*three months earlier*

'Tony?'

'Tony?'

I felt someone touch my arm, I tried to shake free of the haze, of the darkness which clouded my mind like a thick fog. I sat silently willing my body to act, to move, any motion to indicate that my mind still had some kind of connection to my body.

Another touch.

I shook myself free finally. Peppers face was mere inches from mine. Her hot breath dragging my mind back the present.

'Tony, what's happening?' She asked in a hushed tone. Her hand shook mine.

'Nothing.' I blinked away the dark haze which was a constant reminder of my stupidity. I pulled back from her gaze.

'Tony, please.' She whispered.

I couldn't stand to look at her, the concern written on her face made my heart drop.

I felt her hands on my face; I closed my eyes against her touch. She turned my face toward her, my eyes found hers. Tears had formed in the corners of her eyes. Her hands were softy shaking against me.

I took hold of her hands in mine and kissed them.

'What's wrong, Tony, please.' She began to sob.

I pulled her into my arms, 'please don't let yourself worry about me.'

She sighed so heavily that I thought she had stopped breathing, she pulled back to look at me, her eyes full of pleading.

'Not worry?' she shook my hands in hers, 'Tony how can I not worry?' she stood up and placed one hand on her hip and ran her other hand through her hair.

I watched her silently pace, her back to me, I felt guilty and horrible for causing her this pain.

She turned briskly to look at me.

'How can I not worry?' She asked sitting down beside me again, 'you black out for minutes on end, you don't even know that it's happened, I hear you yelling in your sleep, I've seen the bloody tissues in the bathroom, something serious is happening to you.'

She was no longer looking at me, her eyes now found a spot on the floor on which she drew all her attention, I looked down and noticed what she was looking at, blood droplets. One by one more and more fell.

I clasped my hand to my face; Pepper was gone from my side before I got a chance to look up. I felt her link her arm under mine, she handed me a tissue as she pulled me to my feet. I heard her soft sobs continue all the way to the bathroom, she motioned for me to sit down; she took my hands and wiped them from the blood which ran down my fingers.

'Hold this to your nose.' She whispered placing a tissue in my hand and guiding it to my face.

I did as she said.

She sat beside me, silence engulfed the bathroom. I dared not speak, I didn't know what I could say, nor whether there was anything which could be said to make this better.

I looked down at my feet; the sudden loss of blood and the already weakened state I found myself in, only worsened my condition. I breathed in deeply, begging the pain to subside, not here, not around Pepper.

'I just,' I began; I paced my words and my breathing, 'I need to get to my workshop.'

'No, you need to get some rest.' She replied.

'Pepper, please, please trust me.' I hated the vulnerability, my own mortality. Pleading for my own sanity.

She wasn't going to give up, I knew this conversation and I knew where this was going.

'Tony, I really don't think-'

'Stop, Pepper stop, I am not doing this.' I realised I had raised my voice, I didn't see any other way to get her to leave me alone. I heard her sharp gasp; I knew how much it hurt her. At this point in time, there were much worse things to come. I didn't have the luxury of time to sit around and plead.

I stood up, the world rushed around me in a blur. I staggered through the bathroom and made it to the door. I composed myself.

I turned to look at Pepper, 'I know what I'm doing Pep, I promise.'

She sat on the edge of the bathtub, looking at me with pleading eyes, the sorrow bore through me. She wiped the fresh tears from her cheeks and smiled weakly at me.

'I love you.' I said firmly.

'I love you.' She whispered back.

I turned from her, I took a deep breath and left. I knew what this did to her, I could see the pain in her eyes. I could see that there were questions on her mind, questions she never voiced. There was much more that she wasn't saying. I didn't blame her, I couldn't. I made my way down to the shop, there was something which I hadn't tried, and I had to give it a shot. I owed it to myself, I owed it to Pepper.

So this was a short one, but in retrospect, there will be more coming, I'm quite passionate about this particular fic and am eager to continue asap! thankyou for all the wonderful reviews which have already made it to my inbox! very exciting! and thank you all so much for taking the time to not only read but review as well :)