Thanks helokutu and Toni for your kind comments.


Docendo Discimus

"By teaching, we learn."

It was as if a heavy weight had been lifted off Pepper's chest. Finally she had been completely truthful with Tony. And he still loved her, still respected her. He was still hers.

Pepper was embarrassed to face the Botafogo's crew after her nightmare. But when she went on deck the next day, all the sailors were their same polite selves. Not a curious glance was made at her or a whispered snarky comment was heard.

Tony had something to do with this. He has had a word or more with the crew. Or threatened them with dire consequences.

The thought of Tony glaring down the crew in order to protect her from gossip, made her smile widely. The man in question was standing at the bulwark. The wind ruffled his hair as he used his telescope to peer out at the ocean. He turned to smile at her slowly, looking so boyishly handsome, she felt her breath catch.

He truly is my protector. Mine... I feel so blessed...

She felt shy, at the same time, full of love for him. Love won over shyness and Pepper moved close to him and kissed him on his cheek softly. In broad daylight and in full view of the crew.

She flushed at her forwardness but he smiled even more and pulled her to his side, holding her close to him.

"Good morning my lady... I hope you could sleep after the storm last night." He said to her softly.

"Yes my lord, thanks to my extremely comfortable pillow."

He grinned at her, knowing she was referring to him holding her the whole night. So she couldn't resist teasing him.

"But it was very pokey in one area, one at night and again in the early hours of the morning."

Tony turned bright red and Pepper laughed.

He whispered against her ear apologetically. "Pillows have feelings too, you know. When a beautiful woman is held against it all night... it is very difficult for said pillow to control its reactions."

She whispered back, "I love that said pillow cannot control its reactions around me."

"Pep..." he said growing serious, "I want to talk about your ability... your power to control fire."

She tensed and he said quickly, "Please do not get upset. I just have a suggestion."

She nodded. Hear him out. Do not jump to conclusions.

"Well... I was thinking about how you... how you call upon your power. It is always through a strong emotion, right?"

"It is always through anger or rage, Tony." She said sadly. "When the Celestial Being swiped at you with its paw and you were hurt badly... I got so angry and I felt so helpless... I was scared... I was scared I would lose you."

He murmured "Well, seeing you fall off the roof, made me fly, so I think it is safe to say our feelings for each other, lend us strength when we think all is lost. But Pep... you should not be ashamed of your power. It is a part of you and you are a part of it and you should accept it with pride."

"It does nothing but harm, Tony. Or kill."

He nuzzled her face lovingly. "Pep, it has saved me twice. Thrice actually. I would be dead today if you had not used it. Patait would be under Rana's and the Captain's control. The Duke would be dead. If you had not used your powers...think what would have happened."

She looked away, confused by his words. Perhaps he has a point.

"What I am trying to say is that... I want to help you. I want to help you control your power. I can help you use it, Pepper..." he said earnestly.

"You mean you would train me...?"

"I hesitate to use the word, 'train' because ... well, my flame is just a matchstick compared to your fire. Also, you can create fire from thin air. But I can help you practice. I can show you how to focus. How to use yourself, your spirit to conjure it. How to control it. When we fought the Demon Lord Asmoedeus..."

Look at him, he is so excited. Any other man would have asked me to hide my powers away. Tony wants to help me use it. God bless him.

"I let out my flame and I used my mind to move it away from me. It was amazing and I want to practice it more. You have the same ability except magnified. We can train and spar together."

He grasped her hands tightly, eyes shining with excitement. "Pepper, the Dragon tells me again and again. That our flames compliment each other. And you could control my flame beautifully against Rana."

She flushed at his obvious admiration. "Tony! That was more you than me."

"No..." he countered. "That was us. Together. Pepper, together our flames are..." he whispered reverently. "Well they are invincible. You used your hands and moved my power within me. I had never felt so powerful before."

He kissed her palms slowly and looked at her eyes, melting whiskey. "Let us train together, my lady... and I promise you ... you will not be helpless anymore."

She gasped at the happiness, his words were bringing her. "I could control it instead of it controlling me."

"Yes and we will start slowly." His eyes twinkled at her.

"What do you have in mind?" she drawled, knowing Tony had definitely collected a number of training ideas.

"Well... we could start with some chickens..."

"Chickens?!"

"Yes, you could practice using your flame orbs to hit them from a distance and grill them nicely." He licked his lips and she laughed at his comical expression.

"Tony! Are you hungry?"

"Starving actually..."

