It has honestly been way too long, but I hate to admit, but it isn't as bad as it could have been ^^" I apologize for the long wait, so without further ado, ENJOY! :D

Actually, I don't know if I mentioned it, but Tony's dad is alive...just so it doesn't just out of the blue. Sorry if it changes things.

Disclaimer: Never in my life will I ever own IMAA, it will forever belong to its rightful owners.

Although Tony said she shouldn't have, she ended up "plowing" until they got to Tony's neighborhood. In other words, about two to three blocks away from his house. Also meaning that they were almost there, almost to warmth.

When her gloves had finally soaked through to the point that her hands could hardly move, she gave up her post as 'plower'. In turn for giving up her plowing task, she got to hitch a ride on Tony's back.

The roads weren't as bad in the area as they were throughout the city. Well, in some places they were. Other cases like a block down from where Tony took over again, the wind had made it a ton worse than it was just three blocks back. Though that didn't deter the speed they were going at. Not that they were going very fast in the first place, but it still didn't slow them down in the least.

Pepper could hardly feel her hands. Just the feeling of her hands themselves, made her wonder just how bad Tony's must have been. After all he didn't have any gloves on. Though, she just noticed a bit ago that he wasn't using his entire hand for digging through the snow. Instead, he had his palms inside the sleeves of his coat, keeping it there with fisted fingers. Then he dug through the snow with his fists and knuckles alone.

Though she was glad both of their heads were covered. Had their heads not been covered, she was positive that they would have already had some kind of frostbite somewhere, if they didn't already.

"I can see your house!" She chattered out, hoping he understood her.

He bounced up to keep her from slipping off his back as he nodded. "Me too. We're almost there, Pep."

His voice was just has bad as hers if not worse. Maybe better. She didn't have a clue. Her ears, despite being covered with a hat, were frozen. She couldn't be happier to see the house.

Within ten minutes, they were finally at the door to Tony's house. They paused for a moment to take a breath before Tony reached to open the door. Apparently, he wasn't fast enough and Pepper had practically shoved him out of the way to open it herself, not even bothering to wait for Tony as she pushed herself inside the house that was dark with no power.

"Home sweet home," She said, shivering like mad. "Am I right?"

Tony nodded, not bothering to comment on how this was his house and not hers. They kicked off their boots, hats, and coats. Pepper, not even bothering to hang anything up or out of the way, rushed her way towards what Tony guessed was his living room. Soon he followed behind her, to find her resting in front of the fireplace that his dad must have turned on. Speaking of his dad, he was sitting under a battery powered light on the couch, still looking a bit shocked by Pepper's rush to get to the fireplace.

"Hey dad." Tony said, joining Pepper's side.

"I thought you guys got stuck in the lab?" Howard said.

Tony nodded, not wanting to speak because he was finally getting the feeling back in his hands. "We were. Smart one here didn't want to stick around."

"Hey, you agreed."

"Only because you said you'd freak out if we stayed."

"You're mean."

Although, Howard could hardly understand the pair with all the teeth chattering, he found himself laughing. Just from the two's body posture, he could tell Tony was chastising Pepper for something and Pepper was pouting. Though no one seemed particularly mad, which made it all the more funny.

"You guys should take a warm bath and check for frostbite," Howard said, getting straight to business. "There's no power, but we have extra battery powered lamps like this one somewhere."

Pepper groaned and curled up some more in front of the fireplace, "I don't want to leave."

"Pep," Tony started, his teeth's chattering calming down, "the powers out, not the warm water."

At the mention of actual warm water, Pepper sat up. "I got dibs!"

Tony decided not to mention that there was two baths in the house. Pepper was about to rush off to the nearest bathroom, but was held back at the problem of no lamp. So, Howard left to go get the other lamp(s) and left the two teens alone in the living room, where the two pulled a blanket from a closet and wrapped it around themselves.

Although the house was about ten times warmer, if not more, it was still incredibly cold. Either that, or they were just so cold, the effect was—very much so—long lasting and they really just wanted to get warm. Just looking at the two made others feel cold.

Howard returned, holding two lights similar to the one that was now just above the two teens. Pepper, apparently still unaware of the second bath, shot up and raced towards Howard to get one of the lights. Her movements were stiff and slow, but she managed and disappeared to hunt down a bathroom.

Tony, at his own slow pace, grabbed the other light and went to go upstairs where the other bath was. Howard held Tony back for a moment with a hand on the young genius's shoulder.

His dad's thoughtful blue eyes settled on his son's eyes, "You going to be alright?"

Tony raised an eyebrow at the sudden question and shrugged, "Of course, I'm not going to let a snow storm get the best of me!"

Of course, his teeth were still chattering like mad, so he probably didn't sound as convincing as he wanted. Even so, he saw that his dad understood him perfectly fine. The hand was removed from his shoulder and he was allowed to go take that warm bath he never thought he'd miss so much.

…

With the chills, teeth chatter, and shivers gone she was finally able to relax entirely. Her muscles felt like jelly when she first laid down on her boyfriend's bed—that she successfully claimed as her for the rest of her visit. He didn't seem to mind, saying he'd already fallen asleep on the sofa next to his dad. She didn't have the heart to wake him to inform him of her take over. Not when he looked as if he was sleeping harder than a rock.

Thankfully, she didn't show any signs of frostbite, but her hands were still left raw and ridged. On the other hand, Tony had a mild case of frostbite, that wasn't really frostbite. It was a step up from frost nip, but one step below frostbite. Howard had called it superficial frostbite. Pepper didn't really try to understand it at the time, but Howard told her not to worry because it's treatable.

She rolled on her side, tugging the warm and soft blankets with her. Her fingers wrapped tightly around the material that encased her body. It was getting late and she was getting more and more tired. The scent of her genius filled her nose, entrancing her into a lull.

The redhead thought of the very few times she's been at Tony's house. It hasn't been much saying Tony doesn't spend much of his time in his own home, but she's counted and she's visited four times, not including this one. The first time was the most awkward of them all. Especially with the return of Howard and it was her first true time meeting the man. Tony still likes to "poke fun" at her because how she apparently reverted back to her old self. The old her that obsessed over famous people.

The second time was much more easygoing, but no less weird. Maybe she was having a hard time adjusting to the new area or the fact that her best friend (at the time) got his father back. She always felt as if she was intruding on something special.

Then there was the third time. Tony's dad must have noticed her odd behavior because he actually pulled her aside when Tony was in the "bathroom" to speak with her. Whatever he said must have worked because by the fourth time she visited she felt as if she was in a second home. She felt more welcomed and less pressured to look her best.

By now, it was strange to think that there was a time she didn't feel comfortable in Tony's house. Which was why at that moment laying in Tony's bed, his blankets wrapping over her chilled body, was no problem, but a comfort. With this in mind, she slipped into a deep and heavy sleep.

Once upon a time it was rare to see long breaks from me...*sighs* Why can't it be like that again? So, despite that long wait, was it good? No, it's not the end. ONE MORE CHAPTER! Then it's the end. :)

Fun Fact: The sound of cracking bones disturb me beyond anything else...well not spiders or centipedes...(EW)

Just to get it out there if you haven't heard, I have a summer contest going on and I would like any and/or all of you to participate. Summer is my all time favorite season! ^_^ The due date is June 21, but if you need more time I should be able to adjust. :) And I've got a poll going on for the summary for Deception.

Hugs and Love, you guys are the absolute best for sticking around for my stories! Love you so much! SilverPedals!