Timing is everything, and Tony realizes how carefully he has to play this. He calls mid-morning, and since it's the house line, he succeeds in getting the aunt.
"Good morning, Mrs. Cozlinski."
"Morning, Mr. Stark. Ginnie—Pepper to you, I 'spose--is out right now, should I take a message?"
"Actually, *you* were the person I wanted to talk to," Tony begins, and keeps his voice professional. This is one sharp old woman, and he doesn't want to get on her bad side, now or ever.
"Is that a fact?" comes the little harrumph. "Speak your piece then."
"I have a business proposition. You're free to say no and I'll accept that, it's your prerogative, but I'd appreciate a chance for you to hear me out."
A sigh comes over the line. "A business proposition?"
"Yes Ma'am."
"Better come to supper then. We're eating at six o'clock sharp, pork roast."
Tony tries to thank her but she's hung up already.
He grins.
000ooo000ooo
Pepper isn't sure how she feels about her aunt's announcement that Tony will be joining them for dinner. On one hand, she's still got another day of leave here at the farm, and it's just *like* Tony to try and manipulate her into leaving early.
He was probably the sort of kid who snuck downstairs at midnight on Christmas Eve to check his presents, Pepper guesses to herself dourly, impatient and determined to get his own way.
Nothing new about that.
On the other hand, she can't deny a little frisson of pleasure too, at the thought of having him sit down to dinner at the dining room table and take in exactly why this place means something to her. Tony is intuitive and under it all, empathetic. Despite his wealth, he relates well to all sorts of people, and Pepper is curious to see how he and her aunt get along.
At five o'clock, a rental car makes the turn from Crane Road, and Pepper watches from the barn as Tony pulls up and climbs out of the PT Cruiser, looking around. Sunglasses of course, and a good suit. Nothing in the upper hundreds, but nice enough to make an impression. Pepper snickers at his sneakers; clearly his earlier landing in Clarence's pasture had him rethink his dress code.
Pepper watches him pick up a spring bouquet from the car, make his way to the porch and knock before she comes out of the barn. The door of the house opens, and Pepper sees her aunt stand there, sizing Tony up before taking the flowers and offering him a hand.
Moving closer, she hears part of their exchange.
" . . . again for the cookies. I enjoyed them, thoroughly."
"You're welcome."
Her aunt has never been one for small talk. Pepper sees her awkwardly look her way and nod. "You're welcome to set in the parlor or on the porch if you'd like. I've got put these in water and sinner stuffing to make yet, so maybe Ginnie can show you around."
"Sure," Pepper agrees, stepping up on the porch and shooting Tony an amused glance. "We'll get the late eggs and some of those green beans you wanted."
"Late eggs?" Tony questions, his glance interested. He nods to Aunt Ruby and follows Pepper off the porch, his hands stuffed into his pants pockets. They wander off as Aunt Ruby heads back into the farmhouse.
"So. You look rested. And may I add that your plaid shirt and braids are giving me some evil thoughts?"
"You *always* have evil thoughts," Pepper reminds Tony, but she smiles, because despite her earlier misgivings, it IS good to see him.
"Seriously, the braids? Very cute," he murmurs, almost shyly.
Pepper smiles again; she hasn't worn braids in years, but they feel right for here and now. She picks up one of the felt-lined baskets hanging off the fencepost to the yard and opens the gate, stepping in carefully. "I'm glad to see you've thought about your footwear."
"Yeah, while I want to make a good impression, I'm not totally stupid," he admits, watching Pepper with fascination as she moves towards what looks like a playhouse in the middle of the enclosed yard.
Pepper deftly lifts a hinged section of the roof and reaches inside, moving slowly. "Scoot over, Ethel and let me check," she murmurs.
"Ethel?"
"Ethel. We have Ethel, Edna, Erma, Enid and Elaine. This is Aunt Ruby's fifth generation of layers, and she goes alphabetically," Pepper offers up. Tony purses his mouth in a serious effort not to laugh; he nods gravely instead.