"Let us eat some breakfast then and then we can go over these training plans of yours."

"Ohhh, I have so many ideas Pep, that we can start with. .."

She kissed him mid-sentence and then pulled him along happily. "Come on Tony ... you can tell me more, along with breakfast."


It was a dull gloomy day. The sort of day where it would not actually rain but seemed as if it would. It did not matter to Tony, his step was light, his mood was happy and he whistled as he dismounted and walked to the milliner, Janice's door. He had come to see if Pepper was at home.

They had disembarked from the Botafogo two days ago. He had mentally resolved to give Pepper some space, not to expect too much from her suddenly.

Keeping this in mind, he did not ask her to stay at Stark Keep. He was going to take this slow. And if she stayed two doors down from his bedroom, then all his good intentions would be for naught.

So he escorted Pepper to the milliner's doorstep, carried her bags up to her room and kissed her soundly, then went home. He chuckled now as he recalled her astonished expression, when he left her in her room.

He had let her settle for a day, not meeting her, even though he had paced up and down his Keep, because all he actually wanted to do was meet Pepper. Finally he forced himself to sit in his workshop and work on his armor.

He had told Jarvis and Magdalene, all about their adventure in Patait, his title being restored to him and the best news of all, that Pepper and him were courting. The normally reserved Jarvis whooped with joy while Magdalene cryptically remarked that she was glad, she did not do what she wanted to do before he left for Patait. Even Tigliath seemed to sense that Tony was happy and was behaving like his normal self.

Tony rapped smartly on the door. We can go for a ride... a long ride... we could go to that meadow! The one I used to go to, to avoid Pepper's company ... and then we can talk... and do other things with our mouths as well...

He was busy imagining Pepper and himself in the meadow, when the door was opened by Happy's wife Stephanie.

Tony gulped hard, scared of the diminutive woman and her wrath. She is Pepper's guardian angel. I hope Pepper has told her about us courting...

Her gaze softened at the sight of him and she said warmly, "Lord Stark... how nice to see you!"

He exhaled in relief. Thank you, Pepper.

The milliner peered around Stephanie's shoulder and said helpfully, "Lord Stark, Pepper is not here. She left you a message."

Stephanie handed Tony a tiny pink piece of paper. In her crisp but delicate handwriting, Pepper had written:

Lord Stark,

I have gone to Boron to work on the Inn. I'm sorry I missed you. Mayhap we can meet tomorrow?

Tony carefully tucked the note into his coat pocket and asked, "How long ago did she leave?"

Janice said casually, "Oh, she left pretty early in the morning... She just grabbed an apple and left... hey, how would she get lunch?"

But Tony was already running back to his horse, determined to meet Pepper in Boron, for lunch.

"Thank you!" he yelled at the two giggling ladies in the doorway.


It was a half hour brisk ride but he was at the outskirts of Boron. He left Balthazar, happily grazing in a nearby meadow, with Pepper's horse, Aurora. Now catching the basket of food in his hand, Tony walked to the Inn.

He was pleasantly surprised to see that some changes, for the better, had been made to the Inn. An iron gateway, with an arch, was in place at the entrance to its yard. A tiny vine was slowly growing over the gateway, so when it fully grew, it would picturesquely cover the archway in green. Fresh shoots of grass had grown over the front of the yard. The building itself, still needed work.

He was now slightly unsure of his welcome. Pepper did not ask me to come here... I should have waited for an invitation...yeesh...what if she gets angry...

The pretty, Maid from Boron, what was her name again , was standing on a balcony above the main entrance. She shouted out in greeting, "Hello, Lord Stark!"

He nodded back and yelled "Where is Lady Virginia?"

One floor above her, his red-haired goddess poked her head out from a window and yelled, "Tony! Is that you? Whatever are you doing here? Wait, I am coming down..."

Tony huffed in worry. She does not sound too pleased.

Pepper came running out of the building, dressed in her ordinary brown dress. But she looked adorable because her face was streaked with soot and dust. A large dust bunny was on her forehead and she blew her hair out of her eyes as she came before him, because it had come undone. Tony wanted to lift her up and snuggle her, dust and all but he did not think she would like that.

He gulped at the stern look in her eyes. She said equally sternly, "Anthony Stark, what are you doing here, so far away from your Keep?"

He blurted out his only excuse. "I brought you lunch, my lady."

He lifted the basket and then a loud squeal of delight was heard. Pepper rolled her eyes as the Maid came bounding towards them.

