Still Counting Her Tears

Scratch Fine China, Part 2

   AN: Kay Guys! This is the last chapter for this story, but another one in coming. The next one is called 'Love's Like a Hurricane'. Look for it! And ilk also be posting a Christmas Story based off of the characters from my old story, Secret Tern Mermaid. However the story is modern, no sci-fi. Anyway, enjoy this last chap!

Tony:

The elevator doors opened and I walked into my room, tired from a long day. After we caught the Hulk, he let Bruce come back to us. Thor had carried the unconscious Bruce, Clint walked, and I flew home. Or at least I tried. My strength had run low, and the thruster on my right foot kept going out, so I half walked(limped),half flew home. And walking was painful because of my ankle.

Pepper, who was lying down on the bed in her robe, looked up at me and smiled. "Hey! How'd it go?" Pepper asked, getting of the bed and running over to me.

I gave her a weak smile. "It was fine. We got Banner back and no one was injured, we're just really tired."

"Aww," Pepper said. "Is my hero too tired to have a little fun with me?"

Walking lazily over to my side of the bed, I slumped down the bed. Pepper got on the bed and positioned herself above me. I put my arm around her and she let her body rest on mine, her head on my chest. It hurt a little, but I tried my best to ignore the pain. I whispered in her ear, "I'm never too tired to have fun with you." A smile played on my face as I finally got the words out.

Pepper looked up at me, her cheeks a pretty pink. She brought her face closer to mine and I pressed my lips against hers. She kissed me back, and that pattern continued. She let her robe fall from her shoulders revealing her thin undershirt and bra. I reached under her shirt to unhooked her bra, and she groped for the bottom of my shirt before pulling it up and over my head. Panting, she threw it to the side and turned back to kiss me again.

That's when it all went wrong. Pepper put her hands on the very spot on my chest where one of the cuts were. I winced, and she noticed it.

"Tony?" Pepper called nh name warily.

"Yeah?" I responded plainly.

"Since when do you wear an undershirt?"

Her question caught me by surprise. "Um, since when do I not wear an undershirt?"

"Tony, you seriously haven't worn an undershirt under your clothes since you got ripped." Pepper gave me a questioning look. Before I could say a word, she pulled my undershirt up and off of my body, revealing my slightly blood stained, bandaged chest. (Too late for excuses, I thought.)

Pepper gasped, her hands covering her face. "Pepper..." I whispered, trying to pull her hands from her face, but instead allowing her to bury her face in my chest. I felt her tears wet my shirt, and my heart stood still. "Pepper," I started again, "it's fine, I'm fine, I just..."

Pepper pulled away from me and interrupted me. "No, Tony, stop." She looked up at me, brushing her thumb against the ever present bruise on my cheek. "I knew you were keeping something from me, but I didn't really want to ruin your good attitude." She smiled.

I laughed. "I'm sorry, Pepper."

Another tear ran down her cheek as she continued, "It's okay Tony. I think Steve's prayers were answered."

I was shocked. "Rogers actually prayed for us?"

Pepper looked down at her hands. "He said that he couldn't fight to help protect, he'd ask a higher power to do it for him."

I looked at Pepper, pulling her into my arms. "I love you."

She looked up at me. "I love you, too." She pressed her lips against mine. I touched her soft spot and she moaned into my mouth.

I pulled away after a few seconds, and looked into her eyes. "So, you're not mad?"

"No, of course not. I already knew that you were hiding something from me, I was just waiting for you to tell me the truth." Another tear rolled down Pepper's cheek. "So," she said, wiping it away, "what happened to you?"

I told Pepper how I got the cuts, not leaving out a single scene. I even told her somethings that I'm pretty sure Fury would call classified. When I told her that Coulson was killed, she started to cry. But when I told her about how the Hulk had battered Loki and called him a puny God, she laughed. Her laugh, her smile, reminded me of why I loved her in the first place. When I was done spilling my heart out to her about what had happened, she hugged me and said, "You're so good Tony. No matter how freaky the hinge get, you're always so calm during every situation. I've always loved that about you."

I gave Pepper a smile. At least we'd be happy in our time together.

   The End

   For now…