Absolutely not.

 Pepper always did the opposite of Tony. The act of celebrating Christmas was no exception. He hadn't so much as looked at a Christmas tree since the death of his father, and he was adamant on remaining that way. Pepper, she loved the tinsel and bobbles and mistletoe. She adored the festive spirit, the lights and the general happiness of all man kind. It was, by far, her favourite of holidays.

The argument began on December 3^rd. It was their first Christmas as husband and wife and, in Pepper's opinion, should be spent in the traditional manor; gifts, family meals and cuddles by the fireside. Tony was not pleased.

However, he allowed the odd bit of mistletoe, to be kissed under, the tinsel, to make her smile, and the bobbles, to check his reflection in; but he refused, absolutely not, the tree,

The tree was the line.

"We need a tree." Pepper whined. 

"No we don't. It'll - pine everywhere."

"Pine everywhere? Where are you from? The 30's? No one uses real trees any more, we can get a fake one and keep it for next year." 


"Pepper," he took her by the shoulders, "No tree. Do I need to spell this out in big letters? Because I will." 


She pouted.


"Fine. Go back to your little garage -"


"I prefer the term 'Genius room'"


"-and play with your toys." 


Once she had turned her back to continue her tinsel rampage of the Malibu mansion, Tony made a series of delightful mocking faces.  After a few seconds, cool as ever, he pranced back to his workstation. 


**


Like any good woman or wife, Pepper did exactly the opposite.  Disobeying his rules was something Tony should be used to by now, Pepper was ruthless as a secretary, and she would be ruthless as a wife. 


While Tony worked away at his machines, Pepper took a trip into city and returned with a rather big, but fake, Christmas tree. She lit the fire in the living room, poured herself a glass of expensive red wine and got to work on decorating. The lights were classy (white and gold with slight hits of silver) and she hung some of her mother's and grandmother's bobbles along the branches. 


When the decoration was complete, Pepper laid back along the couch, glass of wine in hand, and basked in her creation. It wasn't a real tree, but it sure as hell did the job. 




"Pepper!" 


Tony stood with his hands on his hips, oil soaked into his skin and tank top and the expression of utmost  disappointment on his face. Pepper smiled at him.


"Beautiful isn't it?" She waved her glass of wine at him in some sort of comforting gesture. 


"What did I say about no tree?" 


"You didn't spell it out, honey."


Tony sighed. He lifted his shirt up over his head, to avoid oil stains on the couch, and sat at his wives side. He rested his chin in the palm of his hand. 


"It's pretty, isn't it?" Pepper, now having set her drink down, wrapped her arms around him, "It's so beautiful."


"Hmmm." 


"Tony - "


"It's sparkly.Ours was never sparkly. Why is it all glitter and shit?"


"It's the bobbles. They are all white glitter for a snow effect. And the sparkly-ness is the lights, Tony." 


Tony snorted, "Still is horrible." 


"You're just saying that." She kissed him on the cheek. 


Tony directed his eyes to the presents beneath the branches. He raised an eyebrow. 


"Is there -"


"One for you? Yes."


"Hey! Some of them are from me to you! You were in my genius room!" 


"Oh please, I bought them and asked you to wrap them up! Don't lie!" 


He shut his mouth. Pepper kissed him gently and cuddled against him. 


"You didn't get them all." Tony whispered kissing her strawberry hair, "There's still one." 


"If it's another car, I'll kill you." 


"I still hate the tree."


"Take it down then." 


Tony hesitated.


"Well - its up now. Lets just leave it."


"That's what I thought."