Proof that Tony Stark has a Heart

Chapter 8

I woke with a frown on my face early that morning, which deepened when I realized I was alone in the bed. 

"JARVIS, where's Tony?" I queried, voice husky with sleep as I sat up.

"Tony's in a meeting." The voice that answered wasn't JARVIS, but Pepper and I glanced over to see her walking into the room with my clothes. "An unavoidable one, I'm sorry." 

I felt a pang of disappointment in my chest but pushed it away as I said, "Oh." 

Pepper left my clothes at the end of the bed, offering me a sympathetic smile.

"I'll leave you to get showered and dressed, and then Happy is waiting to take you over to your hotel," she told him, leaving the bedroom. 

I glanced at the clock, seeing it was barely even six — it must have been a very important meeting to get Tony out of bed that early — and I had plenty of time before my flight left. He showered and dressed quickly, finding Pepper waiting in the living room.

"I guess this is goodbye, then," I remarked, swallowing the lump in my throat. 

Pepper sighed quietly, pulling me into a tight hug.

"Fly safe," she murmured. "And believe it or not, I'll miss you. Tony's been happier with you around." 

I smiled at the admittance, kissing her cheek.

"I'll miss you, too, Pepper. Look after him for me, won't you?" I asked.

She gave me a wry half-smile, pulling back.

"It's my job," she reasoned, but I leveled a look at her; that wasn't what I meant. "I will," she promised, smile softening. "And don't hesitate to drop by if you're ever back in the area."

"Trust me, I won't," I said.

If I were ever back in Malibu, I doubted it would be possible to get me to leave. However, I reluctantly stepped back, heading for the front door, and waved to Pepper before getting in the car. Happy greeted me with a nod, smiling knowingly when I sighed.

"That's the problem with vacations," the driver mused, "Always people to say goodbye to at the end of it."

"Tell me about it," I murmured in agreement, "Thanks for everything, Happy," I added when they pulled up outside the hotel.

"No problem, kid. Safe flight." Happy said.

I shook the man's hand, got out of the car, and wandered up to my hotel room with slumped shoulders. I only had a few more things to pack — toiletries, a few articles of clothing, and anything else I'd forgotten — and was done with several hours to spare. Leaving my bags in the hotel room, I went back downstairs to the hotel restaurant, plating up a generous breakfast of croissants and fruit salad. I wasn't sure how good the plane food would be.

Eating somewhat mechanically, mind elsewhere, I raised an eyebrow when a familiar face sat at my table, tilted back in my chair. 

"What time's your flight out?" Tony asked casually. 

I smirked, trying to ignore the butterflies in my stomach. Tony hadn't let me leave without saying goodbye.

"Hello to you, too. It takes off at two, but I need to be at the airport at about eleven," I replied, taking a sip of my coffee.

"I'll have Happy drive us," Tony told me, stealing a slice of apple from my plate. 

I raised an eyebrow.

"Will you, now? This, of course, is an offer completely based on your chivalry and generosity, and not that you want a quickie in the car," I said, and Tony nodded seriously, though amusement danced in his eyes. "I suppose I'd better go get my bags, then. With the traffic, who knows how long it'll take us?" I added innocently, ignoring the fact that all traffic parted for Tony Stark, and the airport was less than ten minutes away.