Disclaimer: Most of the characters and situations in this story belong to Marvel Comics, Fairview Entertainment, Dark Blades Films, and other entities, and I do not have permission to borrow them. No infringement is intended in any way, and this story is not for profit. All others belong to me, particularly Cedric, and if you want to borrow them, you have to ask me first. Any errors are mine, all mine, no you can't have any.
Additional disclaimer: I've never been to Orcas Island. I tried to match reality to a decent degree, but don't take my word for anything.
For those of you who asked, "palmer's kiss" is taken from Romeo and Juliet, wherein the protagonists flirt about hands. "Palmer" is an old word for pilgrim, as in the religious journeying type; in this case, Juliet and Romeo are punning on "palm" to go from holding hands, to kissing hands, to actually kissing. Since hands played such a large part in this story, and I love my obscure titles...there you go.
Cincoflex encouraged, admonished, cheered, shored up, and in all ways made this story possible. I've been writing it since last autumn; you'd think she'd get tired of it, but she soldiered on! *wink* Thank you, love.
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"I've hardly seen you all day," Tony complained. It was true; Pepper had been in high gear, moving so quickly that he figured he was lucky to have gotten a good-morning kiss.
Pepper didn't look away from the clothes she was hunting through, but from his spot in the big closet's doorway Tony could see her smile. "I know, Mr. Stark, but I'm trying to tie up all the loose ends here so that we'll have the next two weeks free."
"I still think it should be a month," he grumbled, but he could understand why Pepper wanted to keep their honeymoon to half that. Life went on, and so did companies, and as she'd pointed out he would be itching to get back to his workshop by then anyway. But Tony figured he was entitled to a little sulking.
As for his missions, well, he meant to have transportation on standby, just in case. But he found himself hoping that anyone using his weapons illicitly would take it easy for a little while, and give him some time with his bride...
"Maybe next August," Pepper suggested, surprising him. "If it's a working vacation."
"Deal." Tony pushed off the doorframe and went to wrap his arms around her, clasping his hands over her belly. "Now about this separation thing..."
Pepper laughed, covering his fingers with her own. "It's only for one night."
"Yeah, but I still don't get why. It's not like we don't already live together."
Her thumb stroked his wrist. "Call it part of the mystery. Trust me--it'll be more special if the first time we see each other tomorrow is when the ceremony begins."
"If you say so." Tony rested his chin on her shoulder, savoring the feel of Pepper pressed against him. It was familiar, by now, but never boring. "But I can't keep an eye on you and make you go to bed, instead of staying up half the night working on those loose ends."
"Would I get any more sleep with you?" she asked dryly, though he could see her grin out of the corner of his eye.
"Ohh yes," he purred, deliberately brushing his mustache along the tender skin beneath her ear and feeling a pulse of pleasure as she inhaled. "Because you won't be getting much sleep tomorrow night, Mrs. Stark-T-minus-one, and I want you in top shape for that."
The tiny moan that escaped her was extremely satisfying. "Tell you what," Pepper managed. "I'll leave my laptop here."
Tony considered. She could still do plenty with her phone, but without it he couldn't get in touch with her. "And you'll be in bed by eleven."
"Twelve." She turned in his arms and gave him a kiss, long and lingering. "And you'll do the same."
"I should put you on the damn board." Tony let one hand wander down to her backside. "Wanna get a head start?"
"Tempting, but you're scheduled to leave for that last budget meeting in five minutes." Pepper pushed a wayward lock of hair out of his eyes.
"I can be a little late." He squeezed gently, and watched her eyes slide shut.
"You're already going to be late, you're not dressed." Pepper leaned forward to whisper in his ear. "Patience. You know what they say about those who wait."
"I've always been more of a go-get-'em guy myself." But Tony relented; the meeting was important, and it behooved him to make nice with Finance if he was going to leave them to their own devices for two weeks. He loosened his grip. "Okay, but we're still having dinner together, right?"
"Mm-hmm, as long as you don't get hung up with the satellite section." Pepper kissed him once more and shoved him gently back a step. "Pick a suit, Stark, and get dressed--the smoother today goes, the better tomorrow will be."
"I'm holding you to that," Tony promised, and obeyed.
