Chapter 1: Steve Rogers

Author's Note: Welcome back to another instalment of I have yet another idea to write whilst I still have my other stories up and not updated. I love Pepper Potts and I love Tony Stark so of course I hope that is obvious. Now enjoy. Warning not really Steve Rogers friendly but I felt that this chapter is important for Pepper to realise stuff about Steve Rogers and herself and Tony.

Compliant with Endgame so be warned.

Pepper Stark was sitting on the pier, looking out on to the water. It was a few hours after the funeral for her husband and she desperately needed time and space away from all of those who were in their home. She wanted to scream and cry but all she felt was numb pain inside. How could she possibly be okay when Tony was no longer there by her side? Almost every-day for the past twenty years had been ruled by her relationship with Tony Stark and now that relationship, that stable part of her life despite the chaos he gave to her life, was now gone and she felt empty inside. Yes, she had a daughter who was so alike to Tony it had made them both laugh at times, but no one could ever replace Tony Stark, her best friend, lover, husband and father to her daughter.

There would never be another Tony Stark and that made the tears fall for her. How could this world go without Tony? Tony, who had done so much for this world- for this universe- had saved them all so that his family no longer had to worry about the cosmic threat of Thanos and his army.

'Room for one more?' A voice asked. Pepper looked around warily and saw Steve Rogers standing at the end of the pier, looking over at her. She wasn't sure how she felt about the Captain and she hoped that he knew that.

'I don't want pity.' Pepper told him simply, looking back at the lake waters. She could still see the flowers floating on the water, with Tony's first arc reactor on top.

'I thought you could use a friend. I'm not sure how you held it together for so long.' Steve told her, now sitting next to her. She looked over at him again, noting that he looked tired and his eyes looked older than she had ever seen before. He truly looked his age in this moment.

'My daughter only has one parent left. Tony was so worried during my pregnancy that he would be an awful father to our child, but he took to parenting like a natural. Now I'm worried how I can live up to his parenting legacy. I don't know how I'm going to do it Steve.' Pepper admitted. She took a deep breath as she felt more tears in her eyes.

'Pepper, you won't ever be alone in raising Morgan. You have so many people willing to help you, to be there for you and your daughter.' Steve told her sincerely.

'But they aren't Tony. There will never be another Tony.' Pepper said softly. She thought he didn't hear her, but Steve placed a hand on her shoulder. She closed her eyes as she heard soft footsteps coming towards her.

'Mommy?' Morgan asked. Pepper squeezed her eyes for a moment and then stood up, spotting her daughter a couple of meters away from her. She was holding a stuff toy. Pepper instantly recognised it as the toy that Rhodey had given her for her first birthday- a stuffed platypus that her daughter loved so dearly.

'What's wrong sweetheart?' Pepper asked, kneeling down. Morgan slowly walked up to her.

'I missed you, mommy.' Morgan told her softly, wrapping her arms around her neck.

'I'm sorry sweetheart. I just needed some time for myself when daddy's friend came out to talk me for a moment. We can go back inside if you'd like.' Pepper offered. Morgan pulled away from Pepper for a second, eyeing Steve. It was the look Tony gave something when he was suspicious of it and Pepper felt her heart clench.

'Is that Captain Steve Rogers from daddy's stories?' Morgan asked Pepper, looking at her curiously. Pepper nodded and Morgan stared back at Steve who was now shifting under the gaze of Morgan Stark.

'Daddy said that you did some silly things, but he forgave you but never got the chance to tell you that. Did he tell you that?' Morgan asked curiously. Steve looked like he was about to break down crying when Pepper decided to lift Morgan up, placing her on her left side.

'How about we let Steve stay out here for a little longer and we can go back inside? I'm sure Happy will be back soon with some cheeseburgers.' Pepper told her daughter. Morgan nodded and Pepper walked towards the house when Steve called out to them.

'Yeah. We did talk, Morgan. Your dad was a great man. I know he was very proud of you as well. Told me about how you wanted to take a certain red, white and blue shield sledding.' Steve told them. Pepper couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. Her daughter was always fascinated by that damn shield whenever she went into the garage with her father.

'Aww is that why daddy took it?' Morgan asked disappointed. Steve chuckled and Pepper let out her first smile since Tony's death. It wasn't very big nor did it last very long, but it was still there.

'Sorry about that Morgan. I needed it for a little while, but if you'd like I can give you a hold of it when I see you next.' Steve told her.

