A/N: Well, 4persephone managed to update her story "Negotiations," so I figured it was time to get around to getting this updated too! It's always good to have a writing partner to keep you on track, for all that she claims she's just along for the ride on this one. ;)

As always, feedback is greatly appreciated.


Pepper does her best to hustle Tony up to the front door of the sprawling beachside home in Manhattan Beach. They'd left late, not because she'd needed more time to get ready, or because they'd lost Aaron's diaper bag or something, but because Tony had decided at the last minute that they'd needed to bring something with them.

"How about a Jell-O mold," he'd suggested, much to Pepper's amazement.

"What?"

He'd looked at her in surprise. Clearly he was serious about this. "We're a boring married couple now, Pepper. Aren't Jell-O molds what boring married couples take to dinner parties?"

She hadn't even known where to begin with that statement, except to tell him that if he ever referred to them in that way again before their 20th anniversary, she was going to have to hurt him. And then she'd told him to run down the wine cellar and pick something rare enough to be impressive if he really needed to bring something with them to dinner with the Walsh's. Which had taken another good fifteen minutes. Even Tony's Jackson Pollock version of driving – which had become much more sedate since they'd had to buy something with a backseat to put the necessary car seat in – hadn't been enough to get them to dinner on time.

'At least it's just us,' Pepper reassures herself as they make it to the front stoop. The door opens before she can knock on it, and then Jack Walsh is pulling her over the threshold with a wide smile and a firm, friendly handshake.

"Ah good, you're just in time...we're running a little late. I'm just not as fast as Hana is when it comes to prepwork in the kitchen." He's dressed nicely but definitely more casual than he'd normally be at the office. Nice trousers and shirt are matched, oddly enough, with only a pair of clean black socks, and his sleeves are rolled up to the elbows. He reaches to shake Tony's hands as well as he leads them through the front entry. "Now first things first: are either of you allergic to shellfish?"

Tony blinks at the question for a moment, then glances at Pepper before shaking his head. "I know Pepper and I aren't – Pep, is there any risk with you having it while feeding Aaron?"

Pepper blinks as well, than shakes her head a little. "I doubt it...there's no allergy anywhere in my family...though if it's possible I would ask you go light on the garlic and onion. The last bowl of French Onion I had left him screaming half the night."

"I think Hana's been careful about that. You learn a few things about babies after having a couple of your own." Jack just looks amused. "Well, take off your shoes," he nods towards a decorative wicker basket off to the side. "They can go there. And feel free to help yourself to a pair of slippers if your feet are chilly. May I?" He gestures towards a quiet Aaron as Pepper tries to kick off her heels. They're a little tight still.

"You have a beautiful house," Pepper tells him honestly as she carefully hands Aaron over so she and Tony can comply. The mansion they're in is nothing like she'd imagined it would be, and yet it's amazing and calming all at once. A blend of earthen colors and gently flowing lines.

Jack smiles. "Hana's influence more than mine. Not that I'm complaining; I swear my blood pressure drops twenty points every time that I walk through the door. We don't get back to Pusan as much in the last couple years as we used to, and for her, I guess this is the next best thing..."

"Pusan? Your wife is from Korea?" Pepper asks the question even as she examines the slippers more carefully. If she's not mistaken, this pair is hand embroidered in silk.

She totally needs a pair of these for herself.

Jack nods. "Yes. We met when I was still back in the Air Force."

"He says that as if he ever actually left."

The comment comes from behind Jack and causes a wide smile to spread across face. "Hun, come meet Tony and Pepper."

"Actually, I think we've met once." Tony steps forward, offering his hand. "Some boring dinner party a few years ago?"

Hana snorts. "Frankly, I'm surprised you remember that much." Tony just shrugs, well aware that in the absence of anything else to amuse him, the bottom of a highball glass would have been his standby. "Muriel West was hosting. It was a 'summer in Paris' theme, which might have been pleasant if she'd played French music or served a single dish that was actually French." Her tone is dry, as if she's commenting on the performance of her favorite football team the day after they made a mistake that cost them the game.

Tony winces. "It sounds worse when you recount it, which is probably why you haven't been introduced to my wife yet. Pepper was probably trying to find some kind of emergency for me to take care of." Tony places his hand on the small of Pepper's back so that she can be introduced.

