Thank you everyone that send me their reviews! It always cheer me up! Thank you!
special thanks to "the-writer1988" that is now my Beta! ^^
I hope you all like this chapter:
The week was passing by fast! Pepper was busy with the company and the victims of Hammer's attack at Stark Expo; above all else it had been four days since she had last seen Tony. He was just as busy as her and right now he was in Washington being honored along with Rhodes.
Now that they were a couple, she missed him even more than before. She wanted to be at the ceremony more than anything, and it would be at least amusing to see Senator Stern recognizing Tony's work and nominate him as a National Treasure. But here she was, stuck in this boring meeting. She felt like the clock couldn't run even slower.
When the meeting was finally over and she was walking back to her office she found Stuart waiting for her halfway, holding some folders that she'd asked him to bring to her at the beginning of the day.
"Miss Potts," said the man as formal as he could, despite the fact that they were close friends and had known each other for years. "I have the documents you asked for."
"Stuart, please," replied Pepper, smiling and rolling her eyes at him. "I'll not be that kind of CEO and we have been friends for a very long time! 'Pepper' would be just fine."
"Well, you are the boss now," he joked.
"But nothing changed!" They exchanged smiles as she continued: "Come on, let's go to my office to look at this." When they started on their way back to the CEO's office, Pepper started to speak again: "So, how are you? It's been ages since we last saw each other.."
"Not that long… I was there at the bar celebrating with you when you were nominated CEO remember? Last week?"
"Oh God! Right it was last week it feels like ages!" she answered, remembering the chaos that was the week she had been promoted: Monaco, Tony's birthday party, 'Hammerroinds' and Stark Expo.
"Already feeling the pressure of the new job?" he teased, making her smile.
"Tell me about it!" she laughed, opening the door to her office only to find Tony Stark sitting in her chair. "What are you doing here?" She smiled happily, surprised to see him after four long days away from him.
He smiled lovingly at her and bit his lips as he got up from her chair. "I wanted to see you."
Tony walked closer and was about to say something else when his eyes fell on the other man in the room. For a moment, the playboy stared at Stuart, not knowing how to proceed. He and Pepper hadn't discussed yet on how to be in public. He knows she is a very private person, and he didn't want to annoy her with a public display of affection when she wasn't comfortable yet.
"I… was told… to get my things out of here," he shrugged, looking around his former office and then back at her.
"Right now?!" she questioned him innocently.
"There's no better time like the present… besides… well… can we… discuss these things… later?"
"Sure," she answered, smiling, loving his reaction.
"Yeah?" he questioned letting his smile grow and never taking his eyes from her.
"Yeah."
"I'll text you then," he said, walking closer to her. "See you later, Miss Potts."
She smiled teasingly at him, and watched him go for a few seconds. Not aware of the smile on her face and the fact that just to see Tony made her feel happy and lighter again, she started to walk to her desk, speaking with Stuart.
The man closed the door of her office and narrowed his eyes at her.
"When did this happen?" asked Stuart, interrupting Pepper's speech.
"What happened?" She did not understand what her friend was talking about.
"You and the big boss…" he said, sitting in front of her with anxious eyes, waiting for her answer. That reaction made her a little nervous. It was too soon, everything was so new yet that she didn't want people at Stark Industries to find out about them yet.
"What are you talking about?" she asked, trying to sound confused.
"Come on Pep," he said, a little annoyed with his friend and boss. "The interaction between you two has changed. It's visible!"
"...So much like that?" she mentioned, biting her lips.
"If you have been paying attention. Your eyes were glowing the moment that you saw him! You were all smiles! Your voice changed… Your whole body language changed." At the red hair silence he added: "If you two are trying to keep this a secret you are falling miserably!"
"Its… it's not that we are trying to keep it a secret… it's just… it's new… we are still trying to figure it out." She wanted to be honest with him.
