Here is your update! Probably wouldn't have happened had I not woken up at 2 AM.

The bold and italicized are the voice-over from Pepper's text she sent to Tony in the beginning of the story...sooooo, yeah.

Disclaimerrrrr me no own Marvel.

Pepper hid in the shadows during the ceremony. She wasn't crashing a wedding, because she was invited to it. Pepper didn't want Tony to see any of the tears that flowed freely down her face. She wiped them away, only for them to be replaced. Looking around, she made sure that no one saw her slip away. She wandered the halls of the old church, her thoughts zipping around, not letting Pepper get a grip on them. She sighed, her breath coming out extremely uneven. She paused and leaned against the wall, rubbing her face with her neatly manicured hands.

"Thought I would find you here," came a bitchy voice to Pepper's right. Pepper squeezed her eyes shut before opening them.

"You know, Virginia," Renee said, her smile sickly sweet. "It must suck to be you right now. In love with somebody who you cannot touch. He is a married man. Oh! And guess who is married to? Me." The way she said the last word with such venomous gusto scared Pepper.

How the hell would I be competition, Pepper thought. She's everything. Great body. A Dallas Cowboy cheerleader. I can't figure why she would see me as competition.

Other than her thoughts, Pepper was silent. Renee squinted at her.

"You are a piece of work, you know that? You are such a fucking whore. That is the way you actually became Tony's assistant, right? Working your way up the ladder the old fashion way. I bet-"

"Do you ever shut up?" Pepper snapped. Renee scoffed. She placed her hands on her hips.

"Two can play that game," she said, tossing down her bouquet. Pepper looked at her puzzled. "Pick it up, you fucking slave."

Pepper stood her ground.

"No."

There was a rustling of clothing as Renee now stood in her face. "I said, pick. It. Up. Now.

"I'm not your assistant. I'm T-" Pepper was abruptly cut off by pain in her cheek. She clutched it and looked at Renee, whom was grinning smugly above her.

"See, I would've just slapped you, but I decided that bitch-slapping would be more effective. Seeing as bitches need to be bitch-slap," she trailed off momentarily. "Now, you fucking slut. Pick up my bouquet."

This time Pepper obeyed, kneeling down to retrieve the thrown calla lillies. As she stood, she was greet with a strong jab into her throat by Renee's knee.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Renee said, snatching the crushed lillies from the red-head. She examined the bouquet.

"Oh well," she sighed. "Gingers don't have souls, so that's why they are brown now," To Pepper, the lillies were still white. "Because Virginia Potts sucks the life out of everything," Another sickly sweet smile as Pepper struggled to breath and contain the tears. "Toodles, Pepper. And I better not see you touch my Tony ever again." The brunette yanked Pepper up by her hair, causing Pepper to whimper and stand straighter. "Is that clear, you fucking bitch."

Pepper could only nod. Renee released her grip on Pepper's hair and backed away.

"Now, stay here like the good lil' bitch you are." With that Renee left Pepper, who was sitting down, head buried into her hands.

Sobs racked Pepper as she stood, stumbling slightly. She pulled out her phone and sent a text message to Tony. Trying to regain her composure, she swiftly walked out of the side door and to her car. From her car, she saw a happy scene of rice being thrown at the entrance. Pepper looked down to her shaking hands before turning her car on and driving out of the parking lot. She took a route where Tony wouldn't see her departure.

I can't do this anymore.

She drove to a nearby bar. Pepper quickly fixed her hair and gathered what wax left of her dignity. She exited her car and walked proudly into the bar. The red-head was greeted by a wave of smoke. She coughed slightly, but walked in.

The bartender looked at her.

"You've looked like you've had a rough night," he said, cleaning a shot glass.

Pepper smiled sadly and nodded.

"You could say that."

"What do you want? I recommend a good glass of scotch."

Pepper shook her head.

"I don't want anything right now. I'll be back though."

Renee...she's crazy, Tony. Please get rid of her.

Pepper made her way to the ladies room. She quickly used the restroom before exiting. As she opened the door, a larger man stood in front of her.

"Erm...excuse me."

She only received a yellow grin. He started toward her, causing her to back up. He roughly grabbed her wrist and shoved her against the wall.

It was only when he fulfilled his needs did she break down.

Please. She is bad for you Tony. But I doubt you see that because you are head over heels in love with her. I just hope she doesn't hurt you.

