Hello, all! Don't know how much I'll be able to update between now and Christmas (I've got family coming tomorrow for the holiday), but I promise I will update ASAP, as much as possible! Until then, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy Reading! :D

The night before...

Pepper had just arrived to the Gala- a kind of concluding party/ holiday celebration at a mountain resort for the technology symposium the she and Tony had attended during the three days before in an adjacent town. Several of the attendees had taken the opportunity to leave the symposium and drive up to the resort early to go skiing before the gala. And while neither Tony nor Pepper were skiers, that night's party was still considered a bit of a getaway for each of them respectively, to conclude a very stressful, yet productive year at Stark Industries. She knew that both of them had appreciated getting out of the city for a while, and to see some beautiful scenery while having the chance to unwind a bit.

She was dressed in an emerald green evening gown, that had one cross-shoulder strap, which was beaded. The bodice was gathered, with an empire waist and a long flowing, satin skirt. She wore her hair in long waves and pinned up on the sides with two beaded silver combs, and dangley tear-drop emerald earrings to match her dress- a Christmas gift from Tony. Well. Not directly. But paid for by Tony, at his behest, since he was generally hopeless at gift giving for any occasion, and usually just told her to treat herself to whatever she wanted for whatever occasion was occurring at the time.

She walked among the other formally dressed people in the room, each of them engaged in conversations she caught small snippets of as she passed them by, their voices watery and muted otherwise. It was a dull hum over the soft Christmas music being played by the instrumental jazz band in the corner of the gathering hall, which was lavishly decorated with red, gold, and green holiday decorations, making the space feel very warm and festive. She realized it was a shot in the dark for Tony to have arrived before she had, but as soon as she'd entered the room, she instinctively began to scan the crowd of patrons for him anyway.

She eventually made it across the room to the bar, and the bartender immediately asked her what she'd like. "Martini...extra dry, extra..."

"Olives?" a familiar voice said behind her, finishing her request.

She turned around to see Tony, looking dapper as ever in his black Armani tux. He moved around to the side of her, and leaned an elbow on the bar, smirking, his eyes sparkling with humor. She smiled bashfully.

"Yes, extra olives," she told the bartender. He nodded and began to mix her drink, and Pepper turned back to Tony. She chuckled sheepishly, and shook her head. "You just pop out of the wood work sometimes, don't you?" she teased. They both chuckled. "Have you been here long?" she asked.

Tony shrugged and shook his head. "Not really. But I beat you here, I see," he joked.

Pepper looked at herself and smiled bashfully. "Well, this was one of those rare occasions where I might have had to take a bit more time to get ready than you did," she joked back.

"That might be true, Potts. But look at you. You look," he said, surveying her from top to bottom and back up again. He cleared his throat awkwardly, "Ravishing," he said quickly, followed by, "Is that new? It's a great color. On you. I mean, it's a great color, anyway. It's festive, what with Christmas, and all," he babbled awkwardly, standing up to shove his hands in his pants pockets. He cleared his throat again, and averted his eyes to the other attendees. Pepper thought she detected a slight blush in his cheeks, which made her give him a wry smirk in return.

"Tony?" she said, and waited for him to turn his eyes back to her.

"Hmmm? Yeah, Pep?" he asked, dragging his gaze back to hers.

She smiled politely this time. "I was just going to say, thank you for the compliment? And as a matter of fact, yes. It is new. I bought it just for this occasion, actually. And the earrings are..." she began.

"Hey, you wanna dance?" he asked, interrupting her, clearly not interested in listening to the rest of her answer to his question.

Pepper frowned, bemused. "What? No, I'm fine. I was just going to..."

"Yeah, we should. Come on, Potts. Let's cut a little rug, huh?" he said, ignoring her again, and reaching for her hand. He pulled her toward the dance floor just as the bartender was serving her drink. He looked at Pepper questioningly, and she gave him an apologetic smile, to which he groused and poured out the glass, muttering under his breath, and rolling his eyes.

