Disclaimer: I own nothing from the IronMan film. (but do I wish) Everything is owned by Stan Lee and Marvel. Title by Rob Thomas.

Authors Note: Sorrrrrrry! I so tried to get Chapter 4 up yesterday. But my friends brother was stuck in Buena Park which is 40 min away so we had to go drive and get him. Ay Chi wa wa! Then I had to go help my brother find clothes cause he is sort of Noob in that area. But I bought the IronMan novelization. AND I MUST SAY TH PEPPER AND TONY ARE SO WONDERFUL IN THE BOOK VERSION! especially about what happens on the balcony during the benefit scene...wish that made the movie!

ok...enough angry rant!

It may be almost midnight but I have the chapter done! And I tear'd a little bit. I won't lie. Buttttt hope you all enjoy. AND ALL THE REVIEWS AND ALERTS AND MORE THEN 1000 HITS. way to make me feel wonderful. Shit I wish Fictionpress was as bomb as this site! ANYWAY ENOUGH STALLING.

CHAPTER 4!!111


When the Heartache Ends

The 'Little Black Dress'.

Pepper sneered at that term. The saying is that 'every girl should have one'. Pepper just never was that type of girl. Though she had to admit, she looked pretty amazing. She and Rose spent 3 hours looking for something to wear when finally Rose came back from her storage room. She had gotten her design back from the warehouse, brand new collection. She wanted Pepper to have it.

Pepper of course denied at first, saying it was too much, and Rose deserved to have it on sale.

Rose just laughed and said, "Who better to advertise my clothes then you"

Now here she was. 7:30 in the evening staring at herself in the mirror.

The dress was a black halter at the top. With the slimming fabric hugging every curve possible going down to the knees. And what dress wouldn't have the perfect shoes. She wore black stiletto heeled sandals. They were about 4 and half inches, though to Pepper it was like walking in flats. She could run a race in those…or run for her life. Her outfit screamed control. There was no doubt; Tony would be at a loss for words. Her mother always told the girls growing up there was nothing sexier then a woman who was confident in herself. Pepper hope to god her mother was right.

But tonight wasn't about what she was wearing, tonight was about what she was feeling. Pepper Potts had never backed down from anything in her life.

And she wouldn't be starting a new tradition anything soon.

She smiled to herself and glanced around the apartment. She wondered how many times Tony had asked Jarvis to check if she was still home. After the Obadiah situation Tony had installed sensors in her apartment, to make sure no unwanted visitors could ever step in. It may have seemed like an act of possessiveness to others, but to Pepper, she was touched to know he cared.


Tony Stark straightened the tie in front of him while giving himself one last look before heading to the dining room.

"ETA Jarvis?"

"Ms. Potts is set to arrive at 8pm sharp. All sensors indicate she is still within range of her apartment sir"

Tony smiled and ran one hand through his hair. He had to comb it a bit before she arrived. Wanting to look his best. He was a handsome man, all of his suits were slimming and appealed to the opposite sex but this wasn't about them tonight.

This was Pepper.

The only woman in his life beside his mother, he has ever loved. And everyday it gets stronger. He was a fool for waiting so long to tell her, but that would all change tonight. He had everything under control for the situation. There was an undeniable connection between the two of them. Both knew it.

Tony Stark was going to confess his love for Pepper Potts tonight, and he would be damned if she tried to turn him away.

"Ms. Potts will be arriving in exactly 15 minutes sir"

"How long ago did she leave the apartment?"

"My indications read about 2 minutes ago, 1 min since the last time you asked"

Tony rolled his eyes and walked over to the window. Pressing the key code the glass moved away and he walked out to the balcony. Taking in a needed breath of air he looked over the edge and watched the waves crash into the rocks. He must of lost track of time because a voice outside caught his attention.

"Sir I believe Ms. Potts is arriving. Her car just passed the gate"

Blinking for a second Tony spun around and headed back into the house. He went over and checked the table.

"Jarvis everything ready?"

"Sir I do believe all the food is the right temperature and ready to be served, now-"

"What about the music? I don't want this getting awkward if there is silence so we need to have some tunes going and might I suggest-"

"Mr. Stark there is a compatible list of tracks I have been programmed to use. Now might I offer a suggestion?"

"Throw it out here, I'm up for anything right now"

There was a pause before Jarvis spoke again, "I believe it would be in you're favor to walk to the door now. Ms. Potts has just arrived"

Tony turned to look at the door. He took a deep breath and made sure everything was set before heading over. He stopped at the mirror to mess with his hair a bit before getting annoyed and walked up to the door. He opened the door and Pepper turned to meet him. Smiling.

If guy would ever admit to having their knees go weak, Tony Stark would be living with that secret for the rest of his life.

"Hello Tony"

Tony closed his eyes for a second to regain consciousness. Opening them he brought back his old self and took her hand.

"Pepper you look amazing"

He brought her hand to his mouth and lightly kissed the knuckle. She smiled politely and allowed him to walk her inside.

"You didn't tell me where we were going and I wasn't sure what to wear-"

"Well you did not lack in judgment on that part tonight Ms. Potts, and as to where we are having dinner, you have just stepped in to your very own 5 star restaurant"

Pepper looked at him confused until they turned the corner to the dining room and she almost had to grab him for support. It was beautiful.

He had set up an intimate little dinner set at the end of his table. They would be sitting next to each other and there were candles throughout the room. In the middle of the table there was a vase with one orchid inside of it.

