How about a little Christmas-y Pepperony fluff, hmmm? And maybe a dash of smut? ;) Tis' the season!

Once Pepper had got dressed again, and she followed Tony down the hall to the bedroom as he'd instructed, she stood at the top of the plywood steps and peered apprehensively down into the darkness of the cellar. And then she glanced nervously back at him. "Tony, what's down there?" she asked, with a wary look.

But he just smiled, and grabbed her hand. "Just the best thing that could've ever happened to us," he assured, his eyes sparkling with excitement. But Pepper furrowed her brow, still leery, and pursed her lips. However, she let him go in front of her, and guide her down the steps anyway.

"Easy, eeee-asy. That's it, watch your step," he cautioned as they descended lower and lower into the space. Then Tony stopped suddenly on the steps. Pepper halted when he did, and then squinted into the darkness around them. "Annnnddd, voila," he said, as he flicked on his flash light, and showed its light around the room.

Pepper's eyes went wide. "Oh, wow!" she gasped when she saw what Tony had brought her to see. Then she beamed at him and he smiled widely back, glad to see the look of relief on her face.

"I know, right?" he replied giddily. "I mean, look at this stuff!" he said.

The floor and the perimeter of the cellar walls were lined with thick metal sheeting, and wooden shelves were stacked against them, housing various containers that held a plethora of food stuffs and other supplies, like paper goods, as well as batteries, lighter fluid, matches, lanterns and candles. From containers of sugar and flour, to canned meats, fruits and vegetables, there was enough food there to easily get them through a nuclear fallout, never mind the next few days.

"It's like this was built to be a bomb shelter or something," Pepper observed, as she grabbed the second flashlight on the step and walked past him. She picked up a can of food off one of the shelves to check the expiration date- which she found was set for a couple of years past the current date, much to her delight. Then she put the item back on its shelf, and turned her attention to the space around her, furrowing her brow in thought at the metal lining the room. "Do you think that's lead?" she asked Tony. "Like to prevent exposure to radiation?"

He shrugged. "That would be my guess," he replied, walking over to her. "All I know is whoever these people are, their doomsday prepping has saved our bacon big time," he remarked.

"You can say that again," she agreed, looking around. Then she turned back to Tony, and winced. "I feel guilty, though. For pillaging their stockpile like this?"

Tony turned the corners of his mouth down and nodded once. "Okay, then. We'll just go eat our dry goose, and our last can of creamed corn. Or you can. Even on the brink of starvation, it's still gonna be a no for me," he joked. "And then, after that, we'll just sit around and pretend this doesn't exist."

Pepper scoffed. "Hey! The goose will not be dry, I'll have you know," she retorted. "And I thought you said you wouldn't let us starve?"

But Tony smirked. "Right! And I'll keep my word, which suddenly got a whole lot easier to do!" he replied, gesturing to the newly discovered provisions surrounding them, then turning his eyes back to meet hers. "Seriously. Why would we not take advantage of this, Pep? I mean, you know I'm not a religious man, but come on! It is Christmas and all, and this has gotta be nothing short of some kind of a...a...miracle. Or something..."

Pepper started giggling at his zealousness. "Alright, alright! You can step down from the pulpit, now, preacher. I get it," she interjected, with a smirk. Tony chuckled, and smirked back at her. Then she turned to lay a hand on his chest.

"Then, can I at least get an amen, sister? Or a 'hallelujah'?" he teased, trying to do his best Evangelical preacher impression, as he slid his arms around her waist, pulling her close. She laughed again.

"What you can do is leave these people a note stating how we are eternally grateful for them saving us from starvation in a blizzard, and the address to which they can send the bill for whatever will need to be replaced," she explained resolutely.

Tony smiled, and nodded once in acknowledgment. "Deal. Not to mention the fact that they also saved me from being forced to ingest any creamed corn," he quipped.

Pepper chuckled. "Again with this?" she asked, with a teasing smirk.

XxXxXxXx

A short time later, while Pepper was in the kitchen preparing the side dishes she'd selected from the cellar (her decision landing on some canned new potatoes, corn, and jellied cranberries that she'd found), Tony went back to finishing what he'd set out to do in the first place- making a soft place for them in front of the fireplace. And his heart skipped a beat every time he thought about what it was they would be doing together in that place. If he was being honest, he was feeling positively giddy about it, in fact. He couldn't wait for the chance to make love to her- the way it should be.

