Hello!

I'm so sorry for disappearing. I was sick last week, and this one has been super busy with teaching and balancing college at the same time. But I'll do my best to post new chapters by friday and to keep up with posting twice a week. Thank you so much for your patience!

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Wow. That was Tony Stark's first and only thought when he woke up that morning. How could such a simple moment as waking up be so significant? If he had known that having his senses invaded by the smell of Virginia Potts and the warmth of her body in the early hours of the day would be so wonderful, he would have found a way to reach that moment sooner. Seriously, how could he pretend he wasn't completely captivated? Even in the middle of the night, when the heater seemed insufficient, the neurosurgeon had unconsciously pulled their bodies closer, feeling incredible comfort when he noticed that the redhead didn't pull away but instead snuggled even closer to him, intertwining their legs and resting her head on his chest, her hand moving up to his neck. How was it possible for them to fit so perfectly? As if every part of their bodies was made to complete the other? It seemed almost unfair that God had been so kind to them, because now everyone else would be at a complete disadvantage. Nothing could ever be as perfect as this.

And believe it or not, Tony didn't want to leave those arms anytime soon. It had taken so long to get to this point that the mere thought of pulling away scared him. What if it never happened again? Now that he knew what it was like to have Virginia Potts, he wouldn't know how to not have her. But fate is a funny thing, always laughing at our plans, so it wasn't surprising when his phone began to vibrate incessantly, making Pepper mumble softly and forcing him to stretch to grab it from his pants pocket, which was close enough to the bed to allow him to stay beside her. But then the building manager started talking about a possible leak coming from his apartment, and with every moment, the neurosurgeon cursed the employee more and more. It took a lot of effort, a real sacrifice, for Tony to leave the bed and the comfort he found beside Pepper. But, being careful not to wake her, he got up, dressed silently, and left a note on the pillow explaining his sudden departure, so she would find it when she woke up. He definitely didn't want Virginia thinking that the night meant nothing.

He planted a gentle kiss on her forehead and finally left the room. He grabbed some of his things scattered around the living room since they had returned from the hospital and prepared to leave the house. But then, a soft voice caught his attention, making him freeze for a moment and then slowly turn toward the sound.

"Uncle Tony, is that you?" a sleepy Eleanor asked at the bottom of the stairs, rubbing her little eyes.

"Hi, princess," he replied with some uncertainty. If Pepper knew he had been caught by one of their kids, she would kill him. He was sure of it. "Actually, it's just a dream." Okay, it was a dumb response; he was acting like an idiot, but he was panicking. What else could he say?

"A dream?" The girl didn't seem to believe it much.

"Why are you awake, Ellie?" he changed the subject.

"I couldn't sleep," she explained, approaching him and asking to be picked up, which he immediately did.

"Did you have a bad dream, sweetie?" he asked.

"Not very good," she explained, resting her head on his shoulder, inhaling the lavender scent from her hair, which was so similar to her mother's. "Uncle Tony?"

"Yes, princess?"

"If this is a dream, you can do whatever I want, right?" She now looked into his eyes, a characteristic sparkle of someone who had a brilliant idea.

"I guess so…" he said carefully, wondering where this would lead.

"Then can you take me to bed?" she asked, and Tony smiled.

"Just that? Alright!"

"Not just that. I want you to tell me a story and sleep with me too."

"Okay, kitty. Let's go."

He went up the stairs again, this time with Eleanor in his arms. He was careful not to wake Theo and placed the girl in her bed, tucking her under the covers. As she had requested, Tony lay beside her and read her favorite story about the lost princess at least three times. When he noticed Ellie was really in a deep sleep, he left the room and then the house, unnoticed. He drove back to his apartment without much hurry and felt like punching the building manager when he realized it was all a false alarm; the apartment wasn't even his, it belonged to a neighbor from a different floor. But there was nothing more to be done, so he sent a message to the redhead and tried to go back to sleep. At least her scent was still lingering on his skin.