Pepper holds out her right hand and says very sincerely, "You have to tell me where you found these slippers because I need a pair immediately." The smile on her face is genuine.

Hana beams. "Then keep the pair you are wearing, in exchange for letting me borrow your little one for a few minutes tonight. They take only a couple of hours to make...it's a fair trade for snuggling. My grandchildren now are all 'too big'." She puts the words in quotes with a look of amused inevitability.

"You made these yourself?" Pepper's even more impressed now. She accepts Aaron back from Jack now that she has the slippers on, and looking down at her son she remembers, "I kept meaning to send a thank you note for the robe and blanket you sent us in Savannah. The robe's been getting good use, but I wasn't sure how careful I needed to be about cleaning the quilt, so it's on the back of the rocker in the nursery still. I'd hate to hurt it by putting it in the washing machine."

"Sewing is a pastime of mine...and the quilt can be washed normally without issue in warm water, and then tumbled dry or hung on a line. Just beware a heated dryer may make it fade or shrink..."

Jack chuckles, "And if it does ever fall into one mishap or another, be sure to let me know. Hana has enough fabric stored to make a blanket for every child in the world, given enough time." His wife rolls her eyes, but blushes in acknowledgement of the fact, and is rewarded by a kiss on the cheek.

"You're very talented," Tony says with all honesty. "I have a heirloom quilt myself packed up somewhere...a gift from my aunt to my mother. These days the ability to make something beautiful by hand is a dying art..." He shrugs, "I guess maybe consumerism has the habit of making all of us a little lazy." Hana blushes brighter, but nods her head again.

Jack smiles softly, wrapping one arm around his wife's waist. "Hana actually worked in a drycleaners and tailor's shop when I met her...was in charge of keeping my Dress Whites up to code, which in those days was no small task, believe me."

Hana shakes her head. "Red wine. Steak sauce. Spaghetti." She seems to realize that her guests are still standing. Patting Jack's arm fondly, she gestures towards the living room. "Please, the shrimp needs another ten minutes or so before we're ready to eat."

The living room – like the foyer – is open and flowing. The wooden floors look like they might be bamboo, and small wall fountains to either side of the unlit fireplace provide soothing white noise. There's a tray on the coffee table equipped with the usual paraphernalia along with two teapots – both almost perfectly round and four tea cups set dome-up on their saucers. Pepper's surprised by the modernistic style, but it doesn't seem out of place at all.

"I made decaffeinated tea for Pepper and myself," Hana says as they all take seats. "However, I know Jack prefers something with a little more kick to it, and I wasn't sure if you wouldn't prefer the same, Tony." The older woman deftly pours two cups from one of the pots, allowing Pepper to add her own cream.

"I'll take either. I don't have much experience with eastern style teas..." Tony admits bluntly. "Though I do admit I like chocolate Chai."

"From Starbucks?" Hana suppresses a grin. "I'm not sure I would call the water most coffee chains around here sell 'Chai.'"

"I was introduced to the stuff I had in Afghanistan," Tony replies quietly

The silence doesn't quite have time to become awkward, though it is strained. Hana glances at Tony as she hands him his cup of tea. "Then, Mr. Stark, you know exactly what I mean about the American version of Chai." While her tone is light, her eyes are calm and understanding. It's clear that she accepts his statement at face value without any of the baggage that the information could have carried.

He smiles a little. "The American French Vanilla stuff is disgusting."

Pepper laughs softly, relieved that Hana's conversational touch is so deft. "You say that about ANYTHING with French vanilla."

"Yes well, we ought to know better than to let the French mess with anything!"

"Francophile," Pepper murmurs. "Hana? To save us both time, I should ask now where you buy your Chai."

"There's a little tea house in Chinatown that imports their Chai from a family that's owned and run a tea plantation for generations. I believe at last count they had 17 varieties."

"I'll have to take my brother Mick - he's a chef - to the area and check it out. He's going to have to scope out new suppliers here in L.A."

"That will be nice for you, to have family nearby." Jack sighs in contentment after a sip of tea. "He's going to open up a restaurant?"

