A/N: Tony and Pepper are already together in this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel and its characters used in this story. What is written here is for entertainment purposes. I do not make any profits from it.

Tony gazed down at the sleeping form of his girlfriend. Propping himself on his side, he stretched out a hand to caress Pepper's cheek.

They were together for almost 3 years now, and they were the best 3 years of his life.

Never had his life been so clear; he was blind before they got together and being with her was like being able to see again.

His thoughts wandered to making what he and Pepper had permanent.

He smiled as he imagined her in a wedding dress sporting the biggest wedding ring for all single gentlemen to see. Of course, in reality Pepper would probably refuse to wear such a ring claiming it a hindrance to doing paperwork given its size, and also because she never liked anything ostentatious. But that didn't register in Tony's mind. He was still focused on Pepper.

She would resemble a lit candle with her fiery red hair and a white wedding gown that would suit her perfectly. He imagined peeling the layers off those gown on their wedding night.

Pepper began to stir and her eyes slowly fluttered open. She gave a start when she saw Tony looking at her.

"Why are you watching me sleep?" she asked in a groggy voice.

"I was just thinking about how beautiful you are."

She smiled lazily, her body threatening to go back to sleep again. "Hmm. That's nice."

And just to tease her, Tony added, "And how pretty you'll be on our wedding day."

Pepper's body immediately froze. "Wedding day?"

"Mm hmm."

Pepper racked her brain for a memory as to when she had agreed to marry the guy lying next to her. She couldn't find one

She licked her lips which had suddenly felt dry.

"Tony?"

Tony draped an arm over her abdomen to pull her closer. He was enjoying Pepper squirm. And they said he was the one who wasn't ready for commitment.

"Yeah?"

"Um.. Help me out here. Did you propose to me without me knowing or in any way asked me a question to which I may have said yes because I was occupied and not listening to you?" Not wanting to wait for a reply, Pepper turned to look at him. "Don't tell me we're already married! Is this still because you want to make it to the hottest married men list?! Was that a marriage license that you made me sign yesterday? Oh, God. I'm married and I don't even know that I am!"

Tony couldn't take it anymore. He let out a laugh.

Pepper darkened. "I can't believe you would tease me this way!"

Tony planted a kiss on her forehead and Pepper failed to push him away.

"Relax. We're not married. And no I haven't proposed to you or made you sign a marriage license. Besides, you're not ready yet," said Tony as he got off the bed and headed towards the bathroom.

"What do you mean I'm not ready?!" came Pepper's voice.

Tony smiled, amused at how Pepper was acting. He saw the signs. Every time her parents would ask when they were tying the knot, Pepper would deflect the question and go to a different topic. She'd hurry him along when they would pass by jewelry stores. She hates it when the employees would tease her and call her Mrs. Stark. He knows how much she hates it because she'd rant to him about it.

Tony found it amusing that years ago, Pepper wanted to get married to make something out of her life. But now that she's proven herself worthy to the world - she is running Stark Industries, after all - all that anxiety about getting married suddenly seemed so meaningless.

Tony had taken off his shirt and was about to move down to remove his boxers and get in the shower when Pepper came in the bathroom, her hands akimbo.

"What do you mean I'm not ready!" she asked, "because I am. I'm ready for marriage."

Tony turned to her and smiled. "Honey, you panicked when I mentioned a wedding to you just a few minutes ago."

"But that was because I thought that I was married and I wasn't aware of it. I mean, if I were to get married I'd want to be aware of it and enjoy it! And besides, where'd you get the idea that I'm not ready? Because I am."

He shook his head. "Honey, you love the way things are. It's just that I think you don't want to sign yourself away to being a wife just yet."

"Where'd you get that idea?"

Tony took a breath. "Well, for one thing, you don't like it when people ask when we're making us permanent."

"That's because I don't like them telling me what to do with my relationships. They're only pressuring us."

"And you also don't like it when I give you rings," he pointed out.

"Because people get the wrong idea."

"And you hate it when you're called Mrs. Stark."

"It makes me feel like I'm with you for the money."

"And there are also your comments about motherhood and wifely duties whenever we watch TV together."

"Those women gave up their careers to care for their husbands and children! I find it so unfair. Why should women have to give up anything?" she explained.

"You aren't ready, Pep." Tony walked towards her and took her hands in his. He knew Pepper didn't want to get married because she had just started her life! She was at the height of her career. Getting married and raising a family would just hold her back. "It's okay. I can wait. I've waited years to realize you were the one. I can wait for you to be ready."

"But I am!" she insisted.

Tony smirked. He found her awfully cute when she's in denial.

"Propose to me," Pepper suddenly said.

"What?"

"I said propose to me."

"You rejected three of my proposals already!" cried Tony! He remembered all three of them. Pepper told him about the drunken one and then there was that hot married men list. Tony still believes he should be on that list. And there was also that pity proposal as he and Pepper liked to call it (when they got over the harsh words said that night).

"That's because you proposed for all the wrong reasons!"

"And proving to me that you're ready calls for a proposal?" asked Tony.

Pepper nodded.

Tony looked around the bathroom. "Right here? Between the shower and the toilet?"

She nodded. "Nothing more romantic than where we sneak off for steamy sex, right?"

Tony chuckled. She had a point there. They did have a lot of memories in this bathroom.

And so he decided to do as she asked. He knelt down, her hands still in his.

"Pepper Potts, you've had me wrapped around your finger since the day you stormed in my office with that can of pepper spray. The fact that I am proposing to you right now in our bathroom just shows how whipped I am."

This made her chuckle.

He continued, "You've stuck by me even when I push you away, even when I don't deserve you. I don't deserve your love. I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to be the man who makes you happy. I want be the man who gives you children."

Suddenly Pepper imagined herself as a mother. Can she handle work, kids, AND Tony?

Come on, Pepper, she thought. Getting married doesn't necessarily mean having kids right away. But what if he wants me to be a housewife? I do not want to become one of those bored adulterous wives who sleep with their gardeners.

"I want to be the man who drives you crazy with love."

Pepper's throat felt dry. Forever with Tony suddenly felt daunting.

You guys are technically married already! You live with him! She told herself.

Marriage meant no running. Not that she would run. But what if she needed to?

"Marry me, Pepper Potts, and make me the happiest man."

Pepper's mind suddenly went blank.

She had her mouth forming the word "Yes" but no sound was coming out;she couldn't find herself to say it.

"I- I-"

Tony let out a breath and slowly rose to his feet. He gave her a comforting smile.

He understood. He would wait for her.

He had to give her time. Make her realize on her own that he would never ask her to give up anything for him, never ask her to be a stay-at-home mom, or a housewife. He would never ask her to be what she doesn't want to be. He would never ask her to change.

Tony leaned in to plant a kiss on Pepper's forehead.

"It's okay," he said softly. "I wasn't ready a year ago either. But falling from the sky sort of gives a man perspective. Your perspective will come and when it does, you're going to have to propose to me."

Pepper laughed despite feeling disappointed that Tony was right after all.

"I'm running out of proposal speeches," he added

Pepper nodded and allowed herself to be pulled in his arms for a hug.

"Maybe we can start the day in the shower? Will that take your mind off things?" he murmured against her hair, but she heard it all the same.

Pepper gave him a look but nonetheless took his hand as he led her to the shower.

A/N: I thought I wanted Pepper to say no this time for different reasons of course. Tell me what you think!