Thanks for the awesome reviews guys! So happy to see the positivity hehehe :) Here's another chapter in Pepper's POV! I know it's a little intense with the changes, but I hope you're all with me :) I thought we needed a little Happy moments so here's a good friend just when you need him!

'You don't have to stay with me, I'm ok.' I said to Happy.

He made himself comfortable on the couch with a bottle of beer in one hand and the remote in the other.

'Well I wouldn't be a good friend if I left you alone.' He said taking a sip of beer.

'Yes, because you're really helping me out.' I laughed.

'You're laughing, I've done my job.' He said proudly.

I made my way over to the couch and sat beside him, 'you can go home, there's still time to go out and do things.' I suggested.

'Are you trying to get rid of me?' He asked curiously.

I shook my head, 'of course not; I'm just not the best company right now.'

'That's the point, that's why I'm here, to cheer you up, get you laughing, part of the job description.' He said nonchalantly.

'Thanks.' I smiled.

Happy left me to my thoughts, he had the unyielding ability to know when silence was needed, and I thanked him for it. We sat on the couch together, he watched TV and I tended to the influx of emails I had gotten from various gossip magazines in relation to 'the kiss' at the restaurant. I felt my cheeks flush as I recalled the moment.

Most of them were ridiculous interview requests, 'What's it like being the luckiest woman on earth?' 'How did you tame the wild party animal?' and some really creative ones made me laugh out loud, 'Do you boss him around in bed?' 'Does he wear the Iron Man helmet to bed?'

I sighed loudly, there were a few serious ones, these were the ones which made my job a pain, 'Iron man would save you before anyone else, how does that make you feel?' 'Do you think it's fair that he values your life more than the people he's sworn to protect?' I rolled my eyes, you know it's true Pepper, I sighed to myself. It is true; he would protect me before anyone else. I couldn't blame him, I would do the same. And anyone who denied they would too was lying.

I replied to dozens of reporters and editors, some of them replied back instantly, desperate to get a word from the woman who tamed Tony Stark. I knew there would be many more to come in the coming days and weeks, but it was exactly what we needed. It was a perfectly placed publicity stunt to get the 'sick' rumours off the tabloids. I ran my hand through my hair and stretched out my shoulders.

Happy squeezed my shoulder, 'you've been doing that for hours, you should get some sleep.' He nodded to my blackberry, 'I'll send him to bed as soon as he comes home.' He assured me, sensing my hesitation.

I finally gave in and packed away my things; I bid Happy a good night and made my way upstairs to the bedroom.

I don't know how long I stayed up; lying in bed looking up at the ceiling waiting for him to come home. Hours had passed and my eyes became heavy. I don't know when I fell asleep, but I woke up to a gentle kiss on my neck.

'I'm sorry I woke you.' He whispered in my ear.

I couldn't help but smile; I turned around and snuggled up against him. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer.

I closed my eyes against his chest, one hand on the reactor just as I always did. 'Did you find what you were looking for?'

'I did.' He whispered back.

'Good.' I said quietly, 'I love you.'

'Love you.' He whispered, and then his breathing became heavy and he drifted off to sleep.

I kissed his forehead and just looked at him. He looked peaceful, the calmest I'd seen him in a long time. He was content.

I turned around and snuggled into my pillow, a few moments later his arm found its way around my waist again, he pulled me closer to his body. I smiled to myself.

His soft breaths on my neck lulled me to sleep. I closed my eyes and I drifted away.

'Stop, please don't, not her, take me, take me instead.'

I woke up; my eyes darted around the room.

'Don't hurt her.' A hushed whimper.

'Tony?' I whispered.

'Don't take her from me.'

I sat up in bed, I looked around the room, the darkness made my heart drop. There was no sign of the warm blue light which usually flooded the room.

I got out of bed and quietly padded over to the door which was left ajar, I peered out through the small gap.

'Please, I'm begging you, take me.'

Tony was on his knees, a gasp escaped my lips. I clapped my hand to my mouth to stop the noise.

A quiet chuckle flooded the silent house, 'and why would I do that Anthony?' A boyish voice spoke.

'Oh god.' I whispered, 'Jarvis, help him.' I hissed as quietly as I could, 'please.' I looked back through the gap.

'Don't hurt her you son of a bitch.' Tony said loudly.

The man stepped back and swung at Tony, the butt of his gun met Tony's jaw. He fell to the ground.

