I happened to skip the part in the last chapter about how Abby is a little older, almost two now.
When Pepper and Tony first tried to tell Abby about what was happening, they weren't sure she fully understood what was going on. They had waited until they had the all clear from the doctor and were certain about the pregnancy before they wanted to involve Abby, and telling her was eventful.
''Wouldn't it be fun to have a little brother or sister?'' Pepper asked her almost two-year old daughter as they all played in the living room.
Abby was building a tower with her blocks and looked to her mother. ''Why?''
''Well you could play with them.'' she told her happily. ''They could build towers with you.''
Abby shook her head. ''Nuh uh, I make towers myself.''
Pepper didn't know how to approach the situation. Tony sat next to Abby, piling the blocks over to her and building his own tower next to hers, just like he was a two year old as well. Pepper gave him a knowing look as if pleading for him to help as well.
''You could play with your toys with them.'' he told her.
''Nuh uh.'' she shook her head. ''They're mine.''
''You could share.'' Pepper told her.
''I don't wanna share.'' Abby pouted.
Tony smirked across to Pepper who was just glaring back at him. Abby really was Tony's daughter completely, she acted like him more than they even knew. Pepper started to worry after the first attempt to tell Abby she was going to have a sibling, because she seemed like she didn't want one. She was happy being an only child for now, she didn't mind playing on her own and building things.
Rhodey came over for dinner one night as well, and they told him the good news. He was surprised, as they both had been, but he was happy for them. He also had some news to share as well, he had starting dating someone a few weeks ago and felt like he could tell them now.
''You've been hiding her from us?'' Tony gasped.
''No,'' Rhodey shook his head. ''Just you.''
''What have I done wrong?''
''You'd say something, I knew you would, and it'll be all downhill from there.''
''Well I'm happy for you,'' Pepper told him sincerely. ''We'll have to go out to dinner one night.''
Tony and Pepper were laying in bed one night, sleeping peacefully, when Tony heard little footsteps approaching the room. There was quiet sobs and sniffles as well, and he soon sat up, turning on the bedside light to see. Abby stood at the doorway, clutching her teddy bear as her eyes were red with tears. Her lips were trembling uncontrollably and Tony stepped out of bed to go over to her.
''What's wrong Ab?'' he knelt down, taking her into his arms protectively and scooping her up. Her head automatically buried into his chest and she cried softly. ''Shh, it's okay baby.'' he soothed, running his hand along her back. ''What's the matter?''
Abby stopped her sobs for a moment and spoke quietly. ''I'm scared.''
''Of what?'' he asked, looking down at her with concern.
Pepper was awake when he looked over, her expression worried as she watched Tony walk over to the bed with Abby in his arms. He sat down and held her close, pulling the blanket back over them as they sat up. Abby didn't let go of her dad, even when they sat down.
''Hey, what's wrong?'' Pepper asked, leaning in.
Abby sniffled. ''There's...noises.'' she sobbed. ''And it's dark, and...something scary...I don't wanna go back in there.''
Tony rubbed her back soothingly, calming her down. ''Nightmare.'' he whispered to Pepper, who nodded with a sad look in her eyes. ''It's okay, nothing's gonna get you.'' he told her, pressing a kiss to her head. ''I won't let them.''
''You wanna sleep here with me and daddy?'' Pepper asked, reaching out to push Abby's hair back as she nodded. ''Okay.''
Once Abby was settled, her eyes drifted closed and she was soon asleep. Tony gently laid her in the middle of the bed between him and Pepper and they each made sure she was alright before they turned the light out, falling asleep as well. Every now and then Pepper could feel Abby's little hand on her arm where she was reaching out, making sure her mom and dad were still there. It must have been a terrible nightmare.
In the morning, Tony woke up to find Pepper missing from the bed. Abby was still sprawled across the middle, buried underneath the blankets. Tony carefully stood up, making sure he didn't wake her, and he made his way over to the bathroom. Just as he had suspected, Pepper was in there, enduring a bout of morning sickness. He must have missed the worst of it because now she was just sitting next to the toilet.
''You alright?'' he asked.
Pepper nodded, giving him a soft smile. ''Wasn't too bad, I'm fine now.'' He helped her up, and she walked over to the sink and washed her face, the cool water hitting her face and making her feel a whole lot better. ''I might take a shower.''
Tony pressed a kiss to her forehead. ''Okay. You sure you're okay?''
''Mm hmm, feel much better.'' she told him.
''Do you want some breakfast?''
