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Chapter 45 – Boogie Shoes

Tony Stark, wearing a black long sleeved shirt and a pair of black trousers, was standing behind the bar of his Penthouse home in New York. Jarvis played the song, "Boogie Shoes" by KC and the Sunshine Band.

"What color is it, Pepper?" He shouted.

Lance laughed, "What's the bet?"

Tony rubbed his hands together. "I'm saying, red. She's wearing a red dress."

Arcite crossed his arms. "I've seen it-"

"Then you can't bet, man." Tony insisted.

Soler rode a bicycle through the sitting room, "I think it's going to be white."

"Where's your money, kid?" Tony asked him.

Soler stopped his bicycle and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't have any."

"I'll spot him then, Lance. Will that count?"

Lance laughed, "Sure. I don't feel any remorse for taking any more money from a bet with you."

Soler rode his bicycle through a doorway and disappeared.

Arcite followed behind him with his hands behind his back. "Use caution, young man."

The sound of glass breaking in the other room made Tony grimace. "And that was the other vase. I never liked those anyway."

Lance shook his head and laughed under his breath. "I can have someone take him out to ride-"

"Nah. It's too cold. He's fine." He shouted, "Pepper! What color is the dress?"

Jane laughed as she sat at the bar, adjusting some settings on her camera. "You could go put on your tux, and then you would be able to see it."

He shook his head. "Then, that would be cheating. Besides, Sammy will be here in a bit. He'll want in on this."

The lift doors opened and Samuel walked out with Karen. She was stunning in her brown evening gown as she was escorted into the Penthouse on Samuel's arm. She wore her hair up and the necklace that matched her engagement ring, sparkled in the lights. Samuel looked quite dapper in his tux.

Jarvis spoke, "Welcome back, Samuel."

"Thank you, Jarvis." He smiled.

Tony slapped the bar. "And he's finally here!"

Samuel pointed at his uncle. "And I've brought someone. Do….not….frighten her."

Tony put his hand to his chest. "Me? Would I do such a thing?"

Pepper's voice was heard from up the stairs. She stood on the landing in her dressing gown, "Tony! You behave yourself around Karen."

"What color is the dress!?" He demanded.

She laughed and turned back around to walk into the bedroom.

Tony rolled his eyes, "I picked a terrible time to stop drinking. Jarvis, kill the music."

The music stopped.

Lance walked over to take Karen's hand. "I'm Lance. It is my honor to finally meet you." He rose her hand and kissed it.

Karen smiled. "You look so familiar to me."

Samuel pointed at him. "Papa's brother."

"That's it! You look like Arles! Or, Arles looks like you."

Lance smiled, "I believe that I'm better looking."

Jane giggled and walked over to take Karen's hand. "You'll have him going all night with that. I'm Jane. Lance's girlfriend."

Karen shook her hand and smiled. Karen was surprised that she was as comfortable as she was. Tony smiled at her, clapped his hands together, and rushed over to take her hand. "And I'm Tony."

She smiled and glanced back at Samuel. "Yes, it's nice to meet you, Mr. Stark."

"No." He insisted and put his hand on his chest. "I….am…..Tony. And you are beautiful." He told her as he kissed her hand.

Karen blushed and smiled at him. "Thank you, Tony."

Tony shook Samuel's hand. "So, did you bring that package for me?"

"Oh, yeah." Samuel reached in his pocket and took out one of the bags he got from Tiffany's the day before. Tony thanked him.

Samuel showed Karen to a bar stool and stood behind her.

Tony went back to the other side of the bar and opened the bag. There were two boxes. He opened one and took out a black ring.

Samuel rubbed Karen's back, "I thought it looked good."

Tony looked it over very carefully. "She'll never know. Damn, that jeweler over there has saved my ass."

Samuel chuckled and kissed the side of Karen's curious face. "He….umm….broke his ring."

"Broke the shit out of it. And …." Tony pointed up the stairs instead of saying Pepper's name, "will be reasonability pissed if she finds out." Tony insisted and slipped it back on his finger. He opened the other box and took out another ring that looked identical to the one he wore.

"Can you see any difference?" Samuel asked.

"I can. But, it's really small." He put it back in the box and slipped it in his pocket. "For when it happens again. Thanks, Sammy. That was a good idea."

Tony sipped something from a glass.

"What are you drinking, man?" Samuel asked.

"Soda. And it's not like I remembered."

"You're not drinking Scotch?" Samuel asked in surprise.

"I'm not drinking around the short guy. I'm determined." He insisted and poured out the drink. "Blah. Nasty."

Samuel put his hand on Karen's lower back. "You want anything? Wine? Tea? Water?"

Tony offered, "Scotch?"

She giggled at him, "Wine would be nice, please."

