note: thanks for reading and comment on my story. I hope you all liked it. I have one more chapter in progress before I will wrap this story up and go on summer vacation.

Tony has been alone for 2 days while Pepper is at some meeting in Toronto that Tony has forgotten what is about. It has probably something to do with Stark industries since she didn't ask him to come along. Tony spent most of his time while Pepper is away in his workspace or in the garage where he works on his car. Tony is laying down on the ground under his car to fix the exhaust pipe when he hears footsteps approaching.

"Tony what are you doing? It is 7 in the morning." He hears Happy's voice from the door. Tony roles out from under the car and look up at Happy.

"oh is it morning already?" Tony asks and stands up. He walks over to Happy and takes Happy's cup of coffee and takes a sip. "thanks Hap." Tony says and hands the cup back to Happy and pads Happy on the arm with his very dirty hand. Happy just look concerned at Tony.

"Tony, have you been working out here all night?" Happy sounds concerned.

"Yeah, I couldn't sleep." Tony grabs a tool from the table and lays roles under his car again.

"Tony you need to get some sleep." Happy says more as an order.

"I can't sleep Happy," Tony says from under the car.

"he hasn't slept for 3 days since Miss Potts left." Vision who has appeared through the wall informs. Visions sudden appear startles Happy.

"my apology Mr. Hogan I did not intend to startle you." Vision always so sound polite with his fine British accent.

"what do you mean miss Potts left?" Happy asks Vision and then turns to Tony who is still laying under the car. "did you already screw up your engagement?" Happy asks.

"no." Tony quickly reappears from under the car. "she is at a meeting in Los Toronto. She has been there for 3 days. She is stuck there due to bad weather." Tony informs and stands up. He leans against the car.

"Mr. Stark my advice would be to lay down and get some rest." Tony just looks irritated at Vision.

"I can sense my present isn't welcomed here." Vision says and leaves the same way he came, through the wall.

"he creeps me out." Happy says almost whispering once Vision is gone. That makes Tony chuckle. Happy walks over to Tony and leans against Tony's other car so he is standing across from Tony.

"what is going on?" Happy asks concerned. Tony is standing with a screwdriver in his hands that he is fingering with. He looks down. "I miss her," Tony says honestly without looking at Happy. "I can't sleep when she isn't here."

"when is she coming back?" Happy asks. Happy wishes he could help his friend.

"tomorrow. She sent me a text last night. The weather is clearing up so she would try and get on a plane tomorrow."

Happy nods. Tony is just fiddling with the screwdriver.

"you should really go lay down, Tony."

"I can't sleep."

"then watch tv. A movie… something. Just lay down."

"I need to fix this."

Tony lays down and roles under the car again to continue his work.

"what is wrong with it?" Happy asks.

"it is the exhaust pipe I have had trouble with it for a couple of days."

"and you have been working on that all night?" Happy asks. Tony roles out from under the car and looks up at Happy. Tony can now see what Happy means. Tony is not going to fix the car before he gets some sleep.

"you need to get some rest."

"yeah, 3 days between siesta might be a bit too long." Happy helps Tony to his feet and Tony walks towards the door.

"could you go pick up Pep at the airport once she lands?" Tony asks.

"I will." Happy promise and then Tony gets inside.

Tony lays down on the couch and grabs the remote for the tv. He turns on the tv on the news channel. Not that it actually interest him what is going on because it is mostly politics and Tony don't really care about politics. So Tony ends up falling asleep on the couch in front of the tv instead.

Tony wakes up when he feels a gentle hand touching his face. He isn't sure if it is a dream or he is awake. He can smell Peppers perfume and when he reaches up to touch the hand he feels Peppers engagement ring on her finger. He must be dreaming. Pepper isn't coming back until tomorrow. Last night when he went to bed he couldn't sleep because the other side of the bed was empty. Gush he has become such a softy. He can't even sleep without her and now he is dreaming that she is here even though he knows she isn't. He must be going nuts.

"Tony you should sleep in your bed." He hears Peppers sweet soft voice.