"Lord Stark, why how thoughtful..." She batted her eyes at him and Tony looked at Pepper askance .

Pepper told her strictly, "Go eat lunch, Beatrice."

As the maid walked away, Tony looked at Pepper, who was looking at him thoughtfully.

"Tony... thank you for bringing lunch. Thank you... but why are you really here?"

He said earnestly, "Pep, I came just to see you. I'm not going to interfere in what you do. If you want me to leave, I will leave."

She watched him quietly and said, "I'm not trying to be difficult, Tony ... I'm just..."

"This is your baby and you want to take care of it on your own. I completely understand. I'll leave."

He turned and took two steps, when she said, "Wait, Tony."

He turned and she came closer. He relaxed when he saw a familiar soft look on Pepper's face.

She took his hand. "We do need help today as Johan is not there and Pyotr cannot handle the work on his own. I mean he can but... it would slow us down. And me and Beatrice are busy cleaning the first floor and second floor."

He nodded, happy she was including him. "Definitely Pepper, I want to help. Just point me in the right direction."

"But..." she bit her lip uncertainly "it is manual labor. I mean you would be a handyman... helping Pyotr with his work. You would need to get your hands dirty."

He pulled her to him. "I want to be handy for you... and to you..." he said mischievously in her ear. She laughed and said, "Poor joke, Tony. Come on, I will introduce you to Pyotr."


Pepper sat in the meadow, relaxed and content. This was the first time she had sat down in the entire day. She bit into an apple and then whistled gently at Balthazar, who eagerly trotted over. She gave him an apple and one to Aurora as well. Then she stood up.

Tony had brought them a delicious lunch. Beatrice was idly lying down on the grass.

"It is nice to leave all the heavy lifting to the men and just relax..." Pepper said lazily.

Beatrice giggled, a sound most surprising on one as tough as her. "And it is so much fun to watch them do such heavy lifting at well."

She raised an eyebrow at the younger woman, who sighed deeply. "What is so much fun in watching them lift and lower heavy objects?"

The blonde sat up in shock. "Wait, Pepper, do not tell me, you have never secretly watched men at work? What... never?! Shit! You have missed out on an integral part of being a woman! Get up quickly!"

Pepper stood up and followed Beatrice rapidly as she walked quickly to the back of the inn.

"Beatrice, where are we going and what are we doing?"

"It is early noon, right? And Pyotr has to lift and arrange all the stone sculptures in the garden... Perfect viewing pleasure. Come on quietly!" she whispered.

Pepper realized they were at the grilled back gate of the inn's yard. The inn must have had a beautiful hedged garden at some point of time but now the hedge and the garden had fallen into disarray. Pepper intended to redo it after fixing up the inn itself. This gate opened into the yard but there was the low hedge, that separated the actual garden from view.

Beatrice opened the gate, quietly moved inside and hissed at Pepper, "Bend and walk... they must not see us."

She bent at the waist and followed Beatrice, very curious to see what they were sneaking around for.

Beatrice led her along the hedge, reached a point where they could see the back door of the inn and crouched behind it. She urged Pepper to do the same.

"Now in exactly five minutes, we are going to quietly watch Pyotr as he lifts all the fallen statues to their feet." Beatrice rubbed her hands in glee.

Pepper was confused. "What is so fascinating about that?"

"Shush... he is coming... shush"

They were safely out of view as the sculptures were at a viewable but safe distance. Tony and Pyotr came out of the building.

"Oh I forgot, Lord Stark is also here! Now we're in for a treat."

Tony and Pyotr were discussing how to lift the statues. "You lift at one end and I lift at the other." They selected a medium-sized statue of a horse and stood at opposite ends.

"Afternoon sun, make your appearance!" Beatrice whispered cheerfully.

As if it was waiting for her command, the sun began to shine brightly, especially on the two men as there was no shade in this part of the yard.

Pyotr straightened and immediately shucked his shirt off. Tony just rubbed the sweat off his brow.

Pepper whispered smugly, "Tony will not take his shirt off." She knew he would not want to expose the arc.

Beatrice pouted and then grinned. "But he seems to be doing so! Yessss!"

Tony pulled off his sweaty shirt. How ingenious! He has tied a sash diagonally around his shoulder, so the arc is covered.

Pyotr asked him about it curiously and Tony said, "Injury".

Pepper was starting to feel warm herself as she now had her favorite view to enjoy: Tony's mesmerizing muscular torso. The sash bisected it into two glistening brown halves. She swallowed at Tony strutted around, here and there, analyzing the statue from all angles.

