Part 2

St. Martin's wasn't what Tony Stark had expected.

He'd pictured hundreds of guests, all turning in his direction the moment he rushed in. They'd probably try to keep him from getting to Pepper, but that was ok, he could handle it, armor or no armor. Getting hurt might even win him points with Pepper, so he actually looked forward to it the fight.

Instead, he stepped into a place that looked like it hadn't been used in months. And it was dark, to -or maybe it only looked dark to him after driving all the way there without sunglasses, but the point was, he couldn't see a damn thing.

He wasn't one to stand around in indecision, though, and so he rushed inside...

And promptly bumped into a pillar.

"Oh, sh -"

He didn't finish. He hadn't been to church in years and knew next to nothing about one's behavior once inside, but he had the feeling that swearing wouldn't earn him any points. Instead, he took a look around. Ok, he still didn't see anything and he couldn't hear anything either -Except for a familiar clip-clump sound approaching.

Grinning, Tony moved into the shadows and waited. One, two, three -Bam! Jim Rhodes bumped into the pillar too.

He didn't show the same restraint as Tony. "Oh, shit!" Then, in a whisper. "Hey, Tone? You there?"

Tony waved at him. "Hey," he said casually; "You made it!"

"Not thanks to you, pal."

"You said you could handle the last stairs."

"The stairs were no problem; it was the pigeons you spooked that gave me trouble! Did you have to run?"

"Hell, yeah," Tony replied, then winced at the sound of the word 'hell.' He lowered his voice too. "I'm here to stop a wedding, remember? Speaking of which," he added, "Where's everybody?"

"This ain't the main entrance," Jim said. "We only used it 'cause it's the closest to the parking lot." He glanced around, then used one of his crutches to point the way. "There."

Tony looked at the crutch..

"Try to keep it quiet, ok? I don't want them to know we're here."

"Excuse me, I got an invitation," Jim retorted. "I can do all the noise I want." He motioned Tony to go on. "Let's move."

Tony felt his way along the wall till his eyes got accustomed to the gloominess. Once he had a clearer view, he started looking around.

Jim noticed.

"Wondering how many armors you could fit in here?"

"It's eerie," Tony muttered. "I've got the feeling we're about to get ambushed, or something."

Jim smiled.

"Afraid of divine punishment, aren't ya. Relax, Lucifer; you've made it this far -you're probably safe. It's Pepper you ought to worry about." He was silent for a moment. "You really love her, do you."

"Yeah," Tony said as if it were obvious.

"But not enough to give her what she wanted."

Tony studiously kept his gaze on the floor.

"What was it, man? She wanted a baby and you didn't?"

Tony shook his head. "I'd have ten kids with her."

"TEN? Maybe that's what spooked her away."

Tony didn't reply. By then, they'd reached the main entrance, and Tony's attention was drawn to the stained glasses, the high ceilings, and the frescoes on the walls.

"Whoa. This place is huge."

"Yep."

"It's kinda quiet, though." Tony glanced around. "It's almost four O'clock, isn't it?"

Jim shrugged. "Weddings never start on time, Tone."

"Yeah, but, come on. There should be some guests at least. And what about the decorations? I mean, it's a wedding, right? Where are the flowers? There should be a bunch of them on every pew, and bows, and lacy things hanging about."

Jim stared at Tony, then shook his head.

"You freak me out, sometimes. One minute you're the Tony Stark I know, then the next you start talking like you're channeling some gay decorator."

"I've seen a couple of weddings, that's all."

"On TV."

"Yeah, on TV. What's your point?"

"This is real life, Tony. Not all people care about those things."

"There should be some flowers at least. Pepper loves flowers."

"Maybe he's allergic. Maybe he's a frugal kind of guy. Maybe -"

"-maybe he's a cheap fool," Tony said snidely. "And what about the music? You can't have a wedding without music, Rhodey. There should be someone in here, tuning a violin, or something."

As if on cue, music started to play somewhere.

"That's not live music," Tony said critically.

"Oh, yeah? And how do you know that?"

"I have that CD," Tony retorted. "It was sponsored by Stark Industries."

"Shhh!" Rhodey paused for a couple of seconds, then motioned Tony to follow. He led the way past a couple of pillars into the main part of the nave.

"There," he said, looking in the altar's direction. "It's started already."

