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Chapter 29 – Liquid Lunch in New York

Tony Stark looked at himself in the mirror. He was back in his New York penthouse's bedroom. He had just finished brushing his hair. He groaned, "Oh, that Pepper is a lucky woman."

"And she knows it." She laughed as she walked into the bedroom.

He looked back at her and grinned. "And I was just thinking about you."

"Sounded like it." She smiled.

She was wearing a dark brown skirt suit and her hair was up in that elegant way she always managed. She sat down on the couch to put on her heels.

He picked up his jacket and pulled it on over his long sleeved black shirt.

"Where are you off to?" She asked.

He sat down next to her, pulled her legs in his lap, and took over fastening her shoes. "A late lunch with someone."

"It's eight in the morning. I think you are on English Time, still."

He grinned, "Yeah, Lance and Jane are joining me."

"Lance is on duty?"

"A Quauhtin is always on duty." He finished her shoes and ran his hand up her leg. "Besides. It's not a threatening person that I'm meeting. If anything, I might punch him."

"Tony….I don't need another headache-"

"I'll be good. For you. See? I'm….growing up."

She rose her eyebrows at him.

He continued to rub her leg, "I asked John to take Soli with him today. He's going to Plentitude for a quick thing. He'll be back this afternoon."

"Is that safe?"

"I think he's safer with John than he is here. All of those Vesuos will be looking for him here."

She nodded and looked at his hand on her leg that was slowly moving north. "Tony, don't start anything you're not going to finish."

He laughed and ran his hand through his hair. "Who is with you today?"

"Exton and Arcite. I'm just going downstairs to my office for a few meetings."

"When will you be done?"

"This afternoon."

He nodded his head. "Jane and Lance are having dinner with us. On the island….maybe."

"Why?" She asked slowly.

"I think it would be nice. Plus, Jane's bringing her camera. I'd like some pictures of us that we asked someone to take."

"Really?" She asked in surprise.

"Well, I asked that crazy winery owner for a photo of you. She told me that if I could find one, to send her one. I think that's what she said."

Pepper laid her arm on the back of the sofa and giggled at him. "Alright. We'll get some photos taken. Hopefully, Soli will be back by then."

He took her hands in his. "And I have two other things."

She smiled at him. "Alright."

He pulled off a ring he wore and handed it to her. "First, this. I think it turned out nice."

She held the ring in her hand and looked at it. The simple gold band was very shiny and thick. An indention ran deep around it. She rolled it in her hand and saw the familiar inscription that had been carved inside. She covered her mouth in surprise. "This is your ring."

"Jimmy's ring-"

"No." She put the palm of her hand on his chest. "Tony. Your ring. Not his."

He smiled, "My, ring. Yeah. I just got it about an hour ago. While you were in the shower. What do you think?"

She smiled, "It looks so great."

He pointed inside of it. "I wanted to keep it as original as I could. But, it was so thin, the jeweler thought it would break. So, he added all of this on the outside to hold it together. But, it's all still there."

She handed it back to him, and didn't notice him slip it on his left hand. He laughed under his breath and wiped a tear from her eye. "I think you really like it."

She smiled. "I do."

"Words I thought I would say when I was to put on a ring like this."

She put her hand on his cheek and kissed him. "I prefer the words we said."

He looked in her eyes and smiled. "Me too."

Exton knocked on the bedroom door. "Tony, Lance is here."

Tony nodded. "Alright. I'll be down in just a few minutes."

Exton pat the doorway and walked away.

Tony took Pepper's hand in his. "Am I making you late for something?"

"No. I still have a bit of time."

"Good. Tell me. How long have we known one another?"

She held his hand. "I started working here….twelve years ago?"

He nodded. "That's what I thought. So, I owe you…. Twelve Valentine's, twelve birthdays and twelve Christmas gifts. Right?"

She smiled and rolled her eyes. "No. You always gave me something for all of that. When it was appropriate. Although, I always bought it."