And while Tony was on cloud nine with everything they were experiencing, Pepper was on the complete opposite end. She didn't regret it; heaven, it had been the best sex of her life; she'd be a hypocrite if she said otherwise. But Tony was Tony and she was she. She was used to her colleague being a big idiot, a real womanizer playing the charmer. Jerk, to say the least. Okay, they had made progress in the past few weeks, shared many moments that opened up a certain box of doubts in her mind about the relationship they were developing, but how could she believe it was more than just another conquest? After all, Tony's reputation preceded him, and she couldn't just ignore years of superficial behavior. Pepper was afraid of fully opening up, of the possibility that the neurosurgeon could be more than she had always thought.

Waking up that morning and finding the side of the bed empty only fueled her insecurities. Was this going to be his pattern? Just another notch on his belt? Had it been just another good night of sex left behind as soon as the day broke? Soberly, if she weren't so tired and ecstatic, she wouldn't have let him stay. She herself would have told him to leave, that they should avoid the kids seeing him there, but she didn't say anything, and him not being by her side at that moment said a lot.

For a few moments, the woman stayed lying down, pulling the pillow against her body. Tony's scent was still embedded in it, and looking down, she noticed a sticky note attached. She didn't even need to read it to know who it was from, but she did anyway, and a smile appeared on her face as she read the brief words explaining that he had to leave, even though he would have preferred to stay. For a moment, she relaxed, reassured by the fact that he took the trouble to leave a note and even sent a message explaining the situation further.

However, upon reading the message, a wave of concern hit her. How had her daughter found him there? What had happened? Anxiety took over her body again, but since it was Christmas and Pepper didn't want to stay in bed thinking about the "what-ifs," she forced herself to get up, take a shower, and put on comfortable clothes. She looked at the bruises left by the intense night, covering a hickey with concealer before heading to the twins' room.

She woke them with numerous kisses and hugs, seeing them then head off to do the same with their grandmother. Then, she went to the kitchen, her special refuge on days like that. It was an excuse to devote herself even more to preparing the meals, and she remembered her mother's jokes, who always said that if the redhead weren't a doctor, she would definitely pursue a career in gastronomy.

They had a quiet morning, but as soon as they got in the car to go to Donna's house for Christmas lunch, Ellie began to chatter about the "dream" she had with Uncle Tony that morning. Although she felt better with her daughter believing it, Pepper felt completely unsettled with Ava asking a million questions, almost as if she didn't believe the story. Fortunately, they soon arrived at her friend's house, and with other friends and kids around, they forgot about any topic that couldn't be discussed at that moment, which Virginia loved.

And she could deny it as much as she wanted, but while they talked about various topics, her gaze kept wandering around the house searching for a certain neurosurgeon. She was already considering that he wasn't going to show up when he suddenly appeared right in front of her, but before she could greet him, he was dragged by her kids into a video game. Several long minutes passed, and then lunch was served. They sat facing each other, exchanging not-so-subtle glances. When they finished the meal, they continued sharing laughs and stories among friends, and when the guests began to disperse, they took the opportunity to tell Donna and Harvey the whole story involving Mia and Alex.

That was the first time they had seen each other since the early morning they had shared. Pepper hadn't responded to his message, and besides the completely collective interaction they had with their colleagues, nothing more had been said. Tony was learning to read her like no one else, discovering each new detail and unraveling her with impressive skill. So, when silence fell among the four of them still in Harvey's office, he knew it was the time to talk to her. They needed it, especially the redhead.

"Guys, can we use the office for a few more minutes? I wanted to update Virginia on the latest medical data for Mia," Tony asked, never revealing the true subject. "With all the legal stuff, we haven't had time to discuss the medical records."

But if they thought they could fool anyone, the truth was that they were terrible liars.

"Oh, sure, sure," Donna laughed. "But don't visit any other rooms, and don't do anything else in here either, please..."

"We'll leave you two alone," Harvey followed his wife. "You really need a moment alone, huh?" he teased, causing the doctors to blush in embarrassment.

Then the door closed, and the surgeons were finally alone. Both were silent for a few moments, unsure of how to start the conversation, but Stark soon took the initiative.

"Hi," he said.

"Hi," she responded.

"We didn't get a chance to talk..."

"Yeah, the day was full."

"Was that all?" He raised an eyebrow, not that he doubted it, but he couldn't forget the other possibilities.

"Just that," she confirmed.

"You didn't respond to my message."

"It wasn't intentional; the day was really busy. But I read it, and the note too. Thanks for explaining."

"It was the least I could do, don't you think?"

