Disclaimer: Don't own Iron Man, never will…I'm sad now, I think I might go drown my sorrows about not owning Iron Man by being sad about not owning Doctor Who…Nah!

A/N: Hello everyone! And a good day to you all! I wanted to get at least one more chapter out to you all before one, my supply of prewritten chapters runs out and I actually have to start thinking again and two, before Tuesday, which is a dreaded day for me…the start of a new school year. This means that I might not be able to update this as often as any of us would like, but I do want to let you know there is a silver lining. I'm working on another Iron Man fic, don't know when I'll start posting, but it's a crossover parody with the Princess Bride, so if you like that too, keep your eyes open. Alright, let's get started shall we?

12. Dusk

The sun was just dipping below the horizon as Tony walked along the beach thinking. And while he was trying to think about where terrorists were keeping his weapons, trying to come up with improvements for the suit, his mind kept going back to one thing, one person, one certain redheaded assistant. "Pepper," he muttered, rubbing his hand over his face.

"Yes?" a quiet voice asked from behind him, making him jump. He spun around and there was the woman who would not leave his thoughts.

"Geez Potts! Way to scare the crap out of me!" he exclaimed, throwing his hand over the arc reactor in a melodramatic way.

"Sorry sir."

"No, no, it's fine. But what the heck are you doing down here?"

"Well, I was out on the balcony watching the sunset and I saw someone down here. I asked Jarvis if he knew who it was and he said that it was actually you, so I thought that I would come down to join you. Was I interrupting something?"

"No, I was just thinking, or at least trying to."

"You have to try to think? That's not a good sign Tony," she said grinning.

"Ha ha, very funny Pepper. Actually something was distracting me."

"Really?"

"Yes, you."

She jerked in surprise and a hurt look crossed her face. "Well then, I'll just go back to work then."

Pepper turned to leave, but Tony lunged forward and grabbed her arm. "That's not what I mean Pepper. You can stay, it's just…" he trailed off and she turned around to face him. "I can't stop thinking about you. And I haven't been able to for a long time." When she just looked at him he sighed. "Come on, let's sit down."

Tony sat, stretching his legs out on the sand while Pepper neatly folded hers beneath her. "What's this about Tony?" she asked.

"I want to talk to you about something. That morning in Afghanistan…"

"Tony, really, we don't have to…"

"Yes, we do. No please, just listen for a few minutes. That morning when the bomb exploded, in the last few seconds I was conscious, all I thought about was you. And then, when they were 

torturing me and…holding my head under the water, I heard you call my name. And I knew then that I had to come up with some way to get out of there so that I could come back home to you."

They were quiet for a bit after that. They stared at the stars and listened to the waves washing up on the shore. After a little bit though, Tony felt a soft weight on his hand and then on his shoulder. He looked down and saw Pepper's head resting on his shoulder and her hand covering his.

"I was at the mansion every day while you were gone and sometimes I thought I heard you coming up the stairs. Every time I did my heart would break because I knew you weren't there. But I wouldn't cry, I refused to let myself cry until you were found."

"Why?" he asked in surprise.

"I knew you'd laugh at me."

At that he took his hand out from under hers, reached up under her chin and made her look him in the eyes. "I would never laugh if you cried because something hurt you."

The stare between them was intense, even in the increasing darkness. Then, before they knew what was happening, they leaned into each other and their lips met. Tony made sure to be gentle, Pepper wasn't one of those one night stands in the past and he wanted, no, needed, her to know that he didn't see her that way. When he pulled away he rested his forehead against hers.

"That was great," he said, laughing.

"Yes, it was," she whispered in response.

"You know, I actually think that night is now my favorite time of the day."



"No Tony, it's dusk," Pepper corrected, "and actually I think it's my favorite time of day now too."

A/N: Okay, I hate to say it, but I though the ending to this one was really awkward. I just couldn't come up with a good way to do it. Anyway, you know the drill. Please review!