Haha yes I did just post a story earlier but this one is going to be a short multi-chapter one. I hope you like it. :

Chapter 1: Seeing You In A New Light

"No, no, of course I'll be there. Mom, yes I'll have a plus one. Shawn? No, um he uh will be out of the country...on a uh business trip. Yeah business trip, last minute. Yeah. I'll see you tomorrow mom I just have to go do some last minute work things. Yeah, I love you too, tell everyone I said hello. Alright,buh bye. " Pepper took a shaky breath and hung up. As she drove to the mansion her mind reflected on the big fight her and Shawn had had the night before.

"No I can't do this anymore Ginny. You'll always put him above us."

"That's not fair Shawn, he's my boss, the CEO of a huge company-"

"Exactly, he's not your life but even after normal work hours are over you still go to him. I've tried to ignore it and justify it but I can't. He is work, not your personal life."

"He's my friend too Shawn! I can't just forget about him. He has saved my life and the least I can do is help repair him when he gets hurt. He has no one else. I'm all he has."

"And you're all I have but you're so committed to him I always take second place and I'm tired of it. I can't do this. I'm moving out."

"Shawn please don't do this." She said on the verge of tears.

"I'm sorry Ginny but...this is where we part ways." He said softly walking up to her with his bag in hand. He kissed her cheek and the tears fell. Her back remained turned as he walked out the door and shut it. As the door shut she began to cry and walked in to her room before she fell on her bed and cried herself to sleep until she got a phone call at two in the morning from Tony asking for her help to bandage him from a mission gone wrong.

Of course she said yes and quickly cleaned herself up and put on a front for Tony and managed to clean him from all the dried blood and cuts. She was too tired both physically and emotionally and wound up spilling everything to Tony who just held her and apologized. He rubbed her back in circles the same way his mom had once done for him. He felt conflicted as he held Pepper. Part of him was glad that Shawn was out of the picture and he would have another chance but another part of him was upset that he was ruining her chance to have a normal life outside of him. But then he reminded himself that he didn't want her to have anyone but him. He wanted her to like him the same way he liked her. He had tried once with the whole non traditional asking her to be his girlfriend before the press conference months ago but that had fallen through. He really wanted to be the one she always ran to; he wanted to be the center of her universe just like she was his.

When she arrived at the mansion her little flashback ended and she walked in ready to work hard for a few hours before leaving for Utah. She was going to take a road trip with Shawn but now she wasn't so sure she wanted to go through all that hassle alone. It wouldn't be fun going alone. And then of course she had told her mom she would have a plus one. How could she find a plus one in a matter of hours?

Tony walked in and started complaining about the lack of pop tarts and that's when Pepper got a crazy idea. She could have Tony come as her plus one and he could pretend to be her boyfriend. She would be able to tell everyone that Shawn and her had broken up a while ago but she was too afraid to tell them about Tony. A plan began to form in her head and she completely zoned out Tony as her crazy train left the station.

"Hello Earth to Pepper. Come in! Pepper!"

"Hm?" She asked snapped out of her trance.

"Where were you? You like completely tuned me out." Tony said with a smirk. "That's my job."

Pepper rolled her eyes too busy in thought to retort. "Tony, you remember how you owe me for oh a bunch of things and you said you'd pay me back? Well I'm collecting now. It's insane but I need your help."

"Okay." Tony said suspiciously raising an eye.

"I need you to pose as my boyfriend at my brother's wedding."

"I'm sorry it sounded like you just fake asked me out." Tony said with a laugh.

"Because I did. I don't want to be getting everyone's pity and I don't want to be set up so I need you to pose as my boyfriend. I was going to go with Shawn but uh, well. I still have a plus one and there's no one better I can think of to fake commitment." She said.

Tony thanked God that Pepper had suddenly gone crazy and immediately jumped at the opportunity to make his wish a reality. He could show Pepper how he felt without it being awkward because as his role of 'boyfriend' he was allowed to have displays of affection. He could finally get that kiss, hold her in his arms, tell her she was beautiful, brush her hair behind her ears.

"Ooh, a chance for me to work out my acting skills? Oh yeah, I'm up for the challenge. When do we leave?" He asked excitedly.

"In two hours." She said biting down in her lower lip.

"Wow. You're really pushing that time limit thing. So when's the flight?"

"That's the thing, we're not flying, we're driving." Pepper said biting her lip again.

"Come again?"

"I'm sorry to spring this on you but I had everything packed and set out yesterday morning."

Tony pinched the bridge of his nose and released a breath. "No no, it'll be fine as long as we take my car and that's my condition."

"Alright. Thank you again Tony, I'm sorry to ask this but I don't have anyone but you."

Tony smiled and replied,"You should probably help me pack. I take forever. Plus, you can tell me all the details and we can create a cover story. "

"Well..." Pepper began,"we'll get there late tonight, early morning and today is what,Monday? Yeah so the wedding is Thursday and we're there till late Friday morning. The rest of the time we'll be with family and unfortunately we have to share a room but it does have a comfortable bed and chair so we can figure something out. Now as for our cover, we've been dating for three months, Shawn and I broke up after a couple weeks, you were there for me and bam, we started dating. I lied because I was afraid of what they would think if they found out."

"That sounds plausible." Tony said as he grabbed some jeans.

"Yeah. I'm pretty good at all this last minute story stuff. I've improved since working for you for ten years and having to cover for you when you're...indisposed. "

Tony gave her a small smile and went back to grabbing clothes.

Two hours later they were on the road for the long trip to Salt Lake City, Utah. They had on the radio and the windows down as the wind blew through sweeping up Pepper's hair even though it was pulled back. They talked about her family and different things he would need to know. Pepper had to admit that so far driving with Tony hadn't been at all what she imagined. It was actually quite nice. They had casual conversation and playful banter and Tony actually said some sweet things. Despite her recent heartbreak she had to admit that driving with Tony, she was beginning to see him in a new light and she didn't mind at all.

So leave a girl a review maybe, please? Tell me what you think of it so far. Encouragement is encouraged :p