The second chapter! I hope you like it, please let me know, that would be awesome! And thanks to everyone who read the first chapter and left a review! Those encouraged me to continue this now.

At the end of the chapter, I'll have two questions for you!

Another note from my side. I know that I've been able to write very much at the moment. However, I fear that this will change next week since I'll start to work then. So don't be surprised when I won't be able to post new chapters within the week. I hope you can be patient with me and understand this.

The song to this chapter is 'Better Days' by OneRepublic. Not just because it fits to Tony and Pepper, but also because 2022 is getting closer and we all can only hope that those days will finally get better. I wish you all a good start in the new year!

I don't own the characters or places!

Pepper

My heart was beating wildly in my chest and I was still amazed that everything was going so well. And that I didn't mess up the words of my speech, of course. I'd been so nervous before, but slowly, that was fading. Instead, I was thrilled to do this! I was the President of the United States! After years of hard work, I'd finally reached my goal.

In front of me, dozens of people were looking at me with shining eyes and smiles on their lips. I could literally feel their excitement and how much they believed in my words. It was all I'd ever wanted. Making the world a better place. I still couldn't believe that my dreams were going to come true.

But then I saw him in the crowd and everything which had been so beautiful before turned into my worst nightmare. I knew that I would never forget the sick smile on Jeremy Sattler's lips when he looked directly at me. He raised the gun and this time, I didn't close my eyes. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me scared. Instead, I looked directly into his eyes when he pulled the trigger.

The sound of the gunshot echoed through the air and then... I was pushed aside by someone with full force.

"Pepper!" Someone shouted close to me, but I didn't know who it was. I also didn't care. I was already on my knees again, looking at the person who'd pushed me out of the way with wide eyes.

Tony was lying on the ground, motionless. His eyes were wide open and there was a shocked expression on his face. When I crawled closer, I already expected him to look at me, but he didn't move. "Tony?" I reached out to touch him, but stopped myself in the last moment. I wasn't sure what held me back, but suddenly, I felt terribly afraid.

Then Rhodey was there and sank onto his knees next to his best friend. "Tony? TONY!" He pressed one hand onto the bullet wound and with the other one, Rhodey checked his pulse. I watched him silently, still ignoring that more and more people were calling my name.

Suddenly, Rhodey turned to me, a wild look on his face. "You have to go, Pepper!" He shouted, making me flinch in surprise.

"No, I can't leave him!" I argued and tried to move closer, but somehow, I couldn't reach them, no matter how hard I tried.

"You have to!" Rhodey argued.

"No! I love him!" I stood up, but I still couldn't break through the invisible barrier between us. "Tony!"

"He's gone, Pepper." Another voice behind my back said, making me turn around with wide eyes. It was Loki and he looked incredibly sad. "He won't come back." Loki reached out to hug me, but I moved backwards slowly, shaking my head.

"You're lying." I whispered and turned to Tony and Rhodey once more. Just that they were gone. I panicked, looking around wildly, but it was true, they were nowhere to be seen. And I realized something else as well. We were no longer in Washington. Instead, we were standing on a graveyard. I could hear the sound of the ocean not too far away.

"Loki..." I wanted to ask what happened and where we were, but couldn't get the words out. Then my eyes fell on the tombstone in front of my feet.

Tony Stark.

There were also dates below his name, but my vision blurred and I couldn't read them anymore. Instead, I sank to my knees and started to sob. Tony couldn't be dead, that was impossible! I didn't know what to do without him. He couldn't die!

"Pepper!" A faint voice called my name and I looked around hectically, but I was alone on the graveyard.

"PEPPER!" The voice called again and I felt hope flare up inside of me.

"Tony?" I asked, both hopeful and afraid.

"You have to wake up, love. This is just a dream." His voice repeated, getting louder with every word. Just like the world around me seemed to fade.

"Pepper, love, it's just a dream." Tony whispered, the worry in his voice couldn't be missed. Slowly, I opened my eyes and blinked against the darkness in the room. It took me a few moments to realize where I was. The bed felt too soft to be my own, and when I glanced at the window, I could see the light of the moon shining through the curtains.

