Just one

Summary: "I want one." He'd been saying those words for months now, and he'd said them so often, she didn't realize he was actually being serious about it.

Notes:

I loved IM2 but I wish there'd been more Tony/Pepper scenes! Tony & dummy scenes, too. I love that silly robot.

This story takes place in the plane, after they leave Monaco, (I loved that scene. RDJ is heartbreaking in it.)

Trixie appears in IM; she's the dark-haired stewardess who offers a hot towel to Tony. She sleeps with him in that flight, but the scene was deleted. (Can you tell I'm totally obsessed with this movie?)

The stewardess entered the little cabin and, studiously avoiding eye-contact with Tony Stark, addressed the young woman sitting opposite him.

"You may unfasten your seat belts now, Miss Potts." She smiled cordially, "We hope to see you again soon."

"Thank you," Pepper said just as sweetly. Her smile lasted until Trixie left the room. Once alone with Tony, she gave him a knowing look.

"What?" Tony frowned.

"Nothing."

"What do you mean, 'nothing'? That look meant something."

Pepper shrugged. "I just recognized the symptoms, that's all." She unfastened her seatbelt and was promptly on her feet, her movements as efficient and economical as always. She had her purse and the book she'd been reading, and was all ready to depart, then realized that Tony hadn't even unfastened his seatbelt. "Well?"

"Well, what?"

"Tony, we're home."

"I didn't wanna come home."

Pepper stared.

"Tony," she said slowly. "I'm only going to ask you this one more time: Is there anything you're not telling me?"

He almost told her, right then and there; of all the people in the world, Pepper was the only one he could trust with a secret. But she was also the last person he wanted to know about this particular secret. He didn't want to frighten her, and he didn't want her to worry.

Mostly, he didn't want to appear helpless in front of her.

Anything but that.

"Tony?"

He forced a smile.

"I want one."

She rolled her eyes.

He'd been saying those words to her for months, ever since she'd rejected his romantic advances. He never said the full phrase, 'I want a kiss,' but he didn't have to; she knew very well what he meant. It had become like a little joke between them, with him blurting out the words even at the most inopportune moments -even at a congress hearing.

She didn't mind; she just didn't take them seriously. Not after the 100th time.

"Oh, Tony," she muttered tiredly.

"Come on," he insisted. "Just one." Playfully, he reached for her hand. He didn't dare taking it, though; instead, he merely touched the tips of her fingers. She tried to pull her hand away, but he didn't let her; he held on to it, and gently examined her fingers. He didn't get a chance to do that very often. "These saved my life once," he said softly. He looked up. "Do you remember?"

"Yes."

How ironic that the palkadium had turned out to be a silent killer.

"Tony? Tony, we've got to go."

"Would you kiss me if my life depended on it?" he asked.

"What?"

He'd blurted out the words, and now there was no turning back.

"You know," he said. "A kiss from one's true love," he said. "To wake me up." He smiled a little; it was a ludicrous thought and he knew it, but science and technology had failed him so far, and he was running out of options. He didn't want to die, damn it!

Pepper was looking at him with a mixture of concern and weariness.

"Oh, Tony; I wish you wouldn't start drinking so early."

"I'm not drinking," he said indignantly. "This is serious!"

"This?" she repeated. "What is this?" She glanced at his fingers still touching hers. "What is this, Tony?" she waited for a long time in fact but no answer came. She nodded as if she'd known all along she would not get one. She finally pulled her hand away. "We have work to do," she said levelly. "Let's go." And she started to walk away.

"Just tell me this," he said abruptly. "Did I ever have a chance with you?" He looked over his shoulder, saw her stop in mid step.

She slowly turned to look at him.

"What?"

"Were you ever gonna give me a chance?" he said. "I've been asking you for one all this time."

She sighed.

"Tony, I just don't -" she didn't finish.

"Hey. It's ok," he added, using his best 'I can handle it' tone. "You can tell me."

She didn't immediately speak. "Just tell me this," she said at last, "Have you ever gone out on a second date?"

"Sure."

She eyed him skeptically.

He frowned. "I must have," he said uncertainly. "When I was in… Or was it when I…?" Damn! He couldn't lie fast enough. "I know it happened," he said stubbornly.

She couldn't help to smile at his efforts.

"Well, how about this," she said. "Did you sleep with her?" And she tilted her head in the opposite door's direction, the one that led to the Stewardess' cabin. "What's her name –Trixie? Did you sleep with her?" It was obvious that she already knew the answer to that, but she wanted to make him admit it out loud. He didn't. "It's ok," she said gently. "It's ok, Tony. I know how it is. I've been taking care of your dates for years, remember? I know how it is," she added pointedly. She smiled, but her words were bitter. "I don't want to be one of them, Tony. There'd be no one out there to take care of me, you see."

She turned to go.

"I'll be waiting in the car," she said.

Tony didn't move. The next thing he knew, Trixie was there, unfastening his seatbelt and helping him out of his seat, even though he didn't need the help. She held his coat for him.

"Was I discreet enough, Mr. Stark?"

"Yes, you were," he said patiently.

"Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"I'm fine. No, wait," he added, "Get me a drink. One for the road."

"Anything in particular?"

"Surprise me," he said. "I just want to stop thinking, ok?"

No wonder Tony was drunk at his birthday party...

But don't worry; they're gonna be fine in the end.