AN: I just want to thank all of the people who have read my stories and have written reviews. It makes me much more confident in myself and my writing. So I bring you a fresh new story. As it says in the summary, this is a sequel to my first story "For Love of You". I'm trying my hardest to not incorporate any of IM3 into this story, so we'll see how this goes. Thank you all so much, I hope you enjoy.

Chapter One

It had been a crazy year, between trying to deal with the clean-up after the attack on Manhattan then Pepper being abducted and injured (on Hammer's behalf), it was safe to say they both needed a vacation.

Before Pepper had been abducted, their relationship had been strained. With Tony down working in the shop all the time, she had begun to felt the pressure between him having to choose between her and the suits. Now he was starting to do the same thing all over again.

Not to mention, they were both having nightmares since what had happened in Manhattan. Tony's more severe, but he refused to talk to them with her. He didn't want to subject her to any more troubles than she already had.

However, after the last incident with Justin Hammer, Tony refused to let Pepper slip underneath his reach again. He was determined to do right by her like he should have been throughout their entire relationship. He was committed to keeping her safe.

"Hey Pep, you think you could come here for a minute?" Tony asked through the intercom. He had been in the kitchen, flipping through some of his fan mail.

Pepper came down the stairs, still dressed in her work suit, the only thing she had gotten off were her heels. She had just gotten back and was looking forward to date night.

"What's up?" Pepper walked over to him, wrapping her arms around Tony's neck. He pulled her in for a kiss and smiled, pulling her in for another quick peck this time on her tip of her nose. "You're especially cheery today," she gave him a smile and leaned back against the counter.

"Well, it is date night." Tony smiled and stayed close to her. Smiling, he looked her over. He could see how much happier she was. Her smile brighter, and he was thrilled that they were doing so much better. She had almost left him, then almost never came back. But he wasn't going to let that happen again.

"You're giving me a funny look," Pepper pointed out and looked at him. "Are you checking me out?" She laughed and unwrapped herself from his grasp, turning in a circle in the process.

"I can't help it, you are just so beautiful." Tony smiled and leaned against the counter, looking at her.

Pepper smiled and rolled her eyes, "What did you call me down here for? I thought it was date night," She looked at him, raising one of her eyebrows, just to prove her point.

"Right, date night." He smiled. "Well first, I was thinking,"

"Oh boy, what suits are you thinking of making now?" Pepper looked at him, slight sarcasm in her tone. She didn't mean for it to sound terrible, but she had a point. That was all that he was doing lately, and she had been looking forward to this date night for a while.

"It's not a suit," Tony was a little offended. "Or a get together I had been planning to get the Avengers to come out to Malibu." Which he figured he'd tell her now, because he was planning it.

"Oh really, then what is it?" Pepper sat down on the stool and looked at him. "Don't tell me you forgot to set up the reservation again. Last time you threw a hissy fit when we couldn't get a table." She smirked.

"Hey, that was one time," Tony refuted her statement. "And I didn't forget the reservation, we're going to…" He paused. Shit, where were we going again? He thought to himself. "JARVIS, where did I make the reservations?" He asked the AI.

Sir, you did not make any reservations. You had me set a reminder, which you clearly ignored.

Tony rolled his eyes at the sass his AI just gave him. Pepper frown at him and hopped off the stool.

"Well, since it's clear that you forgot about date night, I'm going upstairs to take a shower." She walked her barefoot feet back toward the stairs.

"Pep, wait, I'm sorry. I didn't forget. I just got busy." Tony followed behind and took a hold of her hand. "I wanted to ask you about taking a vacation."

Pepper stopped and turned around to look at him. "A vacation? Tony, I don't have time for that. Trying to run a company is big work and there's still stuff to be done. And you're Iron Man, don't you have stuff to do?" She looked at him.

Tony sighed. "I know, but come on. You've been swamped with work for a while now. Plus, you need a break. I know you haven't been sleeping well again." He said to her, his gaze on her softened. "And I would know, I've stayed up watching you."

"Because that doesn't sound creepy, Tony." Pepper snapped and let go of his grasp. "I'm going to shower."

"Pepper, I didn't mean for it to sound like that. I was trying to say I've been up too, okay. I can't sleep lately so I'll just stay in bed and I see you struggling in you sleep. It's like you can't sleep either. If we go on vacation, maybe that'll change."

Tony had looked at her, admitting that he was having trouble sleeping.

Standing there, Pepper thought about it in her head, contemplating whether or not she should agree to his suggestion.

"Why don't we talk about it over dinner. I'm going to shower, so just order in something." She said and went upstairs.

Tony sighed, he didn't like when she was distant with him, but it would have to do. And now, he owed her a new date night, perhaps in an exotic location.

Quickly ordering their favorite Chinese, Tony went up stairs to try and talk to Pepper and convince her more of this vacation they were going to take, even if it took a little more than just some sweet talking.

Walking into the bedroom, Tony could hear the not only the shower running, but he could also hear something coming from the shower.

"I love Paris in the springtime, I love Paris in the fall.

I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles, I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles."

Tony smiled, hearing Pepper singing Sinatra in the shower. Leaning against the wall, he listened to her beautiful soprano voice.

"I love Paris every moment, every moment of the year.

I love Paris, why oh why do I love Paris?

Because my love is here."

Just as the shower stopped, that's when it hit him. The place he was going to take her. He was taking Pepper to Paris.