I'm also not asking for reviews here. I'm done for today. I'm so confused with myself...

Now:
Hello again. I know I'm unnerving you. I unnerve myself, too. A lot. Anxiety sucks...

I decided to post 17-22 again, until I decided what to do. Taking them down was an overreaction on my side. And I apologize.
Though I still don't know/think I'm going to continue this exact plot after Ch. 22. At the moment I feel like I just can't. It's not the reviewers fault!
My problem is I wrote chapter 23 and 24 already (thats why I have a sneak) and I hated them and rewrote them two times already and still hate them. I feel like I'm stuck, and then people said they got frustrated and discontinue reading and honestly, I realized I am frustrated with the plot too, that's why it didn't work out anymore. I feel like I'm in too deep to get them out again and I hate that. It's like I created the problem, than it got out of hand and now I don't know how to fix it. I'm just... I dunno sad. But not because of your reviews. I know what I want to tell, but I somehow can't. Maybe I'll post the rewrites as sort of a "what/if" spin off. I don't know anymore. For now, you'll get chapter 17-22 back.

And to make one thing clear, I always have two (unpolished) chapters in my pipeline and every time I update, it's after I wrote a new one. Before I post a new chapter it will get a major walkthrough and sometimes I even rewrite most/big parts. Otherwise the sneaks wouldn't be possible. So yes, I said I wont write until after Christmas, and that meant: I won't touch 23, 24 until then again, but the main part and plot is already written. Also I didnt want to start on 25 until after Christmas, which has to be written before I put 23 out. But I am unhappy how they turned out, still I included the sneak peak. But like I said, I totally got the reviews and figured out why I hated 23 and 24 so much. It's like a knot I can't untangle...
If I have a major breakthrough over Christmas I'll let you know. But the more I think about it, I think I'll rewrite the chapters. Until then I'm giving you the old ones back. But For now I need a little time and space to think...

But one thing: I wanted to thank you to everyone who believes in me and who reviewed, whether it was criticism or cheering me on. I'm not mad at anyone, I am just... stuck. and unhappy with my writing. and lost. mostly lost, I guess :'D

This Morning:
Hey everyone!

I know this is not a chapter and thus technically not allowed here. But I let you down and I need to apologize.

After reading your comments and your critics I reviewed my story. You are right. I decided to not post new chapters for a while. That doen't mean I'm terminating this Story, though I really thought about it. I'm just as frustrated as you guys are with where I was going...Things got so out of hand here, I don't know if I could still do you all justice and I am sorry I didn't realize it sooner.

So I decided to rewrite chapters 17-22. The plot will change, it wont be as slowpaced as before. I don't want to disappoint you guys and I want you to be happy. And you are right, they were very OoC. I'm gonna scratch Tony's relationship with Emily out of the story and it will be more Pepper/Tony centered. Also no more fighting and them growing back together more quickly. You wont have your happy relationship ending right away though, but the progress they'll make to get to gether will be much faster.

I'm sorry I let you down. But I heard you and I will try to improve in my new attempt. So please stay with me as I try to make this right for you. I will Update with the new chapter 17 on Monday. I promise. I now just need a little faith and a chance to make it up to you all.

Thank you.

Chapter 22: Castle on the Hill

Hey everyone :)

Thanks for your reviews! :) Keep them coming, cause it's Christmas ;-)

I doubt I'll be able to post anything next week due to Christmas preparations. So this chapter is slightly longer than usual and I threw in a little... Well, you'll see.

If I find the time and motivation I might update or make a christmas what/if special related to this Story, but I can't and won't promise it. If I don't: marry christmas everyone and Happy Reading.

Song: Castle on the Hill by Ed Sheeran

Castle on the Hill

She honestly had no idea how she had gotten into this situation. It was just… bizarre.

Pepper Potts was currently sitting in a very comfortable window plane seat in the first class section of an American Airlines Boing 737. The seat next to her was occupied by her loving and loyal boyfriend, Alex. Since they had a night flight he was currently softly snoring and slightly drooling onto his neck pillow.

Finally they were going on their first vacation together, back home to her old parents house in Hill County near San Antonio, Texas. They would go hiking, swimming and tubing in Guadaloupe River, River Walk in San Antonio, Austin, horseback riding, the whole package. Alex would get to see where she grew up and see firsthand how her childhood had looked like. As she looked over at him a loving smile ghosted her lips.

