Hello ! That's just an idea that hit me pretty hard whereas I was trying to fall asleep.

No pretension. I just wanted to share this with you. You guys tell me if I can go on or if I need to stop the mess right now. The story is set before Iron Man 2.

Disclaimer : Nothing belongs to me, except Sam. Because Sam is cool.

It was now dark and the moon was shining brightly in the sky.

He has been driving for hours and he did not even know where he was. He only knew that he was no longer in California since he has reached Oregon since a while. Outside, the stars defiled like lost lights but he didn't see them.

He squeezed the steering wheel harder and sighed heavily. He was hurt. He was hurt so badly that he found it difficult to breathe when Pepper said she was leaving.

Pepper was there, in his office. She was trembling but he couldn't see this. He was too focused on his job to pay attention what was happening around him.

"Mr Stark –"

"Tony," He corrected, without looking up.

"Tony. I can't do this. I can't do this anymore." She said. She felt her throat getting heavier. "I'm leaving."

He finally looked at her, clearly confused. "What? When? I didn't even know there were still some meetings to attend. When are you coming back?"

She bit her lips. "I'm not."

She looked away and he finally understood. The obvious fact hit him like a truck.

"You're leaving me," His voice wasn't accusing her but it was full of sadness, incomprehension, and betrayal. "But Pepper, you can't… I'm–I... I need you."

"What for?" She snapped. "Patching you up every time you're going to play hero?" She shook her head while tears threatening to fall. "I'm sorry, Tony but I can't. I'm not strong enough for this. Not strong enough for you. You'll find someone else."

She moved closer, kissed him softly on his kiss and then, she was gone. The door slightly opened as if it was waiting for Pepper to come back. As if he was waiting for her to come back. She used to come back every time.

But this time, she did not.

Then, Tony realized that he just lost his only friend.

"Is everything okay?"

Tony's eyes snapped open and he found himself looking through a young girl's green eyes. She had a small stature, she must be a fifteen or sixteen year-old-girl maybe. Her skin was pale, her hair was brown and her small accent – nearly unnoticeable – made him assume she was not from American. But yet, she just looked like the typical american girl.

"I'm okay." He said quietly and she frowned looking at his untouched plate. He shrugged his shoulders. "Not really hungry."

He didn't add anything more but it was enough since she gave him an apologetic smile."Trouble in paradise?" She asked, not really waiting for an answer.

"Yeah. I could say that." He said with a sigh.

She could see sadness all over his face."Sorry." She decided to change of subject. "Do you mind if I sit?"

"America is a free country, Princess." He gave her a pretty smile and she rolled her eyes. "Sit. Want something to eat?"

"Nope, not really hungry." She sat in front of him and finally noticed his glowing chest. She didn't say anything and he was thankful for this. He didn't want to be Iron Man right now. "I'm Sam by the way."

"Just Sam?"

"Just Sam." She repeated.

She handed him her hand and he surprisingly shook her. "Tony Stark. But I guess you knew that. Who doesn't know Tony Stark aka Iron Man."

"No, I didn't." Sam said falsely.

And he smirked. "You're such a bad liar."

"I was told." She replied knowingly and then, she stole one of his French fries.

He pushed her hand away. "Hey. Don't eat my food. Food is scared."

But she didn't listen and stole another one. "You said you weren't hungry."

"So did you, Princess!" And he grabbed the fries in her hands.

She smirked. "So I guess you're both liars."

"I guess we are. And you know what it's said about liars?" She waited for him to finish his sentence. "Liars are the best storytellers."

She raised one's eyebrowns. "You just invented this, didn't you?"

"Did I?" He played along and he pushed the plate forward her. He usually didn't share anything with anyone but tonight, he was ready to make an exception. "We share?"

She smiled and nodded. "We share and Tony?"

"Hum?" His mouth was full of food.

"Don't call me Princess."

He widely smiled.

He might just like this girl.

The night passed rather quickly. None of them had asked personnal questions in order to avoid to talk about sensitive topics.

When they finished dinner, Sam insisted to show him something. At first he had said no, not wishing to strut about in the streets. However, the girl had used on him her evil puppy eyes and he couldn't have help but say yes.

Besides, she had threatened him to shout out loud that Iron Man was right here that he couldn't really refuse anymore. So he had followed her, without flinching and then, he found himself enjoying her company. He could even get used to it he thought for their walk.

