A/N: Hello! sorry again.. lots of work... and I'm so tired haha... I'm sorry if I made a lot of mistakes here. This was supposed to be in the past and in Venice, but I can't get that chapter right so I'll continue with the story. I read some Comic books and took a few ideas about extremis so... something you'll read here is an actual reaction that the virus can cause. Enjoy this! I think it's a very good one! I guess I'll be posting another on wednesday :) Thanks for sticking around and all your reviews... but i can't get enough hahaha

PS For A: thanks for your reviews as always! I'm surprised you didn't say something about Tony saying they were going to Venice like a real couple! hahaha... I'm trying to do something good with that chapter ;)

PS For everybody: Thank you for all your good wishes on my new project! As I said on my profile I work as a screenwriter and we pitched an idea for a tv show and we got green light! it's huge! I'm so happy with this that i had to share it :D thank you again ;) but enough about me... I'll bore you haha... let's read :)

Chapter 21: The Cure, part 1

"You can't ignore me for the rest of the year" Tony said when they were finally inside the building.

"Unfortunately no, but I can now" She moved to open the door. Tony rushed out of the car but when he reached her door she was already out.

"Why did you… uhm… Pep, please" She walked to the elevator and Tony followed her "You have to understand"

"I understand Tony" She sighed while pressing the button to call the elevator "You say something but do the opposite. It's frustrating"

"Oh God, woman! Why are you so complicated?"

"Excuse me? Didn't you hear what I have just said?"

"Honey, you need to listen first. I'm not doing this because it sounds cool. It's possible, and it's safe" He pleaded making exaggerated gestures with his hands. Pepper finally looked at him, frowning and shaking her head a little.

"I can't believe this"

"I can't believe you can't believe me! This" he gestured between them "is not a supportive relationship"

"Well, this" she imitated his gesture "won't be anything at all if you just insist on killing yourself!" The elevator door opened and they entered.

Tony frowned and moved his head back a little "Wow… time out"

"This is not a game Tony" She sighed

"I know… and that's why I don't like it when you say something like that… do you want to break up with me?" He swallowed and tried not to move and look cool, but he was terrified. He wasn't expecting her to say yes, but just asking that question made him shiver a little.

"Stop overreacting" She retorted as fast as he stopped asking his stupid question. She was mad but still able to see he was nervous and waiting for her answer "Tony-"

"I love you baby. I swear I know what I'm doing" He interrupted her and she couldn't fight a smile.

"I'm sorry Tony. I didn't mean to say that" She hugged him "Let's talk about it… later, not today. We have a lot to do"

"It's ok" he caressed her back "What kind of girlfriend you would be if you weren't a wreck?"

"I'm not a wreck" she said against his chest and Tony laughed. When she pulled back one of her hands reached the light glow of the RT under his shirt, she was staring at it. "Just don't die" she tapped the reactor with her index finger and tried to smile. She knew Tony was a little ashamed of it at first when they started their relationship but she liked to see the blue glow at night, it reminded her that Tony was alive and safe. She was already missing it. The elevator door opened when they reached the penthouse.

"That's my girl" Tony caressed Pepper's cheek "You look so beautiful when you are all grumpy" Pepper giggled "Come on" He took her hand when they walked out the elevator "Today's a big day for us and you need a lot of rest and a handsome boyfriend next to you"

"You know…that's my resolution for this year" She said when they entered their bedroom.

"Resting a lot?" Tony smiled.

Pepper rolled her eyes with a grin "Yes honey, resting…" She grabbed his flaps and pulled him closer for a kiss.

"Good Morning, masters. It's 8am. The weather in New York is 33 degrees"

Tony opened his eyes feeling a little anxious, like if it was his first day of school or something like that. He was facing a tangle of red hair in front of his face; his left arm and leg were wrapped around her body and he enjoyed being like that for a second. Thanks to Pepper he discovered how much he liked that closeness. He used to hate the idea of waking up with a girl invading his personal space, but with Pepper he just wanted to be as close as he could and inhale her sweet scent in the morning. When he leaned to kiss her neck Pepper moved.

"Tony" She sighed, still half asleep.

"Good morning, gorgeous. Ready to be fixed?" She rolled wanting to face him, her hand reached his cheek.

"Good morning love" she smiled "This is a nice way to start a new year"

"Well… when you are extremis-free we could think of something even nicer" Tony closed his eyes as his hand wandered under her pajama shirt. Pepper closed her eyes too when Tony's hand reached her breast.

"Tony" She grabbed his arm but didn't try to stop him.

His hand went down again and stopped around her waist "I miss you so much" He said hoarsely.

"I can tell" She rolled to be on top of him and pressed her body against Tony's. She gave him a very soft kiss. "But that's enough" Tony smiled.

"I'm hurt Pepper. Is a kiss enough for you?" She giggled and leaned to barely touch his lips

"I'll show you how much is enough… later" She kissed him again and then jumped out of the bed.