Tony was leaning over me, a concerned look on his face. "Are you alright?"

I nodded automatically. "Just a dream." Suddenly, I felt the incredible need to make sure that this was real. I placed both hands on his face and closed my eyes. Slowly, my rapidly beating heart was calming down again.

"I'm here." Tony wrapped his arms around me carefully and pulled me closer. Without thinking about it, I moved and placed my ear on his chest to listen to his steady heartbeat. "I'll never leave you, Pepper." Tony began to draw circles on my back with his free hand. "And he won't be able to hurt you again."

"I love you." I whispered and hoped that he wouldn't hear how desperate I sounded. But of course Tony noticed it. He always noticed it.

"I love you too." He pressed a kiss on top of my head and pulled me even closer.

I closed my eyes at this and breathed in deeply. The warmth of his body, as well as the sound of his beating heart, made me feel safe. Slowly, I realized that it had been a dream. Tony was fine. He was alive and right here with me. "Never leave me." I whispered and breathed in his scent.

"Never." He let it sound like a promise and I believed him.

For a long time, everything was silent in the room. I'd already thought that Tony had fallen asleep again, but then he asked me something. "What was it about?"

"Hm?"

"Your dream." He explained. "Of course you don't have to talk about it, it's fine." He added hastily. "Just forget that I even said anything. I know that you don't want to think of it again."

"You were being shot again." I muttered, ignoring his comments. That made him fall silent. "But you didn't..." I couldn't finish the sentence and suddenly, my eyes were full of tears again. I knew that it was stupid because Tony was right here, but I couldn't help it.

"I'm so sorry, Pepper." Tony whispered. "I didn't want to scare you."

It was so much like him. Apologizing for something he couldn't control. I wanted to laugh, but it rather sounded like a helpless sob. "Stop apologizing, it's not your fault." I argued sadly. "You saved me."

"I had to." Suddenly, he sounded just as helpless as I felt.

"I know." I kissed his chest softly. "Thank you."

This made him chuckle. "Stop thanking me."

"What if I want to?"

"Then why am I not allowed to apologize?" I knew that this was his attempt to cheer me up and I was glad about it. It worked.

"That's different."

"Is it?" I could imagine how he raised his eyebrows now.

"Yes." I said simply.

To my surprise, Tony moved and his lips met mine in a soft kiss. It was full of love. "You're amazing, Pepper."

"And you're still impossible." I replied quietly, making him laugh once more. "But I love you."

"I love you too, Pep. And now sleep, you need it." He began to hum a melody and soon, I drifted into a dreamless sleep.

"Stop moving around so hectically!" I hissed in annoyance and glared at Daisy. "It makes me nervous!"

She scoffed. "Maybe it's a good thing that I'm doing this, then. You should be nervous, Pepper! After all, you really want to tell the people the truth!"

"Stop being mean to her." Jim said to Daisy. "I bet Pepper wanted to tell you that you're making her even more nervous than she already is."

"Correct." I muttered and looked at the toast in front of me. I wasn't hungry, but knew that I had to eat something. The interview would start in two hours and I had to be in top shape. I took a bite of the toast and began to chew slowly.

"No one needs to be nervous." Phil threw in calmly. "After all, we've thought it through and it will work." I admired his confidence in this. I still wasn't convinced if Tony's plan was a good idea.

"I hope you're right." I whispered and reached for my coffee. "So much can go wrong."

"Like the people not accepting it and your reputation being ruined in the course of this?" Daisy crossed her arms. "I still think that the plan is horrible."

"You didn't have a better idea." Jim reminded her. "Remember that we asked you several times?"

This made Daisy sigh and I had to hide my smile from her. I knew that she was just worried and didn't want to be mean to all of us. This was her way of showing how much she cared.

"Where's Tony, by the way?" Jim turned to me. "Shouldn't he be here already?"

"He'll come soon." I explained. "He's getting ready together with the others."

