Log: Tony & Pepper WHO: Tony & Pepper Stark WHERE: Their apartment WHEN: Tony’s arrival (pre Mayday’s disappearance) WHAT: Pepper finds a surprise when she gets home. RATING: PG STATUS: Completed via GDOC
Pepper was good at putting on a brave face for her girls and Peter, but, truthfully, her heart ached from missing Tony. She always knew they were on borrowed time and, considering what happened at home, she was grateful for the two extra years, but it still seemed so unfair. Tony was a good person, who their family needed. Why him? Why not someone who wanted to go home? Still, she couldn’t let her anger consume her. She had a company to run and a family to take care of.
It had been a long day at the office so May had Morgan and Mayday for dinner. Pepper was looking forward to getting home and taking a nice bubble bath before she had to be a mom again. She twisted the doorknob and entered her apartment. She gasped when she noticed a figure looming inside. However, it quickly dawned on her who was in her apartment. “Tony?”
Tony’s normal reaction would be to make a public post thanking whatever powers that be that he was in San Francisco. Seeing Pepper, all the that went out the window, and in 3 strides he was at her side, reaching for her, picking he up off the ground in a tight hug. He took a minute just to breathe in her scent.
“Fuck,” Tony breathed out. “I thought I wasn’t going to see you for a long time.”
He breathed for a minute his heart racing.
“How long have you been here, Pep?”
Pepper relaxed in his arms. No one made her feel as safe as Tony did. Tears sprung to her eyes. “Oh my God, Tony. Tony! I’ve been here two years! You were with me and then you weren’t and it has been awful without you. Our girls, Peter…we all missed you so much.” She leaned in to kiss him.
Tony was never one to say no to a kiss, especially from his gorgeous, goddess of a wife. He pulled her closer to him, and returned her kiss.
“I’m sorry, my love,” Tony whispered against her lips. “Wait, our girls? We have more than one?”
“We are Mayday Parker’s guardians. She is an alternate version of Peter’s daughter.” She laughed through her tears. “We’re a strange little family, but there is so much love. May and Bruce are married now, you know. And Bruce has a little girl here named Lyra.” She rested her cheek against his chest. Breathing his scent calmed her and told her he was real. How many times had she dreamed of this moment since he left? “They’ll be so excited to hear from you, Tony. I’d say don’t be overwhelmed, but that is probably impossible.” She then reached up to run her fingers through his hair. “My love, how are you? When are you from? Do you need anything? I can cook you something.”
Tony rested his cheek on the top of Pepper’s head as she talked, sinking into the sound of her voice. Her dulcet tones relaxing him completely. “I’ll check in, promise,” Tony kissed the top of her head. “I stole the stones from Thanos, and snapped,” He said quietly, looking sorry but not at the same time.
“You don’t have to cook. We can order something, or maybe just catch up. I don’t want to let go.”
Pepper grinned, more than happy to spend all the time in the world with her husband. “Then don’t let go,” she said. “Please. Never let go.” She could hardly breathe with how much emotion overwhelmed her. “Thanos.” Her face darkened as she thought of the titan. However, she softened as she stepped back a little to look Tony in the eyes. “I’m proud of you. I miss you like hell and so does Morgan, but you saved the world, Tony.” Tears formed in her eyes and slid down her cheeks. “I just wish we had more time together…” She wiped at her eyes. “But now we do. We have time here, darling.”
Tony smiled, ”I won’t. You have my word,” He leaned over and pressed a kiss to her lips. “We do and I for one, intend to make the most of it.”
Pepper nodded. She knew he couldn’t promise her he’d stay forever, but at least they had more time now. “Come on, let’s order pizza. Once we eat, I’ll be up for sharing you with the rest of the family.” She knew they’d be ecstatic to have Tony back.
“Sounds good. You were always the smartest out of the two of us.” Tony wrapped an arm around her waist and headed towards the phone.