Pepper's car pulled up at Stark's home about half an hour after she'd received the summons that she was wanted - and quickly. Her eyes showed signs of a restless night, puffiness creating subtle bags that she'd fought to cover over with make-up and the whites of her eyes had a tint of red still to them. Her hair was pulled back into a loosely coiled bun and the outfit she wore was a practical pair of black slacks with a white satin blouse.
As she stepped out of the car, she hesitated for one moment as she simply stared up at the house in front of her. Could she really do this? After last night, could she really do this to herself? She sighed and lowered her head...clearly she was a glutton for punishment. She hadn't been lying to Tony when she'd told him that she needed him. She couldn't let what took place last night pull her from him. In fact, it had been brcause she didn't want to be kept from him that what happened last night took place. Pepper sighed miserably, rubbing her temples that were aching with a rather unfortunate hangover state as she closed her car door and began her brave walk up to the house, her simple heels crunching through the gravel.
"Good morning, Miss Potts."
Pepper threw her purse carelessly on the table near the front door where she often kept it and turned her eyes upward to the A.I.s voice.
"Good morning, Jarvis."
Well, at least he was talking to her. She'd almost been afraid she had hurt his feelings when she snapped at him so abruptly the other night, demanding he unlock the door when he tried to hold her back after having seen the video.
...hurt his feelings, Pepper? Hurt the A.I.'s feelings? She rolled her eyes at herself. Well, yes! She was somehow certain that Jarvis actually maintained some level of human feelings to go along with his strong, human personality.
"I have made sure that the coffee pot was kept warm for you."
Pepper blinked...and then gave a little smile. Clearly it was Jarvis' own way of assuring her that all was well between them-
"Thank you, Jarvis."
She made her way quickly back towards the kitchen and there found a fresh pot of coffee awaiting her which she greedily took from, leaving it perfectly black as she liked it.
"Alright, Jarvis - where is Tony at? Down in the workshop?"
"Actually, Miss Potts, he is upstairs in bed."
Pepper blinked. Why on earth would he be upstairs in bed...if he'd just had Jarvis give her a call over at her own home?
"Is he alright?" She couldn't hide the note of concern in her voice as she set her coffee cup back down again on the counter.
"I do believe he said something about feeling on the verge of death itself," the A.I. returned droly, but Pepper had already taken off and was quickly climbing up the stairs in the direction that led to Tony's bedroom, worry beginning to knot itself at the pit of her stomach.