Queenie, I forgot. What was that story you wanted? I know it involved Mystique in some way and it's in one of your reviews but I ain't about to go through 'em.

The rest of the day, Tony behaved himself mostly like a CEO of a company should. He went to his meetings, he sucked up to investors, he put up with their bull crap, and he made Pepper's life easier.

"I'm bored!" Anna whined.

"Me too," he wanted to say, but that would have encouraged her petulance which would have encouraged his.

No one really wanted two brats running around, did they?

In the process, Anna had been with him most of the time and that had been her mantra throughout the day as he didn't want to push his luck with another stunt like the meeting. She'd had to sit quietly while he talked to a bunch of stuffed shirts that even he didn't want to deal with. He truly felt for the kid.

At the third meeting, he'd been about to sink into a comatose state of boredom and depression until Anna started crossing her eyes at the fat man whose name he didn't care to remember across from her. What really got him was that the man, who looked almost as bored at them, starting making faces back at her and they went back and forth with this routine throughout the meeting until Tony ruined it. He couldn't help it. He laughed like a maniac, nearly falling out his chair, and when Anna started giggling and the fat man snorted a chuckle too, he almost died.

Then Pepper sent them the look. You know. The one that implies you really will die. Painfully. Soon Was it odd that he thought that was sexy? Anyway, all three of them had shut up, sat down, and behaved.

After a while, he sent her to his office and had one of the temps watch her and do what she asked 'within reason'. Two hours later and a quarter to three, he walked into his office, ready for this day to be over.

"Hi, Tony! This guy…wants to… talk to you," Anna said as bounced on the couch situated on the wall of his office. He'd never realized it was so bouncy before. Of course, he usually just used it for naps anyway. At least she'd taken off her shoes.

The guy, Mr. Akito, had risen from his chair, met Tony halfway, and bowed to him. Tony returned the gesture. Then he reached out to shake his hand.

"Mr. Akito, glad to have you back." he said with a grin, absently wondering what Anna had done with the temp and if he should be expecting the police to show up about a missing person.

"Thank you, Mr. Stark. This girl says that you are her host for the week?"

"Yes, little Anna's father is an old friend of Stark Industries and he needed a favor. I was more than happy to oblige him. Now, about what we discussed earlier…" he left the sentence hanging, leaving Akito with the perfect opportunity to slide his acceptance in.

"Unfortunately, Mr. Stark, my client sends her regrets that Shi'iar will not be able to embark on this project with you."

Tony felt his eye twitch.

"I see."

"I apologize, Mr. Stark," Akito said.

"Oh, no, nothing to apologize for. I…thank you for your time and your consideration. Will you be headed back today?"

"Yes, I had planned to go home after this."

"Have a safe trip then," Tony grinned and gripped the other man's hand in a shake that he tried not to make too hard.

"Thank you, Mr. Stark. Good bye."

"Yeah, bye!" he sent the other man off with a small wave, smile frozen in place.

When he was gone, the smile dropped. Tony brought his hands up and pretended to choke someone. Then he gestured wildly with his hands out of frustration.

Through the clear glass wall, his employees could see him. Apparently having some type of violent seizure. He had those from time to time, it seemed.

Tony had been shmoozing that...shmuck for a week! He could have been half done with his project by now if he'd gone with one of the others. But no! Oh, no, he'd been assured that it was a done deal. No worries. Everything will go smoothly.

He felt so used.

"Motherfu – uu-" he abruptly coughed and stopped moving once he whirled around and saw Anna.

She was now sitting on the back of the couch and staring at him with utter fascination. His arms were frozen in the act of pulling his hair out. His brown eyes were wide, and he was breathing heavily. He took one deep breath and started to set his appearances to right, running his hands through his hair and straightening his jacket.

"Ya threw a tantrum," Anna said in an awed sort of voice.

His eyes twitched again.

"I didn't throw a tantrum. I…" he tried to think quickly of what exactly that was.

"Ya threw a fit?" Anna supplied.

He groaned and stalked over to a metal fridge. He opened it and pulled out a bottle of chardonnay. He opened a cabinet above it to get a glass but then shut it again.

"What's that?" Anna asked.

"Nothing you can have," he told her as he expertly removed the cork.

"Oh."

She knew what that meant. Her dad had stuff all the time that she couldn't. She'd asked him once if she could have some when she 'got old as him'. He'd laughed at that and told her that when she was as old as him, she could do whatever she wanted.

It popped off, shooting across the room, and fizz spilled out of the bottle.

