Tony and Robert were driving her insane. She was mad at Robert for provoking a fight, but she was even more mad at Tony for kissing her. Two days had passed since their argument, and she still couldn't quite believe he had feelings for her. Everything happened so fast, it was too much to take in at once. She told herself his words didn't mean anything, but they did.

"My dad caught me sneaking in last night and sat me down for a two hour lecture on how guys are only after one thing."

Pepper raised her brows, looking at her computer screen. "Do I even want to know?"

"Nothing happened. I got hungry and wanted Taco Bell," Morgan deadpanned. "The one time I sneak out and not to get wasted, I get caught? It's stupid. Maybe I should've gone through the front door."

"Yeah. That would have helped," Pepper chuckled. "But you got food, didn't you? Where did-"

"Ate it driving back," Morgan interrupted. "And what could had been so important that you had to leave me 38 messages calling me a bitch?"

Pepper winced. "I overreacted."

"Yeah, you did," her best friend responded. "Let me guess, it has something to do with the fight between Tony and Robert."

"What? How did you find out about that?"

"I was in the room when he called Kevin."

"God, I'm gonna kill him," Pepper said, shaking her head. "Oh, wait," she thought suddenly. "Do you know why he punched Tony in the face?"

"You don't know," Morgan asked, amused.

"If I did, would I be asking?"

"Jeez, lose the attitude, will you? I know you're angry at Robert, but don't take it out on me." When Pepper stayed quiet, she continued. "Tony might have said he slept with you."

Pepper's eyes widened in horror. "He did what?!"

"Well, he didn't say that exactly," Morgan quickly responded. "But he implied it. I guess Robert said something that Tony didn't like and he hit back by saying he had you in his bed. Did Robert not tell you that?"

"If he did, would I be-"

"Attitude, Potts," Morgan pointed out again. "So are you gonna yell at him? Because if you are, do it in here. I want front row seats," she said, grinning.

"As much as I'd love to, I can't. Robert's not here."

"Where is he?"

"Visiting his friends at UCLA. I didn't go with him."

"Aw, what's wrong," Morgan pouted falsely. "Trouble in paradise?"

"Will you wipe that stupid look off your face," Pepper asked, chuckling a little. "I want to slap you."

"Along with two other people. So what happened after?"

"Nothing you don't already know."

"Oh, please. I know you went after Tony and that you were gone for a long time."

"Nothing happened."

"Nothing happened? Yeah, right. That's what people say when they have something to hide."

"No. I didn't mean it like that. I meant..." She trailed off. There was no use hiding it anymore. "Okay, fine. Something did happen."

Morgan gasped, eyes wide. "Oh my god. You did sleep with him."

"What? No! Are you nuts," Pepper shouted.

Morgan sighed, looking on her nails in disinterest. "Yeah, suddenly this just got a whole less interesting."

Then, before Pepper could stop herself, she told her. "Tony kissed me."

"Holy shit," her best friend gasped.

"Yep," Pepper said, popping the 'p.'

"How was it," Morgan asked after her shock wore off.

"I'm not sure."

"What do you mean you're not sure? It was either good or it wasn't, Pepper."

She sighed. "Well, it felt good at first..."

"Don't tell me you were disappointed."

"No, and that's the problem. I actually liked it." She expected Morgan to make some sort of quip or response, but she stayed silent, her mouth gaped open. "And then there's the fact that he likes me."

"Aw, how cute. What did Tony say," Morgan inquired, a smile on her face.

"That he's been trying to tell me for weeks, but couldn't act on it until Robert was here. You should've seen him, Morgan. I literally stood there and tore his heart into pieces."

"What," Morgan asked, her smile dissipating. "Why would you do that?"

"I didn't mean to," Pepper defended. "It just came out. He was saying all these nice things and I just couldn't stop myself from saying the things I did."

"You were scared," Morgan emphasized.

"Yeah. And I didn't want to believe him."

"Well, he's not an ordinary guy. Plus, I don't think you overreacted at all. I know I give you a hard time about Robert, but Tony? Pepper, he's unpredictable."

"That didn't stop you from wanting us to be together."

"As a hook up. I never expected it to go beyond that."

"That's what I told him," Pepper pointed out. "We aren't compatible."

"Yeah, you guys aren't," she agreed. "But if you ask me, I think it's worth it." Secretly, she thought they'd be cute together. "I know it sounds crazy, but you guys can be good for one another. You can tame his wild side and he can bring out yours."

"I just don't know what to do," Pepper groaned.

"Have you guys talked since?"

"No. We didn't exactly leave on good terms. In fact, he told me to fuck off."

"Yikes," Morgan flinched. "Maybe you should call him?"

"That's a horrible idea."

"Well, you did shatter his heart, Pepper. The least you could do is apologize."

"He wouldn't let me go!"

"Which tells you a lot, doesn't it?"