"Ohhh I knew it!" he said happily. "Finally! You two have been dancing around each other for too long! When did this happen?" he asked and she could tell how curious he was.
"After the drama at the Expo."
"Wow…" He was smiling in silence for a few seconds until his expression changed to a frustrated face. " Damn it!"
She looked at him, not understanding his answer.
"Don't get me wrong I'm super happy for you, you know that I've always shipped you with the big boss… it's just that I lost the poll!"
"What poll?" she questioned, already feeling the tension rise in her.
"There is a poll that we do every year: 'When will and Miss Potts get together?'"
"WHAT?!" She almost yelled out at that information. A poll… are you kidding me? How do I not know about it? How long has this been going on?
"How do you think we get money for the gifts at the end of the year…? Anyway… this year I bet it would be in June."
"I… I… I'm not sure how I feel about this."
"It's not a bad thing. Everybody was crazy for you two to get together."
"Don't be so sure."
"We are! The ones that aren't are the ones who try to get into his pants… I don't know about you but it has been a long time since I saw him with someone else…"
Pepper just smiled at her friend and let it go for a while. As they went back to work she started to think about what he had said. When was the last time that she had seen Tony with a woman? It was before he went to Afghanistan, almost 11 months ago!
Did he really not have anybody after that? Was he on celibacy all this time? She started to wonder about it since she knew very well how active Tony was before.
Still, she felt a wave of her own feminine pride. He was hers now... They hadn't had sex yet, but it was going to happen and now she freely let herself wonder what it would feel like to be with him.
-o-
Later that night, Pepper left the office and went straight to Tony's. He had texted her during the day wondering when she was coming to see him. As she stopped by his house she could already see his form at the entrance.
JARVIS must have informed him that I'm here.
"Hey!" he said, pushing her for a kiss as soon as she had left the car.
"Hi!" she greeted him, kissing him again and letting her hand wander through his muscular chest. She'd missed him!
"I have dinner ready," he said, letting his hands rest on her waist.
"Really? That's a first!"
"Hey!" he complained, pretending to be offended.
The two of them walked together inside the house. As they ate dinner, they talked about the recent events at the Stark Expo and the ceremony where Tony and Rhodes were honored. She told him about her day after he left the office and their business over the week.
Once dinner was over, she sat on the sofa while Tony went to pour them some wine.
"I spent the day running tests on the reactor," he explained casually as he sat on the sofa next to her. "I can't believe that my father envisioned this in the 70's… It's just amazing!" He was impressed and it was rare to see him talk like this about his father, with admiration and without resentment.
Pepper smiled at him and put herself closer to his body.
"What's the difference with the old one?"
"It's cleaner… and a hundred times more powerful."
He started to ramble about how he and JARVIS were stunned by the development of the new reactor, his father's idea, and other scientific things that she didn't quite understand. But Pepper wasn't fully paying attention as her business alarm was on at Tony's description of the reactor. She was dying to find a project of her own as CEO and establish Stark Industries new direction and image, away from the weapons manufacturing, and this seemed to be just what she was looking for.
"Can we use this on a regular basis?" she asked, turning to look at him.
"What do you mean?" queried Tony, confused.
"Clean energy. It will solve a lot of problems, especially now with the new environmental laws and discussion. Imagine if this was the step of a new kind of energy that-"
"Are you talking about - I mean - you want to use this in buildings?"
"Not just buildings… cars, cellphones… everything that requires a source of energy."
Tony was quiet for a moment, probably wondering if her idea was tangible.
"It can be done?" she asked him, anxious.
"I guess…" he murmured, still making some calculations in his mind. "It will probably require a few adaptations…"
Her smile grew at his positive answer. "This would be great!" she enthused, happily. "Imagine if we solve the world's energy problem!"
Tony smiled at her, also starting to feel excited with the project. "JARVIS and I will run some tests on it and I get back to you, ok boss?"
Her eyes were shining with excitement.