****
The messenger arrived just as the budget meeting was letting out, and Tony beckoned the man into his office and took the package. Opening the outer box, he lifted the inner lid and sighed in appreciation.
"Just as advertised. Very good." He examined the contents carefully, removing the two smaller objects, then closed both boxes and gave the package back to the messenger. "Take it on to the second address--you may have to wait a couple of hours, I'm not sure anyone's there yet."
The hefty tip he handed the man brought him an obedient nod. The messenger passed Pepper on the way out, as she was coming into the office, and she turned to watch him go. "What was that?"
"Frascatti's," Tony said, holding out his hand palm-up to display the little midnight-blue velvet cases. "They sent the rings."
Pepper's eyes lit, and she came over to take one. The wide band within was wrapped in the repeating pattern of her engagement ring, delicate ivy leaves and smooth black enamel, intricate and lovely. "I think this one's yours."
Tony opened the other, and nodded. "Yep. You like?"
"Very much." She peered over at the smaller band in his box, then pulled the one she held from its velvet cradle for a closer look. "They did a wonderful job."
"Should we try them on, make sure they fit?" Tony ran his thumb over the one in his palm, enjoying the texture.
"They're from Frascatti's, Tony. They'll fit perfectly." Pepper slid the ring back in and closed the box carefully, raising a brow at him. Tony smiled.
"Give it back to me tomorrow."
****
The house was far too quiet that night, even when Tony had the heavy metal cranked as high as the speakers would go. It was the first time he'd been alone all night since Pepper had moved in, and even though that had been less than twelve weeks before, he missed her.
Bored and restless, he fell back on tradition and started pulling apart one of his cars for a tune-up. There was no way he was going to finish it that evening, but it wouldn't hurt it to sit, and it could wait until they got back.
I wonder what she's doing, he thought as he unscrewed and dismantled. Pepper was spending the night at Cherie's, having packed a small valise that morning and pulled it from the limo after dinner and a kiss goodbye. He tried to picture her in a house he'd never seen, chatting with her friend and Cherie's husband, brushing her teeth, settling down in a guest room bed and closing her eyes.
Can she sleep without me? It was a lonely thought, but Tony told himself to get over it. It's just one night, dumbass. You'll see her in a few hours, and after that...
After that, there would never be an excuse to sleep apart again.
I won't ever be alone.
Intellectually, Tony knew there were any number of reasons why they might separate at some point, up to and including him making some terrible mistake. But he refused to think about it just then. In the morning, Pepper would come back to him.
To stay.
Gradually Tony relaxed, becoming absorbed in the engine he was tearing apart. When the music's volume dropped enough to let Jarvis be heard, Tony almost started.
"Sir, it is now midnight."
"Right." Tony looked down at himself; his sleeveless shirt was black, but even that couldn't hide the grease smears, and his hands were worse. Straightening from his crouch and grunting at stiff muscles, he went to scrub his hands at the sink, then wandered back, absently wiping the last moisture off on his pants.
The ceremony was scheduled for ten a.m., and the various suppliers were due starting at seven, but Tony knew that Happy could handle letting them in. "Jarvis," he said out loud, "if I'm not up by seven, wake me."
"By your command," Jarvis repeated, and Tony snorted and threw himself down on the workshop couch. This way I won't get grease all over the sheets, he reasoned virtuously, and if there was another reason he wasn't going to think about it or he'd never get to sleep.
As it was, he didn't notice when Jarvis let the music fade away.
****
The feeling in the pit of his stomach was akin to the sensation he got when flying--excitement and joy and a sense of possibilities, all mixed. Tony fixed his cuffs with care, and looked at himself in the mirror.
He looked good; well, he usually did. But Tony had taken especial care this morning, and he felt it showed. His tux was perfectly pressed, he'd trimmed his goatee, and he'd picked the cologne Pepper seemed to like best. There was one final thing he wanted to add, but as he reached for his father's pocket watch on the dresser a hum made him look up.
Dummy was rolling into the room, a small package in his gripper, silvery ribbon spilling over one claw. He held it out to Tony, who took it, bemused and wondering if even the 'bots were getting into the wedding thing.