"He was talking about it when we were in Savannah. I told him I'd be his silent partner in exchange for a share of the profits once he's up and running. What I didn't mention was that I'd probably use those profits to set up a scholarship for inner city kids who can't afford to attend culinary school. It's something he'd approve of though." Pepper feels her lips quirk. "After all, it seems unlikely that I'll need to continue saving for my retirement now."

"Does that mean you two have finally reached a settlement?"

Pepper rolls her eyes while Tony snorts. "I wish. Pepper's being unreasonable about the entire thing. From what I've heard, most women are usually happy when you hand them the moon on a string."

"You aren't trying to hand me the moon. You're trying to hand over the entire solar system."

"I for one fail to see the problem in a husband recognizing his wife's true worth," Hana says after looking at her husband's amused face and the slight cast of exasperation over Tony and Pepper's. "Do you mind…?"

Pepper checks Aaron quickly, noticing that he's woken up from his nap and is now looking around with alert eyes. She carefully passes him to Hana, along with the advice of, "He likes to face outwards so he can look around."

Hana nods, taking the baby and shifting him to sit as she's been instructed. "A sign of a bright mind - to want to take in everything."

"It also protects you from being grabbed by the nose," Tony informs her, lips curling up wryly.

Jack snorts aloud. "Our eldest boy did that as well. He also could projectile spit his pacifier to an unbelievable distance..."

Aaron does look around, his eyes focusing here and there around the room before coming to rest on his parents. Their position seems to puzzle him, because he cranes his neck around to see who's holding him. Hana's prepared, intercepting his hand before he can grab on to her large earrings.

"Ask your own parents for heirlooms to play with, little one." Hana accepts the toy Pepper hands over - a ring of brightly colored rubber keys - which Aaron accepts. He waves them around with both hands, aaah-ing in time to the way he bounces a little in Hana's lap.

Tony and Jack both chuckle, before Jack speaks up again. "He looks more like you every day, Pepper."

Pepper shrugs, "Maybe. Though I wish I had a picture of my brother with me. You could probably confuse their baby pictures."

"Is this the same you mentioned before or do you have more than one?"

"No...it's just Mick and I." She shrugs and her lips curve upward a little. "Frankly, I don't think the universe could handle more than that."

"That's the truth," Tony mutters. "There's only so much herding molecules can take before they explode."

Pepper turns in her seat to look at Tony somewhat sternly. "Herding? Are you comparing me to a molecular sheep dog, Stark?"

"No comment." Tony raises his cup of chai to his mouth to forestall any other attempts to make him incriminate himself.

"So where were the two of you born, if I can ask?" Hana asks, curious. "Here in California or elsewhere?"

"Sicily."

"Seattle." Pepper and Tony answer in perfect synchronization.

Tony blinks. "Really? I thought you were born in Savannah."

Pepper shifts in her seat as if she's uneasy, but replies in an even tone, "No, that was Mick. I only came to live in the Southeast after my mom died - I was around nine at the time. Which is why Mick has the superior southern drawl. Or so he claims anyway."

She grins. "Of course, that's simply a matter of opinion," she goes on in a voice as thick and smooth as molasses. "I've just never found it as useful in my line of work as he does in his."

Tony's mouth drops open in shock, then he closes it quickly and tries to summon up some spit so he can swallow. Pepper's voice with that drawl is pure seduction - silk sheets, humid air, cicadas outside the window, and the scent of magnolias....

Hana and Jack trade a smile, and the former rises to her feet with Aaron firmly in her grasp. "Time to check the shrimp. You coming with me?"

"Definitely," Jack agrees. "You two finish up your drinks and meet us down in the kitchen." The older couple departs, leaving Tony and Pepper still sitting on the couch. Pepper's now smiling a little smugly at the half shellshocked vibes coming from her husband.

"Hot damn," he murmurs to himself before collecting himself enough to raise one eyebrow and ask, "And how is it I didn't know before now that you had that accent?"

"Because I was trying to stay off your radar?" Pepper bluntly informs him.

Tony nods again before whistling through his teeth. "Well now that you're not I repeat for the record: hot damn."

Pepper's lips quirk, even as her eyes grow more bemused than amused. "It's just an accent, Tony."

