That had always been one of Tony's shortcomings. Discussing his feelings was never his strong suit, and he mostly avoided situations like this. But Pepper did and always would matter to him, even her approval. He felt light he was being abandoned by her.
"I..." Then he looked down at Sophie, and sadly, he could imagine the girl with strawberry blonde hair like Pepper's. She could have just as easily been theirs as she was his and Remy's. And he didn't know if Pepper's presence is what triggered that thought or what she'd said. He felt like he'd wasted a lot of time in his own world with someone who loved him just as unconditionally as Remy. This place loved reminding him of past regrets.
He extracted himself from Sophie and tucked her in completely, giving her a kiss on a cheek and whispering goodnight in her ear. "If it's what you want then..." he said to her finally, crossing his arms over his chest in a protective manner.