Tony pointed to the fridge. "Get the lady a drink! Pour Pepper one while you're at it. Jane?"

Jane smiled, "I'll have one, thanks."

He laughed, "Yeah, I heard about that hangover. Good job on that."

Lance leaned against the cabinet, wearing his suit, and chuckled.

Jane shook her head at him, "Keep laughing, big guy. You have to come home sometime."

"Threat?" Lance asked.

"A promise." She grinned.

Lance laughed, "Yes! I love it."

Tony shook his head. "Don't with your weird little 'lovers' code' around Samuel's girl. It will scare her off." He looked back up towards the stairs. "Pepper! Sammy is pouring you a glass of wine. Can I bring it up to you?"

"No!" She shouted.

"What color is the dress!?" He asked again.

She let out a groan that they all heard downstairs.

Tony laughed, pleased with himself.

Samuel poured Karen and Jane both a glass of wine each. "That's what the bet is on?"

Tony smiled, "Yeah. I have red. Lance has…what?"

"Black." He smiled.

Tony pointed at Jane. "Did you have one? White?"

Jane sipped her wine, "Soli's bet was white. Mine was blue."

"Oh. That's right. Where is Soli?" Tony realized he had been gone too long. "Soli Stark! Report in!"

Karen was surprised when Soli ran into the kitchen where they all were. He had a huge smile on his face as Tony picked him up and sat him on the cabinet in front of him. Samuel stood next to him and smiled as he sipped his tea.

Tony cheered, "Soli! My favorite guy!"

Samuel rubbed his head and smiled. "Hey, Soli. How's it going?"

Soli smiled, "Hey, Sam. Is she here?"

Samuel pointed at Karen. "You mean, Karen? Yes. She's just there."

Soli turned around and waved at her. "Hi, Karen."

"Hi, Soli." She smiled even though she was trying to hide her surprise. Had he said, Soli Stark?

Soli looked back at Tony. "Karen is very nice. She's the one I told you about that puts sprinkles on the ice cream for me."

Tony grinned and glanced back at Karen. "The things that kids remember. I heard something break in the other room. Anything you want to confess?"

Soli grit his teeth. "I'm sorry about the glass…thing-"

"Say it. The words are there. A vase."

"A vase." Soli repeated. "I'm sorry. It's all over the floor."

"I didn't like it anyway. The important thing is you. Are you hurt?" Tony asked. "I can have Sammy look you over."

"It didn't hit me."

"Sure? Glass all over the place?"

"Arcite had me ride in another area."

Tony nodded. "Oh, good man."

Sam took Soli's hand in his and looked it over. "And this looks great. You're completely well from the knife attack. Good."

Soli laughed. "It wasn't a real knife attack."

Tony pointed at him. "That's how I heard it. Some guy, big guy, broke into Sam's place. And stabbed you."

Soli laughed, "That's not what happened at all."

"Well, tell your father what happened." Tony asked as he pointed at himself.

Soli held out his hand, "I cut my hand, and then Sam made it all better."

Tony pointed at Sam. "Did you thank him for that?"

"I think I did." Soli considered.

Samuel smiled, "He did. So, Soli. Are you going to Expo with us tonight?"

"No." Soli shook his head. "I have a bicycle! I want to ride it some more."

Tony laughed, "Yeah, and break the rest of the stuff here. I've got a plan. Go do some RECON and tell us what color dress Pepper is wearing so we can settle this bet."

Samuel shook his head. "You're not doing that. I've not put my bet in yet."

Tony pointed at him. "Alright. What do you think?"

Samuel looked at Karen. "What do you say? What color dress is she wearing?"

Karen shook her head. "Her red hair? Maybe a grey dress?"

Tony crossed his arms and thought. "Grey. She's not worn a grey dress in a while. Damn. I should have picked that one. Can I change my vote?"

Jane, Samuel, and Lance all said at the same time, "No."

"Well, to hell with you guys." He shouted up the stairs. "Pepper! You're killing me, woman!"

Samuel laughed. "It's a fair bet. Karen has grey."

Karen sipped her wine and smiled.

Tony leaned into Soli's face. "And tell me, who says you are their favorite person?"

Soli laughed, "Pepper."

Tony groaned, "Who is your best friend-"

"Easy! That's Sammy!" The little boy insisted and laughed.

Samuel smiled and gave him a thumbs up. "That's right."

Tony dropped his head dramatically. "What about me? Ummm. Who keeps you safe?"

Soli tapped his lips and thought.

"You really have to think about this?" Tony grumbled.

Soli smiled, "Lance!"

Lance laughed with the rest of the room. It was clear that Soli was just answering like that to annoy Tony.

Jane sipped her wine and shouted, "Pepper! You'd be proud of Soli!"