"We could do an open house with that showing how the reactor works on a daily basis, and how economic it could be. We should probably do this in New York as it will get more attention there…" She started to ramble about her plans, the announcement, the possible legal problems…
Tony was just staring at her, unaware of the small smile on his face.
"Hey…" He held her closer to him. "Slow down! I need to run some tests and…" He gently kissed her lips. "That's enough of work talk…"
She smiled back at him, feeling more calm but still excited about their plans...
"What do you have in mind, Mr. Stark?" she asked, seductively, as she put her arm around his neck. She watched as he bit his lips with desire.
"God! You drive me crazy! You know that, right?" he said, with a look of lust on his fcace. He didn't give her time to answer as he kissed her passionately.
When the kiss ended, they were both gasping for air. Pepper was about to make a move on him, to kiss him again when he put some space between them to look at her.
"Wait... I want to talk to you about something," he said seriously.
"What?"
"I know that we are starting this... and I don't want to pressure you or anything.. but.. I need to know what to do." He sounded nervous.
"About what?"
"Us."
She stared at him confused.
"More specifically... us in public."
"Oh." She knew he was talking about this because of Stuart this morning at the office. Still, it was something that they need to talk about since Tony was a public person.
"I think..." She started to talk carefully, choosing her words and trying not to hurt him. "We should keep this to ourselves now... I mean, not that we should hide our new status. It's just that-"
"It's new," he completed her speech. "Right?"
"Yes," she reaffirmed.
They shared a smile and she felt a little more relaxed knowing that he was on the same page that she was.
"Okay but... what about public events?" he questioned.
"Tony, we don't have a public event to go to so soon..."
"Right..." He went back to holding her, letting her rest against his chest as they sat together enjoying each other's company.
"I want to take you way," he suggested out of the blue.
"What?" Again, she turned to look at him.
"This weekend," he verified.
"Away?! Where?"
"Venice. We should spend our weekend in Venice."
"Tony…" It wasn't that she didn't want to go... it was just that she had so much to do!
"Hear me out," he insisted. "You work until noon... then we catch the jet.. please..." At her look, he kept talking. "You said that once this madness is over..."
"It's not over-"
"But it's under control, and I'm being a good boy."
She was silent for a moment, considering his plans.
"Pepper, please, enjoy the moment, everything is calm now… and we deserve this... by Monday morning we will be here!" he insisted again, making those puppy dog eyes that she found adorable and hated at the same time.
"Grr I hate you!" she laughed, then smiled at him. "Okay, Venice it is!"
"Yes!" he celebrated. "I'll get things ready!"
That made her smile. "Do you even know how to do that?"
"I'll ask Julie."
"It's Monica," she clarified, trying to keep a flat face.
"What?"
"Your new assistant's name, its Monica."
"Are you sure about that?" he asked confused, making her smile.
"Pretty sure," she replied, laughing.
-o-
By Friday morning, Pepper already had her bags ready. She chose every piece of clothes carefully that she might need to wear. Tony was a man with a lot of experience, used to going out with divas and supermodels, and she wanted to impress him the best way she could, just in case something happened.
The genius playboy told her that he was going to pick her up by noon, the jet was ready and so was their reservation at the Cipriani Hotel.
"Honey?!" She heard his voice and she was sure that her heart skipped a few beats. To hear him call her that… with that soft voice of his and that caring smile on his face…
I will never get over this feeling.
"Hey! Is it time?!"
"Yeah!"
"Already?" she questioned, looking at the clock.
The ride to the airport was relaxing even though they were talking about business. Pepper wanted to update him on a few contracts and partnerships that she was working on.
On the flight, they sat next to each other but both went on, mostly, working with a few pauses for lunch and kisses. Pepper was looking at the new contracts and Tony studied his research of the new Reactor.
She had always enjoyed this, working side by side with him. His presence made her feel secure and more capable.
