Chapter 8.

Pepper POV.

Pepper Stark. Virginia Stark.

I like that. I liked the thought of being with Tony forever. Living in the Malibu Mansion or Stark Tower. Until we're grey and old with kids. Tony's children, I could picture it.

But now I've messed it up. Christine Everhart had taunted me. About Tony's lifestyle and reputation. Everyone knows who he is and how he is with girls, Christine exaggerated the point that Tony would get bored with me, and in a matter of time I'd find a different girl in his bed every night.

I'd messed it up by listening to her. By taking my beautiful ring off and doubting Tony for even a second. I'd been so stupid!

I saw no point in going to the mansion that night, where I'd see Tony. So I slept at my now pretty much bare apartment as I'd moved most of my possessions slowly but surely into that massive house. My apartment was very convenient, being a few blocks away from the centre of town, and then a little drive to Tony's.

At around 2AM and a pathetic excuse of sleep had been attempted I gave in. I drove to the mansion keeping my car idle in the driveway for a while. Debating whether coming was the right thing to do or not.

"Get a grip, Pepper." I whispered to myself in the dead of night. Getting out of the car and heading over to the front door the access code panel popped up on the glass.

"Welcome home, Miss. Potts." JARVIS welcomed me home quietly.

"Thank you, JARVIS. Where's Tony? It's oddly quiet." I questioned sensing too much silence.

"Mr. Stark is currently sleeping in the master suite. He has been so since 9:13PM." JARVIS replied. Odd, thought, very early for Tony.

Sometime later there was an ear-splitting crash above my head as I lay curled up on the sofa clutching a cup of coffee, I threw my blanket aside and cautiously made my way upstairs. I found Tony in bed thrashing in-between the sheets, his body glazed with a thin sheen of sweat. A broken, and very expensive vase, was smashed its pieces scattered around his bedside table. Tony's expression was utter fear.

"Hey, Tony." I whispered. Shaking him gently.

He didn't wake.

"Tony, It's me. Your having a nightmare, wake up." I held his chest slowing his thrashing as I bent over his distressed frame. Tony calmed slowly. His eyes opened.

Tony P.o.v.

That nightmare has been the worst yet.

"Tony, It's me. Your having a nightmare, wake up." I heard her whisper near my ear, her hand settled on my chest shooting a sticky warmth through my body and her ginger tinted hair brushing my chest as Pepper cautiously bent over me, worry in her eyes. I opened my eyes.

"Pepper." I whispered.

"It's me. Your fine. I'm here." She soothed running her hand through my hair. I reached up and held her hand in mine. Pepper smiled a little. Smiling is a good sign, right?

"Tony, I'm sorry." She sighed, wiping a glistening droplet from her cheek, I softly removed the other that followed.

"Me too, " I whispered "It's fair enough you wanted to think. I shouldn't of pounced on you like that."

"It's fine.. And I was thinking. What about a spring wedding?" Pepper smirked, tangling her hands in my tousled hair.

"You're sure?" I grinned back relishing in the feeling of her strawberry blonde soft locks brushing against my skin. As she sat down opposite me on the bed, arms now settled around my neck her hair brushing my shoulders since it was a lot longer now, which I liked.

She kissed me.

"Yeah, I mean it wont be to hot or too cold. Plus spring weddings are always so classy an-" Pepper rambled on. I laughed and pushed a finger to her lips to stop her.

"Hang on before you start mentally planning the wedding, are you sure about us?" I asked intently.

"I'm sure about you. Anything else I can live through." Pepper whispered.

"I've made a lot of enemies Pepper." I told her.

"We'll take it on together and plus has your genius brain forgotten something? The Avengers - sure they're kind of like a dysfunctional family, and they'd never admit it to you but they'd stand behind you through anything. Stop stalling. I'm marrying you. Get over it!" She giggled against my lips and I laughed with her.

"Never leave me, Pepper." I whispered leaning my forehead against hers. Pepper hummed.

"Hmm. I'm not going anywhere. Ever." Pepper kissed me softly on the lips, being me and wanting more I tugged her into my lap and flipped us over carrying on from a few nights before.

(Lazy afternoon.)

"Pepper?" I poked her in the ribs.

"Oh god, Tony. What?" Pepper mumbled we sat outside by the pool under the parasol, Pepper insists on sitting in the shade other wise she burns up like a tomato apparently it's got something to do with her 'ginger gene' . We were pretty chilled on the love seat outdoor sofa thing with Pepper's nine mile long ultra smooth legs draped across mine clutching a pina colada in one hand and typing furiously on her Blackberry with the other. Pepper wore a pair of light denim hipster shorts that were frayed at the edges and studded with brass studs on the front pockets, a white vest top with a plaid lumberjack style shirt slug on the top. Pepper's hair was in a messy bun. I loved Pepper's lazy days, when she didn't have her own armour of sharp expensive suits and designer footwear. She was just Pepper.

