Been a while on this one as well, I know. But I have a feeling you might forgive me when you read the super dose of fluff I put into this chapter! I hope you enjoy it! As you know, your time and attention is MUCH appreciated. Thanks for sticking with me. :D

Pepper was about to speak when suddenly the mountain lion appeared outside the screen door. Tony instantly spun around, and started backing away from the door, toward Pepper. He stepped in front of her, his arms out defensively to his sides to protect her.

They both anxiously looked on as the animal raised up on its back legs, and propped itself against the storm door, stretching and straining the screen with its weight. They could hear the claws of the animal tearing holes in it. "Oh my God!" Pepper gasped. "What are we going to do?"

Tony's eyes shifted from the door to the coat closet. Thinking quickly, he left Pepper, and marched over to it. He yanked the door open, and Pepper watched as he dug in the back of the closet, soon producing a double-barreled, side-by-side shot gun, along with a half-empty box of shells.

"What are you doing with that?!" she exclaimed.

Tony opened the breach and popped a shell into each barrel. He snapped the breach closed again and look at her with his jaw set. "That thing decides he needs in here?" he said, nodding toward the door. "He'll get a face full."

Pepper's chest heaved. She frowned. "Do you think it would be able to get in?" she asked fearfully.

Tony rejoined her. "Hard to say, Pep. They can be pretty resourceful. All I know is, he won't like it if he does," he replied.

He was interrupted by a heavy push against the screen again, the door's frame cracking and popping against the weight, followed by a bone-chilling shriek coming from the cat. Pepper yelped in fear, and Tony pulled back the hammers as he raised the gun to his shoulder, ready to fire if needed.

The animal lowered its head when he saw Tony do this, and glared menacingly through the broken pane of glass in the front door at the two of them, huffing loudly, and emitting a low, threatening growl. "Try it, buddy," Tony muttered under his breath. "Just try it."

They continued to stare each other down for a few moments longer, until the creature decided against any further affront. It pushed itself off the screen door, making it creak loudly, and turned its back on Tony, sauntering away from the cabin and back into the trees.

When the coast was clear, Tony lowered the gun and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Then he looked at Pepper, who was still staring wide eyed at the door. She swallowed hard and glanced back and forth between him and where the beast had just been, still visibly shaken.

"Hey. Hey, come here," he told her, laying the gun down on the floor beside them, and pulled her into his arms. "He's gone, now. We're okay again," he assured.

Pepper stared at him, still alarmed. She shook her head. "No," she said. "It left because it knows it's got us trapped in here. And now it's just waiting for us, Tony! It's waiting for us to try to escape so it can...it can..." she stammered. Her chin started to quiver, unable to finish her sentence.

"Pep, hey. Come on. Don't do this. It'll be okay," Tony begged. He wrapped her back up protectively in his arms, and planted a kiss on the side of her head. He felt her trembling as she wrapped her arms around his neck tightly.

"We're never going to get out of here!" she whispered. "It won't let us!"

"Oh, yeah?" Tony said, with a smirk, as he pulled back to look at her. "I've got a shot gun and a half a box of shells that would say otherwise."

But Pepper didn't accept this. "It'll make sure we're defenseless in the coming days," she argued. "Just wait. You'll see. I have the feeling it'll trick you into having to use those shells, Tony. You said so yourself. They're very resourceful."

Tony raised a hand to gently tuck a stray lock of her hair behind her ear, and then to cup her cheek. He looked deeply into her eyes. "I'd like to think I'm a little smarter than the average bear, Pep. Or...mountain lion, as the case may be," he joked. He smiled at her, but Pepper still didn't relent.

She just shook her head. "I don't like this. I don't like it one bit," she murmured.

Tony shrugged, and then shook his head. "But, what can we do, though? We know we can't stay here forever. So we'll just have to keep watch, won't we?"

He moved away from her, and grabbed the shotgun before he walked to the door. "Just gotta take this every time I go out. That's all," he said.

Pepper quickly strode over to him. "I hope you're not thinking of going back out there!" she exclaimed.

Tony shrugged again. "I have to. Dinner's out there. I set up a trap in the inlet for fish. I gotta go see what..."

"No," Pepper interjected. She shook her head emphatically. "No. I won't allow it. You're not going back out there, Tony. Not as long as that...that," she gestured to outside. "Thing is still out there. At least not tonight."

