She was gone. He couldn't believe she was gone... He sat down on the chair in his workshop and tried to think about something else, but all he could think about was Pepper, who would wrap her arms around him and tell him to come to bed. So he stood up and went to the kitchen, imagined Pepper baking those incredible cherrycakes... Tony went to the bedroom and laid on his side, facing away from hers. He felt alone, for the first time after Afghanistan he really felt alone. And he cried. For the first time in his life he couldn't think about another solution. So he fell asleep in the fetal position, knowing, she wouldn't come back.
William sat on the passengers seat in Peppers cra as she drove them back home. They didn't speak till now, Pepper was angry, sad and most of all disappointed by Tony.
"Can... can I stay for a while?" She whispered.
"Sure you can... I... I'm sorry about all this, Virginia."
"It's not your fault... you weren't the one who freaked out... It's okay."
They entered the dark house and William said softly: "Go to the bed, I'll take the couch. Do you need a shirt?"
"Yeah... Thanks, Will."
He came to her and laid his hands on her shoulders. "It's okay. You need your time, but... why did you try to protect me?"
Pepper blushed slightly and mumbled: "I really like you, and I didn't want Tony to do another big mistake in his life!"