A/N: Sigh, so this was one of those harder to write chapters for some reason. It just didn't quite gel for me and I'm hoping the next chapter will feel less like hard work. For those of you who are Steve Roger's fans, he's going to have quite a bit going on in this fic, so I hope you'll all enjoy that. But that doesn't mean I'm going to forget about Pepperony – I know why many of you are reading this fic in the first place. ;) It's just going to be fun and games all round. :D

Okay, off to tackle the next chapter, wish me luck. :)

Chapter Ten

Tony sat at his work bench, deeply engrossed in his experiments on the metal pieces he and Natasha had retrieved from the Carousel. They were not behaving like any kind of metal Tony had ever dealt with before and it didn't make it any easier that he could let the little pieces anywhere near any other metal, for fear he'd lose them.

Jarvis' cool voice interrupted him. "Sir, the news is on."

"I told you I want the evening news," Tony said distractedly.

"It is the evening news, sir."

Tony looked up in surprise and glanced at his watch. "So, you're telling me it's eight at night then?"

"Yes, sir."

Tony lost all sense of time when he became engrossed in his projects. "Okay, throw it up."

Jarvis immediately activated a large floating screen in front of Tony and the anchorman was reporting on the events of the previous day.

"-and the cleanup of New York City continues after the attack aimed at it just twenty-four hours ago. The invasion force of metal praying mantises caused havoc and destruction wherever they swarmed but were eventually defeated by the newly formed Avengers. However, not everyone is seeing this team of superheros as being exactly what New York and indeed the world needs. Senator Kidston has come out and expressed his concern over the events of yesterday and how the Avengers handled the whole thing."

The screen flashed up with a grey-haired man in a suit looking very indignant. "I know people are saying the Avengers saved the city, but is anyone asking why the city needed saving in the first place?" he blustered. "These kinds of threats simply didn't exist before these self-proclaimed superheroes turned up on the scene." The camera zoomed in on Senator Kidston's face. "And now that they're here, where are the regulations of these people going to come from? I mean, they destroyed a national monument and plunged half of New York City into darkness. A case can be made that they created almost as much destruction as those metal bugs. I want to know to whom these vigilantes are going to be accountable? They're not associated with any government agency and as far as I can tell, aren't answerable to anyone. Is this something we really should be seeing as a good thing-"

"You know what's a good thing, Senator?" asked Tony irritably. "How about the fact that New York is still standing and not being overrun with bugs right about now?"

"You do know he can't hear you, right?"

The indulgent question came from behind him and Tony turned around to see Pepper standing in the doorway of his lab. "Yes," Tony grumbled. Small-minded people were always going to annoy him, people who couldn't see beyond their own agendas. He paused and looked her over, taking in the close-fitted, ankle length and off the shoulder white dress she was wearing. Pepper's hair was swept up in an elegant up do and she was wearing the diamond earrings he'd surprised her with a month ago. She was gorgeous and not for the first time Tony took a moment to appreciate how lucky he was. "You look amazing," he said admiringly.

Pepper smiled. "Thank you."

He arched an eyebrow. "A little much for our beer and pizza night though, don't you think?"

"It's the charity gala tonight," Pepper reminded him patiently. "Remember, we had a date?"

Tony blinked, realising she was right. "Oh yeah, the gala thing." He looked down at the series of experiments he'd just set up on the remnants of the mantises.

"You've been working on that metal all day, Tony," Pepper informed him. "You need a break. Come upstairs, get changed and then we'll go to the gala. We won't stay long and at least you'll get some fresh air and eat something."

"I've eaten something today," he protested and then tried to think what that was. "Probably."

"Happy brought you lunch but that was hours ago," Pepper prompted his memory.

Tony looked back at his experiments. "Just give me half an hour, I need to run this experiment I've just finished setting up."

Pepper gave him a considered look. "Alright, half an hour. Jarvis, you remind him."

"Very good, Ms. Potts."

Tony smiled at her. "I'll be there, promise. See you soon."

Pepper nodded. "Alright."

As soon as Pepper was gone Tony was back to being absorbed in the simulations he was running on the metal. He'd barely started when Jarvis interrupted him.

"Sir, it's been half an hour. You need to get ready for the gala."

"Another minute," muttered Tony distractedly as he watched the electricity being absorbed by the metal with great interest.

"But, sir-"

"Mute," Tony ordered without looking up from his work. He just had to check a few more things and then he'd get ready. This metal was a complete marvel to him and Tony had the feeling he was only scratching the surface of what it was capable of. He suspected that he was dealing with nanobot technology but the level that had been achieved with this work far exceeded what mainstream science had so far achieved. The fact that the metal had some kind of synthetic memory and wanted to recombine back into the mantis creatures were only the tip of the iceberg as far as Tony could see.

