"GUH!" Tony grunted, breathlessly, shooting straight up in bed, the image of Pepper's dead eyes and the sound of the flat-lining EKG machine evaporating into the ether around him. Suddenly, he felt his stomach lurch. He scrambled out of bed, managing to yank his phone off the nightstand before he stumbled into the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet in time to heave up the contents of his stomach.

After the nausea subsided, he sank back on his haunches heavily, his head spinning and his skin cold and clammy as he hugged the toilet bowl, laying his head on a forearm. His breathing was heavy and labored as he raised a heavy hand to the handle, shoving it downward to flush before collapsing his arm again to his side. "I...am never...drinking...again," he declared in a husky voice. He raised his head, and slowly scooted back against the wall in front of the toilet. He reached to grab some tissue to wipe his mouth, tossing it in the toilet bowl and rolling his head back, bumping it hard against the wall. He brought his phone up in front of his face, grateful he had the forethought to grab it when he did. Pepper was the only one that could sooth him after a nightmare, so it was imperative that he talk to her, even if she was three thousand miles away.

He dialed her cell phone and waited as it rang.

On the third ring, her heard her sleepy voice answer. "Hello?" she said groggily.

"Pepper, I need you," he said hoarsely, still trying somewhat to catch his breath.

"Tony?!" she said, now more aware, her voice suddenly drenched in panic. "Oh God! You sound out of breath! What's wrong?! Are you okay?!"

Pepper sat up in bed and turned on a her bedside lamp. All she could hear was his raspy breathing. "Tony, talk to me! Tell me you're alright!"

"I'm alright, Pep," she heard him say. "I just...I need to hear your voice, right now, okay? Please? Just, just stay on the phone,...and talk to me," Tony pleaded. He closed his eyes, and consciously tried to slow his breathing, both for his and hers sake.

"Oh, you had another nightmare!" Pepper said sadly. "Oh, Tony! I'm so sorry I'm not there right now!" Her heart ached at the realization that one of her biggest fears in leaving him alone for this period of time had come to fruition. She hated the thought of him, alone in the dark, fighting and struggling so hard in his sleep, and her not being there to comfort him.

"I know, baby, I know," he said. "But at least I can hear your voice, right? I mean, that's the next best thing, isn't it?" Tony smiled softly, his nerves already starting to calm.

Pepper nodded, a tear escaping her eye and rolling down her cheek. "Yeah," she said, sniffing and smiling to her self sheepishly as she brushed it away. "Yeah, it is."

"Yeah," Tony agreed. "Hey Pepper? Just so that I know, while you where held captive by Aldrich Killian, he never...forced himself on you...did he?"

"Tony, what are you asking?" Pepper asked, frowning at the question. "Are you...are you asking if he ever...tried anything...with me? Like...sexually?"

Tony closed his eyes, the images from his dream coming back for a split second to slap him in the face. "Uh, yep. Yeah, that's...what I'm asking," he confirmed.

"No, never," Pepper said. "No, of course not, Tony. I would have told you if he had."

"As far as you know? Or you know for sure," Tony asked. "And be honest, Pepper. I need to know."

"I know for sure," Pepper affirmed. "Why? Is that what you dreamt about? That he was...trying to..."
"No, no," Tony said, interrupting her in time to not have to hear her say the words. "Not exactly. But you were pregnant, and in labor, and I rushed to the hospital just before you gave birth, and Killian was the doctor, and he said he'd..." Tony gulped. "Impregnated you...while you were unconscious. And so you gave birth to a baby infected with Extremis."

"Oh God!" Pepper exclaimed, clasping a hand over her mouth, imagining how unbearable a nightmare like that must have been for Tony to endure. "And then what happened?" she asked.

"And then you..." Tony said slowly, mustering up the strength to say the next part. "Died. In my arms. And I couldn't save you, Pepper." His breath caught in his chest, and he brought a hand to his mouth, biting his lip hard against the bitter tears threatening his eyes.

"How awful!" Pepper said. "Tony, really! I promise, I'm not pregnant, and if Aldrich Killian had tried anything sexual, you would've been the first the know. Alright?"

"Okay, Pep," Tony said.

"Boy, this pregnancy thing really got to you, didn't it?" Pepper asked.

Tony smiled weakly. "Pepper, just know that if that test was positive, and you were pregnant? I'd be thrilled. Mad that you hadn't told me right off. But, I would've eventually got over it, and been thrilled. Okay? Are we clear on that?"

Pepper smiled to herself. "Crystal clear," she said sincerely. She sighed, sitting back against her headboard and pulling the covers up around her legs. "So, my poor baby, what would help you forget about your dream?" she cooed.

