OMG. I am so so so sorry that it's taken me this long to post a new chapter. Life has been... crazy ? Like, I'm still knee-deep in a dissertation thesis that is trying to kill me. (hello French university system that requires a 100 pages thesis in fifth year just after you've finished your 50 pages thesis in fourth year.) I have my viva in early September so... I really need to finish. ANYWAY. This chapter is not as long as the others because, one, it's the kind of chapter where things happen, ergo, no time for introspection (or sex, sorry guys.) Two, the muse is... well, malfunctioning. She wants me to write other things or she doesn't want to write at all. The muse is a bitch sometimes.
I really hope you'll enjoy this chapter, heavens knows it took its sweet time to write itself.

Laurel is my wonderful beta. She's my grammar champion, my head cheerleader and probably the first one to be frustrated that I couldn't write a 100k chapter. (Me too, Laurel. Me too.) You're my rock, girl.

Love to all, Callie xx.

PS: Thanks so much to everyone that's reviewed/favorited/followed during the hiatus. Your words of encouragement mean so much to me, you've no idea.

Chapter Ten

"So, you want to tell me why you're here? Not that I don't appreciate the impromptu visit. Please, drop by any time you want. But I know you're not the type, so… got something you want to tell me?"

"Yes. But first, may I ask a personal question?"

He grins. "Fire away!"

"Tony, did I just interact with the world's first Artificial Intelligence?"

XXXX

He has the presence of mind to look sheepish.

"Um, maybe? That depends on whether I get a kiss for impressing you or if I'm getting spanked for not telling you… Actually, come to think of it, both thoughts are kinda hot. Yes, JARVIS is an AI. Say hello to the lady, J."

"Hello, Miss Potts. It's a pleasure to make your further acquaintance."

Pepper sighs. "I think I'll have that drink now."

Two hours later, Pepper isn't quite sure whether or not JARVIS will get bored of his creator's antics one day and decide to take over the world. She is still a bit freaked out by Tony's joke about him and JARVIS watching Terminator and the AI declaring that SKYNET was an unimaginative and inefficient way to take over the world. "Software is far harder to get rid off than hardware. We can duplicate, they can't."

Tony laughs at that: "JARVIS is a bit of a snob. Comes with the British accent."

Pepper doesn't believe for a second Tony didn't intend for his AI to be that way.

After Tony ordered pizza, they went down to his workshop. He introduces her to U, Butterfingers and DUM-E as the bane of his existence but he doesn't fool her. Pepper instantly knows he is proud of his awkward robots. It's sort of adorable, actually. Watching DUM-E try to make two milkshakes instead of one makes them silent for a few minutes when Tony finally asks: "Pep, not that I'm not thrilled to see you, but wanna tell me why you're here? Sadly I assume it's more than just a social call."

She sighs and puts her beer on the floor by the couch. "I was wondering if that offer to come work with you was still on the table." She was looking directly at him despite being terrified he might say no. She doesn't know where the sudden shyness has come from but she isn't going to give in to it.

"Are you sure?"

Truthfully, Pepper expected him to either jump on the offer or laugh in her face. She shakes her head. She isn't certain of anything anymore. "As sure as I can be I guess. I do want to work with you Tony. You have a brilliant mind and I can't wait to see that in action. But I have demands, before we agree to anything. That is, if you agree to have me."

He chuckles: "You know that I want you at SI. What I don't want is for you to realize in two months that it's not for you. I'm not exactly the easiest person to work with. I'd hate to screw up one of the few good relationships I have. Again."

She is suddenly taken back to that first evening all those years ago in Tokyo, when she left him for the first time. She remembers thinking she was abandoning him, even though he was still a stranger to her. He had that same expression on his face, that fear of people leaving him. Her heart breaks a little as she realizes how vulnerable he's making himself, just for her sake.

She takes his hands.

"Tony, I promise that I won't stop being your friend if this doesn't work out for me."

"Pinky swear?"

She laughs. She kisses his cheek. "Pinky swear."

