Quick note about 'Aftermath' - not 100% about where that story is going, so i'm going to concentrate on this story and if I get inspiration for the other one than there'll be an update. On the upside, Aftermath was only supposed to be a oneshot so you got more than I bargained for.

Thanks for the reviews guys – now let's get rid of Alex.

"Alex." Tony watched her, his mouth hung open slightly.

Perfect timing. His mind growled at her and he wanted to do nothing more than kick her out turn around and kiss Pepper again. But he had to be the bigger man for an hour or so. At least until Alex had got all she needed and got the hell out of his house again.

"I've only come for Sophie's things Tony." She slammed the door shut, "Then you can get back to sucking off Miss. Potts face."

Her words were harsh and sarcastic. She stared Pepper down and made her feel like dirt for being all over Tony. Alex walked across the room in record time and headed towards the stairs. Tony's eyes followed her until she was out of sight. Damn her for walking in just as he had managed to get Pepper on his side.

His eyes drifted back to Pepper just in time to catch her look of horror before she shoved him backwards. He stumbled back a few steps and gaped at her before then watching her walk off in a huff in the direction of her office. Tony was left in the hallway on his own.

"Oh that's how it is, is it?" Tony yelled in the direction of the two women. "Let's all just get in a strop with Stark and strut off?"

"Knock, knock."

Tony knocked on his bedroom door. He stuck his head round the frame to see Alex shoving half of the closets clothes in the two duffel bags. His to do list was, deal with Alex, get her out of the house, persuade Pepper again. Live happily ever after or at least he hoped. Stepping into the room Tony watched Alex's rushed movements.

"Why are you here?" Great, the third moody women he had to deal with and all in two days.

"It's my bedroom." Tony knew sarcasm wouldn't help, but Alex wasn't exactly his favourite person at the moment. He put his hands in his pockets and leant back against the wall next to the door. She had hurried her packing even more which was Tony's plan. Pressure her and she'll be out like a shot.

"How's Sophie?"

"Like you care." Alex shot back.

Tony tried to stifle a bitter laugh, "I do actually."

"Then why did you break her heart?" She never made eye contact with him.

Tony took a deep breath and prepared for the onslaught of abuse he was guaranteed to receive. He was going to make excuses, but that'd only worsen Alex's mood and may bring along an unexpected visit from an angry Sophie. So he went with the truth, "I didn't mean to hurt her Alex. But this breakup had been a long time coming and I thought it would be better to stop wasting each other's time."

Alex stopped at the honesty of her words; she wasn't expecting him to be quite so open about the topic, but it only lasted for a second. She shook the thoughts of Tony being a decent guy and sided with her sister once again. "She didn't think you were wasting time."

"She did." Tony cut back, his eyes on the floor. "She's just annoyed she wasn't the one to end it."

Alex zipped the bags closed quickly. Tony's eyes snapped up to catch a death glare from Alex's direction. She got up from crouching on the floor bringing the two bags with her. Tony stayed silent, he didn't want to annoy her any more than he already had. And he just wanted to get back to Pepper. So he watched Alex's movements in the hope she'd walk straight past him and out of his life.

Lucky for him, that's exactly what she did. But not before leaving him with some guilt.

"She really loved you Tony." She stared him down, "And she would have done anything for you. You destroyed the first long lasting thing in your life." She paused and took a deep breath. "If you really think this Pepper girl is better than my sister, then do Sophie a favour and at least try to act like you miss her for a while."

And with that, she was gone.

Was Tony really that much of a jerk? He felt like such crap. Guilty about being mean to Sophie, but if he didn't do it, Sophie would have. How was she any better than him? Alex was trying to initiate these thoughts and she had done it well.

But Tony liked Pepper.

He didn't feel like going to flirt and plead for Pepper's attention at that minute. He went and sat in the living room sofa for half an hour. His head in his hands and thoughts running through his mind. Had he made a mistake with Sophie? Or was this just the usual guilt you got when you ended a relationship? Tony didn't know the difference. He hadn't been through this before.

He didn't have time to finish his debating. Pepper came looking for him.

"Tony?" She sounded cautious.

Tony looked up, "Hey Pepper." He then immediately put his head back down.

He could hear her heels clicking on the marble floor towards him, "You okay?"

"M'fine." He mumbled into the heel of his hands.

"You sure? Because-"Pepper laughed awkwardly at herself, "-I expected you to come looking for me and try to start up what was interrupted."

Tony smiled despite his feelings. He had wanted to start that back up, he still did. He just needed to grieve him and Sophie for a minute. He rubbed his face with his hands before dropping them and looking up to see Pepper standing on the other side of the coffee table. De ja vu or what?

"Sorry, Alex just said some stuff." He cleared his throat, "It got to me."

Pepper looked concerned at him. Her head was tilted and she was biting her lower lip, looking like she was in deep thought. Tony suddenly got an urge to jump her there and then. She looked stunning. He didn't want to scare her off though. And he was still feeling a bit off from his conversation with Alex. So he and Pepper just looked at each other through glazed eyes, both thinking.

"Has Alex gone?" Pepper croaked out after a while.

Tony nodded, "Yeah she stomped out of the house a while ago. I was just- thinking."

Pepper shifted from foot to foot. "What about?"

"Sophie," Tony breathed out. He noticed the look of disappointment on Pepper's face. She tried to hide it, but Tony caught the way all concern fell from her face. Understandably, but Pepper didn't realise he wasn't considering getting back with her. What'd be the point of that? He decided to correct his comment, "And you."

"You mostly." He added.

Pepper smiled despite herself and looked around the room. The tension was starting to build again. Tony stood suddenly and walked over to her. Pepper froze and watched every one of his movements in detail. He stopped in front of her, but gave her some space. He didn't want her running off anywhere.

"About the kiss-"

"Can we not?" Pepper cut him off. "I just think it'd be best if we tried to forget it."

"I don't see how that'd be best." Tony shrugged, "In fact that sounds pretty crap to me."

Pepper sighed, "You need to get over Sophie first Tony. Be single for a while."

Tony took a step towards her, "I don't see what that would accomplish. Especially when i've already got my eye set on someone."

Pepper looked at him, her mouth hung open slightly. That comment stopped her in her tracks. But it only lasted a second before she shook her head and stepped back once. Tony copied her one step and kept the distance small. But Pepper put out her hand to rest on his chest, stopping him.

"Tony, if Alex could say something in the space of five minutes that makes you re-think your relationship with Sophie. Then it proves that you're just not ready." Her hand slid lower on his chest. She was going to drop it back to her side, but unconsciously she didn't want to let go. "You can't jump from relationship to relationship. You'll just get bored-"

"You could never bore me."

Pepper gave him a look, "I'm just saying you need a bit of time on your own. And when you stop moping around in the living room after your ex, you'll be ready for it. I trust you'll get there, but right now I think that you'd be distant and whatever we would have, would just crumble."

Tony had to think about that. Was he not ready for it? He had started to question his every action, but wasn't he just worried about making the wrong move with Pepper. He never thought for a minute that once he and Pepper had crossed that line, that they'd do a U turn. He was feeling even worse now. After what felt like forever Pepper patted his chest and said, "I'm gonna go fax those papers."

And with that, she was gone.

Not feeling this chapter really. In a bit of a weird mood and it's probably affected the feel of the story – I apologise. Hopefully i'll correct it over my half term. Review please! AnnaTW