"Good morning!" Pepper said waking Alex up as she opened her curtains. "It's almost twelve…" She said smiling "You need to get up and get dressed. I invited everyone to a barbeque by the pool today. It will be a great chance for everyone to get to know one another in a situation where they are in a life or death situation saving the world…"
Sitting up still confused she asked "How did you get in…"
"Well… Your brother made a universal key card… You know him always finding a way to get himself in trouble. But not the point why are you still sleeping? What time did you get to bed last night?" She asked still opening all her curtains.
Shrugging and getting up she sighed and said "I don't know… I got done with dinner around eleven and Tony walked me back to my room. Before I went to bed I watched some television and did a little reading… It was probably late. I couldn't sleep though. I was so restless all night long…"
"Did you mean Steve walked you to your room…" Pepper said sighing. Alex just shook her head and laughed "I'll talk to him… Sorry he did that."
Alex threw her covers off "its fine… I know how he is. And I know why he is that way. After I left home and went to school he felt like he lost me… And when he heard about Taylor… I don't know. He blamed himself I think…" She sighed "So I think from now on with any guy who comes into my life he's gonna be like that." She took a deep breath "And it will drive me crazy but his intentions are good."
"So are Steve's. We don't need your brother scaring people off…" Pepper replied with a smile.
Laughing "If my brother scares them, well I may be better off." She then got up and walked to her closet "So will there be swimming at this pool party?"
"Well of course. The sun is shining and summer has begun. It's a perfect day to go for a swim…" She started "Tony should be firing up the grill right about now so you should hurry and get ready."
Grabbing a light blue and pink floral two piece she examined it and quickly changed and walked out "This look fine?"
Pepper turned "Uh… Wow yeah… I thought you preferred one pieces though…"
"No. Tony does…" She said letting out a sigh "But I'm a big girl now. But this does look fine right… Okay no I should go put the one piece on…"She said heading back into her closet. Pepper went in after her to fine her digging around the drawers. "All my one pieces are black or grey or some ugly tan color…They are boring"
She laughed at Alex's frustration "You look great. Wear that… Since when do you care about what you… Oh… I see…"
"It's not that…" Alex said laughing.
Pepper just nodded and said "Okay…" knowing it was. "Well wear that and…." She said starting to scan her new wardrobe "And this…" She said pulling out a white long sleeve lace and crochet cover up. It was short and completely see though but cute and simple.
"You sure Tony won't kill me…" She said taking it.
She shook her head "No… You're not wearing some skimpy string bikini that shows everything. You still look very elegant and classic. And besides who cares. Tony will always find something to complain about… Not go brush your hair and put some sun screen on and let's go."
"All righty…" She said still worried about how her brother was going to react. She quickly did as Pepper said and met back up with her in the small living room. She slipped her sandals on and followed Pepper out towards the pool. When she got there it was just Tony and Bruce so far. They seemed to be have one of their science debates again where it seemed Tony was purposely trying to strike a nerve with him, but as always Bruce was very calm and collected.
Pepper walked right over and snuck a kiss onto Tony's cheek "Lunch smells great… Hello again Bruce how are you?"
"He's wrong. As always can you please tell him how-"Tony started before he was cut off by Pepper "Tony… No debating at social gatherings big or small. It's rude." She then turned back to Bruce "How are you." She asked with her always charming smile.
He nodded "Very well actually. And you?"
"Very well…" She said smiling "Now can you boys be so polite and get me and Alex here a drink?"
Tony then looked up from the grill to see his sister "Wait whoa… No. You should go change."
"No she shouldn't. She looks great." Pepper said rolling her eyes.
He shook his head "Yeah maybe if she was a stripper? Two pieces automatically make the mind go to stripper."
"Excuse me…" Pepper started and then gestured to her two piece "What are you trying to say?"
He smiled "Well I'm okay with you looking like a stripper… Not my sister. Alex go change." He said looking back over to her.
"No I'm good." Alex said sighing deciding it was as good a time as any to stand up to her brother. She then took the cover up off and dived in to the water. "The waters great…" She said smiling and starting to swim.
Tony then looked at Pepper confused "Did she…"
"Drop it." She then said kissing his noise and walking over to the side of the pool and sat down dipping her feet in the water. Alex swam over to her "That was very ballsy of you. I enjoyed it. I think Tony is gonna drop it… Hopefully he is starting to see you're a big girl now."
"Doubt it…" She said smiling. "But maybe."
All the sudden they heard a big splash. When they looked over they saw Bruce in the water and Tony over on the side muttering "Damn it…" They bother laughed "He never stops does he…" Alex said laughing.
