"Next time, I pick where we're going out," Pepper said as she clang to Tony. After becoming a fire monster and killing a guy, she really needed a hug.

Tony half smiled, still a bit traumatized. "I'm just glad you're alive," he muttered. He couldn't get the image of her falling out of his head. He promised her. How many promises did he break with her? Too many. "I'm so sorry, Pepper."

She looked up at him and frowned. "It's not your fault, you couldn't—"

"Pepper you died," he spoke harshly." Because of me. I'm supposed to protect you and I didn't. I failed you at the one time it counted the most. I was too weak and I'm not good enough—"

She shushed him with a hand over his mouth. "Tony, you're the best man I've ever met, okay? I love you. Now can we please go home I'm really tired."

His heart warmed up at her words. "I uh… kinda destroyed the house remember? I'll rent a hotel."

"What about Rhodey?"

"He'll be fine. He's with the president and SHIELD. Come on."

They walked hand in hand about a mile or so to the nearest motel. They didn't say much, just held each other. Once they got there, Tony was about to drop dead he was so wounded and exhausted. He wouldn't tell Pepper though; she would freak out. "Suite for the night please," he said to the girl at the counter.

She did something on the cash register and started to say, "That will be—"

He shut her up by handing her a few hundred dollar bills. "Please give us food and that'll be all, thank you."

"And umm, a medic please," Pepper quietly added.

"Are you hurt?" Tony asked suddenly alert.

"We both are," she reminded him. "Just a first-aid kit would do, thanks."

The girl nodded and went away for a few seconds. She came back with a room key and a first-aid kit. "We'll bring food up right away. Have a nice night."

"Thanks you too." They limped toward the elevator. Tony grinned as AC/DC "Let There be Rock" came on as elevator music.

They got to the room and Tony went straight to the window, looking at the stars. He kept on playing with this metal wire, thinking about how he almost lost Pepper. He lost his parents just as quick—what if Death took Pepper away too? He'd have nobody. He shivered and tried to shun away the thought.

Pepper saw his distress and wrapped her arms around his torso. His muscles gradually relaxed. He turned around abruptly and embraced her, burying his face into her neck. She silently held him as his hands ran up and down her waist.

"Peps," he choked. She hadn't realized he started to cry. Tony never cried. She only saw him cry twice prior to this: Howard and Maria Stark's death anniversary and when they finally reunited after what went down in New York. She kissed his cheek and his grip tightened.

"Shh, it's okay." This only made him cry even more. He hated crying, especially in front of her. After a few moments, he straightened up, his face grave. He grabbed her face, staring into her eyes.

A knock came upon the door. The food finally arrived. They chowed down, Tony eating almost all of it. He lay on the bed when he was done exhausted.

"Nope, we gotta clean you up mister," Pepper chided. She took out the first-aid kit and started to dab the cut underneath his eye. She noticed the way he was staring at her. "What?"

"God, I love you," he stated. She blushed and he liked the color. He kissed her sweetly. She still tasted the same and he sighed in satisfaction. He almost lost her today. He was going to express is gratitude that she was still alive.

He kissed her harder and slipped his tongue in her mouth. Her hands came up to play with his hair. He started to trail kisses down her neck. He started to suck there and she gasped. He lay them on the bed and hovered over her. He quickly took her shirt off kissed her soundly on the mouth. He released her bra and started to frantically kiss her breasts. She moaned in contempt.

She tried to be dominant by grasping his erection through his jeans. He growled her name and put her hands above her head. He placed kisses down her tummy and left a hickey below her navel. She quickly grabbed fistfuls of his hair. In two seconds tops all her clothes were on the floor and Tony was worshipping her body. She cried his name and this made him go even further.

He firmly grasped her ass with one hand and kneaded her breast with the other. She came sweetly but he wasn't done. He lifted himself up and groaned at the sight of her fully naked still shaking. He quickly unbuckled his pants and his excitement was clearly evident. She smiled at this and pulled down his boxers and wrapped her hands around his already throbbing dick. She started to pump him but he wasn't going to make it and he had to make up his broken promise to her. He removed her hands and slid inside her slowly with heavy, shallow breaths. She screeched, clawing at his back and wrapping her legs around him. He groaned loudly at the new depth and started a pace.

He latched his mouth to one of her nipples and started to thrust a bit quicker. She started to say his name repeatedly as if it were a prayer. He looked up at her and their eyes locked.

This was overwhelming for him. Her blue eyes were filled with nothing but love and warmth. He thought he'd never be able to see that again. More tears started to form in his eyes but he blinked them away. She smiled softly and wiped a few tears away. He moved faster and grunted louder. A few seconds letter, she climaxed with a scream. He felt her tighten and went even faster and harder. He felt as if he could fly. She then reached her hand down to tickle his balls and he came crashing. "Il mio amore!" he exclaimed.

Tony's mother was part Italian.

They both calmed down and he snuggled close to her. Tony was always the little spoon. He kissed her adoringly once more. "That hurt like hell baby," he said.

"Oh my gosh Tony!" She smacked his arm and they both laughed. Falling asleep. Oh, they were in for a lot more to come.