FF readers, you get two chapters today, 28 and 29, since 28 was delayed.
Also, the Adventure is officially over. From here on, chapters will contain only fluff, which is intended to strengthen Tony and Pepper's relationship.
Chapter 31 will contain some details that are crucial to one character's backstory but that's the only exception.
I will not be uploading everyday. Instead, I will upload on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Tony stood in his bedroom, looking out of the window, which overlooked the canal and the main street. He was in his childhood home after eight long years.
After his parents had died, he had never come back to this house. The memories of his mother lingered here, too strong for him to bear at the time. Then Rorshach had banished him from Patait and the ownership of the house had passed back to the King.
Today he had to be here. After King Rheiner's generous gesture, Tony had to see his house again. Plus he had love in his life now and felt confident he could handle the memories.
It had been well maintained and thanks to his mother's penchant for collecting beautiful art and sculptures, the house had become an informal art showroom.
That was precisely the reason why Tony was hiding in his room. The Keeper of the house, a sonorous portly man named Dantez, was determined to give him a tour, something which Tony wanted to avoid at all cost.
I wonder when Pepper will be free from the Queen's activity... I wish I could have shown her my home... I also wish I could see her. We haven't spent much time together since that night... ah, that magical night.
He smiled at the memory of Pepper's sweet lips pressed to his and her passionate moans.
Declaring my love to her, has taken a huge load off my chest. I grew tired of hiding the way I feel... now I can know focus solely on winning her heart completely. Pepper's passion and the way she explained her fears... she clearly has feelings for me.
Three days had passed since that magical night. Tony had been kept busy by the Duke, discussing his armor and weapons and how to structure Patait's government, such that evil like the Menolestes could not surface again.
Pepper was now highly regarded by Palace members and surprisingly, even the future queen, Rania, repeatedly sought her counsel.
Tony wanted to climb up to Pepper's balcony yesterday night but had to stop as he heard voices coming from her room.
He waited and waited but it had become too late and he went to sleep, disappointed. He found out from Milene, that the young future Queen had visited Pepper and stayed with her, talking till the wee hours of the morning.
Then Tony saw two horses ride up to the entrance. One was a familiar stocky hairy male, his good friend Happy. The other was a slender woman, her red hood was pulled over her head, so he couldn't make out who she was.
But then he smiled widely as the lady slipped off her hood and dismounted, her beautiful red-gold hair glinting in the afternoon sun.
Tony ran out of his room and around the circular hallway to reach the stairs. He bounded down the steps, two by two and reached the bottom where the Keeper was lecturing the newcomers, about visiting without an appointment.
Tony ignored the conversation and ran towards Pepper, standing there, smiling sweetly at him, dressed entirely in red. He came to a grinding halt before her as he realized he couldn't just grab her and kiss her.
He swallowed and said softly, "Good afternoon, Pepper."
"Good afternoon, my lord."
He bowed deeply and kissed her hand. When he straightened, Tony could not help but grin like an idiot at Pepper, filled with the joy of her being here in his house.
Pepper was looking at him shyly, from underneath her lashes. The Keeper cleared his throat but Tony did not turn to him, he only had eyes for his lady.
"My lord... I was just explaining to the lady, that without prior appointment, no one is allowed to..."
He stopped talking abruptly as Tony turned to scowl murderously at him. "I shall excuse myself, my lord. These are clearly your guests."
"Thank god... Tony uttered, watching the Keeper plod away.
He heard a giggle and turned back to Pepper.
"I'm so happy you are here, Pepper." He said softly. "I wanted you to see my home but I did not think you could come because you were attending Queen Rania's event."
She smiled at him, her eyes so luminously blue. Happy said snarkly, "So where's my greeting, your lordship?"
Tony stared at him quietly and then picked up Happy's large sticky hand and pecked it.
"So happy to see you, Happy." he said drolly as Pepper giggled again.
Happy simpered at him, "Thank you for the flowery gesture."
"Happy, why is your hand so sticky... wait, where did you both come from?"
Pepper answered "I was in in the Queen's boudoir and Happy was waiting outside with the..."
