It's crazy how life works. How you're just going about your day, and even though it might not be the perfect day, you can still enjoy it because you feel a sense of accomplishment and the weather is nice, but then something comes at you like a freight train, ruining everything, and has left you with nothing but a headache and a trail of unwanted thoughts no amount of wishful thinking can get rid of. And there she is. In this exact predicament. Was it because she didn't want to forget at all? No, of course she did, her heart just refused to let her. They say the brain's the most powerful organ in our body, but she wouldn't miscount the heart. It drives our decisions more than anything. Especially love. Was that the reason why she was sitting here thinking about this? Him? So what if she was? Was it a problem? Maybe. But now is not the time to think of it. She could not afford opening up that piece of her broken heart again.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Morgan's voice came out of nowhere, but it hadn't startled her. In fact, she didn't even respond.

"Daisy said you bailed out on her shift because you weren't feeling well."

"It's nothing."

"Okay, obviously it's not nothing." She didn't seem sick and Morgan knew something was up the minute she got a look at her best friend's face. "Pepper, tell me, please. Let me help."

"I saw him," Pepper said, almost inaudibly.

"Him?"

"Tony."

"Tony? Tony Stark?" Morgan looked at Pepper with wide eyes. "Where?"

"At the coffee shop. I was in a rush and I must not have seen him. It just, it happened so fast. I don't know what happened." She's rambling. She knows it. "I don't like that place anyways so why did I walk-"

Morgan interrupted. "How'd it go?"

"Horrible. All I wanted was to get out of there, and I did, but he followed me and said something he knew would make me stop in my tracks."

"He said something that hurt you?"

"No, it wasn't like that," Pepper said, immediately defending him. "He thinks I hate him for what he did and he shouldn't feel that when it's so far from from the truth. What happened is in the past and I told him that. How we were just kids and it wouldn't had mattered if things had been different."

"Please, even you don't believe that."

"It's pointless to dredge up what could have happened."

"But..."

"But I'm scared. I have literally spent the last hour replaying that stupid night in my head."

"You can't let him in," Morgan said with conviction. "I know he's important to you. He's your first; there's always gonna be a spot in your heart reserved for him, but don't let him manipulate that connection."

"You say that like he wants me back."

"You're the girl that got away, Pepper. And in his heart he remembers you as the girl who was always there for him, the girl who never gave up on him even when he deserved it. I don't doubt for a second he hasn't realized what an incredible thing he's lost."


"I miss her."

Rhodey twisted his head to look at him as they sat in his car at a parking spot. "Tony, I know it's not the speed you're used to, but you're gonna have to deal with it. You don't have another choice."

He rolled his eyes and replied, "Not my car."

His best friend was shocked. "Wait, you're talking about an actual person? Who could you even possibly...Jesus, what was the one thing I said for you to not do while you were in L.A. for the week?"

"I didn't go looking for her! She literally ran into me and knocked over my coffee."

"You told me you spilled it because the cap was halfway open." Rhodey said flatly.

"Yeah, well, I lied," Tony shot back with a similar tone.

"Alright, what happened?"

"She hates me."

"She said that?"

"No, but I got this vibe from her that she wants nothing to do with me. I wanna apologize for what I did, but no moment seemed right."

Rhodey knew better than anyone how hard it had been for him to let Pepper go. Tony was feeling emotions he never expected to and he began to invest in them...slowly losing parts of himself to this person. This guy prided himself on being in control and it was as if when he figured out just what was happening, he also realized it had to stop before things got out of hand, and the only logical choice was to let go and that is where things took a turn for the worst. To this day, he wasn't sure his friend understood that.

"But, whatever, you know. It's not like I can do anything to change the past. If she's fine with the way things are, then I should be too."


"Make sure to schedule an appointment with the front desk so we can discuss your blood results next week."

"I will." She smiled at the doctor and left the exam room, heading towards the main office.

"And you've had your CT?"

"Yeah, about an hour ago."

"Good," she heard the receptionist say. "Dr. Ashford should be reviewing it, so I'm sure the wait won't be long. Nothing has changed since the last time we saw you?"

"Nope."

"Okay, have a seat and we'll call you in shortly."

This time he was the one who was smiling. He turned on his heels toward the waiting room. That's when he noticed her. You've got to be kidding me. Before he could do anything to make himself invisible, he had been caught. The two of them are now at a standstill in the middle of the hall.

"This is weird."

Pepper chuckled. That's one way to put it. Weird.

"What are the chances of us running into each other two times-"

"Tony! Great. I see you brought company." Dr. Ashford took a second to smile at the young woman. "Let's get this started."

"Oh, we're not..." Pepper had to clear up the confusion. "I'm not here with him."

"Oh, my apologies," the MD replied. The two seemed close from his perspective.

"She's just somehow I know." For some reason, he felt a need to put in his two cents.

