I really loved the movie Tony/Pepper, but I loved it for what it was: real, human affection, sexual tension and co-dependence. Maybe in the next movie they'll resolve the sexual tension, but it won't work out. It can't, because Pepper is not the right woman for Tony, and Tony is not the right man for Pepper. She's awesome, but it's a more human kind of awesome. She needs a guy who can express his love daily, in ordinary ways. Tony, on the other hand, is very much given to relationships on an epic scale. Everything has to be passion! romance! undying love! and then it turns to hatred! vengeance! and so forth. The only kind of 'normal' woman who worked with him was Bethany, because she was a typical adventure girl, but she could also just be with him. Solid relationship, really.

I also have a soft spot for Madame Masque and Rumiko. Not that those relationships went well, but honestly, he's got so many awesome old flames, besides Pepper. And Pepper totally deserves better. ;)