Tony Stark was a changed man. Not 100% changed, but still a changed man. Afghanistan had done a number on him. He had nightmares more often than not. Most nights were spent in the lab working on his armour rather than sleeping. The palladium poisoning didn't help matters much either. It was like life just wanted to do him in. As he had told Pepper, he shouldn't be alive. Since coming home from Afghanistan, Tony spent almost every night alone. With the few exceptions of when Pepper or Rhodey came to visit, Tony was alone, and when he was alone his mind tended to wonder. Tony hated when his mind did this, so he got drunk and tinkered on his new inventions for SI. This was not the life he wanted
One night, while it was storming, Tony was curled up on the couch in his lab. His tablet was perched on his lap while he perused some of the new science journals. The soft pitter-patter of rain against the glass was soothing as Tony opened up a page on biomechanics. Now he wasn't a biologist but that didn't mean that Tony didn't find it interesting. He was deeply engrossed in his reading when he saw a little article off to the side. It was about a group of scientists who had made an artificial womb to grow a premature lamb. Tony clicked on the article and began reading. From there the wheels in his head began turning. Tony kept looking at peer review article after peer review article. He thought, "What if I could do this with a human from the get-go?", "What if I could grow a baby without the need for a mother?". Schematics flew through his head at lightning speed as he though up different ways to improve upon the design. And then he stopped thinking.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" muttered Tony, his calloused hands running down his face. "What the actual hell is wrong with me? I can't raise a kid. I can't fucking do that. I'd turn out just like Howard. Fuck this!" And with that Tony tossed his tablet onto the couch and turned to walk up to his bedroom. Maybe this would be the night he actually got some sleep. He had been up for 36-hours straight and was in dire need of rest. The body could only subsist off of coffee and DUM-E's smoothies for so long. And he was right, the second his head hit the pillow he was out. That night Tony dreamed of a little boy with his hair and eyes.
Weeks passed and the idea of a child ad firmly planted itself into Tony's head. At first, it was just a little thought. Than it festered into this all-consuming thing. Now Tony was obsessed and doing more research on the matter and drawing up blueprints. He even missed board meeting which annoyed Pepper to no end. Tony and Pepper were still very good friends. Even though they had kissed on top of that roof, they had admitted to each other that maybe they were better off as friends than as lovers. Tony was hunched over his workbench surrounded by holograms that he had JARVIS project for him. And this was how Pepper found him when she walked into his lab. Tony had missed the last 3 board meetings and she was getting pissed.
"Just what do you think you're doing?" Tony jumped in his seat as he heard Pepper speak. He looked at her before lowering his gaze back to his work.
"Stuff." He muttered, not paying much attention to the new arrival in his workshop.
"Tony, you've missed the last 3 board meetings. I know you don't like them but still, this is a new low even for you. What could you be working on that could possibly be more important than meetings?" She looked like she was about to murder Tony. Tony averted his eyes and continued to manipulate the holograms in front of him.
"It's a uh… personal project."
"A personal project?"
Tony didn't answer. He just kept working. Pepper walked closer so that she could get a look at what Tony was working on. It looked like Greek to her as she inspected the holograms in front of Tony. Pepper was smart but none of what Tony was currently working on looked familiar to her.
"Tony, what is all this. It looks like nothing I've ever seen?"
"It's just stuff. Nothing concerning."
"If it's some fancy new thing for your suits that could end up getting you killed so help me God…"
"No no no, it's nothing like that."
"Than what is it?" Pepper's looked like she could set him aflame just by looking at him.
"It's a… um... a…" Tony was lost for words. How exactly do you explain to your friend that you're creating a device to have a child without using another humans' uterus? Pepper continued her death stare. It took a lot to break a Stark, but Pepper's stare was one of the few things that could.
"Fine." Tony's head hit the table he was working at. "Pepper… I want a kid."
"Excuse me?" Pepper looked like she had been slapped in the face. Had she heard that right?
"Tony, have you even thought this through? What's gotten into you?"
Tony just kept his head down. "JARVIS pull up the file." A rather long word document was pulled on the monitor in front of Pepper. Two very large, bold heading could be read on the page. Reasons I should have a kid and Reasons I should DEFINITELY NOT have a kid. Under each heading was a rather long list. Pepper took a look at the side listing the cons.
I could turn out to be like Howard
I have alcohol dependency issues
My mental health is shit
My job isn't the most stable
I'm now apparently a superhero
The lab isn't the safest place for a baby
I could turn out like Howard
Pepper looked at the paper. Was this really the truth. Did Tony really want a kid to the point where he took the time to make lists of pros and cons? Pepper eyes the man, his head still on the desk, before looking at the other side of the sheet. Why should Tony Stark become a parent?
I could teach them things
Someone to love me unconditionally
Someone to love unconditionally
Reason to stop drinking
I could become better than Howard
Attending school events could be fun
I will be able to protect them as Iron Man
Imparting my wonderful taste in music would be a wonderful journey
Reason to rest more
Reason to work less and spend more time doing the things I love
The list went on with the pros side longer than the cons. Pepper looked at Tony and put her hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her with his doe eyes.
"You're really serious, aren't you?"
"When am I not?" He looked Pepper dead in the eyes and began explaining what was going on. Everything from when he first read the article to his recurring dreams about being a dad. Pepper just nodded and looked at her friend. Tony Stark really did have a heart. Once Tiny was done explaining Pepper gave him a hug and then gave him the biggest surprise he had ever seen.
"Tony, it takes two to tango. When you're ready and you need the female gametes, just call me."
"Are you serious?" Tony looked on incredulously. Pepper just smiled and gave him a hug. Now Tony wasn't one to cry. He was a Stark and Starks are made of iron, but in this moment, he was pretty sure he shed a single tear of joy.
Weeks passed and the construction of Stark Tower had moved along nicely. Just off of his new personal floor, Tony had contrasted what he now was calling the Womb Room. Pepper was not pleased with the name at all. Tony just brushed her off. It was a black, soundproof, reinforced steel-lined room where his little baby would begin to grow. Everything was set and ready and a week later Tony was able to put his new little growing embryo onto his invention. That was when it really set in. He was going to be a dad. Tony sat down on the floor outside where his new lab was going to be and just stared at the wall. This trend continued for a while, Until the nesting set in. Rhodey walked in on one of his rare times off to find Tony babyproofing the shit out of his personal floor. Luckily for Tony, Rhodey was supportive and more than excited to meet his little niece or nephew.
It was now around the 5th month of gestation and everything was going smoothly. His invention was working wonders. At least one a day Tony could be found in the Womb Room talking to the baby. He had recently found out that he was having a son. That's when it really set in. This was his son! Tony's son. Next thing he knew he was buying baby clothes and toys. He had started painting his son's room. It was a soft red with yellow trim. Perfect for his little Iron Baby.
Time passed and Tony got more excited and worried about when his baby would be born. It was now a little over 7 months along and everything was going just as planned until it wasn't.
Hey readers; I hope you've enjoyed the first chapter. I know that it's a bit strange but it's more to get the plot rolling than anything. I would love to hear your thoughts on it. Chapter 2 is where things get interesting and the wonderful prospect of STONY is introduced. Until next time -Shadows