Later that night.
Tony turned and reached to the space in the bed next to him to find it empty. He opened one eye to see that Mack wasn’t next to him.

“JARVIS, where is Mackenzie?” He groaned half asleep, hope that the AI unit would not tell him she had to leave for the hospital. If it was so, he would not be sleeping until she returned.

“Dr. Piers is in the dining room. Sir”

Tony crawled out of bed, threw on a pair of pajama bottoms and walked to the dining room to find Mack working intensely at her computer.

He leaned against the wall and stood there and watched as she would work. Biting her bottom lip when she became flustered. It was one of the many things that he loved. In the short time they knew each other Tony had fallen in love with Mack.

“This isn’t right.” He heard her say to herself.

“What’s not right?” He said breaking the silence in the room. Mack jumped when she heard his voice. She had been concentrating so hard that she did not even notice him in the doorway. He chuckled.

“Oh... You’re up. I hope I did not wake you.” She said grabbed her chest..

“You did, you weren’t there.” He smiled, walked to her and kissed her. Then moved behind her and looked at the computer screen. “What’s not right?”

I’ve been looking at the specs that Pepper emailed me on the new artificial heart. But they not right. This test is finding them inconclusive. I think that it might be a design flaw.” She said.

“Well you happen to be luck. Rumor has it your boyfriend just happens to be an engineer and I heard he’s a genius too.” He stated smirking. “Let me take a look.”

Tony placed his chin on the top of Mack head and his hand on her shoulders as he looked at the screen, placing Mack immobile.

“Tony?” She asked.

“Hm?” He replied

“You’re hurting me.” She said flatly.

“Oh, sorry.” He said.

Mack felt the pressure move off her head and shoulders. “Why don’t you sit and I’ll make us some tea.” She said as she was getting up from the table. She turned to face Tony.

Tony took Mack’s glasses off her face. “You better make it coffee and I need these.” He then gave her a quick peck on the lips and sat down and Mack headed into the kitchen.

A few minutes later Mack returned to the dining room with two cups of coffee in hand. As she sat a cup near Tony, she watched him flip thru the papers, making notes as he went. He then went to the computer and started to type in his findings. Mack saw something on his face that she had never seen before- contentment.

“I’m sending these new specs to Pepper.” He said as he typed a few more keys on the computer. Then closed it shut. “That’s enough for now. Are you ready for the masquerade ball tomorrow?” He finally asked her.

“I am, the dress arrived this morning from Paris but…” She said.

“You’re not sure are you?” He asked.

“This will be the first time we will be out in the public eye as a couple. I just like being here with you alone, no distractions. I guess I’m just a little nervous.” She said.

He smiled, rose from the chair, walked to her and cupped her chin with his hand. She placed her hand on his chest. “We don’t have to stay long. Make an appearance, say some hellos, do some mingling then we can leave.” He said, his voice soft and reassuring. With his eyes full of want, his lips found hers.

Notes