Tony had proven to be quite good at organizing surprises for Pepper. Before their private dinner at the most expensive restaurant in the city, Tony had taken Pepper to one of the other art galleries and told her that whatever work she wanted, he would have it delivered back home before they left. He took her to her favorite shoe shop, and while he was waiting for her to try on some of the hundreds of designer heels she liked, he went to Tiffany and Co. to pick her out something special that he'd give her later on.
It was like the whole weekend was dedicated to Pepper, and Tony wouldn't stop showering her with surprised. Pepper, of course, insisted he stop spending money and that they were both here for a break, but Tony just waved it off. They had enough money to buy out the entire city, Tony thought nothing of a few thousand dollars here and there.
''I think you've outdone yourself.'' Pepper looked around as they sat at their table at dinner.
''You like?''
''I do.'' she smiled. ''But you know I would have settled for room service, you've done enough for me-''
''Uh uh.'' he shook his head, cutting her off. ''You know what I've noticed? You do so much for everyone else, but you never take a break for just you.''
''That's not true.''
Tony sat back in his chair with a challenging grin on his face. ''Is that so? Tell me, when's the last time you did something for just you, no one else. When was the last time you done something selfish?''
Pepper mirrored his challenging smile, leaning forward. ''Last week.'' Tony raised his eyebrows in wonder. ''I went out and bought myself morning tea, brought it back to the office and paraded it around in front of everyone.''
''How is that selfish? I do that all the time.''
''I didn't ask anyone else if they wanted anything while I was out.'' she told him as if it were crazy. ''I just went and did it.''
''Oh Pepper,'' he widened his eyes, speaking sarcastically. ''How selfish of you.''
Pepper shook her head. ''Do you not see how many pairs of shoes I bought today? Or how many I actually buy a week?''
Tony sighed. ''You're allowed to do those things, you know.''
''Is that what you've set out to do this weekend?'' she asked with a chuckled, sipping at her martini. ''Spoil me?''
''You say that like you don't deserve it.'' he told her with a sad look in his eyes. ''You deserve it more than anyone. You're the best wife anyone could dream of, and you're an ever better mother. I don't want to hear you saying you don't deserve it, or you don't need it, or you don't mind something less than what you want.'' he told her sincerely.
Pepper looked over to Tony with a genuine smile, appreciating every word he had said to her. It was amazing how people always noticed how lucky Tony was to have someone like Pepper, but all Pepper could see was how lucky she was to have someone like him. He made her the happiest she could ever be, and she knew that there was no one else but him, as it always was. He never let her forget how great she was, and he was never going to.
The next morning, Tony stretched out his arms to wrap around Pepper and pull her close, smiling into her hair as he breathed in the fruity smell of her shampoo, sighing in content. It had been two days now that they had woken up in each others arms quietly with no interruptions from either Abby or Lucas, however they missed them more than ever.
''What time are we leaving?'' Pepper asked with a yawn.
''Happy said he'd be here at twelve.'' he looked over to the clock. ''Which means we've got four hours to kill.''
Pepper smiled and rested into his chest, hugging him close. ''Hmm, room service sounds good.''
''You read my mind.''
Pepper stretched her arm out on the bed, looking down at the silver bracelet that Tony had given her when they got back from dinner. It was obviously an expensive piece of jewelry, but as she had agreed with Tony, she couldn't tell him she didn't need it or deserve it. It was a beautiful bracelet, and she had already decided to wear it every day, it was that nice.
''You know, even though this weekend has been...amazing,'' Pepper grinned, moving closer to Tony to give him a quick kiss. ''I'm actually okay with going back home.''
''Me too.'' he sighed before chuckling to himself. ''We really are sad people.''
''I wonder what they've been doing.''
''Probably driving your mom crazy.'' Tony imagined. ''Well, Abby anyway, I think Lucas is more like you than me, but give him some time, soon he'll be chasing Abby around the house as well.''
Pepper laughed. ''Oh god, I don't mind waiting for Lucas to start walking. I can just imagine the fights they're going to have.''
Tony thought to himself for a moment, smiling at the thought of his kids having their little fights together and their tantrums. Pepper hated when Abby threw her tantrums, but Tony could deal with them surprisingly well.
''Sometimes I wish I grew up with a sibling.'' he told her. ''Sister or brother, I didn't care, as long as they were younger than me.''
Pepper looked up to him. ''Really? I wouldn't think you to be someone who'd want a sibling at all.''
''Seems fun.'' he shrugged. ''Plus, I could have blamed a lot of stuff on them.''
Pepper laughed and nodded her head. ''Oh, right, now I see.''
Tony's hand rested on Pepper's thigh as they sat in the car on their way to Esther's. They had had the perfect weekend away together, and Pepper couldn't believe how, after all that has happened in their life, things were just the way they used to be. They loved each other just as much, even more now, and it had been just what they needed.
Right now though, they were both happy to be going home and seeing their kids again. Three days was a long time to go without seeing them all the time, and they had missed them like crazy.
When Happy drove into Esther's drive way, Pepper immediately opened the door and Tony followed her close behind, but Abby was running toward them before they even got to the front door.
''Mommy!'' she squealed as Pepper picked her up excitedly. ''I missed you!''
Pepper stroked her daughter's hair. ''I missed you to baby.''
''What about me?'' Tony pouted.
''I missed you lots too Daddy!'' Abby smiled.
