A/N - Thanks for all the reviews! :3 I'm glad you like it.
Day 6 – Christmas
"Tony, I'm getting off the plane now." Pepper smiled into her phone, biting her lip at the familiar sight of the New York skyline, although it was made hazy by the fog. Her legs were immediately chilled by the icy air, but her heart was warmed by the thought of returning home.
"Great! I'll see you when you get back, Pep." Tony's voice crackled through her Bluetooth and Pepper's smile faltered.
"You're not coming to pick me up?" She carefully hid the disappointment in her voice, tugging her cream, winter coat tighter around her body against the freezing wind.
"It's only a short ride home. Besides, you wanted me to finish the paperwork, remember? That was my Christmas present to you."
For the first time in her career, Pepper cursed the fact that Tony had listened to her nagging. It was the typical holiday documents to sign about the company, but the work seriously doubled closer to the end of the year. Still, she battled the glumness the secretary felt creeping up on her and tried to brighten her smile to match the fairy lights coiled around every pole and pillar in sight. Her heels clacked as she entered the main airport, concealing her envy of the reunited couples and families around her.
Then she heard a familiar melody.
It was blaring from the speakers, echoing all around the entire airport. The song 'Kiss Me Slowly' by Parachute; the one that they danced to for the first time, on New Year's Eve all those months ago. Their song. Pepper froze, closing her eyes for a moment as the memory resurfaced and filled her with a sweet happiness.
"You didn't think I would actually let you go home alone, did you?" Tony parted the crowds, a massive bunch of crimson roses in one hand. All eyes were trained on them as Pepper rushed into his open embrace; flowers promptly dropped as he held her close and nuzzled his face into her hair. He didn't care she smelt like overpowering mint and aeroplane food. One hand lifted for a moment to tilt her face towards his, holding her there with a tender kiss as his fingers curled around the curve of her waist again. "You've been gone way too long."
"It's been two days, Tony." Pepper grinned as they pulled away for a second to breathe, fingers playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. "And it was for work so I couldn't wriggle out of it."
"Maybe I should fire you." Tony pondered, swaying a little to the song. That was the second time he considered firing her. Pepper just snorted in response and all too soon the song faded and reality struck. She was in the middle of an airport, wrapped in her boss' embrace and thoroughly proving the rumours that had been circulating around the media since she had begun working for him. Yet, just this once, Pepper didn't care. Christmas seemed to affect her brain in ways she didn't expect and she stuck with that conclusion; not willing to admit that it was the billionaire kissing her neck that sent her brain on the fritz.
They drove home in silence, soaking in the sight and company of each other until they reached Tony's penthouse apartment. Even through the fall of snow, the Christmas decorations that he hand showered the building with blazed as a rainbow of colours reaching several hundred feet high. Only one of the apartments was even his, but Tony rarely acknowledged these facts. As they drove into the underground parking, Pepper couldn't drag her gaze away from the gigantic Santa Claus and his sleigh perched on the rooftop bellowing an eerily deep laugh.
"Welcome home, Pep!" Tony beamed, bouncing on his heels with excitement. Despite his childhood, despite the fact that his Christmas day had never been that warm, family day Pepper had always known, Tony Stark loved Christmas. Flinging open the door with a flourish, Pepper yelped as the glow hit her full in the face. Shading her eyes, she stepped inside the vast space that glowed every colour of the spectrum. He hadn't decided on much of a theme, although the setting of the Wizard of Oz came to mind. There were even burnt cookies set on the table, coated in melted chocolate and sugar. "So, what do you think?"
"It's amazing." Pepper chuckled as their fingers entwined and he pulled her towards the sofa. "Although I think we can tone down the flashing lights or someone is going to have a seizure." Grinning, Tony dimmed the lights and pulled her onto the sofa, nestling her on his lap.
"Merry Christmas, Pep."
"Merry Christmas Tony."
"I'm glad you like it, this stuff took me hours." He murmured after a pause, lounging back. Pepper craned her neck to scrutinise him, one eyebrow cocked.
"So, did you get any paperwork done?"
"No…"
