She shows up in the workshop doorway around midnight.
Quietly, she whispers, "Tony?"
"What?" He's up, of course he his. Fixing the suit. It's been thoroughly thrashed by Ivan Vanko, and, as it's his responsibility to keep up world peace, he has to make sure Iron Man is ready for a war at a moment's notice. Out of the frying pan...
"Were you really dying?" Her voice is small, timid, as if she doesn't quite want to believe it.
He sets down the gauntlet. Pepper always gets Tony Stark's full attention, something not many others do.
"I..." he gives her a sidelong smile. "I tried to tell you."
"The strawberries?"
"And the omelet."
She laughs. "That omelet was disgusting."
"I know, Pep. I didn't know what I was doing." For the first time, he'd really been scared. Scared and reckless. He'd almost lost everything. The suit, the company, the reputation... her. He wouldn't last one day without Pepper.
She pinches the bridge of her nose. "You needed me, Tony, and I wasn't there. I promise that won't ever happen again."
He holds her gaze, a lingering moment, but then breaks it away. "Palladium poisoning... in case you were wondering. As old One-Eye put it, the thing that was keeping me alive was also-"
"Killing you."
"Pretty much."
"So what did you do?"
He taps his chest. "I made up a solution. Isn't that what all great geniuses do?"
"You were really dying?"
"You still don't believe it? What, you think I'd get that drunk and reckless otherwise?"
"Yes, yes, I do believe that."
"Okay, so maybe I would. But I... I should have told you, and for that I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry I stopped you."
"I should have tried harder. That's what people do, for the ones they love." His voice falters on the last word.
She sucks in a deep breath and pushes her hair back out of her face. This is the first time he's seen her in her sleepclothes.
"Are those Iron Man pajamas?" He points to her sweats.
Pepper turns as red as her hair. "I just, um, I found them in a shop the other day, and I thought I should show support in my boss's w-"
"Consider them an early birthday present." He winks. "See, I remembered this time."
She hesitates, placing a hand on the doorframe. "Tell me, next time. If you need me. Maybe I can help."
"Pep, you're about as helpful with science as a platypus."
They both laugh, considering this truth.
"You should get some sleep. The award ceremony, tomorrow morning..."
He steps up closer to her. "I've gotta fix the Mark VI, just in case. But you should really-"
"Tony, you can't live on coffee. I'm not going to bed until you do."
"Is that an invitation?" he asks, inclining his head, eyes on her lips.
She takes a deep breath. "No, Tony. Not tonight."
"Of course." He's such a pushover when it comes to her. "I- I want to do this the right way, Pepper. I was just-"
"I know. Hey-" she places a hand on his cheek. "You'll be in my bed anyway."
"Wha-"
"I've got you on my PJs, after all." She leans in for a lingering kiss, then heads up the stairs.
"I'll be watching over you, then," he calls after her.
"And I over you. You wouldn't dare die under my watch."