"Never stop doing that. But, I wanted to give you something. For all of that. Well, not really. Just for the hell of it."

She smiled, "What is it?"

He chuckled and looked back at her closet. "It's just over there. Go see if you like it."

She stood up and walked carefully in her high heels over to her closet.

"I don't see how you walk in those damn things. I would break my ass." He told her as he watched her.

She giggled at him as she opened her closet door and gasped. He had used the Doctor's ship to make a large walk-in closet for her in the space. To one side, there sat a make-up table. Drawers and shelves made up the rest of the room. She saw her shoes and several new ones, sitting in rows like little soldiers. Her dresses and such hung all around. It was beautiful. "Wow." Was all she could muster.

Tony walked over and leaned in the doorway. "I know you like….grey. But, I thought it was too dark. I had to add a few more lights. I thought it looked like a cave."

She noticed the grey carpet on the floor. The walls and shelves were painted light grey. A beautiful painting of a bowl of grapes hung on the wall. She looked back at him and pointed at the painting. "Grapes?"

"So, you'll be comfortable in here." He teased.

She laughed as she walked around, looking at everything, "This is amazing, Tony. I can't believe you did this. Hang on, when did you do this?"

He grinned, "Well, I had some help. The guys on the ship while we were sleeping. I told them what I wanted, and it took them about ten minutes."

"That is amazing. Where did the space come from?"

"That extra bedroom, beside of us…we didn't need that. I thought you would use this more."

She continued to look around in awe.

"So, you like it?" He asked.

She stopped at her make-up table and saw roses sitting in a vase on a table in the center of the room. "This is….wow. I've always wanted a big closet, but….this is as big as our room."

He nodded, "Yeah, you need some more clothes to fill it up. I ordered more shoes, and a few dresses. For you, not me."

She walked back over to the doorway and threw her arms around him. He held her. "There might be some…..lingerie."

She looked into his eyes. "For you, or me?"

He laughed, took her hand, and walked into the closet with her. He stopped and pointed at a small dresser that looked like it had been carved by hand out of wood. On top of it, sat the box that Lartius had given them when they made The Promise.

"I didn't know you had this!" Pepper told him in surprise.

"Lartius brought it to us when he came from John's party. I didn't know where you wanted it, so I put it in here. I say, we empty it, and refill it, sometime very soon."

She smiled, "I like that idea. While one of us is wearing lingerie."

"Well, pick me out something."

She laughed.

"And this." He pointed at the small wooden dresser.

"Tony. It's beautiful."

"It's old. French. Apparently, it's been in the family for a long time. But, everything in it…is new. I put all of the old stuff over in that other jewelry box." He pointed to another place in the closet that Pepper didn't see.

She held his hand and opened one of the tiny drawers gently. Beautiful jewelry lay in each drawer. Necklaces, rings, ear rings, pearls, diamonds, and more. She covered her mouth in shock.

"I know you don't wear a lot of jewelry, but I wanted you to have some to choose from you wanted to. Besides, that little jewelry bag….it's just sad."

She found her voice. "Is this all….real?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Why wouldn't it be? Anyway. I need to go. I'm going to be late."

"Stop." She insisted and gripped his hand tighter.

He smiled as she pulled him back to her into an embrace. "What?"

"Tony, you leave me breathless."

"Now, you know how I feel." He told her quietly.

She laughed and they held one another. "Thank you. Wow, this makes me feel like…"

"Like what?" He smiled.

She grinned back at him. "A princess."

He kissed her lips and whispered to her. "You, are my princess. I love you, Mrs. Stark."

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Tony Stark walked into the restaurant inside of Stark Tower with Lance and Jane. Lance wore a jacket over his sling on his arm. The restaurant wasn't busy as it was still so early in the morning there in New York.

The trio sat at a table. A waitress was immediately at their table.

"Good morning, Mr. Stark." She smiled back at Lance. "And Lance. Who is this?"

