A couple days later…
Jarvis had just informed Tony and Pepper that the in house doctor was on the way up. Tony decided on a female doctor and when he did Pepper rolled her eyes. They were currently waiting in Tony's private medical floor. Pepper was set up and reclined back just as the doctor had asked and the screens were all set up. Tony was holding Pepper's hand when they heard the doctor knock and come in. Pepper smiled.
"Hello Dr. Mace."
The doctor returned the smile and set out her paperwork. She had already met Tony because Tony had her come and sign papers and confidential papers. After three hours, Tony trusted her.
"And how are we feeling today? Any morning sickness?" Mace asked. Pepper shook her head.
"No, thank goodness."
Dr. Mace set up her equipment and plugged some things in before sitting beside Pepper.
"Now, we'll only be able to hear the heartbeat and see a little bit. We won't be able to tell the gender for a couple more months," Mace said. Pepper squeezed Tony's hand as Mace lifted Pepper's shirt to prepare for the jell. "It'll be a bit cold."
Pepper hissed a bit as the jell was placed on her, but then got used to the temperature. The doctor did some things on the computer and she smiled.
"Now, right about here…" she pointed onto the screen for Pepper and Tony to see. "Ah yes, there is your baby."
Pepper had tears in her eyes and Tony's eyes went wide. Mace then switched on the volume and they could now hear the heartbeat. A tear went down Pepper's face as she smiled. Tony kissed her hand and Pepper turned her head to look at him. Mace excused herself to give them a moment. Tony's forehead met Pepper's.
"We made that." Pepper whispered and Tony kissed her lovingly. Pepper put her hand on the back of Tony's neck to bring him closer. When they pulled away Tony smiled,
"So… five years ago if someone were to tell you that in your future you would be engaged to me and carrying my child, would you believe them?"
Pepper softly smiled and looked down at her hands.
"Probably not, but I would hope they were right."
Tony laughed and kissed Pepper again before Mace came over to them.
"Here is a photo of your child and I just need a bit more information and then I will get out of your way," she says. Pepper and Tony nodded and Mace sat back down with a clipboard. "First, I just need to know if you have an estimate date or couple of days the child could have been conceived?"
Pepper blushed and Tony kind of looked away. They were fully aware of the date slash evening their child was conceived.
"March fifteenth." Pepper quietly answered. Mace nodded and scribbled down the information.
"Any medical history that I should know?" Pepper and Tony both shook their heads. "Now, this is not a normal question I asked… but seeing as how the father is not exactly normal I need to know if it is possible your sperm could be mutated due to the umm… thing in your chest?"
Tony shook his head, "No. I did tests on the reactor and on my body. There hasn't been metal in my bloodstream or… sperm for quite some time."
Mace nodded.
"Then I can say with full confidence that your baby is perfectly healthy right now. Here is a pamphlet with some tips on first time pregnancies. I will see you in a month or so."
Pepper took the pamphlet and said goodbye to Dr. Mace. Once she was gone, Tony took the pamphlet and flung it in the trash. Pepper rolled her eyes. He really did hate instructions that weren't his… or written by him.
That same night, Pepper was curled up with Tony in bed talking after a round of lovemaking. He had his arms wrapped around her protectively as she leant back into him.
"Hey Pep, I was thinking about something…" Tony says as he rubs her arm.
"Oh boy." Pepper says and prepares for what Tony is thinking. Tony chuckled.
"Don't worry, it is nothing bad… I was actually thinking about names," he says and pauses to see if she responds. Though he can't see her face he has a feeling she is smiling. "Middle names to be more specific. I er… I have one in mind."
Pepper put her head back onto Tony's shoulder and looked up at him with her eyebrows raised, "Oh?"
He nodded.
"I mean it'll probably only work for a boy… but I was thinking his middle name could be Coulson."
Pepper felt her heart melt and she smiled at Tony before kissing his neck.
"I think that would be a wonderful middle name." she answers. Tony kissed her forehead and relaxed back against the pillows.
"You never did tell me when he became Phil and not Agent?" Tony said with a hint of teasing in his voice. Pepper rolled her eyes and smiled.
