A/N: Well, it seems from your comments that most people approve of where Steve and Pepper have landed with their relationship, so that's a bit relief for me. :D

Once again, I'm not really happy with this chapter. I'm back at work and still battling this dang cold. Work is really crazy at the moment and requires a large part of my brain, so I'm struggling to find the creative side of my brain to keep up with the chapters. I've managed to get the chapter done, so that's at least something and once again, hopefully I'll have a bit more brain space for the next chapter. I'm working all of the weekend, so there won't be much of a breather there either. No rest for the wicked as they say. ;)

Okay, enough of trying to put you off, why don't you read and see what you make of it? :)

Chapter Twelve

Pepper was already in bed when Tony walked into the bedroom. He'd been working out what he wanted to say to her and hadn't immediately followed her back to their suite after she'd told him about Steve taking her to the charity gala. Tony climbed onto the bed and stretched out beside her. Pepper was lying on her stomach, head turned towards him on the pillow and her steady breathing told Tony that she was most likely asleep. He watched her for a few minutes, hoping his presence would register but when it didn't, Tony reached out with a finger and scratched her nose lightly. Pepper twitched but didn't wake up so Tony repeated his action. This time Pepper gave a little snort and slapped at her face in an uncoordinated way, but still didn't wake up. Tony's lips thinned in impatience. Just what exactly had gotten her so damn tired anyway? The jealous thought made an unwelcome guest in Tony's brain. He flicked Pepper's nose, this time a little harder and she started awake, sitting up and looking disorientated. Tony fixed a bright smile on his face. "Oh good, you're still awake."

Pepper rubbed her nose and blinked at him blearily. "Did you just flick my nose?"

"Why would I do that?" he asked innocently.

"Mm," said Pepper, not convinced and wiggled her nose one last time before lying back down. "Are you done for the night in the lab or is this just a pit stop?" She pulled the covers up and rolled on her side, not looking that interested in his answer.

"I'm coming to bed," Tony answered her. He gave her a narrowed eyed look which Pepper missed because she'd already closed her eyes. "Is that a problem?"

"Why would it be a problem?" she asked tiredly, obviously trying to fall back to sleep right away.

"I don't know," said Tony coolly, "maybe you were expecting someone else in your bed tonight."

Pepper opened her eyes and looked up at him. She took a moment to take in his expression and then gave a heavy sigh. "I was hoping to have the sane version of you in my bed tonight, but I'm beginning to think I'm stuck with Blinky, his crazed, evil twin."

Tony's eyebrows shot up into his hair line. "Blinky?"

"It's my name for this guy." Pepper waved a finger at him.

"And who is this guy exactly?" Tony grilled her.

"The irrational, crazy guy who makes mountains out of a molehill."

Tony sucked in an outraged breath. "When have I ever done that?"

Pepper sat up in bed and rested her back against the headboard and fixed him with a steady look. "Last week you thought a raccoon stole the Rolex watch you'd left in the Rolls Royce."

"Happy left the windows down when it was parked on the street," said Tony indignantly.

"And is New York famous for having gangs of raccoons roaming around stealing Rolexes?" Pepper asked in amusement.

"You don't need gangs, you just need one." Tony made a clawing motion in the air. "They've got sneaky little fingers." Pepper just stared at him. "That absolutely could have happened," he protested. "It's well known that raccoons like to know the time."

Pepper rolled her eyes. "And then you had poor Happy out hunting down this imaginary sticky-fingered raccoon for two days."

"He was the one who left the window down and I wanted my watch back."

Pepper's question was a patient one. "But what had really happened to the watch?"

Tony pouted. "I don't remember."

"Tony."

"Fine, I'd used it to prop open a vent in my lab and forgot about it."

"You also forgot to tell Happy you found it and he was savaged by one of the park squirrels while still looking for a watch that wasn't lost anymore."

"I sent him looking for raccoons, not a park squirrel," said Tony defensively, still feeling a bit bad about that, not that he'd admit it. "Everyone knows you don't mess with a park squirrel, they're all on crack."

"My point is you jumped to ridiculous conclusions and overreacted."

"This isn't like that," Tony argued.

Pepper gave him a calm look. "Alright, what is this then?"

"It's nothing really," said Tony casually. "I was just wondering how long you and Steve have been dating for and if I was in anyway unclear when I said that you and him together would kill me?"

Pepper blew out a long-suffering breath. "Gee, Blinky, I'm going to have to think about that for a bit. What was the first question again?"

Tony wasn't about to be teased out of his vexation. His brow furrowed. "You went out on a date with Rip Van Winkle!"

"You can't honestly think there is something going on between me and Steve," she said in exasperation.

"Of course I don't," said Tony determinedly, "but I'm less convinced that there isn't something going on between Steve and you."

Pepper looked at him blankly. "And the difference being?"

"The difference with you and Steve is that I know you're not thinking anything of your impromptu little outing, but when it comes to Steve and you, he's thinking something else entirely."

Pepper folded her arms in front of herself and arched a challenging eyebrow. "And what is Steve thinking exactly?"

"How quickly he can find the zip in that dress of yours and get you naked."

Pepper rolled her eyes. "Tony, we went to a million functions together when I was your assistant. What are you saying, that the whole time you were picturing me naked and doing unspeakable things to you?"