"You're makin' a mess."

"Yup."

He brought it to his lips and drank deeply. He sighed as he set the bottle on his desk.

"Are you okay?"

"Don't worry, sweetheart. I'm fine."

Then he heard Pepper's heels steadily becoming louder and louder and groaned, throwing his hand over his eyes. They stopped, and he knew that she was just on the other side of his desk. Probably frowning at him with her arms crossed under her chest. Or maybe her hands on her very nice hips. He peeked at her from between his fingers. It was the chest.

"What do you think you're doing?" her tone was not 'I'm not okay with what you're doing but I'll let you get away with it' Pepper. This was her 'You better have a very good reason why I shouldn't shoot you for that' Pepper voice. Honestly, he thought that was sexy too, and that he should get therapy or something.

Did she even own a gun?

"Like…at this moment, 'cause I'm kinda staring at your – "

"Tony! I am not playing with you. Why. Do you have. A bottle of wine. At three in the afternoon? And in front of a child?

"I am very thirsty," he said. To prove his point, he took another long swig of wine before Pepper snatched it from him. As a result, some spilled onto his shirt.

He looked down at it as she paid him no attention and started ranting at him.

"I'm going through that again, Tony! I'm not going to just let you start drinking again!"

"One bottle doesn't equal drunkard."

"That's how it starts with you. Just one sip, one marguerita. This time you completely skipped that and went straight to bottles!" her voice was near hysterical.

Tony turned his back on her and went over his closet in the corner of the office, seemingly ignoring Pepper. He removed his jacket and tie, hanging them on a hook on the door, before taking of his shirt. She tried not to stare, but her boss was, in a word, fit. Very. Refusing to ogle her boss, she turned away blushing.

"You're not even listening."

"Yes, I am."

She jumped when she turned to find him right beside her. He'd changed into a plain white t-shirt that didn't look at all awkward with his Armani pants.

He brought his hand up to her cheek but just didn't touch her.

"Thank you, Pepper."

They stood together for a long moment, staring into each other's eyes. Anna was leaning forward, fiddling with her hair and almost giddy.

Pepper blinked and her gaze went to his lips. He leaned towards her.

Then abruptly, something shifted, and Tony straightened and dropped his hand.

"Come on, Anna. We're done for today," he called to the girl.

He walked away slowly as she sat stunned.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Pep."

Why didn't he kiss her? He was supposed to kiss her and get married! It was sabotage!

She hopped off the couch and picked up her shoes, not bothering to put them on. She rushed out the door, bidding (a disappointed and confused, Anna thought,) Pepper a quick 'Bye', and caught up to Tony.

"Are you sure that you're really okay?"

Maybe he didn't kiss her because he was sick and he didn't want her to get his germs. He looked a little bad. Or maybe he was just really stupid.

He looked down at her wide, innocent grey eyes and managed to smile genuinely.

"I'm human. I'm as okay as I'm going to get."

Anna nodded, not really understanding but accepting his answer nonetheless. She needed to think anyway. That in the office episode had meant something very important. She just wasn't sure. Something told her she couldn't ask Tony or Pepper. That left Rhodey. She determined to call him once they got back to Tony's house.

"Do you have ice cream at your house?" Anna asked.

"We'll stop at Ben and Jerry's," Tony said, absently, "How's that sound?"

"Awesome!"

"Isn't it though?"

A sly smile formed on his face.

"What's your favorite flavor?" he asked.

"Neapolitan's the best," she claimed.

"No way. Chocolate mint," he refuted.

"Neapolitan."

"Chocolate mint."

"'Politan."

"Mint."

"'Politan."

"Mint."

"'Politan."

"Mint."

"'Politan."

"'Politan."

"Mint."

"Ha!" Tony cried.

Anna rolled her eyes, having realized what he did.

"Real mature, Tony."

It, in fact, wasn't. But he didn't care. It was all he could do to not say 'In your face!'. But he behaved himself and took his win graciously. After all, life was made up of the little victories.

a/n: Please don't kill me for not updating SGIH! It's the fox's fault! *holds blue fox plushie in front of self*

Seriously, Remy and Rogue with their little (huge, gargantuan) drama is giving me a bit (Galapagos) of trouble. So y'all get this. Also on the plus side, I'm writing some 26 little Romys for one of those alphabet thingys. The fox is helping me with everything but the really important one.

Wait a minute…Am I only on the second day for this thing? Feathermucker!

Next time on Billionaires and Dolls : See? That's why Anna's not allowed to have sugar.