However ,that smile disappeared as soon as she looked over to the seats across from the aisle when she found a pair of chocolate brown eyes staring right back at her.
As soon as Tony saw she was looking at him, a smug grin appeared on his face, as his girlfriend snuggled deeper into his shoulder.

It took every ounce of her self-control to not jump over Alex and throttle her business partner to death.
Tony Stark had hijacked their vacation. Like the weasel he was, he just wormed his way into their very little free time together and decided to tag along.
Ok.. Maybe that wasn't the whole truth, but still.

In fact Alex and Emily had gotten along so well, that Alex had invited Emily and Tony to join their trip, when Pepper and Tony had been on their way back to Stark Industries. The two of them got along so well they sometimes grabbed coffee or even went grocery shopping together, since both Pepper and Tony were too busy to do it themselves. Emily had been all game to accept the invitation and because "Pepper and Tony are such close friends as well, it will be the perfect vacation and downtime for everyone.".

Tony, the annoying child he was, of course saw an opportunity to aggravate the hell out of a certain red head, so he agreed to tag along happily.
To top it all of, no-one had informed said red head and she only figured it out, when suddenly a very well known billionaire checked in at the airport next to her.

"Surprise." Emily had cheered, while Pepper had been shell shocked.

"I thought our vacation could need a little more people. I hope our surprise worked." Alex had explained and had pressed a kiss to her hair, not even noticing that she was mad. Yes, it had indeed been a surprise. "And you said the house is big enough to house at least 6 people."

"Great." Pepper had just curtly said, like it certainly wasn't a disaster waiting to happen. There was no way this could go easily wrong. Too mad to say anything more, she had just nodded and stormed off to TSA, to get through security and off to the bar right after.

"Can we get another Martini? Extra dry, extra olives?" A voice had come from behind her, as soon as she had finished her first drink. "You ok?" Tony had asked her as he had taken the place next to her, before paying the bar tender. "You looked a little aggravated at check in."

"What are you doing here, Tony?" Pepper had asked exasperated, no even sparing him glance and took a sip from her newly served drink.

"Buying you a drink." He had said matter of factly.

Pepper had snorted, but it wasn't exactly humorous. "Why are you hijacking my vacation?"

"To be honest I had no idea, that you didn't have any clue. Emily proposed the idea of a vacation after our lunch with Rhodey. Apparently she and Alex had talked and he kind of invited her and me to join you two. I thought you'd be alright with it, since it's your parents house we're going to and not his. And now it's too late to back out." Pepper had just rolled her eyes at him, not sure wether he was telling the truth or if he just had wanted to get back on her good side.

"And you really thought it would be ok, to just come with us?" She couldn't believe how stupid this genius was sometimes.

Tony had just shrugged and grinned mischievously. "Suck it up, sour patch. There's nothing we can do about it now." Tony had said and taken a sip from is scotch.

"Yes, you two could go back home." Pepper had spat and returned to where Alex and Emily were roaming duty free shops. Of course she had known she herself wouldn't send Emily and Tony back home. It was a trait Pepper had inherited from her mother, she always had to be the perfect host and would be rude to tell them they couldn't come now. But she could grovel silently about the fact they were tagging along.

When they finally landed at San Antonio International airport it was still dark outside. After they collected their bags, a tall, dark haired guy in his late sixties was already waiting for them. For the first time in over six hours a genuine smile lightened Pepper's features. She handed Alex her carry on bag and nearly ran up to the elderly man.
He was dressed in stonewashed jeans, a dark blue shirt and held a white stetson in his hand, along with car keys in his other. Pepper hugged him hard and squealed, while the elderly mans face broke into a big smile as well, as he turned the hug whole heartedly.

"Ginger! Long time no see, my little doll." The man said in a deep, smokey and calming voice.

"Uncle Bo. I have missed you so much!" She said when she loosened her grip and took a good look at him. "How's Mimi doing?"

"Ah you know her, always busy, always shooing me around." He laughed and Pepper chimed in. "She expects you to dinner at least once, you know."

"I have expected nothing less." Pepper smiled. "But only if she makes her peach cobbler."

"Still got a sweet tooth I see." Bo chuckled with his deep voice.

"Thank's for picking us all up, Bo." She waved over at the rest of their small group. Her mood had considerably lightened since she had met this guy. "Bo this is Alex, my boyfriend." She kissed Alex on the cheek and the men shook hands, though Alex looked a little frightened. "This is Tony, my Co-CEO… business partner… part time superhero and his girlfriend Emily." Emily was the first to shake his hand, saying how delighted she was to meet him and Bo smiled in return, nodding his head in hello.