It was still afternoon when the jet landed and Pepper close her computer and Tony turned to her.
"Remember the agreement, no working during this weekend. Let's enjoy the moment!"
"Yes," she said, pretending to be annoyed. "I'm very aware of that."
They went to the hotel and their usual suite. It had been more than a year since she was last here with him; the place where she was able to figure it out her feelings for him. Everything was exactly the way she remembered.
Pepper smiled to herself as the memories of that time came back to her. She remembered how excited and scared she was to be alone with him here. She hadn't wanted to accept at the time why she felt like that. She looked at him now. Tony was busy taking their bags to the main room. Things between them had changed so much. She smiled as she remembered telling herself, in that same living room, that she would never let herself be involved with him…and here she was, back at the same room… only now, as his girlfriend…
It's time… she thought, smiling and feeling her heart beat faster and a familiar feeling spread through her body at the decision she had just made.
She walked to Tony who had his back to her.
"So…?" asked Tony, turning to look at her. "What do you want to do? Walk around the city or enjoy what the hotel has to offer. We had some fun at the balcony last time." He smiled at the memory.
She smiled seductively at him and the memory of their moment months ago!
"I have something a little different in mind," she answered, holding him by his waist.
"What?" he innocently asked her. "I can see if-"
Pepper didn't let him finish as she held him by his neck and kissed him passionately. It took Tony a few seconds to respond, but soon he was holding, and kissing her the same way.
"Stay in the room it is," he said breathlessly when the kiss naturally ended.
"Yeah."
He brushed her lips with his own, teasing her a little bit until he kissed her with more urgency. Pepper moaned when she felt his lips on hers and his warm and firm body against hers.
He moved his lips to her jawline and then to her neck, making her feel goosebumps at his touch. She held him firm there, by the back of his neck, stroking his hair while she let out a soft moan. Tony stopped his work to look at her:
"Are you sure?" he asked, once she started to untie his very expensive tie.
"Yeah. You?" she questioned with a bit of insecurity.
"Hell yeah!" he replied, pushing her for another kiss as his hands wandered over her body. She guided them to the bed and helped Tony get his shirt off.
They looked at each other, both happy and excited, with lust in their eyes, but also, both were nervous. They had wanted this for so long, and it was finally going to happen.
She let him explore her body in a way he had never done before. She also took her time to explore his… She wanted to know him, every inch of him… to know what makes him squirm with desire, what drove him to his limit…
They stayed in bed for the rest of that evening, exploring each other's bodies over and over. By the night, they decided to test their new activity in the Jacuzzi of their bathroom.
Pepper was more than pleased to testify that every rumor about him in bed was actually true. He was a great lover and he drove her to her limit more times than she could count.
I'll be sore tomorrow, she thought, resting against his chest and trying to normalize her breathing.
"This… That was amazing!" whispered Tony after a few minutes as he caressed her belly. "I always knew you and I would be this good together."
"Stop it!" she said, blushing a little more – if that was possible.
"I'm serious. This is the best sex I have ever had!"
She let go of a nervous laugh after that.
"What?" Tony sounded surprised.
"You can't really expect me to believe that.." At his confused look she added: "Coming from you, who has had more sexual adventures than any other human on the face of earth?"
"Pepper…" He let himself free from her touch to look at her with serious eyes and she could see how honest he was trying to be. "I never had this… I knew you and I would be good… but honey… this is more than good… this is mind-blowing sex. You almost finished me by just running your hand over me."
She smiled at the memory of the two of them together a few minutes ago in this bath and earlier in the bed.
"Yeah… we were pretty good together!" she said, smiling and then blushed a little bit more.
"'Pretty good?!'" he replied, pretending to be hurt. "Clearly I did something wrong if you only think we were 'pretty good'… Give me a few minutes to recover and we will go again!"
