The next song started and the people moved in to start dancing. Tony and I moved in again, same stance as before. We swayed to the romantic music and stayed quiet. I rested my head on his shoulder as his cheek was pressed against my hair. I so badly wanted to tell him how I felt, but I was scared of rejection. I knew how he was with the other woman, and I wasn't really sure if his actions were true or just deceiving. I felt him pull away slightly and I looked up at him.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing, just thinking." He replied.

"About what?"

"You."

"What about me?" I asked. Tony pulled me closer.

"I have something I need to tell you and it's been bugging me for a while." I waited for him to continue. "Tianna… I'm Iron Man." I pulled away from him and gave him a serious look. I felt anger build up in my stomach, it made me feel like I wanted to puke.

"What'd you just say?" I took a step back.

"I'm Iron Man… I should have told you sooner but I just couldn't. When I was Iron Man, I saw the admiration in your eyes, and I was frightened that if I told you, you'd never look at me that way again. Your mood would always instantly lighten up when you spoke about him and I could tell you idolized him."

How could Tony mock me like that and pretend that he's Iron Man? This was the lowest of low things he could do and I was ashamed to have feelings for him. How dare he do this to me, especially with all these people around? The anger I felt was getting stronger and I smacked him across the face, hard. The slap was so loud that people close to us turned to look. I could feel tears swelling up and I fought hard to hold them back. Tony looked at me with a stunned expression on his face.

"I'm sorry dear! Really, I am!" He said. I just glared at him. I was about to turn away when he grabbed my arm and turned me back. I smacked his hand away and growled.

"I will never forgive you for lying to me like this." I turned quickly, lifted my dress slightly and ran to the stairs.

The people stared, while I just ran. It felt like time was in slow motion because the stairs seemed farther than they were. I could hear Tony screaming after me in the background, along with others yelping as Tony brushed passed them, trying to catch up to me. I passed Pepper and stopped, turning to look at her. She was going to ask me what's wrong when I looked behind her to see Tony getting closer to me. I felt the tears pour down my face and shook my head before turning back around and running up the stairs.

My high heel slipped off and fell down some steps. I was going to stop and grab it, but instead took off my other one and carried it as I ran down the hallway. I kept looking back to see if Tony had caught up, but he didn't. So I took the chance and ran outside into the parking area. I quickly got into the limo and asked the driver to take me to Pepper's house.

Tony stood at the bottom of the stairs and stared up into the distance. He climbed a few steps, picked up the high heel and then walked to the top. He looked down the hallway and sighed. He felt a hand grip his shoulder and he turned around. Pepper gave him a worried look and took the shoe from him. She watched his face and realized he had the look of someone who was about to cry.

"What happened?" she asked.

"I told her… she didn't believe me." He said.

"Oh dear… I'm sorry Tony." Pepper looked down into the ballroom and saw that people were staring and whispering. "Let's go somewhere private." Tony nodded and they walked down the hallway. Once in a private area, they sat on a nearby bench.

"Pepper, I'm scared I've lost her forever… I almost lost her once, I don't want to lose her for real this time!"

"I know Tony… Just give it some time. I know Tianna, eventually she'll come around. We just don't know when." Pepper patted Tony's back as he held his face in his hands.

"I don't think so; she said she'd never forgive me. Pepper, she thought I was lying to her. The time I tell the truth, and she doesn't believe me!"

"Tony, calm down. All you have to do is prove to her that you're Iron Man."

"Well I can't bring her into the lab…"

"Of course not, but you know that spot she always goes to on the hill? You can go there in the Iron Man suit and meet her there, then show her it's you. I'm sure I can find a way to convince her to go there." Pepper suggested.

"True, I never thought of that… and I usually think of everything. Thanks dear." Tony and Pepper got off the bench.

"I think you should head home now. If Tianna is there, don't bug her. She won't be calm enough to confront." Pepper stated and patted his shoulder again. Tony had a worried look on his face.

"Alright, I'll take your word for it." Tony gave Pepper a hug and Pepper handed him the shoe.

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When I got to Pepper's building, I went in and took the elevator to the top floor. I got to the door to her condo and punched in the key. Once the door opened, I quickly walked in and closed the door behind me. I stripped off my clothes on the way to the bathroom and took a shower once I was there. I washed away all my smeared makeup and stood under the water.

Even after the shower, I was still crying, but at least I didn't have smeared makeup on my face anymore. I sniffled as I went into the living room with a towel wrapped me. I pulled out the sofa bed and pulled the covers down. Then I went to the dresser opposite of the room and took out a nightgown. I knew it was a good idea to leave some clothes here.

I put the nightgown on and crawled onto the bed. I got under the blankets and sighed. The room was dark and silent, except for the sounds of my sniffles and whimpers. I didn't like nights that ended with me crying myself to sleep, but this one was inevitable.

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When Tony got home, he got this empty feeling in his stomach. The house seemed awkwardly silent and empty. He searched the bottom floor for any sign of a living being. The house was dark, except for the rooms he was checking. He placed the lone high heel on a table.

"Jervis…" Tony said.

"Yes sir?"

"Is Tianna here at all?"

"No sir. She hasn't come home."

"Okay…" Tony sighed and went into his secret passageway and walked to the lab. Tony stood in the doorway of his lab and looked over all his different projects. He walked over to a wall that had different blueprints on it. "Jarvis, get the suit please."

The wall suddenly turned, revealing the Iron Man suit. Tony stood close to the glass casing the suit was in. He looked over the suit carefully and sighed once again. He turned around and went over to a table that had multiple sketches of the suit. He sat down on the stool and wondered if he'd ever be able to face the woman he was in love with ever again.

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Pepper stepped into her condo and blew out some air she was holding in. She went down the hall and tripped over something. She mumbled under her breath and turned the light on to see what she tripped over. She raised her eyebrow when she noticed a high heel on the floor, with a trail of clothing following after it. Pepper followed the trail until she came to the living room. She turned on the living room light and sighed when she saw Tianna sleeping on the sofa bed.

She went back to the hallway and picked up the clothing, put them in the laundry hamper and took a quick shower herself. Once done, she ate a snack, brushed her teeth after she finished, then went into her room. Pepper looked at her alarm clock, and then picked up the receiver to the phone on her side table. She dialed Tony's number and waited for him to answer.

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"Stark here…" Tony said as he answered his cell.

"It's Pepper, I found Tianna. She's sleeping on my sofa bed." Pepper said with a sleepy tone.

"Thank god… I was hoping she'd be there since she wasn't here."

"Yeah, I will speak to her tomorrow about you know what. Anyway, I'm about to go to sleep. I just wanted you to know that she was safe."

"Thanks darling. Let me know how it goes, I'm really worried about her." Tony sighed.

"I know you are… everything will be fine, I promise. Might I suggest that, when you do see her, you tell her exactly how you feel? I think it's been long enough. It's about time you two go on a date!" Pepper said, trying to lighten up the mood.

"What? You're playing match maker now?" Tony forced a laugh.

"Tony, don't be such a sarcastic chicken. I need to sleep now; you get some sleep too okay? You need it."

"Yes mother, as you wish. Sleep well, Pepper."

"You too, Tony."