A/N. Hi guys :) Here's the Pepperony one. Naturally it's longer because Tony's in it xP That's apparently normal for me... he keeps popping up everywhere! Anyway, here's their POV on children. Enjoy! :D

Disclaimer - I don't own the Avengers. I own any and all OCs you may or may not see.

Promise – Pepper X Tony

"But Pepper…!" Tony whined, following her out of the elevator and into the lobby. His girlfriend was dressed in a burgundy business suit with a blue tooth in her ear and a thick manila folder in hand. Her heels clacked against the tile floor of the Tower as she marched just ahead of him, shoulders back, chin up, and gaze straight.

"Mr. Stark, I've told you a thousand times that I am just too busy. If you want one, go ahead, but I can't take part in caring for it."

"Aw, come on, Pep. They're adorable!"

She wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Not even. They drool everywhere, they make weird noises at the oddest times, and there's just… I don't know Tony."

"Aw… please What if I told you I would do all the work?"

Pepper paused, one step away from the front door that sensed her presence and opened anyway. She turned towards the billionaire. "I told you, go ahead. But I don't have time!"

"Then make time. Heck, I'll make your time."

"That doesn't even make sense!

"Whatever!"

"For the last time, we are not getting a dog!" She turned and walked out the door, only to ram into someone and drop all of her papers. Tony ran out to help her as she and the boy (no older than twelve or thirteen) bent down to pick up the very large contract for SI.

"Sorry," he mumbled, shuffling papers together. He handed them back to Pepper and they all stood up.

The tween had wild, sandy, blonde hair that covered his eyes and freckles dusting his cheeks. He had chapped lips and shockingly vibrant green eyes. He wore wrinkled clothes that looked like they hadn't been washed in a while and was a little bit shorter then Tony. He hid behind his bangs and stared at his feet.

Noticing this, Tony realized that the kid probably didn't even know who he was talking to. "Hey kid," he called. The boy looked up and gasped.

"You're… you're…" he seemed at a loss for words as he stood before the "invincible" Iron Man and his wife.

Tony smirked and stuffed one hand in his jeans pocket. "I am Iron Man," he stated in his imitation of his confession to the press all those years ago.

The boy squeaked. Pepper smiled warmly at him. "I'm sorry, that was completely my fault. I wasn't looking where I was going," she apologized. She observed him with curious eyes and tilted her head the side slightly. "Aren't you supposed to be in school?"

He blushed and hid behind his hair again, shuffling his feet awkwardly. "Uh… it's free period." It was obvious that he was lying; from the way he twiddled his thumbs to his shifty eyes.

Pepper and Tony each raised an eyebrow in that way that they do. The philanthropist was the one who spoke next. "Lies!" He pointed at this child's chest. "You can't lie to me, kid. Why aren't you in school? We won't bust you for ditching if that's what you're afraid of."

The pre-adolescent opened his mouth to respond when a harsh shout cut him off. "WHERE ARE YOU, YOU LITTLE SHIT?!" The boy's eyes widened to the size of saucers and he dove between the couple, hiding behind them just as a tall, clean-shaven, angry-looking business man stopped in front of them, panting from what was obviously a chase. He glared at the kid hiding behind the two CEOs. "You get out of there right now or… I'll…" he slowly looked up to see two very famous and rather upset faces staring at him. "… er, ground you," he finished lamely. Pepper narrowed her eyes as the man hastened to make himself seem like a better person and stood up straight, raking a hand through his gelled hair. "Mr. and Mrs. Stark," he didn't get any farther than that before Tony exploded.

"What the hell do you think you're going? You've scared this kid to death so much that he's skipping school just to avoid you! I don't know what you're even doing at his school, but I'm not sure I even want to know!"

The man struggled to come up with anything to say, but Pepper didn't even give him a chance to do so. She marched up to him, looked him in the eye (thank you stiletto heels…) and gave him her best glare, accompanied by her "pissed off" voice. "Tell me you are not that kid's father, that you are not neglecting him in favour of work, that you did not just call him a 'little shit', and that you haven't abused him before – verbally or physically. Look me in the eye and tell me that."

He opened his mouth as if to answer before promptly shutting it. The full force of her glare hit him and simply slouched and walked away.

The boy was slack-jawed. Once his "father" was out of sight, he stepped out from his hiding spot behind Tony's legs. The next thing he did caught them both off guard. He threw his arms around Pepper's waist and hugged her tightly, burying his face in her blazer. She was a little shocked but she gently wrapped the arm not currently holding a giant folder to rub his back soothingly. When he let go sheepishly, she sent him a small smile. Maybe he wasn't quite twelve yet… perhaps a little younger.

She looked to her husband to see that he was staring at her with a thoughtful look on his face. That might not be good… She wondered what he was thinking so deeply about before shrugging it off – probably for the better.

"So what's your name, Sweetie?" she asked the child.

"Mark," he replied, sounding more confident than before.

