Hello guys,

So that is supposed to be an OS for my entry for day 5 of the daily pepperony week 17: post CACW. People on Tumblr are asking me to continue it. I might do it and give you my point of view on how Pepper and Tony are getting back together between CACW and SMHC! What do you think?

The one that are wondering for the fic "Last Kiss" don't worry, it is finished, I'm just waiting Robyn-in-the-air my beta reviewer to finish the last few chapters. She is having busy schedule and struggling a lot since few weeks as soon as she finishes a chapter, I'm posting it!

As usual I don't own anything, and still unfortunately, haha. Hope you will like it! Please review, it makes the world to us, writer! Enjoy…

Down to earth

Pepper was feeling a big knot in her chest when she parked her car in front of the Avengers compound that day. She had promised herself to not step one more foot in that building. But here she was, few weeks only after she spat to him "Never again". And he had said nothing. He had let her just leave. She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes reminding herself that it was not about him and that she was here to see her friend. When the knot lightened a bit, she finally entered the compound. This compound that she knew far too well.

"Good morning, Miss Potts." the voice came from the balcony.

She looked up even though she knew very much the voice "Good morning, Jarv… I mean vision."

Vision smiled sadly to Pepper "Is there anything I can do for you?" he asked politely with his usual British phlegm.

"I came to visit the colonel James Rhodes." She explained.

"The lieutenant colonel Rhodes is currently in the exercise room in the basement," Vision indicated

"Thank you so much Vision," she said resuming her walk to the elevator before turning back to vision once again "Is he in the compound?" she asked expecting Vision to understand who was the he in her question.

"Mister Stark is in his office on the third floor, do you want me to…"

She cut him short quickly "No, no please! Don't mention to him that I'm here or that I came." She said it but she knew that Tony would eventually know that she was there thanks to any of the thousands camera that were in the building or easier by Friday herself. If she wanted to avoid him, she would have to run away now. But Pepper Potts was not the kind of girl to retrace her steps! The more upset of the two would have to leave and it wouldn't be her.

Vision nodded slowly "Fine."

"Thanks" she concluded while pushing the button of the elevator.

"Have a nice day, Miss Potts."

Her heart clenched one more time at the sound of Jarvis voice as she entered the elevator. Jarvis had just been an AI, but she had knew him since the first day she started to work for tony. When Tony had told her that Jarvis kind of died/transformed into a living entity, she had been very sad. It had been very hard to get used to not hearing him greeting her anymore when she entered the tower. And hearing his voice when Vision was talking was still a bit harsh on her. The ding of the elevator reaching his destination took her out of her reverie. Rhodey was there, back to her, trying to walk in between 2 metallic bar, with two high-tech prosthesis on his legs.

"Hello James," she said to announce herself, Rhodey turned immediately to her "Do you really think it is safe to do that alone?" she said with a smirk and a fake disapproving look.

"Pepper!" he exclaimed smiling, "What are you doing here?"

"Visiting an old friend," she said while coming closer to him.

When she reached him, he put her in his embrace and hugged her tightly with one arm, the other keeping him standing, "Pepper I'm so happy to see you." He said sincerely.

"I am too," she looked at him from head to toes "How are you doing? I heard about the battle," she said gesturing at his legs.

"Yeah, that." He sighed, "It is not as bad as it looks like" he joked smiling brightly at her.

She smiled back and offered him her arms "Come on, let's go to sit comfortably," she offered.

"Yes, I won't say no to that."

They walked slowly to the sofa that was on the side of the room. When they were both well sited, Pepper asked some questions on the battle, on his legs, on how it happened, on how he was feeling, on how was his moral but she carefully avoided any questions concerning Tony. Until, Rhodey did it himself.

"Are you gonna see him?" he asked.

She knew without asking who he was talking about, "I have no reason to do so." She stated flatly.

"Pepper," he started while stroking gently her forearm, "he has been badly injured in the battle too," her heart clenched at his words, but her face remained impassive, "I mean not only physically, but emotionally." He explained. She stayed silent. He grabbed her forearm that time to force her to look at him, "Pepper, look at me."

She turned and looked at him, her glassy eyes betraying her state of mind "What?!" she asked harsher than she intended to.

"I'm sorry Pepper," he apologized when hearing her tone "I didn't mean to force you or anything. But I know what you two represents to each other, and you know how Tony is! He will never admit that he needs you and he will rather suffer alone that come to you."

"So what am I supposed to do James?" she asked in disbelief, "Let go of all the problems? Let go of all my concerns, all his stupidity and just crawl at his feet because he is the great Tony Stark! The incredible Iron Man! And that he is not down enough to earth to come to apologize to me or to ask me for help?" she almost yelled the second part.

"No this is not what I meant at all," he defended himself raising a hand to make his point.

"Right, then enlighten me because I don't see what you mean." She spat.

"Pep, I'm sorry. You know what, you are absolutely right, just forget it. I don't have any rights to judge or say anything. I know you did your best and I didn't mean that it is your fault or anything. I don't ask you to lower your principle for him, I know that he doesn't deserve it all the time. It just makes me really sad to see my two best friends' tearing each other apart like that!"

She sighed deeply, "No, I am the one sorry James. I'm just yelling at you when I should be yelling at him. I know you want to do well, but I'm just fed up with his inanity."

"I know Pepper, and I really didn't mean to force your hand on anything," she smiled slightly at him in answer "and if you don't want to see him, you should leave now." He concluded. She looked at him puzzled. "He was with me to try the prosthesis, but he received some Fedex. He wanted to put me back to my room but I insisted to work out a bit by myself with them." He explained "He said he will be back to accompanied me to my room. He will probably be back soon to check on me. So you'd rather leave now." She nodded sadly. "I am really happy that you came Pepper, you know that it means a lot to me, especially with the last events and the situation with Tony."

"Don't thank me, please! You are my friend, and even if Tony and I are not doing well at the moment, it doesn't mean that I shouldn't be there for you."

He hugged her one more time, "You are a gem Pepper," he took her by the shoulder and looked at her in the eyes before she stood up "And Tony is a moron for letting you go!"

Pepper sighed and smiled at her friend "Thank you so much James."

He watched her as she quitted the gymnasium, the clinking of her heels resonating in the entire room. When the room became silent again, Rhodey just said flatly "You really are a moron!"

"Yeah, I know that already!" The voice of Tony came from the intercom.