Tony recognized his father's voice, and turned around in shock to see his mother and father standing behind him, looking at him sympathetically.
He gasped as he laid eyes on them, his eyes searching them in disbelief. "Mom? Dad?" he whispered.
They both looked exactly the same as he remembered them. His mother's dark eyes, the same shape and color as his own, gazed back at him, the loving spark he instantly recalled from his childhood still present in them.
"Hello, tesoro!" Maria cooed, throwing her arms around her son's neck and pulling him close. Still in shock from seeing them suddenly standing in front of him, Tony slowly hugged his mother, and them melted into her embrace, the memory of it from his past overtaking him. He closed his eyes, and felt his father pat his back.
"Hi, ma," he whispered to her, smiling despite himself. Then he raised up an extended a hand to his father. Howard took it jovially, and pulled Tony in for a back slapping hug.
"It's good to see you, son," he said, smiling happily.
Tony looked at the both of them questioningly. "What are you guys doing here?" he asked them.
Maria smiled at her son, her eyes teary, but joyful. "We've come to guide you through," she explained. "To bring you back with us! Isn't it wonderful? We've waited so long!"
Howard and Maria both beamed at their son, but Tony frowned, glancing between them. Then turn to look at Pepper, who was in suspended motion, standing frozen, with her hand on the door knob, ready to exit, oblivious to what was happening around her.
Tony turned back to face them, his expression wracked with concern. He shook his head. "No. I can't go! Not yet! I...I can't just let her walk out of my life!" he argued, as he gestured to Pepper.
"What life, Tony?" Howard countered.
Tony just stared blankly at his father, unable to defend against his father's statement. "But...she's leaving, Pop," he murmured helplessly, his eyes worried. "For good!"
Howard just smiled sympathetically, and Maria put her hands on her son's upper arms, and looked at him intently. "You have to let her go, honey," Maria told her son. She patted his cheek lovingly, and he just studied his mother's eyes.
"But ma," he argued again, desperately. "I..." he said trailing off, looking back at Pepper over his shoulder. He couldn't take his eyes off of her, frantically trying to run them over her every detail just one more time before he lost the chance to. But the more he thought about it, deep down, he knew they were right. He had to let Pepper move on. As painful, and as sudden, as it felt at that moment, the time had come for them to part ways. And for him to cross over to wherever he was headed next. There was no denying it.
"It's what has to happen, pal," Howard said, clapping a hand on his son's shoulder. "But it's only goodbye for a while. Someday," he said, nodding encouragingly. "You'll see each other again."
"It is? I mean, we will?" Tony said weakly, still watching Pepper intently.
"Your father's right. You will, mio dolce. I promise," Maria assured him.
Tony turned his head back around slowly, and swallowed hard. He turned his gaze to his mother. "How do you know?" he murmured.
Maria chuckled softly. "Well, she won't live forever, sweetheart," she said, smiling at him wryly. "And when the day comes that it's her turn? You'll be right there, guiding her through, just like we're doing for you."
Tony frowned. "I have to wait that long?" he whispered hopelessly.
"It'll go by quicker than you think," Howard reasoned.
The thought of Pepper leading a long life, and growing old without him, made Tony's stomach tie into knots. Of course he wanted her to move on, and find happiness again. But it was just so hard to close the book on their life together, and do it so definitively. He closed his eyes, pursing his lips against the burn of tears. But what can I do? I can't keep her frozen here forever! he thought to himself.
"I just wish it didn't hurt so much, you know?" Tony whispered sadly opening his eyes again as his mother grasped his hand, squeezing it in loving support. He slowly turned back around to gaze at his wife. "She was the love of my life," he continued weakly. A tear escaped and ran down his cheek, but he didn't notice it. "No. Not was," he corrected. "Is. And always will be," he remarked proudly.
"And no one can ever take that away from you," Maria explained. "That's why you can let her go."
Tony listened to his mother's words, keeping his eyes trained on Pepper. And then he began to slowly nod. He set his jaw, and nodded more rapidly. "Okay, then," he muttered, swallowing hard. "I guess we're really doing this."
