A/N: First and foremost I want to thank everyone who has reviewed so far. I didn't think the story would be liked this much but I'm glad because I'm thoroughly enjoying writing the chapters. There are many more to come :)
He had been sitting on the bed now for almost 10 solid minutes as he watched her cross the room back and forth in attempt to finalize the make-up on her face. She had complained under her breath several times about her scattered make-up in her bag and some on her table. He really didn't understand why she went about wasting all that time. She was beautiful as it is with or without makeup. Then again, he thought quietly, she looked completely beautiful in his boxers and one of his work shirts he had used several days ago.
Earlier, when Natalie had left them to themselves he had instantly wrapped his hands around her body. There was a dying need in his body to hold her to him as if to reassure himself that she was okay and safe. Even though she hadn't actually been in any danger lately he felt the distinct need to protect her anyway. He concluded to himself when he flew back from Afghanistan that no matter what he was going to make sure that she was okay and that no harm could ever touch her. It was a silent vow he made and in the back of his mind he began to devise a plan.
He caught a glimpse of the slight bump of her stomach as she crossed the room and he made a mental note to begin updating Jarvis' security protocols. There was no doubt that he was going to be busy from now on between Stark Industries and the missions. The world would not simply stop its chaos just because he wanted them too. His decision in ceasing weapon manufacturing had only simply levitated the chaos for the mean time. It would only be a matter of time before others like him would catch on and begin to develop their own super powered weapons. He shook away the disturbing thoughts as she began to unbutton the shirt she was wearing.
"Tony…" she called out to him, her eyes looking at him with question. "Are you even listening to me?"
"Sorry," he apologized briefly and brought himself to a stand. "What were you saying?"
He watched as she pondered him for a moment followed by another of her questions, "Are you okay?"
He nodded and let a smile slip into his lips. "I'm fine."
"You looked a little lost for a moment there," she commented as she drew up the dress from the bed and laid it over the chair.
"Just was thinking about revising Jarvis' security protocols," he told her as he crossed the room to where she stood. It wasn't exactly the entire truth but he really didn't want to list the possibilities of how chaotic the world might become in the future. She had enough as it is to worry about Stark Industries. The last thing she needed was to worry about his missions.
"Aren't they already in place?" she asked as she began to slip the shirt off her shoulders.
He nodded and answered, "They are but I'm going to add some new ones to make it more secure. The more the merrier."
She smiled warmly at him and pressed a kiss at his cheek.
"I'm going to get the car ready while you change," he said with a warm smile.
"Isn't Happy going to drive?" she asked as she slipped her shirt off entirely.
"No, I thought I'd drive for a change," he answered and smiled widely as he pulled her against him and pressed a kiss at her exposed neck. "Mhmmm…really shouldn't have done that."
"Tony," she protested even though her body had subconsciously arched towards him.
"Mhmmm… yeah, yeah," he sighed against her neck, "We'll be late, I know, I know…"
She smiled at him and patted his cheek lovingly as she slipped out of his embrace.
"I'll be downstairs with the car," he said softly and pressed another lingering kiss at her lips.
"Okay," she said to him as he looked at her one more time before descending the steps.
He made his way to the workshop and punched his code in at the glass door.
"You're looking very sharp, Sir," Jarvis greeted.
"Thank you, Jarvis, what is the estimated time of completion of the render?" he asked as he made his way to his desk.
"5 hours, 45 minutes and 33 seconds remaining," Jarvis replied.
He glanced over at the robots working over his suit and he added, "It's looking good."
"Thank you, Sir."
"Now what should I drive this evening?" he asked as he looked over his cars.
"The Ferrari?" Jarvis suggested.
"Too exotic," he commented.
"Yes, what was I thinking," Jarvis replied comically, "It doesn't even match your suit."
"The Hot Rod?" he asked as he made his way toward the car.
"I'm afraid the red and gold simply clashes with your suit, sir," Jarvis responded with a unimpressed tone.
The three dimensional wire frame image lit around the Audi R8 followed by Jarvis' voice, "Perhaps the Audi R8 Spider, sir?"
