Hey everyone, welcome to the first chapter of my new story! This is the sequel to 'Only a Job' I've promised you. To understand it, it's necessary to have read that story first. It starts directly where Only a Job ended. I really hope you like it.

The story is based on a song by Take That which is called 'Higher Than Higher'. I think it fits Tony's and Pepper's relationship really well. The title is also inspired by a song. 'What They Call Life' by Sebastian Krenz and Johannes Oerding. It describes both their lives before they met perfectly.

Please let me know what you think, that would be awesome!

I don't own the characters or places!

Tony

"Now to the news. Nearly two weeks after the inauguration of Ms. Virginia Potts, the press is still waiting for the official statement concerning the events on said day. During her speech, Ms. Potts was attacked by none other than Jeremy Sattler, against whom she competed in the election. He appeared in the crowd and attacked Ms. Potts with a gun. Only the fast reaction of Mr. Robert Smith, a member of Ms. Potts' team, saved her life, even if Mr. Smith risked his own in the course of that. Mr. Sattler was caught when he tried to escape. So far, no one knows why he attacked her and from what we know, they're still questioning him. Ms. Potts' new security chef, Nicolas Fury, explained that it might still take some time since Ms. Potts didn't get the chance to speak to Mr. Sattler personally yet. Mr. Phil Coulson confirmed this, saying that the official tasks that are waiting for her now, as well as the worry for Mr. Smith's well-being, have kept her from questioning Mr. Sattler yet.

The news that Mr. Smith has left the hospital have reached us this morning. He was released two days ago and will recover from the bullet wound. Though no one knows if he plans to remain involved in politics yet. Many people think so since he and Ms. Potts seemed to be very close during the campaign. However, there are also others who aren't convinced. One thing can be said for sure, though. If Mr. Smith decides to continue in the political business, we can expect great things from him. Some even say that he could be the next President of the United States, once Ms. Potts retires.

However, there are still many questions about Mr. Robert Smith that need to be answered. Many people are wondering how he was able to foresee the attack on Ms. Potts during the inauguration. The theory that he watches her far too closely for a normal politician has been voiced before, but now it gets more support than ever. Someone even stated that Mr. Smith looks incredibly similar to another businessman here in the US. Mr. Tony Stark, son of Howard Stark, owner of Crafting Enterprises. Howard Stark died last year, which makes his son the official owner of the company, one of the big weapon producers in the country. No one knows what Tony Stark has been doing in the previous years, but references to a security company in New York have appeared. All those facts lead to more questions and people demand answers.

If we will get these answers and where they will lead us is something we can't say yet. Though it is time that the White House releases an official statement.

Now let us turn to the events in Europe. Last week, there has been..."

The screen of the TV turned dark and someone sighed loudly. "That doesn't sound good." Rhodey muttered and threw the remote control on the table in front of us.

"Not good?" Daisy threw in. "That's the worst thing that could have happened! How are we going to explain that?"

"The truth was going to come out anyway." Jim placed a hand on her arm. "Now we have to make the best of it."

"But what should we tell them?" Pepper sounded nervous. "The truth?"

"Impossible." Daisy shook her head. "That would ruin your reputation, Pepper."

"Not if we choose our words carefully." Phil threw in, sounding thoughtful.

Daisy didn't look convinced, as well as most others. "It will have consequences, though. You can't just pretend to be a politician. And the fact that Tony is connected to the weapons industry..." She glanced at me apologetically. "It will lead to problems."

"We can't keep lying." Jim argued. "It will make everything even worse."

"I have to agree with that." Steve muttered. "Now the people might still understand it. But not if we keep telling them stories."

"What do you think of all this?" Pepper turned to me, a frown on her face. "You've been so quiet." I could hear the concern in her voice. It was true, so far, I'd only listened to the conversation silently. I was aware of the fact that everyone else in the room was watching me closely now and ran a hand through my hair.

"I agree with Jim." I said slowly. "Lying wouldn't be of any use, it will do more damage than anything else. Especially once the news about Crafting Enterprises and Stark Industries reach the press." Ever since I'd woken up in the hospital, I've been thinking very much. Loki was right, things with Pepper would only be as complicated as we decided to make them. We didn't have to choose between Washington and LA. We could have both, even if it wouldn't be easy. Pepper agreed with that, though I knew that she still had doubts if it was really going to work.

"So you'll just tell the world that you've been her bodyguard all along and just pretended to be a politician?" Daisy stared at me incredulously and glanced at Pepper. "This is ridiculous!"

"I'll also tell them about the company." I added, ignoring her surprised gasp. "No more lies."