''Abby, what did I say about running out the door?'' Esther's voice came from behind them, holding Lucas in her arms who had a big grin on his face to see his mom and dad.
Abby pouted just as Tony did. ''Sorry grandma.''
''Hey there little guy,'' Tony took Lucas from Esther, bouncing him in his arms and watching him giggle. ''I missed you too Lukey.''
Pepper put Abby down to run over to her dad and brother, and she turned back to her mother with a sigh.
''How were they?''
Esther smiled. ''Angels, Gin.''
''Mom, seriously.''
''Honestly, they were perfect.'' she nodded. ''We went to the parks, got ice cream, watched movies, and I even taught Abby how to make her own bubble mix, which I think you'll have to look out for.''
Pepper smiled. ''Thanks for this mom.''
''Anytime, I love spending time with them.''
They decided to spend some time their with Esther before they had to leave. It was getting late in the afternoon, and they had a feeling both Abby and Lucas would be worn out after the drive home.
As usual, they had fallen asleep by the time they got home, and Pepper and Tony carried them inside, taking them up to their beds to sleep for the rest of the night. Spending some time away from home made them realize how nice it was to be back, and after a quick shower, Pepper and Tony went straight to bed and fell asleep immediately.
''And then we went to the park that had the two biggest swings! Lukey couldn't get on them 'cause grandma said he's too small, so I played on them myself!''
Pepper nodded and smiled as Abby sat at the kitchen bench in the morning, telling her about everything she done at her grandma's over the weekend. Lucas was in his high chair eating breakfast, and Pepper was stirring her cup of coffee. She didn't know if it was because she had been away from them all weekend or not, but Pepper couldn't have been happier to sit there as they both made a mess, and listen to their weekend. Lucas was just getting the hang of saying some things, just repeating the noises he had heard, joining in on their conversation.
Pepper was glad that this weekend had happened, it was exactly what they all needed to get out of their repetitive routine they had been in over the past few weeks with Stark Industries work and Iron Man duties, as well as taking care of both children. Pepper wanted to start doing more things with Abby and Lucas like going to a park, but being a Stark, it was hard to do many things with the media following your every step.
''Pep, you busy?'' Tony's voice came over the little intercom on the kitchen bench.
''Why?''
''Got something I wanna show you.''
Pepper sighed, wondering what he was up to now. She didn't want any more surprises, he had done enough of that this weekend. She looked over to Abby who was eating peacefully and Lucas who was playing with his cup before she walked over to the stairs to the workshop. Jarvis always let her know if either Abby or Lucas were doing something dangerous or something was wrong.
''You do know I made breakfast, right?'' Pepper walked into the workshop, looking over to Tony who was sitting by his desk, looking at his computer screen. ''Tony?''
''Uh huh,'' he nodded. ''Check this out.''
''What is it?'' she asked, looking at a digital layout for what seemed like a building.
''What do you mean what is it?'' he looked up at her. ''Look at it, it's...beautiful.''
Pepper pulled a face of confusion. ''It looks like a big building, Tony. Is that what I'm meant to see?''
''It's a tower Pepper.'' he corrected, pointing at the top. ''And up there...''
Pepper squinted at the image before she made out the letters to 'Stark' written across the top of it.
''Why does it...oh, please tell me you're not planning on renovating Stark Industries.''
''No, this is something else entirely.'' he told her, shaking his head. ''This...is Stark tower.''
''You're going to build a tower?''
Tony nodded. ''It's gonna run on clean energy. I've been looking into it, no one else is doing it and if they are, it's not as good as what I'm gonna do.''
''But what for? What's it going to be for?'' Pepper asked, leaning back on the desk.
''The company. We're gonna lead the world into clean energy.'' he told her proudly. ''We make all this stuff, and how many time have reporters hassled us about how much damage we're doing to the environment from making them. This will clear all of that up.''
''Where's this coming from?''
''I was thinking about it when we were in New York. I've been wanting to do something like this for a while, but being in New York kinda made me think well, why not now?'' he shrugged. ''That's where the first one's going.''
Pepper's eyes widened. ''The first one? How many of these towers are you planning to make?''
''However many it takes for people to really notice and start doing the same thing. I think it's a good idea.''
Pepper saw how interested he was in this, and she couldn't help share his enthusiasm. It would be good for the company, and it was clean energy, it would be good for everyone. It was a good idea, but there was a lot involved that she knew she would be dealing with.
''And who's going to organize it all with Stark Industries? And the zoning, and the paperwork...the mountains of paper work?''
''Me. I'll do it all...maybe.''
Pepper smirked. ''Uh huh.''
''I swear Pepper,'' he grabbed her hands in his. ''This is going to be great, better than great, it's going to be...really good, okay?'' Pepper chuckled and he pressed a kiss to her hand. ''I promise.''
''Mrs. Stark, it seems Abigail is trying to climb her way to the kitchen sink.''
Pepper sighed and looked back at Tony. ''I gotta go deal with those two.'' she smiled. ''But I do think what you're doing is a good idea.''
''Really?'' he asked as she walked toward the door.
''You sound surprised that I would think that.''
''Because I am surprised.''
''It's a good idea Tony, I'm on board.''
Tony turned back to his desk with a grin on his lips, happy about what he was doing. This had been something he was wanting to do for a while now, and with Pepper thinking it was also a good idea, he knew it was going to work. Stark Tower, it was going to be something big.