"And the, ah, rooster?"
"Cranston. He's been around since the third generation."
"Nice to see the old guard at work," Tony smirks at the rooster, who is eyeing him suspiciously. Tony comes to Pepper's side; she nods, and he gently reaches down into a nest box, picking up a warm, heavy egg, and setting it into her basket. They collect six in all.
"So what makes these late eggs? Aside from the fact that they're going to get eaten."
"They're laid late in the day."
"Ah." Tony nods; this makes sense, and he looks around for a long moment, taking in his surroundings once more, taking in a deep breath. "This place is . . . nice."
There's something in his voice that touches her; a sincerity that has her blinking for a moment.
"Yes," Pepper replies simply.
They take the eggs to the porch, leaving the basket by the door and then Pepper motions to the barn. "Come meet the rest of the gang."
"All our barnyard friends?" Tony inquires, a trifle sardonically. "Peter Porker and Larry Lamb?"
Pepper turns away, leading towards the barn, moving a little faster than usual, forcing Tony to increase his stride to keep up. "Hey, kidding, all right? Kindly remember, city boy here. I'm used to seeing my hamburgers in cardboard boxes, not on the hoof."
"I don't think Clarence will fit in a cardboard box," Pepper replies a little tartly, but as she leads Tony towards the paddock gate, she finally smiles. The Angus comes towards her, huge and slow, tail flicking back and forth. Pepper reaches out and pats his nose; Tony holds back a bit, and she realizes he's staring at Clarence.
But not at the end with the face.
"Wow. O--kaaay, intimidated now. Don't think I'll be complaining about the suit codpiece anymore."
"Tony!"
"Hey, that is a lot of bull," he points out with that dry sincerity he does so well. "Just wanted you to see I'm observant."
"He's a stud," she murmurs weakly, aware of how red her face is, and how Tony is loving her embarrassment.
"You're telling *me.*"
"Stop it and help me by opening the gate, all right?" Pepper figures that's the easiest job and the sooner they get Clarence settled, the better. Tony obliges and Pepper carefully snaps the lead onto Clarence's muzzle. He follows her through the gate and into the barn, taking his own sweet time, checking out the mares in each stall before finally settling into his own.
Clarence, Pepper laughs to herself, reminds her of someone.
When she comes out, Tony is in the barn, quietly stroking the velvety nose of one of the mares, his touch sure and gentle. "Took riding at prep school," he offers by way of explanation. "I was better at cleaning stalls than taking riding."
"You rode?"
"Sort of," he admits. "My mother . . . well, she used to show horses. Dressage."
It's only the third time in all the years she's known him that Tony's ever offered up information about his mother, and Pepper is touched. After a moment of quiet, she points with her chin to the animal he is petting. "That's Calpurnia; we board her for the Meyers."
Pepper takes him around the barn, giving a brief history of all the animals in it, and by the time they finish and step out, she looks to the sky. "Just enough time to get the beans."
"You're really into this, aren't you?" Tony murmurs, turning a soft gaze on her, and Pepper ducks her head, not willing to admit it. Instead, she hands him a bucket and leads the way to the back of the farmhouse, where the garden is.
It's a quarter acre, naturally fenced in by high grape trellises on three sides, and Pepper waves a hand towards it with pride. "Aunt Ruby's had this garden for nearly thirty-five years, and at the moment it's got fifteen different vegetables in it, but we're only nabbing green beans."
"Green beans," Tony murmurs with all the balkiness of an eight-year old.
Pepper puts her hands on her hips and shoots him a glare. "Not like any green beans you've ever had, Tony. Fresh makes a world of difference. Besides, *I'm* cooking these, so you'll eat them and *like* them, got it?"
Sighing, he gives her a mock-salute and trails after her towards the rows, admiring her ass as she bends over to pluck at the runners. Pepper's backside has always been a thing of beauty, but as it is now, encased in jeans, with just a hint of exposed dimple at the base of her spine between her untucked shirt and beltline is enough to make Tony's pulse jump a bit.
