Hey, guys! This is my first story, so all reviews and criticism are very appreciated!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Avengers, no matter how much I want to. Review and get a digital cookie! (I don't have digital cookies. Sorry!)

PS. I'm from Canada, eh! (So I'm sorry for the way I spell, if it is different.)

ENJOY!

In the beginning, the world considered Tony Stark impossible. Overconfident and an ego the size of the United States, genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, #1 Most Eligible Bachelor in America, yadda, yadda, yadda.

But times had changed. After his not-so-enjoyable, ahem- incident in Afghanistan, the Arc Reactor, Iron Man, Obadiah, almost dying of poisoning, Vanko, and the Avengers, Tony Stark had come a long way. There were points in his life, finally, where he was happy.

But happy didn't even compare to the joy of holding this small bundle in his arms. After depending on Pepper for the past nine months, this baby-no, his baby. His and Pepper's baby, yes, he liked the sound of that-would always depend on him. He was a father now, and, as such, had decided to help Pepper pick out the colors for the nursery.

"Oh, Tony!" Pepper shouted," Come and look at this, it's the perfect colour!"

Blue. Bright blue. The exact same color of the glow from the center of his chest.

"Uh, Pep?" He started, scratching his head. "Did you really need to pick the-"

Shit. Shitshitshit. He should not have brought that up. He knew, of course, that a pregnant woman should never, ever, get pissed.

But regular mad wasn't like Pepper's mad. She could shut even Fury up with a couple of well chosen words, heck- she could shut him up, even when she was his PA. Her glares? Don't even go there.

"Um..." He started. " Never mind. I.. actually just saw this really nice shade of pink, right over there-" He made a move to get away, but Pepper saw this and blocked him.

"Seriously, Tony, after almost four years, you're still trying to run away from me?"

The intimidating glare she was giving him was burning into his soul.

Pepper, of course, had always decided on the baby being a perfect mini-Tony. She imagined a little boy with bright chocolate eyes, sparkling when in the lab with his father. Brown hair, impossible to tame, would stand in all directions. A little boy she could hold and comfort, a carbon copy of Tony.

Tony, however, was bent on the exact opposite- a little girl. He thought she might have Pepper's hair, a beautiful strawberry blond, hanging down in straight lines down her back, with gorgeous light blue eyes. He imagined a little girl he could tell stories to, bandage scraped knees, tuck in at night and love.

Hence the never-ending argument.

No color was right. Tony wanted a gender-neutral color, because no matter how hard he tried to budge Pepper, she wouldn't move from her let-it-be-a-surprise idea.

Eventually, they decided on a blue-purple, and Pepper-when was she an artist?- painted little clouds at the top of the wall, with a forest scene in the middle.

It looked like it belonged in an art gallery. Eagles and peacocks, lions, bears, and leopards, an animal of almost every kind was there, and it extended to cover the entire room. Leaves caressed the walls, with butterflies and birds pausing in mid-flight, every feather and spot painted in vivid detail. Prides of lions and tigers, resting in fields, with sunlight shining on them. Cubs were frozen in mid-tumble, obviously a play-fight. Mothers were watching over their cubs closely, while the males were standing and looking in the distance, perhaps for enemies.

All in all, it was amazing. They had picked out a red cherry wood for the furniture, with a lavender mattress and blankets, along with an assortment of stuffed toys. A lavender rug was in the middle of the room, with a dresser in the far left corner with a Noah's arc themed lamp. A toy box, filled to the brim with all the toys a boy or girl could imagine. JARVIS was set up in the room, with 24 hour surveillance and a baby care program added.

It was finally ready.

Just then, the doctor came in, and told them,

"Congratulations! Mr. Stark, you and your wife have a very healthy..."

Just letting you all know, I just joined this site like, 2 hours ago, so I appreciate ALL reviews and criticism. See that little button below? Please review! What gender should the Pepperony baby be? Comment! Thanks!

-DauntlessGirl1701