Chapter 7

Pepper Potts

Sara: Pepper Potts, as all of you, know her but to me….to me she was so much more. She was my best friend, sister, therapist and whatever I needed her to be. She was so selfless, kind, caring, helpful, understanding and giving. She gave and gave and asked for nothing in return, she didn't care about the critic or the lies. All she cared about was her family and doing the right thing, how do say goodbye to an angel? Today I realized the answer, you don't have to say goodbye because they will always be around you...until it's your turn to come home. Pepper, little sis...I don't know where you are or if your watching this right now and blushing, because everyone knows you hate being the center of attention. I just wanted you to know, that I love you and that this spotlight is for you.

Carol:(Captain Marvel) I'm not going to call her Pepper because that wasn't her name, her name was Virginia Potts. I didn't know her very well but from meeting her, I could tell that she was caring, strong, very understanding, patient-very, very patient. The point is, she was a really great person...who-who would've made a great mom someday(she smiles bittersweet holding back something she wants to say) she didn't deserve to die or like she didn't matter. To be kicked aside! And be called names because she stood by the people she loves… I say love because that love doesn't just go away because that person is no longer here. It stays with us forever. Thank you(she smiles and storm off the podium and out of the church and Thor follows her. He looks back at the Avengers confused and they mirror the look. He turns back around and follow her out.)

Bruce: Well, I know Carol didn't really know Pepper but I did. (he smiles as if remembering a memory) and you know what she said about Pep being a great mom is true. She treated everyone with respect and kindness, she showed such compassion, loyalty and trust to everyone she met. She had this glow and essence about her that you were thankful to bask in, I was so honoured to meet her. I remember this one time, I came to the headquarters and her…(laughs) she went out of her way to keep me calm and relaxed during my visit. She was like (impersonating Pepper) Hey! Bruce welcome, it is so great to meet you. Tony is right upstairs, would you like anything. But then when I got inside, the lights were low, there were jazz music and incense on and she was talking in a low calm voice. She was like (impersonating Pepper, talking in a low calm voice) if you need anything to let me know, I can get you a drink, something to eat, some dessert… don't hesitate to ask for anything. Even if you need a massage or if you just wanna relax. (he laughs). I was like" what's going on!" and she was like " Tony informed me that you freak out in buildings and, that you were afraid of that happening. I don't want you to be afraid of doing something that you don't wanna do, you don't need to be afraid of anything or anyone here. Were all your friends and we're all on your side and we're here to help. Not just to make you feel comfortable but the Hulk as well. I was like " I'm sorry what?" you want the hulk to feel comfortable too. Pepper was like "yeah" and then she said

Pepper: I know you hate to admit this, I know Hulk has caused a lot of damage and hurt a lot of people….but I think what you forgot is that he saved your life. I know you said that you wanted to die but, the earth would've never survived if it wasn't for you. I know you can't control it and that you've messed up but who hasn't and who can… some can and some can't, the point is… the Hulk hasn't given up on you or his friends and you shouldn't either. You should be grateful for the Hulk instead of blaming him for your problems. He's had your back before you even met the Avengers, maybe you should start showing him some gratitude before his no longer around for you to do it.

Bruce: she was right! I didn't and now he's gone….and she is too and now I don't know what to do. I don't know how to cope without her.

Natasha is Sitting down next to clint

Natasha: where the hell is Tony( she whispers angrily to Clint)

Clint: he better have a damn good reason for not being here.

Tony is being held somewhere with Maya

Maya:(looks confused as she stares at Tony and then looks next to him)

Tony: (looks confused and angry) what!

Maya: I'm surprised I have to point this out.

Tony: what are you talking about?

Maya: look to your right.

Tony looks to his right and sees Pepper hanging from a pole by her arms, while her body is being laid against a gate.

Tony: you're a monster! What is she doing here?!

Maya: now, now… that is no way to talk to your ex, especially one who is granting you the opportunity to pay your respects. I mean I know she meant so much to you, way more than you ever did me.

Tony: why do you even care! It's not like you ever loved me! Why do you care if Pepper interfered?

