Hey there! This is a product of re-watching AOU, with a bit of conversation with Pepperonyaddict (thanks dear, you have quite a handful of ideas), coupled with utter disappointment for lack of Pepperony scenes. Though, there are Pepper mentions- thank God for that, but still they are not enough. Who else noticed Tony's melancholiness in the party scene? He's unusually quiet right?and sad when he was asked about Pepper? Well, you may or may not agree with me. But I just want to give this a shot. Hopefully, you won't get confused with all the flashbacks/more of Tony's memories. Lol.
I own nothing. Spoilers for AOU. Not quite sure of the lines. So sorry in advance for the mistakes and typos. No beta here! Reviews are very much welcomed with open arms! Lol.
Tony looked around the party, a glass of wine in hand, and surveyed the many people that surround him. He saw Steve with his Falcon friend. Thor and Clint are chatting up a bunch of unfamiliar ladies. Natasha and Rhodey are lounging in the sofa,clearly talking about some war machine stuffs-to Tony, definitely not interesting. He smirked, thinking of how excited and focused Rhodey is in doing war machine missions.
'Yeah.' He used to be like that. How he missed to revel on the feeling of flying in the suit. Always looking for andrenaline rush. He suddenly felt nostalgic. Remembering the moments he tried to steer away from raging bullets and angry tanks; missiles and F1 raptors on his tail and killing a bunch of good for nothing terrorists.
He heavily sighed. People really changed, he guessed. From women and fancy cars to being a member of a super secret band of superheroes to being a family man.
'Hmmm. Family man? Tony Stark?' He grinned. He still feels like floating in the air whenever he thought of how Pepper broke the news to him or how a night suddenly changed his life.
It was an ordinary day in the Stark mansion. Their newly rebuilt house, also in the cliff side overlooking the expanse of Pacific ocean, is very much a Potts-Stark creation. Their tastes blended well, with a couple of original designs from the old one, a touch of class and elegance courtesy of Pepper, not to mention the many modern art pieces scattered around the house.
Tony was busy tinkering in his workshop, he almost forgot the time, and smiled to himself when he saw that it's just past 4. He still have an hour to shower before Pepper arrives. It's date night and this time he very much planned out everything. He already made reservations for Pepper's fave Italian restaurant. And then afterwards, he'll ask her if they could relax a bit and walk along the beach coast because there awaits the surprise. This will not be just an ordinary date night. He will make sure of that.
"J, Pepper's ETA please," he said while wiping some grease off his hands. He's been giddy and anxious all day that he had to redo the work he already done in the hotrod to distract himself. He just needed it before the fear he felt eat him up. Unfortunately, now that it's nearing the moment of truth, he suddenly felt nervous and something else he can't quite name. He already asked Jarvis of the odds that his surprise won't go according to plan. And luckily, the AI was positive it could go well. Not that he thinks that Jarvis is always right- he made the damn AI,thank you very much- but still he knows in his heart that no matter what happens, what he's about to do is by all means right.
"Sir, Ms. Potts is on her way. ETA is in 15 mins." Jarvis remarked cooly.
"What? Already? I mean isn't it too early for her to leave the office? Unless, something is wrong or she's not feeling well." He's panicking. He's already thinking of rearranging all the things and cancelling out reservations.
"Perhaps, Sir, you should just take a bath first. Ms. Potts generally dislikes filthiness in the house, especially one that concerns you." If Jarvis has a face, he would want to give his creator a smug look. If he was not coded to be appropriate all the time, he would have remarked that his master is just overreacting.
"Yes. You're right. Thanks, J." Tony distractedly answered, not even noticing the smug tone of his AI.
Tony showered as fast as he could and as the grease in his body would permit. He cleaned well, even managed to trim his goatee and dress in a matter of time. He just opted to wear a long sleeve matched with a coat, ditching the ever present tie.
"Tony." He heard Pepper called from the door of their room. He's not quite sure if it's her tired tone or exasperated tone. But he thought, he has not done anything to exasperate her, as far as he knows.
"Hey there, gorgeous." He greeted her from the bathroom. She took in his appearance and raised a brow.
"What? Do I look devilishly handsome?" He grinned while pumping his brows up and down.