"no, it is lonely." He mumbles in his sleep not even sure if he is speaking to himself or if he is just dreaming that he is saying that. He hears Peppers sweet laughter.

"Tony it will be lonely for me without you in bed. I have been alone for 3 nights now." Pepper says. Now Tony feels Peppers soft lips against his. He is convinced he is dreaming until he opens his mouth a bit and he can feel her tongue against his. He has never had such a real dream before where he can even feel their tounges touching like she is actually right here. He is afraid to open his eyes and realize it is just a dream and she isn't really here. The kiss ends and he feels her hand resting on his chest.

"have I convinced you to come into bed with me?" she asks.

"hmmm… if I wake up… are you going to be here." He mumbles still not sure whether she is here for real or just a dream.

"Tony open your eyes."

"Hmm… no, this dream is too good to wake up from."

"Tony, this is not a dream." Tony waits for a moment before he opens his eyes and just as he feared… it was just a dream. There is no one in the living room. He is all alone. It is dark outside so Tony decides he might as well just go upstairs. He walks to the stairs and almost stumbles over something as he starts to walk up the stairs. Once he is at the top of the stairs he stops and look down to the bottom of the stairs and realize what he actually stumbles over… it is Peppers travel bag that she always brings when she goes on short business trips… she must be here… she is really here. Tony runs to his bedroom and almost run right into the door because the door almost opens too slow. Tony looks around in the room. The light at the side of the bed is on but Pepper is not in the room. Tony almost starts to get depressed when the door to the bathroom opens and Pepper comes out wearing one of his t-shirts.

"what took you so long?" she asks with a big smile.

"I wasn't sure if it was a dream or you were really here."

"are you sure now?"

"no… because you look dreamy." He says and that makes them both laugh. She walks closer to him and kisses him. she is about to pull away from him but he places a hand behind her head and deepens the kiss with her the longing and need he felt the last 3 days. It cuts her a bit by surprise.

"I missed you too." Is all she says once they break apart.

"I love you." He looks straight into her eyes and she can see how much he mean it. she has never had anyone looking at her like that before and it scares her a bit but she knows Tony means it when he says he loves her.

"we should get some sleep. I am exhausted," Pepper says after a while.

"yeah." Tony takes off his shirt and they get ready for bed. Once they are both comfortable in bed Pepper snuggles into Tony's side and Tony places an arm around her to hold her closer.

"I spoke to Happy in the car. He said you had trouble sleeping again. Is it the nightmares from New York again?" Pepper asks concerned.

"no… no nightmares." Tony says and places a loving kiss on the top of her head.

"then what is it?" Pepper looks up at him.

"I can't sleep when you are not here," Tony admits and it gives Pepper a warm feeling of love. "I try and I am just staring into the ceiling for hours. I can only sleep when you are with me," he admits.

"me too," Pepper says. Tony look surprised at her. He thought she was going to make fun of him and calling him a softy. Her reaction surprises him. "what?"

"I can't sleep without you either. I used to… when I would go on business trips… I would be so exhausted once I get to my hotel room. I would just collapse on the bed right away but… not this time. Since the night we got engaged… things have changed, Tony."

"yeah for me too," Tony says, and Pepper leans up and kisses him.

"next time I go on a business trip you need to come with me."

"you want me to come as your co-CEO which I actually am, or…" Tony asks and wants her to finish his sentence. He is looking at her with a daring smile. Pepper knows she is playing right into his game.

"or just as my sleeping body?" Pepper finish his sentence. Tony smiles at her and continues to try and trick her into saying what she really wants. That she really misses more than just sleeping together with him when she is away on trips.

"so just sleeping nothing else?" Tony dares her and it makes Pepper blush. she looks away from him for a moment.

"or maybe something else," Pepper says and lays down and turn off the light. She is too tired to get into Tony's games now. She just wants to sleep and cuddled up to Tony… just like they are going to do every night for the rest of their lives together, but Tony is still falling asleep with a smile on his face.