As promised, it was a FAST update! One of my fastest! :D Hope you like it!
Disclaimer: IMAA is not mine, alright, we've been through this.
It happened so fast, Tony could hardly register what had happened. There was a flash of light and Whitney had gone flying. He looked around and when he looked up he saw Rhodey or War Machine flying in the air just to the right of him.
"Rhodey!" he said relived, but he didn't wait to question why Rhodey was here as well.
He ran to Pepper and looked at her. She was still bleeding from a wound on her head. He kneeled down next to her.
"Tony, take her inside I'll take care of Whitney!" Rhodey shouted from above as Tony noticed Whitney get up. She hadn't been hit, but instead she dodged it, but a little sloppily so she landed on her back.
Tony picked Pepper up and rushed inside. He laid her down on the bed and went to get some rags to wash of the blood from her forehead. He grabbed some bandages as well and got to work. He worked fast so he could go help Rhodey.
But just as he was about to leave Pepper's opened her eyes. "Tony?"
He kneeled down at the side of the bed by her head. "You're awake."
Her eyes widened. "Whitney!?"
"Outside, Rhodey's fighting her I think." Tony said. "I should…"
"Go." She said.
"But she almost…" His voice trailed off.
"She almost what?" Pepper asked.
Before he could respond, she threw the blankets off of her and felt her stomach with panic. "She didn't do anything to them did she?"
"No, but…she almost did." Tony said frowning.
Pepper growled quietly. "Go, defeat her and show her no mercy. She needs to face justice."
If she didn't sound so serious, Tony might have laughed, but he agreed. Whitney got personal. He went after Pepper and the babies. She wasn't going to get away with that. Not while he was standing. He ran outside, and armored back up.
She was in her madam Masque outfit and was firing laser guns at Rhodey, who was firing repulsors at Whitney.
"Whitney!" He shouted as he fired his own repulsors.
She dodged the first few, but got him with one, sending her flying into the truck he'd seen her dragging Pepper to. She got back up with a wince. She threw something at him, but he picked it up and threw it in the air as it exploded. He ran up to her and she just barely escaped getting punched in the face. She kicked at him, pushing him back. Rhodey fired a repulsor and she dodged it.
As she was focusing on Rhodey, Tony grabbed her leg and threw her into the ground. "No one messing with my Pepper."
She groaned as she forced herself up. She didn't bother to respond, she only growled and fired strong laser beams at Tony, which hit him dead on, sending him into the street. For a moment he didn't get up.
"Tony!" Rhodey shouted, as he shot at Whitney with determination, actually hitting her a few times.
Whitney shot the same thing at Rhodey, but he moved at the last minute. She glared at him and was about to fire again, but there was a hand around her neck. Surprised, she couldn't fend off her attacker as she was shoved to the ground, the hand still choking her. She raised her hand to fire at him, but he put his knee on her hand, and with his other hand, he took her gun and threw it somewhere.
"T-T-Tony-!" She stuttered and coughed. "Y-you wouldn't."
He glared at her through the mask. Not letting go. His grip actually tightened. She coughed and spat. Her face was red and her eyes closed from the strain.
"Tony," Rhodey tried, but his voice fell on deaf ears.
"Why'd you hurt Pepper!?" He snarled out. "What could you possibly gain?"
Whitney coughed, her face now turning purple. "Y-y-y-you we-were s-s-supposed-!" She broke off as she made choking sounds and spat in his armored face. "To l-love me!"
"Tony!" Rhodey said, hopefully getting to Tony this time. "Tony stop! You won!"
"I couldn't love you." Tony started. "You were too mean to Pepper, not to mention you had a criminal record."
Whitney couldn't respond, her face almost completely purple, as she coughed, spluttered, and spat, as she tried to breath.
"Tony! Let her go! You got her!" Rhodey shouted starting to go to Tony. "I'll take her back to Shield, just let her go."
Almost reluctantly, Tony finally let go. He didn't move beyond that, and Rhodey worriedly glanced at him as he pulled the coughing and hacking blond to her feet. He didn't like the look of the already forming black and blue bruises on her neck.
"Come on, Whitney," Rhodey said, venom running in his voice. "You've gone in over your head this time."
She was breathing in heavily and was grasping with one hand at her neck. With a word to Tony that he was going to come back, he flew off.
…
Tony sat there, on his knees, unmoving. Rhodey's panicked voice repeating in his head. Had he really almost strangled Whitney to death? Had he really been willing to take her life? What was wrong with him?
