Author's note: Pepper and Tony did NOT kiss at the end if IM2! They are not a couple... yet! Have that in mind.
Tony felt guilty. This feeling was new to him. He felt selfish. But why did he felt selfish? He did save the world a few hours earlier. Hell, he flew to God knows where with that missal, not even hoping of saving himself. Yet, the odds were on his side and he lived. It is true that the last and only thing that came to his mind was Pepper. He tried to call her, but she didn't pick up. Then Jarvis told him the signal was lost. When he realized that he probably would never see her again or never hear her voice again made him feel dead inside. He didn't care that he'll die. He only hoped she'll forgive him someday.
He let go of the missal. Everything blew up. He closed his eyes. Was this the end?
Tony felt something warm. Someone was holding his hand. He slowly opened his eyes and there she was – his Pepper, more beautiful than ever. He couldn't see where they were and quite frankly he didn't even care. Why was everything so white? He looked at her.
"Pepper, I –"
"Don't speak, Tony. You don't deserve to be here. Wake up! Wake up and use that goddamned piece of metal that got you here! Because I swear, if you don't come back, I will never forgive you!"
"Pepper, I –" he tried for second time.
"Wake up! And come home!"
"Wake up…" he repeated. "Wake up…"
Tony opened his eyes once again and remembered where he was. He looked down and saw the portal closing. 'Come home' he could hear Pepper's voice in his head. With a final push he activated the backup power of his suit and felt his life energy leave him.
"Aaargh!"
"What the hell?! What just happened?" Tony jumped up. Where was he? He looked around and saw his teammates. So he made it home after all. He made it back to her. "Please tell me nobody kissed me!"
He was home!
Tony walked in the Stark tower, or at least in what was left of it. He knew that she would be waiting for him. He knew she would be mad at him. He walked in the lobby and saw her there, sitting at a big black leather couch, her face as pale as a sheet, eyes red and puffy and her whole body was shaking. He now understood why he felt so guilty. How could he have done this to her? Pepper saw him entering. She looked at him with both anger and love. She didn't know what to say, what to do, how to react. She wanted to go there and hug him, tell him how much she loved him, kiss him and then tell him how stupid he is. He stopped a couple of meters away from her. "Sorry" he said. That was the first time ever he had said that to her. Actually it was the first time he had said it to anyone. Pepper let out a new set of tears, stood up and hugged him. He took her in her arms, slowly stroking her hair. "I'm sorry, Pepper. I'm so sorry."
"I thought-I thought –" she couldn't find her words. "I thought I lost you forever! How could you?! Are you insane?"
"I'm sorry, Pepper… I understand that my actions –"
"No, you actually don't! I am in good terms with saving the world and all, but did you have to fly into the hole, or portal, I don't even know how to call it! How can you imagine –" Pepper kept talking and talking. Tony stopped listening to what she was saying long time ago. The still were half-hugged, he still held her in her arms, she still got hers tangled around his neck. 'God, she is so beautiful when she is angry' Tony thought to himself. 'I wonder what she's saying. Does she ever gonna forgive me? Of course she will – as soon as she gets it all out and say to me what she thinks she'll let it go. I wonder when she'll stop talking. Do I have to shut her up first in order to tell her how much I love her? Maybe a kiss would work…" Tony suddenly felt it was the right moment to tell her how he feels. He closed his eyes, slowly leaned forward and… 'Smack!' What the…?! Did she just slap him? Tony opened his eyes and felt his left cheek burning. He put his hand over it, just like a child and looked at the very calm Pepper staying before him. "Did you understand me?"
"Yes" No! What was she saying again?
"And you promise?"
"I do" I don't. What do I promise again?
"Good." And with that Pepper took a step back. "Will that be all, Mr. Stark?"
"Yes, that will be all, Miss Potts." 'No, it won't. Don't leave, stay with me, lets have this night to ourselves...'