Tony, oblivious to all of it, took position with Pepper in the middle of the dance floor. Her cheeks instantly colored, as she felt the room's eyes on the two of them. She could only imagine what they were all thinking and murmuring to each other. Tony pulled her close and laid his hand flat on her lower back as they began to sway. Despite her hesitation, she did notice his warm, spicy scent, and his soft breath on the bare skin of her upper arm. It made her spine tingle, and her stomach flutter involuntarily. Pepper wondered, for what had to be the millionth time in all of the years she'd been his assistant, why that still happened whenever he was close by. However, she was avoiding his gaze to prevent any other involuntary reactions from happening, and instead surveyed the on-lookers over his shoulders while self-consciously biting her lips together in the meantime to steady herself.

Tony noticed this. "Relax, Potts," he murmured to her. "Let 'em stare. They have the privilege of feasting their eyes on the two best looking people in the room, and they're green with envy," he said. He chuckled. "As green as your dress, in fact," he joked.

Pepper scoffed, and turned her eyes to him. He was smirking, but also gazing at her in adoration, which only made her frown. "I think they're thinking something far different than that," she argued. "In fact, I'd almost bet on it."

"Oh, yeah? And what would that be, exactly?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow and still smirking.

Pepper frowned. "That maybe I'm only a few opened zipper teeth away from giving up the goods to the world-famous charms of Tony Stark?, And, thereby, giving you the opportunity to carve another notch in your bed post?" she blurted out. Tony startled at the abruptness of her words. Pepper winced, and bit her lips back together again. "Wow," she breathed, instantly regretting being so defensive. So mean, and so defensive.

Tony nodded, and swallowed hard, taking his eyes away from her for a moment. "Fair enough," he muttered hoarsely. He let a moment pass before he brought his gaze back to hers. But much to Pepper's surprise, a sly smirk crept across his lips. He shrugged. "I wouldn't blame you if you did. I mean, honestly. You can only keep your guard up for so long," he joked, trying to make light of the moment. "It's inevitable, you know. You. Me. It's bound to happen. Being in such close proximity all the time? The sexual tension is, to say the least..."

Pepper huffed, and looked away. "Wow! You are oblivious to the concept of subtlety, aren't you?" she stated in disbelief, interrupting him this time. She was sorry she'd been so harsh before, but his ego had quickly taken care of any remaining guilt she'd had, and now she was back to full-blown annoyance.

Tony raised his eyebrows, and look at her defensively. "I'm not oblivious, Pep. More like...unappreciative," he replied. "Why beat around the bush? I say, be direct. Tell it like it is. If there's one thing, I know, it..."

Pepper pursed her lips and frowned at him with clear dismay.

Tony frowned and suddenly stopped talking. And swaying. "Boy, this is really getting under your skin, isn't it?" he asked. He winced and leaned in. "Isn't this what we do, Potts? Isn't this our...game, you and I?"

Pepper shrugged. "No more than usual, Tony," she stated. "Though I have to say, I don't know if it's the elevation, or being away from the city that's making you feel more...primeval, or what, but tonight it seems you are..." she huffed. "Extra aggressive," she finished.

Tony frowned. "Aggressive," he repeated.

Pepper backtracked. "No, not aggressive, I suppose. Assertive. Yes. That's the word for it. Extra assertive," she explained.

"Assertive," Tony clarified.

"Yes."

"With you."

"Yes," Pepper said again. They were apart now, and staring silently at each other. And Pepper didn't notice the added attention of some very nosy patrons who were eagerly watching the drama unfold between them, as the music continued to drift over the air in background.

Tony smiled awkwardly, and nodded, smoothing a thoughtful hand over his goatee. Then he put his hands up and stepped back. "Okay, Pep. I can take a hint. We're done here. I'll leave you alone. Sorry to have intruded. You just um...have a nice evening, huh?" he said, his eyes narrow. He tried to give her a reassuring smile, but it looked more wounded than anything, as he spun around, and walked away, leaving her standing alone on the dance floor.

Pepper instantly became aware of the eyes on her, and she glowered at all of them. "Oh, what are all of you looking at?" she muttered bitterly as she took off after Tony, who had headed in the direction of the upstairs balcony. It was a frosty December night, and she didn't relish the idea of going outside without a coat, but she couldn't let what had happened sit between them. He had been more blatant with her, that much was true. But she had to admit, she was feeling a bit romantic in this setting, too. It was hard not to, truthfully. The snow was piled high in fluffy white drifts all around the grounds of the resort, and the pine tree limbs were covered in it, making them look like something off of a Christmas card. It was quite picturesque, to say the least. And tonight, with the light snow creating a frosty sparkle in the full moon light, it seemed extra enchanting.

