My muse is on a motherfucking roll (mind my French).

Chapter 11

Pepper swallowed her last bite of her hamburger, licking her fingers as she rolled onto her back. "You know," she said, once she had swallowed her piece, remaining on the floor. "We're really bad at this packing thing."

She and Robert were at Pepper's apartment. They had planned to pack most of her things and take them over to Robert's but in the end, they'd filled up one small suitcase and had spent their time making hamburgers and watching terrible horror movies.

"What are you talking about?" Robert asked, his mouth full. "We're the best there is – we should start a bloody company."

"Right," Pepper said with a roll of her eyes. "Fastest movers on the coast. Just don't feed us."

Robert chuckled. "It sounds like a sign at the zoo. 'Look at all the pretty penguins. Just don't feed them…they go ballistic'."

"I don't remember zoo signs ever saying that," Pepper said.

"Well, you've obviously never been to the best zoo on Earth."

"And where is that?"

"Well…last time I checked, I think they moved off grid…"

"Off grid?" Pepper taunted.

"Something like that."

"So…not on Earth?"

"Well…essentially."

She laughed again, standing up and reached for Robert's plate. "Are you done? How about dessert?"

"Pepper, I just ate three of these-"

"It's apple pie."

"I think I'll just serve myself," Robert quickly decided, changing his mind as he got to his feet.

Pepper nodded to herself as he left before her. Still smiling she said, "That's what I thought."

10:30 AM, Next Day

As soon as Pepper entered the shop, she decided that her most important task of the day would be organizing the absolute mess in Tony's shop.

It looked as if World War III had rampaged through the garage – and then a tornado had stuck shortly after. More papers than she cared to keep up with were strewn across the floor; every working monitor was up and running and there was even a holographic display of what looked like an entire city…

No lawyers, she prayed to whoever was listening, And no lawsuits. Please, please, please…?

"Tony?" she called out, quietly enjoying the sound of his name. It had been a while since she had even uttered his first name and now that the two of them were suddenly on speaking terms again, she was sure to use it to her heart's content. After a moment of silence, she tried again, "Tony?"

Pepper circled the area and spotted him fast asleep on the couch, his hands crossed tightly over his chest. "Listen, I need you to-"

Her feet skidded across some papers on the floor and she slipped, shrieking. Her foot rolled under her but she managed to catch herself before any real damage was done. With a roll of her eyes and her heart still pounding, she angrily bent down to grab at the papers on the floor, stacking them up in no particular order and slammed them hard on one of the tables. But when she turned around, to her surprise, Tony was still asleep.

Pepper frowned, walking towards him but paying close attention to whatever was lying on the floor. Tony was a light sleeper – an unfortunate bonus that went along with his insomnia, and yet he was still out cold. It was reason enough to start panicking.

Unless, of course, he was pretending to be asleep so he didn't have to sign anything.

She nodded to herself, deciding that was the most likely explanation and repeated his name again to wake him – but still, no answer.

"It's not funny, Tony, I'm in a hurry and I-"

As soon as she was just a few feet away from him, she was silenced. Despite his deep slumber, he was frowning, his eyebrows furrowed and his lips in a taut line. And a heavy sweat was seeping through his loose, long sleeve shirt. As she took just one step closer, she could see the same sweat forming on his brow and dripping down the side of his face.

And he wasn't breathing.

She panicked when she noticed, just about to scream his name and shake him awake but he suddenly exhaled through his nose and took in another sharp breath. Again, about four seconds later, his awkward breathing cycle repeated.

Pepper's eyes were wide as she watched him, not sure what to think.

This isn't supposed to be happening. He's not supposed to have a nightmare.

He was better – cured, she thought. The few times they had talked about it should have…he was fine up until now…he had said…they had talked…

No, she told herself; he hadn't said anything. And they had certainly never talked about what he was going through, not properly anyway. It was always Pepper finding him accidentally, or JARVIS calling her in the middle of the night because he was on the precipice of death or a coma. She was there for the aftermath.

