Hello! Finally back from a long hiatus, and have been just itching to write! You might recognize a few details in this chapter that I've mentioned in other fics (no problem if you're not familiar with them. It won't impede your understanding at all.) I guess it's just hard for me to let go of my version of Pepper's backstory. Yes, we all know she was a model before she went into accounting, that much is true. But I have always imagined her to be someone with small town roots, who gained her very grounded perception of the world from her upbringing. Maybe one day I'll break away and invent another backstory for Pepper, who knows. Til' then, I hope it doesn't bore you! :D
Happy Reading! And thank you for all of the reviews! They are such a treat! :D
Tony and Pepper eagerly made out in the kitchen for several minutes more, and it grew more and more intense with each passing second. But suddenly, Pepper pulled back, and pressed her lips together, wincing.
Tony frowned. "What's wrong?" he asked breathlessly. "Is it your head again?"
Pepper just shook her head. "No, no. It's not that," she assured. She studied his face for a moment, and then gave him a reluctant grin. "I...just think we should slow down a little bit," she said softly.
Tony shook his head in confusion. "I don't understand, Pep," he said. "Aren't you enjoying what we're doing?" he asked bemusedly.
Pepper smiled again, and cupped his cheek. "Of course I am," she assured him.
"Well then?" he urged, smiling with encouragement. He affectionately began to run a hand up and down her body.
Pepper chuckled awkwardly, and reached up to peck his lips. Then she delicately ran the pad of her pointer finger over them. Tony captured her hand in his and promptly kissed her finger tip, and then brought that hand to his heart. Pepper watched him do this, and smiled at the gesture. He smiled back.
"Pepper, listen to me," he said softly. She flicked her eyes back up to his. "I know what you're thinking. And I guess if I were in your position, I'd be thinking the same thing," he said.
She looked at him quizically. "Oh? And what am I thinking?" she challenged with a smirk. She cocked one eye brow.
Tony chuckled at her. "You are thinking that we're moving too fast and," he said, moving to wrap his arms back around her waist. He rested his forehead against hers. "That all I want to do is get you into bed, and then that's it for us. Am I right? Have I drawn the correct conclusion, Ms. Potts?" he teased, smirking.
Pepper chuckled again, her cheeks blushing. "Ummmmmm, you could say that, yes," she admitted sheepishly. "But do you blame me, Tony? We both know you're not the most experienced person on the planet when it comes to actually being in a relationship with someone. I think my having some reservations about all of this is perfectly justified," she reasoned.
Tony nodded. "Agreed," he replied. Then he pursed his lips, and exhaled, shaking his head with disappointment. "Though I wish it wasn't that way, Pep," he said softly, his eyes regretful.
Pepper smiled sympathetically. "Just so we're clear," she murmured. "It is a relationship that you're wanting out of all of this, right? Even after we leave here?" she asked hopefully.
"Pep, I..." he began, but he hesitated. He searched her face for a moment, and saw a glimmer of disappointment ghost across her face when he didn't respond immediately. He smiled at how different the thoughts were that were going through his mind versus what she seemed to believe he was thinking. Say it, you idiot! Just say it!, the little voice in his mind screamed at him. "Love you," he blurted out suddenly. His eyebrows raised at the shock of what he'd just uttered, but then he smiled proudly at his announcement, relieved that he'd found the courage to be so honest and open with her.
But Pepper, on the other hand, looked at him in total alarm, her eyes wide. She stepped back, out of his arms, and swallowed hard, staring at him speechlessly.
Tony's smile faded, and he swallowed hard as well, the panic beginning to rise in him. "Pep-Pepper?" he asked cautiously.
"You...love me? You honestly think you...love me?" she asked, her voice not much more than a breathy gasp. "Do you even know what that means?"
Tony struggled for a response. "Uh...yeah? Yes? I..." he stammered. Then he frowned and shook his head. "Pepper, I don't get it. Don't you want me to...I mean, isn't that the...goal, here?"
