The Field of Heaven

Chapter 2

Now that Pepper had moved in with Tony, she looked forward to coming home at night and being able to curl up next to him, falling asleep so easily. However, today was different. When Pepper came home from work, she had a splitting headache and the only thing she wanted to do was be left alone.
She slowly climbed the stairs up to the bedroom instead of climbing down to Tony's workshop like she normally did. She changed into yoga pants and one of Tony's random t-shirts she found on the ground. Then she crawled into bed and told Jarvis, the AI, to turn off the lights as she slowly drifted off to sleep, even though it was only seven o'clock and she hadn't eaten anything since noon. However, dinner could wait.
When Pepper didn't come down to the workshop Tony started to worry. "Jarvis, did Pepper come home from work yet?"
"She did sir." Jarvis responded in his monotone voice.
Tony was confused. "Hmm. That's strange. She usually comes down when she gets home. Where is she now Jarvis?"
"Miss Potts is currently located in the bedroom and appears to have fallen asleep. Would you like me to wake her sir?"
"No. That's ok Jarvis. Thank you." Tony said as he took the stairs two at a time to reach the main floor. Then did the same with the stairs to reach the top floor. He slowly opened the bedroom door and saw Pepper asleep on the left side of the bed.

Tony changed into sweat pants and removed his dirty shirt not bothering to replace it with a clean one, allowing the blue glow of the arc reactor to illuminate the room. He then crawled in bed next to Pepper. She woke and turned to lie on her side, facing Tony.
After wrapping an arm around Pepper's waist and kissing her softly on her forehead, Tony said, "Hey. Is everything ok? You didn't come down when you came home."
Pepper sighed, "Yeah everything's fine. I just have this really bad headache."
"Why didn't you tell me Pep?"
"I didn't want you to worry about me."
"Pepper. I always worry about you." Tony said as he placed another kiss to her forehead. "Have you taken anything for it?"
Pepper shook her head and Tony got up, first going down to the kitchen for a glass of water and then back up the stairs and into the bathroom off their room to find some Motrin. After giving the pills and water to Pepper, who took the pills quickly and drank the entire glass of water, Tony climbed back into bed next to her. After setting the glass down Pepper moved closer to Tony, laying her head on his chest and placing a hand over the arc.
"Are you hungry?" Tony asked wrapping an arm around her back, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"You have no idea. I could really go for some pizza."
"Jarvis?" Tony called out softly to the ceiling as to not put Pepper in any unnecessary pain.
"Yes sir?" The AI responded in his usual tone.
"Order a large pepperoni pizza from the nearest pizza place and make it quick."
"Of course sir." Jarvis responded as he began to order their pizza.

By the time the pizza arrived, the Motrin had started to kick in and Pepper could barley feel her headache any more. Tony answered the door, paid the pizza guy, and then brought the pizza into the living room where Pepper was sitting on the couch covered with a blanket, hungrily waiting for the pizza. Tony put the pizza on the table, opened the box, and handed Pepper a piece on a paper plate before helping himself to one. He sat down next to Pepper and turned the TV on, beginning to eat. Pepper stretched out her legs across Tony's lap and ate her own slice.

"Fury called today. I have to go on a mission." Tony said to break the silence.

"When do you have to leave?" Pepper said with a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Tomorrow morning."

"When will you be back?" Pepper said with the same tone.

"Hopefully it won't take very long. I mean with a name like Iron Slash, how hard could he be to beat?" Tony laughed, but soon noticed that Pepper wasn't laughing and saw the look of sadness in her eyes. He moved closer to Pepper and lifted her chin so she was looking at him. "Hey. I'll be okay. I'll only be gone for a few days. A week at the most. I'll call you every night. It'll be over before you know it; it'll be like I never left. Okay?"

Pepper tried to smile as she spoke. "Okay."

Tony leaned in, kissed her lips softly, and then pulled her into a hug. "Just be careful okay?" Pepper said into Tony's neck.

"Okay."

The next day came quickly and Pepper had decided to work from home until Tony came home from his mission. She didn't know what it was but she felt much more worried for Tony now that they had started dating.

"Are you sure you want to work from home Pep? It might help to get out of the house for a few hours every day and stop worrying about me." Tony said as he finished prepping the suit and walked over to get his neoprene under suit.

"I'm sure Tony. I'll have easy access to Jarvis so I can monitor you and you can call me when… I mean if something goes wrong." Pepper said correcting her mistake quickly, hoping Tony hadn't noticed, but he had.

"Nothing is going to go wrong Pep." Tony said as he stripped down to just his boxers, throwing his clothes on the counter next to him and pulling on his under suit, helplessly reaching for the zipper on his back.

Pepper stopped his hands and zippered the suit up. Tony turned around and wrapped his hands around Pepper's waist as she wrapped her hands around his neck. Pepper laid her head on Tony's chest and felt a tear roll down her face.

"Hey. Everything going to be okay Pep. I'm going to come back in one piece and I won't forget to call. Every night. I promise." Tony said lifting Pepper's head and wiping the tears from her face with his thumb.

"Just be careful Tony." Pepper mumbled as the tears started to fall faster.

"I will." Tony said as he placed a slow, deep kiss to Pepper's lips. Tony pulled back and said. "I have to go now. I'll call you tonight from Japan." He placed another quick kiss to Pepper's lips. "Jarvis, are we ready to go?"

"Indeed sir." Jarvis responded as the floor started to open in front of Tony and Pepper waiting for Tony to step into the boots.

Pepper unwrapped her arms from Tony's neck and he walked over to the boots and stepped in, allowing the robots to put the rest of the suit around him. Before closing the facemask, Tony looked at Pepper, who had controlled her tears. "I love you, Pepper."

Pepper's heart skipped a beat. "I love you too, Tony." Pepper just barely managed to say before the tears started to fall again.

Tony's facemask closed with the familiar sound of metal hitting metal and he lifted off flying through the opening of the garage.

"Jarvis what's our flight time to get to Japan?" Tony said to the AI system he had installed into the suit

"Estimated flight time to Japan is twelve hours, sir." Jarvis responded.

"Let's make it ten." Tony said as he added more thrust to the boots and began his flight over the Pacific Ocean.