Happy Easter peoples!!!! LIKE OH MY GOSH! I just finished watching Iron Man (the movie,) and it is kickass AWESOME! I LOVE it! Totallyyyyyyyyy [X I CANNOT wait until May now! Heehehehehehehe [X Anyways, I thought I'd write up a cute little story since I haven't written for IMAA in a whileee. Epic sorries! I promise I'll make it !

By the way, for this story, we're pretending Tony's dad is still thought to be dead, cuz it makes all the better story! Sorry if it sounds cruel.

Tony sat on the edge of his bed deep in thought. Today…..today is going to be quite a day. He stood up and got a shirt out of his drawer. Slipping it on over his silver metallic heart, he walked out of his room and combed through his hair for a brief second before Rhodey came along.

"Hey dude. Can you believe it's already the day?" He greeted. Tony sighed.

"I know. And I can't help but think how un-ready I feel…." Tony answered. He seemed out of himself today…Rhodey noticed.

"Don't worry, man. You've been preparing yourself for this a long time now." Rhodey assured Tony.

"Yeah, I know. It's just….a few years ago, I didn't ever suspect myself to be in this position. It's….I don't know…" Tony sighed once again. Rhodey patted him on the back and they went on their way to school. Tony, staying silent the whole time, jumped when a perky, almost high-pitched voice came bouncing in.

"Hey guys! Can you believe it? It's the last day of school already! Where have the days gone? Today's gonna be soooooo awesome! I can't believe it! And—" Pepper talked and talked, until Tony interrupted once again.

"Well, if you don't remember, it's not a very awesome day for me." Tony said, looking straight ahead. He looked up to see a tall building with the word "Stark" on the side of it. He looked back down. Pepper grew quiet.

"Oh…that's right…." She said, quietly. As they entered the school building, everyone was perky and happy and exited for the last day of school. Today wasn't just any last day….

Today is the last day of their senior year. Everyone spoke of college plans and grad parties, and how awesome theirs was going to be. But Tony, Tony just moped. He sighed, and couldn't get the thoughts out of his head. How's it going to work? Will it take long? He asked himself. The thing that was most on his mind, though….

How am I going to manage running a major company, being Iron Man, and my friends? Tony worried. He knew that he already had a lot on his plate as it is, but soon he was going to replace school with being CEO of a major company. He knew he could just sneak out of school to be Iron Man, but how was he going to excuse himself from work? It has been bothering him ever since this whole adventure had started. He still couldn't think of an answer. No matter how intelligent he is.

"So see ya later. I gotta get to class." Rhodey said, waving as he walked away. Tony waved and walked silently to his class. Pepper was in his same class, so she walked alongside him, worried.

"Come on, Tony. Just try to forget about it for now. Please? I don't like seeing you like this!" Pepper insisted. Tony looked into her eyes.

"I've tried, but how can I possibly forget the fact that I'm having a meeting at my dad's-almost my-company concerning taking over?" He said.

"I know, I know but shouldn't you be more…I don't know, excited about it?" She asked.

"Yeah, I should but, there's so much to discuss…!" Tony worried. He was leaving after school was over, almost immediately following dismissal. Tony was really nervous right now, and really scared. He knew that Obadiah knew he had this day coming, but Tony also knew that Obadiah wouldn't go out with at least a single trick up his sleeve, either. Tony tried thinking of other things to boot the thought of it to the back of his head. Many things, like what summer vacation would be like this year, what there was to be doing in class today, not that he really cared, then, something else struck him. As he sat down in his seat, he pondered the thought more.

What was his life going to be like when both his friends go to college and he stays behind?

The question brought him down even more. He slumped in his seat, concerning Pepper more.

"Tony, what's wrong?" She asked.

"Nothing….just…just thinking." Tony answered.

"Yeah, about what? What's making you mope so much?" She asked, putting her hand on his shoulder.

"You really want to know?" He asked. She nodded. He sat up straight in his seat and looked her deep in the eyes.

"I'm thinking about what my life is going to be like after you…uhh, and Rhodey, go away to college and stuff and I'm stuck here, with no one." He explained. Pepper's eyes widened. She put her hand up to her mouth and smiled.

