[Ironman - Pepperony] Prompt - I'm Ready As Long As I'm With You
Fandom: Iron Man
Pairing: Tony Stark / Pepper Potts
"Pepper's pregnant and is scared of telling Tony. Meanwhile Steve finds out and he's trying to be a friend for Pepper, and Tony takes it the wrong way."
Tony Stark didn’t share. He just didn’t. So why Steve Rogers think that he could run around, touching and being so close, to his Pepper? Yes, because Pepper was Tony’s. His world, his life, his love, his everything! Rogers should go back to the Ice Age, and marry a penguin! Pepper was off-limits.
The billionaire’s eyes turned into slits when he saw the Frostbite Captain placed one of his large hands on top of one of Pepper’s petite ones. Tony had had enough!
*
Moments Before!
Pepper wanted - needed - some air. Yes! Air was nice. It helped clear her head.
Running away from the bathroom - from the six positive pregnancy tests - she collided with none other than Steve Rogers, who held her in place before she coul fall back. “Whoa, Mrs. Stark, do you feel alright?” He asked concerned.
The redhead nodded, but pale and a bit lost. “Yes, Steve, thank you. Please, how many times have I told you to call me Pepper? I just need some air, I’ll be fine,” she told him, with a bad poker face, before leaving him standing on the middle of the hallway.
Steve frowned. He might only know Pepper for a year now, but he could see that she was upset about something. He never saw her so lost and confused. He was 99,99% it was Tony’s fault.
Before going after her, make sure she was really ok, Steve stopped by the kitchen to retrieve a glass of water. Pepper looked like she was in great need of one.
Pepper was sitting in one of the lounge chairs, when Steve showed up. She was startled but gladly accepted the glass of water. “Thank you, Steve,” she smiled.
“You’re welcome. You didn’t seem like you were totally ok back then,” Steve observed.
“It’s just not one of my best days,” Pepper confessed.
“Did you and Tony had a fight?”
“What? No, no, we didn’t!” Pepper shook her head, but quickly, tears welled up in her eyes.
Steve paled. Was she going to cry? She was crying!
“He’s - sob - going to - sob - hate me!”
“Tony?” Pepper nodded. “That’s impossible. Tony loves you. More than anyone would think he’s capable of.”
“But - sob - when he finds out - sob - he will not - sob - think the same!”
“Finds out about what, Pepper?” Steve asked gently.
“That I’m pregnant,” Pepper blurted out.
“That’s amazing, Pepper, congratulations,” Steve grinned but the redhead just sobbed harder. The Captain grimaced. “What’s wrong? Are you worried that Tony will be mad?” Pepper nodded. “Why?”
“Tony doesn’t do parenting,” Pepper explained. “He says that since I’ve met him.”
“He doesn’t like kids?” Steve frowned.
“Oh, he does, as long as he doesn’t have to take care or raise one,” Pepper snorted.
Steve shook his head and placed a hand over one of Pepper’s. “This is his kid. He’ll love him or her just as much as he loves you, Pepper. Sure, he may not seem like he’s the parent material, but really, no one is until it’s faced with this reality. Everything will work out fine, and Tony will love this news.”
“I want to believe that, I really do. It’s just so hard to, because I’ve known Tony for almost fifteen years and…” Pepper sighed. “I know he changed. I just don’t know how much in this field.”
Steve stood quietly next to her. He couldn’t reply, he didn’t have the knowledge of Tony Stark’s life like Pepper.
Suddenly, a voice startled them both. “Hey, Frostbite, let’s go!”
They turned. It was Tony. He didn’t seem happy.
“Go where?” Steve asked getting up and crossing his arms over his chest.
“Candy shopping,” Tony replied mimicking him. “It’s Halloween, there are kids all around the street waiting for candy and Romanoff forgot the lollipops!”
“Well, we can’t have that, can we?” Steve replied sarcastically.
“Move your ice butt, c’mon,” Tony grumbled. He turned to Pepper with a softer expression. “We’ll be back shortly, Pep, ok?”