But Dummy reversed course without waiting for comment, and Tony looked down at the little box. There was a card tucked under the ribbon, and he pulled it out; the three words were in Pepper's graceful clear script.
All my love.
Tony felt the corner of his mouth curl up, and he pulled the bow loose with gentle fingers, as if too hasty a move might damage the gift. Inside the box, resting on a bed of the fluffy stuff used by jewelers for padding, was an object he couldn't immediately identify.
Tony plucked it out. It was heavy, gleaming gold, angular and geometric, with a short chain and clip on one end. He recognized the design as Art Deco, and the patina indicated it was old, but other than that--
"Jarvis? What is this?" He rubbed his thumb over the cool surface, liking the feel already.
"It is an antique watch fob, sir, circa 1929. Do you wish to know the provenance?"
Tony shook his head, unable to find words. It was the perfect gift, simple and exactly right, and Pepper all over. He set the box and card aside, and carefully hooked the fob onto the end of the watch chain.
Then he turned the watch over and pried open the back, managing it without Pepper's fingernails this time. The picture of his mother was gone, removed some time before and placed into a tiny frame that now sat on his workbench in the garage; in its place was a little photograph of Pepper in profile, smooth hair falling across her cheek and a small soft smile on her lips.
Yes.
Snapping the watch shut, he tucked it into his pocket next to the ring, and went to get things started.
Actually, they had started without him. The back lawn held neat rows of chairs, set off with tall vases spilling over with flowers; a pavilion-style tent had been set up nearby, and savory smells were beginning to waft out of it. The repulsor field that Tony had set up was on--he could hear the faint vibration if he concentrated--and he could see a couple of motorboats far out on the water, Stark Industries security in place to keep off any gawkers coming from that direction. A baby grand piano sat on a platform constructed for it; the lid was open, and a man in a suit was bent over its guts wielding a tuning wrench.
Even without Pepper's actual presence, in fact, everything was going smoothly. Tony wandered over to inspect the refreshments, only to get chased back out again by the busy caterers, and moved his attention to the bar area next to it, where champagne was chilling on ice and rows of glasses glittered in the sun. He nodded to the bartender, who was waiting silently behind the long table, a neat bow tie adorning his...arm.
"Looking good," Tony told Butterfingers, who chirped at him.
"There you are." Tony turned to see Rhodey loping over, this time looking more comfortable in a suit.
"I don't rate dress blues?" Tony joshed, grinning, and Rhodey rolled his eyes.
"It's your own damn fault for having this outside. If I wear the uniform I gotta keep the cover on all day."
"Blame Pepper," Tony said immediately.
"Yeah, I'll get right on that. Hey, I know I'm technically not your best man, but you have the ring?"
Tony patted his watch pocket. "Right here. Did you seriously think I'd forget?"
Rhodey shrugged. "Stranger things have happened."
Tony decided not to take offense, and the two of them were silent a moment, looking over the sunlit lawn. Then Tony sighed and stretched a little. "It's what, about eight-thirty? Let's go in and get something to drink before everybody else gets here."
"Um." Rhodey crossed his arms. "I've been specifically detailed to keep you out of the house while the bride gets ready."
"Pepper's here?" Tony swung around to face the mansion as if drawn by a magnet, but Rhodey moved to block him.
"Yep, and you're not supposed to see her yet, Stark, so stand down."
Tony considered trying to dodge around his friend, and then considered how pissed Pepper would be if he managed it. "The workshop, then. There's stuff in the fridge."
Rhodey squinted at him. "I dunno, man..."
Tony held up a hand. "I won't go upstairs. Word of honor." He raised both brows. "If you're worried, you can have Jarvis lock the door."
Rhodey snickered. "Yeah, okay."
It took them a few minutes to walk around to the garage entrance, but once inside they pulled sodas from the minifridge and settled down to watch ESPN. Tony was amused when Rhodey did tell Jarvis to lock the door, because he had at least three ways to circumvent that in under ninety seconds, but since he had no intention of going upstairs it didn't matter. Tempting Pepper's wrath was too big a risk.
Jarvis let them know when the first car cleared the gates, and Tony tossed his can into the recycle bin and stood, feeling that excitement rise. "Time to get the party started."