Tony turned. There were people in there after all. Not the crowds he'd expected; just enough to fill a couple of pews. But it wasn't the people sitting that caught his attention; it was the couple -a man and a woman, standing close together and facing a priest. Mechanically, Tony walked down the aisle, Jim following in tow.

Halfway there, Tony stopped abruptly.

"That's Pepper," he said.

"Yeah." Rhodey looked at him. "What, you didn't believe me?"

Tony shook his head.

"I thought it was only a misunderstanding. Or maybe some sick joke."

JIm patted him on the back.

"I'm afraid it's not, Tone."

Tony looked back. He frowned.

"Still… It doesn't look like a real wedding."

"How would you know? You've never been to a real one."

"No, but, come on. Look at the priest. He looks shabby. And Pepper's dress… It's white, all right, but it's not churchy at all. She doesn't even have a veil!"

Jim rolled his eyes. "That's the gay decorator in you talking again."

Tony was still frowning.

"Something's off here. Like maybe this is some kind of weird cult. That'd make some sense at least."

"Well, are you gonna do something about it or not?"

Tony nodded.

"I'm going in," he said, sounding as determined as he did whenever he faced his deadly enemy, The Mandarin. "You're backing me up, right?"

"Sure," Jim said just as seriously, then abruptly grabbed Tony's arm. "Wait! Do you know what you're gonna do?"

"Yeah," Tony said, "I saw this movie once; it was a long time ago, but –no, wait," he added, stopping. "That movie ended with a dead bride."

"Oh, for God's sake -"

"Relax," Tony said confidently. "I'll think of something."

"Just as long as you don't say you wanna kiss he bride," Jim muttered.

All along, the priest had been muttering something unintelligible into a microphone that wasn't really working. But now he nodded at Pepper and said something that sounded like -

Tony frowned. "Did he say 'mows'?"

"He's telling Pepper to go ahead and recite her vows."

Pepper's hand was shaking slightly as she took the microphone from the priest, and her voice was tremulous as she spoke into it.

"I, Virginia Clarisse…"

Tony and Jim winced at the same time.

Jim snickered. "No wonder she prefers to be called Pepper."

"Shhh!" Tony wanted to hear the rest but just then Pepper accidentally dropped her bouquet and it fell to the floor with a loud crash. "Jesus," Tony whispered. "What kind of flowers are those?"

"What, you don't know?" Jim smiled ironically. He glanced around. "I think she grabbed some from the altar. Whoa, that guy is cheap."

Tony's attention was back on Pepper.

Flustered, she'd started again.

"I, Virginia Clarisse, promise you, Ton -"

"Bentley," the architect said, making it sound like this wasn't the first time he'd had to correct her.

Pepper nodded hurriedly. "I, Virginia Clarisse, promise you, Bentley, to… to…"

"…To honor you," the architect said with growing exasperation.

"… To honor you, and… and…"

"Shall you begin again?" the priest said helpfully.

Jim leant sideways.

"She's a nervous wreck!"

"That's not like her," Tony said. "It's like this guy's sucked all the confidence off her."

"A soul vampire."

"Yeah."

Pepper was still having trouble with her vows.

"…To honor you, and to… to…"

"… And to love you," Bentley said petulantly. "Virginia, I thought you'd memorized your lines!"

"I did! I'm nervous, ok?"

Bentley looked at the priest.

"Maybe we should jump to my lines," he said, "I learned them by heart."

"What a jackass,"Rhodey muttered.

"And he's got a temper," Tony said, with growing concern. "He's not the right guy for her." And it was this realization that prompted him to act sooner than he'd planned.

He walked in the altar's direction till he was just a few feet away.

"Hey," he called out, his voice echoing back.

Pepper and the architect turned around as one.

Now that he had their attention, Tony said the only words that worked in this kind of situation: "I object."

Pepper looked incredulous; Bentley looked stupid.

The priest looked at him over his glasses.

"This is not an actual wedding ceremony, sir," he said. "It's only a rehearsal."

"A rehearsal...?" Tony started. Everything made sense, at last; the number of people attending, the lack of ornaments, the recorded music, the borrowed bouquet…

And Jim must have known all along.

Tony looked around. Jim wasn't standing close by anymore; he was sitting on a pew, his arms hanging on the back.

He was smiling placidly.

"I told you it was a rehearsal. Or didn't I?"

