While she was getting ready, all Pepper could think about was the message she got. By the time she came out of the fog, it was six o'clock and Pepper raced around the room, realizing that she only had an hour to get her hair done and pick out her dress and shoes, Pepper could put her make-up on in her sleep, and looking in the mirror, she figured that at some point during her thought session, she must have fixed herself up.
Pepper threw open the closet door and looked through it for a moment before her eyes landed on a blue dress that was almost identical to the one she had worn to the benefit the night she and Tony had danced. Tony had never told her what she should wear, but pulling the dress out of the closet, she a sticky note stuck to it that said "Wear this for dinner."
Pepper smiled and laid the dress on the bed before going to the bathroom to do her hair.
Downstairs, Tony was adding the finishing touches to his suit. "Hey, JARVIS, how long until my date with Pepper?"
"You have approximately thirty minutes until the time you told Ms. Potts that the two of you were scheduled to leave."
"Do you think I can get ready in that time?"
"Yes, sir, you are still mostly clean from you earlier shower and it has taken you at more fifteen minutes for you to get dressed on previous occasions."
"Okay, I'll start now then. This is Pepper; I want everything to be perfect. Did she find the dress?"
"Yes, sir, she is putting it on now. Shall I pull up a video feed?"
"No, I don't want to invade her privacy."
"Yes, because that's always stopped you before."
"Other girls aren't Pepper. I respect her."
"Of course, sir."
Tony ran up the stairs and quickly washed the grease from his hands before grabbing a comb from a cup on the counter and running it through his hair, adding gel when he was done. He shaved, brushed his teeth, and grabbed his suit from the closet. When he was dressed, there were only two minutes until seven so he started walking towards Pepper's room.
Once Tony was outside her door, he waited until seven on the dot to knock. Pepper must have been waiting because only a moment later, she came out and Tony's jaw dropped when he saw her. The dress looked just as amazing on her as the one from the benefit and her hair was down, cascading down her back in curls. She wore minimal make-up, just smoothing out her freckles and a little lip gloss, eye shadow, and mascara. The blue of the dress brought out her eyes and the overall effect made Tony have to stop for a few moments in order to remember his own name. Pepper smiled as she saw him and chuckled at his expression. "Close your mouth, Tony; you're going to catch flies."
Tony's mouth snapped shut and he grinned. "I would gladly catch a thousand flies if it meant seeing you like this everyday."
Pepper blushed and Tony gently took her hand, leading her towards the front door of the mansion. When she didn't object, Tony intertwined their fingers and walked her down the drive to one of his less flashy cars, knowing she wouldn't want the attention. He opened the door for her and once she was in, ran around to the other side of the car, hopped in, and started the engine.
To Pepper's surprise, Tony took her to a gala that was being held by one of Malibu's wealthiest in honor of his daughter's eighteenth birthday. It seemed to be the kind of thing Tony would show up to alone or with a model, but Tony's eyes rarely strayed from Pepper, even when one woman Pepper recognized as a model had taken an interest in at another party had tried to get his attention. Tony had give the underwear model a disinterested glance before returning to his conversation with Pepper.
As the evening was winding down, after a three course meal and a toast to the reason for the gala, Tony took Pepper by the hand and led her to the dance floor, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her to him as they swayed to the music. Tony smiled at Pepper. "So, are you enjoying yourself?"
Pepper smiled back, not half as nervous as she had been the first time they'd danced. "I am, actually. This has been lovely, Tony."
"Good, I want you to have an amazing time tonight."
Pepper smiled again, and when he angled his face towards hers, his eyes on her lips, she didn't pull away, didn't turn, but let him touch his mouth to hers in a gentle kiss. They stayed like that for a few moments before someone cleared their throat and the two part, Pepper blushing and Tony looking like all his Christmases had come at once. Tony pressed another kiss to Pepper's lips quickly and threaded his fingers though hers, continuing the dance with a large grin on his face.
As the hours tick by, Tony and Pepper dance some, talked some, and kissed plenty. It seemed that Tony no longer cared who saw them together and Pepper was slowly but surely following his path.
Around midnight, as Pepper stifled a yawn, Tony took her hand and led her out the door. "I think it's time to go home, don't you, Pep?"
Pepper nodded and yawned again. Tony led her to their car, opening the door for her once again. Once they were back at the mansion, Tony got out the car and, when he found Pepper was dozing, gave a small smile, lifting Pepper from her seat and carrying her bridal style. As he approached the door, he kept his voice low as he spoke. "Open the door, J."
The door swung open and Tony carried Pepper into her room, lowering her onto the bed and removing her heels before folding the blanket over her. He kissed her forehead and left.
He watched them from his cruiser when they arrived, saw when the kissed, and followed them back to the mansion. He saw Stark carry her back in. His brother would be upset, that was for sure. He dialed Matthew's number, waiting for him to pick up. When there was no answer, he sighed. "Matt, it's your brother. You really need to start answering the phone. Anyway, there's been a new development. We need to talk. My shift ends in thirty minutes. I'll meet you at my place."
He hangs up the phone and sighs, restarting his car and continuing his rounds.
A/N: Leave me a review pretty please. And thanks to those that already have, I'm sending you all a mental hug right now.