Pepper Potts woke to sunlight coming in through the window, as she tried to remember why she wasn't at her apartment. The events of the night before returned to her, which explained why she was at Tony's mansion. He had done something particularly stupid at the last social event they had been to, and Pepper who had the misfortune of being his PA, had to fix it. It was a PR nightmare, and many had used Tony's actions as "proof" that they were romantically involved.

" — It is 10:14 AM in Malibu — " JARVIS was saying.

At this Pepper's eyes snapped wide open. "10:14?!"

"That is correct, Ms Potts," the AI replied. "Sir said to turn off your alarm."

More than just slightly confused, Pepper got dressed in some of the clothes she had in the guest room she saw as 'hers' for all the other times she had to stay overnight, and made her way downstairs.

She stopped short as she was assaulted by the smell of pancakes from the kitchen. Cautiously approaching the aforementioned room, she was met by the sight of Tony making pancakes with Dum-E, though the poor bot was being scolded constantly, looking sad in a way only Dum-E can.

"You know, if you keep yelling at him, poor Dum-E might actually cry."

Tony's head snapped up to look at her standing in the doorway.

"I can see that. Would you like to tell me why you told JARVIS to turn off my alarm?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I would rather not, actually," Tony replied, fixing a stack of pancakes on a plate. Seeing the look on Pepper's face though, he quickly amended,"Because you need a break. You work way too hard."

"Tony, I can't take a break. I have to clean up the mess you made when you punched that reporter."

"He deserves it! He was insulting you!"

"I can handle it."

"But I can't!" Tony said, his voice rising a bit. "You didn't deserve it!"

They were quiet for a bit, both avoiding the other's gaze. Pepper distracted herself by eating the pancakes that Dum-E had given her, who made a happy beeping sound when Pepper thanked him.

"I'm sorry."

Pepper looked up in surprise as Tony broke the silence with his apology.

"I'm not sorry that I punched the reporter — he deserved that — but I'm sorry that you have to work more because of it," he said quietly, barely over a whisper.

Pepper could hear the sincerity in Tony's words. "You're forgiven, I guess. And thank you."

"For what?" Tony asked, confused.

"For defending me. Just please try not to punch anyone next time. It just causes more problems than it solves."

Smiling slightly, Tony asked playfully, "Would that be all Ms Potts?"

"That would be all, Mr Stark," Pepper replied, clearly amused.

Having sorted that out, before she could enjoy her pancakes, she had to know one thing. "How long will this break be exactly? Because your definition of a break and mine are very different."

"A week. No business-related calls or emails, or I'll have to take away your phone," Tony replied smirking.

Opening her mouth to argue, she decided there was no point, so instead she said, "Would that be all, Mr Stark?"

"That would be all, Ms Potts."

Smiling, they held a light conversation as they finished their — ridiculously good — breakfast, (Pepper would ask why Tony didn't make breakfast more often, but she already knew the answer to that.) all thoughts of Tony punching that asshole of a reporter forgotten.

(It was probably the pancakes. Those were good pancakes.)