Pepper sipped her coffee quietly in the morning on the balcony of the suite, taking in the few moments after sunrise over the Mediterranean. While it was quiet, she had a lot of time to think. She thought about many things but most did turn back on Tony in some way or another. Despite the fact that he could drive her positively crazy sometimes, not only did she like working for him but cared for him more than any one else she had ever known.

She even thought about the favorite part of her day. Most people would probably say quitting time but that was not Pepper. Her favorite part of her work day was when Tony got up in the morning. Now, this wasn't the moment when he needed to be dragged from bed to make some early morning appointment that he was clearly grumpy and not very sociable before at least three cups of coffee. Hers was when he awoke on his own, whether it's at nine or noon, it didn't matter. She loved seeing him come down the stairs in an old t-shirt and his pajama pants, rubbing his eyes and yawning, still a little sleepy and relishing in the leftover warmth from the blankets. To Pepper, Tony was absolutely adorable at that moment because that was the purest version of him that existed. No walls, no sarcasm, no cheap ploys or rude jokes, no masks…just Tony. This was the reason why she decided to not wake him this morning despite her gentility in the matter while on vacation. Pepper needed Tony in a good mood for what she wanted to do today.

By the time that Tony had finally emerged from his room just after ten in the morning, Pepper had already showered, dressed and gotten coffee for them, which Tony gravitated to like a moth to the flame.

"Good morning, Tony." Pepper said pleasantly.

"How long have you been up?" Tony asked through a yawn after a few sips of caffeine to wake up his brain.

"Long enough to watch the sun rise over the Mediterranean," Pepper replied as she handed Tony the morning paper.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" he asked as he flopped down on the couch.

"You were tired and as you have pointed out, this is your vacation as well." Pepper replied as she sat down next to him. "I did think of what I wanted to do for the day though."

"Okay…lay it on me." He says excitedly because he is glad she still wants to spend the day together.

"First…I want to play miniature golf." Pepper said with a smug smile.

He heard her idea and started laughing. "Pepper, you do that on East Coast beach towns, not Monte Carlo." Tony exclaimed until he saw her face, which was serious. "Okay, it's your day. I'll see what I can come up with. Anything else?"

"I believe you said that I had the privilege to melt your credit cards and help the Monegasque economy…"Pepper hinted.

"So I guess that means a full out onslaught of the Golden Circle, the Condamine Market and the Fontvieille Shopping Centre." Tony stated as he pulled Pepper's laptop over and began looking for a mini-golf course in Monaco.

"What are you doing with my laptop?" Pepper asked as she crossed her arms and leaned in the doorframe as she watched Tony's fingers fly quickly over the keys.

"Trying to find a way to play mini-golf and not have to fly to New Jersey or Maryland." Tony quipped back.

An hour and a half later after Tony scoured search engines in several different languages and took a quick shower, he and Pepper were in the arranged car on their way to Antibes, France so Pepper could get her wish. The golf course was part of an amusement park associated with a hotel. When they arrived, Tony instructed the driver to pick them up in about an hour before he took her hand to pay. As they walked in, Tony was almost tempted enough to ditch the mini golf and attack the video games and water slides that were attached but he had promised Pepper. Not only did he have to shave every day until they went home so he would not be recognized but he also had to alternate with Pepper as to what they did.

Upon receiving their putters and balls, Tony surveyed the competition ground while Pepper fixed her purse so it would not be in her way of playing. Eighteen holes of waterfalls, rivers, and 'volcanoes', inclines and declines and 'jungle' foliage laid waiting for them

There were two other groups ahead of them so while waiting, Pepper stepped onto the small practice green before the first hole. Now, not being a golf pro himself but having done his fair share of time on the greens mangling through one business match or another, Tony was watching the way Pepper swung the club and he had an idea, even if it was just an excuse to get closer to her. He snuck up behind her, placing his hands on her club just above and below hers, and tried to correct her swing.

"It works much better if you do it like this." Tony said over Pepper's shoulder as he adjusted the swing.

Pepper just sighed, picking up on the clear signals that Tony was throwing off. She didn't exactly mind feeling him close to her and breathing in the scent of his aftershave but she wasn't going to tell him that. "It's mini golf, Tony." She stated as she stepped off the green with a smile. "I think I can handle it just fine."

"Oh really?" Tony said as he picked up a hint of a challenge. "Care to make it a little more interesting, Tiger?"

"Interesting?" Pepper repeated. "How interesting?"

"Say five bucks for every hole in one and whoever wins gets their money doubled," Tony suggested as he held out his hand. "Do we have a bet Potts?"

"I think you may be giving me 180 dollars when we're done here." Pepper said with a smile as she shook on the bet.

An hour later, Pepper eagerly counted up 70 dollars of Tony's well won money as he put away the putters and clubs and got the car.

"Let's go Tiger." Tony sighed as Pepper was clearly bragging as she waved the money back in front of Tony's face.

"Admit it; I beat you fair and square…" Pepper teased as she got in the car.

"Just for that, you can buy lunch before you make an assault on my credit cards." Tony replied as the car started back for Monte Carlo.