"As if that would take so long." Daisy muttered. "He's got enough practice to walk around as Robert Smith. Putting on a suit can't be that difficult."

"He's not Robert Smith anymore." I noted. "It's the first time he's going out there as Tony Stark, owner of Stark Industries."

"There's not much of a difference." Despite her words, she was looking curious now.

"There is." Phil said. "Maybe not from the outside, but he's been holding back very much in his role."

"Maybe that wasn't so bad." Clint, who was also with us, muttered and smiled slightly.

"Don't be mean." Phil whispered and took Clint's hand.

Clint rolled his eyes. "You know Tony well enough to know that this wasn't mean."

"The others will also stop pretending today." I added.

This made Clint laugh. "The past weeks, they didn't really do that anymore, did they?"

"You're one of them." Daisy threw in. "You were also staring darkly at everyone who got too close to Phil or Pepper."

This actually made Phil smile widely at Clint, who smiled back at him immediately. It still amazed me how happy those two were together. Phil leaned in to press a soft kiss to Clint's lips and my heart melted.

Suddenly, the door to the room flew open without a warning and we all turned around quickly. Clint even jumped to his feet and pushed himself between Phil and the door. But it was just Nick Fury, who looked at us all in surprise. When he took in our reactions, he chuckled. "You're careful. That's good!"

"Good to see you, Nick." Phil greeted my security chef with a smile.

Fury grinned at him. "Your boyfriend is faster than you are, Phil." He didn't wait for a reply and turned to me, now looking serious. "He wants to talk to you."

I frowned. "What do you mean?" Deep inside, I knew already whom he meant.

"Sattler. He wants to talk to you. And only you." Fury looked unhappy. "He also emphasized that he wouldn't say a word when that boyfriend of yours is there."

I swallowed. "Tony won't like that." I noted quietly, but that wasn't the whole truth. To be honest, I also didn't want to talk to him alone. I knew that he wouldn't be able to hurt me, but it still wasn't easy. After all, that man was haunting me in my sleep. He'd threatened me for months and his attempts had nearly killed the man I loved twice.

"Isn't there another way?" Phil was frowning at Fury and I could see the concern in his eyes.

"Unfortunately, there isn't." Fury shook his head. "He insists on that. Otherwise, we'll never get his statement."

I sighed. "It's fine." My heart was beating wildly in my chest, but I decided to ignore it. I also pushed all thoughts about my nightmares aside.

"You don't have to do this, Pepper." Phil placed a hand on my arm.

"I do." I argued and turned to Fury. "When do you want me to talk to him?"

"As soon as possible." He replied, not looking surprised by my decision. "But I think there are a few things you want to deal with first?" He meant the press and our interview. I nodded. "At the end of the week?"

"Fine." I agreed, hoping that I looked more confident than I felt.

Fury smiled grimly. "Let's hope that this bastard will finally tell us everything then." Without waiting for a reply, he turned around and left again.

"Is it just me or does anyone else also think that he's quite scary?" Daisy asked in the silence that followed his departure.

"We can be glad that he's on our side." Jim whispered back.

"Indeed." Next to me, Phil nodded with a thoughtful look on his face. However, I knew that he liked Nick Fury. Just like Clint, who also didn't look uncomfortable.

Shortly after Fury left, the door opened once more. This time, however, there was a polite knock first. Though no one waited for an answer to that. I knew immediately who it was.

Steve came in first, a smile on his lips. He was wearing jeans and a simple plaid shirt. I had to admit that it looked good on him. He also looked far more comfortable than in those suits he had to wear for his disguise. He was followed by Bucky and Rhodey, who were both also wearing jeans with t-shirts. Those outfits looked exactly like the clothes they'd worn in the past months. However, they also didn't have that important positions in my team, so no one had noticed them anyway.

Loki was next, in dark trousers and a white shirt. Above, he was wearing a dark green jacket. He looked really handsome. His curly hair was combed and fell over his shoulders in soft waves. The jacket also emphasized his eyes. He grinned when our eyes met and winked at me.

