AN: This chapter's title is a reference to something found in Chapter 20 of The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry.
Also note, this chapter is a continuation of the previous chapter entitled TAME THE FOX.
Pepper hadn't wanted to leave Ethan alone, not even to sleep herself. In an unusual twist of irony Tony had found himself being the voice of reason by being the one to convince her that they both needed to get some sleep while their son was doing the same. The act of leaving the nursery without having Ethan in her arms was as every bit hard on him it had been on Pepper, and she had looked ready to cry. But in the end she had allowed him to wrap an arm around her, and lead her back to their bedroom.
They'd brushed their teeth at the same in the bathroom, and returned to the bedroom together to finish getting ready for bed. Pepper's movements were slow, cautious, and she still winced when she went to take off her top. The blouse, unfortunately, was one that had to be put on or taken off over the head, and Tony felt his heart constrict painfully when it became clear what was normally simple movement was hurting her.
"Here, let me do that," he said, stepping forward to help her.
"Okay," Pepper replied quietly.
How pale she was alarmed him, she was almost as white as a sheet, and so he told her gently, "Sit down on the bed." Again Tony felt his heart clench painfully as he watched her gingerly lower herself onto their bed, grimacing the entire time from the pain the movement caused her. "What were you going to wear to bed?"
They'd both never been one for the traditional pajamas that included a button down top as part of the deal as they both usually preferred sleeping in t-shirts or in Pepper's case, an occasional nightgown.
"I-I don't know," she answered. "I'm not sure I can handle putting on a t-shirt right now."
Tony nodded, biting his lower lip as he thought about a solution to the problem. He knew that he could have JARVIS order some pajamas right then but even with the promise of a huge tip, he knew delivery would take awhile to reach them, and one look at his wife told him that wasn't going to be feasible tonight.
"Tony?"
The sound of her voice had brought Tony out of his thoughts at the same time the possible solution came into his head. Without a word, he went over to his closet, and pulled out one of his dress shirts. He returned to the bed, and held out the shirt for her to take. "Here you can sleep in this tonight, and we'll get you some actual pajamas tomorrow."
Pepper eyed the shirt for a moment, then took it with a smile. She raised her arms as little as she could to allow for Tony to pull off the blouse she was wearing, and then allowed him to help her slip into the dress shirt. As she buttoned the shirt all the way down except the bottom so her stomach was exposed, she watched him get dressed in his own preferred bedtime clothes. Tears flooded her eyes when she thought about how attentive and gentle he was being towards her needs
"Are you going to wear some of your yoga pants - hey, what's wrong, Pep?" he asked when he noticed her crying.
"Oh, nothing," she said, wiping her eyes.
"You're not hurting really bad are you?"
Pepper smiled at him, shaking her head, "Well I am about due for another dose of pain meds but that's not what's making me cry."
"Then what?" He sat down beside her on the bed. "What it is?"
"You."
"Me?"
"Yes, you," she confirmed, swiping at the tears on her face. "You're being so sweet and so wonderful to me right now."
"Of course I am," he said, kissing her forehead, "I love you."
