A/N: Hi! I'm still alive! I'm sorry but as I wrote before I'm working on a new project and it's a lot of work. We're back with a very sweet chapter! it's New Year's Eve! I hope you like it an review it as always.

Chapter 21: The New Year

Pepper was helping Tony with his tie. They were getting ready to have dinner and celebrate. Jarvis was working on some calculations… just to make sure… but they would apply the serum in the morning. Tony said it would be good luck to start the year without the virus and she was fine with it since Jarvis said extremis could take a week to fully regenerate.

He was wearing a dark grey suit with a black tie and looking as irresistible as always. She hated to see women staring at him every time they went out. Yes, Pepper Potts could be very possessive but it also was an ego boost to know that she was the only woman in the world lucky enough to have Tony Stark's heart and, well… everything else. She bit her lower lip with a smile.

"You're having dirty thoughts," Tony snapped with a smile making Pepper giggle.

"Behave" She finished with his tie. "You sure you want to go out?"

"Aha!... you want to cancel dinner and celebrate here... and by here I mean there" He looked at the bed with a quick gesture and then back to her.

"I'm not falling for that this year, honey" She retorted with a grin on her face and then gave him a quick peck. "I rather wait, just to be safe" She put her palms on his chest, staring directly to his eyes.

"Fine, just because your eyes are so beautiful and persuasive" They both smiled.

Getting out of the Tower wasn't as easy as expected. After Tony's episode the press was camping outside again. Tony decided he was going to drive so Pepper ordered the security staff to help them out of the building. When they were getting to the street the first flashes made Tony tighten his grip on the steering wheel.

"What's wrong with this people? Don't they have families… or a life?" Pepper sighed in frustration when she heard the reporters trying to ask questions.

"It's ok honey, you don't need to be upset because of this" Tony swallowed and tensed when he felt trapped by the little crowd. He stopped the car.

"We can go back, Tony" She put her hand on his leg, trying to calm him down.

"No, no" He breathed, "This is our night… what normal people do, remember?"

"You don't have to do this because of me. They only thing I want is-"

Tony interrupted her "Pepper, pepper…please. I need to do this, I can… for me" He smiled and took her hand from his thigh to kiss it. He took another deep breath against her skin and then focused on her eyes while trying to ignore the voices and noises outside. He put on a devilish grin. "Let's give them what they want"

"Wait wha-" She was interrupted for a heated kiss. He put his hand on her neck and pulled her closer. It took her a few seconds to react and a few more to not care about the flashes. When he invaded her mouth she forgot about control and enjoyed the moment. Something in her mind told her Tony needed her to remind him she was just beside him to be stronger. When he stopped Pepper felt a little disoriented and desperately needing air.

She couldn't process the moment when Tony lowered his window and everybody went crazy with questions until Tony spoke, dominating the crowd.

"Come on people, you don't need to camp like this outside my property. I'm trying to enjoy this very special night with this very special woman and you sho-"

"But Mr. Stark… what about your panick-" Some reporter tried to interrupt him. Tony frowned and the young man stopped before making his question.

"Don't interrupt me when I'm talking kid. There's nothing else to say. Happy New Year and please… get out of my way" Tony closed the window and everybody started asking more questions.

Tony managed to get past the Tower and headed for Times Square.

"Are you insane! They will never leave us alone now!" Pepper spoke again.

"Why? Now they know I'm fine"

"Certainly… all that was very normal Tony of you" She retorted and he smiled.

"See? And you liked it" Pepper let a little smile escape "Ha! I love making angry Pepper smile" She shook her head and then looked at him.

"No more spectacles" She lifted an eyebrow at him.

"Fine Miss Potts. But just because a live to please you"

"Eyes on the street" He obeyed "And we are releasing a statement" Tony didn't answer "Where are we going?"

"Times Square" He smiled.

"What?... it's like the worst place to be right now!... Oh God, Tony" She was going to continue but he interrupted her.

"Honey, relax!... There's this nice restaurant… great view, and it's just for us"

She crossed her arms "Say you didn't buy it" She looked at him again.

Tony avoided her gaze faking being very focused on the road "Well… it was a great deal, plus… it's a very good time to invest-"

"We have talked about this, Tony!... is that what you think normal people do?" She sighed, "I can't leave you alone for a second! I'll just have to hire a nanny for you"

"Better idea! You be my nanny"

"Oh, I am your nanny. I just don't have time anymore… or patience to keep doing it"

Tony kept talking, ignoring her answer "Oh yeah, I'm a bad, bad boy… and you are my super hot nanny" He smiled.

"Tony I'm talking!"

"Yes nanny?" She rolled her eyes "Have I told you that I had a nanny until I was 14?"

"So bad you didn't keep her a little more"

"I could tell you that story"

"Oh…I think I don't want to hear that"

"Come on, you know almost everything abut me"

"And I wish I don't" Tony laughed at her comment "Believe me, it hunts me at night"

"But you are still with me" He mocked

"Because you are handsome and rich," She teased

"Am I you sugar daddy?" He smiled "Sorry, but I'm way too young"

"And way too annoying. Seriously Tony, it's not sexy to tell your girlfriend some perverted story with your nanny"

"How do you know it is a dirty story?"