He looked at her curiously. "Wow. This has really got you shaken, hasn't it?" he asked.

Tears started to form in Pepper's eyes. "Yes," she whispered, her voice faltering. "Please, Tony! Just...just stay here. We'll figure something else out," she pleaded, grasping the front of his shirt, her eyes searching his face desperately.

Tony searched hers in return. "Okay, Pep. Okay," he murmured, furrowing his brow. He nodded, relenting. "You got it. I'll stay put."

Pepper sighed with relief, and gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you," she said. She wrapped her arms around his neck again, and he moved to prop the gun up against the door jamb before he went to wrap her up in his. He stroked her hair to try to comfort her, and planted another kiss to her temple.

"You're welcome," he murmured back.

XxXxXxXxXx

Pepper had had enough pancake mix to whip up another batch for them for supper. Tony had sat at the dining room table and watched her cook. It seemingly calmed her down to be able to focus on cooking, which he was grateful for. He hated seeing her all worked up. She'd been through enough in the last few days. He didn't want the worry of a mountain lion skulking around outside adding to her stress.

He was fully convinced her spirits had been effectively lifted when she brought the high stack of flapjacks over to the table with a chipper smile on her face. "Bon Appetit. Again," she said, with a smirk.

"Looks great, Pep. Again," Tony joked back, and forked four of the pancakes onto his plate. He reached for the jelly once more, just as he had that morning, but Pepper objected, pushing the last of the maple syrup in his direction instead.

"Your turn," she stated.

Tony smiled, and accepted.

They ate in happy silence for several moments, and when they'd finished, Tony got up to clear their dishes from the table. Pepper smiled graciously at him, and he bent to kiss the top of her head before he made his way, their plates in hand, to the sink. "Feeling better?" he asked her, as he began to fill it with hot, soapy water.

"Yes, much. Thank you," she said, lifting her feet across to rest them on his chair. "My head finally stopped throbbing, thank God."

"Good," Tony replied. "Can't say that bruise looks any better, though," he teased, with a smirk.

"Well, they tend to look worse before they look better anyway, so..." Pepper replied back.

"True, true. Maybe it's a good thing we're out in the middle of nowhere for a few days, huh? Let that thing heal? You know. Before you have to be out in public with it?" he asked.

Pepper shrugged. "Yeah, maybe," she agreed. "Though I'm not as vain as some when it comes to my appearance. It wouldn't have bothered me either way, really," she said, eluding to Tony's own vanity.

"And if anybody were to ask, you could always say you got in a fight, and they should see the other guy," he joked.

Pepper laughed, and Tony smiled at the sight.

"Because that sounds like something I'd do. Everybody knows I walk around getting into fights with people," she commented.

Tony finished washing up, and rejoined her at the table. Pepper went to lift her feet off his chair, and he sat down when she did, but motioned for her to put her feet back up, only this time in his lap. She smiled bashfully, and did as he instructed. Then, she noticed, he began to affectionately stroke the tops of them with his fingers tips. His touch was very gentle, which gave her those fluttery butterflies in her stomach again. She couldn't help but smile to herself at the gesture. Tony noticed this, and smiled to himself in result.

"Hey, they might believe it. You are a redhead after all, Pep," Tony replied. "And a fiery one at that."

Pepper scoffed. "I'd like to think I am capable of keeping my cool in most stressful situations, Tony. You make it sound like I'm a loose cannon," she retorted.

Tony chuckled. "No, you're right. Loose cannon you are not, Pep. You keep me in line, however. Well, as much as anyone can, I suppose."

Pepper chuckled. "That is a feat in and of itself, I'd say," she teased. "Plus, you can't be stopped. Not completely, anyway. You can only hope to be contained."

Tony spluttered at her teasing him, and they laughed together. He lovingly patted the tops of her feet, and again, fluttery butterflies invaded her stomach. She blushed, and bit her lips together coyly, averting her eyes. Tony noticed, and leaned forward to look at her more closely. Pepper gave him a curious look in return. "What?" she murmured.

A smirk spread across Tony's lips, his eyes sparkling mischievously. He bit his lower lip in thought, and gently picked up one of her hands in his. "Oh. Nothing, Ms. Potts," he said innocently. Pepper watched as he slowly slid her sleeve up her forearm, and then flicked his eyes back up to hers as he began to plant soft kisses on the exposed skin, starting from the very tips of her fingers.

