Author's Note: Sorry for the delay - been busy. Here is the next installment. Hasn't been beta'd. Hope you enjoy it. This is the second last chapter. One more after this which will be uploaded on Friday.

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

Three: Shooting Stars

She wasn't sure if it had been Rhodes or Stane who had ordered her to pack her bags and take a break.

It was probably a combination of the two of them. She could see the logic behind it: she was becoming obsessive, cleaning her (dead) boss' house every single day, not sleeping, trying to squeeze information out of various military personal, searching rabidly on the internet for any trace or mention of Tony Stark. She hid the exhaustion well but even she couldn't forever hide the bags or the fact she walked a little slower or that her mind drifted off at meetings. She could see that these were not good – she shouldn't be obsessing ... he was gone for good ... and she needed to acknowledge this. One of the problems with being a PA is that she had learnt to look at things in a logical and cool manner – to see all angles. It had been two months – they had heard no trace ... chances were he had wandered off into the desert, and he was dead and buried under six feet of sand.

She needed to see this – but she couldn't. Rhodes hadn't given up – she knew he was still searching for him. That meant he had to be alive – somewhere. The image of him in chains, in some darkened room, skin pale and sickly white, hair long and the eyes: they held no charm, held no spark. They were hopeless, desperate. She saw this image again and again – it plagued her dreams. It was only when she was awake when she recalled it that she saw something behind those desperate eyes – saw that her dreams were surrounding her with fear and that the eyes were a mask – behind them was silent determination to live through it.

That was the Tony she knew and she knew he was still out there somewhere.

And because of this blind faith she held she wanted to wring both Stane and Rhodes necks for forcing her to pack her bags – for a temporary holiday ... but she somehow also knew this was Stane's way of getting her away from the company, to slip off the radar for a bit so that when she came back she found her job was no longer needed.

Not that it was needed – being a PA to a dead man wasn't possible.

She glanced out of the window of the conference room. The Malibu sun made the outside glowed and she could see the hundreds of Stark Industries employees' cars, glinting in the sunlight. This shouldn't be happening.

The conference was empty except for them, Rhodes' bag, and three glasses of untouched water that sat on the table. The room was cold with white walls, gray carpet, and a long glass conference table. The only colour was a painting done by a high school student as a 'thank you' to Tony – Mr Stark, she reminded herself – after he had donated fifty thousand dollars to help restore a community centre five years ago.

Or rather Pepper had convinced Tony to do that, not revealing that she had used to live in that area. It had been his idea though to put it up in the conference room as he claimed it calmed him from breaking the board in half whenever they held a meeting down in Malibu which was almost never.

"Pepper?"

She looked over at Rhodes who sat on her left while Stane sat in front of her, across the glass table. The way they had sat had been significant – Stane could maintain his boss persona while Rhodes could be the friend. It was meant to remind her that this was an order from her boss but also advice from a friend – something to appeal to her emotional and logical sides.

Her emotional side didn't want to be appealed to and would rather she threw a tantrum – Rhodes was going back to Afghanistan at some point as his stays in the States over the last two months had been fleeting and brief. He was in no doubt going to search for Tony. Why wasn't he being forced to take a holiday and she was ... she closed her eyes and pulled her emotions back in, keeping her mask up.

She opened them. "Yes?"

"So what do you think?"

She looked carefully between the two.

"It's a great idea – this has been really stressful ... and it isn't like I'm doing anything here. A break sounds like a sound idea,"

She spoke carefully, slowly and clearly – her voice was practically a monotone though she did try to inject some life into it.

But she was tired and frustrated so that inject life came out as a half hidden snarl.

She needed something to drink – or punch Rhodes in the face ... Stane could just deal with her glare (that wasn't a glare because she didn't want to glare at him and risk being actually fired so instead it was more of a blank stare). She forced a small smile on her face.

"Do you have family to stay with or see? Or friends?" asked Stane.

"Company is always a good idea," added Rhodes.

She almost said 'no shit, Sherlock,' but refrained.

The reason she had become so obsessive was because she had no company. She didn't really have friends, she had pushed away Chris – which was his fault (dirty lies, whispered her mind) – and her family was practically non-existent besides Alison and George.

Maybe it would be nice to go somewhere with them.

"Yeah – my cousin and her kid," she said.

Stane seemed pleased by this piece of news.

"Well, Pepper, I'm happy to organise flights and accommodation for you – if you tell me where you want to go," said Stane.

"Mr Stane –"

"Obadiah," he interrupted.

"Obadiah," she amended and she saw a glint in his eyes - possession. She really wanted to take back saying that. She swallowed though and continued. "I appreciate the offers but you've already paid me enough over the years – I'm perfectly fine to cover my own costs,"

She forced another smile.