Maya: I found out that Pepper was the one who trashed my work all those years ago. She destroyed my research and made it look like a burglary. Apparently, she was doing a mission for you, so I came to you… so I can destroy your little bond. That turned out to be more difficult than I thought. So I had to get creative but I had no idea that you were working on an antidote. I mean you had to know that I was just pretending to make an antidote to keep you busy, right. I couldn't let you know what I was really doing… I was recreating the elixir that she destroyed and, I needed a big enough lab and someone with the brains to do it.

Tony: I gave Pepper the antidote, how did you?

Maya: I switched the antidote with the elixir and then when she got here, I gave her another dose to ensure she wouldn't wake up. Framing her wasn't enough! Locking her up wasn't enough! You hating her wasn't enough! No matter what you did or I did, she kept getting in the way and this was the only way to fix it!

Tony: so, you killed her.

Maya: Duh! She's lying right next to you. I mean that's why I brought her here, to see the pain on your face. I mean it was pointless to try to get her to talk to me, so I killed her. You, on the other hand, you were in love with me (laughs) pathetic.

Tony: no! What's pathetic is you thinking that this stupid overcomplicated plan would work. I mean you kidnap me, we escape and then you kidnap me again and kill Pepper. Now you think that I'm actually going to tell you anything(laughs) that's not very smart.

Maya: Oh, Tony! Tony! Tony! You do realize that you've never left this room, you only thought you did. Don't you realize that everything you've seen since you " left the room" was all a hallucination, to get you to tell me your secret antidote? So I can figure out a way to make my incurable elixir.

Tony: what? How….. I don't understand.

Maya: oh good! You didn't realize(smiles) My invention has proven to be quite effective. Thank you so much, Tony! (she kisses him on the cheek and he yanks himself away but he can't because he's tied up) awww(she skips to the door and exits out of it)

Tony feels himself being sucked in, his suddenly being tossed around space and planets, he sees the earth and a butterfly. That's weird(he thinks to himself) why would he be seeing a butterfly. Then he falls on a wooden floor, he looks around and sees doctor strange looking at him.

Tony: what the ah! Where did you come from?

Strange: I was here the entire time, don't tell me you forgot.

Tony: Forgot what? (he looks confused)

Strange:(shines a light in both eyes) hmm… it appears there might be some trauma, I did warn you of the consequences of travelling through time and dimension through your mind. You insisted.

Tony: why(he asked still confused)

Strange: because of Maya

Tony: wait, what? Who did you just say?

Strange: you said something was off about Maya, you wanted to see where her intentions with you pure. I could've told you that but, you insisted on going on this journey alone. The only reason I could think of is that you wanted to punish yourself, for some reason.

Tony: how do I know this is real, there were moments that I had… they were just like this.

Strange: those were created within the dimension, you're fine. This is real! It may take some time to regroup but you will be fine, I mean I was. Still, your mind might just be a little rattled but your strong and you remained focus on your task.

Tony: Pepper helped me( he smiles)

Strange: I know. You kept saying her name while you were under, I was eager to call her but before we began you asked that I not. Out of fear that she might stop it and you wanted to know if she could be trusted. I guess your instincts were right, she couldn't be trusted.

Tony:(has a huge smile on his face, as he thinks about the thought being able to see Pepper again) I gotta go!

Strange: take it easy stark, you heard what I just said, right.

Tony: I gotta go! He collapses to the ground

Strange: I hate to say I told you so but I told you so.

Tony: your such a jerk! Look, I just know that Pep is probably worried about me and, I just wanna see her. In my delusion, she was… I just need to see her

Strange: no, you need to relax before you have another.. You know what. is fine, you need to focus...it's the only way you'll regain your strength.

Tony: did you master treat you like this?

Strange: worse actually! She said I was a jerk… so she was really tough on me.

Tony: see! I knew I wasn't the only one who thought so.

Strange: I'm starving! I'm going to get me something to eat.

Tony: I'm getting hungry too, do you mind getting me something to eat as well? Please, no

Strange just walks away and doesn't say anything

Tony (just sighs and looks away): whatever.