"Well, you look the same as always, Mr. Stark." She quipped, motioning for the walk-in closet. He closely followed behind her, leaned on the frame, and waited for her to take off her clothes. This is one of his favorite things in the world- watching her undress and dress. It fascinates him how graceful and elegant she could be even in the simplest things like taking off her suits and changing into one of his shirts.
"And what is that look exactly, Ms. Potts?" He asked, not wanting to steer away from the topic at hand, while very much focused on her every movement.
"The look of utter narcissism." She said in a serious tone. Like she's saying some final point on some business presentation .
"Ha,ha,ha. Funny, Potts." He said, amusement etched on his face. "Well, whatever, I know you think of me as some God-sent gift to the female populace," he said with air of arrogance.
"Whatever strokes your ego Stark," she fired back.
"Hmm. Well, it's not just my ego which needs some stroking." He suggested, while walking to her.
He slowly ran his hands across her waist, hugging her from behind. He kissed her neck softly while caressing the underside of her breast.
"Hmmm. Tony," she moans, what this man can do with his hands and lips should really be illegal.
He continued on pressing some featherlight kisses on her neck, not wanting to stop.
"If you continue this, we won't make it to our reservation," she said, struggling to be eloquent.
"Hmmm. Still early," he murmured across her skin.
"Tony," she said, this time with much control.
As much as he wants to take it further, Tony thought better of it and decided to just stop whatever he's doing. 'Right, this is the night. You can't screw up, Tony.' He reprimanded himself, he should think clear of his goals. The urges can wait for later.
"Fine. I will wait for you in the garage." He muttered like a child deprive of his favorite toy.
"You better be good while waiting," she said coyly and looked down at his crotch. He looked down too and saw his ever growing erection. He suddenly leaped out of the room, while Pepper is laughing her heart out.
"You wait woman. I will make you beg later." He shouted from the hall and grinned to himself. 'Later'
The dinner went on without a fuzz. They ate, they chatted about everything and anything, they laughed at their jokes and they murmured sweet nothings to each other. It was as normal as their other date nights that Tony almost forgot his nervousness.
"Uh. Pep, let's not go home yet. Let's stroll down in the beach, take in the cold breeze, and you know, just enjoy a nice little quite time." He suggested, a little unsure of himself.
"That would be lovely, Tony," she said and kissed him gently on the lips. A kiss from her could really send jolts to his body.
They were already at the beach, casually strolling, with Tony's arm securely placed on Pepper's waist.
"It's really a great night, right?" He remarked.
"Yes, it is. How I wish we could always do this." She sighed. "I mean, this is really nice. Casually strolling like some normal couple." She emphasized the word 'normal' with a roll of her eyes.
"What? This is normal?" He teased and kissed her soundly on the lips. He looked at his watch, noting the time and realized they are a little early for his surprise. He suddenly remembered the reason for this hiccup. "Wait, honey, why did you go home a little early than usual?" He inquired out of curiosity and just to pass time.
"I just felt like going home, I guess." She said while looking down and playing with some sand in her foot as she already ditched her stilletos.
"Really? The ever consummate professional Ms. Potts, not finishing work hours?" He teased. "Really?" He dramatically said.
"Well, yes, I do believe, Mr. Stark, that I'm allowed to leave the office anytime because I, as you always point out," she paused, "Am the boss." She smiled the smile that could make his heart stopped. He can't thing of a good comeback, so he just did what he always wants to do. Kiss her entirely, like his life is depended on it. Like there's no tomorrow. His heart was pulling double duty, he can't focus on the task at hand-that is his 'surprise', he's trying to keep the blood circulating in his brain just enough as it seems to drain to his groin. Despite his growing need, he stopped, and looked at his watch, 'It's time.'
"Hmmm. Why do you keep on glancing on your watch?" She inquired while she tipped her head in that sexy way that slayed him.
Instead of answering, he took her hands and quietly led her to the right spot.
'This shall do just fine.' He released a puff of air, and took her hands to his lips.
"Tony," she said, and scanned his gaze.
"Pep, honey, I know I don't deserve you. I can be selfish, self-absorbed, egotistical, sometimes a lunatic jerk, and I can't..." He sighed. "You deserve more than I can give you."
Pepper stared at him-stunned and uncomprehending. "Tony," she whispered.
"I mean, I clearly love you more than anything...else in the world but, ah, I still manage to screw up," he stammered.