"How can you ask that of me?" he asked in disbelief. "Of course I was!"

"Tony!" She blinked, the information sinking in. "What, the whole time?"

"Sure," said Tony blithely. "You were this gorgeous, buttoned up, unattainable creature, of course I was going to go there."

Pepper looked uncertain. "I don't know how to feel about that."

Tony snorted. "As though you weren't thinking that about me the whole time too, Pepper Potts."

"You're pretty sure of yourself, aren't you?" she asked wryly. "I remember doing a lot of worrying about getting you to turn up places on time and trying to think up cover stories when you didn't." Pepper gave him an amused look. "I don't remember a whole lot of time to mentally undress you at functions, Tony." A teasing light flickered through her expressive blue eyes. "Besides, I usually didn't have to imagine you naked as you seemed to manage that more often than not at a lot of those functions."

"I'm a free spirit," said Tony unapologetically. "You knew that when we got together."

"I did," agreed Pepper readily. "And I'm a loyal, trustworthy woman who has stood by your side through thick and thin and you knew that before we got together. I'm not sure where all this jealousy is coming from. I've never given you reason to be jealous."

"You've just come back from a date with another man," said Tony in disbelief.

"You blew me off and left me high and dry, Tony," she reminded him. "What was I meant to do, stop my life because you became involved in one of your projects? Do you want me to sit at your feet and look up at you with silent adoration while you figure out the next scientific marvel?"

Tony took her hands and squeezed them, looking deeply into her eyes. "Is that too much to ask?"

Pepper shook his hands off and treated him to a mock glare.

"Alright," he backtracked, "clearly you feel it is too much to ask."

"You're you, Tony, and I'm fine with that," said Pepper. "But my world can't stop when you're being you. I have a life and if that life includes going to a charity event with a friend after you've stood me up, then I think you should be okay with that."

Tony stared at her. "I'm not."

"Yes," she said dryly, "I'm kind of getting that." Pepper's look was frustrated. "I just don't understand why you're so jealous when I'm the one who has a real reason to have issues. Women send you naked pictures of themselves along with sexually explicit emails, throw their underwear at you in public places and always want you to sign body parts." Her lips thinned. "How do you think that makes me feel, Tony?"

"I can't control what other people do," he protested.

"I know that and that's why I just ignore it and I don't know why you can't do the same."

"Because I don't care about those people," said Tony emphatically. "Meanwhile, you actually like Captain Snowflake."

"You say that like it's a crime. So, I like Steve Rogers, what's the big deal? I like Happy too, and Bruce and Thor and-"

"Here's the difference," said Tony interrupting her determinedly, "that guy has been buried in ice for seventy years. In ice, Pepper. With that kind of coldness there has to be some kind of inversion going on with his man bits." He gave her a harrassed look. "For the last seventy years his testicles have been lodged somewhere at the back of his throat and now suddenly he's defrosted and hey, bits are thawing out and wanting to come out to play!" Tony gave her a triumphant nod as he stated his perfectly logical case. It was obvious to him that Steve was interested in being more than friends with Pepper. After all, what man wouldn't? The fact that Pepper seemed blithely unaware of her own allure was part of her charm, but it was also something that could lead to a lot of misunderstandings if she wasn't careful.

"Oh my God," she said unevenly, "you've given this a lot of thought, haven't you?"

"More than I ever wanted to when it came to thinking about another man's testicles."

"Going to a charity event together and a little kiss-"

Tony sucked in a horrified breath. "You kissed!" He instantly wanted to find Steve and punch his lights out.

"A peck on the cheek," Pepper protested. "It was nothing."

"The man is from the 1940's," said Tony in agitation, "that's like third base for him."

"Steve is too good of a man to ever try anything with me," Pepper said with great certainty. "And it wouldn't matter if he did because I happen to be in love with you." She gave a lopsided smile. "For reasons that escape me in this moment mind you, but I'm sure they'll come back to me in the morning."

"I can't deal with you and other men, Pepper," said Tony unsteadily. He knew he was being crazy, but he just couldn't help it.

Pepper leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Tony, there is no me and other men. There's just you and me." She gave a soft smile. "I think there was always just you and me, even before we met."

Tony relaxed muscles he didn't even know he was tensing at Pepper's touch and heartfelt words. "I do love you, even if I'm not always the most reliable boyfriend in the world, it doesn't change how I feel about you."

Pepper stroked his hair lovingly. "I know that, Tony and I love you too." She smiled. "Feel better?"

"I just don't think you realise the impact you have on men." He grimaced. "If only you were more homey, I know I'd sleep better at nights."

"I guess there is a compliment in there," she said ruefully.

"I'm sorry I stood you up for our date tonight," he said sincerely. "It'll never happen again."

She gave a little laugh. "Yes, it will."

He grimaced. "Okay, yes, it will."

Pepper tightened her arms around his neck and smiled. "I guess I'm just going to have to take you when I can get you, Tony Stark."

"Well, you've got me, Pepper Potts," he said huskily, "body and soul."

Her smile widened. "In that case, I'd better take you," she said cheekily and moved in to kiss him.

Tony lost himself in Pepper's passionate kisses and let his concerns melt away with the warm comfort of her body but knew he was never going to not be a jealous fool around this woman.