Day 12 - The Party - Part One

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The paparazzi follow me from the moment I get in the limo until I arrive at the Disney Concert Hall. Outside the building are the journalists and the press who wait for me with their cameras ready. I put on my best smile and wait for Happy to come around and open the door for me. The moment I get out I'm blinded by dozens of flash bulbs but my smile doesn't fade away. They probably are wondering why I'm smiling like a fool... They won't know, of course.

The ballroom is empty but very carefully arranged and it looks like a disco. There is a stage in the middle of the ballroom that will probably used later for the band who's going to perform. I remember telling Pepper that I want a special band tonight, or at least a singer who could entertain the guests. But I guess it's too much even so. I wonder what she's going to look like...

My thoughts are suddenly interrupted by a very handsome Jim Rhodes who makes his way through a hidden door. He grins and pulls me in his warm embrace.

"Happy birthday Iron Man!" He grins once again and motions me to look over the way he's pointing at with his hand.

He points at the door he'd just walked in earlier. I bring my gaze back to his and smile a little confused.

"What's in there?" I ask, eagerly to know what's hiding there.

"There-" He says and wraps his arm around my shoulder. "Is the surprise. Pepper didn't tell you, did she?"

I look at him again, this time really confused. To tell me? "She made me promise her that I behave tonight just so I can get to know the surprise." I whisper to him and look once again at the door.

"Well I think that's what you should do." He smirks and pats my shoulder. "I'm gonna go tell them to start preparing for the arriving of your guests."

"Yeah, okay." I say and look around me.

There are tables arranged and there is also a bar - good lord, I think I might need a drink. This whole secrecy keeps me on my toes. I walk over to the bar and sit down on one of the stools. I look down at my hands who are starting to sweat just a little. I wipe them angrily on my jeans and glance at my watch. There are only five minutes until they should start arriving. I don't really care how many people are going to be in this ballroom. From the guest list I suppose there will be around two hundred. From family friends, business partners, the board members, the new CFO of Stark Industries, a few I don't really know, the LA mayor with his wife and daughter, Hugh Hefner and his girlfriends, a few movie stars, including the NBA star LeBron James and my old friend Ghostface Killah.

A few more minutes later I start searching for a scotch but I turn just in time to see a few of the guests making their entrance in the ballroom. The bartender shows up then from another hidden door. This time the door is masked by a few decorative plants. I didn't notice it though.

I rush to greet them with a confident smile. I shake Leon Cabro's hand and he gives me a million watt smile. He was the new CFO and he was twenty seven. Pretty young to get that job, but there weren't any other options. His wife looks okay, I think. A plastic surgery for her nose would do her good. She is babbling incoherently as she wishes me Happy Birthday. I take her hand and press a chaste kiss to her knuckles before muttering 'thank you'.

I look towards the door and smile awkwardly at my old college mate who shared his room with me for a couple of weeks until Jim's room was repaired. We worked on a secret project then, called 'The Squirrel's nuts'. It was a mini bomb that blasted in our room when we were at lunch, so this --- this college friend offered himself to share his room with me and Jim. I told him that I was forever grateful for the gesture, but I guess he's never forgotten me. That's why he's here tonight, but he won't ruin anything. Least of all my ecstatic mood.

An hour later almost all the guests arrived at the party. Most of them were talking and having fun. All the wives were gathered in a corner of the ballroom and they were gossiping about me and the party, because every time I turned my look towards them they would smile and wave their hands in admiration.

I keep looking over at the door from ten to ten seconds. I just can't admit that she's late. She's never late, I muse and take a sip from my scotch. I glance back at the stage and the dance floor where a few couples were dancing close to each other. I sigh deeply and I wonder if I would have a chance to dance with Pepper tonight.

Rhodey and a few of his military friends join my table and Rhodey sits beside me. "Pepper called." He says softly.

My head snaps at him. He looks at me for a couple of seconds and his eyes are dark.

"She told me that she thinks she can't make it tonight and that she was sorry." He tells me without looking straight into my eyes.

I suddenly feel my chest tighten with disappointment and my mouth goes dry. I can't feel anything but pain, disappointment and broken hopes. I close my eyes in hope to stop the burning tears and I put my hands over my face. Rhodey lays his big, strong hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze.

I don't really know how much time passes while I just stay there with my eyes covered and my shoulders slumped. Rhodey knows how important Pepper is for me now. I think he knows how much I really love her and I think he feels sorry for me because it seems that I have no chance at her. And now... this... I really didn't expect this. I didn't expect it would hurt so much.

Reluctantly I open my eyes and glance around the ballroom. In one corner I spot Rhodey looking worriedly back at me, his eyes apologetic. I give him a weak smile and glance into another direction. Through the crowd I spot Nick Fury and his little puppy - Agent Phil Coulson. Gee, who invited them? I wonder and close my eyes again. I hear people cheering in the background of my mind and I sigh helplessly.

"Why are you so sad?" Comes a voice behind me and I raise my quivering gaze up and notice a very beautiful Pepper Potts who takes the empty seat beside me with a blush in her cheeks.

I can't recover from my earlier state of being upset and I look at her with unfocused eyes. The fact that Rhodey told me she couldn't make it to the party broke my heart and let it sank deep down in my stomach. She looks worried that's all I could notice through my foggy eyes as she brings her fingers into my hair and smooths it down as she goes. I close my eyes and let myself be absorbed in the meaning of this moment.

"Tony..." She murmurs softly and I can hear the sound of the fabric of her emerald green dress as she shifts and kneels down to get a closer look at me. "Why are you so upset?" She asks me again more tenderly. "Something happened?"

"You-you just... I thought-" I stammer and I look down at my feet. It feels impossible to look in her eyes now. The pain had become unbearable and I just sigh heavy hearted. "That you-you maybe didn't want to c-come..."

Pepper smiles gently and brings her hand up to my face to wipe away a tear who was too stubborn and fell onto my cheek.

"Don't be like that..." She whispers softly and brings her lips inches from mine. "I'm here now..." She tells me softly and presses her lips to my cheek feather like.

Her kiss left me breathless. "Happy birthday!" She murmurs right after her lips had left my cheek.

"Thanks..." I mumble a little too sad for her tastes but she takes my hand in hers and pulls me at my feet.

"You still wanna know that secret?" She asks me with a wicked grin on her lips.

I entwine my fingers with hers as she pulls me further along into the crowd.

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