He didn't knew where she was taking him. He didn't really knew who she was but right now, he couldn't care less.

"I suppose you're more a city boy. But this is my place."

In front of him, from the bridge where they were standing, there was a wonderful landscape; a huge lake that was sparking so much that it could have thought that stars had fallen into the water and they were shining from the bottom of the lake.

"Woah!" He said, looking at Sam whose the hair was flying around her face. "That's…"

"Awesome, I know. "She finished, a proud smile on her natural pink lips. "Tonight's great. No clouds, no rain. Just the sky and the moon."

Her eyes lost in the sky, she didn't realize that Tony's eyes were still on her.

"Why did you bring me here?" He asked. Curiosity was starting to eat him alive. "Not that I'm complaining but you don't know me. I'm a stranger. Did anybody ever tell you not to talk with strangers?"

"Let's just say that I love living dangerously." Sam seriously replied and looked at him. "Besides, technically speaking, you're not a stranger. You said it yourself… who doesn't know Iron Man? I know you won't hurt me and I can defend myself. I can look after myself.. Don't worry for this."

He frowned. He somehow could read between lines and he could see through her eyes that a lot had happened to her. More than she was letting show.

"Hum wanna share some thoughts?" He gently asked.

She shook her head, trying to hide her smile. "Not tonight. Maybe someday if we have some time to chat." She checked her watch. "Jeez. I gotta go!"

"You're leaving? " Sam was almost a stranger. He didn't know her but he had loved spending the night with her. Who could have said that teenagers weren't annoying little brats? "But it's not that late."

"It is." Sam emphazied. "And I have school tomorrow."

"I'll see you around, then."

She scanned him curiously. "You're staying in town?"

"Maybe." He answered, a mysterious smile in the corner of his mouth.

"Good. I'll see you around then." She smiled back and started walking away. "And Tony?"

He turned to look at her. "Yep?"

"I brought you here because you looked like you needed some fresh air. This is a good place to ease one's mind and it's also – in your case – a good place to breathe."

He smiled as she walked away.

He was definitely going to like this girl.

The next morning, Sam woke up with a start. She had slept in and now she was going to be late for her stupid physics exam. She quickly took a bath, got dressed as fast as it was possible and grabbed her bag before running out of the house.

She decided she could buy a cocoa on her way to the bus stop because she had no time to make her own breakfast.

She was surprised to see that she had reached the Café pretty fast.

"Can I have a cocoa, please, with a bit of vanilla." She politely asked the old woman though she wasn't the fastest person ever and Sam was not in advance either. She checked out her watch as she was stamping.

A man, coming out from nowhere, said to her, "Stop stamping or you'll break the floordboards."

She jumped and turned around to find Tony with a cap on his head, and glasses on his nose. She found him quite funny like this. "Hey you." She smiled at him.

He smiled back, not taking off his glasses. "Hey yourself."

"So you're staying." She was glad to know that he was still here. After all, he was Iron Man. He could leave at any time.

"I guess I am." He replied, lazily leaning against the counter. "So, why are so you in hurry?"

"School. I told you last night." The old woman came back and handed her the hot cocoa. She took it and dropped the money on the counter before turning back her attention on Tony. "I got home pretty late last night because of you and I slept in. And now, I'm late because of you. And now, I'm going to be even more late because you are talking to me."She was definitely joking but yet, what she was saying wasn't untrue.

Tony rolled his eyes. "Do you believe me if I say I am very very sorry?"He gave her a quick smirk and she hit his arms. "Hey!" He falsed a scream.

"Liar!" She grinned. "And you scream like a girl." She added, proudly. He looked shocked. Really. And she laughed. "I really should be going."

"I'll see you later, then." He said as he watched her leaving the Café.

She waved him. "Alright. Bye!"

"Bye, Princess!"

"Don't call me that." He heard before the door closed behind her.

By the way, I'm french. So english isn't my first language and I'm very sorry for any mistakes (let me know if there are too many!). The only trip I went on in an anglophone country was in South Africa in 2009 and it just lasted two weeks so I think there are a lot of mistakes in this first chapter.

Just tell me through a review :)

- La Chiquita.

Ps : At first, I posted it in Ironman fanfiction but then I removed it and posted here. I'll try to bring Natasha - well, Natalie Rushman as soon as possible !