A/N – Welcome to chapter 7. In all my time writing fanfic this story has come to me so well. My muse is being most helpful. I appreciate and love every single review you guys leave. I really do. I left chapter 6 on a bit of an emotional cliff-hanger. I knew somewhere there would be a twist. Its a difficult subject so I will do my best to write in a respectful manner. Things will be getting better for our Pepperony pair, don't despair dear reader. There is light at the end of the tunnel. As always, I don't own Iron Man, Marvel, Stan Lee or anything else. Just my imagination and my words. I sincerely hope you enjoy this chapter. Its a mix of hurt/comfort with a measure of angst thrown in.

M rated. Adult themes, sexual situations and course language. If you don't like this sort of thing. You have been warned.

Reviews appreciated as always. See you in Chpater 8

Iron Lady x

My Little Pepper Pot

Chapter 7

After the events earlier in the morning Pepper and Tony were sitting at the breakfast bar in the open-plan kitchen eating some blueberry pancakes and sipping on hot filter coffee. Tony had cooked for once. Pepper needed looking after right now. He had to be there for her, love her, hold her and make everything alright. He was a little nervous how he was going to do all of that but, as he took a swig of coffee, he knew he would find a way. Pepper was sat across from Tony, cutting up her pancake, taking small bites. She had always been a little weird like that. Then she looked up at Tony and smiled at him, quickly batting her eyelashes twice at him as she did. Tony could see she was grateful for his kindness and compassion towards her. And the food. He honestly wasn't as bad at cooking as he made himself out to be. Nothing this morning was overcooked, burnt or exploded and dripping down the walls. He was learning.

Pepper finished her coffee and reached across the bar to take Tony's hand in her own. Looking deep into his kind brown eyes and said, "Thank you," giving his palm a gentle squeeze. He caught her gaze with a smile and leaned over to kiss her lips softly. Tony downed the last of his own coffee and one of the blueberries that had escaped his lips before looking up at Pepper again. She was gazing across his shoulder into the distance, across the shimmering waters of the sea. Sunlight reflecting off the marble work surface. He reached over and took both of her hands, thumbs rubbing the points of her wrists, "Pep?" he said gently

Pepper shook her head out of her dream, "Yes Tony?"

"Is there anything, anything at all, you want me to do? Just name it," Tony said kindly

She exhaled, "I just need to talk."

"Of course..."

"Tony...I..," Pepper trailed off

He stroked the side of her cheek, smoothing her delicate freckled skin.

"Tony, I love you. I love you so much," she said at last. He nodded.

The couple removed themselves from their bar stools and met in the middle. Tony's lips met Pepper's kissing her soft mouth gently. Breaking the kiss, "I'm here when you want to talk hun," Tony said.

She whispered, "I know," resting her head on his chest, allowing his arms to wrap around her. Pepper felt so unbelievably safe in Iron Man's arms. Nothing could hurt her now. She nuzzled closer, listening to the gentle whirring of the arc peaking out from his cobalt blue shirt. It complimented the turquoise blue of of the arc quite nicely aswell as bringing out his eyes. Dark chocolate brown they were with small, barely noticeable flecks of amber around the pupil. A girl could melt and drown a happy end in those eyes. Only now, being so physically wrapped up in Tony's presence did she truly appreciate the way he looked. When she started at Stark Industries some 10 years ago, she got a jolt through her young impressionable loins on meeting him for the first time. Even now, with the passage of time, that spark was still there. Only now, ignited, burning fiercely with their love being the catalyst. Imagining any form of existence without Tony in her life hurt her. Impossible to even comprehend.

Pepper's Blackberry started beeping wilding on the breakfast bar. She shot Tony a look of, have to take this now, and broke their contact to attend to the noisy phone. It was the events coordinator calling from the Philadelphia Conference Center. She pressed a button on the screen, "Good Morning, Pepper Potts speaking," she said brightly

Tony only hearing one half of a conversation quickly twigged on that both himself and Pepper were to attend a cocktail party in Philadelphia tonight. He remembered now. Pepper was reminding him, yet again about this only last week. A networking opportunity for young entrepreneurs and business people to meet, mingle and exchange cards. He didn't mind these sorts of events, and seeing as though he was the one hosting it the drinks were free. And Tony was not a man to turn down free Scotch. His mind got thinking: new dress for Pepper, he wanted a shirt to go with his navy pinstripe suit and the Lamborghini needed picking up. Okay, maybe Happy could do the last one. The shopping trip with Pep sounded perfect though. Just the two of them. Together.

