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Pepper stirred with a jolt. Her dream had been one of shadows and darkness.
She kept seeing a flash of red and gold at the corner of her eyes, but whenever she would turn to see it, it would disappear. She kept calling his name, but no one ever answered. It continued like that until she woke up.
She turned on her side and smiled when she saw Tony's sleeping face.
All thoughts of the dream vanished from her mind as she stared up at his face, almost boyish looking. She couldn't resist skimming her fingers up and down his arm as it lay across her shoulders.
He began to stir and opened his eyes. Pepper smiled and Tony smiled back. "Have you been watching me sleep?" Pepper shook her head, but said, "yes." Tony laughed and pulled her close. She buried her face in his neck as his hands smoothed her hair.
Pepper felt a flash of an idea run through her and before she could think it through, she shifted her weight so she was straddling Tony. He gasped at the sudden movement, but was silenced by Pepper's lips.
They came crashing down as she leaned over him. Her hair created a wall between them and the world. Tony felt joy welling up in his chest as he realized this could be his future; waking up next to the woman he loves every morning and seeing her the first thing after a mission. She would always be by his side.
As Pepper moved across his jaw and down his neck, Tony whispered the three words that would change their lives forever. "I love you." Pepper froze as her mind registered his words.
She looked up from her task. Surprise was plain in her sky-blue eyes, but her words contained determination and curiosity. "Tony stark, did you just say you loved me?" Tony couldn't respond, so he nodded. Pepper inhaled sharply, but a smile was slowly spreading across her face. "Well if that's the case, then I am just going to have to say I love you too."
Tony broke into a wild grin and grabbed Pepper by the shoulders, rolling her back onto the bed with him on top of her. She shrieked playfully and Tony couldn't stop grinning.
"Jarvis did you hear that? Pepper just said she loves me! I hope you recorded that for future generations…" Pepper giggled and was quieted by Tony's playful glare. Jarvis's answer came when it silent. "Of course sir. Every conversation you have even had is recorded onto my database and then reviewed by you, Ms. Potts, or me for important information. I will presume this one is extremely important and will be filed away under the correct name."
Tony smiled at the AI's words and felt Pepper squirm under him. He looked down at her and felt that the rest of the day should be spent in bed.
