Hey guys :) I finally finished the second chapter.

Thank you for correcting my mistakes - as I said before, English is not my first language, but I do my very best :)

I hope you like this chapter, if you do and want me to continue this fanfiction, please leave a review. :)

Happy reading.

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When Pepper woke up and noticed that she lay on the sofa, she was briefly confused, but smiled and looked over at Tony, who sat in his chair and was typing on his laptop.

He muttered swear words constantly and didn't notice that Pepper had sat up, until she asked gently:

"Problems?"

Tony nearly fell down his chair, but tried to cover it up before he replied:

"Yes... we'll arrive in 3 hours and I still haven't found a fucking hotel... I'm Tony Stark, damn it! " He cursed again and looked helplessly at Pepper, who stood up and tugged at her pantsuit before she sat down opposite of him. Her blue eyes sparkled as she smiled at him and he forced himself to speak calmly as he continued:

"There's some damn important meeting going on and all rooms are occupied... but I can do that"

They arrived at Kagoshima International Airport 3 hours later and still didn't know where to spend the night. Pepper stood next to Tony, he sat on one of his suitcases and stared at the floor angrily, just as if it were responsible for their situation. He hadn't even tried once to ask for help, it was beneath his dignity... She just grinned smugly at him and asked:

"Well? Should I assume travel planning the next time again?"

Tony looked at her offended and leaned against the wall. Exhausted, he unbuttoned his jacket an sighed. The weather was already incredibly sultry here, despite the late hour.

Pepper sighed in satisfaction. She had known that it would all go wrong, but Tony had insisted to organize everything himself. But she was not nearly as screwed as he was. Confidently, she fished her Japanese dictionary out of her bag and made her way to the next taxi driver. As she leaned through the window Tony had to pull himself together strongly not to stare at her butt - a very beautiful and well shaped butt... Fortunately, she turned around again after a short time and grinned.

Tony looked at her questioningly, but Pepper didn't bother to tell him what she had arranged and simply started to carry her bags to the taxi. Before Tony could even think to help her, the taxi driver rushed to do so and Tony sighed. He heaved his own bags in the trunk and wondered why they didn't take Happy with them - Oh Yes... he couldn't use any other man to steal Pepper's attention.

As if the The taxi driver had read his thoughts, he already started to speak heavy Japanese to Pepper, who raised her hands helplessly and the guy remained silent. Tony stared at the backrest in front of him angrily and pepper giggled amused.

"What is wrong with you, Tony?"

But Tony didn't answer. It was terribly hot, he had no idea where they went and nobody in this damn country could speak English... He had had the perfect plan, a 5 star hotel and he would have booked the honeymoon suite. With the receptionist he would've arranged that she said it was the only free room. Then, certainly his opportunities with his wonderful assistant would have increased. But now?

He stared out of the window and his already bad mood got a further shock. They had left the city and meanwhile drove along a quiet country road as Peppers startled him.

"You know, you could just relax and enjoy this. This is so much nicer than any hotel with western standards. You are iron man... don't you actually love adventure? "

Tony was about to answer roughly:

"You were the only adventure I had planned for this trip..."

but thought better of it and just nodded.

Pepper smiled gently and looked out of the window again. Tony leaned up and looked at her, she had her head leaned against the window, her red hair was flowing over her shoulder. Once again, Tony became aware of how much he needed her. Even now, without her, he would probably still sit at the airport and get upset, because no one took him as serious as in America. But Pepper Potts was as strong as alway and this was one of the details that he loved about her. And he could no longer ignore these feelings... It were the simple things wich made him understand that something had changed between them. The butterflies in his stomach when she touched him casually or honestly and heartfully smiled at him, but he also was afraid to loose her as a friend when he tried to get closer with her... But he also didn't know how long he could hide his true feelings for Pepper. He saw her every day, and it tortured him to know that she was only with him because she was paid to do so.