Pep finally got off the phone after confirming that both herself and Mr Stark would be in attendance and he was to give a short speech to introduce an award. He will be sticking to the cards, she would make sure of it. She turned and looked at Tony, "You do remember about tonight?"

"Yes Ma'am!" giving a mock salute, grinning

She smiled a little, "good boy. Now just to sort out something to wear. And no...before you ask, you can't wear the Iron Man suit!"

Tony tilted his head away to the floor but kept his eyes on her, "Aww...please...?" he said in his best faux-whiny voice

Pepper shook her head, "Nuh uh. Not this time Mr Stark," she said, bringing her petite hand under his jaw to stroke the 1 day old stubble that had developed. Lifting his head up to meet hers, she kissed him. He stopped protesting and kissed her back with a little more firmness.

After an intimate and somewhat peaceful shopping trip, Tony and Pepper were in the Lamborghini blasting along the highway at some ridiculous speed towards Stark Industries Central where his private jet was kept. Rhodey had been on standby, having been informed by Pepper of course. Tony was useless without her when it came to keeping time, appointments or the same girl in his bed. However, the lady sat next to him wearing a divinely beautiful knee length red and gold Chanel strapless number, was going to be the last. Forever. The flight to Philadelphia should only take about an hour and a half, leaving them time to get to the conference center early. Pepper always allowed extra time with Tony. He had a habit of turning up a little more than fashionably late to a lot of things. Pepper managed to coax Tony away from his beloved workshop around 4pm, the party being at 7:30pm. He had been too busy playing around with the new car to notice the time or Pepper standing in the doorway, hand on hip, his navy suit folded over the other arm.

They were both now settled down on the jet ready for take-off. Rhodey fired up Bridgette (Tony's pet name for his jet) and shortly they taxied round and were up in the air heading to their destination. Tony and Pepper were sat next to each other in the lounge area on the couch together. The only people that were aware of their new relationship status was Happy and Rhodey. Pepper wanted to keep things quiet for now, as she had enough to handle just managing Tony's hectic crazy life. Tony was sympathetic towards Pepper on this because she stayed out of the spotlight, unlike himself. However, unless they were especially cautious they both knew it would not be long until the press got wind of it.

Tony put his arm around Pepper in the corner of the plane's couch, drawing her closer. She looked beautiful this evening. Her hair was loosely curled with a small section clipped up on the left side with something that sparkled in the mood lighting. Make-up was done to perfection. Red glossy lips, a faint hint of coral blush on her cheeks, eyes softly lined with Kohl and sandy eye-shadow. She nuzzled up to his chest, curled in the crook of his strong arm. Comfortable, safe and above all happy. Tony turned and looked at her, "Pep, can I ask you about who hurt you?" he said gently

"What do you want to know Tony?"

He paused a moment, "I don't know...I just want to listen," Tony said at last

"Well...I was 15 when it happened. Walking home from school, I was followed by a senior guy. He had been obsessed with me for months before it happened because I refused to have sex with him," Pepper said taking a deep breath.

Tony wondered if this was too-much, too-soon but looking at her, he felt she was okay talking about it. He felt her inhale deeply against his body, closing her eyes, focusing on her thoughts. This was hard for her. The punk that done this to Pepper was not going to have an easy existence with Tony Stark on his trail. That bastard did not stand a chance.

He brought her closer to his body, holding her tight desperately trying to translate his love for her through his physical gesture. Pepper was still quiet, eyes open now but thoughts whirring through her mind at a million miles an hour. She opened her mouth as if to speak but no words left her lips. Instead she brought her hand to meet Tony's and clasped at it. Unrelenting in a secure little grip, she held on, breathing, thinking of what to say. Pepper rubbed at the stretch of skin between his index finger and thumb in an attempt to calm herself as she felt her eyes becoming heavy with tears. Lips quivering now as salted tears overflowed and rolled down her flushed cheeks. Tony immediately took a hand to her face and wiped them away, he brought her close and kissed, whispering in her ear, "Its alright Pep. Everything is alright. God I'm so sorry Pepper. I love you" he said trying to hold a shaking Pepper in his arms.