"That night when he came to the tower, I sensed a bit of jealousy in your voice." Pepper answered. She felt his chest vibrate as he chuckled.
"Well it took like five years for you to start calling me Tony and about two for him to become Phil."
Pepper laughed and turned around so they were chest to chest.
"Well you were my boss and I thought it would only be professional if I called you Mr. Stark. With Phil, he wasn't my boss."
Tony gave a cheeky smile.
"I do like it when you call me Mr. Stark," He purred into her ear. She smiled and kissed him. "And soon I'll be able to call you Mrs. Stark."
When she didn't respond he frowned. Pepper bit her lip.
"I have something I need to ask you to see if you're okay with," she says slowly. Tony nods for her to continue. "Now please don't misunderstand me, I will take your last name, but with work I'd like to stay Virginia Potts. Outside of work, I'll be your Pepper Stark."
Tony looked at her for a moment before nodding in agreement.
"Under one condition," he says and puts his hand on her hip. "Only I'm allowed to call you Mrs. Stark all the time."
Pepper was going to stay no, but then she thought about it. Even if she said no he would call her Mrs. Stark so she just nodded in agreement. He then kissed her and pulled her close.
Four weeks later…
Pepper knows that they will have to do a press release on her pregnancy soon. She is showing only a little bit, but if someone got a good look at her they would see it. Tony was enjoying it a great deal especially wrapping his arm around her and placing his hands on her bump. The last thing she needed was for him to do it in public without realizing it. The public already knew of their relationship, but still had no idea about the engagement and pregnancy. She was currently in her office pondering these things. Tony would be up here any minute with their lunch. With a sigh, she turned and looked out her window and over New York. Something then caught the corner of her eye and she turned to see from the east storm clouds were gathering in only one spot. Then a flash of lightening hit the earth and Pepper could feel the ground shake a little. Her office door then opened and she heard Tony humming.
"Who is the greatest boyfriend of all time?" he sang, but Pepper didn't turn around. Tony dropped the food onto the table and went over to Pepper. Like Pepper was thinking before, Tony wrapped his arms around her waist and placed his hands on her bump. This earned a small smile from Pepper, but it faded.
"Are you expecting company?" she asked. Tony frowned and then looked where her gaze was. Tony groaned.
"I hope that is Thor and nobody else."
Pepper nodded in agreement. "You and me both."
Tony kissed her neck and then looked back at the storm clouds. Tony then could sense something coming and soon he could see it.
"Get down!" He yelled and pulled Pepper into his embrace before pulling her safely to the ground. Pepper screamed as the window shattered and there was a giant thud sound. Tony held Pepper close and made sure (very protectively) that they were chest to chest. He looked up and could barely make out a figure. Once the figure stood up, Tony mumbled, "Damn Shakespeare."
Tony carefully got off of Pepper and helped her up. Pepper's eyes went wide at the mess.
"I apologize for my entrance." A voice said. Pepper turned and she immediately recognized who it was. Thor.
"The front door would have been less of a mess." Tony mumbled and looked all around at the mess on the floor and Pepper's desk.
"I apologize for the mess, I've forgotten how much weaker Earth's materials are," Thor says and steps over to Tony and Pepper. Tony was still holding Pepper against him protectively, but not because he feared Thor.
"I thought your… ice machine was broken?" Tony asked. Thor chuckled.
"It is called the bifrost and it is no longer broken. It has been repaired."
Thor then turned and looked at Pepper. Pepper coughed a little.
"Oh," Tony said and looked at Pepper. "This is my… er…." Pepper rolled her eyes.
"I'm his fiancé, Pepper Potts." Pepper said and stuck her hand out. Thor lightly took it and kissed it.
"A pleasure to meet you. I am Thor as you must know."
Pepper nodded.
"Yes, I've heard of you. You're the only avenger I haven't officially met."
Thor raised his eyebrows.
"So, you know of all of us?"
She nodded. "How do you think Tony even remembers everything?"
Thor laughed and Tony frowned.
"I suppose I must explain my presence on your realm," Thor said. Tony nodded and took Pepper over to the couch in her office where they sat down. Thor carefully sat down in the chair across from it. "Loki has escaped from our grasp."