"Stark." Bo greeted Tony. "We have heard a lot about you."

"Only good things I hope." Tony chuckled and placed his arm around Emily.

"Depends on when this little doll visited us. Sometimes she wished the devil would come and snatch you. But she always had your back." Everyone chuckled, and Tony looked over at Pepper and saw her cheeks pinked slightly. "I have to say, a lot of people here were very sad when you terminated the weapons manufacturing at Stark Industries."

"Oh." Tony said at a loss for words at how to respond to this, but Pepper came to his rescue.

"Bo, have you seen Larry in the last few month?" She asked and looped her arm through on of his, now moving in the general direction of the parking lot.

"No, we haven't seen your brother since he he got his girlfriend pregnant." Bo stated and shook his had. "But I hope we'll get to meet his small bundle of joy."

"Wait. Jane is pregnant?" Pepper exclaimed.

"Yes, 20th week if I'm not mistaken. We got a copy of the sonogram last week." Bo said happily.

"Jerk. He hadn't told me even one bit." Pepper said annoyed.

"Well, when your older sister is CEO of a fortune 500 company, it's hard to get a hold of her. And this ain't something you want to tell through mail." Alex said from behind them and Bo laughed at how true his words were.

"Traitor." Pepper mumbled, but grinned.

After they placed their bags in the trunk of Bo's pick up they settled into the vehicle.
Alex on the passenger seat, since he was the tallest, Pepper behind him, Tony in the middle and Emily behind Bo.
Pepper blamed the sudden heat that cursed through her as Tony settled in next to her, his right side pressed tightly against her left one, on the excitement to see Bo again and to coming home for the first time in nearly 15 years.

"So Bo, you're Pepper's uncle?" Tony asked and bent towards him.

The elderly man chuckled from his seat and and went to answer. "No, I was the chief in the police department Ginny's dad worked for, before he relocated to New York. Though I practically saw her and Larry grow up. Me and her father were very good friends and our families were very close as well. We always hoped Ginny and Mikey, my youngest would end up together and marry some day. He was her high school -"

"That's enough!" Pepper interjected, face bright red. "Bo, you're embarrassing me…" Everyone laughed, but Bo laughed the loudest.

"Ginger, that's my job. With your parents gone I gained the responsibility to make sure you get all the embarrassing moments, one gets to have with parents. Including bragging about the kids former lovers." Pepper in turn just put her face in her hands.

"Do you live on the farm as well?" Emily asked, to save Pepper from further embarrassment.

"No, we just keep an eye on the farm and the livestock there. And when either Pepper or Larry want to visit we make sure everything is in order." He informed and looked at the back row through his rear mirror.

"Why are you calling her Ginger?" Alex asked the driver and looked back at his girlfriend, grinning.

"Have you looked at her hair?" He asked and Tony nearly spluttered with laughter.

"That's one of the reasons her name is now Pepper, instead of Virginia." He informed Bo.
Now it was Alex who was bright red. Peppe reached out tp touch his shoulder gently and she smiled at him when he turned around to look at her.

About an hour later, after driving through green meadows, hills covered in trees and fields housing cows they finally arrived at their destination.

"I always thought Texas was all desert." Tony exclaimed when he stepped out of the car and stood in front of a beautiful ranch, trees and green, but in some places sun burned grass all around. The fence they had passed stretched so far in all direction you couldn't see the end and to the far right was a small hill with a single tree on top and behind the barn you could see a small pond.

"Wow, Pepper this place is beautiful." Emily said, eyes glazing over.

"Thanks." Pepper said and smiled. She was home now. "And it's not Tony. In the west it mostly is, but here in Hill County it's mostly green."

Bo had finished unloading their bags from the truck with Alex's help and the two of them stepped over to Pepper, Tony and Emily. "Thanks, Honey." Pepper said as Alex handed her her carry on bag. "Bo thank you so much for picking us up and thank Mimi for preparing the house."

"Thank her when you come over for dinner." He replied with a low chuckle. "Here's the keys to the house and here's the keys to the car. I left a list in the kitchen with the instructions regarding the animals. If you need anything, call me. We're not far away." He handed Pepper two pairs of keys and shook hands with Tony and Alex and hugged Emily. He then hugged Pepper, very tight and very long. "Welcome home, Ginger."

When Bo was gone, like a true cowboy he rode his horse, Chester home, Pepper looked at the rest of the group and Tony noticed her eyes were a bit teary.