Howard and Maria smiled knowingly at each other. Howard patted his son on the back. "Good move, son. You'll see. Someday, you'll understand why this was better. For the both of you," he said.
Tony glanced back at his parents. They both nodded encouragingly at him. He slowly began to break away from them, taking a few steps toward Pepper, who was still grasping for the door knob, and in suspended motion, ready to walk out the door. He turned his head to the side. "Can...can we have a minute, guys?" he asked his parents softly. "Just so I can say goodbye?"
Howard nodded. "Take all the time you need. We'll just be waiting in the other room, whenever you're ready," he promised. He nodded for Maria to join him, and they left Tony in the foyer, walking into the living room.
Tony watched them disappear through the door way before turning back to Pepper. He took a long, slow, deep breath, and smiled weakly. "Hey, gorgeous," he began. "I...uh...I guess this is it for us, huh? I mean...for now, I'm told," he said, glancing back in the direction of his parents, and then bringing his gaze back to Pepper, rubbing his hands nervously together. He struggled to find the right words to say to her. Only the last words I'll be saying to her for God knows how long. No pressure, he thought. He took a deep breath, before he straightened up with new resolve, and looked her squarely in the eye.
"I love you, Virginia Marie," he said resolutely. "I know you know that. But I can't say it enough. I couldn't while I was alive, and..." he said, his voice wavering. He broke his gaze and shifted his eyes downward, long enough to regain his composure, and then back up again to look at her once more. "And I can't say it enough now," he said, his voice giving out again defiantly.
The corners of his mouth turned down as his chin began to quiver. "I wish you all the happiness...in the world, Pep," he slowly began again. "Whether that means you're here, or..." he paused to ease the stubborn lump in his throat. "Somewhere else," he finished.
He took another moment to collect his thoughts, and began again. "I know we had big plans, Pep. I know there was so much you wanted, we wanted, for our life together. And..." he trailed off. "You won't get any of that, now. Not with me, at least." He gazed at his wife for a moment wistfully, twisting his wedding ring on his finger in thought before continuing.
"But I want you to know, I'll understand if...I mean, I get it if you..." he said, the words he was about to say making his throat close up. He cleared it in defiance, and went on. "Find someone new," he stated. He nodded, working his jaw. "I won't blame you or be upset. I...I just want you to be happy, Pep. Wherever, or with whom ever, that might be."
He paused, feeling the familiar ache of their loss creep once again into his bones. "I know you wanted kids. I know you had plans for us to fill the house up," he said, smiling sadly. "I'm sorry I didn't have the chance to give that to you, baby," he said. "You would've been a great mom." He shrugged. "Who knows?" he asked, trying to put on a brave smile. "Maybe you'll get that chance, after all. Just...not with me," he reiterated, more to himself than to her that time. He frowned as his words steeped in his brain for a moment, letting his eyes drift down to the floor. Then, he lifted his gaze once more to look at her.
"Just...don't forget me, okay? In all of this, Pep. That's all I ask. Just...don't forget me," he said. He nodded and stepped away from her, backing up.
Just then, Howard and Maria reentered the foyer. "Ready?" Maria murmured to her son.
Tony smiled weakly, and glanced over his shoulder at her. He nodded. "Yeah,ma. I am," he murmured. He turned to face Pepper once more, and took another deep breath. "Goodbye, Pepper," he said. "I love you."
At that moment, Pepper reanimated, and for a brief moment, their eyes met. His eyes went wide as he searched her gaze, his brain fooling him momentarily into thinking she could see him again. But the moment quickly passed as Pepper's eyes continued to scan the room around her.
"Goodbye, Tony," she said sadly. "I love you. I won't forget you. I hope you know that," she murmured tearfully.
Tony gasped at her words, and smiled softly to himself at the confirmation of his only wish from her. He nodded in appreciation, as another unnoticed tear rolled down his cheek. "Thank you, baby," he murmured back. "You don't know what that means to me."
