A/N: Well this is embarrassing. It's been over a year since my last update. Don't really have any good excuses so I'm not going to give you any except to say that I'm very very sorry, and thank you for still believing in it. I've always had a couple scenes in my head but no way to really connect them into a well flowing story, but now I do. We are getting into some really heavy plot points so it should be getting good, and I promise I won't go a year without updating again. Some really sweet Pepperony moments in this chapter. Also, I have decided that Steve and Kathrine will have a romantic relationship, but this by far is not a major point of the story, mostly just personal and selfish reasons, although it does sort of help with her character a bit as well. I will hopefully be keeping this story in Tony's pov. Also some pretty short scenes this chapter, but they really help to move the story along I think. I'll also put some links to the dresses mentioned in my author profile, but feel free to imagine whatever you think is pretty. This is also un-beta'd, so tell me if you see any mistakes.

A few months passed after the incident. Katherine's headaches slowly got worse, and the psychologist did all he could but to no avail. With how much pain his daughter was in, Tony was worried they might have to switch to stronger pain medications. But of course these problems were all on the back burner as the Fireman's Fundraiser was right around the corner.

"No, satin looks to cheep on that dress. Try this one." Pepper called out to the dressing room while handing another pink floor length dress through the crack in the door. Somehow, Pepper and Katherine were able to talk, more like drag, Tony into going dress shopping with them. He was currently sitting on the of the surprisingly comfy chairs at the shop while the girls were busy figuring out materials, cuts, and colors. But that was the extent of his knowledge on the subject.

"Hand me the champagne pumps." Tony heard called out. Pepper made a reach to the pile of shoes that was taking up the main part of the floor and passed them over the door. Trying to distract himself from the whole girlishness of the situation, he was going over the guest list for the said night.

"Who invited Rogers?" He called out, already having an idea of who did so.

"I did." Kathrine said shortly, not elaborating. Tony didn't say anymore on the subject. He had learned that whatever the relationship between the two may be, Kathrine was better off with him around. She even opened up more to Pepper in the past months.

"Okay, I think we got it." Pepper said opening the door.

Tony was getting anxious. He was already to go to the function, even Rogers was already dressed and at his house waiting for the girls to finally finish.

"Pepper, we are going to be late." He called up the stairs. He heard Pepper's heels against the floor as she emerged. Her red hair was in perfected curls and a deep green silk dress hung from her shoulders all the way to the floor.

Tony couldn't tear his eyes away, a huge, genuine grin was plastered to his face as Pepper reached the bottom of the stairs.

"We're always going to be late Tony. You should really be used to it by now. And normally it's because of you." Pepper accused, but she could hold back the shy smile as she bit her lower lip at the sight of Tony in a tux.

"I'll take your word for it. You would know best." He responded as kept his gaze fixated on her. He leaned in for a chaste kiss which Pepper happily returned. It was only the hurried clacking of heels down the stairs that pried them apart.

"Has anyone seen my clutch?" I can't seem to find it anywhere." Kathrine rushed into the kitchen, quickly grabbing her pain medication to take with her before continuing her search for her bag.

"Umm, I think I saw it on the coffee table." Tony answered with Pepper still in his arms. Kathrine disappeared around the corner out of site to retrieve it.

"It's pink, right?" Tony called after her.

"Yep. Got it right here. Are we all set to go?" Kathrine said as she rounded the corner, revealing a beautiful light pink lace and chiffon dress.

"What do you think?" Kathrine asked looking at Steve, who had yet to say a word.

"You...you look beautiful Kathrine." He said in a quieter voice. She put on a small smile as he offered her his arm to lead her out to the car, Tony and Pepper not far behind them.

Tony couldn't believe how well Kathrine was doing at the party. She was certainly doing her part in talking to all the guests and putting on a smile. Steve was never far off from her. Tony and Pepper were currently at the bar enjoying their drinks, having had enough attention from the press.

"Do you think she's been to functions like this before?" Tony wondered out loud.

"Probably. Wouldn't make too much sense to leave her out of the public eye as she grew up from a managerial stand point." Pepper responded, but before she could take another sip, Tony took her drink out of her hand and set both his and hers down on the bar.

"There is another reporter headed our way." He said as he dragged her to the dance floor. The jazz band started up another song as Tony pulled Pepper to his chest.

"I see what you did there, and I must say it was a very nice excuse." Pepper said smirking then lying her chin on his shoulder as they continued to slow dance. As the song came to a close, the couple pulled apart and applauded the band. Pepper glanced around the venue. "Where did Kathrine get to?"

"Probably snuck off somewhere with Steve. I would like to think that it's because she had to take some pain killers." Tony said under his breath as his phone started to vibrate in his pocket. He took the phone out and saw that the caller I.D. was blocked, but he went ahead and accepted the call. Probably Fury. He thought. "Hello?"

"Tony Stark." Said a deep voice on the other end. "We have your daughter, and I won't hesitate to kill her unless you do exactly as I say."