Pepper ignored Daisy's outburst and kept looking at me, her eyes still narrowed. However, there was a small smile on her lips. "No more lies." She agreed quietly and I took her hand.

"I'm surrounded by idiots!" Daisy sighed, but when I turned to her, I saw that she was smiling helplessly. "You're impossible."

"Pepper keeps telling me that." I smiled slightly and winked at her.

"We have to make a plan if you really want to tell them everything." Phil said loudly. "Every word has to be chosen wisely."

"The press will run wild when they hear your story." Loki was smiling. "I think it's the most spectacular thing that happened in years."

"Especially when you tell the world that you're together." Jim added. "People wanted you two to become a couple for months."

"I don't want to ruin the mood, but there's also the risk that they won't take it well." Daisy threw in.

"There are always people who complain about everything." I shrugged. "We can deal with it." I looked at Pepper and knew that it was true. Whatever the future was holding, we could get through it together.

"Don't forget that you'll have to face Sattler soon." Bucky said, making Pepper freeze in my arms. "Fury insists on you talking to him."

"Isn't there another way?" I asked, trying to hide my annoyance. Yes, Nick was doing a very good job, but I hated the fact that he wanted Pepper to talk to that man.

"You know there isn't." Pepper smiled at me, though I could see how uncomfortable she felt in her eyes. "I'll be fine. It has to be done."

"I'll be with you all the time." My voice didn't leave room to argue.

"I know." She kissed my cheek. Someone cleared his throat and I looked up to see that it was Phil. He'd opened his laptop and was looking at us expectantly.

"We should plan what you tell the press." He said simply. "The sooner we'll plan that press conference, the better."

"I'll already have an idea." I smiled widely.

"This can't be good." Rhodey muttered, but I ignored him and began to tell the others about my idea.

"Do you really think that it will be that easy?" Pepper asked when we were lying in bed later. It was still hard to get the fact that we were in the White House now into my head. "Telling them everything?"

"Easy?" I shook my head. "I think it will never be easy for us, but that's nothing new, right?" I smiled at her. "But it will work."

Pepper sighed. "I wish I could have your confidence."

"Who says that I'm so confident about it?" I hesitated. "Daisy is right, this could all go wrong. I don't want to ruin your life, Pepper." The last words weren't more than a whisper. That fear was accompanying me ever since we decided to tell the press the truth and this was the first time I voiced it.

"You could never ruin my life." She argued softly. "I love you, Tony."

Hearing it made my heart beat faster and I closed my eyes, enjoying the knowledge that this amazing woman loved me back. "You can't imagine how that feels." I whispered and pulled her closer. "I never thought you could love me back."

"That's my line." She muttered, but she was smiling.

"I love you too, Pep." I kissed her and breathed in her scent. I never wanted to let her go again. "But honestly, I don't want people to hate you for something I did. They can blame me as much as they want, I don't care. However, I would hate it if it makes everything difficult for you." Alone the thought that they could let out their anger on Pepper made me sick.

"We're in this together, remember?" She repeated one of the sentences I'd said so often in the past months. "We'll deal with the aftermath as a team." Suddenly, a stern determination appeared on her face. "And it does matter what they think of you. I won't let them ruin your life, Tony."

"You are the President of the United States." I pointed out. "It's more important what people think of you. I'm just someone who accidentally owns a company in LA that produced weapons not so long ago."

"You're my partner. It's also important what people think of you." She placed a hand on my chest, right where the bullet had hit me. Even if she denied it, I knew that Pepper still had nightmares about that day.

"Maybe you should choose someone else." I muttered half-heartedly. Just the thought that she might be with someone else let the jealousy flare up and made me angry.

"Never." She said simply. "You're everything to me, Tony." To underline her sentence, she leaned in and kissed me deeply, running her hands down my arms.

I sighed into the kiss and chuckled when she pushed me down onto the mattress, careful not to get to close to the wound with her hands. It was healing slowly, but it still hurt at times. "Show me." I challenged her, a wide smile on my lips.

"Tony..." She hesitated and I knew why. The doctors told me not to do anything too strenuous yet. As if I'd care about that in this moment.

"I need you, Pepper." I whispered and flipped us around quickly, making her gasp in surprise. There was still insecurity in her eyes when I moved so I wouldn't crush her with my weight. "Please, Ms. President?" I began to place kisses on her throat innocently, my mouth moving further down, towards the buttons of her shirt...

"You'll be the death of me." She muttered, but let me undress her slowly. It wasn't long until I had her begging for more. So I wasn't the only one who needed this. It had been months since we'd last been together like this.

"I love you." I whispered before I started to take off my own clothes.