"Pepper, I must insist," said the older man. She opened her mouth but he continued, "but," he smiled (leered more likely), "If that is how you feel about it then I suppose I can't stop you."

He stood up. "Well I have to go – rest up, Pepper, and remember to call if you need any assistance," he nodded at Rhodes, "Rhodes,"

Rhodes stood up and gave him a nod. "Obadiah,"

Pepper didn't say a word.

Rhodes walked her out of Stark Industries. He had attempted to put his hand on her shoulder but she had shrugged it off. Despite the fact she wasn't fired, she felt like she was ... leaving work like this. She should probably look for work actually. Working at Stark Industries without Tony there ... felt wrong.

Job hunting, her most hated activity. Pepper grinned wondering if that was the reason she hadn't quit for all these years.

"Pepper?" asked Rhodes.

"I'm fine," she said, pulling the smile off her face. They fell into silence as they walked over to her car. There used to be a time when she never used her parking space – Happy would always come and pick her up as per Tony's orders. But now ..,

Her guilt twisted slightly. Ever since she had gotten that phone call about Tony, Happy had slowly slipped off her radar. She thought back over the last few weeks and knew she hadn't kept in contact. She had practically ignored him.

"Is Happy being sent on holiday?" she asked.

Rhodes shrugged. "I don't think so – last time I spoke to him he was in New York driving around the execs – he needed a change of scene,"

Pepper nodded. She'd have to call Happy when she got home.

"So when do you think you'll go?" asked Rhodes.

"Soon ... what about you?"

"Huh?"

"When are you going back?"

She didn't need to verbalise where 'back' was.

"Three days,"

"You haven't given up yet,"

Rhodes looked at him and she saw how weary he looked. He looked exhausted – just as much as she was. As she looked at him she realised he must not be sleeping or eating enough as his suit was loose on him. He hadn't shaved (no doubt he would before he left) and she could see the stubble – which looked wrong. He should be crisp, clean. But here he was weary.

"No, I haven't," he said slowly, "People like Tony don't just ..."

"... vanish," she finished.

Rhodes nodded.

"Well I should go," Pepper said. She fished her keys out of her bag. "It was good seeing you again, Rhodey,"

"Same here, Pepper," he said, "Please do rest up. It isn't healthy for you to be like this,"

"And it's healthy for you?" she challenged.

He was just like her only that instead of spending a month cleaning Tony's house he was actually making a difference by searching constantly for his friend either by organising scouting missions and the like. The fact he was doing it in active warzone ...

"I'm a soldier, Pepper," he said.

"A machine, a war machine then?" she said, her voice raising.

He opened his mouth and a sound escaped but no words followed.

"You aren't a machine, Rhodey! Don't ever think you are!" she said. She could feel her face warming, her breath coming out short and sharp. "I can't lose you – not like I've lost him – you're ..." (family) "You're human – like me,"

A tear slid down her face and Rhodes reached out and pulled her into his arms. It was like being hugged by a big brother ... not that she ever had one but she could imagine it would be like this.

Eventually she pulled away, wiping her eyes with his hankerchief.

"Sorry," she said.

He smiled. "Don't be – this is ... well ... a shit situation,"

She gave a low chuckle.

"Pepper, I need you to listen to me," he said, gravely. He looked at her straight in the eye, "I'm a soldier – I'm trained to deal with this shit. You're right: I am not a machine. No one is. But I have been taking care of myself – you think they'd let me fly out if I wasn't?" she shook her head. She was half tempted to argue but she was just so tired ..

Rhodes continued. "Exactly – I have people watching me ... that have to. You don't have the same thing ... and you've been shutting people out,"

She nodded numbly.

"Call me if you need any help," he said.

"Call me when you find him – as soon as you find him," she said.

"Wouldn't do it any other way,"

They exchanged one last hug and went their separate ways. In the core of her heart Pepper prayed Rhodes would find a trace of Tony.

"We're going away?" asked Alison as she cooked a rich spaghetti sauce, stirring the tomatoes clockwise and then twice counter clockwise.

Pepper had turned up at her cousin's earlier that afternoon. She had wandered in to an empty house as Alison was still at work and George was at school. Unsure of what to do with herself she had sat on the couch and watched TV – which she had turned off as the only thing to be on was daytime soaps and cleaning ads since her cousin had not yet invested in the joys of cable.

She had then sat there on the couch, staring blankly at the wall before whipping out her Blackberry determined to find somewhere to go to on 'vacation' before putting it down and slumping against the worn leather couch, pulling the woollen blanket over her, her eyes closing.

The apartment was cold but Pepper was numb. She knew that when she got back she would have to start job hunting, she knew that this Stane's way to get her away from the company – at least until she pulled herself together and stopped obsessing which was impossible – completely and utterly impossible.