Then Tony entered the room and all thoughts about the others were immediately forgotten. He was just saying something to Loki, but I couldn't make out the words. And honestly, I also didn't care in this moment. I was too busy looking at him. As usual, he was the most handsome man in the room. He was wearing a simple dark grey suit with a white shirt and, to my surprise, also a vest. I'd never seen him wear one of those before, not even as Robert Smith. His tie was red and I smiled, realizing that it fit my jacket perfectly.

However, the vest wasn't the only thing that was different now. I noticed that the top button of his shirt wasn't closed, something that would have never happened before. His hair was also styled differently. It still looked perfect, but also more chaotic. He'd changed his beard a little bit, making it emphasize his jaw more. And also his brilliant smile.

He was completely relaxed now and I assumed that this also wouldn't change during the interview. When he'd slipped into his role as Robert Smith, he'd always been a little more... distant. Like he held himself back, which had been true in many ways. I knew that the time for this was over now.

All in all, he looked more like the Tony Stark I'd met so many months ago on a cold day in Los Angeles. I smiled at that memory. Back then, I didn't know what to think of him at all. My first impression of him was an arrogant ass who only cared about himself. Someone who knew how to make others do exactly what he wanted. Whose looks were more important to him than the feelings of those around him. Of course I'd realized very fast how wrong that was, but first, I'd really hated him.

When he saw my expression, Tony raised his eyebrows. "What are you thinking?"

"Do you remember our first meeting?" I asked when he sat down next to me and wrapped his arms around my waist, careful not to touch my dress too much. I noticed that he was holding glasses in one hand, though I wasn't sure why he should need them. Most probably, they were just for the looks. I noticed that the glass was also red, fitting his tie. I fought the urge to laugh at this, it was typical for him.

"How could I ever forget that?" He asked and placed a strand of my hair behind my ear carefully. His smile was soft. I wondered what he was thinking now, but didn't get the chance to ask. "Why do you think of that?"

"The way you look." I admitted, glad that the others weren't listening to our conversation. They were chatting about something else. "More relaxed... it's more like back when we first met."

He chuckled. "You didn't like my performance as Robert Smith?"

"I did." I argued quickly. "I just prefer you like this. Without the mask." When he was himself, he was even more charming. Which shouldn't be possible, actually.

Tony grinned at this. "I wasn't playing such a big role, Pepper."

"I know. But there's a difference anyway."

"There is." He agreed, suddenly sounding thoughtful. "It's the first time that I'll show the world who I really am." I could only hear the nervous tone of his voice because I knew him so well.

"They'll love you." I said seriously. It was impossible not to like him.

"I'm not so sure of that." Tony admitted after half a second of hesitation. "I'm no saint, Pepper."

"No one is." I argued. "And you didn't do anything wrong, Tony. It's not your fault that your father had this company and that it's yours now. You stopped producing weapons as soon as you were able to."

"Not everyone will see it like this."

"We'll make them understand." I promised and leaned in to kiss him. "Together."

"Together." He nodded after looking into my eyes for some time. Suddenly, the slight smile I loved so much was back and he stood up. "Shall we talk about the plan once more?" He asked loudly, attracting the attention of the others. Of course Phil was the first one to nod eagerly and the others agreed more slowly.

"Alright, so let's do it again. We all agree that it's best to tell them..." Tony began and we all listened to him quietly. I glanced at the others in the room while I listened and smiled. In the past months, I'd gained the most amazing family in this world.

"This is it, everyone! The moment we've all been waiting for. Ms. Virginia Potts and Mr. Robert Smith are here to tell us their story!" The host of our interview was called Irene Adams. In the past, I had a few interviews with her and she was doing a good job. Once, she even talked to me and Tony when we were in Washington for the campaign. We'd chosen her wisely, knowing how much influence the person who asked the questions had. And she knew when to wait and let someone talk. I really appreciated that about her.

Irene turned to us and smiled widely. "Welcome, you two. I hope you're feeling well. Especially you, Mr. Smith. After all, you just recovered from your injury."