Tony turned to look at Pepper and squeezed her hand, "Lets have a seat shall we?" all she could do was nod. She had planned on taking control of this night, and here he goes with this dinner. She was very touched.

After helping Pepper into her chair, he sat next to her on her right at the end of the table. They were in close courters. Tony smiled at her nervousness, "Jarvis music please" He whispered grazing his fingers over Peppers hand to try and calm her down.

"Certainly sir"

Tony then poured them some sparkling water. She took a sip. Nerves trying to get the best of her.

"How was your day off Pepper?" he asked while setting the bottle aside.

She put her glass down and gave him a soft smile, "It was actually very wonderful. I met up with Rose for lunch"

Tony chuckled, "Ah the other busy bee. I swear it is in your genes to be work a holics. So…" He beckoned, "What else did you guys talk about"

"She is pregnant again, she hasn't told Jerry yet"

"Well guess this week we should go get her a gift shouldn't we?"

She nodded, "And….she also gave me this dress, it's from her new line coming out"

He gave her one of his million dollar smiles, "Well you look beautiful"

"Thank you Mr. Stark" She blushed, "And how was your day? Everything went ok?"

He laughed and leaned back a bit in his chair, "It was fine, and nothing burned down while you were gone Pepper"

"Did you do all the appointments? I mean you had several appearances and then the whole thing at the-"

"I never said-"

His eyes lit up with amusement, "But it was what you were implying, and it was fine. I showed up to all appointments on time I might add. I was home by 6 and was even able to cook up a fabulous meal for us"

Pepper looked as he lifted up a lid and her favorite was inside. Her heart melted.

"You made ravioli"

He smirked and shrugged, "It's your favorite, now…" His expression changed from playful to concern when he saw her in her seat. She looked about two second from bolting out of here. And he was right. She suddenly shot up from her seat.

"Tony. I can't do this…"

He shook his head, "What's wrong?"

She refused to answer, "This! All of this! It is all too much!...I have to leave"

Walking away from the table she walked as fast as she could to the door. She opened it and is shut behind her. Tony was still at the table. Shocked and stunned by what happened, and how fast things had changed.

Did she not like the ravioli?

Tony had to go after her, "Jarvis! Has Pepper left?"

"No sir I do not believe so, it seems-"

Tony was already out of his seat and bolting to the door. When he opened it, he was surprised to see a very distraught Pepper who looked like she was about to burst into tears. She hadn't left yet; it looked like she didn't even want to leave. Tony sighed and rested his head against the door. He understood exactly what was going on so he held out his hand.

"Come on…we should talk"

Pepper closed her eyes and nodded, taking his hand they walked back into the house shutting the door behind them. Jarvis had turned off the music during the situation already. As they walked over to the couch Tony grabbed a box of tissues from a table and brought her into the living room. They sat down on the couch and Tony handed her a tissue. She gave him a week smile and slowly took it from him.

How could this night turn out so horribly?

"I'm sorry….I ruined the night…" She said softly looking at the ground. Tony reached forward and placed his hand under her chin and made her face him but she kept her eyes closed.

"Hey…Pepper, look at me" She opened her eyes which were now red from crying. Tony just shook his head, "You need to tell me what is wrong?"

Pepper stared into his eyes and she knew this was it. She couldn't handle it anymore, and she knew that he wasn't letting her leave and she didn't want to.

So she told him.

"I love you" Tony took his hands away from her face and sat back a bit. Pepper laughed and stood up and began to pace.

"You…you love me?" How he was about to get those words out were beyond him. Because the only thing he was hearing inside his body was his heart racing 1 million miles an hour.

"Yeah Tony, I do…and I have for a long time, at first I just denied it cause you were you" He chuckled a bit and she kept talking, "and then you were kidnapped and it tore me to pieces and then you came back…and you weren't Mr. Stark…you were Tony, you were that guy I had always wanted and-"

She didn't know when he had stood up or walked over to her but suddenly his hands were on her face and he drew her lips to his. She was taken by surprised but soon melted into it. She opened her mouth and a battle began. One of his hands went to the back of her dress and she wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him closer.

When they broke apart they were both breathing heavily and smiling. Tony closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers.

"Wow…" He told her. She nodded, "and for the record you haven't ruined anything. Everything is perfect; I'm standing here, in my home. Kissing the woman I love"

Pepper look back shocked which made Tony laugh, "Don't look so surprised, surely you must have figured something"

She shook her head, "I didn't know what to think…half of me wanted that to be true and the other thought your recent actions were your ways of reverting back to the old Tony"

Grabbing her hands he kissed them and brought her closer again, "Pepper Potts, that Tony is gone. And the only one here now is the one who wants you to know very personally" He grazed her lips with his, "The only person who is allowed even near my room or my heart for that matter" He kissed her softly, "Would be you. Now…would you like to dance?"

Pepper nodded and rested her head against his chest. She wrapped her arms around him. He began to hum. and they began to sway a bit. Pepper didn't know, nor did she care they were in the middle of his living room dancing or that he was humming horribly off tune.

Pepper Potts had just told Tony Stark she loved him.

And Tony Stark had told Pepper Potts he loved her back.


Should I end it here? Or continue? HMM. Cause I can do more, but do you guys want more?

Tell me your thoughts! and come on...how wonderful is Tony. Ruining her seducing plans!