Resting his hands on her waist, he pulled her towards him. Pepper's eyes widened, but she didn't move. She just stared at him as he continued to inch her closer and closer until his lips gently brushed against hers. He lingered for a couple seconds, then slowly drew back, anxious for her response. Her eyes had just opened, but instead of meeting his gaze, she kept it focused on his mouth. He took it as a good sign and leaned in for another kiss, but to his dismay, she pulled back.

"What's wrong?" Tony tried to meet her gaze, but she was having none of it. "Hey," he said, reaching up and using his thumb to caress her cheek. "You alright?"

"What do you think," she asked, brushing past him.

"Look, I know that was wrong," he admitted, turning around. "But it was all..." He sighed. Did he really have to explain this?

"I get it."

Tony nodded, glancing at the ground. "It just hurts, you know? Seeing him here with you." He looked up and finally faced her. "I mean, I've been trying to work up the courage to say something for weeks, but each time I tried, it scared the shit out of me and I backed out instead." He let out a nervous chuckle, glad all of this was finally coming out. "I'm not good at relationships. I've never even wanted one, but the thought of trying it out with you doesn't seem so bad."

She listened as he kept talking. There was a honesty in his voice that she had never heard from him before; she couldn't bring herself to tell him to stop.

"Maybe," Pepper replied once he finished. "But we live in the real world, and in the real world, you and I will never work."

"Really?" He grabbed her hand, preventing her from walking away from him a second time. She had felt terrible for saying it, but it was true. "All because I don't fit neatly in your list of standards?" He didn't know if she even had a list, but a girl like her probably did.

"No," she corrected. "Because I'm with Robert."

Her answer wasn't good enough for him. "And?"

"And," Pepper repeated, taking offense to that. "What kind of person do you think I am?"

"How about a coward," Tony dared to say, which nearly earned him a slap across the face if not for his fast reflexes. "Running away isn't going to solve anything," he told her, letting go of her wrist.

"Neither will staying here," she angrily argued. "And just so we're clear, I'm not dumping Robert. Not for anyone. Especially you."

"So I was right." He never believed a heart could shatter into a million pieces - guess he'd just been proven wrong. Her response didn't shock him. Everyone said he was genius, but secretly he always felt more of a failure. He was never good enough. For anybody. Not for his father, and clearly, not for Pepper.

She could see the pain in his eyes and it hurt her just as much to know she was the one responsible for it. She hadn't meant to be so blunt. She could apologize, but what good would it do? It wouldn't take back what she'd just said.

"What's so great about him," Tony asked, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Because I really don't see it."

"That's none of your business."

"Just tell me," he shot back, taking several steps towards her.

"No," Pepper replied, standing her ground.

He pressed on. "I mean, how's that harder than rejecting me?"

"Tony, I can't do this," she said instead, making her way to the door. "I need to leave."

"No, you don't," he countered, blocking her way. "Why can't we talk about this?"

"Because there is nothing to talk about," Pepper told him, her voice laced with frustration. Then with a lowered voice, she apologized. "I'm sorry." She was telling herself 'don't cry,' but her tears had different plans. She never did like hurting people's feelings.

"Then why'd you put up with it," Tony asked. "You could had easily told me to leave you alone."

"I don't know," Pepper responded quietly. But she did know. He made her laugh. He made her forget about her relationship problems. Simply put, she felt happier around him. She kept telling herself it didn't mean anything, but deep down she knew it meant everything.

"You do know," he corrected. "You just won't admit it." He'd learned early on that Pepper wasn't a good liar.

"I can't." She didn't even know what was coming out of her mouth. She just wanted to get out of here. "Not, not right now. And Robert-"

Just hearing his name made his blood boil. "What if you guys broke up," Tony interrupted.

"It wouldn't matter," Pepper softly spoke, sniffing back her tears. She didn't want to hurt him, but what other choice did she have? "Even if Robert didn't exist, I wouldn't just let you date me. I mean, do you even think you would be here if I turned out to be the kind of girl you thought I was?"

"What's that supposed to mean," he asked, taken aback by her question.

"You've been eyeing me like I'm some juicy piece of meat since the moment you saw me."

"That's not true," Tony replied, defending himself. He remembered it was Pepper's hair color that distinctively caught his attention.

"And that's a lie," she responded. It was easier for her to accept it as one than to think he was telling the truth.

"That's what this is about," he asked incredulously. "The fact that I hit on you? Pepper, if you didn't notice, I do it with every girl."

"That's my point," she snapped. Yeah, Tony thought, I walked right into that one. "You always get the girl, but with me, you didn't. That's why you're doing this. Feelings have nothing to do with it."

"That's not fair," Tony firmly said. "You might not believe me, but what I feel is what I feel. You can't tell me otherwise."

"You're right. I can't," Pepper realized, after a period of silence. She looked at her hands, her left one was slowly rubbing her right. It was a nervous habit of hers. Clearing her throat, she gathered her thoughts and stared back up at him. "But you said so yourself just then. You've never wanted relationships and going into one with you if Robert and I broke up...it doesn't sound like the best thing to do. You're unpredictable, Tony. I don't think I can handle it."

"What are you trying to say," he asked, offended by how low of an opinion she had on him. "That I'd purposely do something to screw things up?"

"No, that's not it." She sighed. "You follow anything with boobs, Tony. That's just the kind of person you are, which is fine. You like that kind of life. I don't. We're different. Too different. It makes us incompatible."

"Okay, first of all, Pepper, I do not follow anything with boobs. That's offensive." She rolled her eyes. "Even I have standards," Tony rationalized, stepping forward. "And, second, how could you really know?"

She saw his approach and matched his step backwards. She didn't want him any closer than he already was.

"Unless you're a hundred percent sure that douchebag out there is it for you."

"Robert is not a douchebag."

"He punched me in the face."

"You deserved it!"

"Pepper, come on," Tony plead, stepping towards her again. "Please?" He was not about to give up. Not now, not when he could feel her giving in.

She did not like where this conversation was headed. At what point during their fight had it turned into this instead? Because if she could, she'd rewind time and stay there. She preferred the yelling. It was easier than this.

"No," she forced out. "Plus, you've got a line of girls that would be more than willing to take my place. Why don't you give them a shot?"

Tony sighed. Why is she being so stubborn? It was starting to drive him insane. He knew she liked him - just how much was irrelevant. The important thing was that she did. She wouldn't had kissed me if she didn't. "I don't want them. I want you."

"Good thing I get to make the final call then," Pepper replied, the words coming out of her mouth before she let herself be affected by the sincerity of his.

He was just about to respond when her phone rang. He mentally sighed when Pepper chose to answer it.

"What," Pepper asked, irritated. "Okay. I'll be there."

"Who was that?" There wasn't really a point in asking. Who else would it be?

"Robert. He's looking for me."

"Great," Tony replied, scoffing. "So you're really gonna choose him over me?"

She sighed. "I'm not choosing-"

"Fine," he interrupted. He wasn't about to beg. He wouldn't sink that low for her. For any girl. "Get the fuck out of here then."

She looked at Tony, speechless, not believing what she had just heard.

"Did you not hear me," he asked, holding his tone.

"No," Pepper replied quietly, fighting back her urge to cry right in front of him. "I heard you." She stared at Tony one last time hoping he would apologize for the harshness of his voice, but when all he did was stare back at her with iciness, she rushed out the doors, wiping the away the tears that had crept their way out.

I know, I'm horrible, but I promise they'll get together soon!

Thanks for the large amount of feedback from the last chapter, it really makes me happy! See you next time :)