Pepper whispered, "I'm beginning to see the appeal in this activity."

Beatrice just whispered, "Wait for it..."

Then Tony and Pyotr bent at their positions and lifted the statue in one smooth movement. Pepper had a sideways view, so she watched with fascination, at the way his pectorals and abdominal muscles flexed and rippled with the effort. His shoulders heaved and strained to push it into place.

She hummed unconsciously and Beatrice chuckled.

"What?"

"Enjoying the view?"

"What is not to enjoy?"

Tony and Pyotr stood there, discussing which one was next. Again Pepper watched them lift another statue, this time Tony's back was to her, so she could see the muscles on his back, strain and bunch.

I wonder if if his muscles feel... just as hard and firm as they look... I wonder what would they taste like under my lips...

She shifted in her crouched position, feeling ashamed of her dirty thoughts. Then Tony pulled out his hip flask and raised the canteen to his lips, holding his head back as he drank thirstily. The sight of him standing there, all his muscular flesh bared to her, gleaming in the sun, made Pepper flush with arousal. She moistened her lips, suddenly feeling very thirsty herself.

Sard off shame... Tony is... too damn beautiful not to admire. Come on, lift something else please!

Beatrice sighed with lust and said, "Isn't it magnificent? Don't you feel it deserves its own statue?"

Pepper looked at her suspiciously. "It? What are you referring to, exactly?"

She gave Pepper a droll look. "The body part you and me, have been ogling for the past ten minutes. Easily the best part of Lord Stark."

Pepper looked at her wide eyed. "You like his chest too?" For some reason, she started to feel angry at the thought of Beatrice admiring Tony.

"Well..." Beatrice gazed at him adoringly. The men were now taking a short break, talking to each other. "Lord Stark has a wonderful chest and shoulders...indeed a torso. But no, I'm talking about something lower."

Pepper covered her mouth to stifle her shock. "Beatrice, that is very crude! And wait! How have you seen it?"

The thought of Beatrice fondling the front of Tony's pants, made her palms start to burn and Pepper mentally chided herself.

Beatrice whispered casually, "It is there in plain view, how can I not look?"

Pepper asked slowly, "What part of Tony, are you talking about?"

"His taut backside of course... why, what did you think?"

"Nothing." Pepper went bright red. "Nothing. Wait, what's so great about his rear?"

Beatrice huffed rather loudly and they both ducked quickly as the men looked around. Pepper heard Tony call out, "Anyone there? Hellooo..."

They shrank behind the hedge and after a few minutes, Pepper peeked over it cautiously.

"Phew... they both have gone back to work..."

Beatrice said admiringly, "Look at that behind." Pepper concentrated on Tony's derriere.

Huh... I have never really thought about it before but Beatrice is right. Tony's behind is so, so attractive. Look at those perfect round globes, sitting so cutely on his back... they look so firm and soft at the same time. And the way they taper to his thighs...

Tony squatted to observe a fallen statue and Pepper felt herself grow warmer at the way his trousers tightened in that area.

Beatrice sighed appreciatively. "Yup, Lord Stark is one attractive hunk of bearded goodness. From head to toe... I want to lick him silly. In fact one day... very soon ... I'm going to make my move."

Pepper rounded on her fiercely. "What do you mean, make your move?"

"Well..." Beatrice drawled. "He is a very eligible bachelor."

"There are many in the village."

"Not like him."

Pepper silently agreed with her but mulishly shook her head. "You cannot seduce Lord Stark."

"Why ever not?" Beatrice narrowed her eyes at her.

Pepper lifted her chin and stared at her firmly. "Because he is mine. He is my knight and we are courting."

Beatrice quirked an eyebrow and then shrugged. "I do not want to fight with you, my friend. He's yours."

Pepper nodded her head. They both turned back to stare at the men. Then Beatrice murmured naughtily, "But if you ever do not want Lord Stark... I would be more than happy t-".

Pepper did not let her complete her sentence. "He is mine and I will always want him. So back the hell off my man, Beatrice."

Beatrice looked scared and raised her hands in a conciliatory gesture. She sighed softly. "At least there is Pyotr. He is no Lord Stark but he isn't bad, don't you think?"

Pepper was lost in her own thoughts about Tony. Suddenly she felt horribly possessive about her knight. Beatrice's admiring glances and comments about his body, had irritated her.

I've got to get Tony alone.