There weren't many guests, all told; as Pepper had wanted. Old friends, a few elderly couples who'd known Tony's parents; board members and a handful of SI employees. But there were no relations in the little crowd, and Tony reflected in between shaking hands and offering greetings that both he and Pepper had spoken a truth. In many ways, they had only each other.
"Felicitations, Tony." Vralia's gravelly voice broke into his distraction, and he focused on her roguish grin. "Nice to see her making an honest man of you."
Tony smirked, and accepted her kiss on his cheek. "I've always been an honest man, Vee."
She chuckled. One camera hung on a strap around her neck and she was holding another. "Let's not even go there. I've got some nice shots so far but I want to set up a tripod near the front."
"Go ahead." Tony looked past her. "Where's Jen?"
Vralia glanced at her watch. "Should be here any minute. Let me tell you, sugar, that home computer of yours is developing a real eye for a picture."
"Jarvis? Really?" Tony blinked.
"Yeah, he showed me some of his stills from the video feeds. Not bad for something with technically no imagination." Vralia hefted the camera she held. "You know the drill, pretend I'm not here."
With that she loped off towards the chairs, where people were beginning to arrange themselves. Tony shook his head, reminded himself to take a look at Jarvis' code, and moved on to the next person.
It didn't take long for everyone to get settled. Tony found Jen sitting in one of the back chairs, fanning herself; she looked, in his uneducated opinion, about ready to pop, but he figured that if Vralia wasn't worried he didn't need to be. A plump woman with curly blonde hair, she beamed up at him and pulled him down for a kiss. "You've done well, Tony," she told him.
"Better believe it," he shot back, grinning. "Should I have an ambulance on standby?"
Jen snickered, and rested a hand on her belly. "About two more weeks, they tell me. Though I have fun gasping and clutching just to watch people panic."
Tony sighed. "You haven't changed." He caught Rhodey waving at him, and patted her shoulder. "Gotta go."
He made his way to the front of the seating area. "What's up?"
Rhodey nodded at the little crowd. "They're getting a bit restless."
Tony set his cuffs. "So am I. Is Judge Fremont here?"
"Front and center." Rhodey tilted his head at the first row of chairs. Tony saw the long lean form of the judge occupying the middle of the row.
"All we're missing is the bride, then." Tony straightened. "Go grab your seat."
Rhodey clapped him on the shoulder and went to sit at the end of the front row, next to a short woman with brown hair in intricate braids who smiled at him. Tony looked out at the little crowd, noting the pleased anticipation most of them were displaying. "Well. You're here for the free booze, right?"
A wave of laughter rose, and Tony looked them over, smiling a little. Improvising was one of the things he did best. "I'm glad you all could make it. I know there's been a lot of speculation about this wedding, but fortunately for all of us Pepper's in charge of it, which means no belly dancers or AC/DC."
More laughter, and he let it wash around him, anticipation building under his arc implant. "In fact, I might be worried if I didn't know she is always--"
And he saw her suddenly, standing at the end of the aisle between the chairs as if waiting for him to notice her. She was wearing something white and filmy, just like he'd imagined, and the tiara he'd sent over the day before glittered through the curls of her piled-up hair; but really, all he could see was her smile.
"--Punctual," he finished after a moment, and realized he was holding out a hand. "And there she is."
There was no music, and no escort, but the guests still rose as Pepper walked up the aisle to him. Tony couldn't look away, not that he wanted to; joy was rising in him like a tide, joy and an exulting certainty that this was what should happen.
Pepper's fingers laced with his, tight and trembling, and Tony raised her hand to his mouth for a kiss, unable to resist. She laughed a little, cheeks pink, and there was a spattering of applause from the guests.
Judge Fremont, tall and dark, rose to step forward, her wrinkled face stern. She wore a dress in a deep navy blue instead of her robes, but there was no doubt of her authority. Clearing her throat, she raised her hands. "Shall we begin?"
The exchange of vows was brief and simple, but Tony felt the weight of each word that passed his lips, the solemn promises he was making. These I will keep. He kept his eyes on Pepper's, and she looked back, gaze clear and unafraid and so loving he ached with it. She spoke her promises in a quiet voice, and he wanted to catch each phrase and keep it, proof of how she loved him.