Tony Stark was alive.

That was a fact. It wasn't a belief. It was a fact.

She had fallen asleep to this eternal monologue because when she opened her eyes it was dark, the front door was opening as her Alison's and George's voices spilled into the room, and she had a groggy sensation that only comes when you take an afternoon nap.

She had sat up, mentally kicking herself for not calling Alison beforehand and called out.

"Ali? It's Pep – " she had frozen and amended. "It's Gin!"

There had been a small shriek as lights were switched on and Pepper shielded her eyes as they adjusted. Hurried footsteps and the thump of shopping bags hitting the wooden floor had come towards her as Alison had raced into the living room to see Pepper with her messy hair, pale complexion and bags under her eyes. George stuck close behind his mother.

Once the initial shock was over Pepper and gotten up to help Alison with cooking the dinner while George was sent to shower – he had had soccer afterschool and had a nice splatter of mud all over him, and complete his homework. The two women had cut onions and tomatoes in silence before Pepper had revealed what had happened at the meeting.

It had taken Pepper a while to get it out and only now Alison had said something: 'we're going away?' which was half shock, half curiosity at the sudden proposal.

Pepper nodded. "Yeah, we are going away ... or rather I am but if you want to come with George that would be great. I'll pay for you and everything as I know this is last minute ... but I just can't ..."

"Stand to be alone," said Alison, turning away from the saucepan.

Pepper bowed her head.

"Well ... it sounds fantastic but I'll need to contact work – and check with George," said Alison in a practical tone. She looked seriously at Pepper. "And I really can't leave my baby cousin to fend for herself,"

Pepper stuck out her tongue, a tiny smile creeping on her face.

"So I suppose so – but you aren't paying for it all,"

"Ali –"

"Gin, you are not paying for it all," said her older cousin as if that was the final word.

Pepper rolled her eyes.

"Canada?"

Pepper leaned against her leather couch, dressed in drawstring yoga pants and a loose shirt, her hair in a bun and a cup of soup sitting on her coffee table. Beside it was her iBook with Skype on: Roxanne was staring at from the other side of the world in similar clothes – though more expensive and better fitting no doubt. Both women had chatted for the last hour by video conferencing – which tended to have Roxanne trying on outfits and modelling them for Pepper, seeking her opinion.

They had now moved onto Pepper's travel plans. She had decided to go to Canada ... she wasn't sure why but after discussing it with Alison they had decided that somewhere on the continent would be best but they needed somewhere isolated.

So after searching on the internet into three at the morning they had found a nice little two bedroomed cabin in the Canadian wilderness as there was nothing like the fresh country air to wash away your fears, after all.

Pepper nodded. "Yeah, I've never been there so it seemed like a –"

"Pepper, Pepper!" cried out Roxanne, "You should be in France! Stay with me – we would dine out, go shopping, see the sights – it would be merveilleux,"

"And how would Ricardo feel about that?" said Pepper, thinking of Roxanne's fiancé.

"He has always wanted to meet the famous Pepper Potts," said Roxanne with a smile.

Pepper grabbed her cup of soup. "And why is this?"

"I believe he feels frustrated that after all this time he has still not met my best American friend,"

"Best American friend? What have I done to deserve this?"

"Being your intelligent self and good company," said Roxanne with a smile, "And keeping the –" the French woman froze and Pepper's gut twisted for a second. She had nearly said his name. Roxanne continued quickly, "men away from me when I have had too much to drink – looking after me, my dear Pepper."

"Is that all?"

"Ahhh, Pepper, it would take me an age to describe my feelings for you, oui?" teased Roxanne, a twinkle in her eye.

"But not best friend?"

"Non, Pepper – that is for my Gregor, oui?"

"I doubt this Gregor even exists – I mean who could be better than me?" smirked Pepper.

"Touche," said Roxanne, "But alas Gregor is Gregor! One day you will meet him – when you come to France. It isn't too late to –"

"I'm not cancelling my flights,"

"Pity,"

The Canadian wilderness wasn't all too different from the American wilderness.

Pepper looked out of their small cabin and smiled. The sun was setting now, the gleaming disc setting into the air as a raw orange spread across the sky while the earth was slowly darkening. It was peaceful, the sweet air soothing her. It was tranquil, an escape from everything else. There wasn't a soul around, just endless forest and a lonely dirt road.

No cars honking, no smog, no mobile phones constantly going off, no rush – just the moments one by one. Everything passed slowly, in its own pace and yet there was no drag, no impatient waiting.

They awoke each morning, early and went for a walk. They cooked a big breakfast, Pepper reading and Alison sketching the landscape while George asked repeatedly to go on another walk. They kept this up, for a week, for another, and another.