"The way you deserve it to be, Pep," he muttered to himself with a self-assured smile as he worked.

Sliding the big square coffee table back against the sofa, he then managed to pull the queen mattress from the bedroom they'd been in into the living room, letting it flop down with a heavy thud in front of the hearth. Pepper heard this, and Tony saw her peek around the corner to eye what he was doing, as he was beginning to remake the bed with the linens he'd pulled off the bed earlier.

"Ah, ah, ah, Potts! No peeking!" he admonished playfully.

"Well, what do you expect, when it sounds like you're parading elephants through the room," she teased. "And by the looks of it, you've got some big plans for us, there, Stark," she remarked, nodding toward the mattress.

Tony's eyebrows shot up in alarm, and he paused mid-tuck. "Uh...should I not?" he asked cautiously, his eyes wide as he looked at her, fearing his hopes would be suddenly dashed.

Pepper chuckled, and gave him a coy smile. "Oh, I...didn't say that," she joked, with a coy smirk, before spinning around to return to the kitchen.

Tony blew out a long relieved sigh that he hadn't overstepped some boundary he wasn't aware of, and then went back to what he was doing. Despite everything, she was still the one calling the shots in terms of their level of intimacy, and he needed her to know that. "The goal here is to make this place as comfy and cozy for us as possible," he informed her, as he continued. "Whatever we do after that..." he went on to say. "Is...entirely up to you, Pep."

"Oh, I know," she called out in agreement, smiling to herself at him wanting to reassure her. And she kept smiling, as the giddy butterflies that had been fluttering in her stomach since their first kiss rapidly reached a fevered frenzy once more at the thought that her fantasy she'd had about them while in the bathtub earlier was virtually on the edge of coming true. She bit her lips together, trying her hardest to stifle the smile, but her rebellious cheeks pulled at the corners of her mouth once again, and she found she couldn't keep herself from grinning. Her skin rippled with goosebumps as the precursory vision of her being in Tony's arms later as he made love to her flooded her mind, and her cheeks flushed as a result, making her shake her head in disbelief at what just the thought of them together in that way was doing to her. Love sick, she resolved. There's no other word to describe it. I am love sick. And clearly, he's as excited about us as I am, she mused blissfully. She was aching to know everything he had planned for them that evening, but instead she focused back on the task at hand, not wanting any more of his surprise to be spoiled.

She'd opened the cans of the vegetables, and had found a sauce pan with which to warm them. For the new potatoes, she would have preferred a little olive oil to saute them in, but all she'd been able to find were a few basic spices, and salt and pepper. So she decided to keep it simple- seasoning them as they warmed. It would be a simple dish, but she was grateful to have it all the same.

Soon, both the potatoes and the corn had heated through, and she'd found two small glass bowls to serve them in, as well as a passable container to pour the jellied cranberries into. She set all of the items on the table, and then went about carving their prized goose, which had reached a perfect golden brown on its backside, wings, and drumsticks. The breast she'd placed downward in the pan so as to submerse it in whatever drippings it would end up rendering in order to prevent it from being dry, as she knew game bird tended to be on account of them generally being so lean. So, as she carefully turned the bird over in the pan to begin carving it, she smiled, very pleased at the sight of the clear juices running from the meat, indicating it was thoroughly cooked, and would certainly be moist and delicious. She made her first cut just to one side of the breast bone, and sure enough, the meat was completely tender, and glistening with its own clear broth on the inside. "Perfect," she cooed softly to herself in excitement that it had turned out so well, and that she knew Tony would probably love it, too. Another wide smile spread over her lips from the feeling of satisfaction she was getting from cooking for him. Over the years, she'd brought different things to work with her to share with him on occasion. She'd even happily gone to the trouble of making him homemade chicken noodle soup a few times in the past when he'd been sure he was dying from the common cold. But there was something different about it this time. Maybe it was the setting. Or how domesticated it all felt. Or even how comfortable she was in this role, and how easily it seemed that they'd fallen into step with each other in making the best of the situation. Tony had been seeing to their safety and comfort, and he'd taken it upon himself to, for all intents and purposes, gather their main food sources. And she'd seen to taking what he'd gathered, and making it all into something that not only would sustain them, but would also be enjoyable enough to eat- furthering that sense of comfort in what could have otherwise been a very different, and much bleaker, situation.