"Tony, are you saying you're going to miss me? Uhhh…and Rhodey?" She asked. Tony rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly and nodded. Pepper gave him a huge hug, and a single tear rolled down her face.

"Tony……I know….I…I'm going to miss you a lot, too…everyone feels that way when they have to go through this point in their lives…." Pepper said softly, blushing and sitting back in her seat. Tony nodded. Class was then started, and the whole period was being spent talking about what each student was going to do over the summer, where they were going to college and what for. When it came Pepper's turn, she excitedly jumped in her seat.

"Ooh, OH! Over the summer, I'm going to make the most of my last days in NYC then I'm going to apply for a job at SHEILD! Haha!" She blurted out loudly. Tony shook his head, and then the teacher pointed to him. He didn't really know what he was going to do over the summer besides continue discussing Tony's takeover of the company.

"Well, in the summer, I'm probably going to be really busy at Stark International discussing how I'm going to take over, and that means I'm not going to college, I don't need to." Tony explained. The teacher nodded, although a little weirded out. The class didn't react to Tony's plans, also a little freaked out that Tony was such a business person.

After first through fourth period had passed, it was time for Tony and Pepper's fifth bell free period. Tony went to his locker first, to drop some stuff into it. Pepper, following, kept babbling about how her dad wouldn't let her onto his computer last night, even though she really wanted to check this bad dude's file. Tony, only half listening, shoved a few small things into his locker, next to his mini water jug. He poured a cup of water and topped the cup with a lid and a straw. He offered a sip to Pepper, and she took it. Stopping her endless rant for a moment, she followed Tony to the roof. Handing her friend his cup of water, she continued talking. Tony took a seat on a ledge, and Pepper sat down next to him. She fell silent. Thoughts of college were filling her head. Tony made a good point in first period today. How could she handle life without Tony for so long? Before she met him she felt like something in her life was missing, like there was someone out there who had already made a place in her heart; yet she didn't know the person at the time. She remembered the way she used to think of Tony Stark…potential fame, no school, probably a stuck up celebrity; in general, someone who would never waste his time meeting her. But when she heard that his plane crashed…her perspective changed. She read his file on her dad's computer, talked around school, heard that he was coming here, to this school, living with Rhodey, (who she knew as someone who was really lucky to be best friends with someone like Tony,) and every little bit of information changed her perspective. And she remembered the day she first met him….she felt like the person that she had always felt was missing, was finally….well, not missing anymore. And now she knew….now that he was into her life, and had made such a deep impression, there was no way she could live without him.

"Tony?" She spoke up as Tony sipped on his water.

"Yeah?" He answered as he put his cup down.

"Promise me that….when we go our separate ways, we'll keep in touch? So we don't drift apart?" She asked of him. He nodded.

"Promise." He said. She smiled.

"Thanks….because; I can't imagine what those years will be like, now that we've had so long together…" She explained.

"Yeah. I'll be honest…..it feels like I've known you forever." Tony said. Pepper didn't reply. A single tear rolled down her face. Tony stood up and offered a hand for Pepper. Taking it and standing, Pepper looked down. She paused a moment, then thrust a huge hug onto Tony. He hugged her back.

"I'm going to miss you so much…." Pepper said quietly. Tony nodded. They stayed that way for a moment, and then parted. They remained silent. Pepper wanted so much just to know how she really felt….like, is there something more that she's seeing, or is it just her imagination? She knows that Tony is an important part of her life now, but are they just friends? Were they meant to be more? She threw the thoughts out of her head to prevent herself from crying about leaving for college. She didn't exactly know how applying for SHIELD works, but she's going to get a degree in college for law or something like that so she'll have at least a little knowledge about what exactly it is that they do. She knew they had their own training base, where they recruit all their workers, so she figured she'd probably have to apply for something there. She worried that they would decline her because her excessive need to talk. She hoped not. She could be serious at work, like she gets when it's time to get down to business. Like sneaking through her dad's files, on his computer. She was always serious then. The bell rang, so Tony and Pepper got up and went to their next class.

A while later, it was almost time for the bell to signal the ending of the last period of the day, and the school year. Everyone was jumping in their seats, unable to contain themselves. Tony, however, was extremely nervous. He studied the clock, watched its every move. He watched the seconds tic by, the minutes, and then, heard the bell ring. Everyone around him jumped up immediately and darted out of the classroom. Tony took his time to get out of his seat and walk out.