Pepper smiled forlornly, and then turned the doorknob, leaving Stark Mansion once and for all. And Tony, along with his mother and father, faded into the ether for eternity.
XxXxXxXxXx
Seasons passed. And time went on. Pepper eventually found a new life in a new city, along with a new job, and a new love. He was a successful business man, named Mark Bane, and the two had become inseparable. He was tall, with blond hair, and blue eyes, and had a heart of gold, working with children's charities to further medical research for incurable diseases, the fundraising functions she'd attended as his date many times. He was also a widower, losing his wife to terminal illness some years before. He and Pepper had met at a grief support group they'd both joined, and became fast friends. And then lovers. And, on this night, several months later, Pepper found herself at dinner with him. It was her birthday, and she had tried to put on a brave face throughout the day at work. And now tonight at dinner, she did the same, despite the constant reminder that her birthday wasn't just her birthday. It hadn't been since 2008. It was also the day Tony had been kidnapped in Afghanistan. And of course, that tied it forever to memories of him. As much as she wished it didn't.
She'd got lost in thought a few times during the evening, her mind running away with recollections of that day, and subsequent birthdays spent with Tony after. And Mark would gently bringing her back to the present, teasing her about being a space cadet needing to come back to earth each time. She'd just apologize and chuckle sheepishly, her cheeks reddening. And he'd smile kindly. But secretly he worried about what was occupying her mind so much. This wasn't her. She didn't operate distracted. He just wished she would tell him what was going on in that pretty head of hers.
Mark was commenting on how busy his day had been when he noticed, once again, that Pepper wasn't listening. "Honey?" he said, looking at her with concern.
Pepper blinked and smiled. "I'm sorry. Was I drifting again? I...uh, wh-what were you saying? The Myer's project, right? You were saying they were..." she stammered.
Mark sighed and smiled at her wryly. "Wow, I must be a boring date tonight," he joked. "That's like the third time I've had to bring you back from space." He shrugged. "Mind letting me in on the conundrum?"
Pepper smiled, and laid her hand over his. "It's nothing," she assured. "It's just...I'm not a fan of birthday's. I haven't been for quite a while, actually," she said regretfully.
"Well," Mark said with a mischievous smirk, straightening up in his seat, and reaching into his suit jacket breast pocket. "Maybe this will change your mind," he said, producing a square, black velvet box.
Pepper gasped, and flicked her eyes from the box to his eyes. "Oh my God!" she whispered, bringing a hand to her mouth.
Mark grinned knowingly, and got down on on knee in front of her. Other patrons at the restaurant around them whispered as they watched them. Pepper tried not to blush at the added attention, and focused on Mark's kind eyes staring at her intently instead.
"Virginia Marie Stark? Will you marry me?" he asked, popping open the box to reveal a large, princess cut diamond set in platinum.
Pepper blinked at the tears forming in her eyes, and chuckled as she grinned. "Yes!" she said breathlessly. "Yes! I will!"
The onlookers ooh'd and awed and a few of them clapped as she threw her arms around his neck, and they both cried happy tears.
XxXxXxXx
The rain was pouring, and when Pepper and Mark left the restaurant, he shielded her head with his rain coat as they got into his car once the valet had brought it curbside.
Once they pulled out into traffic, Pepper buckled up. Mark didn't, as was his habit, which drove her crazy. She was constantly needling him about it, but tonight she didn't. She just stared out the window, again in deep thought.
"I love the way that ring looks on you," Mark gushed, grasping her left hand and kissing the back of it, as he maneuvered through traffic, the tail lights of the cars in front of him runny and distorted in the heavy rain as the wipers worked furiously to clear the view.
Pepper turned her gaze to her fiance and smiled bashfully. "So do I," she said.
"Are you happy? I mean, happy I proposed on your birthday?" he asked hopefully.
Pepper chuckled and nodded. "Of course. It's a wonderful end to an otherwise dreary day. So thank you. It's perfect."
Mark pursed his lips in thought for a moment, unsure of his next question. "Do you...wanna talk about it?" he asked.
