A/N: I don't own anything MARVEL except my dvds.
.
"…And Rhodes wants to know if you are throwing your usual labor day bash?"
"Of course, I'd hate to disappoint my friends. Some of them look forward all year to this thing."
"You're friends? You mean the people who show up when you have a party so they can get drunk on free booze."
"Exactly, but they come every time, so friends."
"Uh huh."
"Who are your friends?"
"Here or back home?"
"You still have friends back home?"
"Of course, I moved, I didn't die." She let out a small laugh. "I went to a small school, most of my classmates and I had been in school together from preschool to high school graduation."
"Weird."
She laughed, "So party?"
"Yeah, get the same place as last year."
"I wasn't here last year, where was that?"
Tony stopped tinkering with whatever it was he was messing with and actually stood still for a moment.
"Yeah, I don't remember. Hey Jarvis, what was the name of the place we used for Labor Day last year?"
"Well you started at Morelli's and then, according to the news reports, moved to Triple Peaks followed by taking the jet and a small group of people to a new party in Thailand thrown by your friend, Badger I believe he is called."
"I don't remember any of that, but what I do remember was the sweet car I came home with after that weekend."
"You bought out Morelli's then left your own party to party hop your way to Thailand and all you remember is a car? Not bad for you, could be worse."
"I think I'll take that as a compliment."
"Take it how you like. I'll contact Morelli's tomorrow and see if you are even going to be welcomed back."
"Why wouldn't I?"
"The name Ocean's Bar and Grill ring a bell?"
"Should it?"
"According to the file Rhodes gave me when I was hired, they would prefer if you didn't return to their location. Apparently you almost caused a riot and one of their waiters got accosted by one of Happy's men."
"Jarvis, did that happen?"
"Yes, sir. The waiter in question was paid handsomely in return for his silence on the matter."
"Huh." He gave a half shrug, "But this isn't going to be as big as my birthday party, plus you will be there to help keep things in line."
"I will?"
"You're not coming to my party? It's going to be awesome."
"No, I'm going home that weekend, remember?"
"You'd rather go back to the dusty Midwest than attend one of the best parties of the year?"
She pretended to think, "Yes."
Tony gave her a hurt look, "I'm hurt, Pepper."
"I think you'll be okay."
"Hello, Mr. Stark."
"Miss. Potts, I'm calling you on behalf of Mr. Stark."
"What has he done now, Jarvis?"
"While monitoring his phone, as usual, Mr. Stark made a call to his pilot and now is headed to the airport with Major Rhodes, Happy and several other people."
"Of course he is." She groaned, "Where is he going?"
"According to the call, Russia."
"Russia! What the hell is he going to Russia for?"
"I believe he said something about vodka."
"I should have guessed that…Thank you Jarvis, I'll see what I can do."
She ended the call with Jarvis, and after looking around at her family, she got up and moved to a different room.
"Hi, Pepper!"
"Hello, Major. What do you think you are doing? You cannot let him fly to Russia."
"Tony does what Tony wants."
She heard some noise in the background and it was Tony's voice that came through to her next.
"Hello Pepper, miss me?"
"What are you doing, Mr. Stark?"
"I think I'm with like minded people at the moment and we are in search of the perfect bottle of vodka."
"You cannot go to Russia."
"My personal jet says I can."
"Mr. Stark."
"Miss. Potts."
"Fine, go to Russia, but if something happens, don't call me."
"I won't." he hung up.
"Damn it." She muttered dialing another number."
"Hello Miss. Potts."
"Hey, Captain Hart. I'm sorry to call, but you cannot fly him to Russia."
"He has ordered me to take him there, since he is the boss, I have to listen."
"Tell him the plane has a mechanical error and can't take off."
"Um, I've tried that before and he hired a different plane and pilot to make the trip."
"Of course he did." She sighed, "Okay, I've got it. Let them board, they will start drinking I'm sure. Then just fly in circles until you have to land. Hopefully they will be too wasted to realize they are still in California."
" If I do this, you have to promise I'll keep my job."
"You will certainly keep your job. That's a non issue."
"Here's hoping they already have had a good bit to drink, I'll even delay take off as long as I can to help ply them with booze."
"Thank you so much. I'll owe you."
"I'll hold you too that."
"I'm sure you will." She said with a smile in her voice.
Pepper woke up to her phone ringing.
"Hello."
"Did, you really think I wouldn't notice we never made it to Russia?"
"I hoped."
"Well it didn't work."
"You're in Russia?"
"The plane is refueling and then we are headed there, yes."
"If you don't go to Russia tonight, I'll clear some time out of your schedule in a couple of weeks and we can go to Russia." She offered, grasping at straws.
"We, as in you and me?"
"Yes, I will go to Russia with you."
"Okay."
"Okay? That easy?"
"I like deals, and I plan to make you go vodka testing with me?"
"We can negotiate that."
"It's happening Pepper. Better prepare." He hung up.
"Damn." She said.
