AN: This is slightly AU as it assumes that there was a little time between the Avengers all trying to pick up Thor's hammer and Ultron crashing their party

"You were going to re institute prima nocta? Seriously?" Rhodey said as he joined Tony out on the terrace. In the moments after they had all spectacularly failed to lift Thor's hammer, the Avengers had all broken off into smaller groups/pairing to talk about whatever topics they were discussing now. Rhodey had almost joined whatever conversation Rogers was having with Maria Hill when he saw Tony slip outside with a drink in his hand. He hadn't really liked the look on his friend's face and so excused himself to follow.

"It was a joke, platypus," Tony said with a shrug, keeping his eyes on the city landscape below. "Don't get your boxers all up in a bunch!"

Rhodey rolled his eyes, "Yeah, genius, I got that it was a joke but it was of the variety that I haven't heard from you in a long time."

"What variety? Bad? Lame? Oh please, I know it's been awhile since we've hang out

together but I still make both all of the time. Just ask anyone inside."

"No, that's not the variety I meant although it was a pretty lame joke to make, come to

think of it." When Tony shot him a look, he cleared his throat, and said, "Uh right, and

you know what I meant."

"Uh, no I don't."

"Are you really going to make me say it?"

Tony's silence was his answer.

"Apparently, you are. Okay then, I'll say it: the prima nocta joke, is the exact same kind of thing you would have said before you and Pepper started being serious about each

other." A realization dawned on Rhodey almost at the same time the words left his

mouth. "Wait, are you and Pepper having problems?" He didn't really expect an

immediate answer, if he even got one, and his friend didn't disappoint as several

minutes of silence passed before Tony finally spoke.

"Pepper decided that she wanted some time… apart, and that's why she's officially

away on the other side of the world, on company business right now. Unofficially, she's away because she wasn't exactly thrilled that I had made another suit. I mean while I didn't exactly do it behind her back, but I also didn't talk with her either before I started making it."

"How did she find out that's what you were doing?"

"The worst way possible which was by Rogers showing up one Saturday to ask me rejoin the Avengers and help with locating Loki's scepter."

Rhodey cringed, "Oh, man, Tony! Please tell me that is not how Pepper found out about the new suit!"

"Yeah, it kinda was because Pepper decides to bring him up to my workshop herself."

"What JARVIS didn't warn you that they were coming up?"

"Yeah, he warned me but Spangles decided to show up while I was trying to fix one the suit's gauntlets while I had it on my arm. Looking back on it, I suppose I could have hid my arm until Pepper left but it wouldn't have done any good since there were a number of tools and/or parts that she knows that I use for building suits scattered all over the room. How she didn't lose it in front of Rogers, I'll never know.

"So she lost it after he left?"

"No, she was actually as calm as she could be as she packed for a trip to South Korea she had not told me about until then. Worst part of the whole thing was seeing the hurt in her eyes. I think she was probably a little angry with me, for going behind her back, but hurt was the dominant feeling."

At the end of Tony's story about what happened Rhodey whistled, "Hmm, after hearing all that, I can't say I'm surprised by Pepper's reaction, Tony."

Tony sighed, "Yeah, neither am I now that I've had time to think back on it." He ran a hand over his goatee, "I've had time to think about it, and wonder if continuing to fight as Iron Man or being a part of the Avengers really worth losing her forever? She is the best thing that has ever and I mean ever happened to me, but I went and screwed things up again for only the millionth time since we started a serious relationship. What if she decides, hey this is it? What if she decides that she can't take any more of my… antics, and she decides to hit the road without ever looking back?"

"You know, Tony, I know I'm not Pepper," Rhodey began, pausing the allow for the inevitable sarcastic remark from Tony, and worried when it never came because he knew then how serious this was for his friend. "I know that I can't speak for her or read her mind, but I think she probably feels the same about you as you do her. When she decided to start a relationship with you, she knew what she was getting herself into, and if what happened with Killian didn't chase her off, I don't think that this is going to either. She probably just needs some time to herself to think things over, just like she said."

"I wish I could as optimistic about this as you seem to be."

"It's not optimism, Tony."

"Then what is it?"

"Realism."

"No, it is optimism. Trust me, you didn't see her face when she told me she was going to South Korea for awhile. It's probably is over between us and she just hasn't figured out how to tell me yet."

Rhodey shook his head, "Oh man stop with the pessimism! You don't know that it's over until you tal k to her again, and I honestly don't think Pepper is going to end things with you."

"Yeah well you can go right on believing that, buddy," Tony said, giving his shoulder a pat before emptying the glass in his hand, "I need another drink." He started back inside.

"Tony, I-"

"So this is where you two went to!" Bruce said, poking his head outside.

"What? Do you and Romanoff want the terrace? Be my guest!" Tony said pushing past him.

Surprise and confusion were the reigning emotions on the scientist's face as Rhodey walked over to the door. "What did I say wrong?"

"It's not you, Dr. Banner. It's all him."