"Cool," Tony spoke up, stepping a bit closer, "So now that you're psychologically an orphan, how about you come on inside for an after-school snack?"

Mark shook his head violently. "Oh no, I have to go back."

"What?" Husband and wife chorused.

"I have to stay with my sister. It's almost the end of the day. She doesn't like walking home alone."

Pepper and Tony shared a knowing look. "Well," began the redhead after a silent and mutual agreement between the two, "Let's go get her and bring her with us."

Mark's eyes widened before he smiled. It soon fell off his face, turning him into the introvert they had seen before. "Um, my mother used to say that we shouldn't ever leave with strangers."

The duo caught the past tense and shared yet another look. Tony put a hand on Mark's shoulder, causing the boy to jump before looking up hesitantly. "Kid, you know who we are. We aren't strangers. I promise that you and your sister will be safe with us and I mean, come on. I'm a super hero! You can't not trust a super hero."

The blonde glanced back and forth between the two adults before him, observing how sincere they seemed to be. Eventually, he softened. "You promise?"

Tony smiled, his eyes crinkling. "We promise."

Pepper immediately dialed Happy to come and pick them up and before long, the four of them were in a stretch limo and headed for Mark's school. They arrived just as the bell rang. Before long, children spilled out of the doors and Mark leapt from the car, leaving the celebrities inside and away from most of the attention.

"Lindy!" he shouted. A little girl who appeared about six years old ran to him and threw her arms around his legs.

"Mark! Where were you? I thought… I thought…" she looked to be on the verge of tears.

He hushed her quietly. "We're going to go with some other people besides father today, okay? I trust them. They'll keep us sage."

She nodded and took his hand.

Pepper sat at the bar counter and supped her white hot chocolate, wrapping her hands around the warm Stark Industries mug she had dug up from one of the many cupboards in the kitchen of the Avengers Tower. She sat alone and in the exceptionally dimmed lights, courtesy of JARVIS. It was late at night, just past midnight, and she felt exhausted but couldn't seem to fall asleep. Her mind was too stuffed with thoughts that encircled the two children who had just waltzed into her life.

She set down her drink and sighed, tying the knot of her robe tighter. Just this morning she was telling Tony about how she had not time for a dog, let alone children. But now here she was, thinking about adopting them. It was unfathomable. But she wanted Mark and Lindy. And they weren't babies and they wouldn't crawl or drool or cry – much. She was getting too old to go through her own pregnancy anyway. Not that she was too old yet, she still had a good dozen years left before menopause (probably more) but still… almost forty is pretty old considering the "norm".

She heard footsteps behind her but didn't pay them any attention – until Tony's arms snaked around her waist and a goatee covered face was nuzzling into her neck. "Mmm… Pepper," he mumbled.

She chuckled, placing her hands on his hair and his around her stomach as she leaned into his chest. "What are you doing up?" she whispered, eyes drifting closed at the softness of his touch.

"…nightmare."

She craned her neck so that she could see his face. "What?"

"I have them whenever you're not there."

"Oh Tony…" she caressed his right cheek and kissed his jaw lightly. "I'm sorry."

He took her hand and pressed it to his lips. "Don't be. I'll live. So why are you up?"

She shrugged. "I've just got a lot on my mind, I guess."

"Bullshit."

"Excuse me?"

"Tell me the real reason."

"It's true!"

"Well then tell me what's on your mind."

Pepper bit her lip. She had no idea how Tony would react. He'd wanted a dog, not two children. She didn't want him to think that she was a hypocrite. Of course, if he had wanted to get a cat she might have been more inclined… anyway, maybe he was right. She had to make time to do the things she wants. So maybe she could make time for a family? Steve, Clint, and Natasha all had kids. Maybe it was their turn.

Noticing her anxiety and hesitation, Tony spun her stool around and braced both hands on the counter on either side of her, blocking her exits. The way he did this wasn't rough, but gently and pleading. "Pep, honey, tell me what's wrong and I'll make it go away."

"But that's the thing, I don't want it to go away."

Tony furrowed his eyebrows. "Then what do you want to do with it?"

"I want to keep it… them, legally."

"Mark and Lindy?"

"Yeah."

"So you mean… to adopt them?"

"If you're okay with it…" she looked down at the ground as if she were ashamed. Tony cupped her chin with his index finger and thumb and quickly brought her lips to his, kissing her thoroughly.

He pulled away and leaned his forehead against hers; both were out of breath and smiling. "That sounds like a great idea."

She looked up at him in surprise. "Really? Are you sure? We only just met them and they still have a father that might not want to give them up and they themselves might not want to leave not to mention they might have to change schools and live with all the other Avengers and the money-"

"Which we have."

"-and the changes and everything else! Are you sure-?"

He silenced her with another kiss. They broke apart some time later. "The only thing I've been more sure about, is how much I love you." Their lips met again and this time, they didn't stop.