Pepper woke up and she was surprised to see that Tony was still fast asleep. He must have been tired. She looked at the clock and knew that they were going to have to hustle to get the kids ready for school on time. She gently shook him and he opened his eyes a sliver.
"We slept late. So do you want to take the girls or Anthony?" she asked.
"What I would like is a good morning kiss," he commented as he tried rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"Maybe after you brush your teeth," she said as she forced herself out of the bed and into the bathroom to go brush her own.
Tony joined her at his sink and they stared at each other silently brushing their teeth. He was watching her and wondering what she was thinking. He used to know her thoughts before they formed in her mind but now everything was different. This was a new Pepper that was scared and uncertain and he had to win her over every day.
"I'll tackle the girls if that makes it easier for you," he said after spitting in the sink.
"I think I can get Anthony ready quickly and start on breakfast,"
"What about my kiss?" he asked as he walked closer to her.
This time Pepper spit and she smiled at him.
"You know Tony just because we kissed last night doesn't mean you can kiss me anytime you want. It wouldn't hurt to woo me or try a little romance," she said as she brushed past him.
"You can't dodge me forever Pep. One of these days I'm going to kiss you senseless and you're going to give in to me," he called after her.
"We will talk about it when that day comes," she teased.
Tony felt the wind leave his sails but it was only a small defeat. He wasn't going to give up.
Pepper wants romance. She wants to be wooed. The necklace with the shrapnel from my heart will be hard to top.
Pepper was in the room with Anthony helping him get dressed. She combed his hair and he made a face.
"That's not Tony Stark hair," he muttered.
Pepper suddenly remembered a time before an event that Tony actually wanted to go to and he was fussing with his hair and it just wasn't right and she grabbed the Oribe fiber groom and fixed his hair until it was perfect. She knew after working with him so closely for years exactly how he liked his hair.
"Hang on a minute," she said as she went back into their bathroom and Tony was fixing his hair.
"Do you still use the Or-
She stopped herself when she saw the jar of Oribe on the counter.
She grabbed it.
"Anthony wants Tony Stark hair and who's more of an expert on Tony Stark?" she said as she left the room.
She returned to Anthony who got distracted with his toys and she picked him back up.
She applied the stuff in his hair and held him up to the mirror to see.
He smiled so big and hugged her.
"Now come on you've got to get dressed for school," she said.
An hour passed and Tony and Pepper got back from dropping the kids off at school.
"So what do we do with ourselves when the kids aren't around?" Pepper said as she flopped down on the chair in the living room and tucked her knees to her chest.
"It depends. Usually we try and catch up on work. You work remote 3 days a week so we can have more time as a family and usually when the work is done we have sex. It's our time to really enjoy sex and not rush. It's like going back to the sex we had before we had kids. Only on Wednesdays though. You have a lot of work on Mondays and Fridays," Tony explained.
Pepper blushed.
"Before my accident, we're things good between us? Were you happy with how often we-
"Are you asking me about our sex life?" Tony asked.
Pepper felt herself blush again and she nodded.
"Of course things were good. They were great. I'm happy anytime you want to have sex with me. We were doing it 2-3 nights a week which is great for having 3 kids, but then again Clint and Laura are doing it 4-5 days a week,"
"Clint and Laura, is Clint the guy that shrinks and then comes back to normal size?" Pepper asked.
"No that's Scott. Ant-Man. Clint is the one that shoots the exploding arrows. Hawk-eye," Tony explained.
"That's a lot of sex. I can't imagine having sex with anyone that much. Two times a week sounds more like my speed," Pepper said.
"We used to do it four times a week before the kids," Tony said with a smile.
"And now we're not doing it at all and I'm sure you're disappointed,"
"Pepper you had an accident and you woke up to severe memory loss. I'm just glad you're alive and that you didn't leave me," Tony explained.
"But I know you and how you are about sex and you must be suffering right now," Pepper said.
"I always want to have sex with you. But I'm fine. I can take care of myself when I have to. I don't expect anything and I don't want you to do anything just for me. I don't want you to do anything unless it's what you want,"
"What if I never remember and we never have sex again? Will you leave?" Pepper asked him.
"Pepper what are you saying? This is insane. You and the kids are the best things that ever happened to me. You're the happy ending I never thought I could have. I would never leave you," Tony explained.
