Tony quickly made flight stabilizers the next day that went on his arms. He had those on along with the leg flight repulsors as he attempted another test run. She watched him as he stood in the middle of the workshop.

"All right, nice and easy. Seriously, just gonna start off with 1% thrust capacity. And three, two, one..."

Tony started to lift off the ground and he hovered for a bit before he landed back down a little off balance. She smiled in awe, "Tony, you were flying!"

"Not yet, angel," Tony said before commanding Jarvis. "And again, let's bring it up to 2.5. Three, two, one...."

Tony hovered even higher off the ground before he flew around the workshop slowly. He didn't like when he went over his expensive cars.

But then he landed back in the center again as he said proudly, "Yeah, I can fly."

She giggled before he decided to gear up in the complete suit. She gave him a worried look, "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Of course it is."

"Actually, sir, there are still terabytes of calculations needed before an actual flight is..." Jarvis gave his input.

"Jarvis," Tony interrupted. "Sometimes you got to run before you can walk."

"That doesn't make any sense," Snow furrowed her eyebrows.

He turned his head to her and she just knew he was smirking inside the suit, "You want to fly with me, Snowflake?"

"You dropped me last time," she made a point.

"But I'm not going to drop you this time," Tony argued. "Come on, it'll be fun."

She shook her head and took a step back, "Until you go on at least five test flights, I'm not going."

"That is the smart idea, Miss Snow," Jarvis said.

"Hey!" Tony said offendedly that his AI was backing her up. "Just fire up the suit. Three, two, one..."

The repulsors fired out and Tony flew out of the building so quickly. He was gone in an instant and she shook her head.

"Is he always so reckless?"she asked Jarvis.

"Always, Miss Snow."

She sighed.

           _____

            Later that day while Tony was still out flying around, Pepper came by. She was dressed in a very, pretty blue dress.

              "A party?" Snow asked.

             "Yes," Pepper said as she offered kindly. "I figured you could get of the house for a bit...if you wanted to."

           Snow was silent for a moment before she looked at Pepper, "Will I look as pretty as you?"

             Pepper chuckled before she smiled, "I'm sure you'll look even prettier because you are nothing if not absolutely beautiful, Snow."

              Snow smiled, "Thanks, Pepper."

              She considered it for a moment. She did want to try to be around people again, in a crowd, "I...I think I'd like to go."

             "Alright then," Pepper smiled kindly. "Let's go find you something to wear...."

              ____

                When they were all ready to go, Happy was waiting and holding the car door open for them. Before she got in, she hugged him, "Thanks for being invincible."

               Happy was surprised and he swallowed as he patted her back, "Just doing my job, ma'am."

               Happy was a bit touched that she thought of him so and he mouthed to Pepper, I love her. It caused Pepper to chuckle quietly before Snow let go of him and they got in the limo.

              _____

           They arrived at the party and Happy helped them out of the car with their dresses by holding out his arm. As soon as she stepped out, she was aware of cameras flashing but so far no one ran up to her.

              She and Pepper walked arm in arm up the red carpet to enter the party. There were some reporters that recognized her and shouted questions from the sides but otherwise there were no hands reaching out. She was safe.

                She felt that way even more when they entered the party and it was more of a small, low-key party. She marveled at the lights on ceiling as she stayed glued to Pepper but eventually she felt safe enough to wander around. She even started talking to people.

                 After awhile, she was at the refreshment table before she heard a voice from behind her, "So you're the girl that escaped with Tony, uh?"

               She turned to find Obadiah Stane next to her and she bumped into the table as she stepped back. She breathed heavily but she put on a small smile, "Uh, yes."

               He smiled at her but it made her feel like she was being cornered as he grabbed two champagne glasses from the table and handed her one, "Champagne?"

               She shook her head and he put hers back down before he took a sip of his, "You know, Tony, he doesn't usually keep girls around; a little tip before he grows bored."

               "Don't talk about Tony," she said fiercely.

              "Easy, now," he reached out and put his hand on her shoulder. "I just wouldn't want a sweet girl like you to be heartbroken over a man that, frankly, isn't worth it."