Tony nods, then looks a little sheepish. "Sorry -you just managed to stumble across one of my personal...things?"

"Things." Pepper raises an eyebrow at his choice of words.

"You know…'things.' I'd say kink but it's a little more complex than that to be honest. My first childhood crush may have also spoken in that accent." He shrugs. "It still speaks to the 'compliant pile of mush' section of my brain."

"Compliant? That's new."

Tony's lips quirk. "Well, maybe not compliant. But it definitely wants to make me roll over and beg to have my...belly...rubbed."

Pepper huffs out a laugh at his imagery. "Smooth, Stark."

"Hey, it could be worse. She was ten and I was like seven."

"Puppy love, then."

"Then," he agrees. "Now it's much more like 'Pepper' love, but yeah. Essentially. With the benefit of having a direct path to the switch that will short circuit my brain." Tony stands and offers Pepper a hand. "I think we should rejoin our hosts before they wonder what we're up to, my delicate Southern Belle."

Pepper nods, and allows him to help her to her feet. "So dare I ask what this young lady's name was?"

"Betty Sue." He sighs. "As I said, I was young - so please resist the urge to say anything."

"I wasn't going to say a word," Pepper says airily as she wraps her arm though his.

"Mmm-hmm…" Tony sounds distinctly skeptical.

"So, did you make this Betty Sue an overly extravagant Valentines gift or something at some point?" Her words are teasing.

"No...But I may have ended the relationship unintentionally at Christmas when I tried to give her my favorite socket wrench." Tony takes offense when Pepper splutters. "Hey - I'll have you know at the time there was no greater sign of my affection."

Pepper doesn't say anything, especially not what she's thinking. And what she's thinking is that there's still probably no better sign of his affection. The pieces of jewelry that he'd handed out indiscriminately, the trips around the globe, the extravagant bouquets, even the occasional car... Those were go-to gifts, with no real thought, significance, or sacrifice attached.

A favorite tool on the other hand? That meant something. It would still meaning something.

"Are you being the designated driver tonight or am I?" she asks softly as they walk into the kitchen. Aaron's watching Hana's every move from Jack's arms. As his parents watch, Hana dips the tip of a small spoon into a pan, blows on it for several seconds, and offers it to the baby. Aaron grabs the handle near Hana's hand to hold it while he sucks enthusiastically.

"Ginger pear, little one," Hana tells him. "Sweet and easy on the tummy."

Pepper chuckles. "Looks like someone's getting ready to start trying solid foods…though the name is a little misleading. I've already started comparing types of rice cereals and pureed fruits and veggies." She comes over to tickle Aaron's cheek. "For tonight though, we just have a bottle. Easier to manage."

"Smart woman." Jack agree with a nod. "Though to be fair he's young yet to be particularly picky. Though even I would reject that ground liver and peas stuff they try and sell in a jar..."

Hana sets the spoon down. "Food's ready," she announces. "Jack, do you want to show our guests where the dining room is? I'll just get this into serving dishes."

Pepper accepts her baby back, noticing Tony's already left the kitchen to go get the baby bag without her having to ask. For all his inattention earlier in his life, he really is quite perceptive.

And she really is quite lucky.


Pepper's content as Tony drives home. The windows are down, allowing in the warm summer evening air; a happy and well-fed baby is in the backseat, sound asleep; a relaxed husband is in the seat next to her, one arm draped lazily over the center consol as he sings softly under his breath with the radio.

She watches his profile as he guides the car through the winding roads at a speed only a little higher than the posted limits. As much as he dodges his son's attempts to grab his nose, Pepper can understand the fascination. Tony had a very fine nose. And brows...though, those were less on account of nature than on account of a pair of tweezers.

"Can I help you?" Tony glances away from the road to meet her eyes briefly.

"Maybe." Pepper slowly turns her gaze towards the window and looks out towards the ocean. Their conversation yesterday morning about boundaries and limits seems to hold a particular meaning now.

"Maybe?"

Pepper shrugs and replies circumspectly, "I was thinking maybe I could be doing the helping..." The poor man has been celibate for over a year now, several of those months with a wife at his side who hadn't really known how to raise the subject after being told the first time she'd offered that he didn't mind waiting for her.

