Pepper stretched as she woke, smiling as memories from the night before returned. She slipped out of the bed and changed out of her dress from the gala into a pair of shorts and a tee-shirt before grabbing a towel and heading to the bathroom to shower. She let the water spill over her as her thoughts turned once more to the date with Tony. She'd had an excellent time as he'd predicted and she hoped he knew it.

As Pepper dried off, she heard her phone chime. She wrapped a towel around herself and stepped into her room. She was about to grab her phone when it chimed again and she frowned. She opened the first text, barely containing her scream. It was a picture of her in her bed, sleeping. It couldn't have been taken very long before. She clicked onto the next text and dropped her phone as she saw it. It had been taken only a few minutes prior. Pepper had a towel wrapped around her and was reaching for her phone. Pepper ran to the window, closed the curtains, quickly got dressed in the clothes she had been wearing before her shower, and was breathing heavily by the time her phone chimed again. The message opened automatically and as she looked at it, Pepper screamed loudly. It was another picture, this one of her at the window as she yanked the curtain shut. The message underneath it was "I'm looking forward to formally meeting you."

Tony was working on the motor on one of his hot rods when JARVIS spoke. "Sir, I am reading an elevation in Ms. Potts' heart rate."

"Is she awake?"

"Yes, sir."

"What's she doing?"

"At the moment, she is closing all the curtains in her quarters."

Tony frowned. Her scream came a moment later and the fact that he could hear it all the way down in the shop made Tony jump out of his seat and run up the stairs faster than he thought possible. He threw open the door to her room and found her with tears streaming down her face as she stared at her phone where it lay on the floor. Tony frowned and picked the small device up, the screen lighting as he touched it. The air left his lungs as he looked at the picture that was displayed. Anger roared through him. "What kind of sick fuck?!" Tony hit an arrow, anger mixing with worry as the next the three pictures he saw were all of Pepper and all taken from a distance. "JARVIS, trace the texts, see what you can find. When you get a location, create a flight plan and fire up the Mark VII."

"Sir, that suit is still not fully functional from the attack by Mr. Stane."

"Then use the Mark VIII. We don't have time for this, J."

"The Mark VIII is just a prototype, sir."

"Is it bulletproof?"

"Yes, sir."

"Can I shook and fly with it?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then it's good enough. Now, fins the sick asshole that is stalking Pepper."

Said woman was still crying and Tony stepped closer to her, wrapping his arms around her slim body and tucking her head underneath his chin. When she wore heels, she was about the same height as him, but with out the, he was several inches taller.

Once Pepper stopped shaking, Tony pulled away and looked at her. "When did you get those messages?"

"One last night, three this morning."

"One last night?! And you didn't tell me?"

"It wasn't this serious! I've gotten texts like this before; it comes with the territory, Tony!"

"This has happened before?"

"Yes. Every so often, I'll get a threatening call or text. I just report it and let it go. There's not much else I can do."

"You can tell me! I'd take care of it. I'll always take care of you, Pep!"

Pepper sighed, more tears falling. "I know, Tony. I know."

Tony frowned more. "Please don't cry, Pep. I'm sorry I yelled."

Pepper shook her head. "It isn't you, Tony. Did you read the message attached to the last picture?"

"No." Tony reopened the message once more and grimaced, a swirling feeling of nausea in his stomach. "Lock down the house, J. I don't want anyone coming in or out unless specifically authorized in or out unless specifically authorized by me or Pepper."

"Of course, sir."

"And call Rhodey. I don't want Pepper to be alone when I go out to find the sick bastard."

Tony pulled his phone out of his pocket and put it to her ear, Rhode's number already dialed. The colonel's voice was groggy when he picked up. "What, Tony? It's Saturday, I'm sleeping in."

"Someone's stalking Pepper. I want you to stay with her while I go out and find them."

"I'll be there soon. I should get there in about ten minutes."

"Good, this guy is a creep. He sent her—you know what, I'll tell you when you get here."

"Sure thing. Rhodes out."

Tony hung up and Pepper's phone rang. Pepper frowned and snagged her phone from his hand before he could react. "This is Pepper Potts."

"Hello, Virginia."

Tony frowned and Pepper shuddered. "May I inquire who this is?"

"You know me, Virginia. I'm always there. I'm always watching for you."

"Who is this?" There was a hint of hysteria to her voice.

"Goodbye, Virginia, I look forward to seeing you again."

There was a dial tone and Tony's jaw clenched. "Did you trace the call, J?"

"Of course, sir. Shall I start up the Mark VIII?"

Tony hesitated. "How far out is Rhodey?"

"Colonel Rhodes is approximately two minutes away."

Tony sighed. "Okay. Start up the suit and tell Rhodey to hurry up. When he gets here, you can let him in." Tony turned to Pepper. "Are you okay on your own for a couple of minutes?"

Pepper nodded and Tony pressed a quick kiss to her lips before running from the room. Tony was outside in his suit, flying over Malibu in just a few moments. "Okay, J, where did the call come from?"

"The call originated from the hall closet approximately fifteen feet from Ms. Potts' room."

Tony did an about-face and flew as fast as he could back home.

~Pepper sighed as she sat down on her bed. She heard a door slam and stood, exiting the room. "Rhodey?"

She heard a chuckle behind her and a sweet-smelling cloth covered her mouth and nose. Dimly, she recalled reading about the sweet smell of chloroform in one of Tony's science magazines, but by the time the information surfaced, she had already taken a breath. The last thing she remembered was the same voice from the phone call saying "Hey, Mike, I've got her. We'll be out in a minute." Then everything went black.

A/N: Reviews make my heart happy, and I swear they make me update faster.