Pepper threw up her hands and spluttered. "Well...yes, I suppose! But Tony! We hardly know each other! We..."
Tony frowned. "I wouldn't say that," he argued.
She continued. "I mean, romantically. Or even personally!" she replied.
"Oh, you know some pretty personal things about me, Pepper! You can't deny that!" he exclaimed.
"Yes, but what do you know about me?!" she asked, putting a hand to her chest.
Tony scoffed. "I know plenty," he replied.
"Oh, yeah?" Pepper said, folding her arms and cocking her head. "Then you should be able to answer some pretty basic questions, then, shouldn't you!"
Tony put his hands on his hips, and leaned against the counter. "Okay, Potts. Come on. Lay it on me. I know you want to," he said, gesturing to her in a bring-it-on manner. He then folded his arms smugly, and smirked at her. "You don't think I'm up to the challenge? Then I dare you. Give me your toughest questions. Fire away," he challenged.
Pepper huffed in annoyance. "Fine," she said. "But I'll start out with a simple one only because I know this will be over before it's begun," she jabbed back.
Tony shrugged indifferently. "Well, we shall see, won't we," he replied.
"Mother's name," Pepper said flatly.
Tony winced and snapped his fingers as he tried to recall. "Ummm. Uh, M-Molly, Mary? M-mandy? No, that's not it. It's...I know it's an M-word," he babbled. Then he brightened and snapped his fingers. "Marilynn!" he finally spouted proudly, smirking. "Yeah. That's the one. It's Marilynn."
Pepper pursed her lips, and rolled her eyes. "Lucky guess," she muttered under her breath.
"Next?" Tony chirped, with a prideful grin.
Pepper narrowed her eyes as she thought for a moment. "Name of the town where I was born," she said.
Tony winced. "Uh...yikes. Okay. Would you settle for the state?" he asked.
"Annnnnnnd, we're done. That was fun. Thanks for playing," Pepper huffed, swiveling around on her heels.
"No, no, no, Pep. I'll get it. Okay? Hold on. Just um..." he said. He furrowed his brow, and shifted his gaze out the window, trying to remember as Pepper turned back around to face him, looking at him skeptically.
"The name of the town. The name of the town," he muttered to himself in thought. His eyes fell on the bend in the river that neared the vicinity of the cabin just outside, and his mind suddenly sparked. "Two Rivers!" he barked, swiveling his head back to her. "It's Two Rivers! Right?"
Pepper gasped, and Tony gave her a cocky grin. He scratched his nose, and chuckled. "Two Rivers, Kansas, I believe, sweetie," he chided. "That is the correct geographical location of your birth. Is it not, Pepper?" he replied.
She huffed and pouted. "How did you remember those things? I can recall only one conversation..."
"I pay attention," Tony countered, with a righteous smirk.
Pepper shook her head in denial. "No! You don't!" she spouted back. "You don't think I'm aware of how little, in fact, you pay attention to anyone other than yourself! And don't try to pretend that my life's details just happen to be at the forefront of your mind, Tony Stark! I'm not letting you off the hook with just two questions!"
Tony chuckled at her ire, and threw up his hands in surrender. "Whatever, Pep. I'll play the game for as long as you need me to just to prove I know more than you think I do," he assured.
"Great," Pepper said resolutely. "In that case, tell me, Tony? Since you know so much about me, answer me this- what am I allergic to?"
Tony stopped smirking. His face fell, and his eyes went wide. "Um, what are you allergic to?" he repeated with trepidation.
"Yes," Pepper said emphatically. "You heard me. So answer the question, smart guy. What am I allergic to?" she asked.
Tony worked his jaw as they stared at each other. Pepper cocked her head and gave him a wry smile. He narrowed his eyes. "Nothing," he purred, as his lips quirked up in a sly smile. "It's a trick question. The answer is nothing."