“Ok,” she replied with a forced smile. “Be safe.”
Tony hesitated, but nodded and walked away with Steve. Pepper was acting strange, but he didn’t want to pressure her. He probably did something wrong and it was better to let her clear her head before firing a thousand questions at her.
*
They’ve been walking for the past fifteen minutes, in silence, and they passed 3 candy stores. “Ok, I bite, we’re not out of the Tower for candy, are we?”
Tony snorted. “ ‘Cause I love supermarkets! No, Ice Brain, we’re out of the Tower so we can have a chat!”
“Why couldn’t we talk back at the Tower?”
“Because I don’t want to upset Pepper,” Tony shrugged. “And going straight to the point, I don’t like how friendly you two are!”
“Seriously?” Steve choke on his laughter. “You’re jealous because I was talking to Pepper?”
Tony rolled his eyes and said nothing.
“You’re overreacting, Tony, you really are. I was just being a friend for Pepper, that’s all,” Steve shook his head smiling.
“Being a friend? Why? Why does she need a friend like you? She has me!”
“Because she needed to talk!”
“She can talk with me,” Tony insisted.
“Tony, maybe you should talk to her, ok? It’s really none of my business!”
“Is something wrong with her?” Tony asked softly.
“No, nothing wrong, but you should talk to her, ok? This is between you and her. I just happened to be there today, that’s all!”
Tony sighed but nodded. He would never admit out loud, but Steve was a good friend. Looking around - he’s been walking without realizing where - he spotted something rather interesting. “Well, what do we have here?”
Steve looked at the same direction. “They’re like an army of mini Avengers! Their Director said they would be having an Avengers theme going on in the Halloween,” Steve explained.
“You know this place?” Tony frowned.
“I volunteer here, it makes the kids happy,” Steve shrugged with a small smile.
“It’s an orphanage?”
“Yes!”
“You are too fucking perfect,” Tony grunted and Steve chuckled. “But hey, I can be perfect too,” and he started walking.
“Wait! Where are you going?”
“To give those kids their best Halloween yet!”
*
Pepper was lying down on the bed, trying not to throw up again. She felt sick and her nerves didn’t help. A knock on the door, made her sit up and ran a hand through her hair. “Yes?”
It was Maria. The agent walked in the bedroom with a smile. “You should come downstairs!”
“Why?”
“For once, your husband didn’t had a bad idea,” Maria replied.
That sparked Pepper’s interested.
*
On the floor where the Avengers uniforms were - Iron Man suits, the Captain suit, Natasha and Clint’s uniform - Pepper couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Children! Children everywhere, dressed as the Avengers. There was several little Iron Men running around, Captain America miniatures, little Thor people, and there was even some children that were all green. Around them, were the Avengers, each one with their fan clubs! Pepper laughed.
“Tony saw the kids dressed up in the orphanage and he offered them a tour to the Tower,” Maria explained. “To be with the real Avengers and watch the real stuff. Let’s just say that Christmas came early to them!”
Pepper shook her head with a huge grin, finding her husband, in the middle of several kids dressed up as Iron Man, and he was holding a little girl - two years top - dressed as an Ironette! Pepper wanted to cry. He was being so sweet, joking with all the kids and being so attentive to the girl clinging to his shirt.
There were squeals and laughter everywhere. “Does Fury knows about this?” Pepper asked.
“I don’t think so,” Maria laughed. “Tony said that the Tower was his and he could bring him whoever he wanted. Fury can’t fight him in that and none of the Avengers minded.”
“Excuse me,” Pepper muttered and approached the Iron Man side.
“How do you feel when you fly?” A little boy asked.
“Free, really free,” Tony replied.
“Is the suit heavy?” Another one asked.
“The suit was built so I could use it without too much effort, so it’s not really heavy and not really light. It was adapted to me,” he explained and Pepper could see how much he was holding back because little kids didn’t understand big words.
“How do you take it off?”