Tony smiled widely. "I'm fine, thanks for asking, Mrs. Adams. It's healing perfectly well."

"I'm sure we all like to hear that!" She turned back to the camera and the crowd in the studio. Not many people were allowed to be here. I was glad that our friends were sitting in the front row. I knew that I just had to look at Phil when I was getting nervous and everything would be better again. "It was very heroic of you, throwing yourself in front of Ms. President to stop the bullet. How did you notice that she was in danger? Some people say that you've been looking for it."

"I was." Tony replied simply, ignoring the surprised look on Irene's face. "Her safety is very important to me." His voice was deadly serious when he said that.

"So you already suspected that there would be an attack?" She kept asking.

"Better safe than sorry." He said simply and smiled. "Don't you agree?"

"Of course I do!" She smiled back at him. "To many people, you're a hero now. The man who saved our President."

"I'm not a hero." Tony shook his head. "Not at all."

This made her and many people in the crowd laugh. "You shouldn't be so modest, Mr. Smith." She turned to me. "What do you think of all this, Ms. Potts? From what we know, the incident hit you very hard. Especially that Mr. Smith got hurt."

"It did." We'd agreed not to tell them lies. And besides, the whole world had seen me crying right before they'd stopped the recording. "I never wanted anyone to get hurt because of me. Least Mr. Smith."

"You let it sound like there have been more occasions when people were in danger because of you?" We'd already expected her to take the hint and I was glad she did. That made this conversation much easier.

"There were." I nodded seriously and smiled at the crowd when I heard surprised gasps. I knew that the people in front of the TV's would react similar. "This is a very long story, though." I let it look like I pitied that I couldn't tell all of it.

"We have time." Irene threw in without hesitation. "Of course only if you want to tell us your story, Ms. Potts."

"Our story." I corrected her firmly and exchanged a look with Tony. He was smiling encouragingly. "But I have to warn you. It's not a nice story to tell."

"Now you're making me curious!" Irene admitted, but she also chuckled nervously. I knew that she was taking a risk when she let us tell the story without knowing about it herself. However, she was also a very courageous woman and took the risk willingly.

"It all started at the beginning of this year." I explained. "When I received a simple letter."

"A letter?" She repeated curiously.

I nodded. "More followed in the weeks that followed."

"What did they say?" Her expression told me that she already suspected it.

"Threats." I replied. "My life has been threatened, saying that it would end badly if I continued to take part in this election." Sharp intakes of breath everywhere in the crowd. "We decided not to make it public and wanted to solve this riddle ourselves. But it wasn't as easy as we first thought. Because someone broke into my house in Los Angeles and also left a threat there. That's when we decided that we needed help."

Irene stared at me, a little paler than before. "I'm so sorry to hear that." She turned to Tony, most probably to sort her thoughts for a moment. "And what is your part in this, Mr. Smith?"

He smiled at her. "My story didn't start in LA, if you mean that, Mrs. Adams. My story started in New York, at the same time the threats on Ms. Potts' life got worse."

Realization dawned on her face. "So you...?"

"I was the help." He nodded seriously. "Me and my people. We came to LA to find out who sent the letters and to make sure that Ms. Potts would be fine."

"Like a bodyguard?" Irene asked.

"Exactly like that." In the crowd, people started to whisper quietly when Tony confirmed this. I knew that they were thinking. If he was the person who should help me with those threats, what about his role in the campaign?

"We knew that it would be a risk to engage a security company." I threw in. "That's why we decided to keep it secret. We knew that it would be difficult to explain why I had new bodyguards, though."

"But we had an idea." Tony continued when I hesitated. "One that would make it possible to be with her all the time."

"The way you say it lets me think that you were her bodyguard, Mr. Smith?" She narrowed her eyes at him, a frown on her face.

