Pepper had made Tony promise, that if he were dyeing, he had to tell her. Tony Stark is usually not a man to his word. He doesn't keep promises. Not most of them. When JARVIS asked him if he should try Miss Potts, if he hadn't promised, he probably would have said no. He wouldn't want Pepper to have to hear him die, which is what was going to happen, he knew it. But, he promised so he said 'Sure, why not?'
She took forever to pick up.

Pepper sat with Harold "Happy" Hogan in one of the Stark private jets, staring at the TV screen of what she left behind in New York.

"Miss Potts, your phone" Happy said quietly. She didn't respond until he said "It's Mr. Stark."

"Tony!"

"Hi, Pep. How are-"

"Put that missile down right now. You will if you value your life, Tony Stark!"

"I do, are you?"

"Over Massachusetts! Why the hell do you have a missile on your back? Tony!"

"Pepper, listen. First of all, it's a nuclear missile. Second of all, do you remember the promise I made you when I was dyeing of palladium?" The rest of the boy band could hear this conversation, he knew because they were all quite, "Well, yeah. Here we go, I'm gonna die Pep. I want you to know that what I'm about to say is probably from a lifetime movie that you watched." Pepper laughed lightly. "I love you, but if I die, Capsicle or Point Break'll probably try to court you or some shit. Don't let 'em. You know that Natalie's real name is Natasha? Tell Happy and Rhodey that if they court you Imma haunt 'em. Got that?"

"Yeah. Happy says he'll be a good boy and play bodyguard with me."

"No. Absolutely not. I love y-" He cut off from lack of oxygen, the call ended and Pepper was the last thing on his mind as he started to fall back to Earth.

"Tony? Tony!" Pepper cried. Happy looked at her sadly, Tony had tried and succeeded to lighten that up with jokes but, that didn't mean it didn't hurt. Pepper shot up and went into the cock pit, he heard shouting and then she came back out straightening her jacket. The plane made a turn and Happy smiled.

"Did you just chew out the pilot to get him to turn around?"

"Yeah" They both laughed through the stress for the rest of the ride.

"We aren't done yet" Cap told Tony, Thor and the Hulk.

"Where's Pepper?" Tony asked breathlessly.

"Pepper? The spice?" Thor dumbly inquired.

"Yeah, 'cause I love pepper. No! goddamnit Thor! Pepper is my assistant. Don't go and ask me why, I love my assistant either 'cause you'll find out Lightening Rod. Somebody help me up!"

After both Steve and Thor had his arms over their shoulders,Clint and Natasha joined them.
"Awwww, Stark does have a heart." Clint said, tilting his head to the side and sticking his bottom lip out.

"You're damn right I do." Tony muttered. Then in a louder voice, "Let's go get Reindeer Games and have shwarma!"

After Loki was at the SHIELD base and the shwarma was eaten, the avengers went to Stark Tower. Pepper and Happy sat on a couch next to the person sized dent in the floor. They were waiting for Tony to get his ass there so they could kill him. They were going to kill him because he caused to much worry, and he is paying for it in one way or another. When the elevator doors opened, Tony had just stepped out when a six inch heel almost got him in the head. Another heel joined its brother and he saw Pepper, barefoot, glaring at him. "Whoa, where's the fire, Pep?"
"THE FIRE! I AM GOING TO KILL YOU TONY STARK! IT IS GOING TO BE LONG AND PAINFUL, YOU BASTARD!" A clip board found it's way to right above his head," I EFFING HATE YOU! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?! WHO IN THE HELL ARE THEY? I'M SUING YOU AND ALL OF SHIELD! HAPPY!"

"Pepper, calm down, they're the aveng-"

"I DON'T CARE! YOU ALMOST DIED! AGAIN! TONY, DO YOU HATE ME?"

"No, Pep, I don't hat-"

"Tony, I was already stressed out and now you're going through alien portals with missiles!"She calmy stated. The avengers were scared for their very lives. Well, not Natasha because she knew Pepper's rage, however the boys didn't. They were screwed."Tony. Put yourself in my place, how do you feel?" She was nearing hysterics.

"I'm sorry Peps." He glared at the avengers and they quickly spread ot, smirking at Tony. Happy didn't even seem fazed by his glare when Tony turned it on him. "Pepper, I am sorry. Really. If it helps, it's Steve's fault."

"How is this my fault?" and "Don't go blaming someone else for this, Tony Stark!" were said at the exact same time.

"Steve; I can lay down on the wire, thank you. And Pepper; it's his fault. Oh, and those heels, I have enough bruises Miss Potts." He smirked when both Steve and Pepper glared at him. "Now, Avengers. This is Pepper and that is Happy. Happy, Pep that's Steve, Clint, Thor, Bruce and Natashalie."

"Natashalie?"

"Natasha Romanoff. Natalie Rushman." Pepper only nods and walks over to Tony.

She wraps her arms around his chest and his arms snake their way to her waist. He's leaning against the counter, his head bent so that he can smell her. He's not obsessed. He just missed her. The avengers get acquainted with JARVIS. A shield, a hammer and an arrow are pointed at the ceiling in two seconds flat. Tony and Pepper don't notice and Happy has to calm them own. If Tony would've noticed, he would've laughed. The avengers left quickly, they felt as though they were intruding on a private moment. Tony and Pepper stayed in their embrace, Pepper soaking his thin shirt with her tears, until Happy left. He dragged her to their bedroom and kissed her. Passionately. She ends up dragging him to the bed, though.

It's well past one O'clock in the morning, Pepper's asleep form rest chest to back with Tony, when JARVIS tells him 'It seems Agent Barton needs your help, Sir.' He doesn't respond, I can't help. I'm busy. He later finds that Clint did whatever he needed help with, alone. When he finally falls asleep, he can't help but think, I'm a lucky bastard. The avengers find him with a big smile the next morning. He never explains it but, if Steve's blush and Clint's smirk is any indictation, they know what happened last night.

AN: Hi. My first Ironman story! I don't like it, but hopefully you do. It's gonna stay at a one-shot for now. Sorry. What did you think? Please review! God bless!