"Jam tarts that were supposed to be served to the Queen's guests." finished Tony as Happy turned a bright red. "Did you ultimately get to eat any tarts, Pep?"
She punched him on the arm as he smirked at Happy. "Tony, stop teasing Happy. What have you been doing all day?"
Before he could answer, they heard the sound of incoherent chatter and multiple footsteps approaching.
Tony sighed deeply and said, "Just what I wanted to avoid."
Happy sighed too. "Brace yourself."
Pepper looked between them, confused. "I do not understand."
A door opened and the entrance room was suddenly filled with young boys of all shapes and sizes, swarming together in an endless barrage of dull brown.
Tony rolled his eyes as the crowd chattered on and on, the noise level amazingly loud. He yelled over the din. "These are the seminary students from the School of Patait nearby. They come here for their art appreciation class." Pepper held her hands to her ears, while Happy shoved at some students who had shoved him.
Tony told him sternly, "Happy, do not pick fights with them please... they are just young idiots." Happy huffed and stood still.
Then a shrill whistle was heard and Tony was immensely glad to see Milene walk in. She clapped her hands loudly and yelled "Oi! You lot! Settle the heck down! This is the house of Carbonell! Show some respect!"
The crowd of boys finally stopped talking and Milene took a deep breath. Then she noticed the three of them standing in the middle.
"Tony!" she exclaimed and pushed her way to them. "And Pepper! What are you doing here? Wait...Oh!" Milene went a bright red. "This is your house... I'm so sorry, Lord Stark."
Saying his name turned out to be a mistake because the boys went wild at the news that the hero of Patait was amongst them.
"Lord Stark!"
"The knight that vanquished the leader of the horsemen!"
"The knight that fought the great one!" "How did you do it, Sir?!"
Tony found himself surrounded by a sea of eager shining faces and tonsured heads. He blinked at their endless questions, coming at him from different angles.
Once again, Milene whistled and shouted, "We are here to study period art, not to harass the hero! Form an orderly line!" When they didn't move, she yelled, "NOW! Front and center! Dawdlers get extra homework for the day!"
The boys hurriedly obeyed her.
Dantez came back happily, pleased with more guests as he was giving the tour. He stood at the head of the line. Then he said in his sleepy voice, "Lord Stark, it would be an honor if you would join us."
Tony started to shake his head in the negative but he was shouted down by a tirade of boyish voices in chorus. "Please, Lord Stark! Do come with us!"
Milene looked at him pleadingly. He nodded his head reluctantly. Then Tony was pushed into the middle of the line and glanced back, to see Pepper standing where she was.
He whispered loudly to her, as the long, long line of boys, like a human train, began to move upwards. "Pep! Get over here ..."
She hesitated and he stepped out from the crowd, looped her arm around his and gently pulled her along.
"Tony... they have invited you for the tour...not me."
"This is my house and I want you to see it, Pepper.", he whispered slowly against her ear, "Besides... you and me can sneak away and get lost in this large house. I want to show you my mother's boudoir."
She flushed at his nearness, his beard grazing her face and he couldn't resist nipping the delicate flesh of her ear quickly.
At her gasp, Happy who was ahead of them in the line, looked back suspiciously but Tony gave him an innocent expression, so he turned forward.
They climbed the staircase and waited halfway up as the line had stopped moving.
Tony huffed, impatient as always and Pepper smoothed his hair.
"Excuse me, Lord Stark." they heard a squeaky voice say behind them.
Both turned to see a pimply faced skinny youth, blond with a downy beard, followed by another youth, this one stout and dark haired.
"Yes?" asked Tony.
"We... we wanted to ask... "
"Go on"
"Is it true that High Priest Rana died because you blasted him with flames?!"
Tony sighed and looked at Pepper, who had her mysterious half smile on.
"Nope, that's just a myth. We fought him the old-fashioned way... sword versus magic."
"We?" the boys said in chorus.
"Yes, me and Virginia here, we fought the priest together."
The dark one giggled while the blonde snorted derisively. "You are being too kind here, my lord. All women somehow land in trouble and it is up to a knight to save them."
Before Tony could react, Pepper asked very calmly, "Can you carry a sword, young man?"