Pepper made a face. The thought of food right now was making her stomach churn, and before she knew it, she was over the toilet bowl again, throwing up even more. Tony put his hand on her back and held her hair away from her face. When she was pregnant with Abby, her morning sickness had no effect on her appetite at all, she would always be hungry, but right now the very thought of food was making her heave.
''No breakfast for me please.'' Pepper told him, sitting back up.
When Tony finally left the bathroom after Pepper insisted this time that she was fine, he found Abby on the bed laughing at the cartoon that were now on television. Jarvis was programmed to turn them on for her whenever she liked. When she saw Tony walking out of the bathroom, she stood up on the bed and reached out to him.
''How 'bout we have some pancakes for breakfast?'' he asked, lifting her up into his arms and walking out the door to the hall.
''Pancakes!'' she cheered before looking around the room and back to Tony. ''Mommy?''
''Mommy's not feeling too good, we gotta let her rest.'' he told her.
''But wouldn't it be fun to have a little brother or sister?'' Tony asked Abby as she sat in her seat at the kitchen bench. ''You could play with them, and take care of them.''
Abby took a sip of her juice as her dad talked to her. ''I don't want one.''
''But why not?''
''I like to play with you and mommy.'' she told him sadly. ''I no wanna share.''
Tony then understood. She didn't want Pepper and Tony to forget about her, she didn't want someone else taking all of her parent's attention. It had been almost two whole years of her parents doting on her, and when they explained that if she had a little brother or sister she would have to share, she did not like it at all.
''We'll still play.'' he told her. ''Nothing will change, except there'll be a little brother or sister here as well.''
Abby considered his words, but went on eating in silence.
About an hour later, Pepper emerged from the bathroom fully dressed and headed downstairs where Tony was clearing the bench of breakfast. He saw Pepper coming and warned her about all the food if she was going to be sick again.
''No, it's fine, I'm okay now.'' she told him, appreciating his thoughtfulness.
''You sure?''
''Yeah, I'm actually kinda hungry now.'' she chuckled. ''I think I'll have some yogurt or something.''
''I can make you something.'' he offered.
''No, it's okay, I just want something light.'' Pepper walked over to him, placing a kiss on his lips. ''Thank you though.''
Tony sighed. ''I just wish there was something I could do to make you feel better.''
''You take care of me, that makes me feel better.'' she told him sincerely. ''I've done this before, I can handle it again.''
''Hmm, still don't like it though.'' he told her sadly, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her to him.
''Well, it's all worth it in the end.'' she smiled.
''True.'' he grinned, pressing his lips to hers gently before they were interrupted by little feet running into the kitchen.
''Mommy!'' Abby hugged Pepper's legs.
''Good morning Ab.'' Pepper chuckled, bending down to press a kiss to her daughter's forehead.
''You all better?'' she asked worriedly.
Pepper smiled. ''Yeah, I'm better now.''
A week later, Tony, Pepper and Abby sat in the doctor's office awaiting Dr. Tate. It was Pepper's first ultrasound where they would be able to hear the heartbeat and get their first look at their baby. Pepper laid in the chair, twitching her fingers nervously as Tony sat beside her, balancing Abby on his lap as she sucked on a lollipop.
''Quit it.'' Pepper looked over to Tony.
''What?'' he asked innocently.
''You're tapping your foot.''
Tony looked down at his foot which was tapping against the floor, and he looked up at her apologetically. ''Oh...right.''
''What's that?'' Abby pointed at the ultrasound machine next to Pepper.
''That's a special machine, it's gonna let us see the baby.'' Pepper told her.
Abby looked at her mom. ''Ouch?''
Pepper chuckled. ''No, it's not ouch.''
A few moments later, Dr. Tate arrived in the room with Pepper's file and looked over it before walking to the family. She turned on the machine to get ready, and explained to Pepper what they would see today and how much they could tell from today.
''And how are you Abby?'' Dr. Tate smiled. Abby pushed herself back into her father's arms, intimidated by this woman in a white coat. ''Little shy?''
''Sometimes.'' Pepper told her.
''Okay, you ready to see your baby?'' she asked, moving the machine.
Pepper smiled in anticipation and Tony scooted the chair closer so he and Abby could see. They both knew Abby didn't know what was going on yet, but when they heard the baby's heartbeat, hopefully Abby would be able to hear it too and know what it was. Dr. Tate moved the ultrasound over Pepper's stomach after applying the cool gel, searching for their baby. When she found it, she pointed it out to the couple, showing them exactly where to look.
