Tony enters the living room silently, where I'm already waiting for him.

"You're late." I seeth through gritted teeth. He sits down next to me and looks at his watch. "Oh c'mon, Pepper, I'm not that late."

I turn towards him. "You're 4 hours late, Tony!" I fume. His expression turns to one of shock.

"Really? Oh god, you're right. I'm really sorry."

I breathe in and out heavily before answering. "SORRY isn't going to cut it. It's my birthday and our two-year anniversary as a couple! I fed up with you missing every single important event in my life! I feel like you're not even committed to this relationship!"

Tears are welling up in my eyes now, and Tony tries to wipe them away. I slap his hand. "Wow." Is his simple reply. "Well? What do you have do s-say for yourself?" I sob, tears running down my cheek.

"Look. I can explain. I really can." He says, but I ignore him. "Just like you can explain all of the other times you've missed things? You were in a meeting, yet your breath smelled like alchohol, you were out with some friends and there was l-l-lipstick on your ch-cheek..." I break off, starting to lose control. Tony grabs my chin and forces my head towards him. "Look. Smell my breath." he says, and breaths on me. It smells like... mint.

"And no lipstick, see? Now let me explain."

I grudgingly stay put. "Fine. You have exactly 2 minutes."

Tony reaches in his pocket.

"I forgot about our date because I was too busy... making this."

He pulls out a small box and gets on his knee. He opens it up, and there- in the little velvet box- is a mini, WORKING, arc reactor ring.

"Virginia Pepper Potts." Tony says, and I smile as he continues. "You are my arc reactor;
You keep my heart from dying,
you were the beginning of something HUGE for me,
you power my life,
without you, I wouldn't last a week,
and I want us to be together for the rest of our lives.
Virginia Pepper Potts... will you marry me?"

I gasp, tears of happiness running down my cheeks. I can barely even nod.
"Yes. Yes Tony, I will marry you."

He pulls me into a kiss, and when we break apart, he chuckles.
"What?" I ask, still swept up in happiness. He puts his watch up to my face and grins.

"Thirty seconds to spare."