"Yeah," Pepper quietly agreed. She felt awful. Her mouth hadn't cooperated with her brain and the result of it was hurting Tony more than she should have. She should had just told him she wasn't interested and left it at that.

"Face it, Pepper. Robert's not the guy you're meant to be with. And this isn't me and my ulterior motives. You know it just as well as I do."

"I'm just afraid."

"Of what," Morgan questioned.

"Of what comes after if I do break up with Robert. I've known him three years; he's been in my life for two. How can I just let that go?"

Morgan shrugged. "Sometimes love just isn't enough. But, whatever you do, I'll support you."

"Thanks," Pepper smiled. "And what's this about you and Kevin? Are you two back together?"

Morgan blushed. "Maybe."

"Oh my god. You guys totally are!"

"I don't kiss and tell."

"You do nothing but kiss and tell," Pepper shot back, which made Morgan laugh. "When did it happen?"

"During Emma's party. I saw this girl talking to him and I literally flipped out. I think I was half drunk."

"What happened after," Pepper chuckled.

"He said I threw up on him. Of course I-"

A soft knock on Pepper's door stopped Morgan mid-sentence.

"Hey," Peter said, his head now sticking through the partially opened door. "Tony's outside. Says he wants to talk to you."

"What," both girls shouted. He just shrugged.

"Tell him to leave."

"Yeah, I said that, but he's not budging."

"What are you waiting for," Morgan shouted. "Go out there!"

Pepper turned to her screen. "I don't want to talk to him!"

"Will you girls just chill out," Peter interrupted. When it was silent, he continued. "Morgan's right. You need to get out there. He's blocking the driveway."

Pepper sighed and crawled over her bed to look out the window. Like Peter had said, Tony was out on the driveway, his back against his Audi. "Fine," she relented. "Tell him I'll be there in a minute."

"Wait," Morgan said when Peter left. "You're going out dressed in that," she criticized.

Pepper glanced at her oversized t-shirt and black capris leggings. "What's wrong with what I have on?"

"Everything! You want Tony to think you've been lounging here all day thinking about him?"

"I don't care what he thinks."

"Well, you should. Don't you have standards?"

Pepper sighed. "Fine! I'll change." Morgan wouldn't stop talking if she didn't.

"Fix your make up, too. And call me once you get back," Morgan screamed as Pepper closed her laptop.

Pepper nervously bit her bottom lip as she walked out the front door. "Hi," she quietly announced.

Tony looked up and smiled. "Hey." Shoving his phone inside his pocket, he directed his attention to her. "You busy? I can leave if you are."

"No," she said, shaking her head. "You're okay."

He nodded. "You wanna get something to eat?"

"I'm not sure that's-"

"Uh," Tony interrupted. "That came out wrong. Look, I just want to talk about what happened and I thought it'd be easier if we did it over food or something."

"My mom just started cooking. I don't want her to think-"

"Pepper, it's fine. You don't have to explain." He understood why she would decline. He would too if he was in her position. "It'll only take me a couple minutes anyways."

"What for," she asked, anxious.

"I know you don't want to talk to me," Tony began. The time it took for her to come out told him that. "But just hear me out. I didn't come here to argue or pick a fight. With anybody," he told her, just in case she thought that. Which deep down sounded good. But this wasn't the right time for it. He'd get Robert back when he least expected it.

"There's a patio swing on the front porch," Pepper caved. Morgan had a point. She could afford to listen to what he had to say.

"Okay," Tony said, following her lead. Things were definitely awkward.

She sat next to him, but kept distance. She had no idea where their conversation was heading, but she did know one thing: there wasn't going to be a repeat of what happened Friday.

"Um," he began, staring her in the eyes. His nerves were getting the best of him, but he tried not to show it. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't had snapped at you. I just-"

"You should be," Pepper interrupted, not breaking eye contact.

"Yeah, I fucked up," Tony agreed, gazing past her this time. He had not taken the rejection well, but Robert calling had broken his last reserve. He shouldn't had lashed out on her, and he regretted doing so, but not a thing beforehand.

"Well, I appreciate the apology," she said, a small smile involuntary escaping her lips.

"I get it, too," he said, keeping his stare on the roses behind Pepper. "You love him."

Pepper nodded. "Robert's not a bad guy."

"I know," Tony retorted, biting back his anger upon hearing Robert's name.

"Is that it," she asked, softly putting a hand on his arm, which caused him to look at it before staring back up at her.

"Yeah," he answered, an underlying sadness laced in his voice. He wanted to tell her how he really felt about her relationship with Robert, but he had no right. Besides, Robert made her happy. He didn't want to get in the way of that. It hurt him to do this, but he'd get over it. Plus, she had a point. He'd just break her heart. It wouldn't be intentional, not at all, just predetermined fate. Happiness was relative, and for him, the feeling never existed. There was enough sadness clouding his life that told him that. "I meant what I said, I really do like you, but I'm not gonna waste my time chasing something I'll never get." He tried and failed. He wouldn't subject himself to that kind of pain again.