'No, no, God please.' I whispered.

'Get up!' the man yelled.

Tony raised himself back to his knees, 'Take me.' he pleaded.

'Well there's just no fun in that, I want you to see your world crash around you, just like mine did, because of her!' his cool meaner dropped and he finally yelled, he hit Tony with the gun again.

I felt tears pouring out of my eyes; my hand on my mouth stopped the sound. I wanted to run out, to help him, but I couldn't do anything, why couldn't I do anything. I sat by the door, watching and crying.

'You're crazy.' Tony spat back, blood dripped from the corner of his mouth; the plush white carpet below him was a cruel contrast to the pools which formed upon it.

The man laughed maniacally, 'I'm crazy?' He hit Tony over and over again.

Tony laughed at him.

What are you doing Tony, stop it, stop making it worse.

'You'll never get to her, Jarvis will shut down every room, you'll never get to her and you'll never get out either.' Tony laughed.

'At least I get to see you die first.' The man raised the gun to Tony's head.

I closed my eyes; a loud bang reverberated throughout the house.

'No, Tony!' I screamed out finally.

The man turned toward me, a sadistic grin on his face.

Justin Hammer…

He started walking in my direction, 'no, no Jarvis shut down.' I yelled as I ran to the back of the room, 'Jarvis!' I screamed as I ran into the bathroom.

Nothing, Jarvis wasn't online, why wasn't he online?

I located the panic button and a room opened up inside the shower, I threw myself in, I slammed my fist on the button to close it.

Before the door closed completely he grabbed hold of my wrist, I screamed out, I thrashed and kicked.

'Pepper.' The voice called me, 'Pepper!'

'No!' I screamed back, I kicked at him, I cried and yelled. My foot met with his face. I kicked and kicked again.

'Pepper, stop!'

My eyes shot open, Tony was crouching on top of me, his hands holding my wrists down, I looked up at his face. Small droplets of blood dotted the corner of his mouth. His eyes were wide, looking down at me.

'Pepper.' He repeated firmly.

'Tony?' I breathed.

He let go of my hands and pulled me up to him. He kneeled on the bed holding me.

'I've got you, it's ok.' He pulled me against his chest.

'Oh my god, Tony.' I leaned against him and felt the hot tears sting my eyes; I ran my fingers through his hair.

He flinched under my touch; I pulled back, 'Oh, Tony.' I touched his face. Bruises were already forming under his right eye.

He took my hand in his, 'it's ok Pep, are you ok?' He rubbed my back.

I nodded silently.

'I'm so sorry I kicked you.' I whispered.

He pulled away from me gently and laughed, 'well I'm just glad to see that you can defend yourself, I can only imagine how good you'd be when you're awake.'

I couldn't help but laugh too.

'What were you dreaming about?' he asked me.

'That Justin Hammer broke in while we were sleeping and he killed you.' I replied quietly, the dream was still so vivid, the pain in my heart felt real too.

'Well that's just ridiculous, no one can break into this house, let alone Justin Hammer, he's an idiot.' He said simply.

I nodded, 'I know, but Tony, I watched you die.'

'It was just a dream, I'm not going anywhere.' He squeezed my hand.

'You are.' I said sadly.

He lifted my chin with his other hand, 'I'm not going anywhere Pep.' He smiled.

Maybe he wasn't going to die at the hand of Justin Hammer and a gun, but he was dying, he was going to leave me, and the pain was the same.

'But the Extremis?' I mumbled.

'The antigen worked, it did just what it needed to.' He rubbed circles on the back on my hand with his thumb.

I looked up at him disbelievingly, 'really?' I dared to hope.

He nodded, 'really.'

The warmth in his smile was reflected in his eyes, he was telling me the truth. I threw myself against him and wrapped my arms around his neck.

He laughed, 'whoa, so all a guy has to do to get some attention from you is come back from the brink?'

I nudged him in the ribs, I laughed.

He wrapped his arms around me tighter, 'I love you so much.' He whispered in a more serious tone.

'I love you too.'

All jokes aside, there was nothing which terrified me more than losing him. I breathed his scent in, he was with me and he was going to be ok. Today was a good day.

I wasn't too sure about how the dream sequence would work in this chapter, so I hope it didnt confuse anyone or jar the flow too much! Let me know, as always, looking forward to the reviews :)