Pepper
Usually when Pepper stayed late at work, she would arrive home at Stark Tower and feel a sense of relief. Tonight was not one of those nights. She was still as irritated and angry as she had been at the office. Stupid John Madison. Who did he think he was, pushing his way into her office and then insulting the entire Stark company just because it was run by a woman?
The tower was quiet, which was odd. Tony usually stayed awake until she got home. She peeked her head into his lab, but it was empty.
"Mr. Stark has retired to bed, Ms. Potts," F.R.I.D.A.Y. informed her. Pepper checked their bedroom next, and sure enough, Tony was deeply asleep. Pepper smiled. Tony usually had a hard time sleeping alone, it was good that he seemed to be doing better about his nightmares.
Over her shoulder, Pepper could suddenly hear the faint sound of someone throwing up. Closing the bedroom door, Pepper headed down the hallway. There was a faint light coming from the bathroom on the other side of the hall.
Georgiana and Bucky had moved into Stark tower about a week ago. Georgiana was getting very sick as her pregnancy came closer to her due date, so Tony had offered them a room in Stark Tower, which would be closer to some of the best hospitals. Pepper sometimes forgot that the two of them where here because Georgiana was usually sleeping and Bucky was usually hiding. Tony and Bucky tired not to stay in the same room as each other, although they were getting better. Sometimes Georgiana would have morning sickness and would get up early enough to eat breakfast with Pepper, and Pepper enjoyed the company, but usually they were the quietest guests Stark Tower had ever hosted.
She knocked softly on the bathroom door, which was cracked open, before she opened it and looked inside. Sure enough, there was Georgiana, bent over the toilet, her brown hair thrown into a sloppy bun to keep it away from her face. Bucky, to Pepper's amusement, was also in the bathroom. He was sitting on the tiled floor next to his pregnant fiancée with his head on the wall, asleep.
"He fell asleep about a half hour ago," said Georgiana, as she flushed the toilet and then turned away from it to lie down on the cold tiled floor. "He means well, but it actually pisses me off that he can sleep right now, even if he is cute about it."
Pepper smiled. "Can I do anything?"
Georgiana looked awful. She was paler than usual. It was still odd to see her unhealthy. Even when recovering from healing other sick people she had somehow always had a healthy glow to her skin.
"Is there any Gatorade in the kitchen?"
Pepper shook her head. "I'll run out and get some."
Georgiana shook her head where it was resting on the floor. "No, really, you don't have to do that. It's late."
"Really, it's fine," said Pepper, "The store is just on the corner, and I'm still trying to walk off office stress."
"Mr. Madison again?"
Pepper nodded. "You need anything else while I am out?"
"I don't think so," said Georgiana. "Thank you so much. You are a lifesaver. Just be careful out there."
Pepper left the bathroom and headed back down the hall, to the elevator, and down to the first floor. As she left the front door, she reached out and grabbed Tony's jacket and pulled it on. It was a chilly, windy night, and as she walked down the street Pepper stuffed her hands into the deep pockets of Tony's jacket.
Her hand touched paper. Pepper stopped, and pulled the piece of paper out of the pocket to look at it as she walked under a street light. It was folded carefully, which was odd, Tony usually liked to crumple up pieces of paper. On the outside, in neat handwriting where the words "To Tony, if I'm gone." She knew that handwriting, it belonged to Steve. She hadn't seen it since he had died, months ago. Pepper carefully unfolded the paper. It was a letter.
When I leave you, there is something you need to do for me: watch over Bucky.
I know what I am asking of you, and that it is isn't fair, but please, Tony, do it for me. I can't ask Sam or Nat or anyone else to take on this responsibility, because they would, and then they would be running and hiding for the rest of their lives. But that wouldn't happen with you. You can still watch out for him and have your own life.
I hope you know that I have always respected you. You can live without a war, that was something I could never do. You stand up for what you believe in, and that is why I am asking you, Tony, and no one else. You will stand up to Bucky if he does something stupid, you won't spare his feels just because of your loyalty to me. And that's what Bucky needs.
I'm sorry Tony, for everything. I hope you know that more than anything. What I did was wrong, I know that. I should have told you about your parents. I didn't because I was afraid. For most of my life the only person I had was Bucky, and when I found out what had happened to him, Bucky became my priority. For that I am sorry. I took for granted our friendship. I hope you know that I have only ever seen you as an equal, and a good leader.
I'm leaving the shield and the symbol of Captain America to Bucky. That is, of course, unless you would rather retire the shield. It is your call. It was, after all, your father's. But Bucky would make a good Captain America. He would fight for people who needed him, out of loyalty to me, and out of the guilt of everything he has done in his life.
As for the Avengers, I know that there was a time where you considered me the leader. That position is yours now. There is no one I trust more for that role. It has been an honor getting to know you. I know you go back and forth between being Iron Man and putting the suit down, and I trust whatever decision you make will be the right one.
I'm sorry I have to ask you for this. As always, I wish you well.
-Steve
Carefully, Pepper folded the paper and placed it back into the pocket of the jacket. She headed into the store on the corner and bought Gatorade, and headed back to Stark Tower. Georgiana was now asleep on the floor of the bathroom, and as Pepper opened the door Bucky jumped and woke up. For a moment he looked confused as to where he was. Wordlessly, Pepper showed him the Gatorade in her hands, and he mouthed a silent "thank you."
Gently, Bucky gracefully picked up Georgiana and carried her back to the guestroom Tony had set up for them. Pepper followed behind him. After Bucky tucked Georgiana into the bed, he turned and took the Gatorade from Pepper.
"Thank you," he said again. "I meant to go get some, but I guess I fell asleep."
"No problem," said Pepper. "How is she?"
Even though Bucky looked sleepy and disheveled, it was still easy to see how worried he was.
"Not good," he said. He looked down at his feet.
Pepper put a hand on his arm. "Maybe she will be better tomorrow."
Georgiana had to be better tomorrow. As long as Georgiana was alright, Pepper could imagine that it would be much easier for Tony to look after Bucky.
Leaving Bucky, Pepper returned to her own bedroom, changed, and climbed into bed. She wrapped her around Tony's sleeping form and pressed her cheek to his back. She knew Tony better than anyone, and still, he found ways to surprise her.
