So the next chapter. Natasha comes back and Tony feels home. Thanks for reading and your nice reviews! I love them all.

Don't own anything.

Home is where your heart is

The days went by and their vacation was over for 3 weeks now. Tony had to go to a mission two days before and Pepper worried herself half to death, because he hadn't called yet. She went to meetings and checked emails and made phone calls to keep herself busy and not to think about him. She was disappointed when she heard she had to leave for a meeting in DC. She would only be away for one day, but Tony might return or call her and she wouldn't be there. But as one of the CEOs of Stark Industries she had to go and it was her duty, because the other CEO, her boyfriend wasn't available.

While Pepper made her way to the plane Tony fought in North Chorea against a partner association from the ten rings. He was surrounded by men with AK47 and other weapons pointed at him. One man shouted, "Fire! Let's knock Iron Man down." Bullets flew through the air and hit his suit, but it didn't matter for him. He was bulletproof. He put up his repulsors and shot his way out of them. He made JARVIS start his flight-stabilizer and fired at the men from the air. A few minutes later everyone lay on the ground, probably dead, probably alive. But it doesn't matter to Tony. The reason he was there, was the fact that this organization threatened to kill Pepper and disturb the company with his very own weapons, if he wouldn't handle them his suit. He had to prevent this, protect Pepper from harm and find his weapons and disturb them, before they could do anything. Of course he hadn't told Pepper anything so she wouldn't worry but his thought was with her. Now that the first part of his mission was done he only needed to find his guns and bombs and made them explode.

"Stark! Do you need help?" A familiar voice startled him and he turned around to see a mess of black suit and red hair running towards him.

"Agent Romanoff! It's a pleasure to meet you again. How do I deserve this honour?" He asked with a smirk.

"Well SHIELD knew everything and you need help to find these weapons of yours, and protect Miss Potts. So here I am. By the way how's your lovely CEO?" She said smiling.

"She's fine." A smile spread across his face. "How have you been."

"All right. So let's find this stuff and get outta here. She's waiting for her teddy bear to return."

Tony's jaw dropped "How do you…"

"SHIELD knows everything."

They found the weapons, but when Natasha was about to disturb them Tony saw the trap. A bomb was placed underneath a Jericho. He shouted her name, but it was too late. A lightning made of fire and ashes hit him and her. When he got his senses back he saw the agent lay on the floor without any movements.

"Jarvis, is she alive?" He asked and started to make his way towards her. He struggled because of the pain in his chest and abdomen.

"Yes, she is alive, but she's barely breathing and her pulse is weak. And sir, I'm afraid you're badly hurt, too." Tony winced in pain as he picked her up.

"J, fly me out of here and tell Pepper please."

"As you wish, sir. But it would be better to go to the hospital."

"Shut up. Call the meds I need them at home. Now." He flew into the sky, pain shot through his entire body, but he held Natasha securely against him and carried her to his home, hoping Pepper would be there.

As Pepper heard what happened she forced the pilot to turn the direction and fly back to LAX. When she arrived at home she ran down to his workshop and saw Tony and Natasha coming inside through the gate followed by medics. He laid Natasha down on the couch and went to get his suit off. Pepper ran behind him and as soon as the suit was gone he turned to face her.

"Tony, what happened? You need to see the doctor, too." Her voice was full of worries and fear.

"I'm alright. Damn it. She tried to save me. I hope she'll make it. Now come over here and give me kiss." He said and opened his arms, but his face blurred in pain as he spread them. When she reached him she couldn't help, even if she knew it was wrong, but kissed him. "I've missed you, Pepper." He mumbled against her lips. She smiled.

"I've missed you, too. So now go at let the medics have a look on you." She pushed him gently towards the door. The meds were finished with Natasha and one went over to Tony and check on him. The other one came to Pepper and asked her if Natasha could stay a few days, cause she needed rest and someone to look after her. She hadn't worse injuries, but it would be dangerous for her to have stress. Pepper said it would be no problem. Natasha was a friend and for Pepper friends are the most important thing in the world, except Tony. Tony's injuries wasn't that worse either and he would soon be the same. They were quite lucky under this circumstances and Pepper was grateful to have her Tony, well teddy bear back.

After getting Natasha to one of the guest rooms Tony came to Pepper and rested his forehead against hers. "I'm glad to have you and to be back in here."

"You are home, Tony." She smiled at him.

"Yes, I am home. But my home is not Malibu or New York. My home is where my heart is. So, yes I'm home, here with you." He stood up and left a confused Pepper on the couch.

A few days later Natasha went back to SHIELD, but promised to visit soon. Over this five days Pepper and her got to be very close friends and enjoyed each other's presence. So the good-bye felt very hard for both. After the Russian asset was gone Pepper changed into comfortable cloth and cuddled up against Tony on the couch. He spooned her from behind, wrapped his arms around her waist, kissed her cheek and let JARVIS start the movie. They watched Pirates of the Caribbean and at the end Pepper was fast asleep.

"Pep? Are you awake?" He kissed her neck and cheek to wake her up. "Honey, Love, wake up. Come on, time for bed."

"Tony… Let me sleep." She mumbled sleepy.

"Come on, I'll carry you." He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, but before he reached their bed she said something.

"Wait, let me down. I need to go to the bathroom. I want to brush my teeth."

"Ok." He let her down, but didn't let her step out of his arms. He kissed her sweetly and brushed his nose against hers. She then left and brushed her teeth. He stood in the doorway and looked at her, simply smiling and enjoying the fact that she was all his. When she stepped out of the bathroom she went over to the small balcony where she went every evening to look at the ocean in the moonlight. Tony went behind her. Normally she stood there alone. It was her moment to recover the day and over think all what happened in her live. But this evening Tony went to stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her from behind, laying his chin on her shoulder. They stood there in total silence, neither of them saying a word for 15 minutes and listened to the sound of the waves. Suddenly Tony leaned forward and brushed his lips against her ear and kissed her temple lightly. "I Love you." he whispered and let go of her, turned around and went inside. Pepper was startled at his sudden announcement, but everything fell into place immediately. She ran behind him and crashed into him as he heard her footsteps behind him and turned.

"Took you damn well long enough, you idiot." She screamed half laughing, half crying and kissed him. He failed to respond at first, but as her hand slipped into his hair and her thighs entangled his waist he slung his arms around her and kissed her passionately. He nibbled at her lower lip and she opened her mouth for him. She felt his wet and warm tongue darting into her mouth and replied happily with her own one. They parted breathless and he rested his forehead against hers and smiled like an idiot.

"I take that as an 'I lo…" He was cut off by her lips crashing against his again.

"Of course. I love you so much, Tony! I love you. I love you. I love you." She smiled happily back at him.

"Wow someone's excited." He chuckled. "I'm happy Pepper. I love you so much, too."

"Tony, shut up. I waited for this moment for more than six years now. So just kiss me."

He closed his eyes and kissed her while taking her to their bed. They spend the rest of their night without any sleep. They talked about their relationship and how it had grown. They confessed each other their love and made love several times.

It still was a phrase they use rarely, so the meaning and occasion would still be something special, but from this very moment on, both knew nothing could ever part them and they are loved by each other and all they have.

Well they admitted it finally. Reviews? Thank you so much!

xoxox