"Because it is you…"

"Well, whatever… Just want one dirty nanny right now"

"You'll have to settle with Bruce for now" Tony laughed again.

They were sitting on their table next to each other, just in front of a huge glass window panel and with a great view to Times Square and the streets where everybody was celebrating.

"I have to admit, this is really nice" Pepper was contemplating the very little people on the street, far from them but it was a beautiful spectacle full of lights and colors.

"Told you. Only the best for my girl"

They were finishing with their food. The place was beautiful and very tasteful… very Tony, she thought with a smile. They enjoyed the night just talking and laughing like if they were any normal couple. They forgot about all the pain and for the first time in months she was happy to see Tony relaxed. She saw him calling for the waiter.

"Yes Mr. Stark?"

"We can have the dessert now, please… and then you can go. Go celebrate"

"Mr. Stark, we are here for the whole night"

"Yeah, I know… but I'm the new boss. We're fine here"

"Thank you Mr. Stark" Tony nodded and the man left.

"That was really nice" Pepper smiled.

"Well, it's almost midnight. And it is an special day"

She caressed his cheek and he moved his head to be able to kiss her hand. "I love you Miss Potts"

"I love you Mr. Stark" She smiled.

The waiter brought the dessert and another wine bottle before leaving with the rest of the crew.

"You know… we never got to celebrate Christmas" Pepper spoke again.

Tony was very focused on his crème brûlée, but he stopped to lift his head and look at her.

"That's why this had to be special"

"And it is, but I have something for you"

"You got me a present?" He asked with his eyes glowing, looking like a kid waiting for a surprise. She melted every time he looked at her like that because she know she was the only person who was able to pull that sweet smile out of him.

"Actually… I made it, don't laugh" She blushed a little.

"Is it something you're wearing?" He teased.

"Tony"

"Worth the shot, sorry" He smiled as she was searching in her purse. She took a little crochet bunny in red and yellow, as if he was wearing a suit.

"Oh my God! He's an Iron Bunny!" Tony smiled

"Since you appear to love bunnies and we lost the other one I thought you would like this" She blushed a little "It's little, and has his own suit"

"It's perfect" Tony took it and squeezed it with his hand "Did you do this? When? How? Do you know how to do this?"

"Everybody needs a hobby. And I had a lot of free time this week"

"Love it" He played with the little bunny "Best gift ever" She smiled too "That's what you say when you get a gift by the way" Pepper rolled her eyes with a smile "I'm sorry I don't have anything for you, honey"

"Besides buying a restaurant for a night out?" She mocked.

"I mean, like something cool… cooler… something special"

"You are my something special" She gave him a soft kiss "This year is going to be better, I know"

"Hey… speaking of which… I have something to show you" He smiled.

"Oh" She was surprised "Show me… unless it's your Iron Man underwear, I already saw it in the drawer"

Tony giggled "Damn it… that was a surprise for other moment" He took a piece of paper out of his pocket "Well… I'm sorry to disappoint you but it's just my New Year's resolutions" He smiled

"This should be fun" She leaned to be a little closer and Tony started reading.

"First of all… having more sex with Pepper"

"You said that last year"

"And it worked" He winked at her and continued, "A man can dream" She giggled.

"Ok, I'll think about it" She caressed his arm and then looked at the crumpled piece of paper "keep going"

"We're going to Venice again, this time together… I mean… as couple… I mean… as a real couple, and without any horrible incidents… it's gonna be great" He put his hand over hers, still caressing his left arm.

"I enjoyed our last visit" She smiled but Tony continued.

"I'm not letting Pepper alone, or putting her at risk because I'm such an irresponsible asshole"

"I don't like that one... not the last part"

"You will love it when you hear the last one" He continued reading, "I will accept that I'm not over everything that have happened and I'll work on that. Not for Pepper, but for me" He lifted his head to look at her

"I'm proud of you. I know we can be back to normal… not like normal people, just us normal… I loved it that way"

"So… us normal includes something else… I don't think I'm ready to stop being Iron Man" She looked directly into her eyes but she didn't answer "I'm sorry honey but that's who I am, I know you can understand I mean, you are my family, the only one who really knows me. I mean... if you don't understand who will?"

"You don't have to explain anything Tony. I'm proud of you and I knew you were going to do it again. I just wanted you to accept it... and maybe slowing down a little" She smiled "I love you with all the metal in your life"

"Well… that's nice, but you may be seeing a little less metal" She frowned and he went back to the list, trying to avoid her inquiring gaze "I'm taking the arc reactor out"

Pepper shivered and finally pulled her hand away from his arm. She frowned and opened her mouth to speak but was distracted for a second when the Times Square's ball dropped announcing the New Year along with people screaming and celebrating on the street. They didn't hear much noise at the floor they were but that little moment was enough for Tony to catch her off guard and pressed a hard kiss on her lips.

"Happy New Year, love of my life" Tony muttered against her lips and she finally put her arms around his neck to return the kiss

Don't forget to review ;) I'm adding a picture for you to see the Iron Bunny, I found it by accident and thought it was so cute so I put him n the story. He doesn't belong to me and it's just a picture I found on google. You will have to put the link in one line to see it ;)

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