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The Second Time

'Hey, Potts, what are you wearing?'

Pepper rolls her eyes and debates hanging up the phone, that's the problem with Tony though (well, one of the many problems with Tony), he doesn't take defeat lightly and will keep calling non-stop until she answers his question.

'What are you wearing?' Pepper says, turning the question back around. She's known him for five years, she can do that now.

Tony chuckles on the other end of the phone. 'Kinky, Potts. I am looking devilishly handsome in Dolce and Gabbana and don't know what tie to wear. Hence the previous question.'

'You want to know what colour dress I'm wearing so we can match?' Pepper half says-half shrieks down the phone.

'Problem?'

'We are not a couple, Mr Stark, the only reason I am going to this at all is because lots of businessmen will want to arrange meetings with you which you will not have the interest to do.'

There's a pause on the other end of the phone, and then: 'So you're not going to tell me what you're wearing?'

Pepper can feel a headache coming on and she hasn't even left the house yet.

'Wear the blue tie, goodbye Mr Stark,' she says, and hangs up without bothering to specify which blue tie he should wear, not that it matters, the man looks good in anything.

Pepper straightens down the front of her (green, definitely not blue) full lenth gown and scrutinises herself in the mirror, wishing for the millionth time that night that she didn't have to go to this stuffy benefit full of boring businessmen and snooty female secretaries.

Her phone buzzes and Pepper glances down to see a text from Happy on the screen informing her that he's waiting outside for her. She gives herself one final one-over in the mirror, picks up her clutch purse, pats her cat's head goodbye, and exits the house.

Happy's parked the limo bang opposite her drive, and Tony is leaning against it, one eyebrow raised, blue tie neatly in place, hair perfectly messed up.

'That,' he says, pointing at her. 'Is not a blue dress.'

'Well done, Mr Stark,' she tells him. 'I can see why they call you a genius.'

That earns her an eye roll, but in credit to him he does hold the door open for her (probably so he can ogle her ass as she gets in) and climbs in after her.

'Seriously though, Potts, you look lovely,' he tells her, and Pepper has to fight to hide the blush that creeps up to her cheeks. Luckily the limo isn't that light and he probably didn't notice.

'Thank you, Mr Stark,' she tells him, as he pours himself a glass of scotch from the mini bar. 'I'm so proud that after all these years you've finally managed to dress yourself.'

Tony chuckles.

They reach the hotel a few minutes later and already Pepper can see and hear the paparazzi waiting on the steps with their cameras, barely being contained by the security. Tony opens the door and holds his hand out for her.

'Come on, Potts. Live or die let's get this over with.'

Pepper takes a deep breath and exhales. Tony surprises her by actually picking up on her anxiety and smiles softly at her.

'Not used to being the centre of attention?'

'I've never been the centre of attention,' Pepper answers back.

Tony looks confused. 'I thought you were a model?'

'Tony!' Pepper exclaims, she did not remember putting that on her resume.

He gives her a lopsided grin. 'Hey, no judging, I couldn't live without you, Pepper,' he says, and takes her hand in his. 'You go up first, I'll pretend to talk to Happy about something, pretend you're on the runaway or something and tune them out. Do smile though, you have a pretty smile.'

Pepper takes another deep breath and allows herself to be helped out of the car. Tony gives her hand one last reassuring squeeze then bangs on the driver's window.

'Hey, Hogan! Open up you grumpy old git.'

Pepper ignores the paparazzi flashing their cameras and calling her name, and instead focuses on the door, like she used to when she was modelling. Look at the clock, ignore the people, look at the clock, keep your face expressionless and put one foot in front of the other.

She did manage a small smile though.

Once inside the ballroom Pepper relaxed. No-one was looking at her, no-one was interesting in her and why should they be? She was only a PA after all.

'Pepper!'

Rhodey had spotted her and was waving at her, making his way towards her, his air force uniform sticking out like a sore thumb in the crowd of greys and browns.

'You have no idea how glad I am to see you, Pep,' he tells her, leading her by the waist over to the bar. 'Those generals were boring me to death.'

It makes Pepper smile to hear Rhodey talk about his bosses in such a degenerative way when he tells Tony off for little things like microwaving popcorn for lunch, but then he's always opened up to her.

Tony joins them a few seconds later, trapping Pepper in the middle of the two men and ordering another scotch.

'Hey buddy, go easy on those,' Rhodey warns, nodding at his glass. 'We both know you're a bit of a lightweight.'

'I am not!' Tony protests indignantly.

'Yeah yeah whatever you say,' Rhodey says with a knowing wink at Pepper.

A few hours later it's one in the morning and Tony is as drunk as a skunk (Pepper really doesn't know where that phrase comes from, it just seems so accurate).

'Hey Pottsssss,' he slurs drunkenly at her. 'Wannaaaa dancccee?'

'No thank you, Mr Stark,' Pepper replies. 'In fact I think we should probably be getting back now, it's quite late.'

'Noooo,' Tony says, pouting at her. 'You need more whiskeys.'

'I don't drink whiskey,' Pepper points out, and looks pointedly at Rhodey who is stood at the other side of the room and nods at her in acknowledgement.

'Come on, Tony,' he says, clapping his friend on the back and making him stumble and nearly crash into the bar. 'I think it's time to get back.'

'Party pooper,' Tony mumbles, but doesn't complain and allows himself to be led back to the waiting limo.

Once inside, he passes out almost immediately and leans back on the leather upholstery, drooling all over the head rest. Rhodey and Happy both agree that they will take him back to the house and Pepper can go straight home. She doesn't complain, babysitting Tony Stark when he's drunk isn't worth the extravagant pay check she receives at the end of each month.

Happy pulls up outside her house and Tony jars awake when he feels the car stop.

'Is this your house?' he says, confused and staring at Pepper's condo.

'Yes, you were here earlier,' Pepper points out, opening the car door.

'No wait! Potts!' Tony says, grabbing her hand as she's about to step out of the limo.

'What?' Pepper says irritated.

Tony latches onto her, wrapping his arms around her middle. He stinks of alcohol but his embrace is warm and his body is soft.

'Thank you,' he mumbles into her neck.

'For what?' Pepper asks, patting his head awkwardly.

'Everything,' Tony says, and Pepper hopes she can escape before he turns on the waterworks. He can be a bit of an emotional drunk sometimes.

'I love you,' he says, pulling back and looking at her, but his eyes are dull and not really focused on her face.

Pepper sighs affectionately at him and steps out of the car. 'Goodnight, Mr Stark,' she says.

Rhodey and Happy both say their goodbyes and by the time Pepper gets inside the house she can see that Tony has fallen asleep again.

Aww sleepy drunk!Tony :) Please review and thank you muchly to all the awesome people that did ^_^