She was still sobbing uncontrollably when she exited the bar by the back door. She was too embarrassed by the blood that made its way down her leg. She struggled to unlock her car, dropping the keys three times before successfully unlocking her car. She sunk down into the leather seat, fresh tears finding its way down her cheeks. Once again, she left the parking lot.

I'm in love with a married man. I don't think it matters anymore though. I'm just a shadow now.

Traffic was horrid. She was currently positioned on train tracks, and the only car to do so in her lane. Dread filled her veins when she heard the tell-tell horn of a train. She glanced behind her to see if she could back up, but she was met with the wide eyes of a house wife in a grey minivan. Pepper fumbled with her gear, trying to get her car to function. It was only when she looked up again she saw red, gold, and black iron.

I wasn't joking when I said you were all I had. I never said I would find anybody else. Who would want me?

Rhodey placed a hand on Tony's shoulder, interrupting the newlyweds dance.

"Tony, it's Pep-" he started.

"That bitch," Renee scoffed. "I thought I told her not to come here."

Tony frowned at Renee before looking at Rhodey.

"What happened?"

The colonel looked grim.

"She was headed home...and there was a train wreck...Tony?"

The billionaire was already halfway toward the door.

"Anthony Stark! You better get your ass back here if you still want me as your wife!" Renee shouted after him. Rhodey raised an eyebrow at her.

"I don't know what the hell he sees in you." And with this last one-liner, Rhodey followed his best friend.

Knowing you, you would say something like, "Little me, baby. And a whole 'lot of other little men." But that would be inferring me as a slut. I've been called a slut too many times in the last ten months.

Tony stood outside of Pepper's hospital bedroom, looking as if he aged years. A doctor emerged from her room, looking wary.

"I assume you are Tony Stark," the doctor said, flipping through the various papers on his clipboard.
Tony nodded, not taking his eyes off of Pepper.

"Well, Miss Potts lists of injuries are extensive...She has a broken tibia, her metacarpals had to be removed and replaced with faux ones, six ribs fractured, spinal cord damaged...her brain is swelling...intestines had to be removed and be replaced with transplants. She was raped four hours ago," he droned. "She has shrapnel that we are unable-"

"-I can help with that," Tony said, tearing his eyes off of Pepper to look at her doctor.

"I'm afraid it doesn't matter though. She's brain dead."

I hope you don't get yourself killed when I leave you. Maybe you'll get rid of Renee and comes be my knight in gold-titanium alloy. The odds of that though...not likely.

Tony sat beside Pepper, her still hand limp in his. He stared at the wall, moving his thumb across the back of hers.

"I divorced her, you know...it's kind of bad. I've managed to get married and divorced in three months, and you still haven't woken up..." Tony let go a sigh. "I suppose that is fair. I mean, I disappeared for three months, why can't you," he looked at Pepper, her own mini arc reactor embedded in her chest, keeping her alive. They had taken her off of life support, as Tony made the arc so it would replace it. She was wire free, with the exceptions of her heart monitor, IV, and the EEG machine.

Tony sat there for a second before moving to face her. He stretched to dig into his pocket and dug out a black velvet box.

"I guess it's a bit too late for this," he trailed off, extracting the ring from the box. "It was my mother's, you know. I think it would look better on you then in the box." Tony slowly slid the ring into place on her left hand ring finger. He smiled at the sight and brought her hand up for him to kiss.

"...Pepper...when...when the accident first happened, they told me to were brain dead," Tony managed a smug grin. "I brought in my own team of doctors, including Bruce, and did my own tests. You are far more brain death, my dear," he laughed against her knuckles. "You are just in a very very deep coma." Tony laid her hand back down and stood, and kissed her forehead.

The EEG machine bleeped.

Tony smiled.

If you ever do leave Renee, wait for me.
It may take a while, but I promise I won't let youdown.
-Text sent from Virginia Potts' BlackBerry

Okie! How was was it? Let me know. And I'm sorry for the errors. XD I was kinda not really paying attention to what I was writing. And I had my eyes closed. Like a boss.

Happy Thanksgiving, my fellow Americans! Brits, Aussies, lovely Deutsche Menschen...have a good day/night!

Please review. You may get another update because I got another idea.

Please please please please please please review.

It calms my feels

And my feels need to be calmed

so review. :)