She laughed at his reaction. "You did nothing wrong. Yes… it was mind blowing sex!" She saw his anxious look and laughed. "Right Mr. Stark…the best sex I ever had!". She rolled her eyes, humor sparkling in her voice as she spoke and his face lit up and she couldn't help but laugh again at his reaction.
It was the truth, but she just didn't want to tell him right now… His ego will be unstoppable now… she thought.
Looking at him celebrating his new achievement, the CEO remembered something that she was curious about.
"Tony…" she began, and he looked at her, still smiling. "If I ask you a question… will you tell me the truth?"
He frowned. "Always."
"It's just… I'm not… I mean it won't change anything… I just…" She didn't know how to ask him and Tony grinned at her nervousness.
"Honey, just ask me the question. It's okay," he reassured her.
"I'm just curious because I know you… and I know your… habits… and how you are…" She stopped not knowing how to voice her curiosity.
"What is it"? he questioned, holding her naked body closer to his.
"Was this the first time for you after you came back from Afghanistan?" At his surprised face, she continued nervous: "It's just that I was the one that put your girls out… and the last time I did that was before… and then you came back and…"
"Pep, relax…" Tony smiled a little at the embarrassed expression she had. "It's okay, go ahead."
She took a few deep breaths and let herself calm down. This was only Tony so there was no reason for her to feel this nervous.
"Was I the first girl you've been with since then?"
"I knew I was a little nervous because it's you, but was I really that bad?" he joked, making her punch his forearm. "I spent a lot of time in the bathroom," he said with humor. "Basically.. yes… " he finally answered her seriously.
"What do you mean?" She didn't recall walking anyone out of his house after that.
"I went out one night… a few days after I came back… I met this girl in a bar… You know… it had been three months, I was basically claiming the walls." He let out a nervous smile before continuing. "We did it there, at the bar's toilet… but I just… it will sound corny, and I can't believe that I'm saying this… but it didn't feel right… and I already knew that I wanted to take my chances with you back then," he confessed, nervous and avoiding her eyes.
"Back then?"
"Yeah… and you turned me down a few times."
"I didn't turn you down because-"
"I know… things were complicated."
"Yes… you were my boss."
"I know…" They stared at each other. "This only means one thing to me… and I think it's pretty clear."
"What?" she questioned.
"We need to make up for the time lost," he said, pushing her naked body against his. She laughed. "Right?"
"You think you can handle another round?" she asked, teasing him.
"Another round? I'm sorry, you seem to be under the impression that we will leave this room during this weekend…" he said seriously, making her laugh even harder. "This is all we are going to do."
She gave him a loving look before biting her lips. "Well then… Bring it on, Mr. Stark". He smiled at her and the two of them started another session of their lovemaking.
-o-
The next day they did leave the room, but only for a few hours for a quick walk in the city. They did a little shopping but soon went back to the hotel.
As they lay lazily in bed, both happily exhausted from their last love making session – Tony hadn't been kidding when he said to make it up for the lost time, not that she was complaining - but then the doorbell of their room rang.
"It's room service. Can you get it?" asked Tony. "I don't like to be handed thing," he added at the look she gave him.
"I'll get it," she replied, getting up and putting on her robe.
Pepper thanked the man and walked back to the room with the food car they'd just ordered.
"Can I ask you something?" queried Pepper, putting their dinner on the table while Tony was looking for his shorts.
"Yep!"
"Where does this 'I don't like to be handed things' came from?" she asked casually. For years she wondered if this was just some spoiled or eccentric act of his, or if it had an actual meaning.
Tony smiled a bit as he sat next to her and started to eat his food. "What? I'm lot allowed to have a few eccentricities?"
"A few?" She raised her eyebrows.
He laughed at her look before adding: "I was bullied a lot in my first years of MIT..." He explained quietly as he ate, making Pepper stare, waiting for him to continue:
"A lot of student's gave me stuff with chemical mix on it that ended up blowing up in my hands. One day it burned me real bad… So I stopped taking things from the hands of people I'm not comfortable with..."