Jane rose her eyebrows and looked at Lance. "You do come here a lot."

Lance grinned, "This is Jane."

Tony pointed at Jane. "She's Lance's girlfriend."

"It's so nice to meet you." The waitress smiled.

Tony rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure that's what you're thinking. Anyway. I'll have a Scotch on the rocks."

Lance pointed at Tony.

He held up his hands. "First one, man."

Lance nodded his head. "Alright. I'll have a beer. The dark one."

The waitress nodded. "Okay. And for…..Jane?"

Jane could tell this woman didn't like her. "I think….a Mimosa."

Tony nodded and rubbed his hands together. "That's a good choice. Bring me one of those, too. Also, ummm…. send a ….." He rested his head on his fist and thought. "Hell, I don't know. Give me a second."

The waitress smiled and looked back at Lance. "What happened to your shoulder, Lance?"

Jane looked back at Lance and rose her eyebrows.

"It's nothing. I'm fine."

Tony snapped his fingers. "Coffee. Send Pepper some coffee to her office."

"Cream? Sugar?"

"Well, she would have that Satan woman get that wouldn't she?" Tony asked Jane.

"I don't know who this Satan woman is. Send her a Mimosa. Who doesn't like those?"

Tony nodded his head. "Yeah, send her one of those."

The waitress smiled and walked away.

Tony laughed under his breath. "And she is devastated. She had the hots for our boy, Lance here."

Lance groaned and took the pain blocker off of his shoulder, reset it, and reattached it under his jacket. "Ah. Probably thought Jane is with you because of that news report."

Jane laughed, "You wouldn't believe the phone calls I'm getting because of that, Tony."

He grinned as the waitress sat the drinks down in front of them. Tony pointed at his glass and whispered, "One more." Without being seen by Lance who had closed his eyes tightly and was rubbing his shoulder. Tony drank his scotch quickly and handed the glass back to the waitress. She walked away.

Tony coughed. "Oh, that's what I needed."

She returned and sat another one in front of him. He sipped it. "How bad is the shoulder?"

Lance drank his beer in three gulps.

Tony rose his eyebrows, "Damn. Two more for my friend here."

Lance nodded his head with his eyes closed. "It's okay. I've had worse. Hopefully, the beer will help."

Tony crossed his arms and sat back. "I shattered my shoulder, you remember. Man, I don't remember ever hurting that bad."

Lance drank most of his glass of beer. "Except in the desert."

Tony nodded. "Yeah. Except the desert. Without question."

Lance started on another glass, "The threat about breaking someone's legs that we all talk about."

Tony grinned, "Yeah. Where does that come from?"

"Years ago. Many, years ago. One of us was taken. Similar to your situation. It could almost be parallel. After the Quauthin was found, Poltious, went….rogue. I have never asked, but he's rather skilled at it. Especially, since then."

Tony finished his Scotch. "Somehow, that doesn't surprise me about Poltious."

Lance chuckled.

The waitress sat down another beer and Scotch.

Lance pointed at Tony's drink. "He only gets water from now on."

Tony pointed at Lance. "Him, too."

Jane laughed. "Well, you two are a cheery lot."

Tony pointed at Jane. "Dirty Martini for the lady."

"Ew. No, thanks."

"Apple Martini, then." Tony insisted.

The waitress giggled and walked away. "Yes, Mr. Stark."

Tony rubbed his hands together. "I wasn't planning on a liquid lunch. I need to slow down. Or I will punch this guy out."

"Who are we meeting?" Lance asked as he rubbed his shoulder.

Tony looked past Lance and threw up his hand. "This guy. Jane, you're in charge. Do NOT let me hit him."

Jane nodded, "Well, I'll do my best."

Tony stood up and shook the man's hand. "And Happy. Good morning."

Happy Hogan seemed thrilled to be there. "Good morning, indeed! I hope you haven't been here long."

Tony shook his head. "You have great timing. Do you know my friend, Lance?"