It must have just gotten…well, not necessarily better. He wasn't better – it had just become tolerable enough for him to handle it by himself. And her finding him today, again it was all just an accident. He wasn't supposed to be asleep at three in the afternoon, anyway. It was just all these stupid papers keeping him up all night that had probably instigated a quick nap that had turned into…this.

Unable to watch his agony, she reached toward him, ready to shake him to consciousness - but not before he revealed something else.

When she looked carefully, she could see that his lips were moving, ever so slightly. He was talking – in his dream, or nightmare. She couldn't make out what he was saying, and she wasn't sure she even wanted to know.

"Tony…" she took his shoulder and moved him a few times, but still, he refused to respond. "Come on, wake up…" she begged.

Nothing.

But his mumblings did get a little louder – she still couldn't understand what he was saying, but any fool could tell he was growing desperate: begging.

She couldn't take it anymore. "Tony!" she yelled again, much louder, and she shook him violently.

Tony's eyes suddenly opened, darting in every other direction frantically as his pupils dilated. His breathing intensified, his arms quickly unfolded and he reached for the back of his head. But his movement had been so sudden; he hadn't realized he'd accidentally slammed his fist into Pepper's jaw.

She backed away quickly, holding onto the side of her face as he hyperventilated, still in the mindset of his dream. He looked lost, confused and, worst of all, terrified. But what she didn't understand were his hands – holding the back of his head as if he had a terrible headache. What did that mean?

And his hands stayed there for a few short moments too until he realized he wasn't thousands of miles away, stuck in a cave. He was at home. Safe.

He calmed down and as he did, his hands slowly left his head and remained on either side of him, as if ready to prop himself up. Tony looked around lazily until he spotted Pepper, still holding the side of her face with eyes that looked just as lost and confused as his own.

He initially misinterpreted her gesture as surprise. Shit, he thought to himself. Shit, shit, shit… Now, how was he going to write this off?

"Well…that wasn't embarrassing," he muttered to himself, sitting up properly and immediately, the cold air from the garage hit his back, chilling him – he was sweating all over the place. Perfect, Stark. Real smooth.

"You know," he continued when she said nothing. "We could always pretend this never happened and happily move on with-" he stopped immediately; finally understanding that it wasn't just surprise that had taken over her.

"Did I hit you?" he asked quickly, dropping his "I'm fine" façade immediately.

Pepper hesitated, then withdrew her hand from her face. "Y-no…yes, a little…" she mumbled helplessly. "I'm fine, it's not-"

He cursed under his breath again when he saw it: a bruise was already forming.

"Damn it, Potts!" he grumbled to himself, standing up quickly. He rushed to the medicine cabinet in the garage and raided the area for an instant ice pack.

"Sit," he instructed on his way back to the couch, breaking the bag inside the ice pack. She did as he said, gingerly touching the area he had accidentally smacked. Nothing felt broken or fractured.

He squatted so he was at her level and grimaced again when he saw the bruise. Yes – he'd hit her – hard.

"Pepper…" he sighed, exasperated as he gently placed the ice pack on the side of her face.

"I'm fine, Tony," she said, accepting it.

"Why'd you wake me up?" he asked suddenly. He'd rather endure his nightmare fifty more times than have to see her come to work every day with a bruise he had given her. "I was having a peaceful nap and dreaming about seagulls and the beach."

She was supposed to laugh – that was the point. Tony Stark, breaking the ice and easing the tension. But she didn't buy it, not for one minute. "No, you weren't," she said seriously.

"A certain particularly attractive red head was there too," he continued.

"It's not funny."

He sighed, his lighthearted tone disappearing. "I know," he said quietly, his eyes losing contact with hers. "I just hoped you would take the hint." He looked back at her. "And maybe we could drop it?"

Pepper shook her head. No, there was no "dropping", not while she was around.

"Tony, you-"

"I…don't-" he shook his head, implying that he'd rather not talk about any of it at all.

Maybe later, Pepper thought to herself – maybe some other time. "I thought it was getting better. Nothing's happened these last few weeks so I thought you were getting…better…"

"I am getting better, Potts," he explained. But she slowly shook her head 'no', disagreeing with him. He sighed. "It doesn't…look like it, but I am. This is better, Pepper. And I didn't think it was necessary for me to call you every time I…" he drifted on, not willing to actually say the rest of it.