"How's our money situation? Obviously I know we have money but we have kids now and they're going to go to college someday and I'm assuming we have money for that too but do we have money to blow?" she asked suddenly.
"Yeah we're good. Why? You know I'll buy you whatever you want," he explained.
"I want to get one of those mommy makeovers," Pepper said on the brink of tears suddenly.
She wanted to fix her body so she could sleep with Tony and he wouldn't leave.
Tony's expression turned to one of pain. He couldn't hide the dislike in his expression.
"Pepper you've been through this before. After the twins you wanted to have it done and you had a consultation with a doctor in New York and made an appointment and everything and then a few days before you changed your mind," Tony said really hoping she wouldn't go through it.
"Why did I change my mind?" she asked.
"I don't know. You wouldn't tell me but I was so relieved," he said.
"You didn't want me to have it done?" Pepper asked.
"Of course not. Why do you sound so surprised?"
"Gee I don't know Tony. Nearly all the women you've slept with were enhanced in more ways than one,"
"Pepper there isn't one single thing I'd ever change about you except getting your memory back," he said.
"I still want to have a consultation," she said.
"I don't understand why. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen but I would never tell you no. It's not my body. I'm not happy about it but it's up to you. I can't stop you," Tony said.
The silence between them was deafening and then the doorbell rang. Pepper wiped at her eyes and really hoped it wasn't Janice. Rocky and Buster were running back and forth and barking. Tony opened the door.
"Hey Doris what are you doing here? You want to come in for some coffee?" Tony said to the white haired woman standing in their doorway.
"Oh no I don't mean to be a bother. I know what you guys do when the kids aren't here but it's Ed his wheelchair isn't working and I can't push him," she explained.
"Oh it's no trouble Doris. Let me just grab my tools and I'll be right over and what did I tell you about walking all the way here. Just call me,"
Tony slipped into the garage and Doris stood their petting the dogs and looking at Pepper.
"Something isn't right. You're crying. Were you fighting?," Doris said with concern for Pepper.
"No. It's nothing,"
Tony came out of the garage with his tool belt and he had on a fitted black tank top and his arm muscles weren't quite as big as they used to be but he still filled it out and she found it so attractive. She remembered how she used to linger as long as possible while he was working so she could admire him secretly.
"Ok I'm ready,"
"You're coming too Pepper, aren't you?" Doris said.
"Sure," Pepper said as she walked out with them.
The walk was a good five minute walk. Their home was hidden pretty well in the trees. They were closer to the side entrance through the woods, the road to drive in was off the main road and they had an extremely long winding driveway.
When the house came into view Tony ran ahead to help Ed while Pepper and Doris stayed behind to keep their walk leisurely.
"He's gone now. So please tell me what's wrong? I know something is going on. I can see it in your eyes. So much pain from you both. You usually look at each other with love and admiration. Are you getting divorced?" she pried, but only out of concern.
"Tony didn't tell you?" she asked, going with the motions.
She was pretending she knew this woman that obviously knew her.
"Tell me what?" she asked with a look of deep concern.
"When we went away on vacation, I had an accident and I was in a coma. I lost my memory. I only remember the time before Tony and I started dating. I don't remember our romantic relationship or my own kids. What kind of mother doesn't remember her own kids?" Pepper said, getting teary eyed again.
"Oh you poor dear. You must come in for some tea," Doris said.
Pepper followed her into the house and her eyes were going everywhere.
"Your home is beautiful," Pepper said as she complimented her.
"Thank you dear. Here you are," she said handing Pepper some tea.
Tony was elbow deep in wires while Ed was testing out the buttons to find which wire was short and needed replacing.
"And I now I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do to win her back," Tony said as he finished explaining everything that happened since they went on vacation.
"Well what worked the first time?" Ed asked genuinely.
"I changed. I had a near death experience and that made me realize what was important and I cut back my drinking and stopped sleeping with random women. I took my work seriously and then made Pepper my CEO. I stay home with the kids, I cook now, I clean, I do bath time and homework. I give Pepper anything and everything she wants. What else do I do?" Tony asked hopelessly.
"Court her. Start from the first date," Ed said.
"Our first date was a hammer roid attack," he said shrugging his shoulders and motioning for Ed to try the button again.
Ed pressed the button and the wheelchair moved.
"That's it. You're good as new," Tony said, getting up.
Doris sat down next to Pepper.
