Short late night conversation. Enjoy :)

She could feel his steady breathing behind her back. In and out, in and out; it was a soothing and reassuring thing. She gripped his arm that was pulled around her waist tighter. She had been scared today. He'd scared her today. If Steve had been one moment later, he wouldn't be here holding her in his arms. He'd be in a hospital or worse, in a steel (or Iron) box a couple feet under ground.

Luckily, the Hydra gun had missed both Iron Man and the Captain, instead sending a column of a building crumbling to the ground. She'd seen it on JARVIS's live feed of the battle. She hated watching it, but she had to, to make certain he was safe before asking the AI to turn it off.

He'd returned home hours after dark, battered and bruised, but as alive and healthy(ish) as ever. She'd been waiting on the couch and hadn't moved when he walked in.

"Pepper?" He'd called out. She had let out a soft noise to let him know she was there and he made his way to her on the cushion. He sat down beside her and laid down, resting his head in her lap. She had stroked his hair and he'd closed his eyes, running a hand down her arm. "I'm here."

Pepper loved the playful, sarcastic goofball he normally was, but adored his other side, the gentle and serious one, all the more. This had been one of his 'gentle and serious' moments. After just sitting quietly for a few minutes, Pepper suggested going to bed. Tony had agreed wholeheartedly, rising and following her to their room.

Pepper was drawn out of her mind when Tony spoke in her ear. "Why are you still awake?"

She shifted at his warm breath on her ear. "I can't sleep." She admitted softly. Tony hummed against her neck, sending shivers down her spine. "Oh." He stayed silent for a minute, then asked, "Why?"

Pepper closed her eyes, sighing. "I'm still processing." She could feel his nod against her skin. "Why aren't you sleeping?" She returned his inquiry. Tony's eyebrows furrowed. "Thinking." He mumbled. Pepper laughed softly. "That's dangerous."

She could practically hear his mock hurt expression behind her. He pressed a kiss to her temple, his lips dry against her skin. "Do you wanna talk?" He asked tentatively. She turned in his arms so that she was facing him.

"Tony Stark suggests talking while he and his girlfriend are awake in bed and can't sleep?" She said with fake incredulity. Tony smirked. "Well if you don't want to talk. . ."

Pepper smiled. "No. Talking's fine by me."

Truth to be told, she was glad he wanted to talk. It showed that he didn't just love their physical half of their relationship, but also enjoyed the quiet moments that they got to share.

Not that she didn't enjoy their physical half of their relationship.

"Alright," Tony smiled softly, resting his head on his hand and looking curiously at her. "What do you want to talk about?"

Pepper didn't answer right away and thankfully, Tony didn't press, just pressed his lips to her forehead. Finally, after a few moments, she looked him in the eye and asked, "Will anything ever be normal?"

Tony's eyebrows pressed down and he smiled again. "Honey, when has our life ever been normal?" Pepper gave him a half hearted smile, his answer not being what she wanted to hear. He must've picked up on it, because his grin faded, replaced with a thin, concerned frown. "What do you mean by normal, Pepper?"

She cocked her head slightly. "You know, where everything could be peaceful. We could get on with our lives, without the world's problems interrupting. Without. . . Iron Man getting in the way of carrying on."

He didn't say anything, looking down at the sheets. She loosened her grip on him and pulled away slightly. "I'm sorry that was. . . selfish. I shouldn't have-"

"No you're right." She looked at Tony in surprise. "What?"

He stroked her hand with a callous thumb. "We can't live our personal life when the world always needs the Avengers. I agree with you."

Pepper didn't see a point to his statement. What was he trying to say? Was what they were trying to do, was it all fruitless, something that could be easily lost in the jumble of problems that called out for Iron Man?

"But I also know that I am a Stark. And Starks are pretty damn stubborn. I promise, Pep, that we can have both." Tony vowed determinedly. Pepper felt warmed by his promise, but a worm of doubt managed to wriggle a cold trail in her heart. "But you'll never be safe. And I'll just be a constant worry to you when you need to be focusing on your mission. Doesn't that bother you at all?" She asked softly.

Tony shook his head. "Pepper, you are my first priority. Not the Avengers. You have to be safe before anyone else. I'm not ashamed of that."

When she still felt doubtful, he cupped her chin in his hands. "We can and have been doing this. We just need to enjoy the quiet moments while they last. Alright?"

Pepper nodded and tucked her head against his chest. He held her tight, pressing his nose into her soft, sweet-smelling hair. After a moment, he spoke up. "Tell you what. Once Fury clears us up for this mission, I'll ask for a long leave. A couple weeks or months of peace. How's that sound?"

Pepper nodded vigorously into his chest, touched by his loving offer. "It'll do." She smiled. He grinned above her.

What she didn't know is that he was already one step ahead in progressing with their personal life. She had no idea of the small black velvet box that rested safely in one of his secret compartments in his lab. He couldn't wait for the moment when he would present it to her. He liked the sounds of a Mrs. Stark.

Please review! :) Next Chapter: Nightmares