Chapter One Eating Nemo.

Tony stared mesmerised by the fish swimming in the ornate pond in the foyer; he licked his lips and felt his tail twitching. His stomach was grumbling he felt as though he had been sitting there for hours waiting for Pepper to finish her meeting. Breakfast had been hours ago the salmon omelette a distant memory and he could not even begin to remember taste of the stolen pot of cream without wanting to purr with satisfaction.

The colourful fish swam around in the tank seeming to tease Tony with every flick of their fins and tails each time they passed by where he was stood watching them. He really could not be blamed for what happened in fact this was all Pepper's fault for being late.

"Anthony Edward Stark! Put that fish back in the tank now!"

Pepper stalked across the foyer heels click clacking on the marble floor a look of exasperation on her face.

Tony startled nearly dropping the fish he could not believe that he had not heard her, that was the whole reason for the marble floors so that she could not sneak up on him in her louboutins, but he was able to move quietly a cross them in his sneakers.

"Awww come on Pepper I'm hungry, I've been waiting for ages it's only a little one no one will miss it."

"Tony you would be eating Nemo! How could you deprive Dory of her friend? Think how traumatised Steve would be if he knew you were about to eat his favourite Disney fish!"

Tony looked guiltily down at the poor little fish flopping about in his hand he gently dropped the fish back into the tank wiping his hands on his trousers not liking the feeling of the water on his skin. He felt and overwhelming urge to run and hide, just has he was about to turn and run two strong arms wrapped themselves around his waist pulling him close to a hard body.

"Pepper thanks for calling me down I think it would be best if we rearranged this lunch meeting, I will take Tony back up to the penthouse and try to find out what he was thinking, or not thinking as might be the case."

Pepper nodded, kissed Tony's cheek and marched back across the foyer to the elevators, phone already to her ear in full CEO mode. Once in the elevator she allowed herself a few moments of sadness at no longer being the first one Tony turned to, but she knew in her heart that they were much better at being friends than lovers. She would take care of his business and Phil would love and take care of his heart.

Phil whisked a silent Tony back up to the penthouse, still wrapped in his arms head buried in shoulder. He knew by the silence that Tony was really upset and embarrassed by what had happened leading him to the sofa he settled Tony in the corner covering him with a warm blanket.

"Tony I'm going to quickly get you something to eat and then we need to talk about what happened. I know you don't want to but these cat impulses are not going to go away and we need to find some way of dealing with them."

Cupping Tony's cheek Phil gently kissed him before heading off to the kitchen.