Pepper brought her right hand to Tony's shoulder and started playing with his hair, twirling it round between her digits. She breathed a ragged lungful of air out and murmured a little into his neck. Feeling her nerves and emotions leveling out now she said, "His name was Marshal Jones. I was barely yards from home when he came up behind me, dragged me into a gap between some bushes and there he pushed himself upon me and raped me," her voice level, trailing off

Tony brought both arms around her, brought her head close to his heart and arc and held her tight, "Pep I'm so sorry. I really am. Is there anything I can do...name it. I'll do it" Tony repeated firmly

"I don't know right now Tony. I really don't know..." Pepper replied nuzzling closer to his silk covered chest towards his arc softly illuminating through the fabric

"What happened afterwards?" he asked, a hint of caution in his voice, "Police involved?"

"Yes. I pressed charges against him for what he did. The worst part he skipped his court appearance and disappeared. No one saw him again after that"

"Police not persue him Pepper? Hunt the guy down..." Tony questioned, longing for answers

"They did for weeks Tony. Weeks and months but the guy was too clever for some small town cops. He was 18 at the time. Top of his class but also riddled with problems...he was obsessive compulsive and manipulating" she continued

Tony stopped, taking all this in. Thinking, his brain working fast, "I'll find this guy Pep. I promise you that Miss Potts." She smiled in return.

He pulled Pepper into a deep, warm hug and kissed her deftly on the lips. Firm, massaging and manly. She deepened the kiss and they flew onwards northbound to Philadelphia. Rhodey at the helm. Tony giving her safe reassurance and one of the damn sexiest kisses of her adult life. It was making her heat up between her thighs. She smiled into the kiss before slipping tongue for a mouth wrestling match with Mr Stark. Their kissing became deeper, more passionate and his hands started to explore her upper body. Skimming down her slender neck, across the dip of her décolleté and along her collar bone with his fingers. Pepper arched her neck back as Tony placed delicate butterfly kisses slowly down where the tendons ran. It was incredibly sexy, he was making her feel so good. Pepper's epidermis buzzing shooting sparks along her nerves making her smile in delight, "Tony...ahhh so good.." she moaned, her voice low and primal

Tony reveled in making her feel like this. To give his Goddess such pleasure thrilled him immensely. It made him feel top of the world knowing she was enjoying his attentiveness and care. Pepper was worth it. Her worth to him made other women look like nothing. Pepper suddenly grasped her hand onto his waist inside his jacket, digits trailing on his belt. She moved to kiss him again, lashing her tongue against his, wet hot and exploring wildly. Tony's goatee brushed against her chin and they kissed, wrapped up in each other again. Tony felt his trousers becoming tight again as they moved and found new sensitive spots, his erection firm against his underwear. He moaned a low throaty, gruff noise from deep down in his chest... Oh God Pepper...

Flame Goddess moved down his torso, hands in contact rubbing and massaging towards his thighs and the zipper she was about to release. She unzipped and freed his manhood from its fabric shackles and swallowed him. Pepper took his length in her mouth, tightened her lips around the ridges of his shaft. She licked and sucked painfully slow, seeing how much more Iron Man could take. Playing with his tensions and head she brought him a few minutes later to his release. Tony came in her mouth, spurting hot orgasmic seed deep into her throat. Warm, slightly sweet. She thought he tasted good. Tony closed his eyes, hand gripped tight on the edge of the seat...feeling dizzy, his mind smiling. Slowly he came to his senses again as Pepper removed herself from his thick cock, he said, "Holy fuck Pepper...where did you learn to do that?"

He was breathless and happy. She gazed upwards, squeezing his thigh with her left hand. Pepper chuckled lightly, "Oh Mr Stark. A girl needs her secrets..." she replied smiling wickedly

He thought she was insatiable. Only Pepper would say that considering what just happened.