Tony shook his head. "Don't encourage him."

Soli laughed at Tony. "This is fun! Ask me another question."

Tony crossed his arms and groaned. "I don't think I want to."

Samuel smiled, "I've got it. If you could pick, anyone to be your father. Right now. Who would it be?"

Soli smiled and looked up at Tony. "Tony."

Tony smiled and nodded. "And I'll take that! We need to count the Zeppelins. I won't be here tonight before you go to bed."

He picked Soli up and carried him to the large window that overlooked the night sky of New York. Tony continued to hold him as they counted the Zeppelins that floated in the night sky.

Karen smiled and said quietly. "That is adorable."

Samuel smiled at them as he walked back over to stand behind Karen, "Yeah. I forgot it was something they did together."

Karen turned to Samuel and admitted, "I had no idea he had a son."

Samuel nodded, "Well, to be fair. He hasn't had him long. How long, Lance?"

"Ummm… two months? Arles is younger. I think. Is that right?"

Jane laughed. "I didn't know you two months ago."

Lance chuckled, "Oh yeah. That's true."

"But, how has he kept everyone from finding out?" Karen asked.

Samuel shook his head. "It's a consist effort. Tony doesn't want anyone to know about him."

"Why?" Jane asked.

"Because, then you grow up with the press all in your business. Like Tony did."

"Like you did." Karen realized.

He nodded and sipped his tea. "Exactly."

Karen noticed the cup of tea he had. "Finally got your cup of tea."

"It's good for my soul." He teased and winked at her as he walked back over to the food replicator.

She giggled.

Soli jumped back on his bicycle and Tony rejoined them at the bar. "Pepper! Bets have been placed. You are the woman of the hour."

Samuel handed him a cup of tea. "Here. Better than the soda."

Tony nodded and sipped it, "Thanks."

Lance shook his head. "Karen, don't let this guy scare you."

She laughed, "He's really not. I'll admit, I had completely different expectations."

Tony rose his eyebrows. "Really? What did you expect?"

Karen thought. "Well…"

"See. Everyone does." Tony told her. "The press and what you see on television, is another person." He turned to Samuel and slapped him in the chest. "Did you know they had made a True Hollywood Story about me?"

"Really? How was it?"

"I haven't seen it. Pepper said it was interesting. I have it recorded, and plan to watch it later. It would be nice to piece together my 20s."

Karen and Jane laughed.

Tony slapped the bar again. "Pepper!"

Lance crossed his arms, "We have plenty of time."

"Well, I suppose I should get some answers for John." Tony sat down his tea. "How serious is this with you and my nephew?"

Karen looked back at Samuel. "Handle him."

Samuel sipped his tea and smiled. "Rather serious."

Tony nodded, "She knows about the bullet in your ass?"

"It was my back! Geez." Samuel complained.

Tony laughed, "Pepper! We have a full house down here. We wait patiently."

"That doesn't sound patient." Pepper shouted.

He punched the cabinet top. "You're killing me, woman!"

Lance laughed, "Jane. Get a picture of that."

Tony put his arm around Samuel's shoulder. "Get one of me and Sammy."

She took the photo and smiled as she looked in the back of the camera at the screen. "Oh, that's a good one."

"We don't take a bad picture." Tony insisted.

Lance pointed out, "John asks for his photo of Karen you said you would send to him."

Samuel groaned. "I didn't agree to that."

Tony took out his phone. "Then, I'll take a picture with this lovely lady."

Karen pointed back at Jane. "She's the photographer."

He handed his phone to Jane. "Fine."

Samuel walked over to stand behind Karen as Jane took their photo. Samuel kissed Karen's cheek again.

Jane smiled as she looked back at the phone's screen. "I love that one. Okay, you can send it."

Tony took the phone and sung under his breath. "I've met Karen before John has."

Samuel asked, "Why aren't you dressed?"

"Well, I'm not nude-"

"You're not in a damn tux like Pepper demanded we wear-"

"Pepper is in my room!" Tony complained. Then he looked around and pointed, "Alright….everyone here actually knows." He pointed at Karen. "Well, have you told her?"

She sipped her wine, "Told me what?"

Tony grinned at Samuel. "Do it. Oh, it will really piss her off. Do it."

Samuel laughed and shouted, "Pepper Stark! Are you ever going to finish dressing?"

Lance laughed under his breath. "She's going to kill you."

Karen covered her mouth. "They are married?"

Pepper's voice was heard from up the stairs. "Samuel!"

Tony danced proudly, "Been married a month. Shhh…John doesn't even know."

"Why not?" Karen asked.

"She won't let me tell anyone." He grit his teeth and complained. "Pepper!"

Samuel rubbed Karen's back. "Only the people in this room know."