"Hmm…" he thought for a moment before a glint caught his eye. He turned his eyes to his desk and noted the single ring sitting on top of where his wire frame keyboard would normally sit. He glanced wearily at the glass door of his workshop and quickly made his way to the desk. He had completely forgotten about it between arriving back from the mission and having slept on the couch with Pepper to spending the entire day with her in the lounge room and bedroom. He wondered whether she had even seen it.
"I made sure to conceal it when Miss Potts stepped into your workshop yesterday evening, sir," Jarvis said simply.
He smirked at the robot and commented, "I hadn't even mentioned anything to you."
"I know, sir, I apologize if I intruded."
He fingered the ring and wondered if the diamond was too small or too big or not perfect enough for her. It had been his mothers, left to him before she died long ago. He had always kept it away never imagining that he would ever want to marry someone. He knew he had already asked her several days before but he still hadn't given her the ring. He had actually planned to give it to her some other day in a extravagant style but the sudden invitation to the Firefighter's Family Fund Benefit seemed to be the perfect place to ask her. They had almost shared their first kiss there and he thought that it would be perfect to propose and kiss her properly this time.
He smiled widely as he dipped the ring into his pocket and said to Jarvis, "No apology needed, Jarvis. It would have completely ruined the moment if she had seen it before hand."
"Apology accepted. Would you like me to start up the Audi, sir? Miss Potts is on her way to the front door," Jarvis replied.
"Alright, let's get the show on the road," he said as he clapped his hands together.
"Aren't you being a bit narcissistic?" Pepper questioned pointedly to him as her eyes drifted between him and the Audi R8 Spider that he had chosen to drive to the Firefighter's Family Fund Benefit. He had chosen the car for a specific reason. The year before he had driven it and the thought of driving it again seemed fitting. After all, last year they stood on the balcony and almost kissed and now here they were a couple and expecting their first child.
His thoughts shifted briefly to the ring sitting in his pocket and he couldn't help but shake the feeling of nervousness away. He shrugged at her question with a slight upturned lip and bowed very much like a respectable gentleman as she approached him. She looked completely and utterly breathtaking to him. She wore one of her business like attire with a simple fitting black long sleeve blouse and black slight wavy skirt. The outfit did her body a great justice as it narrowed across her curves and just barely displayed her bump. He wondered if her sudden change in attire had anything to do with the bump or not. After all the dark blue dress hanging upstairs did look equally as beautiful as he caught a glimpse of it earlier.
He glanced briefly down at his own suit and decided that even with her sudden change in attire; they matched like day and night. His blue striped black suit and white inner shirt seemingly matched her black business attire equally when he thought about it. He opened the door and dipped his head graciously, his eyes turned to the floor as he waited patiently for her to enter the car.
"You're too gentlemanly, Tony," she commented with a weary gaze as she settled into the passenger's seat, "It's scaring me."
He chuckled and leaned in the car to press a kiss on her lips.
"Well what can I say?" he replied with a charming grin, "One does what one must."
"I really hope those aren't the type of lines you use with the others," she remarked with a roll of her eye.
He noticed the twitch of her lip and knew she was enjoying every moment of it. He drew in a breath as if trying to compose himself before he said, "Nah, I'm too sophisticated now that I'm a monogamy type of man."
She laughed and pushed him out of the door with her added protests, "We're going to be late, Tony."
"Yes, dear," he responded with a gleam in his eyes. He pressed another lingering kiss on her lips before he retracted from the car. He carelessly shut the door behind him as he made his way to the driver's seat.
The drive was relatively relaxing to him. It had been awhile since he had actually driven anywhere and since the occasion arose he thought it would be fitting if he drove. It would appear more personal to the world he thought carefully. He wanted to set the record straight. He wanted the world to know that he was committed now and he truly intended to stick by one woman alone. He thought plainly that he could probably just come right out and let the world know she was pregnant. After all, that would easily prove his commitment to her. Then again the press would somehow find a way to question his commitment anyway. His thoughts soon dissolved at the sound of her voice.
"I still don't know what to say," she mumbled as she gazed out the window.
