A/N: this chapter will be edited after the 3rd Chapter has been completed. Expect things to look very different, but it will go along the storyline I have planned out. Thank you.

Ship: TS/PP

Rating: T

Summary: After a long and tiring year of putting up with her boss's hateful demeanor; Pepper wishes for a man that respects her. But her wish may be something she wasn't asking for…

In the East Wing of Mr. Stark's mansion; which dwelled on the Malibu Cliffside, sat a lonely assistant. Her bright red wavy locks tumbled over her shoulders and down her back. Today had been another day just like yesterday and the day before. Pepper felt like she was repeating the same day over and over, for the past year. And since Pepper had learned of Tony's new super hero act, she had begun to see less and less of him. Not that she liked his attention, but let's not lie here, she was on some terms: attracted. However things weren't like before. When she did see him, he was a total jackass to her. Normally he would be hurtfully sarcastic to others and teasing with her. She missed that. She missed that playful smile. Now she was treated like the rest. Pepper had debated whether or not to quit her job on several occasions. But she had always found a reason to stay. She didn't have the heart to leave a friend. Was that what he was; a… friend? She pondered it for a moment. In some sorts she felt he was more like her husband than anything else. Living in his house, knowing his favorite food, doing his laundry; all the while, he couldn't even remember her birthday. Isn't that what married couples do anyway? The wife bends over backwards for him, cleaning his every wound while he forgets her and doesn't come back home until 3 in the morning. Well that's what Pepper did for him. And that's what he did with her. So in a sense they were sort of married. Only she was ringless, and he was still banging up every girl he looked at.

There was another thing. She hated when he brought home girls. Even when she buried her head in the couch she could still hear it… She gets so tired of him constantly with other girls. She just gets so… so jealous. Why was it always her that ended up lying on the couch while he was on a date with some other woman? Then it dawned on her at that precise second. She didn't have to wait for him to come to his senses. She could just find another man that would treat her fairly. It couldn't be that hard, could it? Then she could find out if he really did have feelings for her.

Her thoughts were interrupted when a knock came at the door. Tony came in and wobbled over next to her.

"You're drunk aren't you?" she said holding in her laughter.

He moaned holding his head in his hands. Pepper sat there quietly when she felt the pressure of his body lean against her. She breathed out a frustrated sigh which woke him up. Tony blinked a few times before sitting up straight again.

"I wish you would stop doing this. I miss the old Tony." She sobbed slightly. And it was true. She really did. Pepper couldn't stand to see him like this. But what could she do anyway? She was just his assistant. However Pepper couldn't help to add that she was also his closest friend. At first Tony didn't respond, only falling in and out of sleep. But when he did respond it caught her off guard.

"I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't treat you like this. I've been an idiot to not realize until today of just how much pain I cause you. I guess that's why I started drinking tonight. I didn't want to feel like a jerk. But I know I will, and I know that… you're always right when it comes to me. Pepper…. I'm sorry. Will you forgive me for the umpteenth time?"

"Of course I will, I always do." She whispered. She turned her head away to stare straight at the wall. She wouldn't be getting any sleep tonight with his speech rolling around in her head. If she remembered correctly this was the first time he'd actually sincerely apologized to her. She'd have to write that down. So maybe he did care; just maybe. As she continued to observe the wall, she felt his hand cup the other side of her face and kissed her softly on her cheek. Her eyes widened slightly, and he walked out of her room. Say goodbye to sleep for the next week Pepper.

After a night of only a few hours rest, Pepper walked to the kitchen dragging her feet on the cool tile floor. She made a cup of coffee, and sipped the warm contents, sprawling out on the couch. It would only be another 20 minutes or so until Tony came down yelling that the TV was too loud at 9:00 in the morning. And when the 20 minutes had passed Pepper heard her boss's feet thump on each step until the bottom. As the usual routine he swiped the remote away and turned it off. Then proceeded to get his coffee and stop before he pushed open the swinging door saying to her, "you get it". As his assistant she did what she was told and brought him his coffee. After he finished, he ran down the stairs to his lab. Pepper sighed looking at the calendar. March 8, 2009. She got up taking the empty cups with her back to the kitchen. "Why do I love him?" She said drowsily, turning back to head down to the lab.

Pepper sat on the stool next to Tony's desk, where he was currently trying to reconstruct the flight power on his suit. Holding her clipboard to her chest she continued to watch his hands play and fiddle with the wires. "Do you need any help." She would ask several times each hour. A quick no would be his reply, and he began again.

