This is the end of the Valentine's special... and the beginning of something else! ;)

No copyright infringement is intended. I haven't even seen most of the Avenger's films, how could I possibly claim to own them?

TapTap

Pepper lounged on the couch with her feet on the armrest and her head on Tony's chest. Like the last ten days, they'd spent most of the day outside in the shade, with some moments in the sun. They'd looked in on the turtles from time to time, sunbathed some, and just enjoyed each others' company. Now, in the pleasant cool from sundown, a very light breeze coming in though the open french windows, they were watching what had to be episode five hundred and something of the gossip patrol's Tony Stark specials.

Tony had been beyond patient, taking his Valentine's surprise just as seriously as she knew he would, and Pepper enjoyed lying there with him, possessively dragging her fingers over his mostly naked skin, and listening to the speculations of all the people who could not have him.

Yeah... she scared herself sometimes with that possessive streak.

She was resting her cheek against his chest and lazily watching the self-proclaimed experts outright gossip without even bothering to pretend to have anything to go on anymore, when both their cellphones went off at almost exactly the same moment. Pepper's phone was just half a ring quicker, while Tony - who was playing idly with his tablet - was the quicker to pick up; even though they moved at the same time, after first exchanging a puzzled and not entirely comfortable look.

Pepper raised an eyebrow to see Phil Coulson's name as the one calling her. They had been informed, actually, that the foremost medical scientist connected to Shield had in fact been able to save his life, but it was a bit strange anyway. Not to mention how it probably meant bad news.

Next to her, Tony was greeting "Cap". Oh dear. This simply couldn't be good news for the rest of their holidays, or even in general.

"Miss Potts, I hear congratulations are in order," the agent greeted her politely as she picked up, a smiled evident in his voice. "I hear you're about to make an honest man out of our... hmmm... favourite consultant. You've got your work cut out for you!"

"I'm not afraid of a challenge, Mr Coulson," Pepper allowed herself to smile back. "Welcome back to the land of the living. What can I do for you?" It had been a few months, by now, since the Battle of New York, complete with a Sorcerer of all things taking down someone called "Thanos", Loki getting handed into the care of his foster-mother, and Shield getting exposed and shut down for attempting to nuke New York and apparently being infiltrated by, well... second world war esque fascists? Pepper tried not to think about it - it all made her rather dizzy. And she didn't pretend to understand any of it.

"I couldn't stay away. Look what a mess everything became without me!" Phil's voice was still warm. "I'm calling to ask a favour. We're still in operation, though in a severely diminished capacity for obvious reasons, and a new... situation has arised. The King and Prince of Wakanda are both involved and have promised their help but we might need some more backup. As Hydra has fallen to pieces; Banner and - I cannot believe I'm saying this - the Sorcerers has both been surpremely helpful in rooting them all out, as has Mr Rogers, something new has been revealed. A scientist trying to replicate the research of Doctor Erskine has been active in a backwater laboratory. Some test subjects died trying to defend him and the rest came into the safekeeping of the Sorcerers, as they had some idea of what to do. But that's not the reason why I'm calling."

She could hear him take a deep breath, at the the same time as she heard Tony swear at whatever he heard over at his line. "We've found Bucky Barnes. He's in custody, and we could use your fiance to take a look. I believe Steven has called him himself, but I wanted to give you the background. Now I am aware that you're on vacation and it is not necessarily too urgent, but we were hoping Tony could take a look at the schematics of his apparent metal arm and assist upon your return."

Pepper found herself speechless, finally nodding before she caught herself and answered, "I believe he can. Thank you for keeping me updated."

"Thank you, Virginia," Coulson's smile was easily audible still, and he was clearly intending to wind the conversation down. "My apologies for disrupting your time off. I hope to see you soon back in New York."

"Absolutely, and no worries," Pepper replied on autopilot, looking over at Tony as soon as they hung up. He was off the phone, looking through his tablet almost frantically. Pepper assumed he'd been sent the details they needed his help with. "Well," she said faintly, "that was interesting." Tony laughed, and welcomed her back into his arms. They had work to do. Later. Definitely later.