So here we go with the next chapter :D As always, thank you for the lovely reviews, you really keep me going :))

Pepper turned around in his arms and burried her face in his shoulder, still softly crying.

"B...But why... why did you say that?"

"I wanted you to know that you don't need to worry, Peps... just trust me!" He soflty picked her up and carried her back in their room.

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It was a sunny day in Malibu and Stacy Miller was in her favourite shoestore, when she mentioned a familiar redhead woman.

"Virginia?"
The woman turned around and smiled.

"Stacy?"

"Wow, we haven't seen for years, how are you doing?"

"Well... since college it changed a lot, I'm working for Stark Industries since 11 years and I have a wonderful relationship, so... what's about you and this doctor Rogers?"

"Oh come on... This is a very boring story... Tell me about this 'wonderful relationship'..."

They sat in a near coffeestore and Stacy stared at Pepper. She sighed and said:

"Well... don't tell anyone, we hadn't have an official statement yet, but he's Tony Stark..."

"Your boss? NO WAY!"

Pepper smiled at her amused friend and continued: "I haven't planned this, you know? I didn't start working for him, because I wanted into his bed... I hated him in the beginning, but..."

"And how is it? I mean, come on! He's Iron Man..."

Yes... he was Iron Man, but for Pepper he was enough beeing just Tony... her Tony.

The way he looked at her, the way her heart melt every time he kissed her. This wasn't about some alter ego... this was different.

"Well... yeah he is. But it's not all he is. He's brilliant and simply wonderful!"

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Pepper came home late this afternoon and were greeted by a surprised Tony.

"Hey! Where have you been? You went out to buy some shoes, but I don't see some shoes. What happened, are you allright?"

Pepper sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck, melting in the touch of his hands on her waist and kissed him softly before she answered:

"Yeah, I'm fine. I met an old friend from school, we haven't seen for years..."

"Oh, okay... what do you think about movie night, Peps?"

He looked at her with this puppy dog face and she couldn't resist.

"Okay..."

She found herself in one of Tony's shirts and wrapped into a blanket on his lap in front of the screen watching X-men. Tony had looked at her like she would kill him slowly with a knife when she said that Wolverine was really attractive, but she had soothed him, by kissing him passionately and telling him that he was the only one who was in her heart.

After the film he carried her upstairs and laid her down into the bed. He cuddled up next to her and pulled her in his arms; god, he was so happy that she was there. Tony stared at her, her beautiful face framed by her silky strawberryblond hair; he couldn't believe how one human could be so gorgeous... Pepper turned her head to face him and whispered:

"Why are you staring at me, Tony?"

"We are allright, aren't we?"

Pepper smiled and shifted her body to lay down on top of him, her head burried in his shoulder.

"Yeah, of course we are okay... I'm sorry, Tony... I'm sorry that I was like this... You know, I don't want you to stop beeing Iron Man... I'm just worrying... I love you, Tony..."

He sighed and wrapped his arms tighter around her waist, softly groaning. Pepper looked up at him, obviously worrying.

"I'm not too heavy, am I?", she asked.

Tony shook his head, but Pepper mentioned the expression on his face. She left her place on his chest and sat up, forced him to sat up as well.

"Take off your shirt, Tony..."

He grinned at her, but Pepper knew his behaviour well enough to see that he wanted to distract her.

"Oh, Miss Potts wants to play..."

Pepper sighed, she didn't think this was funny and his grin dissapeared when she shoot a death glare at him.

"Come on, Tony... I know you are hurt."

She gasped when he lifted his shirt so she could see the bright purple bruise.

"Oh my god! Tony! What the hell happened, and why didn't you tell me about this?"

He took her hands in his own and softly caressed her hand with his thumbs. He didn't want her to be angry at him, he just don't want her to worry. He sighed and looked in her eyes, mumbled:

"It's nothing...!"

Pepper didn't answer, she stood up and went into the bathroom. Tony stared after her and tried a smile when she came back with the first aid kit. She put out a salve and softly rubed it on his chest, her soft hands on his chest helped so much more than anything else and he watched her taking care of him. He couldn't deny that he liked it when she took care of him, even though he didn't want her to worry. She finished her work and when she came back she sat down in front of him and laid her hands on his shoulder.

"Tony... please tell me if you're hurt... you know, I'm always here to take care of you... "