He kept eating, pretending that telling her this story wasn't having any effect on him, but Pepper knew better. She knew his nervous and embarrassing tics, and saw the bit of sadness in his eyes.
"Why?" she whispered.
"Why what?"
"Why would they bully you?" she asked, feeling the urge to do something for the child that was Tony.
"Well... I was a 12 year old kid, richer and smatter than anyone there. I guess that's enough reason for them..."
Every time she heard him tell her some story about his childhood and how lonely he was growing up, it made her heart ache for the young Tony Stark.
"I wish I could have met you back then," she said, before drinking her juice, making Tony smile at her.
"You wouldn't have spoken to me."
"Yes I would."
"No, you wouldn't I was a weird kid."
"Really?! Weirder?!" She found that hard to believe.
"Very funny, Miss Potts."
She laughed and was about to answer him when her cellphone rang, giving her a notification from a message.
"Hey!" said Tony, making her look at him. "I told you, no work related things, that's the rule!"
"This is not work," she told him, pretending to be annoyed. "It's my sister."
"What does she want?"
"Just to know how I am…"
"Tell her that you are having a wonderful time with your boyfriend," he grinned, proudly.
"Boyfriend uhn?" She smiled caringly at him.
"Yeah…" he hold her, free hand on his. "Making you my…"
"Girlfriend!" His smile grew at her answer.
"See… We work together," she smiled at him.
"When do I get to meet her?" he asked. "You've never introduced me to anyone in your family."
"You want to meet my family?" she asked, surprised.
"Well… parents it's a little complicated…" he trailed off.
"I'm not a teenager Tony…"
"Yeah, but still… they don't seem to like me a lot…"
"Why now would that be?" she asked with sarcasm dripping in her tone.
"Go figure… I'm great boyfriend material… Go ask my girlfriend… You will see."
She couldn't help but smile as he gave her a quick kiss. "I haven't told them yet that we are dating."
"Why not?"
"Because…" Pepper hesitated, "this is new even to us."
He gave her an understanding look.
"I think it's safe to say that we are going very well."
"We are," she agreed with him.
As promised, for the rest of the weekend they didn't leave the hotel suite.
-o-
The first night they come back from Venice Pepper had a hard time sleeping without Tony.
Not that sleep with him was always heaven! He was someone that was used to sleeping alone and demanded a lot of space in bed. But during that weekend they found their way and rhythm, his presence there was reassuring, especially because she was having a few nightmares with him dying from palladium poison or during his kidnap.
The nightmares weren't frequent as it wasn't every night, but his presence there always made her feel calm. Also, to be fair, they did very little sleeping that weekend.
The next day, he gave her a positive answer of her project with the new arc reactor. Pepper didn't lose any time and started to recruit a team to work with as Tony made the plans for the electrical parts.
During the week, they met at lunch time to see each other or to give the other updates from the project. Over the weekends they spent the days together, sometimes at her house, but mostly at his. Often, Pepper's mind came back to work and their project during those meetings, so much, that Tony started to call it "Her Baby".
She was easily getting used to the new routine! Seeing him every day and spending the weekend with him… To know that that was going to happen, it was her motivation during a very stressful day.
It was harder when he had to leave to work with SHIELD or in a mission as Iron Man.
It was one of these days: Tony had spent the day working with SHIELD and he was now coming home but called her letting her know that he was going to be late. He was being a wonderful boyfriend. Caring, always worried about her, sending her messages, and most of all, faithful.
She wanted to surprise him. Pepper drove to his house and instead of ordering their usual takeout, she decided to cook something for him. She cooked their diner and by the time she was finishing, she heard a noise coming from the workshop and JARVIS' voice from the ceiling:
"Mr. Stark has arrived."
"Is he alright?" she asked, already on her way to see him.
"He is in good condition," answered JARVIS, even though she already could see Tony from the workshop glass door.