"No." he said rudely. "I am going to be a monk."
"Well, my young monk, if there is a demon in your temple, would you able to fight it with prayer?"
"I should definitely."
She smiled serenely. "If you cannot, well, then you would also need a knight to rescue you because he can use his sword whereas you would not even have one."
"Now I may not be a knight but..." she pulled out a dagger from her robes and the boys gasped. "but I can hold my own with a knife. So if I get into trouble, I can get out of it... can you say the same?"
She smiled and twirled the knife smartly.
Tony mentally chided himself. Now is not the time to get aroused, Tony!
The line started moving and Pepper turned. Tony stared down the young man and his chubby companion, who were looking at him impudently.
"Your lady arms herself. And you are fine with that?" Pimply Blonde jeered at Tony.
He moved his face very close to the boy's and stared at him threateningly. In a firm whisper, Tony said, "My lady can use a broadsword and hack a man to pieces. She has saved my sorry behind countless times. Am I fine with that? Yes, because she is my partner. My equal. I know she will protect my back, come what may. And let me warn you. If you cross paths with her, be prepared for a fight. Virginia will not back down."
The Pimply monk gulped, intimidated by Tony's cold whisper. He and his companion walked ahead to the middle of the line.
Tony was growling to himself under his breath, irritated by the conversation. "Children I tell you... worse than the Menolestes... the demon prince was a nicer foe than them... if these are the future monks... I shudder at the thought... I don't know wh..."
He abruptly stopped as Pepper placed her soft hand on his jaw and stroked him. Then he nearly purred as she rubbed her knuckles slowly over his beard.
I love it when she does that with her soft, soft hand.
Pepper whispered to him happily, "I think I found a weak spot on you, my lord." She was enjoying his reaction to her touch, eyes shining.
He knelt his head and whispered back, "My lady, your sensual touch could turn a stone into water. I am just flesh and blood."
She sighed deeply and just then, the ringing voice of the historian came to their ears. The line was moving finally.
Tony and Pepper reached the top of the staircase.
"Now is our chance..." Tony whispered to her. The hallway was circular with two staircases at the opposite sides of its diameter. "We have come up one staircase, we just need to hide until they move ahead, then we can go downstairs."
She tsked at him and he looked at her. "What, Pepper? I want to give you a private tour." Pepper smiled at him and Tony renewed his efforts.
Think, Tony, think... where is that alcove... ah ah
He remembered his mother had a beautiful jade urn with large handles on its sides. To showcase the vase, an alcove was made in the wall and the vase placed on a stand in the niche. He had broken the vase during an enthusiastic session of hide-n-seek but the alcove was still there.
He stopped Pepper gently by the arm, when she was going to continue walking in the line.
"Stand still and follow my lead."
Tony stepped closer to the wall and pointed to the opposite end. In a sotto voice, he began to spout nonsense about the hallway's lighting.
"And you see, Virginia, four score and twenty years ago, the noble scion of Carbonell..."
Pepper grinned at his acting and pretended to pay attention.
Tony's gamble paid off. The boys surrounding them, horrified at another lecture, quickly moved around them like scurrying ants and rejoined the main line.
Tony and Pepper crept along the hallway and Tony pulled her into the alcove. They stood there, heads touching, bent towards each other because the alcove's ceiling was curved.
Pepper giggled and Tony placed his finger on her lips, smirking at her.
"Keep quiet, Pep. Let them go ahead. They will think we are not in the house. Sssh." She nodded.
They waited and sure enough, they heard Milene call out loudly from the next room, "Lord Stark! Lady Virginia!"
Then Happy said loudly, "I think they left! Let's carry on."
"Good man, Happy." Pepper murmured and Tony agreed. They waited till the noise had faded into the distance, then Pepper and Tony stepped out from the alcove. "Ok Pep, come on down the stairs."
They crept down quietly. He took her to a sitting room and opened a back window, pushing open its glass doors. Then he climbed out of it and waited but Pepper did not follow. Tony stuck his head back in, only to see Pepper glaring at him.
"Anthony Stark, how do you expect me to climb out of a window in a dress?!"
He grinned at her. "Raise the dress to your knees, sweeting. Then put one leg out on ground, I will help you."