"You ok, B?" Alex asked, but Pepper smiled and nodded.

"Let's get settled, what do you think?" She said and grabbed her luggage, dragging it towards the door. When they entered they stepped into a black and white, very modern but true to the Texan style entrance hall. "My brother renovated everything after my parents died." She explained and marveled at how the place had turned out. "Ok, on this level we have the kitchen, living room, dining hall and a small bathroom. In the far back is also the door to the patio and the pond. I'll show you around later if you want to. Upstairs are three bedrooms, with a master bathroom to each. And the study and library. I'll show you your room." Pepper said the last part to Tony and Emily.

"Alex, our room is the one on the far right. Tony, Emily, yours is the one on the left."

When Tony entered his room he was greeted by white, wooden walls, a kingsized water bed in a rich dark brown frame and dark wooden dressers with a cream colored rug and a leather armchair. The bathroom was small, but it housed a claw footed bathtub and a large sink. The floor was dark wood as well with white rugs.

"Wow." Emily exclaimed. "That's so beautiful." She went over to the window and noticed they were overlooking the barn and the pond. A few horses were munching on some hay behind the barn.

"Yes it is." Tony answered and looked at her. She really looked beautiful, the genuine smile that lighted her face making her even more irresistible, and the room seemed to complement her features even further, her dark brown hair and eyes fit perfectly into the interior, yet something was off. It was like this girl, who had never been outside New York City didn't belong here, like she didn't deserve to be here. "You want to unpack now and then stroll around a bit?" Tony asked her.

"Unpacking sounds good, but I fear I have to take a nap afterwards. I'm exhausted." She tried stifling a yawn, but grabbed a bag and started unpacking. After they were finished she flopped down on the bed and yawned again.

"Do you want me to stay?" Tony asked.

"No, I come find you when I'm awake." She smiled sleepily at him and Tony chuckled. Before he left the room, he placed a kiss to her forehead and wished her a good rest. He wasn't exactly happy to leave her, but he wasn't keen on staying with her either. He really came to like her over the last few month. He was even ready to say he was well over Pepper and that his plan to make her jealous had turned into something even better, that he truly had found someone he could stick to. But the feeling he had had when he had watched her in this room had just been plain odd.

When Tony arrived downstairs he saw Pepper standing on the patio, looking over the big yard and observing the horses in the distance. Instead of her boyfriend style jeans and dark blue hoody from the flight, Pepper was now dressed in jeans shorts and a navy-white striped t-shirt.#
"I had no idea you really had a ranch." Tony spoke up and Pepper's head snapped towards him, looking at him a little startled.

"This is hardly a ranch." She remarked, but smiled. "We don't really had livestock, except for a few horses and four chickens."

"This place is huge, and you have a barn. Ranch it is." Tony persisted. "I had no idea you really were a country girl." He said bemused and tried picturing a little version of Pepper with red pigtails, overalls and gumboots, running around collecting eggs and grooming a giant horse.

"I was, until I moved to New York." She humored him. They continued staring at one another, neither sure what to say.

As silence got a little awkward Tony looked around and noticed he had no idea where anything was. "Care to give me a tour?" He asked nonchalantly.

"Uhm, sure, but don't we want to wait up for Emily?" She asked and looked over to the living room entrance.

"Yeah, we can wait up, but she lay down for a bit so it might take a while…" Tony shrugged awkwardly again.

"Alex took a nap, too. Although he slept the entire flight." Pepper giggled. "They're not accustomed to our jet set lifestyle, are they?" Pepper joked, still laughing.

Tony laughed as well and nodded. "Looks like a couple of hours in an airplane is too much for them."

"I was going to go and see how the horses are doing, if you want to join." She offered.

"Oh boy." Tony sighed. "You know how I feel about horses."

"Don't worry, they are very well behaved. Bo trained them personally and they are all relatively old and chill, especially Mildred." She smiled and started descending the steps towards the barn.

"You didn't honestly name a horse Mildred?!" He asked appalled.

"I didn't. My brother did." She explained.

"I have to meet her!" And Tony was rushing towards the paddock where the horses were munching on some grass. When he reached the fence of the paddock two horses, a light brown one and a white and brown spotted one moved to him, curious to meet the new human. "Wow," Tony said and backed up immediately. "okay, okay. I mean no harm."

