Pepper woke up flushed against Tony and tried to cuddle up closer to him, even though it doesn't work. Tony opened his eyes and smiled at her.
"Good morning, angel"
"Morning" she smiled back.
"You know it's wonderful to see you smiling again, Peps..."
She smiled again and burried her face in the crook of his neck. "I'm feeling a lot better, thanks Tony...", she mumbled
"It's alright, Pep..." He pulled her closer to him and whispered: "I'm so sorry Pep... And I don't know how to protect you... Don't understand this wrong... God, I don't know how to tell you. Come on..." He stood up and took her hand, pulled her outside and they walked in silence, Pepper was worrying about him until he stopped and leaned against a tree with her in his arms.
"Pepper... You came in my office that day, cause you should bring me something from Charles. I said to you that I won't sign that stuff and continued to read the 'playboy' ... you looked at me in disbelieve, ripped the magazine from my hands and told me that you wouldn't leave until I sign that papers. And you remember what I said when you went away?" "You said I should work as your PA... I didn't understand why you wanted me... You know I hated you in the beginning, right?" "Ha... yes Pep I know... and now look at you... you were always special Peps... and I put you in...this... All the times you put up with me and I didn't do anything to make it worth... You're in danger Pep... because of me, and..."
Pepper shook her head and laid her finger on his lips. "Stop this, Tony... You are worth... Please don't say something like that... I love you and I'm so proud of you, Tony..." She leaned into him and kissed him, passionately, tried to tell him that she couldn't loose him.
"Pepper..." Tony said when they broke apart... "You've been through hell... and I can't forgive myself that I put you through this... I don't know what to do, Pep..."
He looked at her with those loving brown eyes and Pepper was afraid, he suddenly saw tears shining in her eyes. Tony pulled her in his arms when she let the sobs escape
"Hey... Peps... please don't cry"
"You...you are going... going to leave me...don't leave me..."
"Pepper..." He sat down in the sand and pulled her in his lap, softly stroked her back. "Stop crying, look at me..." He took her face in his hands and brushed her tears away. "Honey, I love you... You really think I would stand to leave you? Pep... you are the only thing that matters in my life... Iron Man is the problem..."
Pepper gasped. "Tony... you can't quit to be Iron Man... You have a responsibility...and...and I don't want you to stop either..."
"You don't?"
"Tony... It turned you into a better person... "
"I just want you to be safe, Peps...I would quit anything for you..."
She laid her head on his shoulder and sighed softly. "We'll find a way... together!"
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Tony couldn't sleep. Pepper laid in his Arms, steady breathing and mumbling something he couldn't understand. He couldn't loose her, and he couldn't live like that, with her always in danger... There was only one thing to do..
Tony carefully stood up and went into the office of the house, took the phone and dialed.
"Hello... yes it's Tony Stark, I need my jet on the Island, this night... no... no, just me... thank you!" He turned around and was starled by Pepper who was standing in the doorway in his shirt.
"Tony? What are you doing?"