Mine, was his thought as he slipped the ring onto her finger; and Hers was the satisfying counterpart as she eased his over his knuckle. The gold warmed against his skin but the weight remained, and he welcomed it.
The judge, official sternness fading, gave them an austere smile, and pronounced them married, and Tony took his wife--his wife--into his arms and kissed her, scarcely hearing the applause. Pepper's lips were warm and she held him tightly, and the joy crested and spilled over, and Tony laughed, drowning happily in her smile.
****
It was a good party. Tony expected no less; Stark parties were always good. The champagne flowed as Butterfingers poured without spilling a drop or a bubble, and soft piano music came from the fingers of the musician at the baby grand. The guests mingled easily, chatting and munching on the little savories and sweets that the caterers brought forth, and Tony and Pepper wandered along, accepting congratulations. He had to let her go each time someone wanted to embrace her, but as soon as the hug was over his hand found hers again, wrapping around her fingers as if the touch were essential to him.
Well, it is.
Finally, in a lull, he tugged her around a stand of bushes into relative privacy. Pepper swung easily into his arms, laughing, and Tony kissed her hard and long, reveling in the fact that they belonged completely to one another now. As long as we both shall live. It hardly seemed long enough, but he would take what he could get--
"Tony--" Her smile reappeared as soon as he let her lips go, and he grinned back, exhilarated.
"How're you doing, Mrs. Stark? Ready to ditch this crowd and fly off into the sunset with me?"
Pepper reached up and stroked his mustache. "Orcas Island is north, Mr. Stark, it's a good thing you have Jarvis handling the directions." She evaded his retaliatory nip at her fingers. "And I think we'd better stay at least until after the cake."
"It's a little west. But you're right, cake is good." Tony ran his hands down her back to her hips. "You look spectacular, by the way."
Her dress was silky and comprised of several layers, as far as he could tell, lacy and extravagant without getting in the way. Pepper pinkened again. "So do you." She kissed his nose, and Tony laughed.
"You may not look like a marshmallow, but I still want to nibble on you," he murmured in her ear, taking the opportunity to start with her neck. "Only question is, where are the buttons on this thing?" He let his hand wander suggestively up her spine.
Pepper squeaked. "It's a zipper, and I'm not telling." She squirmed until he raised his head. "Patience, Tony."
Tony smirked at her. "Judging from the whiff I got, I'm not the only one who needs patience right now."
Pepper flushed red, but her smile didn't disappear. "Just for that..." She leaned in to whisper. "Remember that box from the shower?"
He could hardly forget. "Gah. You're wearing that under there?"
"Those," Pepper corrected sweetly, took his hand, and pulled him back into the public eye while he was still trying to find words.
They held the promised press conference, which was more like a photo opportunity despite the shots Vralia had released--standing outside the front gates and letting the photographers go crazy, while answering the usual banal questions. The SI security people had strict instructions to keep it to no more than four minutes, but Tony was pleased to note that Pepper didn't seem stressed by it all. She'd given statements to the press before, of course, and taken questions, but rarely had it been so personal. But she stood calmly within the circle of his arm, front and center instead of background, and Tony caught the soft smiles on several faces as they watched her. His arm tightened in possession and pride. Yeah. She can handle you.
Pepper had described the cake to him, so Tony knew what to expect when the caterers brought it out. But Pepper's mouth fell open at the sight of the elegant tower, twined with icing flowers, and Tony burst into laughter--because the little Iron Man figurine on top, carefully placed next to a ceramic chili pepper, was not part of the design scheme.
"Jimmy!" Pepper looked as if she didn't know whether to be angry or amused. Rhodey, at the forefront of the little crowd, snickered.
"What can I say, it needed that final touch."
Pepper rolled her eyes, but she was grinning. Tony managed to calm his laughter, and shoved Rhodes on one shoulder. "I better not find any shaving cream on the Audi, after this."
"Don't give him ideas." Pepper took the knife the caterer was holding out.