"Well you could always just accept the drink, take a sip, kiss me and I'll drink it out of your mouth," he suggested with an open smile.
She glared at him and retorted, "You're incorrigible you know."
"You've reminded me several times actually," he replied with a chuckle as he glanced at her.
He watched between her and the road as he drove. She fell back into the empty silence and he wondered what she was thinking about. He knew it would become difficult for her as the months drew on and he couldn't help but think that he the entire notion was his doing. She would soon walk around with a very visible pregnant body and there was no doubt that she was going to receive endless death threats. He inwardly cringed at the increase of possibilities of her getting hurt once her pregnancy would be revealed to the public. He decided not to think about it further and to enjoy this evening with her.
He noticed her uneasy gaze and stretched a hand to intertwine with his as he continued to drive. Her serious and intense expression vanished the instant his hand touched hers. He felt mildly warm at the thought of how his simple gesture could ease her from her stressful thoughts. She glanced at him at the touch of his hand and she smiled warmly. He returned her smile and turned his eyes back to the road.
"Just stay with me when we're there and I'll drink your drinks for you when no one's watching," he said simply as he threw her a reassuring smile.
"I could always pour it down one of those potted trees," she said and returned his smile.
He chuckled and brought her hand to his lips, "Or you could always do that."
The Firefighter's Family Fund Benefit was larger than the year before. He noticed the multitude of guests standing outside in their formal attire. There were a pack of paparazzi standing near the valet attendants and he winced when he caught a glimpse of Christine Everhart bustling through the crowd. He had thought that the humiliation he and Pepper bestowed upon her at Monaco was enough to drive her away.
"Ugh, my other least favorite person in the world is here," he complained to her as he pulled the car to a gradual stop.
Pepper caught on at the direction he was gazing in the crowd. Christine had seen them and was already on her way pushing through the crowd with a scowl plastered across her expression.
"I think she's jealous of me," Pepper remarked as she straightened her blouse.
He laughed and beamed a smile to the paparazzi as he mumbled, "After what you said to her at Monaco and the fact that you're my girlfriend and secretly wife to be, I can see why she's jealous."
Pepper smiled in return to him before the valet attendant opened his door.
"Welcome, Mr Stark," the attendant welcomed with a bow and a smile.
He heard at the other side of the car at the greeting, "Welcome, Miss Potts."
He buttoned his suit and gave the paparazzi a nod and a smile before he felt her standing close to his side. He slipped hand behind her to rest on her lower back before they pushed their way toward the bustling paparazzi.
"Kill me now," he mumbled to her.
She smiled and threw back a whisper, "Play nicely now."
"Yes, boss," he replied.
She nudged him in the ribs a little and he winced at the pain surging through his body. His wounds were still fresh from the early hours of this morning. She noticed his sudden discomfort and apologized profusely.
"Its fine," he choked out with an assuring smile. He felt a gentle nudge on his right injured shoulder and he looked to his right to find Happy giving him a stern nod before following close behind them. He really should have debriefed Pepper and Happy about touching his shoulder and nudging his ribs. He could do with a tap but all that nudging business was beginning to dismantle his body rather quickly.
They pushed through the remaining bustling paparazzi crowd and he noticed with much amusement at the sight of Christine being bombarded with the rest of the other reporters. She was having much great difficulty in attempting to even reach them. He bent and mumbled quickly to Pepper to glance at Christine's direction.
Pepper smiled and mumbled, "Gets what she deserves."
"Mhmmm…I like it when you play dirty," he mumbled under his breath.
"Good evening, Mr Stark and Miss Potts, I'm Gregory Marcus, the new chairman of the Firefighter's Family Fund Benefit," an elderly man dressed in a grayish suit wearing a proud smile greeted them with open arms.
He smiled plastically in return and stretched a hand to shake the man's hand. Pepper leaned forward out of his protective hold to give the man a hug. She slipped back beside him and he slid his hand around her protectively again.
"Thank you for inviting us," Pepper said to the man.
"No," the man smiled warmly, "Thank you for sponsoring us."
"It's our pleasure," he added and side glanced at Pepper before they walked into the building.