Pepper was all for the sharing of domestic responsibilities between couples. So, had Tony had even one iota of ability to cook, she would've been happy to hand over the wooden spoon to him at any point to prepare a meal. But he didn't. And that was the truth. (It often both amused and amazed her that someone who had a genius level IQ could be so inept in something. In fact, had she not taken it upon herself to monitor his nutrition since she'd become his assistant, and made sure his diet was at least somewhat balanced, he would have strictly relegated himself to eating fast food, take-out, or pouring something out of a box into a bowl and drowning it in milk for every meal.) So, because she was far more capable of finding her way around the kitchen than he was, she'd naturally elected to take up this post. But honestly, she didn't at all mind. She'd always enjoyed cooking, and food, and it wasn't a secret that Tony enjoyed her cooking, and food, for that matter, as well. However, this time, in this place, and given the current state of their relationship, calling him to the dinner table to eat what she'd made for them was making her feel like they were, in fact, an honest to goodness couple- one that was not only sexually compatible, so far as they'd experienced, but also compatible in what could otherwise be considered sharing a residence together. And, if she was being honest, that excited her. Immensely.

Her cheeks blushed again in reaction to where her mind had gone, and she bit her lips together, shaking her head. Don't get ahead of yourself, she warned. This isn't about playing house. You weren't put in this situation by choice. What else were you supposed to do but wait out the storm together?

Oh, but how wonderful it's been!, her heart called back in reply. And why SHOULDN'T you wonder what a life with him would be like? You're in love! It's only natural!

For a brief moment, she envisioned waking up beside him in bed each morning, held tightly in his arms as the bright California sunshine would be warming their skin, left bare from their activities the night before. She imagined him gently combing his fingers through her hair, and laying a soft kiss to her temple before murmuring, "Good morning, beautiful," to her in that low, rumbly baritone she'd always secretly admired, her skin erupting with goosebumps as a result.

Her hands stopped working with the goose for a moment, the utensils she was holding hanging in mid air as her imagination drifted to thoughts of him then moving to crouch back over her body, and position himself between her spread legs to take advantage of the morning erection he'd be sporting, she had no doubt. A small gasp left her mouth as she envisioned him slowly sliding into her opening, their bodies fitting together perfectly as they began to make love.

"This feels amazing, baby," she could almost hear him murmur to her.

"It does," she whispered out loud in breathy agreement, however unaware that she had.

She closed her eyes for a moment as she envisioned them moving in tandem, their eyes fixed on each other with every slow and deep thrust, only occasionally breaking their gaze for him to lower his head down to kiss her deeply again, his tongue performing a sensuous perpetual roll inside her mouth, virtually mimicking his member's movements inside her.

She let out a raspy, "Oh!" as the imaginary pleasure started to well in her body. But she quickly caught herself, and abruptly popped her eyes open, hastily grasping the edge of the counter to steady herself. She inhaled sharply in a startled gasp, and then sighed, shaking her head again in disbelief that her over-active imagination had so easily high-jacked her mind, swiftly taking her away in the moment.

"Okay. That's enough of that," she murmured, admonishing herself under her breath as she went back to carving the last of the goose. Reluctantly pulling herself from her daydream, she raised her head to speak. "Tony? How close are you to being done?" she called out from the kitchen.

"Getting there, Pep. But I can put it on hold for a minute. Why? Is dinner ready?" she heard him ask eagerly.

"Why? Are you hungry?" she asked teasingly in reply.

He appeared around the corner of kitchen. "Starving. It smells amazing in here," he told her, with an anticipatory grin. "You've got me drooling all over myself just thinking about it."

Pepper chuckled and walked over to him, with her greasy hands held up and to the sides so as not to touch him, and pecked his lips. He pecked hers back, and then smiled lovingly at her.

"Well, drool no more. You'll be happy to know dinner is served," she purred, and Tony pumped his eyebrows and moaned in approval.