"Yeah, I suppose so." She sighed. "Don't you think it's strange that those two left here assuming they knew what was going on?"

"Maybe they can sense our feelings just by observing us. Body language is something we don't control; it's inevitable."

"Anthony, please! That cliché doesn't suit you. Why don't you just tell the truth?"

"The truth? Are you sure you're ready to hear it?"

"We wouldn't be having this conversation if I weren't. Speak up!"

He rubbed his face and took a deep breath. His hands felt cold; he was nervous. Once he started speaking, there would be no turning back.

"The truth is, I don't know how to act around you. I confess I get lost and confused when I'm with you. Don't get me wrong, it's not because of you or because I don't want to kiss you, Pepper. It's just that I want to act without overdoing it, I want to please you but I don't know how, I'm afraid of scaring you or leaving you with an even worse impression of me, or at least an even worse impression. Next to you, I feel like a fool. Virginia, you are so beautiful and sexy, intelligent, and cultured. I've never met someone who speaks five languages, who is interested in art, whether it's books, music, or other forms." He paced back and forth in the office but maintained eye contact. Finally, the dark-haired man stopped in front of her, looking serious and concerned about the effect of his declarations. "The problem is, I can't resist you anymore. I don't want to fight against what I feel, but I also don't want to impose or pressure you." He swallowed hard. "You wanted the truth, now you have it."

The neurosurgeon wanted to slow down his heartbeat, but he knew it was impossible. Nervousness overtook him, and the fear of her rejection haunted him. The redhead seemed absorbed in thought as if she was still processing every word spoken. This reaction made Tony feel obliged to apologize or even clarify everything that was at stake.

"Look, I know the situation is tough for both of us because of work. We're professionals, and we're competing for the same position. But in the time we haven't spoken, after what happened in the bathroom, I realized how much I missed you. Your perfume, your smile, the mysterious look so often cold or incisive, our arguments, provocations... I'm sorry for dumping all this on you; it doesn't seem fair, but I need to be honest, and heaven, you asked for it. I understand if you want to forget or ignore what was said here, as if it never happened. You can pretend, but unfortunately, I can't. It's years of knowing each other, years of trying to convince myself that I don't feel anything, years of trying to turn all this love into hatred, but you... Pepper, you are you. This wonderful and lovely woman, impossible to ignore. I won't be able to pretend or deny what I feel, but if that's what you want, I'll keep trying. Anyway, that's my truth."

A silence hung in the air; he noticed when she held her breath. Tony saw that she showed a certain apprehension and, at the same time, a different light in her eyes. She had been sitting since they entered the office. For the first time, the woman broke eye contact with him, staring at her hands, which were clasped together, her fingers moving, rubbing one another repeatedly—a clear sign of nervousness. She had heard everything the dark-haired man had said and realized how difficult it was for him to open up completely, exposing his insecurities and showing a side of himself she wasn't used to. And the surgeon liked what she saw and heard, so much that it frightened her. There was much at stake, much to consider, chances of winning and losing. Seeing that she was battling with herself, keeping her eyes fixed on her hands, Tony decided to bring her back to that moment, to that reality. He needed an answer, whether good or bad.

"Virginia, please, talk to me. Say something, anything, even if you want to yell at me, but don't leave me in this agony. Your silence is killing me slowly, bit by bit." He approached her, lifted her face to reestablish eye contact, and it was then that Tony noticed the woman had tears welling up in her eyes, which she was fighting desperately not to let fall. That broke his heart; he never intended to make her cry. He would hate himself for it, blame himself for it. She looked at him, still searching for the courage to respond, but it was Tony who ended up speaking, considering himself the villain of the story.

"Hey..." He touched her hand, using his thumb to make small circles on her skin. "Please, forgive me. I never meant to make you cry; I don't want to make you suffer, Pepper. Damn it! I'm an insensitive idiot..." He released her hand. "I ruined everything. Everything."

However, she reached for his hand again, swallowing hard to force firmness into her voice.

"No, Tony. Not for a second were you insensitive. No, this was…" Her voice faltered. "Unexpected, my God! Why is it so hard to find the right words? I… You surprised me. I won't deny that this affected me more than I thought possible. We are different in some ways and similar in others. But..."