He couldn't bring himself to move other than to breathe, which he was really not grateful that he could do. For a while there, he had taken away Whitney's ability to breathe. So why did he get to breathe so freely?
As horrible as Whitney was, she wasn't bad enough to deserve death, at least by his hands. He wasn't a killer. He wouldn't have done it, right?
It was hard to think that if Rhodey hadn't been there, he would have snapped her neck before she even suffocated. Or he would have carried through and killed her. What would Rhodey think of him? And what would Pepper think of him? It terrified him to even think about what she might think of him when she finds out.
He stayed there, not changing position for who knows how long. Though this is the same position Rhodey found him in when he returned after he armored down.
"Tony," He started. Tony looked away. "It wasn't your fault."
"Yes it was." He responded
"No, it wasn't." Rhodey retorted. "She got too personal, she went and Pepper and the babies, it's was a normal person would do."
"Well, I'm not a normal person." Tony said.
"You're being too hard on yourself. She's fine, she's with Shield again, and she's alive." Rhodey said, pulling Tony to his feet. "Now let's go see how Pepper is, I'm sure she's worried."
"Yeah." Tony said.
Tony armored down and followed Rhodey into the house. They went to Pepper's room to find she had fallen asleep.
Tony looked at her like a kicked puppy. Rhodey couldn't imagine what was going through his head, so he placed a hand on his shoulder in comfort. "It's alright. Go to her, I'll leave."
Tony nodded his thanks. But even when Rhodey left, he hadn't moved any closer to Pepper. He just stood there in the doorway as he watched the steady rise and fall of her chest as she slept. He didn't know how long he sat there, but he definitely noticed when she opened her eyes.
He stiffened as she focused on him. "Tony? What are you doing way over there?" Was the first thing out of her mouth.
"Pep." Was all that he could get out of his mouth.
She moved to get up, but he was quick to get to her side and gently push her back down. "Don't." he said.
"Whitney?" She asked, her hand still laying protectively over her stomach.
He looked down. "Gone, she's with Shield again."
"Good." She smiled and tried to pull him in for a kiss, but he looked away and she just barely kissed his cheek. She looked at him with curious and worried eyes.
"I almost killed her." He blurted.
Her eyes widened in surprise and Tony looked away. That was exactly the look he feared. What if she was scared that he was able to kill, that he could get so close to killing someone?
"What happened?" She asked.
He looked at her with slight surprise before he answered in a low voice. "She was distracted and was about to hit Rhodey, but I…grabbed her throat and pressed her against the ground….Choking her…"
Pepper didn't respond. When it was silent for a while, Tony stood up a pained look in his eyes and Pepper feared that it was from being injured since after all he did just get his cast removed from his arm and his other injuries were just healing up.
"I'm sorry." He said.
She grabbed his hand when he started to walk away. "Don't leave."
He looked down at her, and bit his lip. "Pep, I would have done it too if Rhodey wasn't there." Then he paused. "Why was Rhodey there?"
A voice spoke up that startled both Pepper and Tony. "I contacted Mr. Rhodes when Mrs. Stark loss consciousness. I found it better than contacting you twice."
"Thanks," Tony said.
Then it was quiet except for their breathing.
"Tony," Pepper finally said. "It's alright. I'm sure you would have let go."
She squeezed his hand. "Please, just come lay down with me."
It was the middle of the day, but at the moment, Tony didn't care and neither did Pepper. He crawled into bed with Pepper and she scooted closer to him. When he didn't come and put his arms around her like he usually does, she grabbed his hand and did it for him. When he tried to pull away she gave him a look and held his arm around her.
"Stay." She said.
He looked at her. "You're not…mad?"
"Why would I be mad? You just saved us!" She asked surprised. Was that what he was worried about?
"I almost killed a person, enemy or not, I could have done it." Tony said.
She raised an eyebrow. "Whether or not you did it, I still love you. I don't care what happened between you and Whitney out there, I'm just glad that you're still alive."
"Really?"
"Of course."
She moved closer and closed the distance between them with a kiss. At first Tony didn't kiss her back, but soon enough, he began to kiss her back. He rolled over so Pepper was half under him and pressed a hand behind her neck and the other on her swollen stomach. Pepper giggled against his mouth when she felt one of the baby's kick against his hand. Both of her hands were clasped tightly in Tony's hair, which she figured probably hurt a bit, but he didn't seem to mind.
They kissed for a while until there was a knock at the front door.
Tony groaned as he got off the bed. "I'll go see who it is."
"Me too." Pepper said as she tried to get up, ignoring her headache.