Suddenly light hands were on his shoulders. "How's it going?"

Tony nodded happily. "I'm getting there. This stuff is amazing, Pep." He put a hand up to cover the one on his shoulder. "I'm almost done, I'll be ready in a minute."

Pepper withdrew her hands and walked around the other side of the lab bench so she was standing in front of him. She started to take off her high-heeled shoes. "Don't worry about it."

"So, we're a little late," said Tony dismissively. "I'm Tony Stark, I'd freak everyone out if I was on time."

Pepper just smiled. "The event ended an hour and a half ago."

Tony stared at her blankly. "What?"

Pepper held his gaze steadily. "The charity gala, it ended an hour and a half ago."

"Oh." Tony hesitated. "Are you mad?"

"No," said Pepper mildly, "I'm not mad." She gave him a warm look. "It's late, you should really get some rest, Tony. Come to bed."

He gave her an uncertain look. "Our bed?"

Pepper laughed lightly. "I told you, I'm not mad. This is just who you are." She moved to head back out the door when Tony stalled her.

"I'm sorry you missed the gala, Pepper," he said sincerely. "I didn't mean to get so caught up."

Pepper looked back over her shoulder at him. "I know, and I didn't miss the gala."

"Oh," said Tony in surprise, "you went. In that case I'm sorry you had to go alone."

"I didn't," she replied just before stepping onto the elevator. Pepper turned around and smiled at him before as the doors slid shut. "Steve was kind enough to come with me. I told you, I wasn't going to go alone."

Pepper was gone before Tony could formulate a reply. He scratched at his beard. "Well, wasn't that helpful of Frostie?" he said in annoyance.

oooOOOOooo

Steve watched Pepper check her watch once more. "Jarvis?" she called out.

"He's put me on mute, Ms. Potts," Jarvis replied to her unanswered question.

Pepper sighed and rolled her eyes. "Why am I not surprised?" She wrinkled her nose. "I hate going to these things alone."

Steve didn't know what possessed him. "I'll take you," he blurted out and then hesitated. "If you want," he backtracked a little.

Pepper looked surprised but happy. "Oh, Steve, that would be great."

"I don't have anything to wear," Steve suddenly realised.

Pepper smiled. "This is New York, Steve, finding a tuxedo on short notice is never going to be a problem."

In less than an hour Steve was holding out his hand to help Pepper out of the Rolls Royce as a mass of media flanked a red carpet leading up to the entrance of gala event. Lewis and his team had already arrived and made sure the location was secure and were now keeping a discrete distance from them. Steve glanced over his shoulder at the flashing cameras and people shouting out to them and barely managed to hide a grimace. This wasn't his most favourite kind of outing, but he'd hated to see Pepper disappointed and didn't mind stepping up on this occasion.

Happy walked up and closed the car door, smiling at them both. "Have fun eating and drinking with gay abandon while I sit outside in this cold car."

Pepper made a clucking sound. "Please, Happy, as though we don't know you're going to head straight to the kitchen and get to eat and drink as much as you like while playing poker with all of your buddies."

"Oh, you know about that, do you?" he asked sheepishly.

"You always come back smelling of cigar smoke and belching caviar puffs," said Pepper indulgently.

Happy gave a sigh. "I do love those caviar puffs," he agreed readily. Happy grinned. "Have fun, I'm off to make some money." He rubbed his hands together gleefully and looked past them. "I can see Roy, Donald Trump's driver, is here. He's completely crap at poker, tonight's going to be a good night for old Happy."

Pepper gave a light laugh. "Play nice with the other children, Happy."

"Count on it."

Steve watched Happy jump in the car and take off, leaving them to face the gauntlet of media alone.

Pepper took his arm and smiled up at him. "This is the worst part," she reassured him. "The media feeding frenzy is always a pain."

"I used to do the PR stuff," Steve informed her as he looked around, "but it was nothing like this."

"It's a visual age nowadays," Pepper said as they started to walk the red carpet, "people are always eager to see what others are up to and now there is the means to do just that." She smiled and nodded at all the cameras flashing off in their faces.

Steve fixed a smile on his face for the cameras as well. "I don't know if that's a good thing."

"I didn't say it was a good thing, I just said that was how it was," said Pepper casually. "It's just a part of modern living that has to be negotiated, especially if you end up high profile."

They were halfway up the red carpet when a woman in a very low cut dress and tanned breasts on almost full displayed stepped out in front of them. She smiled at them both. "Hi Pepper, can we have a few words with you?"

