Pepper Potts didn't consider herself a very emotional person. She prided herself on keeping her cool, especially since she had to deal with Tony Stark and all that entailed. Which was usually a lot of stress, sometimes heartbreak, fearing for her life, and a LOT of annoyance.

But she wasn't CEO of Stark Industries because of her emotional control. She was smart-not nearly as intelligent as said Tony-but she could hold her own, and because of her long standing relationship with Tony, he had entrusted his company to her.

She was honored.

And then the aliens invaded, and her nicely organized, professional world, came crashing down around her ears. It got worse when Tony started having the nightmares.

It was after one particularly stressful night with Tony tossing and turning, that Pepper gave in, and finally left the bedroom. She wasn't in the mood to deal with any of this shit tonight.

It was, she thought afterward, probably best that she was the one to find the owl. She wasn't sure how it had gotten past Jarvis's security measures, but was glad that Tony wasn't there to try and figure out how the animal had ended up in Malibu.

It was with shaking fingers that she took the proffered letter from the owl, and broke open the seal that showed that it wasn't from MACUSA, the United States Wizarding government, but from the Ministry of Magic, the British Wizarding government. That right there was enough to have her sinking to the floor, unable to hold herself up any longer on unsteady legs.

Dead Miss Pepper Potts,

It is with our deepest condolences that we inform you that your son, George Fabian Weasley, has fallen in the line of duty during a battle which took place on the grounds of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. This was a final confrontation with the former Dark Lord, He Who Must Not Be Named. This Dark Lord was defeated, but not at great personal cost for the side fighting for the light.

Mr. Weasley will have a funeral held for him on Hogwarts grounds in a week's time. Please respond to this owl, as he will relay your message to the American Wizarding Government and send it to us in quick succession. If you would like to attend your son's funeral, Mr. Arthur Weasley has asked for you specifically.

You do have one surviving son, Fredrick Gideon Weasley, and it has been requested that you meet him.

We understand if you would rather not have anything to do with the proceedings.

Sincerely,

Kingsley Shacklebolt

Nominee for Minister of Magic

The tears were now flowing freely, and all Pepper could do, was curl up into a ball up against the couch, clutching the letter to her chest, sobbing for a child she had never known.

Pepper was slowly walking down the hallway, supported by her cousin, neither of them speaking about the issue that was quite the elephant in the room. Pepper was numb at the moment, and didn't WANT to think about the decision she had to make.

How was a sixteen year old girl supposed to decided something like this?

I was then that she spotted the couple at the end of the hall. Both of them, surprisingly, had red hair to rival her own. But that wasn't what caught her attention. The woman was sobbing hysterically into her husbands shoulder, and the husband didn't have a dry face either.

Looking through the window into the nursery, Pepper spotted the nurses slowly pulling a blanket up over a still body. Her breath hitched. Looking at the baby, she was very aware of the way it was too underdeveloped. Premature.

Like her little boys.

Grabbing her cousin's arm, Pepper halted. "Sarah," she hissed.

Sarah stared at her, surprised at Pepper's sudden speech.

"I want to talk to them."

Pepper nodded at the mourning couple. Sarah turned wide eyes to her cousin. "You're not thinking what I think you are, are you?"

Pepper smiled grimly at the sound of her cousin's cockney accent.

Truly, this decision wasn't one she thought any sixteen year old should have to make. But she knew it had to be done. Given that she didn't have a magical bone in her body, unlike her cousin's family, and the father of her children, (she quickly pushed thoughts of him away) and her children had already exhibited signs of magic though the two boys were yet only half a day old, she wasn't the best person to raise them. Especially with the way her parents would react if they had any inclination towards what had transpired lately.

"Yes, Sarah," Pepper stated. "Yes I am."

Author's Note

I feel like this is a little unrefined, but I wanted to get the intro down and see what folks thought about the idea. I will probably go back through and edit and maybe add a few things later. But literally half an hour ago, this thought popped into my head. I just finished a "Tony is really Harry's father" story, and after looking at a few pictures of the twins, I had a "what if" idea. Also, I kinda like Fred better, and I think he's a much more angsty character than George, so this was my reason for the death switch. Among other things.

I have to head to work, but please leave a review and let me know what you think! I already have most of the next chapter written out in my head, and reviews with ideas would be appreciated. ^_^