(A/N ok…chapter 3 up and stuff since you guys like the Pepperony and stuff! lol YAY PEPPERONY! ^.^)
Pepper opened her eyes and yawned; she stretched and screamed out in pain. Pepper looked down at her shoulder and her eyes widened, "Pepper?!" Tony called and opened her door. He saw the blood and was at her side in a flash, "I-I forgot…I stretched and…" Pepper said rambling. Tony went into the bathroom and grabbed a towel; he went back to the shaking redhead. "Hey you're alright…I got you…" Tony said and pressed the towel on the gunshot wound; Pepper nodded and took a shaky breath. "Do you want to go back to the hospital?" Tony asked and Pepper shook her head, "No…they'll want to keep me there…" she said.
Tony had Pepper hold the towel on her wound while he went to get some bandages. He came back minutes later holding a white first aid box. Tony pulled the towel away from the wound and gently pulled down Pepper's shirt sleeve exposing the bleeding hole. Tony grimaced and cleaned up the blood. It took him twenty minute to fix Pepper up again, "Ok…time for some food and your meds." Tony said picking everything up. Pepper shakily got out of bed and moved over to the suitcase that Tony packed for her, she rummaged through the case and pulled some jeans and a t-shirt. Pepper slowly got to her feet and turned to see Tony watching her, "I…uh should change…" she said looking down. Tony nodded and moved towards the door, "Be careful…try not to hurt yourself." He said smirking. Pepper rolled her eyes and closed the door behind him.
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Pepper slowly moved down stairs to smell something cooking and to see some luggage by the door. She made her way to the kitchen and stood in the doorway. Howard was talking to Tony while Tony stood at the stove and flipped bacon, "She's doing fine…she ripped her stitches this morning…" he said and looked up to see Pepper standing in the doorway. Tony smiled and gestured for her to come in, "Hey Pep…You gotta eat something before you take your meds…" he said. Howard turned and gave the redhead a kind smile and Pepper smiled back. She moved into the kitchen and gently lowered herself onto a chair, "How's your shoulder?" Tony asked while putting a plate in front of her. Pepper frowned and winced "It kinda burns…" she said quietly. Tony frowned and sat down in the chair next to her. As Pepper nibbled on a piece of bacon Tony pulled down the sleeve of Pepper's shirt to look at the wound, "I'll check on it again later…" he said sighing and fixed Pepper's shirt.
The redhead nodded and continued to eat the food Tony gave her. Howard sat down at the table with his cup of coffee and news paper, Tony watched as Pepper ate her breakfast. "What?" Pepper asked with a smile, Tony chuckled "You smell nice…" he said picking on her. Pepper glared at the young genius and poked him in the ribs, "Shut. Up! I was high on the drugs the hospital gave me!" she said and finished the last of the food on her plate. Tony laughed and took the plate from her; he then opened a cabinet and pulled out an orange pill bottle. He opened the bottle and knocked out a white pill. Pepper wrinkled her nose at it and Tony placed it in front of her with a glass of water. "Take it Pepper…" he said forcefully and Pepper shook her head, "It will make everything stop hurting…" Tony said trying to sound persuasive. Pepper shook her head and clamped her mouth shut, "Pepper!" Tony said warningly. Pepper kept shaking her head and crossed her arms, Tony groaned "If you don't take your meds I will shove them down your throat…" he said angrily. Pepper snorted and said "I'll take my chances…"
Tony grabbed Pepper's good arm and pulled her onto the floor. "EEP!" Pepper cried out and Tony straddled her holding the pill, "Open up Pep…" he said and Pepper clamped her mouth shut and shook her head. Howard sighed and continued to read his news paper. Tony plugged Pepper's nose and waited for her mouth to open, Tony had to admit that Pepper was a fighter. She despite the pain in her arm tried her best to get him off of her. Eventually Pepper opened her mouth and took a large breath of air; Tony quickly shoved the pill into Pepper's mouth and closed it. "Swallow Pepper…" he said. Pepper swallowed hard and began coughing. Tony helped her up and pulled the glass of water off the table and gave it to her, Pepper took it and drained it. She coughed some more and Tony rubbed her back, "I don't like taking these…they make me sleepy." Pepper said once she stopped coughing. "I'm counting on it…you only slept for three hours…" Tony said helping Pepper to her feet, Pepper pouted and crossed her arms again. Howard glanced up from his paper and smiled; Tony walked over and grabbed something off the counter. Pepper stood up and shook her head "AWWW come one Tony! I don't need that!" she said whining. Tony gave Pepper a look and walked over to her anyway, "Put it on Pepper." He said sighing. Pepper grumbled and took the sling; she put it on but struggled with the strap. Tony got closer to her and pulled the strap behind her back and hooked it to the other side of the sling, he then brushed her hair out of the way so it wouldn't get caught. "What now?" Pepper asked annoyed, Tony smirked and took her hand "We're going to watch a movie…and wait for your meds to kick in." he said and tugged Pepper out of the room.