"There's always a 'but' to complicate things, isn't there? In this case, it's the damn professionalism," he seemed disappointed. He didn't believe that everything could be lost now.

"It's not that kind of 'but' I'm referring to. I'm talking about how, besides what we're experiencing in terms of feelings, there are other things at risk. Our careers, the friendship, which, improbable as it may seem, we're building, your relationship with my children… I'm afraid to cross that line, because once we do, there's no going back. We'll stop being colleagues and become…" She didn't complete the sentence. She was still confused about what they would actually be to each other, but fortunately, Tony had no difficulty in stating what they would be.

"We'd be two people in a relationship, I could even say boyfriend and girlfriend, but for that, we'd need at least a few dates, or rather, a special date. Virginia, I'm serious when I say I can't stay away from you anymore. I don't want to seem out of place next to you, I want to be able to kiss you without reservations, to hug you, even the simplest of affections like a kiss on the cheek, a touch on the face, and holding hands. I want that and much more, with you. I understand your concern, your fear. But what happens if we don't take the risk? Would we be fair to ourselves, to our feelings if we chose to forget and deny what has been said here? Everything we've shared up to this moment?" He paused. "We're adults, we can keep our work separate, we can learn to deal with this side of us. And as for Ellie and Theo, we already had a relationship long before we even knew who we truly were. I know things got a bit complicated after Thanksgiving, but we've learned from that; we won't make the same mistakes."

He looked at her so intently, and the woman understood everything the dark-haired man was saying, feeling the same way he did, even if she hadn't fully admitted it.

"Pepper, what do you really want? Does everything I've said make any sense to you? Because if you don't want to give us a chance, I won't insist, but I don't know if I'll be able to…"

"Stop, Anthony!" She placed her hand on his chest, interrupting him. "Stop, please, before you say something you'll regret. I heard and understood everything." The redhead was very close to him. "I want to avoid regret, I need to discover the magnitude of what I'm feeling. It's not easy… It wasn't for you. To stand here in front of me and say everything you said. That's rare; I admire your attitude. And I won't lie, I want to experience it, I know I need to give us a chance." Her hands began to explore his chest more suggestively. "It's not about curiosity, but certainty. Because I like you, not just now because we're closer, but for a long time."

"I'm glad to hear you feel that way."

"However, as I've said before, there's a lot at stake. So I want to ask you something…"

"Anything you want…"

"Even with everything we're feeling, I want to take it slow. We've worked together for some time, but do we really know each other? Let's start with a nice chat over coffee, then a private date, one step at a time. Oh, one more thing. Not a word to anyone else. If we want this to work, we need to keep it confidential. Is that okay?"

"Okay. You're right."

"It won't be that different from what we do now."

"Judging by Donna and Harvey's reactions? We're doing a terrible job."

"Or maybe it's you who's giving it away every time you look at me."

"Because you played it so well, sneaking away last night to spend Christmas Eve with me…"

"Alright, I get it. We're not going to have our first fight before we even start."

"Great, we'll keep it a secret."

For a moment, she looked at Tony with a dreamy expression. Was this really happening? Was it a dream? And what should she do now? Pepper didn't have to think much before the next step was taken. The dark-haired man pulled her close and tilted his mouth toward hers to kiss her.

As soon as their lips touched, the fire between them ignited. The redhead kissed him with passion, letting her hands slide over his muscular chest. Not satisfied, she sat between his legs, which only made them more excited about the situation. Her tongue explored the inside of the neurosurgeon's mouth, and he was not shy. To tease her, he reached for her breasts, squeezing them over the fabric of her jumpsuit, making her moan. The mood definitely heated up more than she had anticipated, and now she could feel the dark-haired man's lips devouring her neck and the effects of their embrace on both of them. She was wet, and Tony was aroused, feeling his member growing against her body. If they didn't stop at that moment, they would certainly have problems.

"That was crazy…" the surgeon commented. "We promised to take it slow… And here we are, almost taking over our friends' office as if it were a… You know."

"I know, sorry."

"I understand… It's hard to resist."

"That's why I think it's better if you and I get out of here, or we'll never be invited back."

"You're right, let's go…" she agreed. "Oh, I almost forgot. Merry Christmas, Stark."

"Merry Christmas, Potts."

That year, Santa Claus decided to be very good to both of them.