'Really?' Morgan asked excitedly. Steve nodded with a smile.

'Did you see him?' Pepper asked him. She was sitting next to Steve Rogers outside of her home. Morgan was inside, playing with Peter Parker, Rhodey and Happy when Steve had come to see her.

'A couple of times. I didn't want to mess with the timelines too much.' Steve told her. She nodded and she closed her eyes.

'I did however speak to him once. I told him that he'd meet someone who was the best thing that ever happened to him and to never let her go.' Steve told her honestly. Pepper's eyes filled with tears and she wiped them away.

'I miss him. So much.' Pepper told him. Steve nodded.

'I wanted to save him for you Pepper. For you and Morgan. But I- he wouldn't be the same Tony.' Steve told her. It almost made Pepper angry that Steve got to live his life with Peggy. They got to have their children together, got married, lived a quiet life that Tony so desperately wanted for Pepper, Morgan and himself. All Tony had wanted was to grow old with Pepper and watch Morgan grow up.

Tony and Pepper would never get that chance together, but Steve did. She sighed heavily and looked over at him.

'I'm so sorry Pepper.' Steve told her quietly, taking her hand.

'It'll be okay, Steve. You deserved to have a happy life. You worked hard for it.' Pepper told him softly. She wanted to say more to Steve, but in that moment she couldn't. She was jealous that he got to live his life with Peggy, and she would never have that chance. She would have to raise Morgan by herself with only Tony's memories and what she believed he would want for Morgan.

There was so much to say to Steve and yet nothing to say. She wanted to tell him about all the pain he caused Tony, what he went through after the disbandment of the Avengers and the amount of time it took for Tony put himself back together. She wanted to tell Steve that whilst in the end he forgave Steve, Pepper could never truly forgive him. Steve caused her husband so much misery, pain and anger. She might get there, but she knew deep in her heart it probably would never be okay between Steve Rogers and Pepper Stark. Added in the fact that he got to live his life with Peggy, got to see Tony one last time, it made the pain in her heart boil even more.

But then again, Tony forgave Steve in the end and perhaps she should learn from Tony to forgive the captain. She just wasn't sure today was the day.

'I know Tony forgave you Steve, just like Morgan told you. I know the fact that he forgave you was a reason why you were able to stay with Peggy. He told me a couple of times that he regretted handling the accords like he did but he didn't regret the fact that the Avengers had to have accountability for their actions. You said to him once that you couldn't trust someone with secrets and yet you held onto the biggest one yet. He blamed his father for over twenty years about the night both Howard and Maria died. You could have saved him from some of that pain. This could have all be prevented.' Pepper told him darkly. Steve stood up and looked at Pepper. She stood up as well, folding her arms across her chest.

'We don't know that for sure.' Steve told her shakily. 'Thanos still would have come for the stones.'

'United we stand and divided we fall.' Pepper said, observing him.

'But this could have happened. This all could have happened.' Steve said warily.

'But you would have fallen together. Didn't you tell Tony that? That you would fall together?' Pepper questioned him. 'Steve, he forgave you because he was living with too much regret and pain, but I hope you know that I might never forgive and forget. You caused Tony so much pain, that not only I had to live through but Rhodey, Happy and even Peter.'

Steve was speechless after her spiel and she let a tear fall from her eye before she quickly wiped away. She knew that she was being harsh on him but for seven years she had wanted to say this to him. Usually, she was able to hold onto her words but today she couldn't.

'I'm sorry I caused you so much pain Pepper. I'm sorry that I caused your family pain and I'm sorry that Tony died but I can't change the past now. Tony is dead and I know I won't be around for much longer. The only thing I can do is try to make amends and help you in the only way I can.' Steve told her honestly.

Pepper looked out to the lake and she sighed, nodding.

'I know.' Pepper said simply. Steve put a hesitant hand on her shoulder and squeezed it. Pepper closed her eyes.

One day she might forgive Steve but for now she had too much pain to let go of it. What could she possibly do without it?

Author's Note: Pepper Potts bonds with Steve Rogers in the end? Kind of. I might do another chapter on her way to forgiving Steve but for now I'm happy with the way it ended. I feel like Civil War could have ended differently had Pepper been there to ground Tony and the team, just like I believe Age of Ultron could have been. Then again I love Pepper and I'm always biased when it comes to her character. Let me know how you like this chapter! Was I too harsh on Steve? Not harsh enough? I will do a Steve friendlier bonding with Pepper but that will be at a later date.