This is my first proper full length FINISHED story. I really hope you like it and please review! I don't mind creative criticism please nothing too unkind!!

Tony Stark, billionaire industrialist, playboy, Ironman, and CEO of Stark Industries, wasn't in any way paying any attention to what was going on.

He was sat in a meeting, one leg crossed over the other, elbow on the table and resting his head in his hand, staring at Virginia 'Pepper' Potts, who was sat opposite him.

This was perfectly normal, and it was also generally how he got through his day, by staring at Pepper. There was something about her that calmed him down. Or at least, there used to be. After that night everything had changed, his world had shattered and he couldn't find the pieces to put it back together again, not sure that even with his 'genius' status he ever could. He was staring at her stomach, and the large four month pregnant belly she was now sporting under her blouse, along with the shiny silver engagement ring on her finger.

Tony wasn't sure if it was having someone else's baby that depressed him so much, or the fact that she was going to marry someone that wasn't him. Pepper carried on talking to everyone else regardless, she could feel his gaze boring into her, but she managed to ignore it. It's not like he ever proposed, she thought, and then, Tony, Tony, I'm sorry Tony.

At the end of the meeting Tony practically ran out of the door, desperate to be away. He ran down the stairs to the foyer, he could feel his staff's nervous glances but he ignored them, feeling tears prickle in the corner of his eyes. Tony skidded down the remaining steps and sprinted through the foyer, swerving into the car park where he threw himself into his silver Audi R8 and sobbed until he felt his heart breaking.

3 and a half months earlier…

'You look stunning,' Tony Stark said, smiling at his beautiful former assistant, and now CFO of Stark Industries.

'Thank you, Mr Stark,' Pepper said smiling at him, 'you do scrub up well.'

Tony did his James Bond impression, squaring his shoulders and wiggling his bow tie. 'Yeah, but you already knew that, Peps.'

Pepper laughed, and turned to shake the hand of Colonel James 'Rhodey' Rhodes. 'Congratulations, Pepper,' Rhodey said, and then put his hands on his hips and looked critically at Tony. 'About time too.'

Tony laughed and moved off to mingle, and possibly flirt, with his guests.

It was the 4th annual fire-fighters benefit at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and Tony had surprised everyone by turning up, not only on time, but not drunk as well.

He glanced over at Pepper, who had spotted someone. She'd gone white. Completely chalk white.

'Pepper?' Tony asked, moving towards her and gently placing a hand on her arm. 'Are you alright?'

Pepper took a deep breath and nodded. 'I'm fine,' she said. 'I just need to speak to someone.'

Tony watched her as she moved away towards a tall man stood in the corner, her pretty blue dress swinging around her curves and her red hair bouncing on her shoulders.

Tony watched as she tapped the mystery man, who was, Tony was forced to admit, quite handsome, on the shoulder. He watched as the mystery man turned and smiled at Pepper, gently leaning down to kiss her on the cheek.

Tony felt his stomach twist into a vicious knot.

He watched as Pepper and the mystery man moved away to the balcony outside and Tony, remembering the colour Pepper had gone, moved off to follow them discreetly.

He crouched down behind a statue and tried to listen to what they were saying.

'… are you completely sure?' The man was saying.

'Yes,' Pepper replied. 'I am, about 2 weeks.'

'Have you told Stark?' the man asked.

'No, I haven't, I thought it would only be right that you knew first, although I will, I have to, he'll find out soon enough anyway, everyone will.'

Intrigued, Tony stepped closer, and stopped breathing.

The man had dropped to one knee in front of Pepper and was holding one of her hands, 'Virginia, will you marry me?'

Tony went as white as the shirt he was wearing, but so did Pepper.

'I… I…'

'You have to know that I'm not just asking because you're pregnant.'

Pregnant… Pepper was pregnant… his Pepper, and the baby wasn't his.

'I really do love you, you are everything to me, and I would have asked you anyway. But I want to do things properly; it's how I was raised.'

Tony couldn't find his breath, hidden behind the statue he couldn't get his lungs to work, wasn't sure if he had any. And when he did find them his breath came in short gasps, he couldn't catch air quickly enough.

'Well…?' The man said, looking up at Pepper.

NoPeppernodon'tdoitpleasenoIloveyouPeppernoPepperno!

'Yes,' Pepper said, nodding determinedly, 'yes I will marry you.'

Tony couldn't breathe; he felt dizzy, more aware then ever of the Arc Reactor nestled in his chest, of its hum. Tony stumbled out from behind the statue, desperate for air, gasping, hand at his throat. And he could only watch, helpless, as Pepper kissed that man. The man who had stolen her from him. His agony was just one shout in his hand, PEPPER!!!

Tony spun round, pushing past people. He had to get out, had to get away, he needed space, air, familiar surroundings.

'Tony!' he heard Pepper cry.

Tony turned round to look at her, and he knew his agony must have been reflected on his face, because Pepper went white and tears rolled down her cheeks. 'Congratulations,' Tony mumbled, before turning back and sprinting down the stairs.

Pepper stared after him, feeling the tears on her face,

No, Tony. What have I done?

Present time

Pepper knew that Tony was trying to avoid her. He was treating her the way he should have treated her in the beginning. As a member of Stark Industries, nothing more, instead of the PA he kept trying to ask out on dates, the PA he'd tested his innuendos on. Now she was only a business associate, his manner towards her was strictly professional, the way it should always have been.

And Pepper was absolutely miserable.

She missed the lopsided grin he used to give her, the secret smiles that always made his eyes sparkle. She missed his laughter; she missed the way he'd always kept her on her toes, and the way she'd sit on the stairs in the evenings, listening to him playing the piano without him noticing her. She missed the way he'd roll his eyes at her when they were both sat in a meeting and he was supposed to be paying attention, and the way he'd suddenly drag her out and go out for sodas on an impulse. She just missed him. The way he'd always used to be. But now whenever she looked at him all she saw was the pain in his face. His eyes never sparkled any more; he never smiled, or made faces at her during important meetings. He never played the piano any more. Pepper could tell because the keys were covered in a fine coat of dust. He was just there, a presence that you could see, but a presence that didn't interact with anyone.

She hated it, she longed to throw her arms around his utterly-kissable neck and sob into his dark hair. And sometimes, she even wished that it was him she was marrying, his baby inside of her.

Pepper could always tell when he was staring at her stomach, because her skin would start to tingle and itch and the engagement ring on her finger would suddenly feel like it was on fire. She never looked into his eyes anymore, she couldn't bring herself too, couldn't bring herself to let him see the betrayal in her eyes. She knew that she'd betrayed him. He'd been constantly asking her out on dates and she'd never said yes, she'd always turned him down.

You have no-one to blame but yourself, Virginia, she often thought to herself. He could have been yours but you never gave him the chance, even though you love him. Pepper knew that she loved him, she'd always loved him. She'd known when she heard the news that he was missing, suspected kidnapped, and she'd sat on his sofa and curled herself up in his duvet and cried for the whole of the three months he was gone. She knew she loved him when she'd sat up wrapped in a blanket waiting for him to come home after another mission, and when she'd wake up in the mornings to find herself lying in his arms after they'd both fallen asleep on the sofa.

Pepper had always loved him, and now she knew that he loved her back. But it was too late now, she'd missed her chance.

And she was completely miserable.