"How is everything?" she asked when he turned to her, smiling.
"It's fine… same boring work!" He put his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. "Hi!"
"Hi!" She gave him a long, provocative kiss before breaking it, leaving him wanting more. "Go take a shower… dinner is ready."
"Come with me," he suggested, holding her even closer to let her know that he wanted her.
"Later… I have something for you upstairs."
"Can we jump to that part?" he asked impatiently.
"Not this time, Mr. Stark."
He pouted but gave her another kiss before running to his bathroom, making her laugh a little at his urgency.
Once Tony was ready, he went downstairs and started to tell her about his day with the spies. He sat next to her. Pepper was watching him with care and anxious to see his reaction. The Playboy gave one bite of his food.
"Hum my God! This is fantastic! Where did you order this?" he asked, genuinely interested.
"I made it."
"What do you mean 'you made it'? Like, you cooked?"
"Yes…"
"My God! This is awesome!" he enthused, closing his eyes.
"Stop it!" she said, smiling. "It's not like I have never cooked for you."
"You did. On a few occasions."
"Well, that's because you like crazy, unhealthy food."
"That's no truth!" he rejected, letting his hand rest on her thigh. "I like all kinds of food."
"Except vegetables."
"Green food is for cows, Pep!" He had such a disgusted face on that she laughed while rolling her eyes at him.
"Tell you what, someday I will make for you, my special salad. You try it and if you don't like it I will never bother you about it again."
"Done deal," He gave her one quick kiss before turning his attention back to his food. There was a comfortable silence before the red-haired spoke again.
"I need to go to New York this weekend."
The genius looked at her frowning.
"I need to show the board our plans for our building using the reactor energy," she elaborated.
"You know… I was thinking about that… What if, instead of a building, we build a tower?"
"Tower?" she frowned.
"Don't do that face. Hear me out… It would be a very modern tower, with 'Stark / Potts' on the top! Can you think of a perfect way to go public with our relationship?" he joked.
"Don't even think about it," she warned.
"Okay. Just Stark then…"
"A tower?"
"We can do the designs ourselves! It would be fun!" His eyes were so happy and excited that she ended up agreeing with him.
"Okay. I'll think about it." His smile grew until she added: "I'll be staying at my mom's while in New York."
"What? Why?"
"Because it's been a long time since I've seen them…"
"Are you gonna tell them about us?"
"That's what I was thinking."
"Would you like me there?"
She was in silence for a few seconds before she answered: "Don't worry about it."
"You are the one worried about it," he said, turning to her and putting his hands on her shoulders, knowing that she loved it when he did that.
"I'm not worried. It's just… my mom can be difficult sometimes."
He smiled.
"That's what parents are supposed to do!" She smiled at him. "So… I won't see you after this?" She made a 'sorry' face while he gave her his best puppy dog eyes. "Can you stay tonight?"
She smiled seductively at him.
"I already brought my things," she answered, making him lick his lips.
"That's my girl!"
The dinner was temporary forgotten as the couple decided to spend the rest of the night in Tony's room.
-o-
In New York, Pepper told the Board their plans and projects for the Tower. They were excited with the potential profit of the project. Clean energy was something new, and people consumed a lot of energy, so the possibilities were endless.
On her way to her parent's she called Tony to tell him the good news. He sent her the preview of the Tower blueprints that he was working on. It was extravagant.
Why am I not surprised with this? she questioned. We need to do a few adjustments.
It was her project, so she felt like she could do a few changes with Tony's plans. But it also had his name on it, and it had to look like something of his, after all, he was still the face of the company.
-o-
Dinner at her parent's was calm and relaxed. Her sister was there, also visiting since it was rare to meet with Pepper, so she had decided to spend the night before going back to her city. Sarah lived in a city nearby so she was always visiting her parents, and it was harder for the sisters to meet since Pepper was on the other side of the county. Therefore, when Sarah heard about Pepper visiting, she decided to spend the night there so they could chat a little.