                  His hand felt heavy on her shoulder and her breaths were uneven. His words felt threatening or like there was a hidden meaning.

               Then he leaned closer to her as he whispered, "I'm just looking out for the flower girl."

              Her eyes widened but he stared at the flower she placed in her hair. But she knew that wasn't why he called her that.

               Then he just smiled, "You have a good night."

                 He left her there. Her mind was replaying the meeting over again. She questioned if she was reading too much into it or if he was just being nice. She felt like there was something she should be remembering that was banging at the walls of her mind. It was right there...but it still just out of reach.

            _____

          Tony had arrived back home from his flight. There were already news reports of an iron man flying around Malibu as he had the TV on. The news was talking about his third annual benefit for firefighters that he had no invitation for.

           Tony started to notice that there was something missing from his workshop, "Jarvis, where is Snow?"

        "Miss Potts took her to the very benefit they're talking about, sir."

"And they didn't invite me..."

He had Jarvis start up an automated assembly and have the suit painted red with gold before he started for the stairs, "Don't wait up for me, honey."

_____

When Tony arrived at the benefit, he spotted Pepper first and immediately confronted her as he complained childishly, "You stole my Snowflake."

Pepper stared at him in surprise for a moment before she shook her head, "I did not steal her. I invited her to come."

"But I need to know where she is, Pepper, at..." he started to chastise before the words died in his throat as he spotted Snow.

She was wearing a floor-length white sequin dress that she pulled off marvelously. It had a cowl neck and an open back. She even had white flowers decorated in her hair. He felt like he stepped into a dream.

Pepper smiled triumphantly, "You were saying?"

"I'm gonna go...over there," he said slowly as he started to walk off like a victim hearing a siren song.

Snow was dancing with someone. One of the men in the room had asked her and she didn't have the heart to say no even though her mind was elsewhere. She didn't even know how to dance and she kept stepping on his feet which caused her to apologize every five seconds. Suddenly, someone was in the way of their dancing path that they bumped into.

"Tony!" she smiled; suddenly, everything was better.

He had a hard glare on his face, though, as he stared at her dance partner and the man replied, "Is there a problem?"

"Well, there is since you're dancing with my date," Tony challenged with his hands tucked behind his back.

"Mr. Stark..." he seemed to realize who he was talking to and he stepped back from her. "I'm terribly sorry. It won't happen again."

The man scurried off and Tony took his place as her dance partner. He placed his hands on her waist as she looped her arms around his neck. She immediately stepped on his foot and apologized before she smiled up at him, "You're here. Isn't my dress pretty? It sparkles, Tony."

"Well, you certainly look stunning in it," Tony stated as his eyes raked over.

She blushed at his gaze before she stepped on his foot again and she smiled sheepishly, "Sorry."

"You are a terrible dancer," Tony commented.

"I can't help it," she pouted. "I've never done it before."

He chuckled before he pulled her close. His breath fanned out across her neck and she was acutely aware of his hands that had moved to her back; his touch made goosebumps form. "Well, you can step on my feet all night, angel."

She'd never known goosebumps to be a good thing; she always had a sinking feeling accompanying them. But with Tony, it was like every nerve and cell where he touched her was set on fire.

But not a fire that would burn or hurt; the kind of fire that'd keep one so warm that they could never freeze or know any bitterness that life had to give. A fire one could spend a whole lifetime in front of knowing it'd never go out.

"Tony," she said quietly as she moved her head to look him in the eyes. "You're my angel, too, you know."

"I know, Snowflake," he smiled as he leaned his forehead against hers. "I know."

____

She had decided later that his hands had gotten too comfortable and his face far too close than she was ready for. She stopped dancing with him and created some space; she asked him to get her a drink.

Although, after waiting awhile, he did not come back with a drink. Instead, he grabbed her hand with an upset look and told her they had to leave. She didn't argue.

AN: I know Tony leaves pepper at the party in the movie but he isn't leaving his snowflake.

By the way, we just have two more chapters and then we're done with the first movie and first part of this book; I'll be finishing that today