I sat slouched on the love seat with a vodka martini, very dry and extra olives and a little dirty as usual, it was 1PM but what the hell, I was starving. I wore an old MIT shirt and cut off jeans. My hair was tousled, one of my lazy days too.

"When are we going to tell everyone?" I questioned after she had put her Blackberry down.

"Hmm. I know what you're like. Nothing extravagant. Maybe dinner? At the Tower, it's probably easiest for everyone to get to." Pepper pondered.

"You're probably right. But maybe..-" my voice trailed off.

"No," Pepper said sternly, "Just dinner. We can invite Rhodey, Steve, Clint, Bruce, Natasha, Betty, Thor and Jane." Pepper arranged and started to pick up her Blackberry and send out the invites.

"I'll call Rhodey." I announced.

"Hello?" He answered.

"Rhodes, guess what?" I shot at him as soon as he answered.

"Hey Tony, Yeah I'm fine thanks for asking." I could picture his eyes rolling to match his sarcastic tones.

"Yeah cool. Good. Guess what though?!" I cried like and overexcited child.

"Oh bloody hell Tony, I really don't think I'm qualified to know." Rhodey sounded nervous. Chuckling slightly.

"It's nothing bad! Pepper and I are getting married!" I cried, Pepper laughed. Then Rhodey was silent for several minuets before he regained the ability to speak.

"Finally!" Was all he said, sounding incredulous.

"Huh? What do you mean finally?!" I glanced at Pepper and she smiled, reaching up to stroke my hair affectionately.

"You two have been chasing each others tails for 12 years. Like I said; Two seals fighting over a grape!" Rhodey laughed into my ear.

"Whatever, Platypus. Dinner at the Tower. New York. Be there!" I invited him.

"I'll be there Tony!" He laughed again and with that he hung up.

(At the party thing)

Rhodey let out a low whistle as I lead him into the main living area of Stark Tower.

"Dude, you've out done yourself." Rhodey looked around looking amazed as he looked around the newly renovated tower which, might I add, was flashier than ever.

"Good evening Colonel Rhodes, after all these years, sir, it mildly surprises me that you manage to inflate Mr. Stark's ego due to his 'flashy pad' as he may put it, Nonetheless it's nice to have you in our presence after such a long time." JARVIS greeted Rhodey. We both laughed at the AI's comment.

The rest of the Avengers stood around drinking,

"This is Rhodey everyone." I announced, they all turned around, smiled and greeted him. Pepper made her way over.

"Rhodey, we haven't seen you in forever! You must come visit more often!" Pepper smiled hugging Rhodey around the neck.

"I know, it's the military though, I gotta go where they tell me," Rhodey shrugged.

Hey! People!" I shouted over the rest of the loud chatter that filled the room "Pepper and I have an announcement, this is of course why your here. Don't get used to this." I said aloud, earning a smirk from Bruce, a grimace from Natalie and Clint, A hearty laugh from Thor, a roll of the eyes from Steve and two laughs from Betty and Jane.

"I proposed to Pepper... And she said yes!" I smiled.

There was a mixture of incredulous looks. The ladies stepped forward and hugged Pepper, Bruce hugged me.

"Congratulations, Tony." Steve smiled sincerely, shaking my hand.

Thor caught both Pepper and I in a bone crunching hug. Natasha congratulated me, a tiny smile tugging on her lips, and hugged Pepper. Clint clapped me on the shoulder and kissed Pepper's cheek.

"Pepper you look brilliant, still that radiant-just-engaged look I see, I give you two weeks until you realise what your marrying into!" Rhodey laughed pulling me into his side playfully, I mock laughed.

"I've been in his life thirteen years, Rhodey, I think I can take any crazy things he does now, nothing really surprises me!" Pepper laughed with him.

"Hey! I'm here… still! I'm really not that bad!" I held my hands up in defence. They simultaneously rolled their eyes.

"Everyone sit, dinner!" I yelled over everyone.

"To Tony and Pepper!" Steve rose his glass to us while he sat across the table, we devoured our Italian food and sat comfortably full drinking more champagne.

"We wish you happy lives together!" Thor cried with his thunder voice.

"We do." Jane smiled at Pepper and I.

Soon enough the ladies went out to the balcony and us men stayed inside and consumed more and more alcohol. Celebrating way into the night.