Tony looked at the tiny baby in his arms, then at the hospital bed next to him. Pepper was fast asleep, as she should've been. She needed to rest up to prepare for the many sleepless nights ahead. Tony smiled down at his new daughter. The little infant opened her big brown eyes and looked up at him. Tony saw so much of himself and Pepper in the little girl. She had his eyes and Pepper's nose and red hair. Everything about her was perfect, just like her mother. "Hi Scarlet," Tony cooed to his daughter. She made a few babbling sounds. Tony chuckled. He brushed a piece of wispy red hair from Scarlet's face and sighed. It seemed like just yesterday, he had been a genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist. Now he was a husband and a father.
Suddenly, Tony felt a small hand grab hold of his index finger. Scarlet held a tight grip on her father as she drifted back to sleep. Just as she fell asleep, Pepper was waking up.
"How's my baby girl?' she asked, groggily, flipping over to get a look at her daughter. Tony smiled at his wife.
"Good as ever," he said, looking down at Scarlet, then back to Pepper. "She's fast asleep." Pepper smiled, tiredly. "Go back to sleep sweetheart," Tony told her. "You need some rest, you really do. I promise I'll take good care of Scarlet."
"I know you will Tony," Pepper said. "Is it such a crime just to want to look at my newborn daughter?" she asked, raising her eyebrows. Tony sighed.
"Of course it's not," he said. "You can hold her if you really want." Pepper nodded. Tony carefully lifted Scarlet up and handed her to Pepper, careful not to wake her. He cringed when Scarlet made a few gurgling noises, but she managed to stay asleep. Pepper stared down at the beautiful baby girl, just as Tony had earlier.
"She's so perfect," she said. Tony smiled, nodding his head and leaning in to stare at his daughter some more.
"Just like her mother," he said, looking at Pepper. She turned her head to look at Tony and gave a half hearted smile. Pepper shook her head.
"It's all you," she said. "She has your beautiful big brown eyes."
"She has your beautiful red hair," said Tony, stroking Scarlet's hair once more.
"I can't win can I?" Pepper said. Tony shook his head and winked at her. "Come up here and lay down with me," Pepper said, gently patting the spot on the bed next to her. Tony stood up quietly from his chair. Pepper scooted over and he laid down on the hospital bed next to his wife and daughter. Pepper planted a soft kiss on Tony's forehead.
"I love you," she said. "And I love our daughter." Tony held Pepper close to him.
"I love you too. So much," he replied, gazing back at Scarlet, who was snoring softly. He had everything he needed, right there with him in that hospital bed. He would never need anything more than his beautiful wife and his little baby girl.
