Again big thanks to everyone who is adding this to their favourites/alerts and those reviewing. This chapter was surprisingly hard to write but I hope you enjoy.
Reunion
"Why am I coming to your reunion again?" Tony asked as Pepper tied his bowtie, he was of course capable of doing it himself but there was something domesticated about it that he enjoyed.
"Because you're my boyfriend, I love you and Cindy Ellis is going to be there and she stole class President, Prom Queen and head cheerleader from me in senior year."
"Cheerleader?" Tony smirked at her, he could imagine Pepper in the little cheerleading outfit, and maybe he could convince her to join the Ironman cheerleaders.
"Yes Tony, but I know for a fact that by showing up with you on my arm it will kill her, because her husband manages a Wal-Mart and you're a billionaire superhero."
"I'm here to make your rival jealous." He took a step back "I feel used. No really I do, violated in fact."
Pepper stepped back towards him and finished tying his bowtie. "No you don't."
"You're right it's hot. Is there going to be cat fight? If there is can there be mud or Jell-O?"
"Jell-O?" she wacked his arm.
The couple walked downstairs and said goodbye to Pepper's mother who, had warmed slightly to Tony after their conversation in the kitchen.
Tony pulled his rental car up at the front of the school, where he was greeted by pimple faced teenager who asked if he could park the car before realising he was talking to Iron Man and immediately lost any sense of cool. Tony posed for a photo taken on the kid's cell phone and Pepper and Tony went inside the school.
The lobby contained a desk manned by two more teenagers and Pepper signed in and collected a name badge for herself.
"Do I get a name badge?" Tony asked.
"No."
"Well now I feel left out." He would've continued but was distracted by an image of the 1990 Cheerleading squad, which included one Pepper Potts. He then saw the year book photos on the wall and looked at her entry.
Virginia Potts
Class of 1990- UC Berkley Accounting
Cheerleading, Student Council (Secretary), Math Club (President), Softball, Valedictorian
"Be Excellent to Each Other!- Bill and Ted"
"Bill and Ted, Pepper really?" He said as joined him at her side.
"I can't believe I wrote that."
He saw a permanent marker attached to the wall and saw a space under Pepper's entry to write a "new" yearbook quote, he grinned uncapped the marker and scrawled:
Will that be all Mr Stark?
"I can't believe you wrote that." She had by now joined him at the year book wall.
"It's like your catch phrase." He placed a small kiss just below her ear and whispered "It's really sexy when you say it."
She blushed, took his hand and said "Will that be all Mr Stark? Because I'd like to join the party now."
"That will be all Miss Potts."
They walked to the gym surrounded by images of Pepper's high school class, arriving at the gym finding it covered in lights and cardboard cut outs of famous New York landmarks like the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, Statue of Liberty, a fake times square covered the stage and to get in the gym they walked over a small wooden Brooklyn Bridge.
Tony was shocked "Pepper this is strange."
"It was our senior prom theme…New York, New York"
He laughed, and then listened to the DJ playing Vogue by Madonna.
"Ginny Potts!" A woman rushed over, dragging her date behind her.
"Becky Shepherd?" Pepper hugged the woman.
"It's Owens now." She put her wedding ring in Pepper's face.
"Of course, I'm sorry I couldn't make then wedding. It wasn't a good time."
"Oh I know, with your boss going missing in the desert and all."
Pepper felt Tony's hand tense against hers as it always did when somebody mentioned Afghanistan.
"Ginny meet my husband Andrew." She indicated to the man behind her. Pepper shook his hand and then indicated to Tony.
"This is my boyfriend Tony Stark." Becky looked a little shocked and the men awkwardly shook hands.
"Something wicked this way comes." Becky said and made a quick exit which confused both Pepper and Tony.
"Did I scare them?" Tony asked "I'll fetch us some drinks."
Pepper was about to respond before she realised he was already gone and a voice came from behind her. "Virginia darling so wonderful to see you."
Pepper cringed, it may have been 22 years but she still knew who that voice belonged to.
"Hello Cindy."
"Oh sweetie nobody calls me that anymore, I go by given name Cynthia."
"How are you?"
"Wonderful, what are you up to these days?"
"I live in Cleveland married to a wonderful man named Jasper Henderson."
Pepper noticed she hadn't mentioned a job "I'm out in California"
Cynthia cut her off "Yes that's right, working as a PA for Tony Stark right, I here he's a notorious playboy and if the gossip rags are correct you clean up all of his messes."
"I used to but I'm actually CEO of Stark Industries now." Tony had convinced Pepper during the "transition" period to reconsider and he agreed to stay on as a consultant, he had tried to go for Pepper's PA but she turned him down for that.
"That sounds busy, how does your relationship cope?" Cynthia said snidely.
"Oh we find our ways to cope." Tony reappeared next to Pepper, kissed her to prove a point. "Here you go, one vodka martini, extra olives, at least 3 and very dry."
"You remembered." She smiled
"I know and it only took four years."
Cynthia stood there waiting for the introduction.
"Cynthia meet Tony my boyfriend."
"Charmed" Tony picked up her hand and kissed it.
"The infamous Tony Stark, who knew that our own Virginia Potts would be the one to get you to settle." Cynthia smiled as she said it.
"Love does funny things to people." He placed a protective arm around Pepper's waist. His hand landing on bare back, and memories of the last time she wore that dress flooded his mind.