"But...why?" she asked, failing to comprehend. "You have no problem calling me at every odd hour when you need…something…" she trailed off, realizing that he actually didn't call at every odd hour. Not anymore, at least. It used to be his signature – shooting her a text in the middle of a meeting because he felt like eating a burger for lunch, calling at five in the morning because he couldn't remember the name of the guy he had talked to two weeks ago at that really boring meeting, do you remember, Ms. Potts?

"You don't…" she said slowly. "You don't…call anymore, do you?" Was it part of the silent treatment she had endured for the last few weeks? "Why?" she asked, suddenly angry.

"You want me to call you at two in the morning?" he checked.

"Well, no…"

Tony shrugged. "I don't understand the problem here."

"You used to."

"Yeah, but-"

"Why?"

Tony shrugged. So you could live your life. "Because you don't like it? Pepper, what does this have to do with anything?"

"Nothing," she mumbled under the ice pack. For a moment, she took it away from her face, the cold beginning to sting. Tony took her hand gently to examine the bruise – damn thing was only getting larger. He winced again before placing her hand back.

"It's not your fault," she assured him.

"Yes, it is."

"It was an accident."

"No – I'm just mental."

"No, you're not!" she barked suddenly and Tony nearly jumped. "You're not."

Tony said nothing for a moment, refusing to agree with her. "Do you need anything?"

"I'm supposed to ask that," she answered instead.

Tony smiled but said nothing, nodding to her and prompting her to ask for herself.

"Will that be all, Mr. Stark?" she mumbled, feeling rather unprofessional.

"That'll be all, Ms. Potts," he answered before taking her hand and standing up with her. He sighed, ready to be rid of this entire memory…well, most of it. It was nice to talk to her, even if he didn't reveal much.

"I need to change," he said. And with that short explanation, he excused himself.

6:30 PM

"Alright, Virginia…" Robert called out as soon as he heard the door close. They were both back at Pepper's place again, in hopes that they'd actually get some packing done. "We've got chicken alfredo made by yours truly. However, the alfredo sauce seems to have lumps the size of golf balls in it so…I'm thinking pizza delivery?"

Pepper laughed as she locked the door behind her. "It smells wonderful though."

"Doesn't taste as good. The consistency is…questionable."

"Let me see," Pepper said as she walked into the kitchen, getting her own spoon.

"I mean, look at it – what happened to your face!" he shrieked suddenly. "Are you alright?"

Pepper looked up suddenly, trying to act as if it wasn't a big deal. "Nothing happened," she tried to explain. "I had an accident at work."

"I don't believe you," he said suddenly, angrily. No, he was just scared. "The only thing that can cause a bruise that big is walking into an open door – sideways. And with your head tilted backwards."

"And that's exactly what happened," Pepper told him.

"What happened, Virginia?"

He looked frantic, honestly worried for her. "Calm down, it's not a big deal," she said.

"That's just it though, I know it's a big deal because you won't tell me."

At that moment, she knew that the best answer was the truth. The only problem she faced now was making sure he didn't wind up hating the accidental culprit. "Tony… accidentally…clocked me one."

"How the hell did he accidentally-?" It was the first time in weeks since Tony's name had even been mentioned. And bringing it up now during a conversation about the bruise on her jaw wasn't the best way to introduce her boss back into the house.

"He was asleep!" she defended. "He was asleep and I tried to wake him up and…I startled him. It was a complete accident."

Robert nodded, still not pleased, but beginning to calm down. "Do you need me to take care of it?" he asked, referring to her jaw.

"No, it's fine – he got it."

He nodded again, but his demeanor had long gone sour. And mention of Tony wasn't helping matters.

"Why do you hate him so much, anyway?" she said suddenly. "He hasn't done anything to you."

"I don't trust him," he said, tossing the alfredo sauce into the disposal.

"And why not?" Pepper argued. "He's never done anything to you! You've never even met the man or talked to him and you still can't give him a break!"