"Mr. Stark, is there a problem?" The teacher asked, noticing his lack of excitement.

"Yeah, yeah. Just….nervous." Tony explained.

"Tony, I understand the situation you're in. You're 18, it's time to take control of your dad's company, and even if you saw this day coming, you sure weren't ready to take over a company at such an early age. Relax, take a deep breath, and be happy. School is over for good!" The teacher assured Tony. He nodded and took her advice. Walking out of the classroom, he caught up with Rhodey and Pepper.

"So, you ready to walk over now?" Rhodey asked. Tony took a deep breath.

"Yeah, yeah. All ready." Tony, Rhodey and Pepper walked out of the school building and started on their way to Stark International. Even though Tony knew it was a business meeting, he wasn't going to bother dressing for the occasion. He knew he should be as professional as possible, but he wasn't going to bother; besides, he had no time for it. A few minutes of walking later, the three stood at the entrance to Stark International. Tony took another deep breath.

"Ok, me and Pepper will be waiting for you at home as soon as you're done. Relax, man. It's going to be okay." Rhodey explained. Tony nodded and walked inside. As he passed all the employees on the first floor, he reminded himself about how he would be responsible for all these people soon. Very soon. He walked deeper into the lobby, the place he used to live in, and stopped walking. He looked around as if he had never been in such a place before. He sighed. Then someone in a crisp black suit approached Tony.

"Mr. Tony Stark?" The man asked. Tony nodded.

"Right this way." He explained to Tony, walking away. Tony followed the man into one of the third floor conference rooms. Inside the room were a dozen other men in a different variety of suits and ties, sitting around a conference table. The man escorting Tony sat at the head of the table, and directed Tony to sit at the other end. Tony did so and folded his hands on the table. Obadiah was sitting on the end on the left side of the table.

"So, Mr. Stark, we understand that a week ago was your eighteenth birthday, and you have successfully graduated high school." The man, whom escorted Tony, asked. Tony nodded.

"That's right." Tony said, quite calmly.

"Now that you're legally ready to step in, there are the legal matters to discuss, and papers to sign. By the end of this meeting, Mr. Stane will have signed over the company to you." The man explained. Tony nodded and leaned forward in his seat. They continued to discuss business for about another hour.

Back in Tony's room, Pepper and Rhodey were sitting around, waiting for Tony to come back in and explain what had happened. Pepper continued worrying about what was going to happen in the future.

"Do you think…that possibly, just maybe…..Tony will be too busy at work to keep in contact with us?" Pepper asked, breaking a silence between them.

"You wanna know what I think?" Rhodey asked. Pepper nodded.

"I think that Tony cares for you too much to let you slip through his fingers. Don't worry." Rhodey explained. Pepper smiled. Tony had once explained to her how important his friends were to him.

"Yeah, you're right. Thanks." She said, bringing her legs close to her body and wrapping her arms around them.

"Do you think that I…well…..like Tony?" She asked, very suddenly. Rhodey smiled.

"Honestly, I think you do love him." Rhodey answered.

"But, I only said LIKE." Pepper explained.

"I know." Smiled Rhodey. Pepper nodded.

As a packet about three pages long was shoved in front of Tony, he picked up the pen sitting next to him and began to fill it out. As he reached the end, there was a blank space for a signature. Both he and Obadiah had to sign it. Tony scribbled his name down and handed the papers over to Obadiah, smirking. Obadiah miserably plucked a pen out of his pocket and scribbled his name down below Tony's, certifying that he was giving permission to Tony to take over the company. Tony smiled. Over all, it wasn't half bad.

"Alright, Mr. Stane, you have the rest of the day to pack up your things and go to your new office on the tenth floor. Meeting dismissed." The man at the head of the table announced. Tony got up from his seat and started his walk home. As he passed the millions of employees, he waved and greeted them. They greeted him back, and suddenly, things were like the old days. Except one major difference….his dad wasn't here today to accompany Tony in his work. He sighed and continued his walk home.

Well, that was SUPPOSED to be a cute one-shot, but I guess it's gonna be longer now! Excellent. Review?