Life was good.

Pepper was outside one night with George.

The stars were scattered across the sky. The air had chilled but Pepper and her nephew didn't notice as they both watched, the smell of a roast wafting through the open window, the sound of Alison looking around for pots and pans.

It was their last night in solitude.

"Auntie Gin?"

Pepper blinked, glancing over at him. "Yes?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"You won't get mad?"

"No,"

"Promise?"

"Yes,"

George nodded. "I was wondering … did you love Mister Stark?"

She had no idea how to answer that. She swallowed. "George … he was my boss. He was a good friend" true "but I didn't love him,"

Lie.

"But you miss him so much …"

"Because he was a very good friend," said Pepper sadly, "He was one of a kind,"

"Well, I think he'll come back," said George confidently.

"I'm sure he will,"

She said it so softly that it was less than a whisper.

Come back, Tony

Above a shooting star danced across the sky.

They arrived back in the US one day after that chilly night.

George went back to school, Alison went back to work, and Pepper began looking for new work. She couldn't remain at Stark Industries, though it pained her to leave. She had been there for so long … but she needed to escape the Stark name.

Move on.

She called Chris and organised to see him. To his credit he seemed as cheerful as ever – when made Pepper all too aware of how badly she had treated him when really he had just been looking after her. They went for coffee and a walk – talking, joking and moving through the day.

It gave her strength.

There was an element to this which was sad.

But the element that said 'if you do this, you can walk' overwhelmed it, outshone it – whatever. Pepper needed to do it. If she didn't wipe away the last of it than she knew that she'd keep this hole inside of her fresh and gaping.

This was her final way to get closure.

She was back at the Stark mansion, cleaning again but this time she knew it was her final clean. The last straw. Once she finished this and wiped her last bench she wouldn't come back. She needed to move on and this was the last step.

She had called Chris and told him – he had offered to help but she said that she'd rather finish this alone. He was picking her up at six though to take her out – a nice dinner, a walk – she wasn't sure what he had planned but she didn't care. She was just glad they had patched it up – somewhat anyway.

Time would help.

The day was coming to an end and she was packing up the last of her cleaning supplies. She went down to his workshop – a room she still hadn't been able to clean. It was the same as forever – hopefully it would remain as such. She could see this place becoming a museum of sorts – it had the security and it was a testament to one of the greatest minds to have lived.

She hoped it could remain preserved.

She drew in a deep breath: breathing in the last of him. She wandered through it, her hands brushing over his tools, over his papers. She was gentle, careful – like this was his body. It was an extension of himself after all.

He was his ideas.

And they were him.

Throwing a final glance she started to walk towards the stairs.

"Bye, JARVIS," she said to the AI.

The AI started to speak, wishing her goodbye and she murmured soft replies as she made her way to the front door and into the dying sunlight of a California sunset. Beyond the gate she could see Chris' car pulling up – perfect timing and she walked confidently down towards him.

She had let it go – it was done.

She didn't look back.

Until her phone started to ring, and she twisted back towards the house to grab the tiny BlackBerry in her backpack – for a moment she saw the mansion – back she quickly twisted back towards the gate, answering her phone.

It was Rhodes.

"He's alive,"

She was sitting on the hood of Chris' car. Chris was watching her – she wasn't sure because all her attention, her focus was on the man who was on the other side of the world.

"Pepper," came his voice.

"Tony," she breathed it, tears starting to fall.

He was alive.

"You okay?" came his reply.

His voice was so raw, so real – so not like cocky arrogant Mister Stark but more like the man beneath that – the man few got to see.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

There was a pause.

"I'm better now,"

She could hear his smile through the BlackBerry.

He was back.

Happy Hogan and Pepper Potts stood side by side at airbase, watching the blue sky. The sky was blue of course, to reflect the fact he was coming home, finally. A tear trickled down her face and she couldn't help but smile. Happy's hand slipped into hers and gave it a quick squeeze which she returned. Soon life would be back to normal.

"Three months," she breathed.

Three months in purgatory waiting for you to come back from hell.

The clock continued to tick on as they waited. Behind them were airmen, soldiers and the like moving around them: preparing for the arrival of Tony Stark. An ambulance was on standby, the paramedics out with the stretcher ready.

"There it is!" cried Happy, pointing into the sky.

Down, flying down, slowing down, was the large plane that had Tony Stark safely in it. She watched; her heart leaping as she heard the roar of the engines. He was really coming home, he was coming, the plane was about to land – he was here. The plane touched the runway, raced along before stopping and Tony Stark was back on home soil.

Life was restored.

TBC

Author's Note: Thoughts are very much appreciated.