Lance stood up and introduced himself and Jane.

Happy shook his hand, "Bodyguard?"

They all sat down as Lance told him, "Yes. I work with Tony."

Happy leaned on the table and nodded his head. "You can….still bodyguard with an injury?"

Jane noticed that Lance hadn't grimaced in pain or even showed that his shoulder was bothering him since Happy had arrived. "Of course, I can." He made a fist with his uninjured hand. "I use this fist more often anyway."

Happy rose his eyebrows at Lance's threat. He ran his hand down his tie and cleared his throat. "Well. Hmmm. I'm glad you contacted me, Tony. I was going to call you this morning."

Tony sipped his Scotch. Jane noticed it had mysteriously gotten full again. "Really? Why?"

Happy seemed thrilled. "Well, I imagine the same reason you called me."

The waitress walked up to the table. She gave everyone another drink, and gave Happy a glass of water. When asked what he wanted, he politely shook his head and told her he didn't want anything.

Tony hadn't taken his eyes off of Happy. "Why do you think I called you, man?"

Happy sat back and rubbed his hands together excitedly. "Well, you know. Here is …ummm…what was your name?"

Jane sipped her drink. "Me? Jane-"

"Jane! Yes. So, this entire thing with Pepper is over."

Tony laughed and rubbed the side of his head. "Oh wow."

Happy continued. "I saw you two on television. Where were you guys even at?"

Jane put her hand on Lance's thigh. She wasn't sure about this Happy guy, but already had decided she didn't like him.

Tony dropped his hand on the table. "Nevermind, that-"

"Well, you were there with Jane! So-"

Tony pointed at Happy, "So, let's clear some things up. I told you that me and Pepper were dating-"

Happy nodded, "Yes. You did. So, I backed off."

"You are still texting her? Calling her? All trying to convince her not to date me is 'backing off?'"

Happy crossed his arms. "She's a friend of mine. I don't want to see her get hurt."

"Why is it so hard to believe that I'm not going to hurt her?" Tony demanded.

Jane's mind was reeling. Tony and Pepper were dating? When did that happen?

"Because you are …..you!" Happy insisted.

Tony closed his eyes tightly and drank the rest of his Scotch. Jane could see clearly why Tony had told her not to let him hit this guy. She decided to take over the conversation.

"Happy, right?" Jane asked.

Happy looked back at her. "Yes, Happy."

She shook her head. "See, I wasn't even aware that Tony and Pepper were dating, but-"

Happy held his hand out at her, completely thrilled as she was helping him make his point. "See! The entire thing is so unbelievable! And you've already started with another one. Your new flavor of the week-"

"Ummm….excuse me." Jane insisted.

Lance put her hand on her thigh.

Happy looked back at Jane. "Well, trust me. That's what you are to him. Just like he's done to Pepper now! Date her until she gets boring and then…trade her in for a new model. I hope you haven't slept-"

Jane didn't know what came over her. Before she knew what she had done, she jumped out of the chair and punched Happy in the nose as hard as she could.

Lance grabbed her with his good arm and pulled her back in her chair.

Tony jumped between her and Happy shouting, "Woah! Hey!"

Jane sat back in her chair, Lance's arm over her chest. "Jane. It's alright."

She never heard him. She leaned across the table and put her finger right into Happy's face. "What sort of woman to do take me for? A damn bimbo? Just because I have breasts, does not discount my intelligence! How dare you!"

Happy held a napkin over his nose. Blood appeared through it within seconds.

Lance held her and kissed the side of her head as he laughed under his breath, proudly. "Shh…. Jane. You've made your point."

She sat back and crossed her arms, glaring at Happy Hogan.

Tony rose his eyebrows and looked back at Lance in surprise. "New plan! Keep Jane from hitting Happy-"

Lance shook his head and chuckled. "I'm not going to stop her. I only regret it wasn't me."

Tony rose his hand and called the waitress over. "We need another drink here. Another round! And some ice for a nose."

