Wow, we've arrived at chapter 50! And I still don't see the end of this story! I hope you like this chapter, please let me know what you think! And thank you so much for the reviews, it always makes me happy to know that you like the story!

I don't own the characters or places!

Later, Tony couldn't tell anymore how he got away from the restaurant. Somehow, he'd managed to tell Happy that he should wait for Pepper. And then he walked away as fast as possible. In a small side street, he called his suit since he didn't wear the one inside of the reactor. And then he searched for a place where no one would find him. At least he hoped so.

The tower wasn't an option, there were too many people who knew him too well. If Steve saw him now, he would know immediately that something was wrong. And the last thing he needed was a long talk with him about the current situation.

Leaving the city also wasn't an option. He'd run away from Pepper before and it had caused even more disaster. He would have to talk to her soon. However, he didn't know what he should say. Or if there was anything he could say at all.

The only thing he knew at the moment was that he couldn't face her right now.

A very small, quiet voice in his head told him not to draw any conclusions now, to let her explain first, but he ignored it.

When he looked at New York from above, he knew where he was heading to. And he forbid JARVIS to tell anyone where he was.

About two years ago, Tony had bought another building in the city. The tower had enough space, but he didn't like too many people in his home when he was in NY. So part of SI was situated in another, much smaller tower. Also run by clean energy, of course.

The building had been in a bad state when he'd bought it and Pepper had been against it since the repairs would cost much money. However, he didn't listen to her. He just needed that building. And he wanted his office, if he ever went there, to be on the top floor. With a look at the statue of liberty.

He had no intention to go into the building now. He landed on the rooftop, stepped out of his suit and sat down on the edge. It seemed unreal that he'd found Peter in this position on a different rooftop mere hours ago. It felt like a lifetime.

When he sat there and looked at the lights of the city, he tried not to think too much. A drink might help him to drown his thoughts. Tony wondered when had been the last time he'd been drunk. Honestly, he couldn't even remember. Which was a big surprise, because a few years ago, he'd drank probably too much. At some point in the past years, he just stopped. And he didn't want to start again, he decided when he thought of it a little longer. It wasn't worth it. He liked being able to think at all times, to have all his senses.

Suddenly, the image of Pepper and Gerald appeared in his mind again. Her hands in his shirt, his arms wrapped around their waist. And they were kissing. The sick feeling in his stomach came back with full force and Tony found himself trembling. Luckily, he'd already sat down. Or would a drink be a good option now?

He'd known that this Gerald was nothing but trouble the moment he heard his name, however he would have never expected something like this. But didn't he? After all, Pepper had been so excited when JARVIS had announced his arrival. And didn't she listen to his stories with shining eyes?

And what the hell happened on the beach in LA? Pepper had blushed when he mentioned it and Tony already knew that it had been more than a picnic. But was that a surprise? After all, they'd been a couple back then. So he couldn't blame Pepper for that. Nevertheless, he was angry at Gerald for mentioning it right in front of him. And he'd even smiled at him provocatively!

Maybe he'd already planned to get Pepper back before he'd arrived at the tower? He must have known that she was with Tony right away. It wasn't a secret, after all… He seemed like someone who accepted a challenge gladly. The talks about his work had proven that.

Tony closed his eyes and listened to the sounds all around him. It had a calming effect on him, knowing that life was continuing, even if his world seemed to be falling apart once more.

What should he do now? Go back to the others and act as if everything was alright? Find Pepper and talk to her? Or just stay on the rooftop and try to forget everything?

Going back was a bad idea. And finding Pepper too since she was probably still with Gerald. And Tony couldn't be sure that he might do something stupid when he saw that man right now. So he would stay on that rooftop for now.

Slowly, he was feeling cold in his suit, but he didn't care. There was nothing that really mattered at the moment.

Pepper had kissed Gerald. In their favourite restaurant and when she knew that Tony was on his way. Again, the reality hit him with full force. Was it just yesterday morning that he'd felt like the luckiest man alive? He'd proposed to her a few days ago and now this happened! He closed his eyes and tried to remain calm, but this time it didn't work.

He felt that his hands began to shake and his breathing fastened. And then the tears he tried to hold back came. He couldn't say how long he just sat there, face covered with his hands, and cried. Honestly, he didn't care at all. In this moment, he just couldn't hold back anymore.

He remembered all the times he'd spent with Pepper. The awkwardness when she'd first become his assistant. Their arguments when he didn't take care of the company, missed appointments and drank too much. The moment when he first realized that he wasn't just attracted to her appearance, but to everything about her. The moment he realized that he loved her. There was a gap in between, filled with the time when he was trying to find himself. Trying to figure out who he really was. Tony Stark, dealing with weapons. Or maybe someone who wanted to do something good? I am Iron Man.