"That husband of yours is one in a million you know. You better hang on to him whether you remember him or not. He is so devoted to you and the children and he's helped us out with so many things around the house,"
"I plan on it. Things are just strange right now and awkward. We're trying to figure it out and date but the Tony I remember slept with everyone above sunset," Pepper explained.
"Oh dear," she said.
"But he's really trying. He's been really supportive and sweet since I got home. He wants to make sure I'm comfortable every day. And I'm still in awe of the fact that he cooks and cleans. This is a man that had robots to wash dishes and clean up his messes. I can see he's suffering because of me. He wants me to get better so bad. I've been trying to understand how we ended up in a relationship but at the same time when I woke up and he was holding my hand and I noticed his wedding ring my heart was crushed," she explained.
"That's love dear. It's just not manifesting itself in your mind in the conventional way," Doris explained just as the boys were returning.
"There's no stopping me now dear," Ed said as he came cruising across the room in his wheelchair at full speed.
Pepper was staring at Tony and smiling. She was definitely impressed and maybe a little smitten. He noticed and smiled back.
"We need to get back. The twins will be done with school soon," Pepper said as they headed back to the house.
Later that evening after the kids were tucked in, Tony went into the bedroom to find Pepper.
"Are we still on for our date on the couch?" he asked hopefully extending his hand to hers
"I'd like that," she said as she took it and followed him to the couch.
"What do you have planned?"
"I was thinking While You Were Sleeping, or is that inappropriate?" he asked.
"Are you trying to be funny?" Pepper asked, staring him down.
"No you wanted romance so I picked a chick flick," he said with his hands out.
"It's a little close to home, don't you think?" she teased.
"Ok I'll fix it. You're so picky about movies. So that leaves me with two choices. You've Got Mail or one of those Jane Austen films. And I've already seen Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, and Emma like four dozen times,"
"What about Persuasion?" she asked.
"We can watch it, but it's not very romantic," he said.
"I won't make you suffer too bad. We can put on You've Got Mail,"
Tony put it on and sat on the couch.
"Am I allowed to snuggle you?" he asked.
"Yeah you know I'm always cold,"
"Oh I always know when you're cold," he said with a wink.
Pepper looked down at her chest and she could see her nipples were through her pajama shirt.
"TONY," she said with a laugh.
"WHAT? Are you surprised?"
"No not really," she said with a smile.
After a half an hour of watching Tony put his arm around her and began to play with the ends of her hair. She turned to look at where his hand was and she slid closer to him.
"After all these years you still smell the same," Pepper said as she smiled at him.
"Do you like it? If you have something else you want me to wear I will," he said getting closer to her face.
"I love the way you smell," she said.
"Come closer and get a whiff," he said exposing his neck to give her access.
She leaned in even closer and breathed in his scent.
"You know what you did today for Ed was really great," she said pulling away and looking at him
"Well he's our neighbor. We gotta look out for each other,"
"Doris told me you've done a lot for them. I find that very sexy," she said.
"Oh you do huh?' he teased.
"Mmm hmm," she said as she grabbed his face and to his surprise she kissed him.
He immediately relaxed into the kiss but it was Pepper who was stiff. They kissed some more and he pulled away.
"You're so tense. You don't have to kiss me if you're not feeling it Pep," he said.
"It's just nerves," Pepper said.
"Here let me rub your shoulders," he said as he began to press into her knots gently but firm enough to release the tension.
"Mmmm," Pepper moaned.
"God you sound sexy when you do that,"
Pepper felt her tension melt away and she turned to face him. She went to kiss him again and he met her lips swiftly. They kissed harder and Pepper was feeling a butterfly like feeling in her stomach. The scruff from his beard rubbing against her made her feel at home. It was so familiar yet her memories were still turning up blank. She felt Tony start to kiss her neck and it sent a shockwave through her body. It felt so good and she wanted to continue to enjoy it but she couldn't let herself get carried away. She didn't want to lose control.
"Tony stop," Pepper said breathlessly.
He pulled away immediately.
"I'm so sorry. I should have asked you first if that was ok. I got a little carried away. When you kiss me I can't think straight,"
"Tony it's ok. It was nice. I just don't want to get carried away. I'm not ready for all that," she said.
"I get it. I really am sorry though for not asking you first, but I'm glad to know I still have that effect on you,"
Pepper hit him playfully and they went back to the movie but they soon fell asleep on the couch.