"He smells like beer and alcohol," she commented beside him as they smiled every so often at the guests.
"I smelt like that too in the past but that didn't stop you," he replied under his breath and glanced to his right. He noticed Happy had ventured off from behind him and found him standing talking quietly with Natalie. He smiled at the unlikely pair and guided them into the room of guests.
"That's different," she retorted after several moments.
He smiled lightly and asked, "How so?"
"You changed," she answered with a warm smile as she looked at him.
"Miss Potts," a voice emerged them from behind them. He turned his eyes and smiled politely at the approaching female. He didn't recognize her and assumed that she was probably one of the companies' new employees.
"Mr Stark," the young woman gasped, her hands flying to her hair in attempt to straighten it out. He didn't understand the gesture as her hair looked simply as it was meant to look. He nodded his head with a small smile, he was very much enjoying himself when it was just him and Pepper.
"Yes it is the famous Tony Stark," Pepper agreed with an unimpressed tone.
His brows lifted a little at her and she lightly shook her head. He made a mental note to ask her later.
"I can't believe I'm meeting you for the first time," the young woman beamed and stretched a hand out toward him, her eye lashes blinking rapidly as she peered at him.
"Nice to meet you too," he replied with a flat tone and a slight hint of disgust written across his expression. He wondered quietly why it took him a near death experience to notice Pepper. She was much more regal when compared to all the others he had been with.
"I heard you're a really charming man," she added and beamed a smile at Pepper.
He didn't understand this woman. Did she not read the news about the fact that Pepper was his girlfriend? He noticed Pepper's irritated and unimpressed gaze as she looked at the younger woman. He wondered if she was thinking the same thing as him or whether she was ready to toss the woman across the room. He decided on the latter.
"That I am," he answered simply without a smile. "I'll get us a drink, Pepper," he added. He inwardly found Pepper's dagger eyes amusing as he stepped away. He turned his gaze briefly to Pepper before he smiled and walked toward the bar.
"What would you like to drink this evening, Mr Stark?" the bar tender asked graciously.
"Two virgin Apple Martini's," he responded over his shoulder, his eyes still transfixed and amazed at how beautiful Pepper actually looked in her simple business attire.
"Virgin martini?"
He cringed inwardly at the voice and reluctantly turned his gaze from Pepper to the woman beside him.
"Christine," he greeted flatly, "What are you doing here? I thought you'd be in prison doing that spread on Justin Hammer."
She laughed comically and retorted, "As it so happens Vanity Fair decided to terminate that article."
"I'm surprised they didn't terminate you," he mumbled under his breath as he gave the bar tender a nod after taking hold of his drinks. He turned to make his way toward Pepper but was stopped abruptly by that same annoying voice.
"So how long is that one going to last?" she asked with a hint of wickedness in her voice, "I have my bets on six months."
He paused momentarily, his eyes still fixed on Pepper. He felt the rage erupting within his body as the moment drew on longer.
"What did you say?" he asked as he turned around slowly.
"I imagine you couldn't get her into bed with you when she was your PA, so you decided to make her CEO, give her something to smile about before you'd make your move?" she questioned with a raised brow and a curl of her lip.
He laughed mockingly and retorted, "Oh, you're good… Even if Obadiah were alive he wouldn't have come up with that."
"You shouldn't really play with her emotions like that, Mr Stark. She isn't as tolerant as I was," she commented with a smirk.
He chuckled and said, "I wouldn't give you that much credit, I myself personally find Pepper to be much more tolerant of my ways than you could ever dream of being. She's not exactly weak minded as you assumed her to be and trust me, beneath that angelic face is a much more determined and strong willed woman. Now if you'll excuse me, Pepper is waiting." He turned and paused briefly and said, "Oh, and I think Gregory Marcus over there would like a spread from you.."
She huffed angrily at him and walked away.
He stared amusingly at her and shook his head before turning to make his way toward Pepper. He was slightly startled to find her not standing there anymore. He noticed the young girl that Pepper was talking too was now engrossed in a conversation with some other woman. He peered around the room and was slightly alarmed when he could not find her. He thought briefly at the possibility of her having escaped to the balcony again. The thought nagged at him and so he pushed his way through the crowd.