This is a spot he would love to kiss.
"Stop looking at my butt and start picking, Mr. Stark," Pepper calls over her shoulder. Guiltily, Tony moves to the other side of the row and begins to help.
000ooo000ooo000
By the time dinner is on the table and everyone's hands are washed, Tony has a pretty good idea of exactly how Ruby Potts Cozlinski has managed to keep her farm going.
Things are well-used, but well-cared for, and hard work seems to be the standard. He looks to his hostess who has given him the seat of honor at the head of the table, and she nods. "If you'll say grace, Mr. Stark."
He draws a breath. "Bless us, O Lord, and these, Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen."
It's been years, but it comes back easily; Pepper is shooting him a slightly startled look. Tony is pleased.
They pass biscuits and beans and butter around; Tony carves the roast, feeling by turns awkward and hungry because the rich scent of roast fills the air. Sinner's stuffing turns out to be dried apricots, apples and plums marinated in bourbon, and roasted up in the center of the butterflied pork. His stomach rumbles a little in anticipation.
The food is wonderful, even the beans, and for a while nobody talks much except to request an item or two. After a while, Aunt Ruby sighs and looks over at Tony, an alert look in her eyes. "All right, Mr. Stark, let's have it. What is this business proposition you have for me?"
Now Pepper looks more than startled; her expression is much closer to alarmed, and she nearly chokes on a mouthful of biscuit. Tony clears his throat and serves himself a second helping of pork roast.
"One of the subsidiary research areas Stark Industries supports is meteorology. Weather figures heavily into the design of rocketry, aerodynamics and radar refinement, and while my scientists rely heavily on the National Weather Service for their data, it would be more effective to collect part of it first-hand," Tony begins, slowly.
"Really?" the old woman asks in a curious voice. "Go on then."
"We have a few data collection stations across the United States, but most of them are on the two coasts, which limits our information. I also know that Kiowa is located well within Tornado Alley, and for that reason alone, a data collection site here would be invaluable not only to Stark Industries, but also for the SPC and the National Weather Service. What I propose is to station two of my meteorologists *here* to man a data collection center for all three agencies. I'm willing to lease your farm for the next fifteen years at twice the current land sale rate if you'll consent to the agreement, and allow my scientists to do so."
Aunt Ruby mulls this over as Pepper stares pointedly at Tony, her concern evident in her eyes. She speaks up. "Tony—Mr. Stark—"
"Now, Ginnie," Aunt Ruby murmurs softly. "The man is our guest. Let's consider this thing for just a moment. You want to lease this place for fifteen years?"
Tony nods. "Yes."
"What about the crops?" she asks him quietly.
Tony blinks a little. "Er, well you'll harvest them? My scientists would take up maybe a half acre, tops, with a weather station we can situate anywhere on the property that's out of your way, Mrs. Cozlinski. The rest of the farm would still be very much under your care and management, ma'am."
Pepper's shoulders relax visibly, and Tony eats another mouthful of green beans, partly to appease her, and mostly because they're good.
Damn it.
Aunt Ruby slowly cuts the section of pork on her plate into dainty bites. "Mr. Stark, you're clearly a kind man, but in terms of business sense, I'm not sure your proposal is wise. There are lots of farms around here hurting, and while I appreciate your offer, I won't take charity."
"Oh this isn't charity," Tony shoots back, "Not at all. By county assessment, your farm is the smallest acreage for this area, which saves me money right there. The other advantage is that your property is already wired for cable, which means less outlay for me, and the data transmission won't be a problem."
Aunt Ruby arches an eyebrow at him, and the gesture is so eerily similar to Pepper's that he coughs a little. "Is that a fact? You've looked into this pretty carefully, haven't you, Mr. Stark?"
Tony thinks of a thousand replies to this, but in the end, nods.
Pepper speaks up, her voice soft but her words probing. "Are you talking about putting Emily and Charles out here?"