Pepper furrowed her brow. "Talk about what?" she asked.
Mark shrugged. "Why you hate birthdays so much?" he asked.
Pepper frowned and looked away. "Um...not really," she said softly. "Let's just say there have been some not so great ones in the past. And the memories of those just...won't go away."
"Ah," Mark said knowingly. "I think I can relate. I remember a few hospital room birthday candles blown out when Maggie was sick. Hard to celebrate when life doesn't cooperate, right?" he offered.
Pepper smiled softly and nodded. "Something like that, yeah," she agreed.
He patted her thigh lovingly. "Well, when you're ready to talk about it, you know where to find me," he joked.
Pepper chuckled, and looked at the ring on her left hand. "Especially now," she joked back.
They smiled at each other, and rode in silence for several more miles. Pepper eventually laid her seat back, and softly dozed off. The stress of the day was sinking into her muscles and she needed a quick cat nap before they arrived at Mark's house in the suburbs.
XxXxXxXxXx
The next thing Pepper was aware of was the sound of screeching tires, and crushing metal as Mark's car spun out of control and rolled end over end, landing finally on it's four tires, sloped downward in an embankment, with its roof crushed in, and him no wear to be found. Pepper tried to get her bearings on where they were, and what could have possibly have happened. Did we hit another car? Did he fall asleep at the wheel?, she wondered.
But her thoughts halted, as the pain began to seep into her body, making her ears ring and her vision go blurry. Her chest panted as she struggled to catch her breath, but found it more and more difficult with each passing second.
"Help!" she whispered desperately, tears leaking out from the corners of her eyes. "Help! I'm hurt!"
"Pepper?" she heard a familiar voice say. But it wasn't Mark, and he never called her Pepper anyway. That was a nickname she'd left behind in LA. With him, she went by Virginia or Ginny. So her addled mind couldn't understand who would be calling her Pepper.
"Oh God, baby! Okay, it'll be okay. I'm here now!" the voice said again. Pepper squeezed her eyes shut, and when she reopened them, Tony was lying beside her in the seat. He surveyed her battered body with wide eyes, and then shifted his gaze up to hers and cupped her cheek.
Pepper gulped. "T-Tony?" she asked. "How is it you're...why are you..." she stammered. She trembled from the cold rushing in through the blown out windshield, but also from the immense pain coursing through her at that moment.
But he shushed her, stroking her cheek. "Shhhh, honey. It'll be okay. Just rest, okay? It won't be long now," he assured her.
"Wh-what won't be?" she asked in a pained whisper. She struggled to take in enough air to form more words. "Am I...gonna..." she said.
"Pepper, listen to me, okay?" Tony begged. "I'm here to help you," he explained.
"H-help me?" she asked.
Tony nodded. "Yeah, baby, but I need you to be strong, okay? We'll get through this, I promise." He gave her a gentle smile, and brushed her bangs from her forehead. "My God, have I missed you," he murmured, lovingly. "Pop said it wouldn't seem like a long time before I got to see you again. But it was long enough, if you ask me."
Suddenly, Pepper's breath caught in her chest. Her eyes went wide with panic, as her vision began to narrow. "I...I think I'm...I'm..." she struggled to say. She swallowed hard again. "Tony? I'm scared...I'm..." she fought to say.
Tony nodded, with teary eyes. He furrowed his brow, but smiled at her. "I know, Pep. But don't be scared, okay? I'm here. Just keep looking at me, and it'll be okay, I promise," he urged.
Pepper did as instructed, and after a moment, she felt the pain dissipate, and a soothing,warming sensation rush over her body. "Tony?" she said cautiously.
"I'm right here, baby. Just let it happen. It'll all be over soon. And I promise, you won't hurt anymore, okay?" he told her.
Pepper nodded weakly and kept her eyes on Tony as he continued to try to soothe her. He gazed into her eyes, and whispered lovingly to her, easing her through her last breaths until suddenly, her breathing went quiet, and her struggle ceased, the only sound around them was the rain falling, and the distant sound of emergency sirens.