Tony glared at him. He was going to say something, but the priest spoke again.

"May we continue, young man?"

Tony looked back. He had everybody's attention now. A couple of old ladies had left their seats and were now hovering over the couple, as if concerned for their safety. They actually looked afraid of Tony, who, let's face it, looked menacing in his grease-spattered clothes.

Pepper intervened. "Tony, please," she said. She glanced at the architect, sheepishly, as if to apologize for Tony's behavior. The architect didn't acknowledge her. He simply straightened up, displaying his one advantage over his rival.

Tony ignored the tall motherfucker and instead looked at the priest.

"A rehearsal," he said. "Right. I thought –but you know what I thought. Look; all I wanted -" He was interrupted by a loud buzz coming from one of his pockets. It was his cell phone –not his personal phone but the one that SHIELD had issued him. The one that meant big business, life-and-death situations.

Tony resisted for a couple of seconds, then gave in and picked up the phone.

"What!" (Pause) "Yeah, it's me, who else it's gonna be?" (Pause) "Uh, yes, Mr. President." He looked up and noticed the glares from Pepper and the architect. He silently mouthed the words, "It's the President,' then promptly spoke into the phone. "Yes, sir. Loki's back, huh?" (Pause) "Uh, listen Burt, I'm handling a delicate situation right now, so…" (Pause) "Yes. I understand, but isn't this Thor's call? It's his brother after all." (Pause) "Back in Asgard, huh. Ok, then what about Cap -" (Pause) "Good-will tour in Russia? Ha! Like that's gonna do any good." He listened a moment more, then, "Ok, ok, I get you; I'm the only one available." He looked up. Pepper looked seriously pissed now. The architect merely snorted. "Yes, sir," Tony said into the phone. "I'll do it."

Tony put the phone into his pocket. Studiously avoiding Pepper, he spoke to the priest. "Sorry for the interruption. You may go on." He turned and started to walk away when suddenly, something hit him hard on the head.

"Ow!" He rubbed the back of his head, and watched incredulously as pieces of wax fall to the floor.

He'd been hit with Pepper's bouquet.

Stunned, he turned around. Pepper was looking at him, hands on her waist, eyes flashing in anger.

"Potts! What's wrong with you? That hurt!"

"Good!" She started walking up to him -slowly, threateningly, each step punctuating her words, "You. Think. You. Can. Ruin. My. Wedding. And. Then. Walk. Out. Just. Like. That?"

"It's only a rehearsal," he replied; "Besides, I got a call from the President."

"Oh, yes. Burt called." She hated the guy.

"Loki escaped, Potts; I gotta rein him in." He lowered his voice. "Look; I gotta go, but I swear I'll be back. Ok?" He didn't wait for an answer. He started to walk away, only to stop when she spoke again.

"You take one more step and you won't make it to the door in one piece."

He looked back at her. Oh, yeah, she meant that all right.

Tony smiled.

"What are you gonna do, spank me?"

She didn't smile back.

"Tony, you can't come back into my life just because you're feeling lonely."

"I'm not lonely," he retorted, "As your employer, I was concerned about your extended leave of absence. I mean, that's what you called it, remember?"

"God, Tony; it was obvious I was lying!"

"It wasn't obvious to me! You'd never lied to me. Not once." He looked her in the eye, giving her a chance to contradict him. She didn't. "So, if I ask you a question, you're gonna tell me the truth, right?"

She dropped her gaze.

"Right?" he repeated, and he waited till she (reluctantly) looked at him again. "Do you love him?"

She didn't hesitate. "I do."

He shook his head.

"No, you don't. You're just running away."

"And aren't you? You're running away right now. You always do. And I can't stay behind, Tony. You say you want the truth, well, all right, here it is: I don't love him the way I love you," she said quietly. "But at least he'll let me be by his side every step of the way."

He sighed, "Oh, Potts -"

"That's all I wanted, Tony."

" -we've been through this so many times -"

"Don't worry; I'm not going to argue anymore." Sadly, she added, "I was just hoping that -"

Tony's phone rang again. He picked the phone but didn't immediately answer.

"Go ahead; Burt's calling." When Tony picked the call, she said, loudly, "I bet he doesn't care that you're risking your life out there. Do you, Burt?"

Tony tried to shield his phone from her but it was too late. The President heard ever word.

