Tony. She had forgotten that she was speaking out loud.

"Right. Then why are you blushing? Think about it, kiddo. I'm leaving now, so be good for your mother while I'm away. Bye" He said, getting up and walking out the door. He was going out of town with a few other agents to investigate some guy that was acting weird. Pepper didn't know much more. After Pepper's dad left, her mother walked in the door with her suitcase. She was here to watch Pepper while Pepper's dad was away for the weekend.

"Hey, sweetie! I missed you!" She said, putting her stuff down. She didn't live that far away. In fact, she lives in town. She has an apartment in the city, but she didn't want Pepper to leave home for the weekend. She always had her daughter's true interest at heart.

"Hey, mom." Pepper said, not moving a single muscle. Pepper's mom sat down next to her, and frowned at her daughter.

"What's wrong, dear? Is it that friend of yours again?" The mother said, knowing of the argument her daughter had with her friend.

"No, no no no. Not him. We made up after i went back home. It's another friend. This guy, Gene, like tottaly went sycho and turned evil. I just don't know." Pepper explained.

"Ahh, so now you don't know your feelings for your friend Tony?" She asked, reading into her daughter's mind. She always knew what Pepper was really feeling.

Pepper sighed and responded. "Yeah, pretty much. I know he's on the good side, and he's nice. Especially with new year's coming around this week..." Pepper said, wondering. Then her mom nodded and went to unpack. Then something struck Pepper. She got wide eyes and looked up.

Come on, Pepper! THINK HARD! You see him every day, and when you're looking at him, or even talking to him, you want to melt into his arms! YOU LOVE HIM! The thought persuaded her. She thought back to all the times they touched, talked, or looked to each other. She saw it. She really did love him, she did. She decided to go see him. She shouted to her mother that she was going out, and got her coat on then left.

Tony sighed, and told himself he had to do this. He walked towards the front door, alone, and got his coat on. After all, it was snowing outside, which meant it was cold. Once he was finished, he opened the door. Instead of walking out of it, he stopped. Someone was in front of him. It was Pepper. He gasped, and as he tried to stop walking, He bumped into her. They were standing really close now, but neither seemed to notice.

"Pepper, hey, what are you doing here?" Tony asked, standing still and looking her square in the face.

"Just, you know, felt like it…." Pepper explained, nervously.

"Well I was just going to check out the damage in the factory. And see if it did anything to the lab. You can come along if you want." Tony told her, noticing how close they were. He stepped back, blushing.

"Oh, umm, sure." Pepper accepted, moving aside so Tony could get out the door. The two walked to the factory together in silence.

K that was pretty awesome! Wellll the next chapter is gonna be awesome too, so ya know, revieeww! (: