Having the Time of Your Life

Author's Note: I'm so surprised at the amount of attention this story has gotten! As I'm writing this, the first two chapter have almost one hundred views in one night! Thank you so much for supporting this story! Enjoy this chapter.

This chapter is inspired by Dancing Queen by Abba.

Whenever they were at official public events, the two of them only ever had eyes for each other. It was always like they were the only two there, something the public eye always noticed. The first time they were at a public event as a couple was four months after they were dating and they were at the Annual Firefighters Ball as the Disney concert Hall.

Pepper was dressed a dark green, lace sleeved full length gown and Tony wore his best pin stripped black suit, a matching tie and pocket cloth to match with Pepper. They were one of those matching couples and the world absolutely loved it.

At the event, there was always a time for official photos. They both smiled for the cameras. Tony had whispered a joke in her ear that made her laugh and she leaned into him more as he wrapped an arm around her waist, keeping it there for a while, until Pepper had offered to get them drinks.

Pepper Potts was standing in the middle of Central Park, as she looked over the crowd that had gathered as she announced the Avengers to the stage. This was a bi-annually event for the Avengers, to meet the public in Central Park, to promote them, to keep them in good press, something they always needed to do.

"Thank you all for coming here today! I can tell you, that as much as you like to listen to them speak, they enjoy being here! So without any further talking from myself, I'd like to introduce you to the Avengers!" Pepper announced, stepping to the side as the six Avengers come on stage to the roar of the thousands of people. They all waved and Tony turned to smile at her. She smiled back at her boyfriend before promptly making a gesture to turn him around. The crowd wasn't here for her, they were here for them.

The Avengers smiled and waved, doing their best to answer questions whilst avoiding questions about their personal lives with an ease that Pepper knew came from what she had helped taught them with.

"Mr Stark, when will you and Ms Potts be getting married?" A young kid asked and Pepper almost choked at the question from the kid. She had expected it from an adult, not a kid who looked younger than eight. Tony took one look at her and laughed his ass off.

"Ms Potts and I just enjoy being with each other and the future will lead us to where ever it thinks it's best too." Tony answered simply, after he finished laughing. Pepper couldn't help but be impressed by his answer and smiled gratefully at him. She mouthed thank you and he merely smiled. For another half an hour they continued answering questions before Pepper could tell they wanted to go home and she walked back on stage.

"That's all for today, folks! The Avengers are very busy people and they have a team meeting to go to in an hour. Yes, they hate those meetings just as much as you hate workplace meetings." Pepper told the crowd and there was a collective laughter. "Thank you again, and please join me in thanking the Avengers, for all the good they have done for not only this city, but this planet. Without them we would not be as safe as we are."

The crowd cheered again and Tony walked up to Pepper, kissing her on the cheek.

"I love you," Tony told her quietly in her ear. She simply smiled at him, wrapping an arm around his waist before leading the Avengers off stage and away from the public and the paparazzi.

They were only walking in Central Park, just a way to keep up on their fitness and to enjoy their afternoon. They couldn't do it peacefully however when they were followed by the press from the moment they left Avengers Tower to where they walked to the park and simply walked around the track, taking their time.

"Are you sure I can't tell them to go away?" Tony asked her, squeezing her hand. Pepper rolled her eyes.

"I'm pretty sure, Tony. They're only doing their jobs. Besides, you knew when you proposed to the CEO of Stark Industries, you would get a lot of press. I'm just so famous." Pepper tried to tell him seriously but they both ended up in hysterics. She playfully nudged his shoulder, looking over at him.

"Anyway, I was thinking about the wedding." Tony started off and she looked at him in curiosity. "And I was wondering, if you'd be okay with getting married in Italy."

"Italy? Wasn't your mom- you want to get married in Italy for your mom don't you?" Pepper asked him and he nodded. She smiled at him.

"I just think- I haven't been over there since she died- we'd always go on holidays to see her family. I just- I think it'll be nice. It's time to go over there again." Tony told her.

"I'd love to do it Tony. I think it's an excellent way to honour your mother." Pepper told him. He smiled at her, kissing her forehead and she smiled at him again.

They continued walking around Central Park, talking about little things before Tony expressed interest in going home. They stopped in at Pepper's favourite bakery to grab themselves a donut each before walking the rest of the way home.

After their marriage, their first official event was a fundraiser for New York City, to help continue to rebuild the city after the events of 2012 and the events with the Mandarin. It might have been two years since then but some parts of the city still needed more money to rebuild again. All the Avengers were expected to come, but that hadn't bothered them much. It was the least they could all do to help the city.

Pepper was nervous for this event, she knew that the Avengers had to do well at this publicity stunt, to earn just a little more respect from the public and to show the US government that they did in fact care about the damage they caused whilst saving millions of people.

"Oh Pepper, relax would you?" Tony told her, as she adjusted her hair in the backseat of the car. The fundraiser was a formal dinner, where they needed to get as many people as possible to donate their money for New York.

"What if no one donates? Then we all look like a bunch of idiots?" Pepper worried.

"You worry too much. It'll be okay. SI has already donated money as has Shield. I'm more than happy to donate more. Remember, this is just a formality. SI has more than enough to give this fundraiser but the Avengers need to be shown doing all of the formal stuff for the government." Tony told her simply and she couldn't help but smile at him.

"When did you become so smart?" Pepper asked. He smirked.

"I married you of course. And I've always been a genius." Tony smirked and she laughed just as Happy pulled up.

"Good luck, they look like sharks out there." Happy told them from the drivers seat. Tony got out of the car and walked over to her door, opening it up for her. She took great care to get out of the car and not flash the press and Tony placed an arm around her waist as the cameras started to flash at them.

"Mr Stark! Mrs Stark, how's married life?"

"Is it true you're already thinking of getting divorced?"

"Mrs Stark! Will you keep your maiden name for Stark Industries?"

"Are the Stark's America's next power couple?"

Pepper ignored the questions as her husband led them to the hall, where the Avengers were waiting just outside, all looking their best in formal wear Pepper had organised for them.

"They love you, don't they?" Clint said sarcastically and Pepper rolled her eyes.

"Funny, Barton." Pepper muttered. "Now, best behaviour from everyone. We don't need bad press, especially here."

The night turned out to be a success and Pepper and Tony always stayed within ten feet of each other, always sharing glances between each other and little smiles. It was something just about everyone caught onto.

The first time they showed their daughter at a public event, Tony was overprotective and Pepper was incredibly anxious. She couldn't help but worry that she wouldn't be okay, that she would hate being at the group event, where Tony would be speaking at a science conference in Washington D.C. They would have left her at home, but the Avengers got called on a last minute mission, Happy was away on holidays and there was no one else they trusted. She was expected to go as well, since she was his wife and couldn't stay at home with Zoe.

"It'll be okay," Pepper kept whispering to herself. Tony squeezed her arm as Pepper pushed the pram. Zoe was now six months old and growing stronger and healthier every day. It made Pepper relax slightly thinking about it and she smiled as Tony was now surrounded by scientists and engineers, enquiring about his new work. He happily talked about it, but always kept an eye out for her and Zoe. Pepper was playing with Zoe, more than happy to just let it be them.

Pepper watched on, a few minutes later as Tony started talking. He was giving a speech on an engineering concept Pepper couldn't even get her head around. He finished talking, twenty minutes later to a loud round of applause and Tony thanked them before walking off stage and over to her and Zoe. She smiled at him and he kissed her cheek before looking at Zoe, who lit up when she saw Tony.

"Why don't we head back to the hotel? I'm finished here and I think we'll both relax more at home." Tony suggested and she eagerly agreed.

Author's note: A little longer than the other chapters so I hope that's okay and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!