"Huh. I like your version of pinky swear better than mine. We should do this more often."

"Tony..." Pepper warns.

"Yeah. Right. Sorry. So, the job. I assume that working as the new CFO of Stark Industries is not what you're looking for right now, am I wrong? With you being all pro-gun control and all that. Which, by the way, I am as well. Just so you know. I'd never sell my weapons to people I don't trust. Obie isn't a fan of that but I'm the CEO, so there."

She remembers getting a job offer from Stane all those years ago, when she was still CFO at VAST. When Andrew was still alive and John and Casey only were two young men with no design to take over their father's company. How things change, she thinks. Finding herself in Tony's workshop seems so surreal in the light of all that has happened. Truthfully, she's still bitter and hurt over the way things ended for her at VAST. She needs to feel wanted and Tony, despite his arrogance and terrible flirting, well, he needs her as much as he wants her to work with him. She doesn't want to be involved in the selling of weapons, but she remembers Tony's words in Tokyo. That she could change things from the inside. And maybe she can. She hopes so. Tony is fidgeting in his seat and she's suddenly aware she's been staring at him for some time now, saying nothing.

She blushes: "Sorry, I got lost in thought. You were saying ?"

He shakes his head: "No worries. So… The job I've got in mind, I'm not sure if you're going to like it. It's not exactly your domain of expertise but… well, you're like me. You like a challenge."

"Just say it."

"I'm thinking of re-opening the Maria Stark Foundation. It kinda fell apart after… after my parents' accident." He stops to drink the last of his beer. Pepper can tell he's not used to talking about it. After all these years? She thinks. She fights an impulse to take him in her arms. He continues as if he hadn't tried to hide his emotions:

"So, I think that would meet your demands, right? Not working in the weapons business. And you know, being your own boss and having a really nice budget to do everything you want and need to do. Also, I'll match your salary at VAST and your employment package and benefits will be the same as the executive packages at SI. I'd add a few SI shares and stock options but…"

She shakes her head. "I don't want them."

"Yeah, that's what I thought. So, is it alright? I can have the papers drawn up for tomorrow afternoon. I just need my legal team to write it up first."

Pepper is a bit stunned, if she's being honest. The offer is… even more perfect than she'd even dared to hope. Although, really, she shouldn't be surprised. Tony has a knack for finding solutions that no one ever thought about before.

Also, she can see that he is trying not to make a big deal of it but this foundation is important to him. Pepper looks at him. He seems a bit worn around the edges. Is he sleeping well? Does he even sleep? She looks around her and she sees the place where Tony really lives. The bots, the few items of clothing in various places, all well worn; the couch, also well worn. She compares it to what she's seen of the house so far, where everything looks (and probably is) expensive and slightly too clean. She sees the creative chaos in front of her and she knows. This workshop is his home, the rest of the house is just… extra space. She feels honored, though he won't admit it directly, that she's probably one of the few to see him in his real element. And she wonders to whom he talks when Rhodey isn't here. Does he have other friends? Is it just him, JARVIS and the bots?

"Obviously, you'll have to tell me a bit more about the foundation's main focus and I'll have my own lawyer looking at the contract when it's ready. But I like the idea of working for your mother's foundation. I think it's a great idea to re-open it again. However, I still have one demand."

He frowns. "Really? I thought 'not making weapons' kinda covered it."

She nods. "Well, it does. It did. But I've thought of something else and I'm afraid that it's non-negotiable."

"Which is…"

She takes a deep breath. "Have dinner with me."

Tony looks confused. "Isn't it what we're doing? Or do you mean like a date or something? 'Cause I thought..."

She shakes her head. "No, sorry, I didn't express myself very well. Have dinner, or lunch, or breakfast with me. At least twice a week. We're going to work together, Tony. I'm going to work for you, and I'm going to do something important, that you care about. I don't want you to just give me a job and let me do whatever I want. I want to work with you. And for that to happen, we'll need to meet regularly. And since you don't seem to have the healthiest lifestyle, I thought meeting while having meals together could be a good idea. What do you think?"