Robert felt a twinge of guilt at that, but it soon disappeared. "He was always calling you at odd hours which meant he had absolutely no respect for you-"

"That's not true, Robert!" Pepper seethed. "He's eccentric and insane, and that's why I like him. And that's why I'll keep working for him."

"Then why was he always-"

"Was?" Pepper quickly interrupted. "You said 'was'. As in the past tense – he doesn't anymore, does he?" She thought back, realizing that she had told Tony the same thing just a few hours ago – that he wasn't as eccentric as usual. That he wasn't as wild and impulsive as before – he always gave her the space he thought she needed.

"He doesn't do any of that anymore, you've noticed haven't you?" Pepper asked.

"What do you mean?" he asked, looking worried.

"You know what I mean! He doesn't bug me as much as he used to, does he? You got what you wanted, then – so why do you still hate him?"

Robert sighed slowly and tightened his jaw. "I'm fine with him. I just want him to stay where he is now. At work."

"Robert…" she said slowly, trying to understand with him. "You can trust him. This…" – she pointed to her bruise – "…was an accident. And you don't have to think he's going to…try a move on me or anything, alright?"

"I'm not jealous, Virginia…"

And that was his ego kicking in. God, she thought to herself. He was just like Tony and he didn't even realize it – except for the anger. Tony never yelled at her like he did. Tony gave her the silent treatment and refused to talk to her when he was angry – he didn't yell at her.

"I just don't like him. And I don't understand why you're so attached to him either."

Pepper nodded once. "Fine," she said, deciding she'd had enough. "Well, when you decide to be civil you can come back."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means leave, Robert."

He said nothing, just looking at her unbelievingly. Then, "No."

Pepper's breath caught in her throat. "Robert…" she warned, trying to keep her voice from wavering.

"Try and put yourself in my shoes-"

"I am. Really, I am – but that's not our problem. The problem is that you're not trying to understand with me. If you did, you'd know that he's my friend and you'd understand that there is nothing you can do about it. If you want 'us' to work, you need to understand that my friendship with Tony isn't up for negotiation. You don't ever have to talk to Tony if you don't want to – and I'm fine with that. But don't try and control who I talk to."

"That's not fair, I'm not trying to control…"

"Tony and I have known each other for over a decade. I can't ignore that, Robert. Despite how much you might want me to."

"And exactly where in that decade of "professional" friendship did you start using his first name on a daily basis and did he start giving you pet names?"

Pepper hesitated – but not necessarily because she was caught off guard, though that much was true. But because she couldn't believe he had gone that far. Her head tilted to the side, ready to tear him to pieces and only one word left her lips, "What?" Her tone was low and her lips were set in a firm line. It was more of a direct threat rather than a question.

"You heard me," Robert persisted, not catching the hint. "'Pepper'? I hate it. And I suppose you call him 'Paprika'?"

"You…" Pepper started slowly, her eyes cold. "Are not honestly dragging my friendship with Tony into our relationship." Another threat.

Robert sighed, rubbing the side of his head with his thumb. "Virginia, work with me-"

"Get out," she said – again, in that even, low tone.

"Virginia-"

"I want you to take your things, and get out of my apartment. Right now."

She hadn't raised her voice, not like he had and she stayed where she was, waiting for him to follow her directions. Robert sighed again, deciding he'd lost this one and walked right past her, taking his keys. She didn't move until she heard the door slam loudly behind her.

Pepper turned around, faced with half of a pot of lumpy alfredo sauce.

At that moment, she knew she was going to have to choose. So which relationship was more important to her? Her friendship with Tony? Or her relationship with Robert?

And how exactly did Robert even know that Tony called her 'Pepper'? Had she mentioned it once? Maybe…that was always a possibility…

She ignored the thought, deciding it wasn't even important. What was important was what she decided to do now, and whom she chose.

So…who is it going to be? Is it our ever favorite Tony? Or the boyfriend? The possibilities are endless…well, not really. I mean, we only got two choices here so…you've got a 50% chance. Lol.

BTW – I've finished writing this fic. Completely. So I'll be posting the remaining chapters quickly…hopefully. :) I haven't even been near a computer in 48 hours because of work. Yikes.

Review please anyway! I'd love to hear from you. Thanks a bunch! xoxo