Ch. 3: A Debt Repaid
That night Pepper lay snuggled up next to Tony, tracing shapes on his chest with her fingertips. After they'd showered (Tony had 'snuck into' her shower half-way through, coming up behind her, kissing her neck, and saying, "I know you told me to wait my turn, but I couldn't resist. And I was feeling really dirty." Pepper couldn't say she was surprised in the least), they'd just slipped into pj's and into bed.
"So . . . about that night in Paris . . ." Tony said, looking down at her and running a hand through her hair.
"Tony, I thought you said you haven't slept in days," Pepper teased, rolling her eyes.
"I haven't. But I don't think you know what I had planned."
"Oh, I'm pretty sure I do," Pepper said dryly, but at his raised eyebrow, she sat up a little straighter and starting ticking off a list on her fingers, "Let's see. . . a romantic walk through the city, ending at the Eiffel Tower; um, followed by a declaration of love under the Parisian stars; and then you'd take me back to the hotel room and—"
"Nope. Wrong," Tony interrupted, "After the love declaring, I'd get down on one knee and pull out this little box," a ring box seemed to suddenly appear in Tony's hand, "and I'd say, 'Pepper Potts you're the most amazing, beautiful woman I've ever met, I want to make you happy and I want to be yours,' and then I'd pop the question and you'd be so surprised and then you'd say yes and that's when we'd go back to the hotel room. Oh, and there'd be a romantic dinner before any of that. Just saying."
"Tony," Pepper said calmly, "Tell me you didn't just propose."
"Uh, you made me promise not to lie to you, so I can't do that. Oh, but I'll remind you, you already promised that I'd get that night, so you kinda have to say yes."
"I think that's tricky and underhanded . . . and incredibly sweet," Pepper wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled him close.
"Uh, hey, Pepper?" Tony said over her shoulder.
"Hmm?"
"You're kinda leaving a guy hanging here . . ."
"Well, I did already promise to say yes, didn't I?"
Tony broke into a wide smile, "You mean it? Really?"
"Yes, Tony, dear, I mean it. But, um," she pulled back from the hug to face him, "I would kind of actually like to see the ring . . ."
"Right. Sorry." Tony opened the box, fumbling a bit. Inside was a simple band and stone, elegant and poised, like Pepper herself. It's high cost was only evident in the ring's making; it's band was platinum and it's stone was a diamond. Engraved on the inside in blue, that strange blue of Tony's reactor, were the words, "I do. Forever."
Pepper felt her eyes begin to fill up again, as Tony slipped the beautiful ring onto her finger. "See, you coulda had this sooner, if you'd not ditched out on the second half of our vacation just because the Board called," Tony teased, nudging her arm.
Pepper laughed, "You were just as excited about the Tower construction finishing up early as I was."
"But when was the Tower finally done? It took two whole weeks. Two weeks we could have been in Paris."
She pushed him lightly back down onto the pillows so she could snuggle up close again. "Well, when the rebuilding is done, to celebrate I'll take you to Paris. How's that sound?"
"Great. But, hey, about rebuilding, I was thinking we could add—"
"Tony," Pepper cut him off, "Sleep. Now."
"Yes, ma'am." Tony kissed his fiancée on the cheek and settled into a dreamless sleep, pressed up against his favorite woman.
A/N: Only an epilogue left, but I've decided I will write a companion in Tony's POV, so be on the look out for that, if you're interested! Please Review!