He managed to press the button of the lift and much to his dismay it took a full minute before the lift descended. He stepped into the lift and pressed the top most level. The doors opened almost within seconds the cool air touched his face and his eyes came to rest on the familiar figure. The breath he didn't know he was holding was released as he made his way toward her.
"Up here again?" he asked with a hint of amusement.
She smiled and turned to him. "I saw you talking to Christine and I noticed you had that annoyed look on your face. She said some upsetting things I'm sure."
He laughed and replied, "She made up a story about why I appointed you CEO, something about that I wanted to sleep with you and the only way to do that was to make you CEO."
She smirked briefly at him and added, "I really don't understand why she's infatuated with you. I thought the Justin Hammer thing was about the last straw she could pull."
"I know, I thought so myself," he continued as he handed her the drink.
"A Martini?" she questioned briefly as his free hand touched her elbow.
He nodded and motioned to the drink in her hand, "Non alcoholic martini."
"What type?" she asked and brought the glass up to her nose.
"Virgin Apple Martini," he answered and took another sip of his drink.
"No strawberries," she noted with a grin.
He shook his head and replied, "Never strawberries."
She smiled warmly at him as she took a sip of the martini. "I finally got my drink after all."
He chuckled at the thought and nodded, "That you did and much more than that actually."
She laughed lightly and unconsciously touched the bump at her stomach.
"So why the change in clothes?" he asked and motioned to her attire.
"Black seem to conceal it better," she pointed out and turned to her side for him to get a better look.
He nodded in thought and slid an arm around her waist. He pulled her close to his side as they looked over the balcony.
"So what happened to that bimbo?" he asked, looking at her every now and then as he drank his virgin martini.
"She was a little upset that you didn't flirt back," Pepper answered simply, "I was quite glad that you didn't."
"Wasn't interested," he said with a brief pause, "I think I'm going to wear a sign around my neck soon."
"Saying what?"
He turned to her and grinned before he said, "Property of Pepper Potts."
She laughed and smiled warmly at him.
"Seriously though," he retorted with a gesture to punctuate his words, "I wish they'd leave me alone."
"It's a little hard with your reputation, Tony," she replied as she took a sip of her martini.
He sighed and concluded, "I suppose so. Maybe in time it'll change and they'll give up on insisting that I can't commit to a relationship."
"They'll still find ways I'm sure," she added and turned to him.
The thought of the ring sitting in his pocket danced into his thoughts again when their eyes locked. He knew that it was now or never. It was time to ask her the one thing he never even dreamed of asking her let alone any other woman for that matter. He reminded himself briefly that he had already asked her but somehow it hadn't seemed right without the ring involved. This would make it more real he concluded quietly at the back of his mind.
"Pepper," he started with a serious tone, "I don't really know how to say this." He noticed the questionable gaze forming in her eyes as she waited patiently for him to continue, "It's not bad or anything, the contrary actually."
"Tony, just say it," she said simply with that look she always gave him when he stalled his words.
He chuckled at her and pressed a kiss to her lips before he stepped back and released her from his hold. She looked taken aback at his gesture and he lifted a hand to halt her protest before reaching into his pocket. He pulled the ring out of his pocket and he heard her soft gasp. He coughed a little before he regarded her with an endearing gaze. She had a disbelieving expression written on her face as he kneeled down before her with the outmost gentlemanly pose and lifted the ring to her.
"Would you do me the honors of being my wife, Pepper Potts?" he asked and smiled warmly.
He watched as her lips curled into a warm smile. Her surprised gaze grew into an endearing look as she took a step toward him and pulled him up to stand with her. She buried her head instantly in his neck as she embraced him. He couldn't fight away the feeling of outmost contentment and overwhelming greatness as he held her against him.
She pulled back and pressed a kiss at his lips. "I already told you I'd marry you, Anthony Edward Stark, you didn't have to do that."
He nodded and smiled at her before he reached for her hand and said, "I know, but I wanted to..."