"No, Pep." Tony said waving a finger at her. "You're still hurt."
She pouted. "Not too much."
"You might have a concussion." Tony pointed out.
"I'm sure it's fine."
The knocking started up again and Tony shot Pepper a warning look as he walked out to get the door.
…
"HEY!" Mabel's voice shouted.
Pepper perked up. Mabel? She looked outside the open door and just waited for Mabel to burst into the room, not even bothering that it might break the door, open or not.
She heard Tony's voice protest something, but Mabel's voice cut him off. "No, I am seeing Pepper, and you will not tell me otherwise!"
She laughed. Mabel will be Mabel.
"PEPPER!" Mabel shouted just before she stormed into the room. "How could you get hurt before your baby shower?"
"I thought you were kidding about the baby shower." Pepper defended.
"Why would I kid about something like that?" Mabel asked, looking honestly appalled by the idea. "It may be late, but I'm still throwing you one. I've already got a date set and I've invited all of our parents and some friends."
"I don't want a baby shower!" Pepper complained.
"Yes you do." Mabel said, giggling. "Of course you do!"
"I don't have to have one and you know it."
"You're having one whether you want one or not. And that's final."
Tony walked into the room with Theo in his arms and Rhodey behind him. Pepper smiled at him and he smiled back, but then frowned as Theo screamed in his ear loudly.
"What is it Theo?"
"Theodore Rhodes," Mabel scolded as she turned around. "What did mommy say about screaming?"
Theo frowned. Then giggled as he sucked his thumb. Mabel laughed and shook her head as she went as sat next to Pepper on the bed. Without warning, Mabel tugged what blankets were still on Pepper off, and pulled her shirt up. Pepper was startled, but didn't bother to move her shirt back down.
Mabel squealed. "You're so big!"
"Yeah, don't remind me." Pepper mumbled.
"Oh please, if you're going to tell me you look fat, don't." Mabel said. "Because you're not fat, you're pregnant and beautiful. Right Tony?"
Tony paused, not expecting to be called out on this. "Right."
"See?"
"He's my husband, he's required to say that." Pepper said.
"No, I mean and you know it." Tony defended. "I love you and the babies and don't you tell me I think otherwise."
Pepper's eyes widened at his exclamation. "T-thanks Tony. I love you too."
"Ugh, get a room, you lovebirds." Rhodey said.
"Um," Pepper started. "You're in our room."
Rhodey looked stunned for a minute because he wasn't expecting that response. "I was kidding."
"You better have been, because we weren't even kissing." Pepper said.
Mabel who wasn't even paying attention to the others conversation, started to actually pet Pepper's stomach. Pepper tried to protest, but Mabel just had to give her a look and Pepper knew to not say anything. Then Mabel started to talk to the babies.
"You guys know you have a beautiful mother right?" Mabel asked in a singsong voice. "And a hard working father too."
Pepper felt them kick in response. She smiled.
So did Mabel. "You'll have the best parents," Mabel smiled getting closer to Pepper's stomach. "They'll protect you with their lives. And do whatever it takes to keep you safe."
"I hope so." Tony said, more to himself than anyone else.
Rhodey looked at him curiously, but didn't say anything. Mainly because Theo started to Pull Tony's hair. "Ow!"
"Theodore, let go of Uncle Tony's hair." Rhodey coming to pry Theo's tiny hands out of Tony's hair.
Theo let go.
"Thanks." Tony said, handing Theo over to Rhodey.
Rhodey nodded and turned to his wife. "We should leave the two alone. I'm thinking we should bring little Theo out for a walk."
Mabel smiled, her hand still on Pepper's protruding stomach. "Yay!"
Mabel murmured words of goodbye to both Pepper and her stomach and hopped of the bed. The happy family walked out after saying goodbye.
Tony sighed, and looked to Pepper who he thought looked as beautiful as ever. "You hungry?"
"What do you think?"
Tony looked to Pepper's stomach and laughed. "What do you want?"
"Two sandwiches." Pepper said.
"The usual?" Tony asked halfway in and halfway out of the room.
"Yep."
Well, cute ending! Huh? I'm surprised at how long this chapter was considering that I just started both of these chapters today...heheh I love you guys too much! ;) I think i spoil you sometimes. SOMETIMES.
Fun Fact: I'm terrible with being creative when it comes to arts and crafts. It's kinda sad when I love art so much...
Hope you guys enjoyed this REALLY FAST update! I wasn't expecting to finish this chapter til at least tomorrow, but no, it's today! So, yay! Well, don't be expecting another chapter today, but soon hopefully. :)
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