Chapter 10

AN: So I hope people are still reading. The last one was definitely fun. Hopefully everyone will enjoy this one too. Reviews make me very happy, let's me know people are still reading

So today I will be wearing yet another hat. That would be short order breakfast cook. Well, cook may be too strong a word. I'm really just picking up the phone and ordering room service, but it's all about the effort right?

After hanging up the phone I pick up my coffee, which I did make, and head for the balcony, hopeful to get a few moments of peace this morning. I'm the first one awake, as you can imagine. Pepper is likely still sleeping off the effects of the scotch, preparing her body for the onslaught of the hangover, while Tony is still asleep as he didn't find his bed until 4 AM. Which means that I didn't find my bed until that time either, which makes me wonder why the hell I am even awake right now.

Tony did finally have that glass of scotch, or three, that Pepper had so desperately tried to keep away from him. After putting her to bed, he and I sat up in companionable silence, lounging on the balcony of the suite, finally enjoying the smokey amber liquid while gazing at the panorama of the City and monuments below.

The silence was almost in reverence to the events that have transpired in this place, the hallowed ground for which our great republic is built. I found it ironic that Tony was sitting with me, watching the City. He had, in truth, taken up the mantle of protecting this nation from enemies, both foreign and domestic. An awesome responsibility to be sure. One that not many would have guessed Tony Stark would be willing to undertake. But it appeared that he saw it as a challenge, and there wasn't any challenge that Tony wasn't willing to head at straight on. And he had certainly done that in taking on the role of Iron Man. It seemed that he had jumped in with both feet and that the shine had not dulled on the armor for him yet.

In fact, the more that some people thought he was going to fail, the more he dedicated himself to it. It was a strange thing. I had never seen him so focused. There were no women involved, or extravagant partying. Well, that's not quite true. Iron Man seemed to make Tony even more irresistible to the female population, the strange thing was that he didn't seem to notice. Whereas before he would have brought home a different groupie ( oh and believe me Iron Man has groupies, gorgeous groupies) every night, now he just sort of brushes past them, signing an autograph or a chest as he passes. In fact he-

A groan interrupts my musings. Glancing over my shoulder I see Pepper emerging, slowly, from her room. She is pale, hunched over and generally doesn't have the look like this is going to be a good day for her. Tony better watch out, this Pepper will not be very tolerant for the next 12 hours or so.

"Coffees in the pot," I throw over my shoulder.

She grunts, which I can only assume, in hungover vernacular, is a thank you. This morning may be a tiny bit fun at Peppers expense unfortunately. Tony is going to take one look at her and go for the jugular. He will be without mercy, which will rile her up, and start the show all over again.

Speaking of the devil, Tony noisily bursts through the double doors of the mast bedroom, and I see Pepper flinch. He is, amazingly, dressed and polished for his day on the Hill. This is a rare occurrence. Tony Stark, voluntarily out of bed and dressed before anyone else? I am about ready to check and see if he has a fever, although, I have a sneaking suspicion that he has been awake, waiting for the perfect moment to strike, when Pepper emerged from her slumber, like a tiger stalking its prey.

"Good morning sunshine!" he exclaims in a sing songy voice dripping with cheeriness. His arms are outstretched as he greets her. If I didn't know him better, I would've thought he was about to spontaneously break into a Gene Kelly song and dance number.

Pepper in the meantime has managed to pour herself a mug of steaming liquid. She sits at the breakfast bar clutching the mug between her hands as though it were a lifesaving cure. Slowly she lifts her head to glare at him, as this was obviously his fault.

"What no morning kiss?" he feigns disappointment.

"This is your fault." And there it is.

"My fault? I seem to remember it was you who single handedly downed, in one gulp mind you, two rather large glasses of scotch."

"I needed to make sure you could function at the hearing," she growled.

"You know," he said, placing a single finger to his own lips, tapping lightly, "I find it extraordinarily fantabulous that you managed to yourself be hungover while trying to prevent me from suffering the same fate."

I think that the sickeningly sweet smile on Tony's face was likely going to move Pepper to violence, even in her weakened condition.

"Don't start with me Stark. It would be very unwise this morning."

"Tsk, tsk Ms. Potts. Such grumpiness. Not get enough sleep?" he mocks while reaching for a mug.

Tony makes himself a cup and brings it up to his lips, taking a sip, the mocking smile still firmly in place.

"Dear lord! Who made this pot of atrocity?" he sputters.

"I did," I respond mildly.

"Did you put turpentine in there?" he asks eying the pot warily.

"I think it's fine," Pepper says coming to my defense.

"You would think it's fine. Ye of drunken taste buds. Are you even sober yet?" Tony poked.

Tony looks at me laughing. I give my head a slight shake, scrunching up my face indicating that this was not the wisest of choices.

"No?" he questions, clearly not believing he wasn't being amusing.

"Ok, that's it," Pepper grumbled. Placing both palms heavily onto the counter, she rises from her stool, eyes trained on her target.

Seeing what was about to unfold, I quickly lay a hand on her shoulder forcing her back to a sitting position. It wasn't that I thought Pepper would actually be able to injure Tony in any way, I was just trying to keep her from making herself feel worse after she eventually realized that had attempted to murder her boss.

"Ok, hey. Let's all calm down. You," I say pointing to Pepper, "need to get going. We need to be on the Hill in 2 hours."

Then turning to Tony, and his smug little smile, "And you need to tone down the uber crazy morning person act."

"Moi?" he asks affronted.

The look I give him should be warning enough, but it's not. He continues on.

"Come on. Chop, chop Pepper. Hearings to go to, Senators to piss off," he says, loudly clapping his hands in front of Peppers face.

She darts up off the stool, startling us both. Quite frankly, I didn't think she was capable of that kind of movement at this point.

"You.." she begins jabbing an angry finger in Tony's direction, her eyes narrowed, directing their venom at him.

Then as quickly as it happened it was over. Pepper had somehow brought herself under control. Closing her eyes, she inhales deeply, cooling the boiling emotions that lingered just below the surface.

Opening her eyes and looking directly at Tony she simply asks, "Will that be all Mr. Stark?"

Clearly at a loss for a witty retort after having witnessed her split-second of rage, he simply returned, "That will be all Ms. Potts."

With that, Pepper turned on her heel and retreated to her bedroom, punctuating her exit with a loud slam of the door. No doubt exercising some of the anger that had so recently been close to venting.

Tony and I glanced at one another. Pepper did not lose her cool, and certainly not at Tony.

"Don't look at me," I say.

I'm saved from further conversation by a knock at the door. Saved by the bell, or knock as it were. Breakfast had just arrived.

As I walk to the front door, I can't help but think about Pepper's short fuse and Tony's penchant for instigation.

It was going to be a very long day.