Contains Iron Man 3 spoilers. Enjoy! Please review! The updates will come quicker if you do!
Pepper couldn't sleep again as she opened her weary eyes. She glanced over at the clock to see it was 11:15 pm. Pepper heard the stir of the arc reactor in her chest and gasped greedily for breath. She groaned as this action caused her broken ribs to ache. She was cold and desperately wanted to stop the annoying beeping of the hospital machines.
She smiled when she saw Tony sleeping in the corner of the room. He looked exhausted and she didn't want to wake him but Pepper needed him to sleep.
"Tony?" Pepper whispered.
He didn't stir so Pepper let him sleep knowing that this was going to be a long night.
Three hours later Tony woke up to the sound of the tv. His eyes snapped open and he looked directly at her. She looked absolutely gorgeous considering the amount of hell she'd been through. Her freckles stood out against her pale skin as her blue eyes strained to look at the tv.
"Hey." He groaned as he stood up and stretched.
She turned to smile at him with dark circles under her eyes. "Hey, what are you doing up?"
He walked over to her bedside and smiled back. "I could ask the same of you."
"I couldn't sleep."
"Oh. You need something to help you sleep?"
"Yeah, you." Pepper smirked as she tangled her hands with his.
"That could be arranged." He bends his head down as he captures her lips with his.
"Here, get closer." Pepper said as she scooted over carefully.
Tony got in the bed with her and wrapped his arms around her. "I'm not hurting you right?"
"You'd never hurt me." She smiled as she finally closed her eyes.
Two months later Pepper was up on her feet again and back at home. During that time Tony had fully restored the mansion. While she recovered in the hospital, Pepper constantly called and talked to her girls. She missed them terribly but she would soon see them again. Tony just wanted to wait to make sure everything was safe and she was healthy again before getting their girls back. Their new baby boy settled quickly in a crib next to their bed and was happy to finally be home.
"Tony? Is it almost time?" Pepper asked desperately from the couch.
"Your brother and our girls should be here any minute." He said as he sat down next to her with Eli in his arms. "Our baby boy doesn't wanna go to sleep."
"He's excited to meet his sisters." Pepper grinned as she sat up and ran her fingers though the baby's soft, dark curls. "I can't wait to see them, it's been such a long time."
"Do you think they'll look any different?"
"It has been two months, I bet their hair has grown. Maybe they're better at walking too."
"Bet they'll be getting into everything." Tony smirked.
"Hmmm, where could they get that from?" Pepper smirked back.
"Are you sure you're well enough? You're still recovering.."
"Tony, I'm fine. Please stop worrying."
"Only if I get a kiss." Tony pouted.
"Fine." She smiled as she leaned up to kiss him.
"I've missed this you know." Tony said as he rested his forehead on her head.
"Missed what?"
"I've missed sitting on the couch and just talking."
"I know." Pepper said as she grasped his hand.
"Sir, Mr. Potts and the two Miss Stark's have arrived."
"Thanks, J." Tony smiled as he handed over Eli to Pepper.
Pepper swore she hadn't seen Tony smile like that in a very very long time.
Tony walked over to open the door. "Hey Vince. There's my girls!" Tony couldn't stop smiling as he reached out to take their carriers. "Follow me, Vince, I'm sure Pepper would love to see you."
"Right behind you. She says she fine but how is she really, Tony?"
"She's still a little sore but she'll be fine soon."
"Good, good."
The girls couldn't stop smiling at their dad and they kept saying Dada.
"I know, I know! I missed you too." Tony said as her carried them in the living room where Pepper and Eli were.
He entered the living room and said, "Hey Pep, look what I got."
Pepper cried as soon as she saw them perfectly safe and happy. She started to stand but Tony stopped her.
"Don't get up, I'll bring them to you." Tony sat the two carriers down at her feet to unbuckle the twins.
Vince walked in and grinned when he saw his sister. "Hey, Gin."
"Hey, Vince. Thank you so much for taking care of them."
"No problem. Hey, who you got there?" Vince said as he went over to sit next to her.
"Meet your newest little nephew, Elias." Pepper said proudly.
"You did it again, Tony, he looks just like you." Vince laughed as he took the baby out of Pepper's arms.
"Oh, I know." Tony smirked back.
The girls were cooing and reaching for their mother eagerly.
Pepper grinned and laughed at them. "Hey, baby girls."
"Ma!" They both yelled.
Tony gave Em to Pepper and he sat on the other side of her with Elle.
"Mommy is so happy to see you." She kissed each of them on their forehead and kept them as close as possible.
"Uh, Gin, I hate to ruin the moment but this little guy needs to be changed." Vince said awkwardly.
Tony sat Elle on the floor and took Eli. "I'll be right back."
Tony left and Vince was glad because he needed to talk to Pepper alone.
"Gin, how about we talk?"
"Okay, shoot." Pepper sat Em on the floor next to her sister so they could play.
"Are you happy?"
"Of course I am! What would make you ask that?"
"Ginny, we're all worried about you and the kids."
"Why? We're perfectly fine."
"Fine? You're not fine! Tony almost got you and Eli killed, that is definitely not fine."
"It wasn't his fault, Vince."
"It never is. We want you and the kids to come and live with us."
"That's never going to happen. I love Tony and I'm staying with him."
"Virgina! Look at you! Look what he's done to you! Do you want your kids to suffer the same fate? Fighting for their lives and hoping they live through it?"
Pepper had a pretty calm temper but it was slowing melting away. Was it getting hotter? She felt like she was suffocating.
"Enough! I can't take this anymore! Get out!" Pepper yelled.
"No! Not unless you're coming with me. You need to get away from that husband of yours."
"It's my life!" Pepper said as she pointed a finger on her brother's chest. "Stay out." Pepper said bitterly.
"Um, Gin." Vince said when he felt warm discomfort on his chest. "That hurts! Quit it!"
Pepper looked down at her orange glowing finger. She pulled it back and looked at it strangely.
"Pepper?"
She heard Tony call her so she turned around quickly.
"Pep, what's wrong with your eyes?"