Pepper washed off her hands as he took a seat at the end of the table. She placed the carved goose in the center of it, and he cooed happily at the sight of it. "Looks fantastic," he murmured, and she smiled in knowing satisfaction to herself as she went back to the cupboards for two plates, and some silverware. When she returned to the table, and dispersed everything she'd gathered, Tony reached for her hand, and brought the back of it to his lips for a kiss, his eyes gazing lovingly up at hers. She gave him a loving smile back.

"Thank you, honey," he purred softly to her. "For doing all of this."

Pepper smiled again, and bent down to place a gentle, lingering kiss on his lips. Then she opened her eyes, and smiled lovingly once more. "You're most welcome," she purred back.

"Feeling a little better about our situation, now?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow in curiosity.

Pepper gave him an amused smile. "Now that we both know we won't starve, you mean? You bet," she teased, and he chuckled sheepishly.

"Oh! Water glasses. I almost forgot!" she suddenly recalled, as she stood upright again. She broke away from Tony's grasp, and he watched as she retrieved two glass from the cupboard. His eyes followed her as she filled them in the sink, and then brought them back to the table, placing each one in front of their respective place settings. "It isn't exactly a Zinfandel to go with our goose, but at least our whistles will be wetted," she remarked, as she sat down beside him in the chair facing perpendicular to his.

Tony shrugged. "Meh. Something for us to look forward to when we get home," he replied with a smile, as they both began to dish up the food onto their plates.

Pepper smiled at the thought of them opening a bottle of wine, and enjoying a romantic evening together as they drank it, once they got back to Malibu. But she was also thrilled that Tony really was thinking about them as a couple past their current circumstances, just as she had. So she nodded in approval of his idea. "I think that would be wonderful," she commented.

Tony smiled back at her again, and then began forking some of the food on his plate. He took a bite of the goose, and instantly melted in delight, chewing it slowly and closing his eyes in delight. Pepper contentedly watched him enjoying it so much, and their eyes met once again when he reopened his. He looked at her with complete admiration. "Mmmmmm. Wow, Potts. That's a mean Christmas goose if ever I've eaten one," he complimented. "It tastes just like the dark meat on a turkey! How'd you do that?"

Pepper gave him a mischievous grin. "I happen to have a few secrets I use in the kitchen, Mr. Stark," she cooed coyly, which made him chuckle.

"Well, whatever you did, it's fabulous. It all is. Now, I'm sure I picked the right girl," he teased. Pepper chuckled, and he gave her a playful wink and a smile as they both dug into their food.

Their unrealized prior hunger became apparent as they went quiet for several minutes while contentedly eating. Pepper flicked her eyes to the window, watching the drifting snow flakes fall lazily to the ground outside. There was no wind, so the harsh threat of the cold weather seemed very much lessened from before. Now, the outside world just seemed muted and dreamlike, while the inside of the cabin felt protective and warm, especially since she was so enjoying being in the company of the man sitting next to her. This has quickly turned out to be the perfect way to spend the holiday, she admitted to herself, and her lips spread to a soft smile.

"What? What is it, Pep?" she heard Tony ask, and she pulled her eyes from the window to look at him.

"I'm sorry?" she asked, unaware that he'd observed her getting lost in thought.

"You," he said with his mouth once again full. He gestured with the tines of his forks toward her expression, and gave her a curious look. "You suddenly started smiling. Care to share?" he asked.

Pepper blushed and spluttered as she bashfully averted her eyes. "Oh, I was just...it's..." she stammered. "I was, um, just watching the snow fall. And admiring how beautiful it was," she explained.

Tony smiled and reached to grasp her hand that was lying on the table beside her plate. He gave it a loving squeeze in his. "It is beautiful, isn't it?" he agreed, shifting his gaze out the window for a moment, then back to her. But then his expression fell to one of concern. "Hey, I'm...sorry you couldn't make it back to Kansas. I know you were excited to see your family."

Pepper's smile somewhat faded and her eyes filled with regret, though she gave him a weak smile. "I was, yes," she agreed. He gave her a sympathetic smile, but she could see a tinge of disappointment in his eyes. Fearing she'd made him feel like she'd only thought of him as some kind of second rate substitute, she decided to be completely honest with him, as there was very little left to risk by doing so, and she had to rectify any misgivings between them. "Really, though, Tony? I'm more than happy to be here with you right now," she explained. "Truth is, I'm...enjoying it very much. And not just the obvious parts..."