Pepper closed her eyes for a moment, and swallowed hard as goosebumps erupted all over her skin. "W-what are you doing?" she asked hoarsely.

Tony smirked at what his actions were clearly doing to her. "Just...enjoying you," he replied simply in low, smokey rumble.

Pepper bit her lip, and nodded weakly.

Tony gave her a questioning look. "This okay?" he asked cautiously.

Pepper's eyes flicked from where he'd left off on her arm to his eyes and back again. She swallowed hard. "Mmmhmm," she replied, rendered helpless.

He slowly smiled at her, and nodded. "Good," he said, then bracing his hands on each side of her seat and leaning forward to kiss her slowly, but soundly.

A soft, breathy moan escaped Pepper's lips and her eyebrows shot up in surprise at this move, but she quickly let herself sink into his kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck, and pulling him further into her.

He moved his hands from the sides of her chair to her hips, and, in one swift motion, pulled her to straddle his lap. He finished by slapping a hand to her rear, and squeezing her behind firmly. Pepper squeaked again in surprise, but his actions only served to fire up her desire, and she couldn't help rolling her hips against him as her body filled with need.

This time, Tony moaned. "Yeah, baby. Come here," he murmured to her, in between kisses.

He moved his lips down to her neck, and Pepper tilted her head to the side to give him better access as she closed her eyes. Her insides ignited with lust with each passing moment. But, instinctively, her brain also screamed at her to stop what they were doing, before it got too far. That it was too much, too fast. And this was Tony Stark, after all. That he'd probably take whatever she'd give to him at that moment, but push it to the utmost limit if she let him.

"Sex," she blurted out breathlessly, thoughtlessly, in the heat of the moment.

Tony pulled back and looked at her with a wide grin, and wild-eyed anticipation. "Yes, ma'am!" he growled lustily.

Pepper huffed, and grimaced with embarrassment. "No, I'm sorry. I mean," she stammered. "I mean, I feel like this- what we're doing- is only going to lead down one road. Down that road."

Tony studied her face, frowning. He shook his head. "Not if you don't want it to, Pep," he assured.

Pepper hesitated, as she did hate to end the moment this way. Especially since she really was enjoying what he was doing to her. But, she reminded herself, everything was still so new between them. And if this relationship was worth anything to either of them, they'd slow it down, and take their time. Obviously not the more desired action at the moment, but one that would make it all worth it in the end, she was convinced.

"It's not that I don't want it to, Tony," Pepper explained. "It's that I...don't think we should. Not yet, anyway."

Tony worked his jaw, and then teeter-tottered his head back and forth, considering her words. Then he sighed heavily, and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, okay," he said finally, relenting. "You're probably right."

Pepper gave him a pained look, but then nodded in agreement. She reluctantly moved to climb off of his lap and back into her chair. But Tony stopped her, grasping her wrist, and looking into her eyes. Then slowly, he tilted his head up, and kissed her lips gently. Pepper kissed him back. After a few moments, Tony broke the simple kiss, and gazed into her eyes again. And Pepper looked at him curiously.

"What was that for?" she murmured, with a soft smile spread across her lips.

"That," Tony said with a smirk. "Was an 'I love you and I understand' kiss, Miss Potts," he explained.

Pepper chuckled, and Tony smiled at her. He took her hand in his, and affectionately kissed the back of it. "And I do, I hope you know. On both counts," he assured her.

Pepper bit her lip coyly, and nodded in understanding. "I do know," she said. "And I appreciate it. On both counts," she replied.

"As long as it takes, Pep. I'll wait for you for as long as it takes," Tony murmured, gazing into her eyes.

"Good to know," Pepper replied, giving him a warm smile and another soft peck on the lips. Then she climbed off his lap, and held out her hand to him. "This doesn't mean the night has to end, you know. I think we could use some time on the couch together, relaxing in front of the fireplace, hmmm? How does that sound?" she asked.

Tony took her hand. "A chance to spend a romantic evening with you in my arms?" he asked, with a smirk. He interlaced their fingers, and Pepper smiled at the gesture. "Sounds amazing," he answered, looking deeply into her eyes before rising up from his chair.

Pepper nodded and grinned. "Glad to hear it," she said, as she led them into the living room.