She firmed her lips at him but did as he said.
Tony swallowed hard as Pepper lifted up her red skirt, slowly revealing her statuesque long lean legs. From his lower vantage point, inch by inch of firm porcelain flesh came into view and he bit his lip, trying to control his body's reaction.
God, if you want to smite me down dead... do it now, so the last thing I see is Pepper's lovely legs.
She placed one firm leg downwards on the ground and he grasped her hand, to give her support as she stepped down.
She pulled down her skirt and looked up to see Tony, who had forgotten to control his expression.
He stammered, embarrassed to be caught ogling. "I am sorry, really, Pepper... I ... I stare at you at times ... you have really nice legs.".
She was looking at him with that half smile of hers. He gulped nervously.
She said softly, "Tony ... I do not want to tell you this because you already are incorrigible as it is. But ..." she looked down at her feet and flushed. "I enjoy your long lingering gazes, my lord. And..." her voice dropped even lower. "I admire your body too, from time to time... when you are not looking."
Blood rushed to Tony's head and he felt slightly dizzy on hearing Pepper's soft confession. He cleared his throat. "Truly? You do?"
She smirked at him. "I do, my lord."
"Which part? I mean, what do you like?"
She clicked her tongue at him. "If I told you, then I wouldn't be able to stare at you secretly... come on Tony... I want to see your mother's boudoir."
She pulled him along by the hand.
This house looked deceptively small from the main entrance.
Pepper looked around with wonder as Tony led her through a narrow winding stone pathway, deeper and deeper into the garden.
They finally emerged in a square clearing and she gasped with pleasure at the picturesque garden before her. The stone pathway opened onto lush green grass. Flowery bushes and shrubs grew naturally on the grass in any order, unlike a traditional garden where the growth was arranged. Instead of a wall, the entire clearing was closed off by a thick wooden trellis fence on which multiple vines and creepers wound themselves. Being summertime and these being tropical flowers, everything was in bloom, so the clearing was filled with riotous color. Butterflies and bees gently floated about in the afternoon sun.
At one corner of the clearing, was a conical stone gazebo with a grey slate roof. The gazebo was made of aged, grey stone and was closed, with high, small windows and a single opening. It was neatly surrounded by a hydrangea hedge, beautifully in bloom.
There was a large old moss covered statue in one corner. Pepper took off her shoes and walked on the grass, the blades tickling her feet. She wanted to take a closer look at the statue. It had three legs and a long tail but its head was damaged, so she could not make out what animal it was.
Tony walked behind her and said softly, "It used to be a Barbary lion. Or at least a depiction of such a lion. It is horribly old. The face was covered with moss, even when I was a boy but at least its mane was visible."
"Tony, this is such a beautiful garden... did your mother design this?"
His eyes softened immediately at the mention of his .other. He suddenly looked so boyish and young as he laughed easily. "This garden was my mother's first child. She chose each bush, the creepers, even this ugly old statue, which she found rotting in another Carbonell house."
He paused, glancing down at her feet. "Pep, why have you removed your shoes?"
"I wanted to feel the grass underneath my feet. Is that alright?"
He huffed at her and said, "Of course it is alright, Pep. Wait, I am going to take off mine as well."
Pepper surprised a smirk as Tony pulled off his boots and stood wriggling his toes in the grass.
He said surprised, "It does feel good. Anyways... where was I? Oh yes. My father called this clearing my mother's boudoir since she received most of her guests here. She and I also spent a lot of time here together, I would play in the grass and she would tend to the garden near me."
He knelt down to inspect a tiny flower that was growing on the base of the statue.
Then Tony straightened and said, "Would you like to enter the Gazebo?"
Pepper exclaimed, distracted by the statue, she had completely forgotten, that there was a gazebo. They walked to the stone structure and she entered first. There were two small stools and a tiny table in one corner. Unlit candles were placed on the stone window ledge. But Pepper stared up at the portrait of the woman, high up on the front wall of the gazebo.
Even in a portrait, the vivacity of the lady was evident, from her sparkling caramel brown eyes to her lush smiling mouth. She had thick wavy black hair and a cute little button nose. Underneath her picture, was a plaque that read:
"Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation."