Both her parents and sister were happy to see her and for her career. Pepper was now one of the most powerful women in the world!
That night she was alone with Sarah and they were talking about a celebration they were planning.
"Ginny, it's our parent's anniversary. I know that you are busy with your new job and this project of yours, but please tell me that you will come!" she begged.
"I'll do my best, do you need any help with anything?" she asked, thinking about the money they were probably spending with it. As CEO she was in a comfortable financial condition now, making her able to help them more if they needed it.
"No!" She offered her sister another beer and Pepper accepted. "They decided to do something small. It will be just me, my husband, our aunt Betty and uncle Morgan; our cousins won't be able to come." She took one drink before adding: "See that's one more reason for you to come!"
"I'll try," she confirmed, wondering if Tony would agree to come with her and meet her family or if it was too soon for them. At that second she remembered what he said about her family when they were in Italy.
"You've never introduced me to anyone in your family."
Was he being serious? Did he really want to meet with them or he was he just teasing her? The CEO made a mental note to call him that same night.
The next day, Pepper and her family were having breakfast together before Sarah left to return to her city.
They were having a light conversation, still catching up.
When there was a moment of silence, Pepper decided to drop the bomb: "About your anniversary…"
Her parents and sister stopped to look at her.
"I'll be bringing some one."
She had called Tony the night before. And just like he had told her in Venice, he again confirmed the desire to meet her family:
:: Flashback::
"Did you mean it?" she asked, while she lay in her bed, ready to get some sleep, watching her boyfriend intensely during their video call. "When you said that you wanted to meet my family, back in Venice?"
"Yeah. Why? You want me to come over… Will be there in no time with the Iron Man suit!" he said, starting to walk.
"No. No Iron Man suit!" She watched as he stopped walking to look at her. She told him about her parent's plans for their anniversary. "So, will you come?"
"Yeah!" He didn't hesitate. Seconds later he looked at her in deep thought and with a worried expression. "Wait, this is not a trick for your father to kill me, is it?"
She smile at him. "No."
He immediately relaxed.
"Good to know."
"But no promises about my mother," she said, making fun at him but secretly anxious to tell the said woman about her relationship, knowing very well how the older woman felt about him.
::End of Flashback::
"I'll be bringing some one," she told her family.
"You're dating?" asked her sister anxiously.
"Yes."
"Since when?" questioned her father.
"A month now. It's… new."
"Why you didn't say anything?" queried her father again.
"I wanted to talk to you first," answered the CEO, looking at them.
"It's Tony Stark, isn't it?" asked Sarah, excited, making Pepper look at her. "Oh my God, it's totally him!"
At his daughter's lack of response, her father asked: "You're dating him?"
"Yes."
"Like a real, relationship?" questioned her mother.
"Yes mom."
"My sister tamed Tony Stark!" joked Sarah, making Pepper look at her annoyed. "What? I'm proud of you! How many women do you think have tried that?"
"You should bring him to the Anniversary," suggested her father.
"He's said that he will come to meet you."
"Yes… I think it's time to meet with him," replied her mother, looking at her for a moment. "So… it will be one more person to the party." She started to talk about the arrangements with her older daughter and Pepper looked at the scene, surprised. From time to time her father also made some comments.
"That's it?" questioned the CEO, making her family stop to look at her. "That's all you're going to say?" she questioned, looking around but stopping at her mother.
The older woman looked at her younger daughter before speaking: "To be honest, he is not the kind of man that I envisioned for you. But you seem happy…"
"The happiest that we have seen you in years!" added her father, smiling.
"Yeah," said Sarah. "We were talking about it a few minutes before you came down to eat."
"You know him," continued her mother. "Ginny, I want you to be happy, and if he is the one making you this happy, then… what can I say?"
Pepper smiled feeling touched at her mother's words.
"Let's meet him."
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