"Though they've been smoking hot, but you digress," he joked, with a smirk.

Pepper chuckled bashfully at him teasing her. "But...everything else, too. That's actually what was making me smile just now," she revealed.

His eyes suddenly brightened, and he smiled and nodded in understanding. "Fair enough, Potts," he replied softly. "I was hoping you thought that. Because that's what I think, too. Just being with each other is pretty great," he admitted sheepishly.

The butterflies in Pepper's stomach kicked up again in their giddy frenzy at his admission, and she grinned. But then she furrowed her eyebrows, and began to chew her lip in thought before speaking again. "But..." She took a moment to consider her words, wondering if what she was thinking would be too forthright to say out loud. She feared sounding too possessive of him in this early stage.

"But?" Tony parroted, a hint of worry ghosted over his face. Pepper tried to give him a sympathetic smile before she took a deep breath, and began again.

"I...had also thought that...if you wanted- and believe me, it's only if you'd want to. I completely understand if it's too much..." she rambled.

"Just tell me, baby. What is it?" he pressed, gazing at her intently.

Pepper studied his expectant eyes for a moment longer before pushing herself to speak once more. "I...just thought that...maybe...if we get back in time, I could...bring you with me? To mama's? For New Year's?" she asked him, her words measured and her tone cautious. Her eyes scanned his face to try gauge his reaction. However, he didn't react. He only stared at her, blankly, eyes wide.

"But only if you wanted," she reiterated, giving him a nervous smile, then quickly adverting her eyes, feeling his gaze still on her. She heard him swallow hard, and then he spoke.

"You...want me to...fly to Kansas with you? And...meet your family?" he finally muttered, his voice a soft rasp.

She closed her eyes in embarrassment, and let out a defeated sigh as she felt the blood rush to her cheeks. What were you thinking? He's not ready for that. You've done it now! You've made this whole situation COMPLETELY awkward and embarrassing! And you were worried that HE would be the one to move too fast?! Well, way to go! You've probably lost him for good now!, she admonished herself.

She pursed her lips, and opened her eyes to a pained squint, her expression frozen in a wince, made worse when she saw him still staring back at her, his face still blank, and his eyes still wide in disbelief. It was she who swallowed hard, now, realizing she had no choice but to own the words a big part of her wished so desperately now to take back. "I'm...sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable in asking," she began. "Really. I don't want you to go if you don't want to. I just thought I'd offer, and..."

"I want to," Tony suddenly interjected. Pepper watched in disbelief as his face thawed and his lips began to curl upwards in an ecstatic, yet shocked, smile. He began nodding, as if trying to reassure himself that what she'd said was real. "I do. I really do. I'd...love to meet your family, Pep. That would be...terrific," he told her.

Pepper softened, and beamed at him, her heart full at the sight of how appreciative he was of her invitation. "It would? You'd really want to?" she asked excitedly.

Tony grinned, still nodding. "I would," he assured. "The chance to spend time with my girlfriend and her family? Are you kidding?" he said. "I just... I can't believe you'd actually want this guy to tag along! I mean..."

"It's sudden," she pointed out, nodding emphatically in understanding.

"Yeah. And..."

"We've only just started our relationship," she finished again.

Tony nodded. "Uh huh," he agreed. But then he backtracked. "I mean, the romantic part of it, anyway. We have known each other for a long time," he reminded her.

"Seems like eons," she commented in agreement.

Tony quickly grinned and then nodded again. "Right. So...in that light it only feels..."

"Natural," Pepper interjected.

Tony sighed contently, and then smiled. "Right. That's it. You said it perfectly," he cooed. "You always know just..."

"What you're thinking?" Pepper wagered, with a knowing smirk.

Tony chuckled, and nodded. "Yeah. Exactly," he resolved with an admiring smile. They both smiled at each other, and he leaned in to kiss her lips. Pepper did the same, and let the kiss linger. Then, when it broke, Tony reached to tenderly cup her cheek with his hand. He gazed into her eyes with adoration, as he rested his forehead on hers.

"Thank you, baby. It means a lot," he said softly.

Pepper gave him a loving smile. "Well, I just know Mama will love you," she murmured to him. "Because I love you."

Tony grinned. "I hope so. I want her to. Because I love you," he replied, making Pepper blush again before leaning back in for another kiss.