A-level is finished, school's out and time to write. Here's the next chapter of this story. Thanks for your reviews and support. I mean seriously 3 chapters and 55 reviews?! I can't believe it! You are so… I am actually out of words. This is so amazing! I want to cry, 'cause of joy. Btw: ifuseek-ana No. 50! *clap and cheer*

I'm sorry for any mistakes, but I want to remind you, English isn't my mother tongue, but I try my best. So leave a review, if you like. I'd love to read it.

I don't own a thing.

The race

An hour later the three were dressed and had finished breakfast. Deciding what to do on their first day they chatted about the possibilities in this vicinity.

"Let's go to the beach." Tony cried for the third time this morning.

"Tony, it had rained all night. You can't even lie down on the sand. Plus it's cold and windy and I don't want to get ill." Pepper said as she gathered their plates to clean them.

"But Pepperrrrrrrrr, Rhodey and I want to go swimming in the sea. And the sun just came out. Come on don't get your panties twisted." Tony cried out.

"But I want to go and visit the pier and the beacon and the port and – " Pepper argued, but Rhodey interrupted her.

"Pepper as reluctantly as I want to interrupt you, but Tony's right. We can do sightseeing on every other day when the weather is worse than today. Come on, we'll walk to the beach and stop at the grocery-store and buy some food and a barbeque equipment for tonight. Yes Tony and scotch for you." He said as Tony opened his mouth to say something. Tony chuckled slightly and looked with an expecting look at Pepper.

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fine. But I need to change first, so would you mind wait here outside?"

"No!" The boys said in unison and finished their coffee while Pepper rolled her eyes at them before she walked inside of the tent and changed into jeans shorts, a bikini and a white blouse along with blue flats.

They walked to the beach. Tony insisted on it, but whined the entire mile. "Aren't we there already?"

"Anthony Edward Stark! If you ask this one more time I swear I'll drown you in the sea." Rhodey turned around and swore at his friend.

"But…But...But…" He stumbled.

"Oh shut up, won't you? I told you, you would be bored if we walk, but you just kept on pressing the topic." Pepper rolled her eyes though she was only slightly annoyed. She knew Tony and dealt on a daily basis with him.

Rhodey, who only visited his friend once or twice a week on purpose, because he knew Tony drove him crazy was forced to spend a week with him now. It wasn't that he disliked him, but truth to be told: Tony Stark was a handful and in Rhodey's opinion Pepper Potts was national heroine to cope with him. "We're nearly there, see here's sand already. And there are the dunes."

They climbed up the dune and there was the pacific-ocean and a beach with white, soft sand. They stroke the wind- and solar-sail to protect Pepper from burning on the one hand or freezing on the other hand. They unfolded the blanket and the towels while Pepper unpacked the food. Rhodey and Tony stripped down to their bathing shorts, but Pepper just took off her shoes and sat down.

"Ohh come on Pepper. We just stripped for you, well I just stripped for you like magic mike. It's your turn now." Tony had that smile on his face and Pepper just rolled her eyes, ignoring his suggestion and kinky remark.

'He's driving me crazy. One moment we're so close and he makes it so hard to resist him, but the next moment he, he treats me like one of those bimbos. Why … I don't understand him.' Pepper thought and walked away from the man who caused her inner debate, towards the sea.

The waves played around her ankles and the water was not as warm as expected. She looked at the water while wave after wave roughed the surface and approached her feet. Suddenly there was a hand on her shoulder and she turned around to see Tony right behind her.

"Pep? Are you okay?" He asked seriously.

"I… I'm fine, Tony."

"You look… hurt. What's wrong? What did I do?" He placed both his hands on her shoulders in trying to look her straight in the eyes.

"Nothing. It's oka –"

"No Pepper. I can see it's not. Spill it out."

"Why do compare me to those girls?" She looked down at her feet. She didn't want to cry. She was too proud to cry because of him, but he had hit a nerve.

"I – What?"

