Author: MoiraShipper

Summary: IM2. After the destruction at the party, Pepper ends up coming back for Tony.

Colors

Cause when you're gone all the colors fade

When you're gone no New Year's parade

You're gone

Colors seem to fade

Colors-Amos Lee

Tony removed his helmet, still sitting on the floor of his ruined living room, both from his fight with Rhodes, as from the uncontrolled party he had given. He raised a mechanical hand to his tired face, feeling the effect of the alcohol he had consumed in high amounts, gradually leaving his system, leaving only the feeling of loneliness, fear and shame, feelings that many didn't associate with Tony Stark's millionaire and playboy image.

He could be dead in the next year if he couldn't find an antidote to his poisoning, he had got drunk and scared the people at the party, as well as fighting with Rhodes.

And he had made Pepper Potts, the woman he loved leave, and it hurt more than the rest, because Pepper was special, she always took care of him and she was the owner of his heart. He was an idiot.

A soft music played in the radio and when he looked at the glass door, he was surprised to see Pepper outside, still in the black dress and she had a sad smile on her face, watching him and Tony stood up, determined to apologize. He hated to hurt her.

Pepper pushed open the glass door and took a deep breath, walking up to Tony, nervous, sad. She was sad by the way he had treated with her, dispensing her from the party but mostly by the self-destructive way he had been acting, because she loved him, she loved him so much, and didn't want to see him sunk, he was an incredible man and she was there to take care of him.

"Tony..." She murmured, staring into his brown eyes, which were sad and it devastated her and so she lifted a hand, touching a scratch on his temple from the fight, watching him close his eyes.

"Pepper... I'm sorry." He said quietly, losing himself in her touched, which warmed his heart. "I'm sorry I was a jerk and treated you badly..."

"It's okay Tony, really." She promised him, opening a small smile at his words of apologize, making her happier. "I know you're going through a process of change, and I want you to know that I'll always be by your side."

"I know... And for that I thank you." Tony said sincerely, opening his eyes, touched by her words and then, he slowly brought one mechanical hand to her waist, holding her hand with the other and Pepper was surprise, before leaning her free hand on his shoulder: "You're the most important person in my life, Pepper..."

And Pepper blushed, feeling her heart race as they began to move slowly, in the rhythm of the music that was playing, barely leaving where they were, their chests touching and both could feel each other's breath from the proximity and Pepper said, making Tony smile:

"You are also the most important person in my life too, Tony."

And Pepper rested her head on Tony's other shoulder, feeling him guide them into the dance, while the iron hand on her waist caressed her gently, making her feel safe, as it always happened when she was with him and she closed her eyes, breathing in his scent.

And Tony, while leading the movements, thought about how much Pepper was important, because when had she left and he realized how stupid he'd been, he'd felt lonely, in a black and white world, because Pepper was his colors. He brought her closer to his chest, feeling her delicacy and turning them slowly in the center of the room, feeling her hand squeeze his and he opened a small smile with her presence there.