"Anyway I must be off, plenty of people to see." She smiled at Tony and Pepper, who returned it. "We must catch up sometime." And with that Cynthia disappeared off.
"And who might that delightful woman have been?" Tony asked
"Cindy Ellis, or Cynthia Henderson I think she goes by now." The conversation between the couple flowed easily as Pepper's class mates came over and said hello.
"Excuse me everyone." Cynthia was stood on the stage, when she was convinced she had the attention of the room she started "What's up class of 1990? I remember when we were all last together for a night in New York, so let's go way back." An image of a much younger, and less worked on Tony noticed, Cynthia and another guy appeared on a big screen.
"Your senior class homecoming and prom king and queen, that would be me and I'm sure you all remember Rob Mitchell, in fact here he comes now!" A man wheeled himself on to the stage.
"Hey guys! I'm sure you've all seen the board with our year book photo's so we picked a couple at random and are going to show you how some of us have changed."
The first photo on the board was Cynthia Ellis
Cynthia Ellis
Class of 1990, University of Miami, Dance
Cheerleading (Captain), Student Council (President)
"Destined to be rich and fabulous!"- Cynthia Ellis
High School Sweetheart: Chad Roberts
A more up to date photo appeared
Cynthia Henderson
Cleveland, OH
Proud Housewife, Roberts and CO Law Partners (Paralegal)
Current Sweetheart: Jasper Henderson
"Still Fabulous"
The next photo was of the man who joined Cynthia on stage.
Robert Mitchell
Class of 1990
Football (Captain), Lacrosse (Captain)
"One Two Three Four United States Marine Corps!"
High School Sweetheart: Virginia Potts
Then again the more up to date photo appeared.
Robert Mitchell
Bowling Green, OH
Enterprise Rent-a-Car, USMC Gunnery Sergeant
Current Sweetheart: Mary Mitchell
"Loving Life…Always!"- Rob Mitchell
"He's a wounded war veteran?" Tony whispered "I'm finding it hard to dislike him" He would've continued had Pepper's picture not appeared on the screen.
Virginia Potts
Class of 1990- UC Berkley Accounting
Cheerleading, Student Council (Secretary), Math Club (President), Softball, Valedictorian
"Be Excellent to Each Other!- Bill and Ted"
High School Sweetheart: Robert Mitchell
Then it switched to a recent picture from the Stark Expo
Virginia Potts
Malibu, CA
CEO Stark Industries, PA to Tony Stark, Stark Accounting Secretary
Current Sweetheart: Tony Stark
"Will that be all Mr Stark?"
There was a confused giggle as her new quote appeared.
The photo's continued for about twenty minutes as the rest of the senior class appeared, but by far Pepper had won, not only was she CEO of an international Multi-Billion dollar company she was with the billionaire who owned it.
Rob Mitchell wheeled himself over to her as the evening was coming to an end.
"Virginia Potts, as I live and breathe! According to a certain brother of yours it's a miracle you've even graced us with your presence."
Pepper turned to look at Rob "It's not been that long."
"10 years according to Joe."
"I've been busy." She wrapped her hand around Tony's.
"Mr Stark it's nice to see you again." He shook Tony's free hand. "We met earlier I rented him a car." Rob added for Pepper's benefit.
"Yes I remember, but what I don't remember is you telling me your brother is a cop." Tony added.
"State Trooper actually." Pepper added, she knew Joe had picked Tony up in his cruiser, the not so subtle warning was obvious. "So Rob how have you been?"
"Lost my legs in Iraq" He laughed, "Pretty good actually, moved home, married a nice girl who already had a kid, had a kid of my own. Living it up as much as you can in Bowling Green Ohio! Tell me about you."
"Moved to California, started working for somebody who has nearly had me blown up…twice."
"Over reaction Pep." Tony added.
"The famous Iron Man." Rob said "Hey can I get a picture? The wife's kid he's a huge fan, it'll make me cool if I can say I met Iron Man."
Tony posed for the photo and the left to talk to a computer nerd in Pepper's class, giving the two some privacy.
"He treats you ok, doesn't he Ginny?" Rob added seriously as soon as Tony was out of earshot. "If he doesn't I know some pretty big guys, Marines shouldn't be messed with."
"He treats me wonderfully Rob. He's going to propose, or at least that's what he told my Mom." Rob nodded at the news, and said his goodbyes making her promise not to wait 10 years to speak to him again; he was after all her brother's best friend.
He nearly ran Tony over on his way past "Hey Stark, if you hurt her I will roll my crippled ass to California and kill you."
"Aye Gunny." Tony shook his hand. The couple left soon after, cheerfully waving at Cynthia Henderson who looked disappointed as Pepper left with the hot billionaire and she was left with the balding slightly podgy Wal-Mart manager.
Later that evening they were cuddled up on the couch watching some late night TV before bed.
"Everybody is convinced I'm going to hurt you. Your mom, your brother, your high school boyfriend..."
"I know you won't hurt me." Pepper snuggled in to his side some more.
"I was very well behaved tonight." He points out. "You were not, flaunting me in front of all those gossipy women. I'm convinced you're only with me for the bragging rights. I already said I feel used right?"
"Be quiet Tony. I love you and you know it."
"Will that be all Miss Potts?" He lent down for his kiss.
"No Mr Stark that will not be all."
TBC…
Wow this is a long one for me, I just didn't want to drag it out over a few chapters, although I am considering a whole high school reunion story, expand a bit more and what not. Next chapter…Tahiti
Feedback appreciated as always = )