Jane was still fluming. Lance took her hand and told her quietly, "Look at me."

She took a deep breath and looked back at him.

He shook his head and smiled, "Damn, you are feisty."

She suddenly realized, "Oh my God. Did I hurt your shoulder?"

He beamed at her. "No. I'm fine. Just…" He held her hand and shook his head as he smiled proudly at her.

She smiled and rolled her eyes at him.

The waitress brought over everyone another drink. The bartender handed Happy an ice pack. Happy held it on his nose. "Okay. I probably deserved that."

Tony groaned. "You deserved worse. Idiot."

Happy sniffed his nose and continued to hold his napkin on his face.

"So, let me get his straight." Tony asked. "You think I called you here to tell you that me and Pepper are done?"

Happy's muffled voice spoke. "Well, you have another girl-"

Tony pointed at Jane. "Jane is Lance's girlfriend. We're just friends. Right? Jane?"

Jane was drinking her apple martini. "I don't know. Is this guy your friend?"

Tony held out his hands. "Alright. Everyone stop. I'm going to let you in on a little secret, Happy. This might help you in the future. 'Backing off' doesn't mean that you continue to try to set up dates, or text this woman to try to convince her to stop dating me. Am I right, Jane?"

Jane nodded her head. She already knew she had drank too much, too quick. Her head was spinning. "Absolutely."

Happy groaned and sat the bloody napkin and ice pack on the table. "Alright. So, you two are still dating, I take it?"

Tony shook his head, "No. We're not."

Happy rose his eyebrows in surprise, "You're not?"

Tony smiled, "No, we're not."

Happy rubbed his hands together excitedly. "Then, may the best man win-"

"We're married." Tony told him.

The effect was comical. Happy's mouth dropped open in shock. "No, you're not."

Tony nodded his head and grinned. He was clearly enjoying himself, "Yes, we are. We've not told anyone yet because she's worried everyone will be a dickhead about it, like you."

Lance looked back at Jane. "Did he say-"

Jane asked in surprise. "When did this happen?"

Tony looked smugly back at them. "When we were with Lartius."

Lance slapped his hand excitedly on the table. "Damn! When you went to look at the Room of the Life Promise. Who is your Ten?"

Tony smiled and counted on his hand, "Soler is One."

Lance grinned proudly. "That is perfect!"

"Lartius is Two."

"As he should be."

"John is Three."

"But, he doesn't know-"

"No. And you're Four."

Lance nodded in approval. "It is my honor."

They shook hands and both laughed.

Jane covered her mouth. "Wow. Congratulations!"

Happy shook his head. "I don't even believe this shit. You are making it up."

Tony pointed at the ring on his finger and grinned. "Wedding band that she gave me. She's wearing her engagement ring on her right hand because she doesn't want anyone to know. But, she told me I could tell one person-"

Lance shook his head. "Well, hang on….we are three-"

Tony pointed at Happy. "I told him…technically. You have to be with me because you're my bodyguard."

Jane pointed at herself. "And me?"

"You're with him. See? Simple math. One." Tony explained.

Lance chuckled and shook his head. "I doubt she'll see it that way."

Tony laughed, "Do you see why I need photographic evidence, Jane?"

Jane shook her head and laughed. "Waitress, I need another drink."

Lance laughed. "Wow. I'm shocked. And damn it. John has this bet going that you lot did make the Promise there! I lost!"

Tony laughed and drank the rest of his scotch. "As John would say, 'Mum's the word'."

Lance looked confused, "Huh?"

Happy sighed. "Well, then I owe you an apology, Tony."

Tony shook his head. "We're cool, man. But, my friend would like an apology." He pointed at Jane.

Jane drank her martini and looked surprised at them.

Happy bowed his head. "I am very sorry, Jane."

Jane glared at him. "I'm not sure if I am."

Tony laughed and pat the table top as he sat back. "Oh, Lance. She's great!"

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