Tony was startled from his thoughts when the taxi stopped and he looked out of the window... well. They stood in front of a small farmhouse that didn't look like Tony might like it. He looked at Pepper, who had gotten out of the car already and he hurried to follow her. Outside it smelled of cows and if Tony could've run away he would've, but an older Japanese lady came out of the house already. Pepper made a small bow with the words "Konichiwa" and the older lady did equal. When she discovered Tony it almost looked like she jumped a little and pulled her husband over. Tony only understood his name along whispered words and looked at Pepper helplessly. She only grinned at him.

After a short time, the man took Peppers suitcase - Tony had to carry his by himself again - and asked them to follow him. Meanwhile, his wife tried to communicate in English with Tony and Pepper.

"So honor to have you here... you sleep, but one room"

Pepper smiled permanently while Tony was startled up by the words"one room". Should that mean he was still lucky? It was actually only one bedroom with a large Japanese futon on the floor and a cabinet. They put their bags down and the man left the room while the woman said: ''We on couch. Eat at 8?" Pepper nodded and after her "Arigato kosaimas" the lady left the room.

Pepper sighed and turned around to Tony, who mischievously grinned at her.

"There's only 1 bed..."

Pepper rolled her eyes... of course - that they would need to sleep in the same bed was the only thing Tony was interested in.

Arms akimbo she hissed a little more snappy than she actually planned to and replied:

"Without me you'd be still stuck at the airport, so be glad that I don't let you sleep on the floor."

Tony looked at her like a beaten dog, but said nothing.

Pepper only nodded and rummaged in her case until she found her towel and her make-up bag and then made her way to the bathroom. Just as she reached the bedroom door she heard Tony's whispered words:

"I'm sorry, pepper"

She turned around, Tony was still standing in the middle of the room. Pepper was speechless, Tony had never apologized to her. She smiled at him warmly and said:

"Is okay, Tony", even if it meant much more to her than she would ever admit...

After pepper had left the room, Tony undressed up to his Boxer shorts and then looked at the futon. It was nothing more than a 4 inch matte.

"Well it will be fun..." he muttered.

"Don't make a fuss", pepper replied amused, who just came back. Tony looked up at her from his kneeling position and was overwhelmed. He had never seen her in anything else than her work clothes, skirts, blazers... and now she stood in bright blue shorts, which made her legs even longer than they already were, and a white tank top that made Tony see more than Pepper was probably aware of. She wore her hair open and Tony once again noticed how much more attractive she looked like that.

Tony didn't reply and Pepper grinned, hung her clothes in the closet and lay down with a pleasurable sigh in front of him on the futon. Tony's stomach suddenly felt very warm at the sight and he swallowed hard before and, supported on his elbow, laid next to her. It was surprisingly comfortable, but the fact that he was so close to Pepper made everything else unimportant.

As if she had noticed that he stared at her, Pepper opened her blue eyes and blushed, but smiled. The bed was not very wide, and so they were at least as close to each other that she could feel Tony's bodyheat. How would it feel to just be in his arms, finally break down the barriers that she had built up over the years and be in an intimate relationship with someone again?... But she also knew that Tony was the wrong man and this was the wrong time. But just how he looked at her made it hard to convince herself that he was her boss and also the biggest playboy the world ever had seen and that it was a bad idea to fall in love with him. Pepper breathed out deeply and tried to arrange her thoughts. She looked up into Tony's chocolate brown eyes, and tried to figure out what he was thinking...

As she looked up at him, Tony wanted nothing more than pull her up and kiss her until both no longer knew where they were. But he was terrified that he would push her and she wouldn't want him. Pepper was the first woman in which he saw more than just a bed partner and he had never learned how he should behave in such a situation. ''Just kiss her!'' whispered an uninvited voice in his head, but he pushed it aside.

The silence between them was getting unbearable and eventually Pepper smiled gently and whispered:

"Good night, Tony",

And laid down with her back to him.