Pepper gave her an unflustered smile. "Of course, Jodi, it's always a pleasure to talk to Entertainment Now."

Jodi quickly indicated for the camera crew behind her to step up and they started filming right away. She flashed a big smile for the camera and did a quick introduction. "And here we have Pepper Potts, the CEO of Stark Industries gracing the red carpet." She turned back round to Pepper. "Were you surprised that New York was able to rally and still hold this charity gala when the city was almost destroyed yesterday?"

"Not in the least," said Pepper smoothly. "New York and the American people have shown themselves to be nothing but resilient in the past and this is no exception. This gala is raising money and awareness for underprivileged children and their education, not only in America, but around the world. It's a cause very dear to our hearts at Stark Industries and we're thrilled to support it in any way we can."

"I have to ask, Pepper, that dress, it's simply gorgeous, who are you wearing tonight?"

Pepper looked down at her elegant dress and smiled. "It's Valentino."

"A favourite of yours in the past."

"I think he really knows how to dress a woman," Pepper agreed.

The reporter fixed her attention on Steve now, much to his chagrin. She beamed an almost blinding smile at him with her too white teeth. "And I see your sporting a new accessory tonight?" Jodi looked back at Pepper. "Tony not available?"

Pepper didn't miss a beat. "Tony wanted to attend, but unfortunately it wasn't possible."

Jodi gave Steve an interested look. "Looks like you didn't have any trouble finding a replacement," she noted.

Steve wasn't really comfortable with the way the other woman was looking at him with a vaguely predatory glint in her eyes.

Jodi gave him another overbright smile. "This must be very different from what you're used to, Steve. Is it alright that I call you Steve, or do you prefer Captain America?"

He moved a little and forced another smile to his face. "Steve is fine."

"And am I right in understanding that you're actually living with Pepper and Tony these days?" Jodi asked curiously.

"We all reside at the Avenger's Tower," said Steve stiffly, "but that doesn't mean we live together."

"The tower is huge," Pepper backed him up. "We all have our own floors and plenty of space to enjoy."

Jodi gave her a knowing look. "So, three really isn't a crowd in this instance?"

"Not in the least," said Pepper simply.

"You're a lucky girl, being surrounded by all of these gorgeous men." Jodi looked envious as she said that.

Pepper wasn't rising to the bait. "I'm lucky as we all are that we have a group of people like the Avengers willing to risk their lives to protect us."

Steve didn't like what the other woman was trying to insinuate. He took Pepper's arm. "We'd better go in," he advised her. "It's looking like rain."

"So attentive," tutted Jodi, "you mustn't be missing Tony at all, Pepper?"

Pepper just smiled. "Thank you for supporting the gala, Jodi," she said, not answering her question. "This cause is appreciative of all the coverage it can get." With that, she and Steve resumed walking.

Steve pulled a face as they walked away. "She was a piece of work."

Pepper was more philosophical. "Jodi was looking for an angle to sell her story. It's her job."

Steve grunted. "It's not much of a job."

"Each to their own, I guess."

Steve gave her a sideways look as they walked into the lavishly decorated ballroom filled with dignitaries and celebrities alike all laughing and talking noisily while an orchestra played in the background. "You handled all her questions really well," he said admiringly.

Pepper gave a little laugh. "I'm used to it. I was Tony's assistant for a long time and you have to learn how to handle the media."

"You were very gracious." He pulled a face. "She didn't deserve it. The woman was making you out to sound like-". Steve hesitated. He didn't even like putting it into words.

"Like a woman who is currently living with five other men and sees them as interchangeable?" she filled in cheekily.

"Yes," said Steve unhappily. Pepper might be able to laugh about it, but she was the classiest, most elegant woman he'd ever met and it really annoyed him that anyone should imply otherwise.

Pepper gave a little shrug. "Well, I may live with five other men in a manner of speaking, but I in no way see them as interchangeable. You're all incredibly unique and very special to me in your own ways. I could never see any of you as anything other than one offs who deserve to be treated as such."

It actually made Steve feel good to hear Pepper say she thought he was special but then felt vaguely anxious about feeling that way.

Pepper was looking around the room. "So, would you like something to eat or should we dance first?"

"No!" said Steve abruptly and realised he'd been a little too loud in his answer. He tried not to blush. "I don't know how to dance."

Pepper didn't comment on his overreaction and just smiled instead. "Caviar puffs it is then," she said easily, "assuming any have made it past Happy of course."

Steve relaxed as Pepper put him at ease with her light teasing and had a brief thought he might actually enjoy tonight and then couldn't help but worry if that was a good thing...

A/N: Interested to hear your thoughts about this development, guys, if you're so inclined. ;)