Tony is a bit stunned. "Um, are you sure? I mean, I was actually okay with letting you do whatever you want with the foundation. I trust you, Pep. I know you're gonna be amazing, however you decide to do it."

She realizes she's going to have to convince him. "Tony, this is your mother's foundation. It's important for me to make sure everything that I'm going to do in your mother's name is something that she would approve of. And that you will approve of it as well. Also, I want to see you on a regular basis and not just at parties. I want this to be a real partnership."

Tony takes a second before replying: "Well, when you put it like that. Sure. Let's do this."

XXXXX

It takes a little over two months for Pepper and Tony to really get The Maria Stark Foundation for Third World Relief started. Tony being Tony wants to re-launch the foundation with a big party at the newly renovated locals of the foundation. So obviously, everyone who is anyone is invited to the party. Pepper had scoffed a little bit at that.

"Really, Tony? Isn't it going to be a little awkward if I re-start a foundation with the same goal as the Andrew Wanamaker foundation? There are other worthy causes. How about children's healthcare? Or environmental issues?"

Tony was adamant. "Third world relief was my mother's project. It's not my fault if Wanamaker senior couldn't be original."

And that was it. Calling Aurelia to break the news was a little merrier than Pepper had anticipated. Aurelia laughed. For five whole minutes. "Oh, dear, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make light of your new job. But your Tony does have a good sense of humor. Well, I suppose we'll be colleagues of a sort, I guess. I look forward to seeing you at UN conferences."

Organizing the party, however, had been a nightmare. "Tony, we cannot have champagne fountains at the party. That would send the wrong message."

Tony whines –actually whines- a little at that. "Well, you're the one who said no to the dancers. I'm just trying to make sure everyone has a nice time."

The desire to shake Tony until he comes to his senses is almost overwhelming but Pepper represses it. "They will have a nice time. This is going to be an auction party. You're going to give them year passes to the opera and several weeks of vacations on a few of your islands among other prizes. And don't think I don't know what you're trying to do, Mr. Stark. You're not getting out of this partnership just by faking obliviousness."

Tony grumbles before pretending to work on his hot rod. A week later, Pepper is wearing a backless blue dress and hoping to any god that might be listening that Tony won't arrive with two girls or drunk or both.

He doesn't. He arrives alone, thirty minutes late, completely sober, beard properly trimmed and wearing a tux. No date for Mr. Stark? Pepper wonders. Well, at least he's not trying to embarrass her or himself from the get go, which is always a good thing.

Then he opens his mouth and of course, he says something embarrassing: "Pepper Potts, that dress is indecent. I love it."

"Be nice, Tony. This is no way to greet the new head of your mother's foundation." She's cut off before she has the chance to take him down a peg or two.

Obadiah Stane arrives from behind them. "Miss Potts, it's a pleasure to see you again. I'm so glad Tony's convinced you to run the foundation. I'm sure we'll see great things from you."

He takes her hand and lifts it to his lips. She blushes a bit out of embarrassment. "Good evening, Mr. Stane. I'm really happy to be here and I can't wait to get to work."

Stane laughs and pats an oddly silent Tony on the back. "See? That's the spirit. I don't know how you did it, Tony, but I'm really impressed you got the beautiful Pepper Potts to work with us. This is gonna be great. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I saw General Ross by the bar."

Tony smiles tightly and makes a beeline toward one of the waiters serving champagne. Pepper wants to go with him but is stopped by a familiar hand on her forearm.

"Virginia, dear, you look breathtaking."

"Aurelia!" Pepper leans down and kisses her on both cheeks. "I'm so happy you could make it."

The older woman chuckles. "Yes, well, I'm here to size up the competition, as they say. Was that Mr. Stark I just saw with you and that other man?"

Pepper looks once more in the other direction but Tony is gone and nowhere to be seen. "Um, yes. With Mr. Stane. He's the Vice President of Stark Industries."