"I'm use to it now, and in much more control of it now so I don't know why he keeps at it nothing's gonna happen…" He said laughing. He then took off his drenched button down and plopped it on the side of the pool. Alex nodded "Well again for now and future references I'm sorry about his behavior…"
Bruce just shrugged "I don't mind. If it keeps him from blowing up stuff it's fine." He joked. "I'm sorry he's constantly being the protective big brother. Now that has to get annoying and overwhelming…"
"He has his reasons…" She said sighing. Just the Natasha and Clint walked out. As soon as they did Tony took the momentary distraction as an opportunity to tackle and throw Pepper into the pool. She resurfaced with Tony from underwater and spashed at him and yelled "I'm going to kill you…" Trying to hide her smile.
Tony then just smiled and swam to the stairs and got out "Natasha… Clint" He said walking by them both.
"Touch me and I will break your arm and three places…" She said with a stern voice. "Thank you for inviting us Pepper…It smells great." She said placing her stull on a lounge chair "How's the water?"
"Amazing!" Tony exclaimed.
She nodded and approached the edge of the pool "Sounds good enough to me. She took her cover up off and threw it to the chair revealing a plain and simple red two piece and did a flip into the water. Tony muttered "show off" and She just smiled "Sorry have just a few party tricks…"
"Ignore Tony! That was amazing!" Pepper said applauding.
Alex nodded "I think I would die attempting a stunt like that… I'm Alex. Tony's sister…"
"Oh, yeah hi. I'm Natasha… You had dinner with Steve last night right?" She asked trying to be sure it was her. She just nodded "Oh well it's nice to meet you. And I applaud you not ripping your hair out from growing up with Tony…" She said joking.
He frowned from over by the grill "Hey I was and still am an amazing stunningly handsome brother… She's lucky to have me. Right sis?" He said shooting her a playful wink.
"Yeah your pretty great." She said laughing at him. "Now is the food ready? I'm starved…" She said as she got out. Just then from over her shoulder she heard a familiar voice say "Yeah me to…" She turned around and smiled "Steve… Good to see you again…" Alex said trying not blush.
"Yes it is! I was hoping you would come. You had me worried." Pepper said smiling from in the pool. "Tony shouldn't be much longer on the food."
He nodded "Again thank you for inviting me and setting all of this up. It's all very kind of you." He said before turning back to Alex. "Did you sleep well last night I felt terrible I kept you up talking that late…"
"No don't. I really enjoyed our talk…" She said with a smile. "And I really slept great." She replied with a lie and with her smile still on.
"Well I'm glad. Will you be coming to dinner tonight again?" He asked curious.
She shrugged "I don't see why I wouldn't." Just then Tony yelled that lunch was ready. Everyone made their way over and fixed their plates and burgers. They all sat together and enjoyed small talk even when Tony was glaring at Steve whenever he made Alex laugh at anything. When they were finally done Steve and Alex quickly helped Pepper clean up before she went and joined Tony in the pool who was trying to convince someone to have a chicken fight with Bruce.
"So how was the water earlier…" Steve asked after they sat down.
She sighed "Nice and relaxing. I love the water… Makes me feel at peace. Corny I know but it really does."
"The last time I went swimming… wow… Was probably several months before I joined the army… It's been awhile." He said laughing "I remember me and my friends would always rough house and all which well, I was the little guy so never ended well for me but was always a pretty good time."
She then stood up "Well sounds like you need to get into the water." She held out her hand "Jump in on three?" She asked confidently.
"How could I say no…" He said taking her hand. She quickly count down before they jumped into the deep ended. They both went under and when they when they resurfaced she quicly asked "As amazing as you remember…"
He smiled "No even better…"
They then horse played and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon out at the pool with everyone but when it was five everyone decided to go ahead and start heading in to make sure they had time for dinner. Alex and Steve got out with Tony and Pepper and began drying off.
"So I will see you tonight at dinner…" Steve asked seeming a little nervous.
She nodded "Yeah I'll be there… I'm assuming you will be to…"
"Oh yeah… Would you still wanna have dinner with me…" He asked taking a deep breath.
She looked confused "Well yeah… You okay?" She asked worried.
"Yeah I'm good. Um… So I was hoping it could kinda be like… a um… Yeah…" He said as his nerves seemed to get ahead of him. "Sorry I am really quite terrible at this as you can tell…" He finished with a sigh.
She laughed "Did you mean to say a… Well a date…" He just nodded and looked at the ground. "Well um…"
"Before you say anything I know this is a weird situation but I don't know I've enjoyed your company and…" He started rambling before Alex cut him off "I would love that…I'll see you tonight? Seven right?"
He nodded "Looking forward to it…" He said before smiling and walking away.
So I really enjoyed writing this chapter and am really excited to write next chapter!
Please please please read and review and let me know if there is anything you like or dislike or even want more of! Eager to please any and all my readers!