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Hours later Howard went upstairs to check on Tony and Pepper. He peeked into Tony's room to see Pepper's head on his son's chest and Tony gently held up her bad arm; Tony looked over to see his father in the doorway. Tony put his finger to his lips and looked down at Pepper, "She finally fell asleep…" he whispered. Howard smiled and nodded, he left Tony and Pepper alone. Tony sighed and glanced down at the redhead in his arms. Note to self…call Pepper's doctor and ask for a higher dose for her medication. Tony thought. Pepper frowned in her sleep and moaned in pain, Tony rubbed Pepper's back and shushed her and whispered soothing words to her. Pepper soon snuggled closer to Tony and fell into a deep sleep once more.
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Pepper living with the Starks was interesting at the least. She cooked and cleaned even though Tony asked her not to; she walked to the Starks house every day after school and got her homework out at the kitchen table. Tony went to the armory but only for two hours then he would head home, Rhodey was surprised at this but he was happy.
Tony entered the house and walked towards the kitchen. He stayed at the armory longer than he expected and missed dinner. Thinking Pepper was in bed Tony raided the fridge for that night's dinner, "You're late…" Pepper said from the kitchen table. "GAH!" Tony yelped and spun around, Pepper sat at the kitchen table with her books all over it and her laptop open. "Pep! Hey ya I know…sorry Iron Man stuff…" Tony said grabbing leftovers from the fridge. Pepper nodded and didn't question him any further; Tony put some food on a plate and walked over to the table. He moved some of Pepper's books out of the way and put his plate down. "Why are you up? It's like Three AM." Tony said frowning. Pepper side and rolled her neck "Shoulder hurts…can't sleep." she said and looked at her computer again. Tony frowned and quickly ate "Tony…if you eat like that…you'll make yourself sick." Pepper muttered as she typed away. Tony snorted and got up to put his plate in the sink, "You should get some sleep Pepper." He said and walked over to her. Pepper snorted "I can't…stupid shoulder…" she muttered and rolled her shoulders. Tony chuckled and walked over to her, he used extremis to save her work and shut her computer down he then closed her laptop lid and Pepper grumbled. "Not fair Mr. Extremis man…" she said and Tony chuckled, "Come on…I'll give you your meds…" he said tugging on Pepper's arm. Pepper groaned and shook her head "No…We school tomorrow." She said and Tony rolled his eyes.
"Come on Pep…it'll make you feel better. And remember what the doctor said. He told you to take your meds anytime you feel pain in your shoulder." He said, Pepper rolled her eyes and sighed "No I won't be able to go to school tomorrow if I take it…" she said. Tony sighed and rolled his eyes towards the ceiling "Pepper please Just take the meds!" he said loudly, Pepper glared at Tony and crossed her arms. "No! I want to go to school tomorrow and I want to keep my grades up! I've already gotten very far behind! Why are you making me take something I do not want to take!?" she asked shouting. Tony shook angrily and his eyes flared "I don't want to see you in anymore pain! Because it hurts me too!" he shouted back. Pepper was shocked and she fell back into her seat, she looked at Tony with wide eyes. "I-I didn't know you cared that much…" she whispered.