''That's our baby, there?'' Pepper asked, her eyes watering.
Dr. Tate smiled. ''That's your baby. Growing perfectly fine, nothing unusual.''
Pepper grabbed Tony's hand and held it in hers. ''Look!''
''I know.'' Tony grinned, staring at the screen. ''Can you see Ab?'' Abby looked at him in confusion. ''See that? Right there.'' Abby nodded as Dr. Tate put her finger to the screen to assist. ''That's your little brother or sister.''
Abby's mouth dropped. ''Why is they in there?''
They all chuckled lightly at her innocent question. ''No sweetie, they're in here.'' Pepper patted her stomach.
''But...in there?''
''Uh huh, that's where babies live until they grow.'' Dr. Tate explained. ''That's where you lived.''
''Nuh uh!'' Abby shook her head.
They knew they were getting nowhere right now, and so they let it go until she would one day understand. The heartbeat of the baby came into the room as Dr. Tate adjusted the volume, and Pepper couldn't help her tears sliding down her cheeks in happiness. Tony grinned widely at the sound of their unborn child, and Abby even listened in closely, the noise taking her attention. They sat there together for a few moments in silence as a family, watching the screen and listening to the sound, marveling.
''Uh uh! No!'' Abby yelled as Pepper carried her into the bathroom.
She had made a mess of herself outside in the garden while Pepper had been reading in the sun, and she was covered in dirt. However, she wasn't so excited about taking a bath in the middle of the day and Pepper was quickly realizing what other parents were talking about when they mentioned the ''terrible twos''.
''Abby, stop it!'' Pepper scolded. ''You're taking a bath!''
''I don't wanna!'' she yelled again. ''I don't wanna!''
''Well you have to.'' Pepper ran the little bath for her. ''You're too dirty.''
''No!'' she screamed, and began crying in tantrum. ''I don't wanna!''
''Abby! Enough!'' Pepper scolded again.
''What's with all the yelling?'' Tony came to the door, a towel in his hand from where he was wiping the grease off his arms.
''Oh, it's just tantrum time.'' Pepper looked at him tiredly. ''Abby, stop it!''
''I don't wanna!''
Tony could see how exhausted Pepper was. This pregnancy was giving her big headaches due to her high blood pressure. They were giving her medication, but when Pepper was stressed or worked up, it hit her like a ton of bricks.
''Hey, I'll handle this.'' Tony walked in.
''No, it's fine.'' Pepper shook her head, standing up straight and taking a deep breath.
''No, Pepper go lay down, I got this.''
Pepper didn't have the energy to fight back, instead she relented. ''Okay.''
When Pepper left, Tony walked over to Abby and bent down to her level. ''Listen to mommy okay? You gotta take a bath.''
Abby pouted. ''I don't wanna.''
''Well you gotta.'' Tony shrugged. ''Once your all clean, you won't have to do it again.''
''No.'' Abby whined.
''Hey, come on, stop it.'' Tony put his finger to her chin and raised her head to look at him. ''I'll make a deal. You have a bath, get all cleaned up and then we'll go build a block tower, the biggest one ever.''
Abby thought to herself for a moment. ''Okay.''
Tony smiled at his bribery. ''Alright, you know the drill, hop in.''
Once Abby was bathed and dressed, Tony walked her out of the bathroom and watched as she walked over to Pepper who was laying on the bed and climbed up to hug her. Pepper enjoyed the little gesture and hugged her back, kissing her on the cheek gently.
''I'm all clean mommy.''
''See, wasn't too hard?'' she smiled. ''Thank you.''
Abby jumped off the bed then, preparing to go down to build the block tower. Tony nodded his head for her to go downstairs ahead of him and then she ran off all excited, leaving her parents in the room alone.
''You okay?'' Tony asked as he walked over to Pepper.
She nodded tiredly. ''Mm hmm, I'm fine. Just needed to lay down like you said.''
''See? I'm always right.'' he smiled.
Pepper sat up. ''Maybe just this once.''
''We're gonna be downstairs building an empire with blocks, so beware if you want some sleep.''
Pepper smiled. ''I think I'll come down there and watch, beats sitting up here.''
''You sure?''
''I'm fine Tony. Tantrums are just going to have to be your area to deal with for a while.'' she chuckled.
Tony bent down and kissed her cheek. ''If you say so. I'm an expert in bribery, I can handle any tantrum.''
Pepper stood up, laughing. ''I'll hold you to that.''