Holla Peeps… Long time no see! I just finished law school (yay I did it). Bar exam was hard, studying for 2,5 years even harder, but being away for nearly five years has been the hardest. But now I'm back.

I saw Endgame twice already and I am still shook. Yet it was the only death I could accept for Tony. Still I think it's incredibly unfair he had to die and I cried like a baby when Pepper said good bye and Morgan wanted a Cheeseburger *ugly sobbing* So I needed a Fix-it Fic.

I plan on finishing the odds in our favor some day even if its just for myself.

Still, at first I'd like to start a new multi-chapter fic, which is stuck in my head for weeks now and I need to get it out of my system. And what better time to do this now, when we are all in some need for some good old pepperony?

All Chapters will be song inspired and the whole thing is AU, pretending Pepper had not gone to Hammer's presentation at the Expo and the rest of the MCU didn't happen yet. (Though I love the MCU).

This is going to be slow burn fanfiction, so: There will be fights, there will be angst, smut ahead and of course there will be fluff. Maybe.

But now enough with the Intro: Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, Disney and Marvel own everything. Rated M. And I don't have a Beta at the moment. So sorry for any mistakes. Also it has ben a while since I last wrote something in English, so I apologize in advance.

Congratulations - Rachel Platten

Congratulations

Waking up hurt.

A back feeling like ten thousand shattered pieces pricking into the muscles, the feeling of bruises on the forehead and aching all over the body. Morning light blinded the eyes when opening them. The lingering tastes of coconut and metal were still present.

Tony groaned when he turned to his side. The sun was already up, but he could tell it was still early.

"Jarvis. Time." he mumbled into his pillow.

„Good morning, Sir. It's currently 5.48 am. The weather in New York looks quite promising today, with only a 12% chance of rain and temperatures around 78° F."

At first Toy was confused as to why he was in New York. Then he remembered the night before and the cause of his pain. He had flown in record time to Queens and stopped Hammer and Vanko from killing hundreds of innocent people while blowing up a zoo - was it a zoo? no there were no animals, just plants.

He tossed the thoughts aside and rose from the bed to take a shower.

„J call Pepper and tell her I need the jet here a.s.a.p. and call Rhodes and make sure he will be at the jet in time." Pulling his shirt over his head Tony stopped in front of the bathroom mirror and looked at the new reactor in his chest. The steady blue glow was a good sign. It actually did work. An even better sign were the receding lines around it. „Oh and Jarvis, prepare my workshop for some tests when I get home."

„Sir, M-„

„Mute J." With that he was inside the shower, washing away the grease from the night before and absorbing the heat into his sore muscles.

After drying off and dressing he checked his phone. He did not have any messages and no missed calls. Not even one from Pepper, which was odd. Surely she had heard of the nights events and Jarvis should have reached her by now and let her know to send the jet.

„Did you reach Miss Potts, Jarvis?"

„There's no need to contact me for the jet, when I am already here, Tony." Tony nearly jumped at her voice.

Pepper Potts, his ex-assitant turned CEO stood in his living room. Her red hair in a tight bun, black pencil skirt with a matching blazer and a blue blouse underneath accommodated with a pair of her signature heels. She looked like her normal self, except she looked paler, exhausted and… cold? Pissed? Furious? Tony couldn't quite put his finger on how she looked, the only thing he knew for sure was that she wasn't her nice, calm and friendly self. She looked like business and two inches away from exploding.

„Pep…"He trailed off. „Wha… What are you doing here? I thought you were going to Washington."

„I was, Mr. Stark. But someone decided he needed to make an appearance at the Expo and create chaos." Her tone was calm. Awfully calm. Yet there was something utterly terrifying underneath it.

„Pepper, I had to go. I assume you saw what Vanko and Hammer nearly did. I had to stop them. I just had- „

Pepper raised her hand. „Imma stop you right there. I understand why you had to go. However, what I don't get is why it had happened altogether." Her voice now had a growling undertone. „Oh let me think." Now her voice got louder and higher. „I guess it's because one of us had to fly around in a red and gold suit and rub in everybody's face he made world peace a private matter. Because one of us challenged crazy people with his recklessness and ridiculed people with influence. Because one of us wouldn't think for two seconds before doing something and always needs to be the center of attention any and every time.

It happened because you don't think and frankly because you don't care. You endangered thousands of people last night. You and your inflated ego nearly wrecked your company and what's even worse you managed to drag Rhodey into this an nearly got him killed." She nearly screamed the last part at him.

„Do you honestly think I wanted that? Do you really think I intentionally endangered hundreds of civilians and Rhodey? Do you-„

„No Tony, of course it wasn't intentionally!" she cut him off. „That's the whole point. Nothing you do is intentionally. To do something intentionally you need to think about it, what you apparently never do!"

„Pepper, I didn't know that Hammer and Vanko worked together. How could I? How should I have prevented that?" Tony started to get angry with her. Her outburst came unexpected to him and honestly he could believe she actually accused him of risking lives on purpose.

