Hello everyone and welcome to my new story! I know I said I wouldn't write something about Tony and Pepper again for some time, but in the end, I couldn't do without those two. So here it is, my new idea! It's basically a rewrite of the movies, but with the difference that Pepper has a boyfriend in the beginning, who stands between her and Tony. I hope you like it.

I also hope that many people will read this story and provide feedback, because that's what always keeps me going in the first place. So please let me know all your thoughts, that would be amazing!

The title of this story is based on the song 'Counting Stars' by OneRepublic.

I don't own the characters or places!

When Virginia 'Pepper' Potts started to work for Stark Industries in Los Angeles, her life seemed to be perfect. She had an amazing job with payment that was far too high for someone in her position. The weather in LA was warm and sunny most of the time, which she appreciated since she used to feel cold far too often. The new flat she got there was amazing, with big rooms and a nice view.

And then there was her boyfriend, who'd accompanied her to LA from the small town they'd lived in before. His name was Brian and he was the most amazing guy. Sweet, thoughtful, always able to make her laugh. He was tall, with blond hair and blue eyes. Quite a charmer, her mother used to say. But to be honest, Pepper had never cared about his looks that much. His character was what had won her over in no time. With his politeness and sometimes also shyness that used to hide how smart he actually was.

She was madly in love with him and could already picture their future. A big house somewhere calmer, not in the middle of a big city. Maybe one or two kids. Of course not that soon, but maybe in a few years. After they'd married. Because that was out of question. They had to marry each other! He was on board with all of that, completely agreeing with her thoughts on a shared future.

Everyone said that they were the perfect couple. Pepper's best friend, Daisy, was always saying that they had those tiny hearts in their eyes when they looked at each other. Sometimes, she even pretended to be sick because they were so tooth rotting sweet together. So when Pepper announced that they were going to move to LA, finally also in a flat they shared, her best friend had only rolled her eyes, saying that it was about damn time.

They moved to the city a few weeks before she had to start her new job. Brian was still looking for something he could do, but he said that it wouldn't be a problem. As a political reporter, he had so many possibilities in LA that he surely didn't need to search for a job for long.

Pepper loved Los Angeles. It was a wonderful place, especially since they moved there in late spring. The weather was warm and she enjoyed the feeling of the sun on her face. Back at home, in a small town about an hour outside of Seattle, it had always been dark and rainy at this time of the year. So LA was a welcome change.

She also enjoyed being in the city. She'd studied in Seattle, so she already knew big cities, but LA was completely different from the town up in the north. LA was busy and chaotic. It was brimming with life. She'd never felt so at home.

Brian hadn't exaggerated when he'd said that a job wouldn't be hard to find for him. In fact, he could start to work before Pepper had her first day at Stark Industries. His new job was for a local paper, one that was always engaging in long discussions about politics. Not just in LA, but also in general. When he announced that maybe, he could also go to Washington for the next elections, it hadn't been difficult to feel Brian's excitement. Pepper was happy for him. After a small local paper in Seattle, this was his big chance to make something out of his life.

As to herself, she also liked her job. When she'd arrived at Stark Industries on her first day, she'd been surprised to find that her new boss, Anthony Stark, wasn't there yet. Instead, his right hand, Obadiah Stane, greeted her happily. He was running some errands for the company in times Tony, as he called him, was busy. And he was always busy, Mr. Stane (he insisted that she should call him Obadiah) said. However, that shouldn't stop her from doing her work. After all, she'd be his personal assistant.

Tony Stark finally showed up right after Obadiah had finished their tour through the building, on their way explaining all the things SI was doing. They were producing weapons, which Pepper already knew. Big, heavy weapons. And lots of them. When she'd announced that she was going to apply for this job, Brian had looked at her sceptically. "They're destroying so many lives, Pepper." He'd said. She had the same thoughts, but they didn't stop her from taking the job in the end. The payment was good and she didn't have to stay at SI forever, after all. It was a good start in her work life.

A good, but also chaotic start. Obadiah hadn't exaggerated when he'd emphasized that Tony was always busy. But not with work. Yes, he invented deadly weapons now and then. He also worked on a media campaign, where he built some kind of reactor that could produce very much energy. At least on paper. The thing was standing in the entrance hall of Stark Industries, but most probably, the lights inside the thing were only for show.

Next to that, however, Tony Stark was only one thing: a playboy. He visited every party, got drunk all the time and most probably, he had lots of women in his bed. Not that Pepper cared, of course. She only got to know them at times, for example when they had their weekly meetings at Tony's house in Malibu since he refused to come to LA all the time.

Brian had a clear opinion of Tony Stark and he didn't leave out any opportunity to mention it. In short, he was a bad influence on Pepper's life and especially her career. Because who could take her seriously after working for such a man?

Just that he wasn't always an asshole. He had his moments, yes. He also drank too much, that was out of question. But then there were times when he turned out to be very thoughtful. Like the day he decorated Pepper's office with pictures from her favourite artist back at home. Or when he always used to notice that she wasn't feeling well and sent her home early without ever mentioning the working hours she missed.

He could also be very charming, if he wanted to. And he was smart. Dangerously so. His mind never seemed to stop running. At first, it drove Pepper crazy, but soon, she got used to him always being restless when there was nothing to do.

Slowly, she got to like Tony Stark. They didn't have a very close relationship, as expected between an assistant and her boss, but they got along. He even got to meet Brian once, on a day her boyfriend waited for her after work because they had some plans in the city. The meeting was a disaster and Pepper thought that both men didn't like each other very much. They both never mentioned the encounter again. Like ever. But she didn't really care, not when Tony asked her if she wanted to accompany him on a business trip to New York the next week. She'd never been to New York before, so she accepted eagerly.

All in all, Pepper's life was quite good. Amazing boyfriend. Boss who wasn't an ass all the time. Most of the time, yes, but not always. She had the most amazing friends who visited her regularly, or they visited them back at home.

Until, one day, Tony Stark went missing in Afghanistan.