"Well, and I don't mean to come off inconsiderate, but as long as you have someone that's not you driving you home after the procedure, she doesn't matter to me."

"Wait, procedure?"

Dr. Ashford realized at that point he had said too much.

"You should go; it doesn't concern you."

Their eyes lock at his dismissive tone and suddenly she's reminded of the parts of him she doesn't like. How his gaze could go from being filled with warmth and joy to something like it was now in a second.

Dr. Ashford asked Tony as they headed into the room, "That was a bit unnecessary, don't you think?"

What other choice did he have? He'd do anything to not let her find out the reason why he was here.

"She cares about you."

"It's not her business."

Dr. Ashford motioned for him to get seated and began to tie a tourniquet around Tony's left arm to have his blood drawn. "I reviewed the scans and it looks like there hasn't been much growth. Which means there shouldn't be any surprises in the OR come Tuesday." He handed the nurse the four vials and asked if she could get the results as soon as possible. "How are you feeling? Any more pain than usual?" He slipped a stethoscope underneath Tony's shirt. "I need you to be honest with me about this."

"No."

His one word response resulted in a raised brow from the MD.

"Look, I know you're not good at-" The door paused when he heard the sound of the door opening. "Whatever it is, I'm with a patient. It can wait." He paused when he noticed it was the same redheaded girl. "Miss, I don't know what you're doing, but you have to wait outside."

Tony's head shot up from where he sat. He didn't expect her to waltz in here so soon. She wasn't going anywhere and he knew it.

"No, it's fine," he spoke up. "She can stay."

Dr. Ashford nodded. "Let's move forward then. We're gonna repeat the same exercise as last time. If you would, lift your arm until it's 180 degrees with your shoulder."

Tony did so and Dr. Ashford made a note in his chart.

"Good. Can you clench your hand into a fist for me?"

The exercise seemed simple enough, but when she saw how much of a struggle it was for him, she started worrying. Dr. Ashford then asked if he could flex against his resistance; he didn't do too well on that either.

"I'm proud of you. You've improved. I'm gonna step out for a second to update your file. In the meantime, change into your gown. Everything from the waist up needs to come off."

The doctor was the only barrier separating them two from talking. Minutes passed, but to the both of them, it felt like years.

"You shouldn't be here."

"I didn't have the choice when I realized I was being followed by two large men who cornered me in the elevator with a confidentiality agreement."

"They're pretty cool though."

"Tony, what is wrong with your arm?"

"Nothing."

She sighed.

"My chart's right there."

"I'd like to hear it from yourself. It's not just your arm, is it?" Her question is filled with concern, no surprise there.

"Why do you want to know so bad? I thought I didn't matter to you anymore."

She opened her mouth to respond, but a soft knock interrupted her so she backed away from him and returned to her seat. He, himself, stood up and headed toward the bathroom.

"I'm glad you came back," Dr. Ashford said, proceeding to chuckle at the confused look on her face. "You sound important. There's an apparent connection between the two of you."

"You're mistaken. Tony and I-"

"Aren't in a relationship," the doctor finished. "But there was one."

"How do you know that?"

"I've been around. When you're my age, you see everything more clearly."

"Let's get this over with," Tony announced into the room.

Within the next few minutes, he was lying on his side. His back is being sanitized by Dr. Ashford while a nurse is placing leads on his chest. "Tony, please remain as still as you can."

"Here." Pepper offered him her hand and he stared at her skeptically. No matter what was going on between them, she could always offer him support. "Come on, don't be difficult."

"Alright, I'm going to administer the anesthetic. You're going to feel some pressure." Dr. Ashford felt his patient's back and quickly concluded where it'd be best to administer the medication; then proceeded.

Tony felt a sharp sting and he didn't even realize how hard he had squeezed her hand until he felt the syringe come out.

"That hurt," she joked in midst of the situation.

"Can you feel this?" Dr. Ashford asked.

"No," Tony replied. His back felt numb.

"Alright, so we'll proceed. This is the part where I need you to hold still. Keep your spine curved as much as possible. It's not comfortable, but it'll make my job easier and it'll get us done quicker."

He grunted at the overwhelming sense of pressure that was a needle being forced deep into his spine. It hurt, but he kept his breaths calm and tried not to squeeze her hand too hard no matter how much he wanted. A few seconds later, the needle reached its destination. The pain was dormant for just a few seconds, only to be pushed aside moments later by a painful groan. He heard Dr. Ashford telling him 'only a little bit more,' but the words didn't register with him until the procedure finished and he was able to relax again.

He was advised to lay flat on his back for the next hour or two until he could officially be cleared to leave. His eyes close and he let out a sigh of relief. He was about to tell her thank you, but before he knows it, he fell asleep.


Any guesses to what's wrong with Tony? I'm sure you got some ideas! It's gonna be bad before it's gonna be good. Prepare for a wild ride! Hugs and kisses to those taking the time out to leave me such lovely comments :)