He nodded, looking completely relaxed. "That's how Robert Smith was born." He turned to the crowd and the cameras when more surprised gasps followed. Tony held up his hands in a defensive gesture. Or rather calming, I thought. "I apologize to all of you who think that it has been wrong of me to pretend being a politician. I know it wasn't right. I don't regret it, though. My first priority was to make sure that Ms. Potts is safe. This was the best way to achieve that." He smiled, though the look in his eyes was serious. "Ask yourselves one question, if you don't believe me. Would you have rather seen her injured or worse, or me in public? No one noticed that anything of this wasn't real. And to be honest, I have to admit that most of it was indeed real. I only said things I believe in." He glanced at me and the look in his eyes became softer. "I believe in her and what she does. With all my heart."

I smiled back at him, but without stopping to watch Irene from the corner of my eyes. She still looked surprised. "If Robert Smith isn't real, who are you, Mr. ...?"

"First, I have to say something else." Tony continued simply. "To all of those who want to blame Ms. President for all this now. It wasn't her fault. No one should be blamed for needing help."

"He saved my life more than once." I added, making the people look at me again. In the crowd, I could see Phil smiling at me. "I could never regret that."

"To who I am..." Tony smiled at the crowd. "Not Robert Smith, obviously." He grinned when a few people in the crowd chuckled. "He never existed, though I agree with everything I said in that role, I have to repeat." He breathed in deeply. "My name is Tony Stark. Owner of Stark Industries, a small security company in New York."

The small smile on Irene's lips told me that she'd already suspected this. From the way Tony looked at her now, I knew that he'd also noticed it. He grinned at her. Not the calm grin Robert Smith had always shown. This was his grin. Tony's. In this moment, he'd given up the mask completely.

"Am I right to assume that you're the son of Howard Stark, former owner of Crafting Enterprises, Mr. Stark? The company that produced weapons for years? Something Ms. Potts, and you in your role as Mr. Smith, have both fought?" Irene raised her eyebrows and he nodded simply, ignoring the reproachful tone of her voice.

"True. Though it won't be Crafting Enterprises for long anymore." Tony smiled. "The production of the weapons has been stopped months ago. Once I was the official owner of the company, I decided to change everything. No more weapons. Never again."

Now she really looked surprised. "Why would you do that?"

"As I said, I meant every word I said during the campaign." He noted seriously. "I want to make the world a better place, not help to destroy it."

"What will you do instead, Mr. Stark?"

He beamed at her. "That, my dear Mrs. Adams, is a surprise." He winked at her and turned to the cameras. "I'm just saying this much: soon, you will find Stark Industries in Los Angeles and Crafting Enterprises will cease to exist." After saying this, he smiled at me.

"So in the future, you won't be at Ms. Potts' side anymore?"

He shook his head. "I will be wherever she wants me to be." He reached out to take my hand and I let him. I fought the urge to laugh when Irene's eyes widened.

"We never wanted to lie to anyone or cause any harm." I explained when our host didn't say anything. "As Mr. Stark said, it was a risk to pretend that he's a politician. One that we decided to take, rather than to tell the world about the threats. I can only apologize now, especially to those who think they can't trust me anymore. That was never my intention. I will make up for it, I promise. It's true, I've been scared and insecure in that situation. But who wouldn't be? This election has always been my dream. Making the world a better place and helping people is all I ever wanted. Once those threats started, I thought it could never come true. But it did, thanks to Mr. Stark and his company. I could never regret it. And I hope you also won't. Because I promise all of you to make the world a better place. To help everyone who needs help. I will fight for it as hard as possible. And I hope that, one day, all of you can forgive me."

After my speech, I breathed in deeply and Tony squeezed my hand. I smiled at him gratefully.

Then Irene began to talk again, thanking us for the incredible interview and telling the people when the next show would be and whom she'd invited. I didn't really listen to that anymore. My thoughts were racing. We'd done it. We'd told everyone the truth.

But how would they react to this?

First question: Does anyone have an idea from which movie I stole Tony's suit in this? I'm curious if you know this (without cheating, of course!) :)

Second question: Which part of 'Only a Job' did you like most? I forgot to ask that when I finished the story, so that question also appears here now.

And a third one that came to my mind just now: What do you think how the public will react?