“My robots help me,” Tony grinned.
The kids squealed and laughed.
“Hey Pep,” Tony said watching his wife appreciate the scene in front of her. “Kids, say hi to Mrs. Stark!”
A chorus of “Hi, Mrs. Stark” made Pepper laugh.
“Well, hello kids, are you having fun?” she asked.
They all replied with an excited ‘yes’.
“Good,” she replied.
“Oh, look, Happy has candies, go get them,” Tony said pointing at his driver that just arrived.
Every kid seemed to notice Happy who paled when every little person started to make a run for him. Maria burst of laughing but eventually went to help him.
“Hi cutie,” Pepper greeted the little girl on her husband arms. “What’s your name?”
“Annie,” she replied shyly.
“Hi, Annie, are you enjoying yourself?”
Annie nodded, her blonde curls bouncing up and down. “Do you want candy?” Pepper asked and she nodded more excited.
“I’ll take her,” Natasha said and gently took the little girl from Tony. “C’mon, let’s get some candy before the boys eat it all up!”
Alone, the couple exchanged a glance. Pepper chuckled and embraced him. “When I thought I couldn’t love you more!”
“I’m extraordinary, I know,” Tony said hugging his wife. “You ok? You seemed upset earlier,” he frowned.
Pepper pulled back and looked at her husband and then kissed him. “I’m fine, I’m better, really, I am!”
“Good, if you say so,” Tony nodded and his gaze went back to the crowd of kids. “I want one!” he suddenly said.
Pepper smiled. “Adopt one?”
Tony shrugged. “I want one that is a little part of you and me, but if you rather adopt then…”
Pepper silenced him with a kiss. “You don’t have to ask much longer, Tony!” she whispered.
“Really it was that easy to convince you?”
Shaking her head, she grabbed his hand and placed it at her stomach. “It’s pretty much a done deal,” she whispered, waiting for his reaction.
“Oh my God, really?”
“Really. Ready to be a father, Mr. Stark?”
“With you as the Mother? Absolutely Mrs. Stark!”
Pairing: Tony Stark / Pepper Potts
"Pepper's pregnant and is scared of telling Tony. Meanwhile Steve finds out and he's trying to be a friend for Pepper, and Tony takes it the wrong way."
Tony Stark didn’t share. He just didn’t. So why Steve Rogers think that he could run around, touching and being so close, to his Pepper? Yes, because Pepper was Tony’s. His world, his life, his love, his everything! Rogers should go back to the Ice Age, and marry a penguin! Pepper was off-limits.
The billionaire’s eyes turned into slits when he saw the Frostbite Captain placed one of his large hands on top of one of Pepper’s petite ones. Tony had had enough!
*
Moments Before!
Pepper wanted - needed - some air. Yes! Air was nice. It helped clear her head.
Running away from the bathroom - from the six positive pregnancy tests - she collided with none other than Steve Rogers, who held her in place before she coul fall back. “Whoa, Mrs. Stark, do you feel alright?” He asked concerned.
The redhead nodded, but pale and a bit lost. “Yes, Steve, thank you. Please, how many times have I told you to call me Pepper? I just need some air, I’ll be fine,” she told him, with a bad poker face, before leaving him standing on the middle of the hallway.
Steve frowned. He might only know Pepper for a year now, but he could see that she was upset about something. He never saw her so lost and confused. He was 99,99% it was Tony’s fault.
Before going after her, make sure she was really ok, Steve stopped by the kitchen to retrieve a glass of water. Pepper looked like she was in great need of one.
Pepper was sitting in one of the lounge chairs, when Steve showed up. She was startled but gladly accepted the glass of water. “Thank you, Steve,” she smiled.
“You’re welcome. You didn’t seem like you were totally ok back then,” Steve observed.
“It’s just not one of my best days,” Pepper confessed.
“Did you and Tony had a fight?”
“What? No, no, we didn’t!” Pepper shook her head, but quickly, tears welled up in her eyes.