"That was really hot" Tony sat on the bed as she was going to the bathroom to take a shower "You're killing me Miss Potts!"

Tony took a shower after her and they were ready in no time. When they arrived at the lab Bruce was setting everything ready.

"Happy new year big guy!" Tony smiled while Pepper was hugging Bruce and telling him the same thing.

"Thanks guys… how was your date?"

"Bad, then good, then perfect, then awful and then reaaaally nice" Tony replied while he started tapping on a glass monitor.

"That's good… I guess"

"What about you? I'm sorry we left you alone but Tony insisted-"

"It's ok, my green friend doesn't like crowds… or New York and I was really tired"

"Ok, enough of poor little Bruce. I'm buying an island for you after this but now… please get started… I need my girl back. Jarvis!"

"Everything is ready, sir"

Pepper rolled her eyes and Bruce smiled. She sat on the examination table and Tony took a bag with other blue liquid labeled as A-008. Bruce helped her to lean back and attached some sensors to her head, arms and chest.

"It's ok Pepper, this will hurt a little" Bruce spoke and then she felt a big needle on her elbow crease, then Tony came closer.

"Honey, this will hurt, not like the last time but it will. Are you ok with that?" Tony stroked her hair; Pepper nodded feeling a little nervous, the last time was the worst torture she had ever experienced but it had to be done it wasn't easy for Tony and Bruce… and now was her turn, just one more step.

"I'm fine Tony. Just do it… I can take it"

"Don't worry baby. I got you" He grabbed her hand and then kissed it.

"I got you first, like a million times" They both smiled and Tony passed the serum to Bruce, who connected it to her arm through the needle and hung the bag next to her. The blue substance moved slowly inside her body. A monitor showed her heart rate accelerating and her grip on Tony's hand tightened.

"You ok?" Tony asked but she just growled in pain. Maybe it wasn't as bad as her last episode, but it was pretty bad, she felt the burning sensation again and a terrible headache.

"Tony" Pepper closed her eyes and tried to hold up.

"It's ok baby, I'm here" He looked at Bruce "This is too fast"

"It's ok Tony" Bruce took a little wet towel and touched her forehead with it "She can handle it"

"Jarvis!" Tony ignored him "Give me something buddy"

"Sir, Miss Potts is accepting the serum. Everything is working as expected. Her body temperature is 39 degrees Celsius and her heart rate is elevated but still on the safe limit. Side effects of the treatment might include headaches, fever and dizziness"

"Thanks J, keep me posted"

After a few minutes she calmed down a little, stopped shivering and relaxed. Tony never let her hand go and now he was applying water to her forehead and lips with the towel. Sometimes she opened her eyes and smiled at him but he knew she was trying to make him feel better.

"Everything is working. You should relax"

"I know it's working… I was directly involved. But she's in pain, I can't take that" Tony kissed her hand again, Pepper was almost unconscious but frowning and moving her head a little, like if she was having a nightmare. Bruce patted Tony's shoulder.

"You know, Natasha was the one who told us you had a girlfriend… and I remember we couldn't believe it… I mean, Steve was like: that guy has a girlfriend?" He smiled "And when I saw you and Pepper I realized we were right… you are not the kind of guy who has a girlfriend, not any woman… It's just you and Pepper, there's no match for the connection you both share and you deserve to best. She'll be fine after this"

"I know. Thanks. I just… I wasted so much time doc… years"

"You didn't" Bruce went back to his desk to check on her vitals and Tony touched her face with the wet towel again, trying to be as careful as he could.

"Bruce... the extremis… don't you think it could help you?"

"Or it could make a bigger mess"

"Maybe we could-"

Bruce interrupted him "Destroy it, Tony. This is huge… I mean, this could change the world but it's just as dangerous. They've tried so many times… with Steve, with gamma rays, they will do it again, but we won't start it"

"Agreed"

Pepper moaned and started breathing heavily, surprising Tony "What is it? J?"

"Sir, her heart rate is accelerating again"

"Pep? You hear me?"

And then she opened her eyes "Tony" She grabbed his shirt and tried to sit "Dizzy… I"

"What! Pepper!"

Bruce tried to look for something weird on the monitors but she appeared to be fine. On the other hand, Pepper was screaming and trying to turn her head to the floor.

"Pepper talk to me!"

She didn't answer. She put a hand on her throat and then threw up on the floor. Tony jumped out of his seat and tried to help her, but his eyes opened widely when he looked at the floor.

"What the hell is that!"

"Tony" she cried when he opened her eyes and saw the black slime too. She couldn't move and Tony was just terrified. There were a few hints of blood too. The only thing he could do was pulling her closer and hug her.

"It's ok"

"It hurt" She cried against his chest and he looked at Bruce, he was as shocked and trying to see if there was something wrong with her.

Tony couldn't say anything else.