„It's not just about last night! It's everything that happed in the last few weeks. You driving a race car, nearly getting yourself killed and also risking other peoples lives when Vanko attacked you there. Your behavior at your birthday party! You smashed your living room and bedroom and what not. Do you even know that three people were injured during you stunt with Rhodey? At this point I frankly don't care anymore whether you kill your self with your stupid behavior, but don't you dare take innocent people down with you!" The color of her face matched her hair now, but her last sentence had hit home.

„I won't apologize for something that wasn't my fault, Pepper! I had nothing to do with the attack last night, actually I prevented an even bigger catastrophe. I admit I have been reckless at my party and had too much to drink that night, but oh wait I ALREADY APOLOGIZED FOR THAT!" He screamed the last sentence at her.

Somewhere along the argument Pepper had lost her purse and her hair had come slightly undone. She too was now screaming at the top of her lungs.

„Oh you mean the one time you came into my office and stuttered around about you, you and you? The one time you brought me friggin' strawberries, the one thing I'm allergic to?" The cursing surprised even herself. She rarely cursed.

„You really think that was…"

But Tony didn't let her finish. He was genuinely upset and angered by her accusations. He tried to become a better person for himself but mostly for her. And she didn't seem to notice any of his changes. Being shot down by her prior to the press conference hurt. It hurt more than he cares to admit. So Tony tried to be better. For her. He rid the world off his weapons, tracked down potentially dangerous activities and groups and tried to make the world a better place.

And then the poisoning started and his behavior changed. At first she noticed. But apparently she didn't really care or she would have made sure to figure out what was wrong. Would have made him talk to her. To Tony her tries weren't really heartfelt.

And week after week she came at him. Threw accusations and hit a man already lying on the ground. But now she had taken it too far.

„You didn't even let me finish." Tony growled trough gritted teeth. His voice was quiet and calm, but unmistakably dangerous.

„What more was there to say? What in the world could you have possibly said to make it even remotely better?" Tears threatened to run down her face now. She was just so mad.

„You peed in your suit for christ sake. You attacked you best and only friend. You blew your home to pieces. You made a joke out of me in front of everybody! You… You…" Pepper's voice cracked and she had to gulp. She was afraid that if she spoke further she would start to sob. And she didn't want to cry in front of her boss. Because of her boss. It was one thing she swore to herself the day she came to work for him.

After taking a deep breath Pepper found her voice again and finished. „You told me you loved me, just to get me to leave you alone. After all our years together you tried to do the one thing you swore you would never do: Manipulate me into doing things. Tony believe me or not, YOU FUCKED UP! BIG TIME! Maybe you should finally grow up and take responsibility for once." The last part, she hissed trough gritted teeth.

„I am not Taking responsibility?! Why do you think I am flying around in a red and gold suit DESTROYING THE WEAPONS I ONCE BUILT? I AM TRYING…"

Pepper was laughing now. Laughing hat him and it was could, cruel and full of bitterness. "Oh come on. We both know the suit is just your ego going crazy. Just a new way to pick up other brainless bimbos who'd fangirl over you. Don't try to pretend you are a noble knight in a shining armor. Grow up, Tony." She knew she was being unfair now, but Tony just tipped her over the edge. "Every time you go out there in that suit you case everyone at Stark Industries and especially me a lot of work. Unnecessary work."

Seeing her like this hurt Tony.

He remembered the promise he gave at her one year anniversary as his PA, after she had earned his trust and established herself as a loyal and reliable PA and even something like a friend. He promised her to never try and manipulate her feelings. And that he would never make her do anything she wasn't comfortable with. Given his reputation back then those were big words coming from Tony Stark a.k.a. the biggest playboy and charmer walking the earth back in the days. And for nearly 12 years she had worked for him he kept his promise. Pepper became one of his closest friends and a loyal companion even before Afghanistan. But it was only after being captured in a cave in the dessert and seeing her in a gorgeous blue dress that he realized what or better who he had in front of him for so long. So seeing her like this now and hearing her accusations really hurt him.

Yet his stubbornness got the better of him. She obviously didn't get his intentions on being Iron Man and doing good, and she sure as hell didn't get that his speech at the party and prior to the conference about the worried girlfriend had been genuine and heartfelt. To Pepper he was still the ever horny playboy.

So Tony did something he hated. But this time, to him it was inevitable if he didn't want to ruin his - at least - professional relationship and platonic friendship with Pepper all together. Her words broke something inside of him. Something suspiciously close behind the new reactor. But he was just so enraged. So Tony stopped fighting.

"You know, let me stop you right there. I'm sorry, Pepper. For being an ass. I am sorry for embarrassing you and causing you more work than you already have. I really am.

But I can't and I won't stop being Iron Man. I will try to be less of a pain in the ass and bother you less. Are you happy now? Huh? DOES THIS MAKE YOU HAPPY NOW?! YOU GOT WHAT YOU WANTED! I'M NO LONGER A BURDEN TO YOU. See you at the board meeting." And with that he was gone.

Pepper stood alone in the living room, knowing better than to follow Tony. It was clear he wanted to be alone. They had fought before, countless times. But this time was different.

This wasn't just another fight. Not a day and banter like any other. And Pepper couldn't shake the feeling that something was different now. Something had drastically changed.

So thats the first chapter. I hope you like it. If so: leave a review. If you didn't like it: leave a review an I'll try to improve.

I'm not too sure, but we'll see where this journey will take us.