Tony dropped his head and sighed.
"Nice job hammer time." He said sarcastically, which earned an elbow in the stomach from Pepper. Thor liked Pepper even more.
"We've searched other realms, but haven't found him. I believe he is coming back to Earth." Thor predicted.
"Have you contacted Fury yet?" Tony asked. Thor shook his head. Tony smiled. "Good."
Pepper frowned.
"How is that a good thing?"
"Well," Tony said and swung his arm around Pepper's shoulders. "The avengers made much more progress without him ordering us around," Thor shrugged. Tony had a point. "Besides we don't need all of his technology when we have a tower filled with more advanced technology."
Pepper chuckled.
"He will know I landed on Earth."
Tony shrugged.
"You're going to visit em…. Juliet?" Tony asked.
"Jane Foster." Thor corrected.
"I thought Fury had tabs on you?" Pepper asked. Tony made a "psh" sound.
"He threatens that he does. I can easily escape his radar."
"Have you had contact with any of the rest?"
Tony put on his pondering face and Pepper smiled. She loved that look. "I know the spandex is somewhere in New York, Natalisha is in… Argentina or Portland, Tweetie is in Detroit, and anger management buddy is in Europe."
Pepper rolled her eyes and Thor just looked confused. So she clarified for him,
"Steve is in New York, Natasha is in.., how do you get Portland and Argentina mixed up?" she asked and turned to Tony. He just shrugged. "Anyways, Clint is in Detroit, and Bruce is in Europe."
"We must gather them and search for Loki. He is crafty," Thor said and he sounded sad. Pepper reached out and placed her hand on his arm. "I have unfortunately come to terms with him never returning to the man that was once my brother. After Phil…"
A thought then hit Tony.
"He killed Agent Coulson to make it personal…" he said and looked at Pepper. Thor frowned, but Pepper understood. She placed her hand that was on Thor's arm and placed it on Tony's hand.
"We'll be alright."
Thor understood what Tony meant now, but not Pepper's statement. He observed her figure and then it hit him.
"If you do not mind me asking," Thor says and interrupts their moment. "But are you pregnant?" Pepper nodded. They might as well not lie anymore. "Then I shall make a proposal, should Stark ever have to leave your presence I can request for two of my friends from Asgard to come for her protection. They know all of Loki's tricks."
Pepper shook her head, "Thank you Thor, but it won't be necessary."
"Exactly because I'm not leaving her presence." Tony stated. Pepper sighed. She had six more months of this. At times she found it sweet, but other times his protectiveness drove her crazy.
"If Loki has returned to Earth we will need you." Thor argued.
"Let me ask you this," Tony says and leans forward. "Wouldn't he go after Jane? Knowing you love her? What would you do in that situation?"
Thor did not answer because Tony had a point.
"I would want to protect her," he finally answered. "And I would know the only way I can truly protect her is to defeat Loki rather than wait for him to come to me."
Pepper placed a hand on Tony's back. He sighed.
"If you can get the team here to talk then I'll hear you out, but for now I am staying with her."
Thor nodded and stood up. "That is fair enough. I shall return soon," he said. Pepper and Tony stood up as well. Thor turned to Pepper. "You are lucky to have such a man who cares a great deal for you, but also I question how you deal with his stubbornness and sarcasm."
Pepper smiled. "You get used to him."
One night later….
Tony was fast asleep with Pepper in his arms and her head buried in his neck. They were both holding onto each other as they slept. One would say they looked cute. Their cuteness wouldn't last for long. Around three in the morning Tony heard a loud crash and their bedroom door swung open. Tony quickly pulled the covers up around Pepper, caring more about her exposure rather than his own. He felt her begin to stir awake. Tony looked at the door and groaned.
"Sir, it appears you have company." Jarvis informed. Tony rolled his eyes. Pepper woke to the sound of Jarvis's voice, but she didn't open her eyes. She was too tired to care who was barging into the bedroom. She knew it must not be a threat if Tony was still in bed with her.
"I have done as you asked." Thor said to Tony. Tony looked behind Thor to see Steve, Clint, Natasha, and Bruce standing there. Great, this was just what he wanted at three o'clock in the morning.