Strange appears back in the room that Tony was in, he is eating some Pizza

Tony: Wow! That's not fair, you know how much I like that place. You went there on purpose and now you have to give me a slice.

Strange: I only had enough money for me, Wong put some money in.

Wong descends down the stairs

Wong: the pizza's here, yes! Hey! Tony's here! You wanna slice?!

Tony: (looking at strange) you know what? I would actually, thank you wong.

Wong: your welcome(smiles and goes back up the stairs)

Strange disappears again and the boxes are empty

Tony sits back on the floor, he collects his thoughts and thanks god that everything that he had just been through was all a hallucination. What he was most thankful for was that Pepper was alive, he didn't know what he would do if Pepper wasn't ok.

Suddenly there was a knock on Strange's door. Tony looked at the door, wondering if he should answer it or not. He hesitated as he got up, he slowly approached the door, not knowing who or what waited for him. He slowly opened the door. It was like the whole world stopped but she was moving in slow motion, it was like everything got brighter and she was glowing. Her smile reignited the fire in his heart, he couldn't help but smile as he saw her smile.

Pepper: oh! Hey, it's you. From the way that Stephen was talking, I thought something was wrong. Are you o-

Before she could finish her sentence, Tony's lips are on Pepper's. He kisses her passionately and she doesn't stop him.

Strange: wow!

They stop

Tony: really! ( he says angrily) now you come back!

Strange: I was just going to talk to you about your journey.

Tony: can we talk about this later!

Strange: I just wanted to say

Tony sighs and Pepper laughs

Strange: I just wanted to say that the information was real but, everything else was set dressing. Everything you saw, everything that happened wasn't real.

Tony: yeah! I got that! Can you get in your little portal or whatever?

Strange: I don't use the portal for everything.

Tony: yeah, whatever! Just go!

Strange: geez( he says as he ascends up the stairs)

Tony: geez the guy can't take a hint!

Pepper: wow! What was that all about?

Tony: I don't know, something about him wanting us to be science bros together. I don't know(he waves him off)

Pepper: no. I meant you kissing me. I mean you just starting dating Maya.

Tony: the journey that I went on, it put me through a lot of stuff. The most important thing was, I learned how underappreciated the people I love are. I didn't realize how much I took all of you for granted. So here it is, I love you and Maya was a huge mistake.

Pepper: I-what?! None of this makes sense, what are you talking about?

Tony: we've been through a lot together and no matter what happens, we're always there for each other. We don't doubt each other, lie to each other or play games. This whole time I've been afraid that you might say no or that I might not be worthy of you…. But, let's be honest no one is. I will continue to support, care, appreciate, trust, be honest, help you through whatever you need but I would be lying if I didn't say I've fallen in love with you. It's been there for a long time but back then I wasn't worthy or ready but now I am and If not, I still want to be a man in your life...even if I'm not "the man" in your life.

Pepper: wow! (she says in shock) that was a lot to take in at once.

Tony: I know. I just wanted to be honest, I didn't want something bad to happen to us without you knowing.

Pepper: knowing bad is going to happen to you. At least not while I'm around.

Tony:(smiles as he looks into her eyes) oh gosh I'm so happy your here.

Pepper: what happened?

Tony: long story short, I came here for answers and I got them. Maya can't be trusted and I love you, I can't live without you.

Pepper: Tony it's just cold feet, your just looking for a way out because you've never been in a real relationship before. I just so happen to be the closest bystander.

Tony: first of all( he encloses his hands over hers and stares deeply into her eyes) If that were true, I wouldn't choose you to do that with. I would never hurt you like that. Second, of all, I've always cared about you. You're telling me that you don't care about me?

Pepper: I don't wanna screw anything up with you and Maya, you two seem really happy.

Tony (gets closer to Pepper and he stares at her lips and she stares back at his): It's all smoke and mirrors, she's just trying to get close to me so I can help her and so she can kill you.

Pepper: that's stupid!

Tony: I know that's what I said. ( he stares at her longingly) you're really not going to answer me? ( he gets closer, so close that their lips are almost touching)

Pepper: yes(she whispers)

Tony: I'm sorry! I'm getting really old now, you going to have to speak up.