She made her way up the grand staircase at the back of the hall to the second floor, and over to the balcony, which was on the north side of the building. The door leading outside was part of the all glass front facade of the resort, meaning that from the bottom of the first floor, all the way to the ceiling of the second was thick double-paned glass windows. And, much to Pepper's relief, she wasn't going to have to brave the cold to go after Tony after all. He was standing inside, watching the snow delicately fall. He had his back turned to her, and his hands were in his pants pockets. The area where he stood was darkened, illuminated only by the bright moonlight from outside.

Pepper quietly walked over to him, but he remained lost in thought, unaware she was approaching, on account of the thick-pile carpeting muffling her footsteps.

"Tony?" she said softly, once she'd reached his side.

He turned to look at her, surprised that she was there. She noticed a weak smile drift over his lips. Then he turned his head back toward the window, and began again to watch the snow fall, staying silent.

"What? No witty one-liner? No sarcasm?" she joked. But Tony didn't take the bait.

He stayed silent for a moment more before speaking. Pepper just fell silent, too, and watched him with trepidation.

"You know I like being around you, right, Pep?" he asked softly, still keeping his gaze trained on the view outside.

"Mmm hmm, yes," Pepper said, nodding politely.

Tony smiled a fleeting, soft smile. He turned his head to look at her, his eyes thoughtful. "I'm...sorry, then, if I...made you feel...in any way..." he started.

Pepper shook her head, and raised a dismissive hand. "It's forgiven," she replied. "Water under the bridge." She smiled to reassure him.

He smiled back, but it quickly faded. He worked his jaw for a moment in thought before speaking again. "Pepper, I don't have to tell you this time of year is rough for me," he said.

Pepper nodded. "I know it is, Tony," she agreed. "And rightfully so."

Tony slowly nodded. "Yeah," he muttered, glancing outside, and then back to her. This time, he smiled at her with appreciation. "But having someone like you around? It's..." he said, his voice trailing off. He swallowed hard, and looked away from her again to gaze outside. Pepper suspected it was to hide the emotion of the moment, which made her heart ache for him, like it had so many times before.

Then, he turned and gently grasped one of her hands in both of his. He slowly brought it to his mouth, and kissed it, then patted it affectionately. "You're more valuable than you know, Pep," he murmured, smiling. "I'm a lucky guy to even be in your presence."

Pepper just stared at him, speechlessly, struck again by another rare, unforeseen moment in which he was allowing himself to appear vulnerable to her. Pepper shook her head, dumbfounded at his expression of appreciation for her. "I don't know what to say," she finally squeaked out in a raspy murmur.

Tony stepped closer to her, and put his hand, which still held hers, to his chest. He delicately cupped her cheek with the other, and Pepper gazed into his eyes, the both of them silent, lost in the moment together.

Pepper raised her chin and inched even closer to his face, as years of blatant disregard for their mutual attraction emerged in all of its bright white glory, undeniable, just waiting for them to claim it for their own. It hovered over them like a glitter-filled water balloon, suspended in mid-air, ready to douse them in the truth of their feelings for each other. Millimeters now separated them, their lips so close that Pepper could feel, on an almost atomic level, the prickle of Tony's goatee on her chin. And then, all at once...

XxXxXxXxXx

Pepper awoke to the sensation of her arm being jiggled, and Tony softly calling her name. "Pep?" she heard him say once more, and she slowly opened her eyes to see him on his knees in front of her, his eyes full of concern.

She frowned. "What? What is it?" she asked softly.

"It's you. Are you okay? You were moaning in your sleep," he told her.

Pepper closed her eyes briefly again, and swallowed hard, trying to get her bearings. She nodded. "Yes. I'm fine," she said. She took a deep breath, and then reopened her eyes to look at him.

He smiled. "Good. Glad to hear it," he replied. "And guess what I found?" he teased.

Pepper smiled, and sighed. "Coffee?" she asked, knowingly.

Tony grinned. "Coffee," he purred eagerly.