And for Light…

Chapter 6: Nine Months

He hadn't wanted to go out that evening. But Pepper had insisted he assisted to this little Stark Industries celebration (She said something about having confirmed to the event) and have as much fun as physically possible away from them. Rhodey was with her, nothing could go wrong, right? Everything would be fine, alright? Just go...

She had wanted to come too, but unable, they settled with dressing him up and sending him to dinner. (Ha! I'll be having pizza and you some tiny scallops! Hahaha! That got Rhodey a punch in the arm.) But Tony wanted to be there for the first everything; and he'd succeeded for nine months to watch his son do his first... well everything. First yawns, first laugh, first hair cut, first spitting of caviar, even the first time the child got sick and cried all night long... And here he was wasting time with some stuck up snobs that were talking about... Well he wasn't sure what they were talking, he was sure that he should be listening, he really should, but Tony wasn't capable of multitasking when it came to Pepper or his son. And it brought him to shame (not really) a man capable of building a miniature of an supposedly impossible technology while playing board games at the same time (he'd done it while in Afghanistan, Yinsen had been tickled) Tony Stark was not capable of thinking of his family's current condition and listen to his employees talk about something as monotonous as...

"...When the hound found the duck it was still waddling..."

Right. People still hunt for ducks? Two scallops still in his plate two glasses of scotch later Tony realized he was the only quiet one in the room. Everybody seemed to be having a good time, along with their respective wives, girlfriends whatever. He was the only single man in the room, ok he wasn't single his wedding band proved it, but it didn't seem to make no matter for the conversation or the waitress that was flirting with him. He was a changed man and wanted to be faithful to his wife and he was going to be faithful to his wife even it killed him, but either way...

"Mr. Stark, how is Mrs. Stark doing?" Asked Jessica Longborm, wife of the guy from Publishing. Tony turned fully to her, finally someone speaking of the subject of his delight.

"Ah, she's fine. Decided to stay at home for your sake, our son is quite the handful." The woman nodded and Tony was happy to boast about his son. The new Stark was small but very, very capable of mayhem (a trait from his father's genes).

"When will we meet the happy bundle?" Tony smiled at the question, happy bundle. If only Jessica here had heard all the other terms Pepper had used for the baby. Starting with bunny-hunny and finishing with Mr. Stark Junior.

"According to Mrs. Stark, not any time soon." Pepper had made a little appearance with his son in one of those glossy magazines, just to show off their child, but after that silence. She didn't wanted to parade their son as if a thing; he deserved so much more. So much better.

"I bet Mrs. Stark is very exited." Tony nodded smiling again. "I'll be happy to see her in our next meeting then, of course if she last that long." The last of her statement was framed with giggles of the other wives and companions, and it bothered a few in the room.

The implications of what she had jus said did not pass Tony's good judgment. He stared at the woman as she returned to her friends, a frown set on his face. Who was this woman, not knowing a thing about either Pepper or himself to dare believe, even think she knew Pepper wouldn't last as his wife for longer after she'd had his son? Tony took a deep breath. Pepper's words rang through his mind suddenly:

Be proper and nice, Tony, promise me.

I'm sorry Pep, he thought smiling at Jessica. "I think she'll last longer than you, Jessica. By the way what Mrs. Longborm are you? Third? Fourth?"

Silence at his side of the table. And undignified "third" followed and she concentrated in some important aspect of the plate she sat before of.

"I thought so." The waitress came by and leaned over so very softly against Tony's arm... "Tips are money or stocks, lady. No parts of my anatomy, now get off. What is wrong with you people?" And as he spoke Tony got up, dropped the handkerchief he had over his lap on the table and left. Why couldn't people understand that his wedding wtih Pepper had signified the end of his old crazy self and the birth of a brand new Tony? A tony without past, very much in love and with a child? Why couldn't people just... shift the world so Pepper and his son would be its very center and thus understand how his everyday work was to make her happy, love her with all he had and smiles they smiled to this child that was their miracle? Why couldn't people worry for her as he did? Angry, Tony made his way to the valet parking and saw his Audi pulling over quickly, he threw a highly obscene bill to the boy that brought it over so fast and got in quickly.

He was going home. Fuck the rest of the world he was going to his wife.

That little hiccup had only made him see her and hold her, and touch her. He was on his way to get her pregnant again even if it killed him! Even with his thoughts he couldn't help but to go there with Potts (now Mrs. Stark) looking ravishing naked! He growled as he speeded past a red light. It's been a long time since he'd done that. Mainly because he usually was with Pepper and she hated when he did that, and he needed her calm to keep his life sane and breastfeed... His cell phone vibrated and fishing for it inside his coat, Tony answer it.

"Jello?" He said happily, now 15 minutes from his house.

"Please tell me you are still on the table and have not just asked what number mrs. Jessica was?" Pepper.

Of course it was pepper she knew everything. Yet she sounded tired.

"Hello my goddess."

"Tony, please tell me you did not, of course you did why would I even...?"

"Yeah, yeah, sausage or pepperoni in your pizza, love?"

"Actually I'm calling to let you know I left your share of pizza at the microwave just hit the preset time and you can have dinner."

"And the munchkin?"

"Asleep."

"Good because I'm on my way to have my way with you even if I have to use the boss card and force you."

"Mr. Stark may I remind you Mrs. Starks is very tired..."

"Yes, but if you don't tell I'll make sure she doesn't know I'm making my PA scream bloody pleasure behind her back."