After about the fourth hour she began to pace around, often liking to walk behind him just so he would tense up. "Do you remember what you said to me last night?" This question surprised him a little, so he turned to look at her. "I was drunk, I don't remember anything." She smiled lightly when he blushed. That was the hint that he did in fact remember their conversation. "Oh well, never mind then." He lifted an eyebrow turning back to his work. "Could you get out, I'm trying to concentrate."

She followed his orders and walked back to the living room, where like every day she would take a short nap, and wake up to Tony screaming for her help. Hours had passed and no scream had jolted her from her sleep. The lab door opened and Tony came out to see Pepper sleeping soundly on the couch. He sighed, picking her up and taking her to her room. Her slender arms were wrapped around his neck and her head lying on his chest. Tony could feel a blush creeping up, and lay her down softly. He left her room but felt an absence in his heart. She belonged with him; and him with her.

Pepper woke to a dim light which glowed through her cracked bedroom door. Looking toward the digital alarm clock that read 9:27 pm she slipped off the covers and headed down to Tony's lab. Her thoughts swirled around in her conscience; just how did she end up back in her bed. Tony wouldn't carry her up the steps and… She blushed at the thought. Opening her eyes fully she saw him come up from the lab and into the kitchen brushing past her. She shivered at the quick second where their bare skin touched, the turned to face him. His expression had described serious, tired, and yet something else she couldn't quite put her finger on. Yet that part of him vanished when he looked up to meet her eye level, standing directly in front of her. Pepper began to get nervous knowing full well what he could do. Fire her? Or physically hurt her? She wasn't in that much trouble was she? But his demeanor said otherwise. Why was he so mad? So she fell asleep; big deal.

"I thought I told you to stand by when I was working with something that could potentially kill me. What if something had happened and I needed help? And you weren't there?" He said coldly.

"Well nothing happened, and you're fine. So I'm sorry if I fell asleep, while you were dealing with something dangerous. I'll be sure to be awake next time."

"You don't get it do you?" Tony said beginning to get angry, "All I want is you to be there beside me, instead of robots. I need you, a human; the same as me. I'm sick of looking at wires and metal scraps!"

"Then maybe you shouldn't take me for granted!"

She did not intend to say that, however it definitely hit him hard; for he took a step back and tears welled up in his deep brown eyes. She spun in the other direction back to her room, leaving Tony to bang his fists on the granite countertops. She ran up the steps and collapsed on her bed. Tony sat on the couch taking out his ipod and turning it up full volume. Once Pepper had changed into a dark green dress, and wiped her tears away, she grabbed her purse and headed back down stairs. Nearing the end of the steps she quieted her feet and looked around. He was consumed in his ipod, which gave her the perfect chance to sneak away. She snuck out with ease taking her car (which Tony had given her) to one of the very high class clubs.

The first few dances had gone well when a man had asked her to dance, however his girlfriend found out and dragged him away. She sat at the bar as another man ordered her a drink.

"Um thanks, who might you be?" Pepper asked leaning her head in her hand.

"Jason Thompson, and you?"

"Pepper Potts." She said smiling as this just might be what she had been wishing for.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." He smiled back hearing the song change, "Would you like to dance?"

She nodded taking his hand and being lead to the dance floor. His arm wrapped around her and they began to sway at the beat of the song.

A kiss was placed on her cheek as he asked her for another meeting. She agreed to the same place and headed back to her car waving Jason goodbye. She grinned all the way back to the house, enjoying the night wind rushing through her hair. A sign along the road said 75 mph, however right then, she could care less.

She parked her car inside the fairly large garage, and headed back inside. Her heart felt lifted, she finally felt loved. And then there was Tony, who leaned against the wall of the front entry way. A scowl was plastered on his face, as he asked of her whereabouts.

"I was out."

"Where; with who?" he said raising his voice slightly.

"My boyfriend."

Oh how she wished she had a camera right then. His eyebrows dug into his temples and his lips were stammering out of control.

"You're not aloud to have a boyfriend!"

"Oh really? Are you my master now? Because you have no rules against your one night stands." She got him good. He continued to look bewildered as she went to pass him. Then something came over her, a whole new side of life. She grabbed his tie and pulled on it lightly, "You had that chance, now it belongs to another man." She let go of him and walked swiftly upstairs. He got the point of her remark, but didn't like one bit of it. He knew what this feeling was. He had experienced this every time she flirted with some one else other than him. Yes he knew exactly what the pain was. Jealousy.

A/N: So what'd the readers think? This is my first entry for ironman, so I'd love some feedback to see how I did. Continue?