Steve paled. Was she going to cry? She was crying!
“He’s - sob - going to - sob - hate me!”
“Tony?” Pepper nodded. “That’s impossible. Tony loves you. More than anyone would think he’s capable of.”
“But - sob - when he finds out - sob - he will not - sob - think the same!”
“Finds out about what, Pepper?” Steve asked gently.
“That I’m pregnant,” Pepper blurted out.
“That’s amazing, Pepper, congratulations,” Steve grinned but the redhead just sobbed harder. The Captain grimaced. “What’s wrong? Are you worried that Tony will be mad?” Pepper nodded. “Why?”
“Tony doesn’t do parenting,” Pepper explained. “He says that since I’ve met him.”
“He doesn’t like kids?” Steve frowned.
“Oh, he does, as long as he doesn’t have to take care or raise one,” Pepper snorted.
Steve shook his head and placed a hand over one of Pepper’s. “This is his kid. He’ll love him or her just as much as he loves you, Pepper. Sure, he may not seem like he’s the parent material, but really, no one is until it’s faced with this reality. Everything will work out fine, and Tony will love this news.”
“I want to believe that, I really do. It’s just so hard to, because I’ve known Tony for almost fifteen years and…” Pepper sighed. “I know he changed. I just don’t know how much in this field.”
Steve stood quietly next to her. He couldn’t reply, he didn’t have the knowledge of Tony Stark’s life like Pepper.
Suddenly, a voice startled them both. “Hey, Frostbite, let’s go!”
They turned. It was Tony. He didn’t seem happy.
“Go where?” Steve asked getting up and crossing his arms over his chest.
“Candy shopping,” Tony replied mimicking him. “It’s Halloween, there are kids all around the street waiting for candy and Romanoff forgot the lollipops!”
“Well, we can’t have that, can we?” Steve replied sarcastically.
“Move your ice butt, c’mon,” Tony grumbled. He turned to Pepper with a softer expression. “We’ll be back shortly, Pep, ok?”
“Ok,” she replied with a forced smile. “Be safe.”
Tony hesitated, but nodded and walked away with Steve. Pepper was acting strange, but he didn’t want to pressure her. He probably did something wrong and it was better to let her clear her head before firing a thousand questions at her.
*
They’ve been walking for the past fifteen minutes, in silence, and they passed 3 candy stores. “Ok, I bite, we’re not out of the Tower for candy, are we?”
Tony snorted. “ ‘Cause I love supermarkets! No, Ice Brain, we’re out of the Tower so we can have a chat!”
“Why couldn’t we talk back at the Tower?”
“Because I don’t want to upset Pepper,” Tony shrugged. “And going straight to the point, I don’t like how friendly you two are!”
“Seriously?” Steve choke on his laughter. “You’re jealous because I was talking to Pepper?”
Tony rolled his eyes and said nothing.
“You’re overreacting, Tony, you really are. I was just being a friend for Pepper, that’s all,” Steve shook his head smiling.
“Being a friend? Why? Why does she need a friend like you? She has me!”
“Because she needed to talk!”
“She can talk with me,” Tony insisted.
“Tony, maybe you should talk to her, ok? It’s really none of my business!”
“Is something wrong with her?” Tony asked softly.
“No, nothing wrong, but you should talk to her, ok? This is between you and her. I just happened to be there today, that’s all!”
Tony sighed but nodded. He would never admit out loud, but Steve was a good friend. Looking around - he’s been walking without realizing where - he spotted something rather interesting. “Well, what do we have here?”
Steve looked at the same direction. “They’re like an army of mini Avengers! Their Director said they would be having an Avengers theme going on in the Halloween,” Steve explained.
“You know this place?” Tony frowned.
“I volunteer here, it makes the kids happy,” Steve shrugged with a small smile.
“It’s an orphanage?”
“Yes!”
“You are too fucking perfect,” Tony grunted and Steve chuckled. “But hey, I can be perfect too,” and he started walking.