"They just want to greet you." Pepper said from behind him. She stepped up toward the fence and offered her hand to the horses to smell at, showing they meant no harm. After the two had sniffed her hands, she carefully patted their long noses. "You can pat them, but be slow and gentle. And don't be afraid." She encouraged Tony, who stood now a bit behind her in safe distance.

"You sure? They might want to eat me." He asked wearily.

"They won't eat you, they're herbivores, Tony." She chuckled, while continuously petting one of the horses. As Tony stepped cautiously closer, she turned to the brown and white horse and spoke to her. "Mildred, meet Tony. Be gentle, it's the first time he meets a real horse." She then stepped a bit to the side to let him carefully reach out to Mildred and let her sniff his hand, before gently touching her. "It isn't that bad, is it?" She asked and smiled, now petting the brown horse as to more horses made their way over to them.

"No it's no-" Tony tried to say, as Mildred suddenly snorted. He nearly jumped out of his skin and the horse startled, startling all the other horses as well, making them run away. "No! Come back! I'm sorry, I just startled. Come back please." He called after them, but Mildred was already on the other side of the paddock, the other horses hot on her heels.

Pepper was crying with laughter, holding her sides.

"Not funny." Tony flatly told her.

Pepper tried saying something, but she couldn't, because she couldn't stop laughing.

"You can help me fill up their hay in the barn." She said still giggling a few minutes later. Pepper climbed up the hay loft and Tony caught what she threw down.

"This place must have been like a giant adventure playground as a kid." Tony remarked in awe. He was actually a little jealous. Sure he had had every toy a kid could have ever wished for, but he grew up in the city. He always had to play inside or at the playground across the street with one of his nannies. Also from a very young age, his parents had decided to advance his genius. He started boarding school when he was very little and started studying at university when he was just eleven years old. He never had the freedom or the space to explore and get dirty and just be a kid. And he really envied Pepper for the opportunity.

"It was everything I could have ever asked for." Pepper confirmed and looked down at him. "In fact this hayloft was one of my favorite places. I'd always play here with my brother and when I was sad I'd come here to think…" Se said and smiled in memory.

"One of your favorite?" Tony asked. "What can be better than this?" He pointed to her.

"I'll show you." She said and started to climb down.
When they stepped back outside again the sun was almost at its peak ad Pepper and Tony started wandering toward the hill with the tree, Tony had seen from the living room. After a couple of minutes he spoke.

"Seriously Pepper, how big is this property." He said a little out of breath. Pepper just chuckled in return, while the they were passing a few trees with a tire swing tied to one.

"You guys even have a tire sling." He exclaimed staggered and stopped dead in his tracks. "Of course you have a tire swing."

"Feel free to use it." Pepper offered.

"Won't you join me?" Tony asked as he took place on one side of the tire.

"Nah, thanks. I broke my arm when I was six on this thing. Since then I'm not very fond of it." She waved off and stood to the side watching him working to swing as high as possible.

"What happened?" Tony called over to her, panting a little from the effort to swing.

"Tony, be careful. This thing is very old, I don't…" But before she could finish the sentence a very loud crack echoed through the air and both of them looked up to the branch the swing was hanging an. Though it still looked stable, Tony curbed the swing and got off very carefully. As he was back next to her they started walking toward the tree on the hill again.

"So how did you break your arm on that thing? I assume you fell?" He asked.

"Yeah. The second oldest son of Bo and Mimi, along with his youngest son and my brother had chased me and I fled to the swing. The guy pushed me and I went higher and higher. He ignored me when I begged him to stop. Eventually I couldn't hold on anymore and fell down. I think I actually flew a few yards through the air, but ever since I haven't been on any swing." She shrugged and smiled.

"That boy sounds like a cunt." Tony remarked. He could only imagine how it must feel like to beg the bully to stop and be totally powerless and in the end ending up hurt because of him.
Pepper started giggling like crazy out of the blue and was bright red, burning her face in her hands.
"What?" Tony asked and couldn't help but grin. Her laughter was infectious and he now realized how much he had missed its sound.

Pepper coughed uncomfortable but grinned knowingly. "Actually, he was also the boy I had my first kiss with a few years later." She confessed.

"You know now you have to spill." Before she could object or say anything Tony added: "You brought this up, so now I need to know the whole story." He held up his hands in defense.