"And Happy Hogan." Tony smiled. "You remember Happy, don't you Jane?"

She rolled her eyes at Tony. "Ugh."

Lance smiled proudly, "Jane broke his nose."

Jane turned to Karen. "Okay, they are making it sound like something much worse than it really was."

"Well, did you really break it?" Karen asked.

"He deserved it." Jane insisted.

Tony sipped his tea. "Hell yeah, he did." He pointed back at Karen. "Oh, I got started on that proposal you needed today."

"You're writing it?" She asked in shock.

"I was bored. I've never done one. I'm curious if it would be approved without Stark written on it. Let me know how it works out. It's my current, experiment."

Karen shook her head, "Wow. Thank you, Mr., Star-"

"Tony. My name is Tony. Not, Mr. Stark."

Karen giggled. "I saw Top Gear last night. The one with you and John."

Tony groaned. "And he beat me on the track by two tenths of a second. Did you see that shit, Sam?"

"I fell asleep watching telly. You know I have a problem." He said as he continued to rub Karen's back gently.

Tony nodded, "Yeah, you do. It's all because of that gun shot in-"

"It was my back!" Sam laughed. "Damn, Tony."

Karen laughed.

Tony chuckled. "Jarvis! Show Sammy the plans."

Pepper called from the upstairs room. "What plans?"

"What color is the dress?" He shouted back.

The room dimmed and a line drawing of a racetrack appeared on the cabinet top, printed in lights. "This is my newest project." He tapped his lips. "Pepper won't like it."

Lance stood next to Tony to see the display. "What is it?"

"It's a race track." Jane insisted.

Tony nodded, "Yes. We can race all of these cars I have. It's near Malibu. What do you say Sam?"

Samuel grinned. "Oh, that sounds brilliant!"

Karen looked back at him, "Sounds dangerous."

Samuel looked surprised at her. "I'll wear a seat belt."

"And a helmet." Jane insisted. It was clear she wasn't thrilled about this either.

"And an ass guard. I've got it in the shop." Tony helped.

Samuel groaned and shook his head. "It was my….ugh…anyway."

Pepper stepped out of the bedroom. "Why are the lights out?"

Tony quickly said, "Jarvis, end program and return the lights to 84 percent."

The lights came back on and they were able to see Pepper in her elegant dress. It was grey and without a back. She held up the front of it as she walked down the steps. She had twirled her hair in some odd way that was just perfect. She carried her heels in her hand.

Tony rose his eyes in surprise. "Damn." He managed.

Samuel walked over to meet her. She smiled at him as he took her hand and kissed it. "Dear Pepper. You look lovely." He turned to the room and put his hands in his pockets as he smiled like a loon. "And someone owes my Karen some money. She won."

Tony took out his wallet. "Yeah, she did."

Lance handed her several bills and Tony tossed some more in the pile.

Karen laughed, "This is crazy! I don't want to take your money-"

"A bet is a bet." Tony insisted.

Samuel walked back over and smiled at Karen. "Looks like a good bet."

She shook her head. "It's crazy. You'll have to keep up with all of this."

He took the cash and put it in his wallet. "Yes, ma'am. Tony, I'm going to play the piano. Cool?"

Tony nodded as he walked over to Pepper and kissed her cheek. "You are a masterpiece. Grey, huh?"

She smiled, "Yes."

He moved back and looked her up and down. "Pearls?"

"I thought they looked best with this. Someone was rushing for me to get down here."

"I just wanted to know the color you were wearing-"

"You still need to put on your suit." She realized.

He pointed up the stairs. "I was waiting on you-"

She shook her head. "Then get up there! We'll be leaving in a bit."

Samuel sat at the piano with Karen beside of him. "What do you want to hear?"

She giggled, "Samuel, I had no idea you knew how to play."

"Well, you haven't heard me yet." He smiled.

"I can't think of anything. Play your favorite song."

"Alright."

Samuel began to play, 'We'll Meet Again' on the piano.

Tony grinned in surprise. "I never play that song."

Samuel didn't look up as he played, "How about that? Makes you wonder who taught me."

Tony shook his head. "I'll bet it is someone I haven't met yet, Elroy Jetson."

Samuel chuckled as he played. "You have."

Karen sat next to him and smiled proudly as he played. "I love this song. You play beautifully."

Lance walked over and hugged Jane from behind. "What a beautiful song."

Jane looked up at him and smiled. "He plays lovely."

Lance kissed her head and she brought her camera up to snap a photo of the moment.

Tony held Pepper around the waist. "Everyone here knows you are really Mrs. Stark."

She smiled, "And, your point?"

"I want to kiss you. Right here in front of everyone."

She smiled, "Alright."

He pulled him to her and kissed her.

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