Tony went in front of her and got on his knees; he took her hands and smiled "Of course I care about you Pep! You're my best friend! You're special to me! I hate to see you in so much pain! I've noticed everything…I know your shoulder has been hurting you and you're having nightmares…I just want you to get better!' he said gently. Tears rolled down Pepper's cheeks "I'm sorry…I-I…" she said and Tony shook his head "Pepper…you need rest! Not sleeping is making you like this." He said quietly and gently wiped away her tears. Pepper nodded, Tony smiled and pulled Pepper into his lap so he can hug her. "Will you take your meds now?" he asked and Pepper nodded without looking up. Pepper got off Tony's lap and got to her feet; Tony followed her and got out the little orange bottle. He got out a pill and handed it to the redhead.
Pepper took the pill and started to pack up her books into her bag, the sun had already begun to peek over the horizon and through the kitchen windows. She sighed and rubbed her eyes and yawned, Tony picked up the house phone and dialed the school to call them out. Pepper sighed and sat down and waited for her medicine to kick in, Tony looked at her and smiled "Sleepy yet?" he asked and Pepper nodded her eyes drooping. Tony smirked and walked over to her; he lifted her up out of the chair and carried her upstairs. As Howard walked down the stairs for his morning coffee he passed Tony carrying a half asleep Pepper, "Everything alright?" he asked whispering and Tony nodded. "Ya…I called us out of school today…she hasn't slept in a few days and I think she needs a break." He said whispering back. Howard smiled and nodded "Alright…" he said and continued to the kitchen.
Tony continued up the stairs and Pepper sighed "Are you wearing that cologne again?" she asked and Tony couldn't help but laugh. He brought her to her room and gently placed her under her blankets, "Get some sleep Pep." He whispered as he tucked her in. Pepper gave him a small smile and closed her eyes; Tony smiled and gently brushed Pepper's cheek.
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Pepper thrashed fitfully in her sleep. Sweat made her hair stick to her head. Tony was in his room working on armor schematics when he heard a terrified scream. He dropped his papers and ran out of his room and down the hall towards Pepper's room down the hall, "Pepper?!" he asked shouting. He burst through her door and saw she was thrashing around in her bed, "Pepper!" he shouted and was at her side in an instant. He shook her shoulder but she didn't wake up, "PEPPER! WAKE UP!" he shouted and the redheads eyes flew open. She was breathing hard "T-t-tony…" she stuttered, Tony brushed Pepper's damp hair out of her face and gave her a small smile "hey…you were having a night terror..." he whispered. Pepper sat up and nodded, Tony moved closer to her "You want to tell me about it?" he asked and Pepper looked at him for a moment. "It was about my dad in Afghanistan…he died…IED….don't make me sleep again." She said shaking. Tony sighed and climbed to the other side of the bed lied down, he patted the space next to him and Pepper scooted towards him. Tony pulled her close to him and turned on his side; he wrapped his arms around Pepper's waist and put his forehead against hers "try to sleep now…I promise that you're safe. Your dad will be alright…he's tough…I'm not making you the promise no harm would come towards him…but I know for a fact that he will do his best to come home in one piece. You're here and that I love you too much for you to be in this much pain…" he said whispering. Pepper opened her mouth to say something but Tony kissed her gently "sleep Pep…we'll talk more later…" he whispered. Pepper blinked "ok…" she whispered. Tony smiled and pulled the blankets up over them, he kissed her lightly one more time before Pepper closed her eyes.
(A/N YAY chapter 3 done! Review? PWEASE? *Puppy dog eyes*)