"The Mortensens, yeah," Tony murmurs. "Charles could use the change of scenery; I think he's burning out being under Mitch."
"A married couple?" Aunt Ruby comments, receiving nods from both Pepper and Tony. "And you'd want me to put them up here, is that it?"
"No, no, we have a generous housing allowance for our employees—" Tony begins, but he's cut off by a wave of Aunt Ruby's fork.
"Ah! Not practical, especially if they're going to be coming out to the property every day. This house has five bedrooms, Mr. Stark, and I don't mind the company, if they're willing to stay." She pauses for a moment, shooting a tender look at her niece. "I've missed having someone else about the place."
"Mrs. Cozlinski, in all sincerity, that's *not* required as part of the business proposition," Tony murmurs gently, but the woman purses her mouth in another expression familiar to him, and passes him more biscuits.
"Maybe not—there are a lot of details yet to work out, and not everything will be simple, but your offer is mighty tempting if it's on the up and up, what with the price of sorghum down and a crop of corn too small to do more than break even this year." She gives a sigh, and adds, "More lemonade for either of you?"
When she disappears into the kitchen for it, Pepper seizes the opportunity to lean over and stare at Tony. "I don't know what you *think* you're doing, Anthony Stark, but if you take over this farm, so help me, I'll--"
"You were right about the beans," Tony replies mildly. "As for the details, Jarvis has already sent them to your Blackberry, everything legit, reasonable and completely open for re-negotiation."
"So you *mean* it, about a mid-plains data station?" Pepper whispers hurriedly as her aunt returns. Tony gives a nod and holds out his glass, smiling.
Ruby refills it. "Chocolate four-layer cake for dessert after the dishes. Save room."
Tony gives a happy sigh. "I'll pace myself, thank you."
000ooo000ooo000
Aunt Ruby has waved off the offers to help with the dishes and sent the two of them out to the porch. Tony lounges next to Pepper on the swing, and Pepper tries to ignore him as she checks over the proposal outline on her PDA.
There are crickets chirping, and the soft sound of the wind along the rippling fields in the distance. Overhead, the mauve of twilight is dappled with a few stars. Tony shifts to make the swing rock a little, and the creak of it blends in with the other sounds.
Pepper pulls her feet up and clicks the Blackberry off. Neither of them speak for a moment, and then she gives a long, slow sigh.
Tony knows this is a pivotal moment; this little quiet space between them. He moves to take one of Pepper's hands just as hers reaches for his in the semi-darkness.
"I . . . I didn't ask you for this . . ." Pepper begins slowly. "This isn't—wasn't anything to do with you."
"Nope," Tony agrees, because it's true. He gives a sigh himself and adds, "But it's important, *very* important that you're happy. And to be happy, you need to know that the things you love are safe. This farm; your aunt. I can help with that. I *want* to help with that."
Pepper is silent, and he knows it's hard for her. One of the aspects of her personality that's always fascinated and frustrated him is her pride. Pepper has always made it clear that she can't be bought; that gifts and favors are only acceptable if there will be a chance for reciprocation.
Clearly this is a trait she's gotten from her aunt, and probably her parents, and while Tony admires her self-supportive nature, it can be slightly annoying. He clears his throat quietly. "If you aunt accepts, it's going to be a real benefit, especially to Charles Mortensen. I don't want to lose him to the National Weather Service just yet—it was *his* data that helped me figure out the best alloys for the Suit."
Her fingers tighten in his. "We had a storm yesterday. But—you *know* that, don't you?"
Tony says nothing, and is glad that in the semi-darkness she can't see his chagrined expression. Trust Potts to figure out the whole damned schematics of his offer. He hums a little innocent note and she laughs.
000ooo000ooo000
It's after the second bite of cake that Tony gets the call; he regretfully sets his fork down and dabs his mouth with his napkin. Pepper's lips tighten, but Aunt Ruby merely nods and rises, taking his plate gently. "I'll just wrap this up and send this along tomorrow with Ginnie then."
