AN: I am so sorry for the lateness of this update. I lost my writing muse and I was trying to get it back. I think this chapter is alright and I hope you will still keep reading the story. I thank you all for the kind reviews and I'll try and make it up to you with a quicker update next time. Thank you for your support, enjoy!

Chapter Two

He had already decided, he was taking her to Paris. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. As he waited for her, still leaning against the wall, Tony contemplated whether or not to say something now, or just wait. Thinking about it, he figured he should casually mention something, but as soon as he was about to open his mouth, the doorbell went off. Rolling his eyes, he walked out of the room and headed back downstairs, hoping Pepper didn't hear him.

Getting the food and paying the high school aged delivery boy that was in awe over the mansion, Tony shooed him away before having JARVIS lock down the area and went into the kitchen to get the food on plates. Pouring some wine into glasses, he sat down and waited for Pepper to come down.

"Either, I was in the shower too long, or the food came to fast this time." Pepper came down the stairs and walked into the kitchen. Hair still damp and wearing pajamas, she smiled at Tony as she sat across from him, grabbing the chopsticks and her plate and started to eat.

Tony smiled, she had never looked so wonderful in her life. Honestly, he had been glad after the whole incident (although he would never forgive Hammer for what he did to her), because their relationship had gotten so much better since. However now that they were both getting really busy, it was beginning to strain again.

"You are beautiful, you know that?" He looked at her from across the kitchen island where she sat. She made a face and looked down at her plate. "No really, you are and that's why we're going on vacation. I messed up date night, but what better way to make that up by going out of the country." Tony told her, he was determined to make this happen.

"And who's going to take care of the company while we're gone. I can't just leave in the middle of a budgetary quarter." Pepper sighed. As much as she wanted a vacation, she knew they couldn't just up and leave when they wanted. "We'll take one eventually." She said as she finished up the food on her plate.

"Eventually," Tony repeated, his voice blunt. "Eventually?" He looked at her and sighed. "Well, whenever eventually comes around, where did you want to go?" He asked, taking a sip from his wine glass.

She thought for a moment, thinking about it, there were plenty of places she wanted to go. "I mean, anywhere would be nice. A private island in the middle of the ocean, somewhere in Europe." Pepper chuckled. "It's a vacation, where do you normally go on vacation? Anywhere but here." She told him.

"But come on, there has to be that one place you've always wanted to go. A place you've been dreaming of since you were little." He egged her on. "A place you were singing about in the shower…" He said really quickly and ducked, in case she threw something.

"Paris," Pepper deadpanned. "You were listening to me weren't you?" She looked at him and shook her head.

"Come on Pepper, it's Paris." Tony egged her on. "It'll be great, we can take a boat ride along the Seine, stroll by the Arc de Triomphe, go visit the Louvre museum, go see the Eiffel Tower." He couldn't understand why she wouldn't want to go. It was something she's been dreaming about for a while and she just needed to agree on taking a break.

Pepper sighed, "I don't know Tony. Don't you think that it'll be weird that we just packed and left to go on a trip? I mean, the company is doing fine, but you and I both know that there was some business deals that aren't going as well as planned. I think the board will see it as avoiding the subject." She explained and took a sip of the red wine Tony had set out, then got off the stool. "I'll think about it. But I have a call I need to make really quick."

Taking her wine glass, she headed back to her home office. A room that she tried not to use a lot at home, but ended up using it more than she should.

Tony sighed and began to clean up the dishes from dinner. "Well, so much for that. JARVIS, get the jet ready for us."

Sir, Miss Potts advised that a trip is not a good idea at the moment.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. But she's going to get the trip to Paris one way or another. Now don't argue with me, just give them a call." Tony said and headed down to his workshop. He had a plan and this one Pepper wouldn't disapprove of, he was taking her to Paris, whether she liked it or not. So, he had some planning to do.

Back in her office, Pepper looked at her schedule for the next two weeks. Meeting after meeting. It was all non-stop. It was ridiculous how much was on her plate, but she could manage it. She was CEO, there was a responsibility that went along with it. If that meant she couldn't take a vacation, then she wouldn't take a vacation. Tony would just have to deal with it.

However, she knew he was right, they both deserved a break. Especially since he was down in his workshop constantly now. She barely saw him. Let alone, he forgot about date night. IT was getting ridiculous, but she wasn't going to let their relationship get strained, all over again. Last time that happened, she almost left for good. Pepper didn't want that to happen again.

Finishing up with a call to her assistant, hesitantly telling her to reschedule the meetings, Pepper smiled and headed back to the kitchen. "Tony, I've made up my mind." She singsonged down the hall, though her smile turned to a frown when she noticed he wasn't there.

"I was going to say, let's go to Paris. But, now I'm going to bed." She said to herself and went up to their bedroom. "JARVIS, tell Tony I'm going to bed. If he wants me, he knows where to find me." She said, closing the door behind her and climbing into bed.

Tony was looking at different hotels in the city when JARVIS alerted him of where Pepper was. He sighed and had the workshop locked down, closing the house up. He went upstairs and into the bedroom, where the lights were off and the windows dimmed the light from outside.

Getting into bed next to Pepper, he gently kissed her forehead, not wanting to wake her if she was already asleep. "I'm sorry," he said quietly and closed his eyes, wrapping his arm around her waist.

"Don't be," she whispered. "Sometimes you're right. Let's go to Paris." Pepper smiled and moved her body closer to his. "Though, you still owe me for date night."

Tony smiled, chuckling at her comment. He was determined to make things right between him and Pepper and maybe this trip to Paris would help that.