She doubts he'd anticipated just how long he'd have to wait for things to be perfectly two-sided. Pepper wonders if he's ready to accept an imperfectly two-sided arrangement yet. Because, progress was progress, and just becoming more accustomed to his body before she had to fully…submit to it…would probably do a lot to help her nerves.

Not to mention it was unlikely that she'd have a panic attack in the middle of a hand job.

"Dare I ask what you're offering a hand with?"

"Perhaps not while you're driving."

Tony blinks a little at that. "Pep?"

"Just humor me for now. Please?"

"Okay...." Tony looks at her oddly, but then returns his eyes to the road.

"So, do you have anything on your schedule tomorrow I should know about?" she asks in an attempt to change the subject and calm the butterflies starting to dart about in her stomach. "Or might we actually get to sleep in a little with Kara coming tomorrow morning?" Aaron's nanny hadn't objected to a few extra hours over the weekend. Though to be honest Pepper had originally intended to use the time she was there for more post-nup negotiations.

Tony sighs. "My attendance has been requested at several meetings tomorrow, but they're the sort I wouldn't have attended before you left, much less before Afghanistan."

Pepper quirks her head. "And yet you're going to them now?" She contemplates that a moment. "Tony, have you considered that maybe you're having the troubles you are with the Board because you're doing too much of a good thing? Maybe they're taking all this kowtowing as a sign that you're not back to a hundred percent yet. It may be time to start reminding them that on occasion you still have a right to not give a shit..."

"I was hoping you'd say that." Tony throws her a grin.

Pepper snorts. "What can I say, Stark, with present company excluded, we can't have you showing your belly too often."

"Well, as long as present company is excluded..."

Pepper glances away from the window and smiles at Tony. "With or without the accent?"

"The accent's a nice treat..." Tony admits. "But it was never required before now for compliance..."

"Compliance, huh? I suppose that's a better verb than 'herding' at least..."

Tony chuckles softly. "Come on, Pep, be honest here. I'm quite sure there were days in the past you would have killed to have a collar on my neck and a leash in your hand."

"You had your moments," Pepper tactfully admits. "Though if we're really being honest, you were always less a dog-type personality than you were a cat or raccoon..."

"A raccoon?" Tony raises an eyebrow at that.

"Smart. Probably too smart. A born problem solver. Attracted to anything shiny, whether you actually need it or not. Happiest and easiest to manage when left in your home habitat."

Tony snorts. "As long as you don't start referring to me as 'Rascal' in public..." He pauses. "Shiny things? Did you have to be that blunt?"

"If the shoe fits…"

"Well, at least you're bringing your addictions into it to," Tony mutters as he takes the turnoff for the road that'll lead to the mansion.

Pepper smiles, but lets the conversation die. When the trait wasn't applied to people, it was mostly harmless. Or at least, he had enough money to render the trait harmless. If he'd had to stick to any kind of budget, he'd be labeled a compulsive shopper or a shopaholic.

"You really think I'm grabby?"

"Do you really think you're not?" Pepper shifts her weight in her seat so she can turn her entire body towards him. "I don't mean anything by it, Tony. But you're incredibly impulsive."

"I can be," he admits. "Though I think in recent months I've been at least scaling back the habit."

"Only because you haven't had the energy to be intrigued by much outside of what's immediately in front of you." Pepper grins in the darkness. "But do I really need to remind you of just how much baby stuff we came back from Savannah with...and who was responsible for most of it?"

"Yes well, it was a good distraction waiting for the meds to kick in every day after I finished cardiac PT."

"Oh, so if you're been the picture of health, you wouldn't have bought a thing." Pepper reaches over and rests her hand on his knee. "I don't want you to think I'm coming down on you over this. Because I'm not. It's actually...cute."

Tony glances down at the hand on his knee, then over to her as he smoothly pulls into the garage and into the newly cleared parking spot next to his sports cars. "Pepper, it doesn't usually help a man's ego to refer to him as a cute ANYTHING."

"Endearing?" Pepper tries.

"I can live with that." Tony turns the car off and presses a quick kiss to her cheek. "I'll get Aaron."