"I'm sorry—" Tony begins, wishing like hell that the alert hadn't happened, but his hostess looks at him with knowing eyes, her smile both kind and a little sad.
"I am too, but only for the loss of your company. If they're calling for you and your Suit, it's got to be pretty important. You go on then Mr. Stark, and save some lives, you hear me?"
"I'll do my best, Mrs. Cozlinski. And thank you for your hospitality. Pepper?"
She follows him to the rental car, listening to him as they both hurry. "—Suit's in the jet so I'll leave from the airport. I have no idea when I'll be back, so when I'm done, I'm going to head to Malibu, and leave the jet here for you to come back tomorrow."
"Right," Pepper agrees, and just before Tony ducks into the driver's seat, she catches his face in her hands and kisses him. His warm lips taste like chocolate cake and he's so startled by her impulse that he gasps.
That's all she needs, and Pepper slips her tongue into his mouth, letting it stroke against his in a long, lingering caress that makes him moan. She pulls away and steps back, just out of reach. Tony teeters between the car door and the seat, stunned. With a grin, Pepper holds out a hand, resting it against his chest where the arc reactor is. "Stay safe, Tony."
"Ahnhhh," he agrees, lost for a second, blinking at her. "Yeah. Safe. Tomorrow then Pepper. And I want cake. And another one of *those.* Pretty please."
The phone in his pocket beeps again, and with an oath, Tony buckles up and pulls out of the gravel drive, wheels spewing rocks in his wake.
Pepper watches the tail lights until they're gone.
She licks her smiling lips.
000ooo000ooo000
The last day is beautiful; clear sunrise, a light breeze blowing over the fields, chasing distant clouds through the skies. Pepper makes breakfast; French toast with butter and syrup. She and her aunt talk over Tony's offer, and they both agree it's generous.
"And fifteen years—oh that should see me through what's left of my lifetime, Ginnie girl," her aunt sighs.
"Don't *say* that!" Pepper scolds, reaching for the thin, arthritic hand close to hers on the table. Aunt Ruby clucks softly, her expression gentle.
"I'm not afraid of dying, hon. I'm afraid of dying in debt and leaving you and Paul to pay it off. He's been urging me to sell this place and move to an old folk's home for a while now, you know."
"Paul can go . . . suck on a lemon," Pepper finishes, although her stronger meaning is clear by the venom in her tone. Her aunt laughs heartily.
"My thoughts too, even though he *is* my boy and I love him dearly. Any word on Mr. Stark's mission?"
Pepper has gotten the PDA feed from Jarvis; her smile is tremulous. "He's managed to rescue the convoy and get them through to Jalalabad."
"Good," her aunt nods. "And he's all right?"
"As far as we know," Pepper replies, not really sure, but unwilling to share the burden of that uncertainty.
"You'll feel better when you see him," Aunt Ruby nods. "I understand that. You ought to take along *two* slices of cake then."
"Not too much," Pepper laughs, "otherwise he'll have trouble getting into his Suit."
For a second Aunt Ruby looks worried; when she realizes Pepper is teasing her, she shoots her niece a little 'humph!' and rises from the table, a small smile on her weathered face. "Oh Miss Saucy, for *that* I think I'll leave you the dishes while I go turn Clarence and the mares out."
It's not much of a threat, and Pepper watches her aunt from the kitchen window, feeling both glad and sad in one swirl of emotion within her. It will be hard to leave Kiowa this afternoon; this little break has been a soothing balm for a lot of tension in her life, Pepper knows.
But at the same time, the urge to get back to work is tugging at her; that desire to dive back into the chaotic jumble of Tony Stark's schedule and make sense of it.
Lord only knows what it looks like *now*, she frets.
And there's the other thing as well, Pepper admits to herself half in trepidation and half in delight. The impulsive thing that she's pretty sure Tony isn't *about* to ignore or forget.
The, um, kiss thing.
Pepper feels herself blush.