Pepper chuckled, clucking to herself as she walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She looked at him lustily, and raised her head to bring her lips within millimeters of his, but didn't make contact. Tony looked at her with a boastful grin, his eyes sparkling with superiority. "That's it, isn't it?" he purred. "You tried to trip me up, but I'm too smart for you, Pep. I knew it was..."
"Strawberries," Pepper purred back, and then abruptly pulled away. "It's strawberries, Tony," she stated again flatly. "You got it wrong." She then swiveled away from him once more and walked out of the kitchen.
Tony followed closely behind her. He frowned as his brain short circuited. "What? Strawberries? Are you...are you sure? Because I distinctly remember one time..."
"Since I was five, Tony," she said, as she strolled down the hall. "I break out in hives and my throat swells shut. But you would know that, wouldn't you?" she chided. She reached the end of the hall and walked inside the bathroom. She spun around to face him. "After all! You pay attention!" she said with a sardonic smirk, before shutting the door in his face.
Tony exhaled slowly and braced himself against the door jamb. "Okay, okay," he said to her through the door. "So, I didn't know about the strawberry thing. Sue me. But I bet I could answer a hundred more questions about you, and get them right," he wagered.
He heard Pepper laugh on the other side. "Oh, please!" she chirped. "A hundred! You're two out of three, currently! I hardly think you could..."
"You like to wear the color blue because you know it sets off your eyes, which I have to agree 100%, but it isn't your favorite color. That's green. You have a thing for the Carpenters, even though you won't openly admit it, but I've heard you humming "Close to You" at least half a dozen times when you didn't think anyone was around. You ran track in high school, and some in college, but only because you got a scholarship for it. But quit because you broke your ankle jumping hurdles at an inter-collegiate meet, and lost the love of the sport after that, though you still like to go running sometimes. Especially on the beach. That's when you moved to California and became a model, but then decided to go back to school for accounting because you didn't like the superficiality.
You have a scar on your left knee from tripping over a rake when you were ten while you and your cousins were playing in your parent's barn, which required four stitches and a tetanus shot in your rear. Your dad died of a heart attack when you were in high school, and that's when you got your first paying job- to help out with the family expenses. You were valedictorian of your high school class. You dated the quarter back of the football team, and were engaged to him briefly. You love to cook, and spend the weekends baking. When you get anxious, or depressed, you clean. You hate your freckles, and wish you'd got the porcelain skin and fair hair your sister has. You wish you'd learned to play a musical instrument as a kid, because you love music and boast an extensive collection, but your favorite is jazz. And..."
Just then, bathroom door was flung open, and Pepper appeared, staring at Tony silently. He recoiled defensively at her sudden presence, bracing for whatever was going to be flung at him, but soon righted himself as he realized she had no intention of lobbing something at him. It was quite the opposite, in fact, as Pepper suddenly flung her arms around his neck, and planted a kiss on his lips. He let out a cross between and "Oaf!" and a moan, and wrapped her in his arms in return, kissing her back soundly. He fell back against the opposite wall of the narrow hallway with her, but neither of them noticed.
Slowly, the kiss broke and they gazed into each others eyes. "It was a pitch fork," she murmured breathily, upon recovery.
Tony swallowed hard and frowned, his brain still sparking from the shock of her kiss. "What?" he said, not following.
"That I tripped over. It was a pitchfork. And I got six stitches in my knee, not four," she informed him softly.
Tony shrugged sheepishly. "Well," he said. "I could keep going, you know. I could talk about you all afternoon, if you wanted."
Pepper smiled, and reached up to softly peck his lips again. "Tempting, but no," she teased, with a smile. "How on Earth did you retain all of that?"
Tony teeter-tottered his head back and forth, and then shrugged again. "I told you. I pay attention," he replied.
"But why me? You can't deny you aren't this well-informed about anyone else's life, with the exception of your own and possibly Rhodey's," she said.
Tony just smiled. "Like I said, Pep," he told her. "I'm in love with you."