Pepper: yes! Yes! Yes! Ok! Are you happy

Tony: yes what? ( he pretends to be confused)

Pepper: you are such a jerk!

Tony: I know but finish your thought(smiles)

Pepper: I care about you too, ok.

Tony: it would be if those were my exact words but that's not what I said. You're so close, come on! I know you can do it, unless you don't feel that way or..your not ready then I'll back off.

Pepper: no, I love you too. It's just hard.

Tony: why? Because I'm impossible.

Pepper: you are but that's not the reason why. I'm just afraid of this, I don't want to destroy everything we have.

Tony:(smiles) you can't destroy us, no one can. Were too powerful to destroy. No one can destroy our bond, our connection… because we didn't find each other, our souls led one another to each other….that was a bit much(Tony stares at Pepper)

Pepper: I was going to say that but I didn't want to intrude on your nice speech.

Tony: doesn't make my statement less true though.

Pepper: ok. Let's try(she smiles and he smiles back. They kiss and with each kiss, it grows more and more passionate. Tony pushes Pepper against the wall and holds one of his arms up against the wall for support. The other one is in Pepper's hair and his face, as he prays to himself….let this one be real.

Strange walks back in the front room in shock

Strange: nope! Not in my house. (he teleports them back to the penthouse, in the front room where Maya is waiting)

Maya: what the actual hell, Tony we just started dating and you're making out with this red-headed tramp! I guess the secrets out on how she got the job!

Pepper punches Maya and knocks her to the ground, Tony grabs Pepper with a smile on his face and she is squirming trying to get free. Maya feels something dripping from her lip, she touches her lip and sees that she's bleeding.

Maya (runs towards Pepper): that Bitch!

Pepper: come on! Come on! I want you to, please! Please come toward me, so I can knock you out again! (Tony holds Maya back and Pepper back)

Tony: come on Pepper, don't stoop to her level.

Maya: my level? I'm never done anything to you!

Tony: what? Are you mad because I'm not acting like one of your little puppets? Are you mad because you haven't had the chance to inject me with your poison! No matter what you do or where you go, you will always be a monster.

Maya:(jaw drops open) I-i doesn't know what you are talking about.

Tony:(dig in Maya's purse, she tries to yank away but it's too late) so, you weren't trying to kill us with this(he holds the elixir in his hand)

Maya: how did you?

Tony: I've been on quite the journey. Now it's time for you to leave.

Maya is walking towards the doors but then she sees the flashing lights

Tony: I thought you should ride in style.

Maya tries to look for an escape

Tony: there is only one way out of here and, whether you like it or not, it's through those doors.

Maya: this isn't over, not by a long shot.

Tony: you see those red and blue lights, that's not for a disco. You're going to jail for a long time.

Maya: I'll be back soon and I'll be back for my revenge.

Tony: we'll thank you for the heads up.

The police enter the house and they take Maya away. Pepper turns to Tony and exhales, Tony looks at Pepper and smiles.

Maya: do you have anymore psycho ex coming out the woodworks, who are going to try to kills us?

Tony: yes! But hopefully it will take a while before they come, so I will have some time to refuel my energy.

Pepper just laughs

Tony just smiles at Pepper lovingly

Tony: gosh I missed your laugh

Pepper: Tony, for the last time. I told you, you were only gone for an hour.

Tony: it felt longer than an hour.

Pepper: well, that doesn't change the facts. Well, I better be going

Tony: I know baby, can I have another kiss? Before you go

Pepper: Oh no! I'm not falling for that again.

Tony: please(Pepper just laughs and she pecks him on the lips and he kisses her back. They start to kiss passionately again and They pull back as they look at each other and laugh)

Maya: those bastards! Do you think they suspect anything?

killian: no, you were a good distraction, Besides, I think they're too into each other to notice that we weren't the real police.

Maya: good! Let's give them some time to forget, so I can strike when they least expect it.

Killian: no! You missed your chance and the only one who is going to be striking is me!