He stared at her and continued, "But honey, I can't just let you go. I can't.. for the love of God, just let you be with a man who clearly deserves you or worthy of how perfect you are..."
Pepper just stared at him during his speech, as if searching for the right way to respond.
"What I want to say is.." He suddenly looked at the expanse of the sea, and smiled brightly at her.
She looked up, and saw a hint of lights, it grew larger by the second and definitely looked like as far as she could tell are Ironman suits.
"Is that? Are those?" She inquired with creased brows.
"Yep," he said while smirking, remembering the same wordsh e heard from Rhodey. He turned her so that she's completely facing the horizon.
The suits lined up around them making a V pattern in the sky. Then one by one the suits exploded into colorful lights. Different patterns were created. And then suddenly, they merged to form the words :
I LOVE U VIRGINIA
Then the words suddenly became a huge heart that turned into something that resembles the arc reactor. The transition of red light to blue ones was so perfect it almost made her heart stopped. She was so elated and surprised to see what Tony's been up to. She gasped, wide eyed when she saw another set of words in the sky.
WILL YOU MARRY ME?
Pepper held her breath, not believing the words displayed in the sky, she's so engrossed in the moment that she didn't notice Tony kneeling in front of her. He's holding out a box and inside sits a diamond ring that shone through the night, as if luring her, with all it's elegance and simplicity.
"Virginia Potts, I love you so much. Will you make me the happiest man alive, will you marry me?" He said with so much adoration and love. He thinks his heart can't take all this overloading and overflowing love he feels for this woman and anytime now, if she won't say a word, he thinks he might faint.
"Tony, I," she said as intelligible as she could, "Wow, I can't believe..."
"Honey, you could just say Yes you know," he suggested nervously. He's still kneeling with his hands holding on to the box.
Tears started flowing out of her eyes, and she managed to murmur, "YES, I'll marry You Anthony Edward Stark."
He kissed the ring before slipping it into her finger. He stood up and hugged her tightly as he could like he's afraid she'll change her mind. She was slightly startled at the sound of firecrackers. She looked up to see the suits flying around and exploding again one by one. It's like the same scene in Miami.
"Okay so far? You like it?" he murmured between her hair.
"It'll do," she said amusedly,clearly playing along with him. He kissed her hair gently, reveling on the moment.
His reverie was lost when he suddenly heard a loud crash.
"Jarvis?" He instinctively checked on his ever loyal AI, he's on monitoring duty since the tower is filled with guests-most of whom he didn't know.
"It's just Dr. Banner Sir, bumping on the servings of drinks," he remarked cooly.
"Hmmm. Remind me to strap Banner on our next party, J. He's already broken so much." He smiled, shook his head and sipped a wine.
"Will do, Sir," Jarvis replied from his earpiece.
No matter what he does he just can't let himself enjoy the night. Not that he didn't want the company of his fellow Avengers, it's just that he really felt incomplete whenever Pepper is not around. How he missed her so much. And not to mention baby Stark. He smiled again to himself, thinking of just proceeding with his interrupted recollection.
After their beach moment, they went home eagerly with some groping and making out in the car-well, if making out means stopping every now and then to accomodate some kissing and necking. Yeah, they really do make out. And then when they got home- Tony stopped his thoughts.
'Can't think of how that night was blissfully spent without having a hard-on.'
He laughed at his incorrigibleness. He just wanted to recall how Pepper accidentally told him the news. He could never forget the look on her face.
After their intense lovemaking, celebrating their relationship level upgrade, as Tony put it, they both let exhaustion and sleep take over them. But Tony's member had other plans than just sleeping off the night away. He woke up with a start, feeling his blood rushed southward. He immediately looked at the sleeping figure of his fiance. Her back was against him, and he could clearly see her entire sexy back down to her butt.
He proceeded with kissing her neck while running his hands up and down from her shoulder to her waist. He lifted his body with his right arms so he could properly kiss her neck. He sucked on her collarbone while massaging a breast. Pepper stirred, but still looked very much in dreamland. Tony just proceeded with his task, and grind his hips up to her bare back.
"Tony," she whispered, still with her eyes closed.
"Hmmmm," he hummed in reply not wanting to remove his focus on the task at hand.
"'I'm sleeping," she murmured, while trying to make some space, and move away from him as possible.
