So this chapter is kind of the epilogue to the epilogue. I wanted to clear up any confusion about the did-they or didn't-they at the end of the last chapter, and give Tony a chance to improve his birthday gift-giving technique.

I really enjoy writing about Pepper and Tony and how much of their relationship isn't overt.

When Pepper and Tony finally arrived at the party, he had a hard time keeping his smug grin in check. She blushed a lot when they first walked in, but when he called her "Virginia Sexpot Potts," she snapped into her death glare mode. He laughed and behaved for the rest of the evening, whispering that she's "outrageously gorgeous" when she's mad.

To be honest, she realized that she and Tony had always stood close together whenever he had to show up at an event with her in tow as his assistant. Perhaps it was a subconscious thing on both their parts.

Now that they're unofficially official, Pepper knows that they don't have to be constantly touching to show their connection to each other. It was all in a glance, or his hand on her back, guiding her from group to group of partygoers. Tony finds small ways like these to show her he's thinking of her, and her heart does a flip when his hand settles at the small of her back, his thumb stroking her skin for a moment. It's funny how nobody notices any change, but all those years of always standing close to each other must've numbed others from seeing any difference.

They were supposed to head back to California in the morning, but Tony had other plans. It's times like these he's thankful for being filthy rich and still having Elon Musk's sub-orbital jet on loan.

"Why are we over the Atlantic Ocean, Tony?" Pepper asked after the Stark jet had reached cruising altitude. Their flight attendant came over to set their breakfast down on the small table between them.

"Omelettes!" Tony announced. "These look much better than the one I tried to make."

"Tony," she said, in that warning voice.

"Careful," he warned, in between bites of his omelette. "The last time you said my name like that, we wound up naked, and you want to keep us a secret." Pepper just looked at him. She loves him, but sometimes, she wants to smack the goatee off his face. "Fine, we're going to Venice for your birthday. Surprise?" He's not sure if this is backfiring yet.

"You remembered my birthday," she said.

"Funny, it's the same time every year," he said, tossing her words back to her. "And before you start going on about how you're CEO and have to show up, we're staying for just the weekend. I won't even take your Blackberry away from you."

So that's how Pepper Potts wound up at the Hotel Cipriani in Venice with Tony Stark, enjoying a glass of champagne on their suite's balcony.

"How do you like your present?" Tony asked, removing his cufflinks to push his sleeves up.

"It's wonderful," she said, leaning against him. "I'm happy to sacrifice a pair of shoes for this."

"This getaway isn't everything you're getting for your birthday," he said, running a hand over her hair. People had always thought he had a thing for blondes, but he's always had a thing for redheads... actually, just one redhead in particular.

"Tony, if you're going to say that I also get to have you in bed as a present..." she started. Pepper didn't get to finish her sentence because he'd taken a small box out of his pocket. It seemed like her heart was pounding in her ears. She surprised herself with the realization that she didn't want it to be an engagement ring. It's too soon, she thought. Everything was still new and she wasn't going to kid herself that they didn't have issues to work out.

"I'm hurt that you find me so self-serving, but yes, that is another part of your present," he began, opening the box to reveal a pair of diamond earrings, a large round solitaire in each plain platinum setting. "These were my mother's. She had them as long as I can remember; they were from my father. I want you to have them."

She touched them with the tip of a finger and bit back the polite response of Oh no, I couldn't, because she did want them. Tony could easily buy a woman any expensive bauble, but he chose to give her something that had meaning, with more value than could be printed on a price tag. "They're beautiful, thank you," she said. "Very tasteful."

"Yes, Dad did have good taste," Tony said, watching as Pepper took her earrings off to put the birthday ones on. They were classy, and they looked good on her. "You thought it was an engagement ring."

"For someone who's supposedly narcissistic, selfish, and self-serving, you're remarkably perceptive," Pepper said. "Yes, the thought did cross my mind that it could be an engagement ring."

"I did think about it," Tony said, "but I didn't want to rush. I know it seems like I do everything impulsively, and I don't want this to be one of those things. I think I am better with you, and I still have more to do to deserve you. You are the only one I want telling me that I should move stuff out of the way from a highly accelerated beam of light even though ends totally justified the means. I don't have anyone but you, and I don't want anyone but you."

"This is enough for now Tony," Pepper said, kissing him. "We'll get there someday soon, but let's just enjoy the moment. Best birthday gift ever."

That was officially the last chapter. Going to get started on another one, probably post-Avengers / pre-IM3. And a post IM3 after that.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and review my fic. I was really nervous about my first post and your encouragement really helped me along!

To those who are sad that I ended it, don't worry. Next one will pretty much continue their story. I just couldn't keep adding chapters and call this an IM2 epilogue.

5/12/13 - Updated to say I posted the sequel to this as "Prelude to Avengers." I want to continue their story, because there's a lot they haven't talked about, and I wanted to write something about the elevator full of sweaty workmen that Tony's so offended by in Avengers.