A/N: Okay so I didn't get this one up as soon as I wanted to, so if everything plays out right, you might end up with another chapter posted very soon. Don't hold your breath tho. Anyway Thanks sooooo much for all of your awesome reviews and support and alerts and everything! You guys are great! Here's your next chapter!

ENJOY!

~Chels

CH. 5 CHRISTMAS CARD: a greetings card that people send to friends and family at Christmas

Tony and Pepper spend their afternoon tending to an abundance of cards; finding that Tony wasn't the only one sent a special holiday greeting.

Tony sat in the wooden dining chair, slouched, chewing on the end of the maker in his hand. He was thinking quietly to himself-the cogs in his head spinning, while also dreading what he was about to spend a good four hours doing. Pepper was in the process of retrieving a monstrous crate of mail that, together they were going to go through. On any normal day he paid people to do the tedious act, but this was his Christmas mail, which was riddled with cards from people he'd met and liked, met and disliked and a majority from people he'd never even met.

He was already tired of sitting in the uncomfortable wooden chair since he and his other arguably better half had spent the morning filling out invitations to the annual Stark Christmas Party. Coincidently no one else was around to help with the long and repetitive task, and it had put the playboy in a rather unpleasant stink.

"I think this is more than last year." Pepper assumed setting the large box of holiday colored envelopes on the smooth surface of the dining table.

Tony's eyes grew wide at the sight and he cursed under his breath, feeling his sour mood worsen immediately. Christmas cards were possibly the second thing about the time of year that he hated, only because he thought reading every single one of them was useless; and Pepper insisted on doing it. The overly cheerful and sappy cards were supposed to put people in the Christmas spirit, but not Tony Stark. In the past he just ignored them, opening only a few, then discarding the rest, but Pepper decided Tony needed to be more considerate and was therefore sending every fan and autographed holiday photo of himself.

"Here's these." Pepper sat a thick stack of glossy photos of Tony, unsigned, wearing a very poorly photo shopped Santa hat.

"Who did these?" he asked sounding mildly discussed.

"Happy did." She told him removing two handfuls of unopened cards.

"Wow." He rebuked cynically, "This is awful. Steve could have done a better job."

Pepper shot him a look.

"I mean seriously. Did he even try?"

Pepper ignored him, shaking her head as she began to sort out envelopes. She took the liberty of opening the ones from employees and various other official companies and people, while she tossed Tony the ones that were obviously from fans.

Hesitantly, with a frustrated sigh he ripped open an envelope, signed a picture and started a pile. The system worked well, slowly, but well and after a few cards, the seemingly adamant scowl on Tony's brow gradually became a crooked smirk as he read the notes telling him how awesome he was.

"Do I have a fan mail address?" Tony asked suddenly.

"No." Pepper said opening a golden envelope. "You said it was an unneeded hassle. Plus I don't think you need anything else to feed your ego."

Tony shook his head in disagreement. "But I should be courteous Pepper. After all these people took the time to write such adoring things about me. . ."

"Tony."

"And if I want to keep this heinous charade of being a gentleman thing up, I should reply to them."

"Let's just finish this." She insisted handing him more cards from fans. "Besides you and I both know you'd get tired of doing it eventually."

Tony pursed his lips and eyed her before continuing reading and signing as Pepper sustained sorting and opening. It was a few dozen cards later before either of them uttered another word.

"My family is going to be here in New York this week!" Pepper announced with a smile.

Tony cringed at what he knew would follow her statement.

"I'm going to call them." She removed her phone from her jean pocket still smiling.

"I uh . . . your family hates me."

Despite Tony's wishes, she began to dial. The playboy slouched deeper into the chair and continually tapped the end of his marker on the surface of the table obnoxiously. He fidgeted and shifted in his seat and Pepper rolled her eyes and walked out.

While Tony sulked and Pepper chatted happily, Bruce wondered in to the room from out of nowhere. He looked at Tony will a raised brow and sat in one of the chairs.

"You've been busy." The doctor noted seeing the stacks of opened cards.

Tony sighed and looked to Bruce with his head propped up with his hand. He nodded slightly, trying to hear Pepper's conversation in the other room. Bruce absentmindedly read some of the cards with a smirk.

"My mom, dad and sister will be here tomorrow at 12:30." Pepper informed him with a pleased smile.

Tony smirked but seemed less than pleased. "Anyone else? There are six other people staying here already. Somewhat dangerous individuals if provoked." He eyed Bruce.

"If I can handle you, I can handle family members." Dr. Banner laughed.

"Mathew and Zoë." Pepper stated to answer Tony's question. She went back to her previous task as if nothing had interrupted her.

Tony's brows pulled together. "Who are they?"

"My niece and nephew."

"Your niece and nephew . . . wha. . .I didn't know you were an aunt."

"Well I am, and they will all be here tomorrow." She commented without missing a beat in her job of opening.

Tony sighed again and looked at Bruce who seemed amused by he and Peppers little squabble. Soon Tony and Pepper fell back into their obnoxiously boring routine of opening and autographing. By the end the genius was in dire need of a drink, and a nap, and followed possibly by another round of drinks due to the occupancy of his house doubling in less than twenty-four hours.

"When is this going to end Pepper? Honestly I think I'm going to have Carpel Tunnel. This is insane."

"There's one more." She told him, and removed a single green envelope. She paused a moment reading the name on the front of it. "This is addressed to Bruce."

The doctor sat up and took the card from Pepper's hand. Tony perked up as well, interested to see who had sent his science pal a card. Bruce stared at it for a moment analyzing the writing. It was a woman's and somewhat familiar. There was no return address only the one for Stark Tower.

With both Pepper and Tony's leer upon him, he opened it.

The scene illustrated on the front was simple, snow covered houses with a vast star filled sky above. He opened it and silently read to himself as the hint of a reminiscent smile began to pull at both ends of his mouth.

"Who's it from Big Man?" Tony asked impatiently.

"Betty." He murmured, not moving his glance away from the hastily scribbled signature at the bottom of the card.

Neither Pepper nor Tony knew too much about Betty Ross, except from what Bruce had mentioned only a few times; but it didn't take a genius to see how much he must care for her.

"She wanted to see me this Christmas, but apparently she can't. . ." His voice trailed off trailed off and he closed the card.

Pepper gave him a thoughtful smile and then began to move the pile of opened envelopes back into the crate.

"That's too bad Brucey Boy. Maybe next year." He patted the doctor on the back as he stood. Bruce shrugged, but seemed content that she'd surprised him with a card since she wasn't going to make it to see him. Tony however decided to help to not only celebrate the ending of a laborious afternoon but cheer up Doctor Banner.

"You guys wanna get Tacos?" He looked at each of them. "I'm famished and I'm in the mood for spicy Mexican food and margaritas!"

Bruce laughed, and with a smirk and an eye roll Pepper nodded.

"Cap! Assemble the team! It's taco time!"

A/N: Bruce got a card from Betty! \o/ I thought that would be sweet. . . and then of course Tony wants to get Tacos. . . lol. Don't forget to let me know your thoughts!

Your hint for the next chapter is: Family