"Okay," Pepper replied, almost disappointedly. She half expected him to put up a fight, but he wasn't - not in the slightest. Had she pushed him too far away?

"I hope I didn't cause too much trouble for you guys," he said, smiling a little, a false one at that.

She quickly saw through the façade, but said nothing of it. "I hope not, too."

"We're good then," Tony asked, getting up. She nodded. "Great. Oh, and I promise not to kiss you again," he joked.

Pepper chuckled.

"You liked it though, didn't you?"

"I'm not saying."

"Fine. Not like I don't know you did." Tony shot her an innocent smile and then checked the time on his watch. "I guess I'll go. My break's over in ten minutes."

"You have somewhere to be?"

"Stark Industries. I'm running diagnostics on some the weapons my dad just created."

"Wow, he trusts you that much to do that," Pepper asked. God, that came out horrible. "I mean, it sounds important. Doesn't your dad have people specifically trained to look at that kind of stuff?"

"Yeah, but he knows my brain works faster than all them combined."

"But I'm guessing they dress better."

Tony frowned, looking at his shirt and tie. Sure, his knot could be tighter, but it wasn't too bad. Or, at least, that's what he thought. "What's wrong with the way I dress?"

Pepper gave him a 'seriously' look, which made him glance at his clothes once again. She sighed. "Sneakers?"

"They match my shirt," he easily defended.

"Then there's the fact that your tie's incredibly sloppy," she went on, walking towards him.

"It's called being fashionable."

"It's called being lazy," Pepper corrected, fixing his tie.

"Mmm," Tony hummed, watching her ministrations. "I think I look awesome."

"Maybe," she smiled, letting her hands fall to her sides. "But it wouldn't hurt you to clean up a little."

"I just do it to annoy my dad."

"Really," Pepper asked, curiously. "Why would you purposely do something like that?"

"Cause I can," Tony shrugged. "Plus, he kinda deserves it. He's always giving me a hard time. Might as well return the favor." He glanced at his tie and grinned. "Thanks, Pepper."

She smiled back. "It looks better, doesn't it?"

"Sure," he responded, a bit sarcastically. He still thought it looked better his way. "See you tomorrow."

Pepper watched Tony go, more confused than anything else. Were they back to being friends? How could they given everything that happened? Would she just learn to accept it the same way he was trying to accept her relationship? She really did like having him around, liked him as a friend...but the way she had felt when she realized how hurt he was the entire duration of their conversation...it did something to her a normal friend would not had.

Then there was Robert - the actual problem in her life. He had been adamant on not telling her the reason why he had punched Tony, and now that she had the answer, she understood. Tony was out of line and it hurt that he would even say such a thing to begin with. If he liked her as much as he said he did, why would he make her sound like she was one of his girls?

Robert and her were on the road to a breakup, and if she could, she'd break up with him right now. But that was easier said than done and attempting to do so seemed impossible. She loved him and couldn't let him go. It wasn't the most logical reason, but it was the only one she had. She was happy with Robert, but it wasn't the same kind of happiness prior her move to California and his trip to Europe. Too much had happened since then. Tony didn't make things easier for them, but it was more their fault than his. Instead of working things out, they avoided one another. She wished she had the courage to push Tony away, but doing so meant she would also have to shut him out of her life. For good. Was she willing to do that?

She wasn't even sure how long she'd been sitting here thinking about this. By the time she glanced up, she noticed the sun had nearly disappeared. Deciding she had worried enough about Tony and Robert for the night, she went inside.

"Dad?" He wasn't supposed to be home until seven. Is it seven? She glanced at the clock and saw it was ten past six. "You're home early."

"Hey, sweetheart," her father greeted. "It's weird, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Pepper easily agreed.

"I just explained everything to your mom. One of the warehouses on the North side of Stark Industries exploded. Howard Stark called an emergency evacuation. Everyone had to leave. No questions asked."

"Does that mean your office was near it? He wouldn't have told you guys to if it weren't, right?"

"That's the thing. We were actually a safe distance from it. I didn't even know what was happening until I overheard people talking in the parking lot."

"I think you're right, Richard," she heard her mother say as she walked into the kitchen. "It's on every channel."

"What's on every channel," Pepper asked, curious as to what was going on.

Richard turned to his daughter, looking at her sympathetically. He knew she wouldn't take this well. "They're saying Tony might have been in that building when it exploded."

Oh, no...what have I done? Don't worry guys, I swear this is going somewhere. So what do you guys think? Was Tony in the warehouse? Will Pepper run to the hospital?

I'm sorry it took so long for me to update! I know you all were dying to know what happened next. But fear not, I plan to have them together within the next TWO chapters, so look forward to that!