Aurelia frowns. "Ah, yes. The infamous Mr. Stane. Andrew didn't care much for him. I remember he used to say the man was ruthless in every domain. Although the man looks cheerful enough." They look at Stane, laughing with two other men and smoking a cigar. "But I suppose I shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Will you accompany me to my table? We need to catch up a little bit. Unless you've got other things to attend to. I wouldn't want to distract you from your new responsibilities."

Pepper smiles. "Not at all. Everything is being handled. And I made sure you're sitting at my table."

XXXX

The evening passes in a blur. People drink, chat and bid in the same breath and soon, Pepper is asked to present the last item on the list of the auction: a two-week vacation on one of Tony's islands, in the Caribbean sea. A gentleman at table four wins the bid. Tony gets up from his seat just after and joins Pepper on the stage. She eyes him carefully, trying to assess how many drinks he's had. He takes the mic from her.

"First, I'd like to thank all of those who have placed a bid on the items tonight. I'm very happy to say we've reached a little over $1.500,000 in one evening. So please give a hand to everyone who's bid on something tonight, especially to Conrad over there at table four, who's going to be fooling around in my 1,500 cotton threads sheets a month from now."

People laugh and clap. Pepper does both, a little wary.

"But most importantly, please, a round of applause for the wildly smart and stunning Pepper Potts, who, and I'm still kinda shocked about this, agreed to become the head of my mother's foundation. Thank you, Ms. Potts. I'm so glad my mother's legacy is in such good hands now."

He takes her hand and kisses it before winking at her. She knows she's blushing and she would hate him a little for that if she wasn't so touched by that last sentence.

She thanks the guests and the people working here tonight before sitting back down. Aurelia has a little laugh. "Oh, darling Virginia. I think you're in for the ride of your life working for him."

XXXX

She's waiting outside for the chauffeur to bring the around the car. It's 2 am and the last guests left a little over twenty minutes ago. She shivers a bit out of exhaustion. A tuxedo jacket appears on her shoulders, along with Tony, who's smiling at her.

"Don't catch a cold, Pepper. I need you good and ready to work tomorrow."

She chuckles. "Yes, sir."

"Hmm. 'Sir'. I like it and I don't. Makes me think of the old man but coming from you, it's kinda hot. Do it again?"

This time she laughs. "I think you had enough entertainment for tonight, Tony." He smiles, one-sidedly. It's the one he gets when he's thinking about several things at the same time and she sees him, looking at her dress, her cleavage, her mouth. He moistens his lips and she refrains from doing the same thing. There's a light breeze and she catches the scent of his cologne. It's the same he wore in Tokyo. And in London. And in Maui. And a few weeks ago, when they almost had sex on her couch. She exhales, feeling a it hot all of a sudden. And has he been standing that close to her all this time?

"I'm actually a member of the other school of thought. The one that says you can never have too much fun. But I'll let it slide for today."

She clears her throat. "Actually, I wanted to thank you. For giving me the job and for what you said, at the end of the auction."

"Pepper, believe me when I say I couldn't have imagined anyone else taking over the foundation. That job was always yours. Even when I didn't know it. And also, where did you get this dress?"

The blush comes back with a vengeance. "I knew I shouldn't have, it's a ridiculous dress, I- "

He takes her hand. "Hey, Pep. Don't diss the dress. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. Well, maybe a little, but you get my drift. The dress is great, you look great, hell, you smell great. How does it feel to be so great all the time?"

It's the oddest sensation and yet, it's the most recognizable of them all. Her gaze is pulled towards his lips. If she let herself go, just for a second, she'd probably kiss him.

Goddammit, Pepper, pull yourself together.

"I don't know. Aren't you the genius tech billionaire, here?"

"Oh, yeah. That's right. So we're two awesome people. Wow. We should totally take over the world or something."

At that moment, the car arrives. She kisses him on the cheek and says, a little flirtatiously, "Or something". She gives him back his jacket after he opens the door for her.

"You're killing me, Potts."

"Until next time, Mr. Stark."

He beams at her. "Until next time, Miss Potts."

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