"Your mother seemed so ... full of life..." she whispered, awed by the presence of the lady in the gazebo. "She looks like you... I mean, Tony, you look so much like her. The thick hair... your lips... I..."
She turned, then to Tony and then turned back quickly because he was looking up at the portrait like her but his eyes were full of tears.
He whispered sadly, "My mother was so vivacious, so charming. When she entered a room, light followed her in. And she was compassionate too. That's why the house of Carbonell is respected in Patait till now. She was not like other noblewomen. She didn't turn her nose up at the poor or the downtrodden. She helped them in any way she could."
Then Pepper heard mirth in his voice as he said, "My mother and father were complete opposites. My father was a knight through and through. But around her, he was a soft romantic man. She had that effect on him. She made sure that even though I was meant to be a soldier, I was well read, I had manners, I knew how to understand art. In fact," He paused her and turned to look at her, "I do not know if you remember this, Pepper, but one day I found you asleep in my tiny library and I put you to bed."
Pepper nodded slowly. She remembered the day after that night, because Tony had winked at her in the dining room, the next morning and she had flushed violently. I think it was the first time he had ever winked at me.
"Well, what had struck me at the time, as I looked down at you sleeping, was the fact that you could read and like my mother, you were reading, well, something noblewomen usually don't read. You have that in common with her."
Pepper bit her lip at the look in Tony's wide, brown eyes, which were the color of melting chocolate.
He cleared his throat and looked back at the portrait. "When I left for my tutelage under sir Gregory, I missed my mother horribly. I missed her love and her care. I used to come home and run into her arms and hug her tightly. That time, this house was a home. Because she was always here, waiting for me when I came back..."
Pepper did not know how to react to the emotion in his voice.
What should I do... should I comfort him? But... he may not like it that I saw him emotional... should I ignore him?
Then she realized she was being a fool. Pepper turned and hugged Tony tightly around the waist, their faces touching lightly.
"Tony, your mother sounds like a wonderful woman. You have so much of her goodness in you." She gently nuzzled his face. "If she could see you now, she would be so proud of you."
Tony was trying to control his tears, he leaned his forehead against Pepper's heavily and sighed.
He whispered raggedly, "She hated that I became a knight. She hated the violence, the threat of war... what would she say if she saw me now? I am not a knight or a soldier, I am just... a man with a hole in his chest."
Pepper countered, "She would have loved that you are helping people, the way she would. It may not be an ideal way but the circumstances are not ideal either. And you do help people, Tony. You are not a mercenary for hire. You came to help Patait, even though you hardly had any money of your own."
Tony whispered, his voice full of anguish, "Many days I feel so guilty... I should have been there for them... I should have stopped their killing."
She kissed away the single tear that fell on his cheek. She pulled back in his arms and looked straight into his eyes, dark and melting with unshed tears.
"Tony, We cannot go back and change the past but I understand what you... I understand your pain. When someone dies..." she swallowed hard, her own emotions so close to the surface. "Well, we don't have them with us anymore, so we do not know what they would have approved of or hated... and that not knowing, eats at us, the living left behind. We want them to say, it is alright... we want their forgiveness, we want their understanding. But..."
She swallowed hard, the memory of her mother's blue eyes coming to her.
Pepper lowered her head, trying to control her tears. "But they aren't here anymore, Tony... And we cannot live with that guilt forever. We cannot slowly destroy ourselves, trying to please spirits. We just cannot. Instead we need to live our lives and keep their memories alive."
She raised her head to see Tony slightly nodding his head, tears gone, eyes staring into hers piercingly. She cupped his jaw, rubbing her thumb across his chin slowly.
He murmured to her, "You are right, Pepper... I did not think of it that way. I am alive and while I cannot bring them back, I can keep my mother's memory alive."
She nodded at him enthusiastically. "You let the seminary students come here for studying. Open it up to the artists and the public as well, on certain days only. Set this house up as a memorial in your mother's name. Let people come and witness her love for art."
Tony nodded thoughtfully, "You are right, Pep. She has already granted a part of her estate to the seminary. But this house as her memorial ... it is perfect."