"You wanted me to strip for you like I'm a whore. I … I mean… It's… never mind. It's stupid. I'm fine." She backed away and began walking through the water.

"Pep… Pepper…" She didn't react and he could swear he saw her shoulders shook, like she was crying. "Virginia wait."

That caught her attention. He never, NEVER used her real first name and it made her froze on an instant. She just stood there, back towards him and shaking slightly.

"I'm sorry." He was now directly behind her. He brushed his lips against her ear and whispered. "You will never, - did you hear me? - never be like one of those bimbos. You are so much better. I'm sorry I didn't want to make you feel like this." He inhaled her hair deeply and buried his nose in her curls while she involuntarily leaned into his chest. He slowly put his arms around her and hugged her tight from behind, slowly nuzzling his nose along her cheek, ready for the kill.

But reality cut their moment as she realized what she was just about to do. She needed to stop this, but her heart was screaming different, yelling at her she wanted this. She wanted this kiss and this person and just him. But as always she ignored it. "Tony, I trust you. I'm sorry, too. I didn't want to cause a drama. I know you don't think about me this way."

Pepper turned around and backed away. "I thought you wanted to go swimming with Rhodey?" she asked suspicious.

A little disappointed, but not wanting to rush anything he replied and let go of her. "Yeah. You're right. Where is platypus? Rhodey come on over here. Time to swim!"

Rhodey jogged over towards the … the couple? Yes? No? he honestly didn't know.

"Let's go then, Tony. Time to beat the fish."

The two of them ran into the water, but just as the water reached the delicate spot in their pants, they returned to Pepper fast as a lightning, while Pepper hold her sides, because they hurt, she was laughing so hard. Their look was priceless.

"It's freezing." Rhodey gasped.

"Jep. It's cold and wet." Tony responded.

"Guys, it's the sea." Pepper chuckled. "What do you expect? A warm whirlpool?"

"Yes." Tony laughed. "If you're that tough then, shoo, move."

"Fine." Said Pepper and stripped down her shorts and button up, handed it to Tony. "Thank you." With that she jogged into the waves and jumped into the water. Yes, it was cold, but bearable.

She saw Tony and Rhodey gaping at her in wonder as she surfaced and easily swim away.

"Catch?" Rhodey asked Tony with his eyebrows arched and a smirk on his face.

"Chase!" Was Tony's answer, same expression, but eyes focused on the red head who was around the buoy as he jumped into the water. He dived towards her and gripped her leg to pull her underwater to him.

Pepper shirked and surfaced with Tony, clutching to him for dear life. "Never, never, never ever do that again!" She laughed and smacked his shoulder playfully.

"Upps." He laughed and Rhodey approached them.

"Want a race?" Rhodey asked.

"Sure, what's the stake?" Tony asked.

"The last one will wash the dishes tonight." Pepper suggested.

"I'm in." Rhodey said.

"Me, too." Tony complied.

"I count to three." Pepper explained while Tony and Rhodey took their places next to her. "To our towels, the last one washs the dishes. Ready? One – two – three!"

They swam and swam. Tony had a good start was far ahead, but lost his endurance soon so Pepper overtook the lead, and Rhodey passed by him, too. Tony might be the fittest of the three but he wasn't a fast swimmer. So luckily for him he managed to outrun Rhodey on the beach, but Pepper was still far ahead. Just a few meters before Pepper reached the towels he approached her and jumped to win. Well he jumped to wrestle her down and they fell. That was Rhodeys chance to run over them and he won.

"You cheater!" Pepper cried because of laughing. "You cheated! I would have won!"

"Come on, Pepper. Get over it. We both lost, so we'll do the dishes together? Alright? Let's go get the barbeque, I'm starving."" He smirked down at her.

"Fine, you Iron Cheater!" She laughed back at him as he helped her to stand up and they headed back to their camping ground.

Next chap will be up sooner if you want to. I have a bunch of ideas! So continue? Pepperony will be coming soon:)

Reviews = Love. Make me happy, please.

xoxox PP-S