Chapter 8

AN: Hi all! Thanks for the alert and the reviews. Please keep reviewing – it motivates me! So now we will be moving into the IM2 universe. So it is about 6 months after Tony's revelation – if I am interpreting the start of the IM2 movie. Let's see where this takes us shall we?

Stark Expo. Wow. Seriously Wow! I had no idea it would be like this. Its opening night and the entire place is one big party. What an atmosphere! Boy, do I wish I wasn't' working at this moment. So many hot women! But I digress….

I am currently driving through the Expo in Tony's brand new Audi R8 Spyder. And can I just say that this thing is suh-weet. It practically purrs, and don't get me started on the acceleration. And now, the best part, I'm the first to drive it. Puts a little smile on my face every time I think about it. I picked it up earlier this evening at the dealership.

That's right, not even Tony Stark has driven this thing yet. Even better is that hardly anyone in the world has driven this car. It's hot off the press, practically the first one off the line. The boss man was seriously jonesing for this car. He was as giddy as a teenage girl with Bieber fever when Audi contacted him to let him know the car was ready. Pepper of course just rolled her eyes and told him not to destroy it or himself in the process.

Speaking of Pepper and by default Tony, the last six months have been pretty boring on the romance front. I'm gonna break into my romance fangirl mode here, so prepare. You would think their relationship were some kind of Twilight movie thing going on the way I hang on what happens. Sigh.

They are in the same place they were six months ago, which, incidentally, is where they have been the last 10 years, not together. Really, so disappointing. I had such high hopes after that press conference and the ride home. I was thinking the hand holding would lead to something, anything, when they got back to the mansion, but nope, nothing, nadda, zilch has gone on. They exited the car and headed for their respective corners, as if the bell had rung for the end of the round. They have not ventured back into the ring since. Of course, I should caveat my statement with the fact I that I've seen nothing going on, which means there could be something going on I haven't seen, but based on body language, there is definitely no secret sex going on in this house.

I mean I've seen things, but it's all these jagged, oddly shaped little pieces that make up the larger puzzle that is their relationship. You need to look at them all together to really appreciate what you are seeing. All the little things they do for one another, without seemingly knowing that they are doing them. Pepper staying at the mansion until all hours of the night worrying when he is out on a mission. Then, patching him up with gentle ministrations. Tony laying a blanket over Pepper's sleeping form, after she has fallen asleep on the couch amidst her papers and computer.

I've just happened to catch these moments by sheer luck. I'm not stalking them or anything. Really I'm not! Trust me, catching these two unawares in the mansion isn't exactly easy when JARVIS is tracking your every move.

However, for every tender moment I've been privy too, there have been four others where they are screaming their heads off at one another or, conversely, not speaking for days at a time. They can really act like children sometimes. Well, I should say that Tony can really act like a manchild sometimes. Pepper is always professional, except for those rare occasions when Tony happens to push that last button and she blows her top. It's pretty amusing to watch, which I think is why Tony does it.

The last few months have really been tough and Pepper's patience is wearing thin. The Expo has been Tony's only priority to the detriment of everything else. Literally, everything else. I think Pepper's frustration is at an all-time high. Realistically, she is running the company, as Tony has consumed himself with the Expo and Iron Man, although it is difficult to actually run a company when you have none of the power. So she still needs Tony's cooperation to sign documents and give orders, something that is increasingly getting more difficult to get. Especially with all the new projects.

Tony started all these great green initiatives, a liberal agenda some would say, but it appears that in true Tony Stark fashion he has become bored with them and has lost interest. Leaving it up to Pepper to keep things going, juggling the balls he drops in his wake. It's enough to make me want to kick him in the pants. Pepper has always been overworked, but now she is working around the clock making up for Tony's shortcomings.

I know Tony and his ego with the Expo are running wild, but something else is going on. It's been like déjà vu for me. I feel like I'm in the dark again. While Tony, in general, can be flighty and standoffish, his current behavior is something new. It almost seems like he is distancing himself from Stark, from people, from life. I'm just hoping that this is one of his eccentric phases that will straighten itself out soon.

I pull up to the main pavilion. It's enormous and built to accommodate entrances by Iron Man. Speaking of the devil, as I step out of the car I hear the familiar sound of repulers being fired. The boss is almost here.

I get inside just in time to see him hit the stage, literally. He desuits and starts the show. It is truly amazing how this guy can work a crowd. They love him. Unfortunately for the rest of us it is a healthy meal for his already voracious ego. He's having a good time up there, which is nice to see as he's been, I don't know, a bit off lately, tense and distracted. His typical devil may care attitude absent from his persona.

I head backstage to meet him and escort him to the car.

"Hey Hap," he greets me, "Catch the show?"

"Yeah, a little of it. Looked good up there boss," I reply as he tosses me his coat.

Catching it I say, "It's a zoo out there," as the door opens and we forge into the fray.

I point out the important folks and Tony does his part signing autographs, shaking hands, and patting kids on the head. All in all, the gambit was relatively quick and painless compared to some of the previous ones.

"Wasn't so bad," I mention as we exit the pavilion.

"Yeah it was great," Tony returns, a sarcastic lilt to his voice.

"And look what we've got here, the new model," I point to the car, unlocking it as we approach.

"Does she come with it?" Tony asks referring to the beautiful woman casually leaning against the side of the car.

"I certainly hope so," I return, appreciating the lovely picture she creates.

Tony decides that he wants to drive, throwing the fact over his shoulder to me as he converses with the lovely lady.

Ouch. Turns out she's a federal marshal, handing out Congressional subpoenas. I accept the paperwork from her on Tony's behalf as he never accepts things handed to him. I've always thought that was weird. I guess you can afford to be eccentric when you have as much money as he does.

Then, as expected he asks to see the badge. He always asks to see the badge. Most times the marshal is a man, and he does it to annoy them. I was slightly surprised that he asked for her badge. Probably has to do with the fact that she is working for Congress and they've been after his suit since it was revealed to the world.

"How far are we from DC?" he asks.

"DC? Two hundred and fifty miles," I guess.

Tony puts the car in gear, steps on the gas, and we're off with a screech of the tires and the scent of burnt rubber hanging in the air behind us.