Chapter 3 James "Rhodey" Rhodes

Author's Note: Whilst writing this I had to stop several times because I was about to start crying. For me, there's something so nice and yet sad about being at peace with your death that I really wanted to try and convey. I hope you enjoy this I'm really proud of this. This is also shorter, which I usually don't like, but I don't think it needed to be much longer.

Pepper Stark had known James Rhodes for as long as she knew Tony Stark. The people that surrounded Tony, those who were closest to him, tended to stick around with each other. Of course, Tony's truly closest friends were Happy Hogan, James Rhodes and Pepper Potts (now Stark). For years they stuck by his side, through the ups and downs. Through his kidnapping which led to Ironman which led to him putting his life at risk often to save the world for them, which then led to him sacrificing his life for them.

It was now three years later, on the anniversary of his death. Their daughter, Morgan Stark, was now seven years old and it always broke Pepper's heart realising that her daughter wouldn't know and remember her father like Pepper, Rhodey and Happy knew him. Of course, the three of them, along with Peter and some of the remaining Avengers, spoke about Tony, but hearing stories of a loved one would never be the same as having them there with you.

'You know it's getting cold out here.' Rhodey told her. Pepper continued looking out onto the lake as Rhodey sat next to her. It was night-time, past Morgan's bedtime and now Pepper was reflecting on the day. Three years was a long time for someone to be gone and yet it felt like only yesterday she was watching Tony die before her eyes.

'Do you think if I didn't give up so easily, he would have stayed fighting for longer?' Pepper asked her friend quietly.

'Pepper, he was dying from radiation poisoning the moment he put those stones on his body. No one can survive that. The only reason Bruce did was because he's part Hulk.' Rhodey told her.

'But we could have saved him. He could still be here, with us.' Pepper told him, now looking at him.

'Pepper, I know you didn't see the list of injuries he had but I did. He was never going to make it. By giving him permission to move on, you allowed him peace in his last moments, which I know in my heart is something he desperately needed to have a peaceful death.' Rhodey told her. Pepper looked back over the lake.

'I didn't want him to go. But I knew I had to tell him we'd be okay.' Pepper whispered. Rhodey grabbed her hand and squeezed it.

'I thank you everyday that you gave him permission to pass on with peace in his heart. His whole life he's struggled to be truly at peace with himself and you gave him just a moment to truly be at peace with himself. I know if it had been or Peter, or even Happy, it wouldn't have been the same as you.' Rhodey told her. Pepper felt tears in her eyes as she realised that she had done the right thing for her husband. For everyone, to know that in Tony's last moments he was surrounded by love ones in peace. Rhodey squeezed her hand again.

'I miss him every day, Rhodey. I constantly wonder why it had to be him. Why could he not get a break? He had Morgan; he saw Peter alive again. He helped save his son. Why could he not get the chance to live his life with both Morgan and Peter?' Pepper said softly.

They sat in silence for almost ten minutes before Rhodey spoke up.

'You don't give yourself enough credit Pepper. Tony loved you perhaps more than anything. Every day for over twenty years I saw how he looked at you. The way he looked at you, you could feel the love that he had for you. He told me about how he felt when he thought you had died that night at the oil rig. He told me if you had truly died that night, he didn't know how he would live without you. You were his rock.' Rhodey told her.

'So were you James.' Pepper told him quickly. 'You saw him through college, when his parents died, when Happy and I arrived into his life. You were there for him- during the Avengers disbandment when I wasn't. I know if you had died, he would feel the same way as if Happy or I had died. Never underestimate the power of a friendship.'

Rhodey just nodded slowly. Pepper felt her heart soften only slightly as she knew that Rhodey needed to hear that from her.

Pepper was sitting between Rhodey and Happy, Peter on the other side of Happy with MJ and Ned, and she looked up on stage, where her daughter was sitting, smiling at Pepper. Pepper smiled at her as well, feeling extremely proud of her daughter. How could she not? Top of her grade and graduating from high school at sixteen.

'He's proud of her you know.' Rhodey told her. Pepper looked at Tony's best friend and smiled at him. Rhodey had become instrumental in her life after Tony's death. She truly didn't know how she would have survived those first months without him to help her with Morgan and to help her with her grieving process.

'He's always been proud of her.' Pepper smiled at him. 'He knew that she would do great things for this world and now she's one step closer to doing that.'

They both smiled at each other as Morgan's name was announced and they all cheered loudly for her. She was blushing slightly, but Pepper knew she was proud of herself and them.

'Thank you, James. For all your help.' Pepper told him quietly as Morgan sat back down. Rhodey looked at her and frowned slightly before smiling and nodding.

'It's been my pleasure. We're family.' Rhodey told her.

Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this story and please leave me a comment about who you want to see Pepper bond with and what they might do/talk about. I'm also happy to do a character that I've already done if you leave me an idea. I'm also happy to do not go with canon (looking at you Endgame) so leave a comment and help inspire me whilst I procrastinate doing my exam study for uni.