Pepper continued, "You could even cordon off a part of the house, reserving it for public viewing. The rest of the house could remain yours. That way you could use it as a summer house." She sighed, the idea strangely filling her with pleasure.
Tony nodded eyes sparkling. "The land owner in you has helped me, Pepper. No wonder you have your own inn. It is bound to be a success."
She flushed at his awe and leaned into him slowly. "It doesn't even have a proper roof yet, Tony..."
He snorted. "That is because, Pepper my dear, you have been busy helping others ..."
At her puzzled look, he said, grinning widely, "Me and Patait... You know I'm helpless without you... I always need saving."
He put on a falsetto feminine voice, "Oooooo Pepper ... save me, save me from this nasty villain..."
She laughed aloud as he fluttered his eyes coyly at her, in a very comical manner.
He grinned at her and she couldn't resist his cute expression on his face and his warm eyes. Pepper didn't think about acceptable ladylike behavior, she leaned in and kissed Tony passionately.
Tony seemed slightly shocked by her initiative but he recovered quickly and kissed her back deeply. His warm soft lips and prickly beard made an wonderful contrast on her skin and assaulted her senses. His tongue met hers in passion and Pepper moaned loudly at the sensual magic Tony was working on her sensitive mouth.
She ran her fingers through his hair, lovingly pulling him tighter to her and then stretched herself on her toes to get a better grip.
Though their mouths were engaged in a passionate embrace, Pepper dimly realized that Tony's wide firm hands were gently moving up and down her spine, warming her as they passed over her flesh.
One hand brushed her backside and he withdrew it quickly but Pepper used her one hand to catch his and place it on her butt. She moaned again, surging against his mouth as Tony cupped her flesh firmly, massaging it with his clever fingers and then pulled her against him intimately. She could feel his firm legs, his chest pressed to hers and there was something else as well...
Pepper wriggled against the hard column of flesh pressed to her stomach, to feel it better. Tony groaned and broke off the kiss.
He was breathing hard, like he had run a race but he still held her tenderly in his arms, Pepper gasping for air herself. His hand was still on her butt cheek, moving over it slowly and she sighed as Tony looked at her with passion.
His lips were slightly swollen. Pepper did not think why, she just licked her lips and Tony gulped hard.
"Pep, pep... we need to take this slow." He panted raggedly at her, trying to catch his breath.
"Aren't we taking this slow?" She whispered back, nuzzling his face with hers.
"No... well... we are but..." he wasn't making any sense and he laughed ruefully. "I just cannot keep my hands off you."
She said against his cheek, "My lord, I am the one who kissed you this time."
He started to nip at her ear and Pepper gasped.
Tony murmured reverently against her heated flesh. "Pepper, I am hopelessly and completely besotted with you. I wouldn't let you go, even if the Devil interrupted us to grant me all my wishes. My heart, body and soul is yours, my lady."
His words inflamed her passion even more and Pepper reclaimed his lips suddenly, eliciting a moan from him this time, with her passionate response.
They were so engrossed with each other, that neither regarded the loud, confused voice of Happy calling out for them. Pepper heard it and tore her lips from Tony's, gasping. "Tony! It is..."
"It is the Devil himself, come to interrupt us... just as I predicted..." Tony murmured against her cheek, darkly and Pepper giggled.
Happy was standing right outside now and yelled, "Hey, the tour is over and you two lovebirds better get out here. I know you are in there, Tony."
Happy went on grumbling, so Tony and Pepper reluctantly separated themselves. Pepper straightened her hair and watched curiously as Tony took off his coat quickly and held it in front of himself.
"Tony, what is the matter..." she trailed off as she realized where Tony was holding the coat.
He slowly drew in a breath and exhaled in a whoosh. "I will see you at the entrance in five minutes" he said slowly.
Pepper flushed deeply and Tony sheepishly looked at her. "I cannot help it, sweeting, I find you irresistible but I can stop when we have to. Unfortunately, some parts of my body are slower to react."
He shuffled uncomfortably from one foot to the other and she giggled. Then Pepper left the gazebo, hoping Happy would not notice her flushed face and swollen lips.