“Wait! Where are you going?”
“To give those kids their best Halloween yet!”
*
Pepper was lying down on the bed, trying not to throw up again. She felt sick and her nerves didn’t help. A knock on the door, made her sit up and ran a hand through her hair. “Yes?”
It was Maria. The agent walked in the bedroom with a smile. “You should come downstairs!”
“Why?”
“For once, your husband didn’t had a bad idea,” Maria replied.
That sparked Pepper’s interested.
*
On the floor where the Avengers uniforms were - Iron Man suits, the Captain suit, Natasha and Clint’s uniform - Pepper couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Children! Children everywhere, dressed as the Avengers. There was several little Iron Men running around, Captain America miniatures, little Thor people, and there was even some children that were all green. Around them, were the Avengers, each one with their fan clubs! Pepper laughed.
“Tony saw the kids dressed up in the orphanage and he offered them a tour to the Tower,” Maria explained. “To be with the real Avengers and watch the real stuff. Let’s just say that Christmas came early to them!”
Pepper shook her head with a huge grin, finding her husband, in the middle of several kids dressed up as Iron Man, and he was holding a little girl - two years top - dressed as an Ironette! Pepper wanted to cry. He was being so sweet, joking with all the kids and being so attentive to the girl clinging to his shirt.
There were squeals and laughter everywhere. “Does Fury knows about this?” Pepper asked.
“I don’t think so,” Maria laughed. “Tony said that the Tower was his and he could bring him whoever he wanted. Fury can’t fight him in that and none of the Avengers minded.”
“Excuse me,” Pepper muttered and approached the Iron Man side.
“How do you feel when you fly?” A little boy asked.
“Free, really free,” Tony replied.
“Is the suit heavy?” Another one asked.
“The suit was built so I could use it without too much effort, so it’s not really heavy and not really light. It was adapted to me,” he explained and Pepper could see how much he was holding back because little kids didn’t understand big words.
“How do you take it off?”
“My robots help me,” Tony grinned.
The kids squealed and laughed.
“Hey Pep,” Tony said watching his wife appreciate the scene in front of her. “Kids, say hi to Mrs. Stark!”
A chorus of “Hi, Mrs. Stark” made Pepper laugh.
“Well, hello kids, are you having fun?” she asked.
They all replied with an excited ‘yes’.
“Good,” she replied.
“Oh, look, Happy has candies, go get them,” Tony said pointing at his driver that just arrived.
Every kid seemed to notice Happy who paled when every little person started to make a run for him. Maria burst of laughing but eventually went to help him.
“Hi cutie,” Pepper greeted the little girl on her husband arms. “What’s your name?”
“Annie,” she replied shyly.
“Hi, Annie, are you enjoying yourself?”
Annie nodded, her blonde curls bouncing up and down. “Do you want candy?” Pepper asked and she nodded more excited.
“I’ll take her,” Natasha said and gently took the little girl from Tony. “C’mon, let’s get some candy before the boys eat it all up!”
Alone, the couple exchanged a glance. Pepper chuckled and embraced him. “When I thought I couldn’t love you more!”
“I’m extraordinary, I know,” Tony said hugging his wife. “You ok? You seemed upset earlier,” he frowned.
Pepper pulled back and looked at her husband and then kissed him. “I’m fine, I’m better, really, I am!”
“Good, if you say so,” Tony nodded and his gaze went back to the crowd of kids. “I want one!” he suddenly said.
Pepper smiled. “Adopt one?”
Tony shrugged. “I want one that is a little part of you and me, but if you rather adopt then…”
Pepper silenced him with a kiss. “You don’t have to ask much longer, Tony!” she whispered.
“Really it was that easy to convince you?”
Shaking her head, she grabbed his hand and placed it at her stomach. “It’s pretty much a done deal,” she whispered, waiting for his reaction.
“Oh my God, really?”
“Really. Ready to be a father, Mr. Stark?”
“With you as the Mother? Absolutely Mrs. Stark!”