"All right, all right." Pepper yielded. "I was fifteen - nearly sixteen actually - and it was my dads 45th birthday. He did a barbecue. My parents always thought I had a crush on Bo's youngest son Mikey, because I loved going over to their house and he is only a year older than I am and we hung out all the time. What no-one knew was, that I actually only hung out with Mikey, because I had a huge crush on Shane, one of his older brothers. Shane was eighteen at the time." Tony followed every word she said. It was fascinating to learn about her past and even more fascinating to see the always very private Pepper Potts open up. And Tony always enjoyed watching her squirm.
"After dinner the kids would normally go play in the yard, you know have fun and stuff. Since we were about 15 kids in total, me and my brother, 4 of Bo's sons, cousins and other friends kids we decided to play hide and seek."

"Oh I can imagine, you two picked the same hiding spot and in the dark of the night, full moon, fireflies…" Tony said mockingly.

"Not quite, but we actually have fireflies around here." She pointed her finger around. "Though I did pick a hiding spot, which was already occupied, so much's true. But it turned out Shane actually hadn't had any interest in playing hide and seek…"

"Ew gross, Pep. That's very, very wrong…" Tony said totally yucked out. She had only been 15 at that time.

"No! No. Oh god no. I was only 15 back then. Who do you take me for?" Pepper said and started laughing again. "He was mainly hiding to smoke." Tony's eyebrows raised in understanding.
"Anyways, silly fifteen year old me, being head over heels in love with that guy thought he was so cool."

"So you, little Miss Sunshine and always picture perfect daughter smoked with him." Tony finished her sentence.

"I did." Pepper confirmed.

"Naughty..." He said and nodded appreciatively.

"It were very cheap, hand-rolled cigarettes. Never had I felt more sick or lightheaded in my entire life. It had been the first time and honestly the last time I have smoked a cigarette. But I was young and in love. Until my brother came close to us and Shane suggested to flee and we did, coming here." Pepper said and they had finally reached their destination. The branches of the tree were massive and hanging low, some even reached the ground. The crown of the tree was thick and heavy with big, green leaves, you couldn't even see the stem.

"You hid behind the tree?" Tony asked, not really sounding impressed.

"Look closer." Pepper said and nodded towards the tree.

Tony walked in between the branches, it felt like walking through a curtain made of leaves. Once he had reached the inside of the leaf canopy, he saw wood nailed to the stem, leading upward like a ladder. In between the branches of the crown was a treehouse. Not very big, but it could easily fit 4 people and had a small balcony, which was facing away from the property, overlooking the hill to the other side.

"Wow." Tony said astounded. "Can we go up?" Tony asked and turned to Pepper who had stepped inside the leaf-curtain as well.

"We can, but I left the key for the house it self back in the house." Pepper said. "But you can go up to the patio."

"This place is amazing." Tony confessed, once again when he reached the top. Marveling at the view in front of him he sat down and Pepper sat next to him, legs dangling from the platform. The view they had over the fields and the hills in the distance was partly blocked by leaves, yet still amazing.

"It is. And it is mine. My dad built it for me and my brother never came up here without permission." She smiled fondly and looked over at Tony. He really looked in awe and more peaceful than she had ever seen him.

"So you two just sat here and hid from the other kids, smoking?" Tony asked once he noticed she had been staring at him.

"Basically." She confirmed. "He then confessed I was cooler than he thought and just kissed me. It was my first kiss and I had no idea what I was doing. I fear it had been very bad." Pepper laughed again, feeling awkward.

"You are anything, but bad at it. Believe me." It was out before he knew what his mouth was doing.

She didn't know what she should say or do. The army of butterflies had returned to her stomach and she felt like she was fifteen all over again.

"Uhm, I'm sorry… You know… I didn't mean to…" Tony started rambling and she desperately wanted to shut him up it the most delicate way. And then he stared at her with his chocolate brown eyes, chocolate meeting sky blue. And he too, wanted nothing more than to recreate her story and just kiss her. They stared at each other for a long moment. He was searching her face for the smallest sign of doubt, and when he didn't find one, he finally-

"Sorry, I... I totally zoned out." She stammered, realizing what she was about to do.

"We should go back. I guess Emily is awake. And Alex will be hungry. I'm hungry, too." Tony said and stood up. Still he couldn't help himself and offered his hand to help her up. And to his and her surprise she actually took it.

"I like it." Tony offered before they reached the main-house again, Emily was already sitting on the porch, sipping a lemonade waving at them.

"What?" Pepper asked confused.

"I like your castle in the tree on the hill."

This was the sneak peak:

"I'll go after hi-" Emily started, but Pepper cut her off.

"No. I think you already did enough." She snapped at her angrily.

I'm also not asking for reviews here. I'm done for today. I'm so confused with myself...