Everything that came after his decision. All the battles he'd fought. Most of them without her, but in some of them she had also been there. The time when he tried to stop being Iron Man and how that ended in disaster. The time apart from her. And their reunion. Everything that happened after that. The new house. His proposal.

He sighed when the memories wouldn't stop. In the end, it was always the same. He loved her. More than anything. And honestly, he also needed her. In all the bad times in his life, she'd always kept him sane. She'd saved him in more than one way.

What should he do without her?

"Pepper?" A voice ripped her out of her frozen state. The voice she least wanted to hear. Suddenly, all the sounds surrounding her came back at once. She realized that she was still standing in the restaurant, looking at the door. Her right hand was burning from when she'd slapped Gerald. When she glanced at him, she saw that his cheek was red and Pepper felt a dark satisfaction.

All around them, people were still talking. She heard Tony's name a few times and started to feel sick again. Her heart began to race and she felt like she could throw up.

He'd seen them. And since he left again, Pepper knew that he'd seen the kiss. The kiss which had lasted a few seconds, in which she didn't push Gerald back.

"Pepper, I'm really sorry. I don't know what I was thinking." Gerald said again and finally, Pepper turned to him. She was furious, but she breathed in deeply to stay calm. Until now, no one except for the waiter had noticed their argument. And he'd left quietly after he'd told her that Tony really had left.

"I'm sure you knew pretty well what you were doing." She said slowly and took a step back. "I will leave now. And I don't want to see you again, Gerald." Her voice was cold, but she didn't feel sorry when she saw the disappointed look on his face. "It has been a mistake to meet in the first place. I should apologize."

She should have told Gerald to stay away the moment she'd seen the unhappy look on Tony's face yesterday when JARVIS had announced his arrival. However, she'd been too excited to see someone from her past before her life turned upside down. And many years ago, Gerald had been important to her. Maybe she'd thought that they could be friends again? But at their departure, he'd made it very clear that friends wasn't an option. Apparently, that didn't change.

Pepper didn't wait for Gerald's answer. She took her bag and turned around to leave. Luckily, no one recognized her in the crowded place, even if some people were still talking about Tony.

Outside, she was surprised to see Happy leaning on a car and watching the restaurant. He waved when he saw her. "Why are you already out here?" Happy asked. "Tony said that it might take a while before I have to take you home."

When Happy said his name, Pepper froze again. "Tony told you to wait for me?" She asked and couldn't hide her surprise. He was still taking care of her, even after he'd seen her with someone else. The aching pain in her chest became even stronger and she forced herself to stay calm. She couldn't break down and cry, not right now. She had to find Tony and explain everything.

"Of course, said he had to leave again. Something about an emergency." Happy shrugged. "He went that way, but I think I saw his suit in the air shortly after that."

Of course he'd taken his suit to leave. Pepper felt her heart sink. How should she find him right now? "Did he say where he wanted to go?" Surely the emergency was just an excuse to leave.

Happy shook his head. "No idea. But he looked strange when he left. He was so tense and didn't even look at me when he told me to wait for you."

Now she really began to shiver. Not just because it was a cold evening, but since she began to understand how much she'd hurt him. And Pepper was worried. Tony used to do stupid things when he was upset.

Behind her back, someone called her name. When she recognized Gerald's voice, she got into the car quickly. Happy seemed to understand that she didn't want to talk to him, since he also ignored Gerald. "Where to?" Happy asked once they were on the road.

"I'm still thinking. Just keep driving, please." She whispered absent-mindedly.

Where would Tony go in a situation like this? Not to the tower, that was obvious. There were too many people and he would like to be alone. He was in his suit, so he could be on every rooftop in the city…

Or would he still be in New York? She knew how fast he was. He could be anywhere right now. But surely Tony wouldn't go back to Malibu spontaneously. After all, he was planning many things with the Avengers here in New York. Maybe the new facility in the north? However, they had just started to build it, there wasn't much to be seen.

She thought of their new house but shook her head immediately. He wouldn't go there without her. Especially not now.

"Where are you, Tony?" Pepper whispered quietly and looked out of the window.

She leaned back in her seat and tried to relax. It didn't work, though. Suddenly, she thought of something. She pulled her phone out of her pocket. There were no new messages, but she'd already expected that. Pepper only hesitated for half a second, before she tried to call Tony. It didn't even ring. Most probably, he'd told JARVIS to block everyone who wanted to contact him.

She also considered to ask Steve, but then the others would know that something was wrong. And they would also look for Tony. She decided that she couldn't do that to him. And they needed to talk alone.