"Need you. Badly." He said in his throaty voice while hovering above her so he could see her face.
"It's past midnight. I need to sleep." She said in the exasperated tone he loves.
"I know. We're awake now, honey." He kissed her face, his hand moving downward.
"Tony, I need to have a decent sleep. It's not good for PREGNANT women to be awake in the middle of the night, and I will just get tired in the morning, and the morning sickness is killing me, and I just can't..." She suddenly stopped, eyes wide opened, complete utter shock on her face.
"Oh my God." She covered her face with her hands. During all of Pepper's babbling and the sudden revelation, Tony was too stunned to react initially but when she suddenly looked so surprised with her slip, he finally got hold of his emotions and wished Jarvis caught this on tape. It was priceless. It's the look only Pepper could nail.
"Honey, hey, hey relax." He said softly, while running his hands on her arms.
"Tony! I was suppossed to surprise you later, and Jarvis and I already planned it, and..." she cried.
"So, you're really pregnant?" He needed to be sure, to hear the words on her calm and awake state.
She nodded, not looking at him. He was already completely on top of her. He reached out to her chin, and gently lift it so she could look him in the eyes.
"So, you're gonna surprise me too, huh?" He grinned, utter happiness in his face.
"Yes, and I'm so stupid. I just let that..." He kissed her hard to stop her babbling. The kiss deepened, with Pepper responding as much as Tony was giving. They only stopped to accomodate brreathing.
"Thank You." He said happily and rested his forehead against hers.
"I know this is not planned and all..."
"Pepper," he cut her off. "I love you, you love me, you just agreed to marry me, and we're having a baby." He enumerated like his enumerating some parts of his machine. "And not to mention, that I love you so much, wait, have I mentioned it already? That I love you so damn much? Hmmmm?" He teased.
"Tony," she said with a sigh.
"I want this, Pep. For a long time now actually. I'm just waiting for you to be ready. Or shoulld I say, I was waiting for the right time." He suddenly felt insecure. He knew very well how he does not deserve her. She's Virginia Potts, CEO of Stark Industries, Most Powerful Woman in the World. And she's kind, honest, witty, smart, independent and downright gorgeous. Any man would have wanted to be in his place, to be with this woman. She's the woman of every man's dream. Hell, she's been the woman of his dreams eversince he saw her. And now, he just can't wrapp this whole thing on his mind-not that he didn't want this but the truth is, he wanted this so damn much that he's afraid it will be taken away from him.
"Anthony, I love you so much. And You. Deserve. To. Be. Happy." She punctuated everyword with a kiss. He smiled that smile he reserves only for her.
"I love you more," he said. He does not need to hear more. She is his. And they will be happy.
He did not notice how he got surrounded by Hill, Rhodey and Thor. Rhodey was incessantly babbling about his war machine escapades. He just stared at him like his growing another head, and he knows the melancholy on his face is still evident. He just wanted to get over and done with this party to get to Pepper.
"BOOOM, are you looking for this...why aren't you even talking, man?!" Rhodey incredulously asked them. Tony still holds the same expression but smiling a little bit at his friend. Thor replied in a patronizing way, and this could have been a good moment to tease back his good old friend. But still, he wasn't in the mood.
Rhodey suddenly looked at him and asked, "So, No Pepper?"
This got Tony's attention. And he just slightly shook his head. And heard Hill made a comment about the ladies missing out on the fun.
"Ms. Potts has a company to run," he said, smiling sadly, but trying to look as casual as possible. Rhodey must have caught on his unusual quietness and knew very well that it has something to do with Pepper. He didn't quite understand what Thor replied but he just heard enough to say that he's boasting about Jane.
He decided to play along. "The company that Pepper runs is the largest technological bubble on earth, very exciting." He just needed the distraction. Thor said something about nobel prizes or what country his girlfriend is in and other things that do not really concern him.
He just let Thor glorified his girl and let the two walk away from them.
"Jane's better." Thor arrogantly said. If it was a normal day for Tony, he would have made a comeback, a punchline, an ending statement to prove that Pepper's not just better but the best of the best. But he knows there's something else entirely that's been eating him up, and he can't quite define what it is exactly.
'Is there a pending doom to come? Or another alien coming out of wormholes?'
So? What do you think? Hmmmm okay or hmmmmm not okay? Lol. PEPPERONY FOREVER!