Authors Note: I'm after finding myself with a terrible bout of writers block and, much to my displeasure; this chapter came to very sorry fruition. However, of several drafts, this was the best. Hopefully, after a few days off, I'll be able to continue in the same way I began. Sorry to all those who've been reading for this sorry effort.

Chapter 9

Since that night, my life seemed to tick over in the same mundane way it always did. I got up, fed Beans, went to work, came home, walked Beans, watched mind numbing television and went to bed. The longer my humdrum life went on without Tony, the more I found I missed him. Saturday rolled around, and still I hadn't heard from him. By this point I'd come to terms with the fact that my jacket stealing antics were probably what had caused the vow of silence on his part and, to keep myself from feeling the full force of embarrassment at this, I packed my life with as much as I could. Poor Beans had be positively walked to exhaustion and that wasn't about to change now.

Given that I had a lot of time on my hands due to it being the weekend, I donned my good trainers and decided to take beans on another brisk walk around town. The lead was on, the winter woollies donned and, begrudgingly on Beans' part, we were just about to depart when the entryphone buzzed. Annoyed at having my proactive mood interrupted I answered abruptly.

"Yes?"

"Woah, sorry, didn't mean to disturb you." I recognised that voice and immediately felt embarrassed at my hostility.

"Tony?" I murmured all smiles.

"Yeah, it's Tony. Look, sorry I didn't call before, it's all goin' off at the new branch and I've been working my ass off to try and get it smoothed out. I read your article by the way, very nice." He intoned.

"Thank you, I'm glad you liked it." The personal thanks were a nice touch given the hours I'd slogged over that thing. "So, to what do I owe this pleasure?" I chimed, hoping to sound cool and nonchalant; probably not.

"Well, I figured I owe you another date. So I wondered if you wanted to go out, with me, right now." I wanted to jump around the flat with joy but, first off, I didn't want to sound too eager and, secondly, I had to walk Beans, not that he really needed it.

"I was just about to go out with the dog actually. We could always-" He cut me off.

"Great! I think it's about time I met him. Meet you outside?" I was reluctant due to my unflattering choice of attire but when Tony Stark asks you out again you still don't decline.



I emerged moments later onto the street, looking something akin to the Michelin man while Tony looked effortlessly cool in a black leather jacket and jeans. I cringed internally.

"Hey AJ." He kissed me lightly on the cheek.

"Hello." My voice came out in several different pitches as a result. Desperate not to look like an idiot I said the first thing that came to mind. "This is Beans." I stepped aside, presenting him to Tony.

"Hey Beans!" He chirped in a coochey voice, bending down to pet him. Much to my shame, Beans yapped and growled and Tony recoiled.

"Don't take it personally, he's just shy." God love him, he was a lovely dog, but I hated him for that. Tony just nodded looking a little fazed. I felt my cheeks flush.

"So, ready to go?" I said, hoping to gloss over the embarrassment of Beans' little outburst. Tony just nodded again and we set off.

In reality we hadn't gone far at all but for all the conversation we'd crammed in, it felt as though we'd walked miles. Our walk took us round the more scenic parts of London, some of which it was nice to be able to introduce Tony to, a small triumph to be able to tell the man who knows everything something new. We talked, then stopped and did the whole sight-seeing thing, then talked some more and, for the first time since I met him, I felt my nerves ebb a little. Eventually, idle chatter tailed off into something closer to home.

"So, did ya miss me?" Tony looked at me and smiled. Although his tone was jovial his eyes conveyed that the question was serious.

"Would it sound sad if I said yes?" I asked, wincing.

"No. I missed you too." I felt my face break out into a sizeable grin. "AJ?" He added, suddenly looking a little nervous.

"Yeah?" I muttered.

"Could I hold your hand?" He asked tentatively. I felt the grin grow until I thought my face might break.

"Yes." I squeaked. Those mammoth butterflies made an unwelcome return as I felt Tony's uncannily warm hand grasp mine and his fingers lace themselves through my own. A gesture I thought would send me into spasms actually came quite naturally and I found myself walking, just as I had, holding Tony's hand as though it was second nature.

"There, that's not so bad is it?" His voice took on soothing warmth as we continued to walk, hand in hand, hazarding glances at one another then turning away as we made eye contact. This debacle continued until we arrived back at my building.

"So, here we are." Tony said, doing that rocking on his heels thing again.



"Yep, here we are indeed." I replied wrestling Bean's into submission to dry his paws. Then it dawned on me. "Do you want to come up for a cup of tea...or something?" The one time I wasn't trying to be suggestive to a man outside my flat, it just so happened to sound like I was. Wonderful.

"That'd be great." He smiled and nodded his approval before following me up the stairs. Waves of fear washed over me as I swung my front door open, revealing my humble lounge. Luckily, it wasn't too untidy. A few magazines strewn about the soft furnishing hardly qualified as mess in my book, I hoped Tony thought the same.

"Make yourself at home." I urged putting Beans down, kicking off my shoes and scurrying to the kitchen to bide me some time. Thankfully, Tony didn't follow. I was fresh out of small talk and uncomfortable silence really weren't my forte.

I bustled around pulling mugs I hadn't used in months from the cupboard and trying to find a clean spoon. "Tea or coffee?" I called out in no particular direction. As I was after putting a teabag into a mug for myself I felt a strong arm slide itself around my midriff and Tony's warm body press up against my back.

"Can I just have you instead?" His voice was a low growl close to my ear and I felt myself melt as he planted a tantalizing kiss on my neck.

Who was I to resist?