She had been inclined to skip the cake-cutting ritual, but Tony had voted for it. He wasn't sure why, except it was part of his mental landscape for a wedding, something like the bride's dress; and Pepper had agreed. Wrapping his hand around hers for the first cut felt a bit silly but at the same time totally right, and when the rich odor of the confection hit his nose Tony's mouth started to water. Pepper had given him dire warnings of what she would do to him if he smashed the cake into her face instead of feeding it to her, but when he lifted the piece he wasn't even tempted; ruining that smile would be a crime.
She took a neat bite, eyes twinkling, and fed him a piece in turn to the applause of the guests, dimpling when he indulged himself and licked a bit of frosting from her thumb. Tony hoped that Vralia was getting a good shot.
"Do we get to open the presents now?" he asked Pepper a little later, when the cake had been sliced and distributed.
She glanced over at the impromptu pile on one table. The invitations had specifically asked for none, but some people had ignored the stipulation. "No...they'll have to wait until we get back."
Tony pouted, and forked up another bite of cake. "That's no fun."
Pepper snickered. "You could have Happy box them up and send them to us," she suggested impishly.
"I just might." It seemed unfair, to not be able to find out what was in the packages until later. And he'd asked much weirder things of Happy before.
Tony looked around at the little crowd. Everyone seemed to be getting along, even the board members; Judge Fremont was chatting with Cedric of all people, gesturing animatedly as Pepper's assistant nodded in agreement, while Happy and his date sat talking quietly in a corner. Tony blinked.
"Did you know Happy had a girlfriend?" he asked Pepper in a low voice, nodding at the pair, who were holding hands.
"Yep," Pepper replied, sipping from her champagne glass. "Her name's Lou, she's very nice."
He glanced at her, suspicious, and saw the corner of her mouth twitching. "Hah. You only met her today, didn't you?"
She gave in and laughed. "Yes, all right. She came in to freshen up before the ceremony. But she is nice."
Tony contemplated his chauffeur, who was looking more, well, open than he'd ever seen the man before. "Huh. Well, good for him, at least he's got taste."
Pepper sniffed, and thumped him gently. "That may be so, but don't say that to him, Tony, or he won't stop blushing for a month."
"Yeah, yeah." Tony pulled out his pocket watch and opened it to check the time, enjoying the little ritual of it. "We're scheduled to leave in about twenty minutes, and before you start with the snark, this is one flight I intend to be on time for, Mrs. Stark."
"I'm not arguing," she said serenely. "Our bags are in the limo; the only thing left is signing the license."
"I love your efficiency, have I mentioned that lately?" Tony replaced the watch. "Let's go corner the judge."
The conversation had shifted by the time they reached the pair; Cedric was actually chattering, which Tony hadn't quite believed possible of the man. The topic was apparently Cajun cooking, but when Pepper and Tony arrived, Cedric flushed a deep pink and closed his mouth.
"Sorry to interrupt," Tony said amiably. "But we have a license to sign."
"Ah, yes," the judge said, "of course. Mr. Toffle, don't go away, I still have to convince you of the benefits of a good Tabasco."
Pepper smiled at her assistant. "Come along, Cedric, you can be a witness."
"Yeah, we need two, don't we?" Tony looked around until he spotted Rhodey, chatting with Ms. Fukushima, and gave a sharp whistle.
Rhodey glanced up, excused himself, and loped over. "What's up?"
"Time to sign the license, we need your eyeballs." Tony stepped over to the nearest table and pushed the plates aside.
It only took a few moments. Tony signed with his usual flourish, watching smugly as Pepper wrote her new last name for the first time in her own elegant script. Rhodey and Cedric both added their signatures, and Rhodey took the opportunity to lay another congratulatory kiss on Pepper's cheek, twin to the one he'd given her right after the ceremony. Then he held out a hand to Tony. "You done good."
"That's what I hear." Tony returned his grip. Rhodey laughed.
"You know, out of the two of us, I never would have expected you to be the first to get married."
Tony shrugged. "Me either." Random chance had done him a favor, though, and he'd never been slow to follow up on the chances Fortune tossed his way.
"Just...take care, okay?" Rhodey's gaze was sober, and Tony knew what he was trying to say. There were so many ways he could screw things up, so many things that could smash their happiness with one blow; but Tony was determined not to let any of them happen.
"I will," he told his old friend firmly. As much a promise to himself as to Rhodey.