When she closed her eyes, she saw many things. The first time she'd heard of Tony Stark, many years ago. It had been a report about his family and they'd mentioned how brilliant he was. "And hot." Her best friend had said with a wink, while Pepper herself just remained silent. Nevertheless, she'd also noticed that he was very good-looking. And he had a very charming smile. Even on the screen, it had made her smile right back.

Years later, she had been looking for a job. It had been a rainy day and Pepper had been sitting on the couch of her apartment. She didn't find anything interesting in the papers, so she began to search online. Suddenly, something caught her attention. It was just a small notification, however it made her heart race. Looking for a personal assistant. Female. Discreet. Ready to work overtime on special occasions. After that, there had been a list of abilities that were required. And then there had been the most important thing. If interested, please contact Tony Stark. This day changed her whole life.

Pepper had been only one in a long line of applicants. When she showed up at Stark Industries that morning, she'd already considered to leave again since she didn't see a chance for herself next to all the other women. The job interview had been short. Tony Stark was as brilliant as everyone said. And very self-confident. Even if she would never admit it, Pepper liked his humour. His wide smile made her heart race. Something that would never change around him. The interview had started pretty normal. 'Tell me something about yourself, Mrs. Potts.' Tony had said and somehow, Pepper had the feeling that he wasn't really interested in those interviews. But while she talked, he became more attentive. And he even asked questions. Only later she realized that her conversation with Tony had been much longer than all the others. One day later, he called her personally and told her that she got the job.

Working for him had been different than expected. The company had never been very important to him, unlike his personal enjoyment. There were parties, cars, alcohol and most importantly, women. Or course he also invented new things for the company and presented them, but next to that, he left everything to other people. First, Pepper thought that it had been a bad idea to take the job. But soon, she got used to his behaviour and wasn't hurt anymore when she caught him with other women. And slowly, they became friends. Even if he was so much more for her.

She could still remember the day Rhodey told her about Tony's disappearance in Afghanistan. Even if she tried to stay calm, she'd broken down later, when she was alone in her flat. The time when he was gone were the hardest weeks in her life. When he came back, he wasn't the same anymore.

Tony Stark has always been a reckless person. But when he decided to become Iron Man and save the world, it had reached a new level. The fear for his life had nearly made her quit her job again. Pepper only stayed because he asked her to. And even then, his actions had always made her feel uneasy.

The moment she really thought that he'd lost his mind was when he made her CEO of Stark Industries. And when he tried to hide the Palladium poisoning from her, of course. Back then, she couldn't quite judge him. Did he really have feelings for her, or did she just imagine it? In the end, it seemed like they were both on the same page.

The Avengers Initiative. She never thought that it would be another change in their life when he met the other superheroes for the first time. Somehow, they've become a part of his family. And they were a constant in their life now, even if they didn't work together all the time. There were also periods in which everyone lived their own life.

And their life was something Pepper had never dreamed of. When she was with Tony, everything was so easy. He could always make her smile, even in the worst situations. She would never admit it, but his mere presence could calm her down. She loved his brilliant smile, his jokes and the way he took nothing too serious. And how he could charm a whole room just with his smile and his words. His urge to help others was also very attractive. But not the worry that came along with that.

She loved how he could make her laugh. All the places he showed her, the memories they made together. Honestly, she didn't care where she was, as long as she could be with him. Kissing him was something she could never get tired of. And the way he looked at her when they were alone always made her heart race. When they touched, it still felt like her skin was on fire, even after all this time.

Pepper knew that she would do anything for him. She wanted to protect him. And when he was hurt, it was breaking her heart too.

Which made her think of their time apart, when she wanted to stop him from being Iron Man. She'd realized how wrong she'd been months ago. It was a part of him, one she couldn't take away. And if she did, it would change him. Something Pepper never wanted.

They just got together again and they even planned to get married. And today, all those plans seemed to have fallen apart.

Again, she tried to figure out where he might be. However, she didn't have any clue. So she looked out of the window silently, while Happy drove through the city aimlessly.

Which places did he like? Or places she might never step onto? What would Tony do?

Suddenly, she remembered something he'd said years ago. They'd been standing on the roof of a building, in the middle of a construction zone. The sun had been shining and Tony had smiled at her widely, holding out his arms. 'It's beautiful, isn't it? Come on, Pep. You have to admit that the sight is breath-taking! I can already imagine myself sitting here, looking at the city. Somehow, all the problems seem so far away when you're up here.'

Right behind him, she'd seen the statue of liberty.

Suddenly, Pepper knew exactly where she could find Tony.

"Happy, you have to turn back." She told him the address.