FIRST OFF: I'm not a big fan of Pepper in the Iron Man comics. So, none of this will make sense if you're trying to fit it into the comic's stories. It won't work. I don't like Pepper and Happy together. Sorry. I just don't. Now. Things you have to assume before you read this: The first one is that Pepper is almost 35 in the second Iron Man movie. The second is that she began working for Stark Industries as soon as she graduated from college. The third is that, like she said in the second movie, she'd been working for Tony for 10 years.

Tony Stark didn't fall in love very often. In fact, he only believed he'd actually only been in love once. And that was back in 1990 when he was in college. But that's a different story. For Tony, falling in love wasn't something that just happened, like love at first sight. It had to go through certain steps. The steps were different for every girl, so it's not like Tony could decide 'I'm going to fall in love with this girl today by following the steps.' But if he didn't follow the steps, it simply didn't work for him. And these steps took time—something Tony didn't have a lot of. But when he really did fall in love, he fell hard.

Step 5: crush—friend

It was just a normal day at Stark Industries. Okay, well it wasn't completely normal. It was one of those rare days where Tony actually came in to the office to work without Pepper dragging him. And even when she got him there, she usually ended up doing everything at the office while he whined at her. Pepper, although she had been Mr. Stark's personal assistant for six years, was still surprised to see him walk in to his own office that morning.

"Good morning Mr. Stark." She welcomed as he walked in, throwing his jacket on the floor.

"Peppe-er." He whined.

She rolled her eyes. "Tone-y." she whined back.

He grinned. "That's better."

"What's better?" Pepper asked.

"I hate it when you call me 'Mr. Stark.' It makes look over my shoulder for my father." He shrugged and sat in his desk. "What's on the agenda for today Pep?" he asked.

Pepper pulled out the schedule. "You have two meeting today; one is at ten thirty in conference room B and the other is at one fifteen in conference room F. Mr. Stane wants to have lunch at eleven forty-five in his office. At six thirty there's a benefit dinner for the Los Angeles Orphans Home Society. That's really all you have today unless something else comes up."

Later while Tony was having lunch with Obadiah, Pepper wandered into the department where she used to work. Most of the employees were chatting or eating in each other's cubicles. Pepper, trying not to draw attention to herself, found her friend Rachel's cubicle.

"Hey Rachel." Pepper greeted.

Rachel glanced up and smiled. "Hey Ginny. What's up?" Pepper had eaten lunch with Rachel every time she could, which was only when Tony had other lunch dates. This was mainly because she ordered his food most every day, but he always insisted on her eating with him.

"So Gin, I've heard a few rumors going on about you and our boss." Rachel said.

Pepper rolled her eyes. The downside to Rachel: she was such a gossip! And of course there were rumors. She'd put up with him longer than any other assistant and she was female. If was common knowledge that Tony Stark was a player and chased after anything with a skirt and a vagina. "None of them are true, I can guarantee you."

Rachel studied Pepper's face for a few moments. "But you wish they were."

"What? Rachel you're crazy." Pepper announced.

"No I'm not. You're in love with our boss!" Rachel exclaimed.

"Shhh!" Pepper motioned urgently. "They're not true, but rumors will certainly start if you yell that around like that!" Rachel looked like she was going to retaliate but Pepper stopped her. "Besides, he's coming over here."

Just then Obadiah walked by. He smiled at the two girls as he went.

Rachel playfully hit Pepper on her arm. "You know wasn't talking about Mr. Stane, I was talking about Mr. Stark!" she exclaimed. Pepper grimaced as she looked over Rachel's shoulder.

"Who was talking about me?" Tony asked.

"Nothing. I mean, no one. I mean…" Pepper glanced at Rachel desperately. "Um… I need to prep you for your meeting at one fifteen. Bye Rachel." She said as she started to walk out.

"Bye Gin."

Pepper glanced at Tony who was in his own thoughts (as usual). 'I'm not in love with him. That's not even possible. I mean, it's ridiculous. A crush, maybe. Yeah. It's just a crush.'