Rhodey nodded, awkward and acknowledging. "Good."
His bride was talking quietly with Cedric--giving instructions, to judge by Cedric's listening expression--and Tony took a moment to just admire her. The afternoon sunlight lit her hair almost as brightly as it did the diamonds on the tiara, and to Tony's eyes she seemed to glow, white skin and white dress and the soft smile that kept reappearing. The ring on her left hand caught the sun as she gestured, and Tony didn't bother to keep in his own grin. He stepped up behind her and slid an arm around her waist, conscious of Rhodey's smirk at the sight. "Ready to go?"
Pepper leaned into him, her hand coming to rest on his. "Absolutely."
It didn't take long for Happy to bring the limo around. Normally Tony would have driven them himself and left the luggage to Hogan, but he didn't want to deal with the crowd still lingering outside the gate, and Happy was an old hand at sliding a vehicle through a mob. Tony was a little surprised when Rhodey absented himself from the last round of farewells, but that mystery was solved when he returned with both Butterfingers and Dummy in tow, carrying baskets.
"Do you know what that's about?" Tony asked Pepper sotto voce.
She took one look, and her eyes widened at the sight of the 'bots distributing little bags. "Yes--" she said. "Run!"
But it was too late. As they dashed for the limousine, the air filled with laughter and rose petals, and they arrived at the car in a cloud of hoots and whistles and flower pieces, Happy standing stolidly in the midst of it all and ignoring the pink and white snow covering his shoulders.
Tony slid in after Pepper, shaking off petals and sputtering with amused outrage. "Roses? Roses? Is he reading Martha Stewart now?" He rolled down the window and stuck his head out as the engine purred to life. "Hey, Platypus, I didn't know you were such a romant--"
A handful of petals hit him square in the face, and Tony spit out rose bits as Rhodey whooped. The limo was halfway down the drive by the time Tony got his mouth clear, and he collapsed back onto the seat, prepared to grumble--until he saw Pepper sprawled out on the opposite bench, helpless with laughter.
Tony grinned, shook off the vegetable matter, and slid over to start picking petals off of Pepper, wondering how long he could keep her laughing.
****
The flight to Washington didn't take long. To his annoyance, Tony spent almost half of it accepting congratulatory calls from various senators and other dignitaries--people Pepper wouldn't let him put off--while she curled up in one of the chairs, reading, her toes peeking out from the froth of skirt and her hair loosened. The visual almost made up for the tedium of making nice over the phone, especially when he wandered past and managed to inch her skirt up almost to her knee before she noticed. The silvery stockings she was wearing disappeared as she shook her dress back down and gave him an admonitory glance, but they were enough to make his pulse run faster.
They didn't fly directly to Orcas Island; instead, they landed at SeaTac International and picked up the roadster, which Tony had sent up earlier in the week. The ferry ride was, to Tony's perception, ridiculously slow, but speed clearly wasn't the point, and he had to admit that it was nice to watch the sunset from the side of the boat, arms around Pepper to keep her from the chilly air.
The little bed and breakfast was actually a collection of tiny cottages, surrounded by pines and perfect for privacy. One of the inn's staff was waiting for them in the dusk, sitting on the cottage's little front porch; the tall man handed over the key, told them to sleep well, and vanished into the woods almost before Tony could thank him.
"Huh." Tony watched him go, a little baffled, and then turned back to get their bags.
Pepper took her smaller bag from him, which he permitted only because there were three and he only had two hands. "At least he didn't make a fuss."
"True." Tony set the bags down by the door and unlocked it, expecting a dark room, but instead a warm glow spilled out, firelight and lamplight and a wave of savory scents.
The cottage was mostly one large room, with a fireplace and seating area, a miniature kitchen, and a huge bed against the back wall. The table in the breakfast nook was set with a meal, and the whole place had a feeling of luxury without overstatement. Tony approved.
He set the bags down near the door and turned back to block Pepper's entrance. "Ah-ah. You forgot something."
She blinked at him, smiling. "Are you charging a toll?"
"Good idea, but no." He took her bag and put it down too, then stepped back over the threshold. "The bride's supposed to get carried in, remember?"