"Yes?" (Pause) "She's, uh, my girlfriend, sir." (Pause) Redhead." (Pause) "Fiery –yeah, she is. She's tall and strong, good in good times and bad, and she's got a fleshy, sweet mouth that -but I'm digressing. (Pause) I'm trying to keep her from marrying someone else, sir." (Pause) "I'm crazy about her! But she wants to battle the bad guys up there with me, and I can't let her do that."

Jim had been following the conversation, and now he looked at Pepper.

"That's it? You wanted to wear armor too?"

"Yes," she replied. "In case his superhero friends were too busy to back him up. Or in case one of them went out and twisted his dainty little ankle!"

"Hey! It wasn't my fault! It was you fault, actually!"

"My fault! How can that be?"

"Quiet, you two!" Tony hissed. He spoke back into his phone. "No, she's not an airhead!" he said indignantly; "She's pretty good, actually." (Pause) "Because I don't want her to take any risks! I just want her to be safe!" He looked at her. "I want you to be safe, Potts; that's it."

"And I want you to be safe too! How do you think I feel when you go out there on your own? I know you can handle it, but what if you need back-up? I could be there for you any time -"

"It's not your place."

"Oh, so a woman's place is in the kitchen now? Is that what you're saying?"

"No," Tony said patiently; "Your place is at the office, covering my ass while I'm away. I know you can do both things, and I know you mean well, but... I can't let you do it."

"Then there's nothing more to say."

"Of course there's a lot to say! Come on, Pepper! You don't love this guy. You can't -I mean, a fling's one thing, but your entire life? Can you picture spending day after day with him?" Huskily, he added, "Night after night? I don't think so." He wanted to say more, but he could hear the roar of helicopters approaching.

Pepper heard it too. She looked sad.

"They're coming for you."

"Yeah," he said apologetically; "They're taking me back to the mansion."

She dropped her gaze.

Tony glanced at Jim, who made an encouraging gesture with his hand. 'Go on!' it said.

Tony looked back at Pepper. "Hey. You know I love you, right? Right?" She closed her eyes at the sound of those words but didn't reply. He took a step to her. He wanted to offer her some comfort, but didn't know how. "Come on," he whispered. "Try to understand. If I keep saying no it's because I don't want to lose you."

"You're losing me anyway," she said sadly. She looked up. "And yes, I know you love me. I love you, too."

Bentley finally snapped out of his complacency.

"Virginia! You're not seriously considering -"

"Hey!" Rhodey cut in. "Shut your mouth, kid. This is important!"

Pepper was still looking at Tony.

"I do, Tony," she said.

He tentatively reached out to her.

"If I let you wear armor…"

"Yes?"

"If I let you come with me…"

She took his hand and held it firmly.

"I'll make sure we both come back in one piece," she said.

He smiled.

"Virginia!"

Without letting go of Tony's hand, Pepper turned to look at Bentley.

"Ben, you knew how I felt about Tony," she said patiently; "You're my best friend and I love you, and I meant it when I said I'd help you, but… I don't think we could have gone though with it. I know I wouldn't." She took a deep breath. "I think this is for the best, Ben." She looked at the group of ladies hovering behind Bentley. "Mrs. Andrews?"

One of the ladies blinked.

"Mrs. Andrews, Ben thought getting married would make you happy, but isn't his happiness just as important? There is something he's never told you, but I think you already know; maybe if I say it out loud it'll be easier for you to admit it to yourself. Mrs. Andrews, Ben is gay."

The lady's jaw dropped. She held on for a couple of seconds, then collapsed on the nearest pew. She was obviously in shock.

Bentley ran to her.

Pepper wasn't moved.

"Oh, and Mrs. Andrews? Think about this: you'll never have to share your son with another woman."

Mrs. Andrews' jaw snapped shut then. Clearly, that idea had never occurred to her. It obviously comforted her.

Tony looked admiringly at her.

"Nicely done," he said, offering her his arm. "It looks like Super Potts saved the day. "

"Don't call me that."

"Red Menace?"

"That sounds communist."

"What about Sweet -" and he whispered the rest into her ear.

She blushed.

"Hey, Tone?" Jim said, "I think the President's still on the line."

Tony looked down at the phone in his hand. He picked up the call again. "Uh, listen Burt; I'll call you when we've got Loki, ok?" (Pause) Yeah, I got lucky, all right."

The End