"Oh, that's--" Her protest squeaked off as Tony scooped her up, one arm behind her back and the other under her knees.
"Watch your head," he instructed cheerfully, and carried her inside--a matter of two strides, but then he found he didn't want to put her down. Pepper, giggling, cupped his chin in one hand and kissed him, as generous a toll as anyone could wish, and Tony moved blindly towards the bed, barely remembering to kick the door shut behind him.
The quilt was soft, and smelled like fresh air as Tony lowered Pepper onto it. She pulled him down after her into a laughing tumble of kisses and caresses. Somehow they managed to lose their shoes, and Pepper peeled him out of his jacket--the tie was still on the plane somewhere. Tony ducked out of the suit's suspenders, reaching for her. "So where is the zipper?" he asked, sliding his hands around her ribs towards her spine.
She laughed, and showed him, and they took their time undressing one another, with an appreciation not lessened by familiarity. Tony whimpered at the full sight of Pepper in the contents of that box, sheer silver silk that managed to be both bridal and devastatingly sexy at the same time. "You're gorgeous," he sighed, kneeling next to her in something like awe. "Pepper..."
"Is this a good time to tell you I'm really glad the ring got stuck?" She smiled at him, lips trembling a little, and Tony took up the invitation of her open arms, hissing with pleasure at the feel of silk and skin against him.
"If I had to do it over, I'd remake the damn thing a size smaller, just to make sure." He grinned as she laughed. "Hey, Pepper, we left something out of the vows."
She blinked, sitting up a little. "We did? What?"
Tony kissed her, pressing her gently back down, his focus pulling in until he was concentrated solely on her. Pepper moaned, her hands skimming the muscles of his back, and he finally let her mouth go, intent on tasting as much of her as he could. "With my body, I thee worship," he murmured.
And did.
****
Tony was a little surprised to find that the next days didn't bore him. He wasn't much of a nature buff, but long walks on the trails with Pepper turned out to be interesting if not exciting, especially when she invented a bird-spotting game where the points were kisses.
They rented a sailboat and went out on the water, sailing around the little islands that dotted the water near Orcas and coming back with appetites that were nicely fulfilled by the various restaurants available. They also rented a moped, and after about fifteen minutes on it Tony bought a set of tools and juiced it up, to the point where he actually collected a speeding ticket. But he didn't mind; for one thing, it was fun to feel Pepper's grip on his waist tighten when he peeled away from a stoplight...
They bought fresh fruit from a farm and took an air tour in a biplane that predated the Depression, and Tony spent almost three hours discussing engines with the owner afterwards. And every night and sometimes during the day they would retreat to the big bed and make the most of leisure, privacy, and no deadlines.
Pepper in her working clothes was deliciously professional, he knew that already. Pepper in her sleep shirt, or the lace-edged lingerie she preferred, was delectable. But Pepper in nothing at all, standing in the flood of moonlight coming in their window and beckoning him closer, was absolutely mind-blowing; and Pepper sweaty and sated, drowsy in the glow of his arc, was a memory Tony treasured, even if he had every intention of recreating it as often as possible.
Pepper sobbing that she loved him as she came apart under his touch...for that, there were no words.
****
On the eighth day they woke to rain, steady and gray. Tony dressed first and stood looking out the window towards the water, which was only barely visible, and realized with a pang that despite the joy of spending time with Pepper, he was going to have a bad case of cabin fever by the end of the day.
"Any sign of it letting up?" Pepper asked, and he turned to see her enveloped in one of the luxurious terrycloth robes provided by the inn, leaning against the counter of the kitchenette and sipping coffee.
Tony shook his head, and walked over, trying to hide his disappointment with the weather. She set down her mug and kissed him, arms sliding around his waist, and he leaned into her, savoring the unique flavor that was Pepper. His bad mood shifted, and he was starting to think of ways to coax her back to bed, when she pulled back with a happy sigh. "Do you still want to try to break the bank at Monte Carlo?"
He gaped at her. "What?"
Her smile was teasing. "Our passports are on the plane. We could be there by tomorrow morning."
In that moment, Tony realized again that Pepper knew him in every way...and that was just fine with him. Laughing, he hugged her hard. "You know I love you, right?"
For answer, she kissed him again.