"Anything," Tony said. "Just start talking, I don't care." Tony had climbed off the bathroom floor, and walked to the sink as he was talking. He turned on the faucet and bent to take a big sip of water. He swished his mouth out and then drank down another gulp. He swiped a hand over his mouth, and looked at his bloodshot eyes in the reflection "Just work your magic, Pep," he said.

"Well, let's see..." Pepper said, thinking to herself for a moment. She snapped her fingers. "Oh! I forgot to tell you! The other day when I had to meet with Bill Riva in R&D? I very nearly called him Ralphie to his face," she said.

Tony had turned off the light to the bathroom, and was making his way back to the bed. He had flipped on the bedside lamp, while she was talking. He stood up abruptly, in surprise at her words, and giggled. "You did not!" he said.

"Yes! Yes, I did, no thanks to you!" Pepper replied. She heard him giggle again and she giggled back, her heart warming at the sound.

"Well, did you give him his memo?" Tony asked. "Does he know it's now a matter of company policy that he be forever known as Ralphie going forward?"
Pepper laughed. "No, goofball," she said. "He was so nervous, and tripping over himself, that he barely even noticed my mistake."

"Eh, it's probably for the best, anyway. Let him ease into the new name, maybe," Tony replied, smirking to himself.

They both laughed for a moment together.

Pepper fiddled with the edge of her comforter between her fingers. "Feeling better yet?" she asked.

"Yes," Tony said. "But keep going, baby. I'm enjoying hearing your voice."

Pepper bit her lip and smiled to herself. "What else should we talk about, then?" she asked softly.

"Hmmmmm," Tony said, now sinking down beneath the covers. He batted his pillow into a wad behind his head. "Tell me something that you've never told me about yourself," he suggested, settling in.

"Like what, Tony?" Pepper said, drawing a blank. "My life has been an open book to you for so many years! What else is left?"

"Tell me something from your childhood," he offered. "Like, what was your favorite movie? Or book? Or who were you for Halloween for five years in a row?"

Pepper chuckled. "Hmmmmm, favorite book. I guess that would be...Alice in Wonderland," she replied.

Tony's eyebrows went up in surprise. "One of the classics,huh? Nice, Potts. Can't say I'm surprised. You're a classics kind of gal,"
Pepper furrow her brow. "I am?" she said curiously.

"You don't think you are?" Tony said.

"Yeah, I suppose," Pepper said. "But really, the only reason why I was attached to it was because Alice could drink a potion to make her shrink. And I was always the tallest girl in my class, so I would've killed for one of those potions. Even a little taste. Just enough to shrink me down to everyone else's height."

Tony laughed, and Pepper laughed with him. "That's adorable, Potts!" he exclaimed.

"Yeah, well," she said bashfully. "It didn't feel adorable at the time."

"So, who was your favorite character?" Tony asked her.

"The Cheshire cat," Pepper said. "Just because he was so mysterious, and sly, but also funny and wise at the same time."

"Hmmmm," Tony said, pursing his lips in thought. "Very interesting," he said.

Pepper could hear the gears turning in his head. "What's interesting?" she said.

"Oh, nothing, Pep," Tony said, innocently, smiling slyly. "You've just given me an idea, that's all."

"Uh-oh," Pepper said, warily. "And what idea would that be, pray tell?" she asked coyly.

Tony chuckled. "That's for me to know, and for you to find out," he teased.

"Huh," Pepper said, pursing her lips in thought. Talk about a Cheshire cat, she thought. "Well, if you're not going to tell me, I guess my job here is done," she teased.

"Nice try, Potts, but I know you won't hang up on me in my current sorry state, so..." he said.

"You sound like you're coming around, Tony," she replied, smiling. "And, besides, I'm still recovering from your little visit last night," she purred. "I need to catch up on the sleep you made me miss."

Tony chuckled. "Oh yeah, Pep! Wow,was that last night? It seems like ages ago," he said.

"Before I leave you, how did your conversation with my mother go?" Pepper said, getting back under her covers, and rolling to her side.

Tony smacked his forehead. "Damn it, I knew I forgot something," he said. "I'll call her today."

"You beg me for the number, and then don't call? What kind of future son-in-law are you, Tony?" she teased.

"I know, I know," Tony said sheepishly. "I promise. I'm gonna call her today. I have to, really," he quipped. He suddenly realized what had come out of his mouth, and winced, secretly admonishing himself for letting that slip.

"What?" Pepper said, furrowing her brow curiously. "You have to? Why do you have to?" she asked.

"What?" Tony said. "Did I say I have to? I meant, I need to. I really should. So, that makes it a have to in my book, uh, baby. And that's a good thing, right?" he said, desperately trying to sound natural.

"Hmmmmm," Pepper said skeptically. "I don't know about you, Stark," she said.

Tony faked a yawn. "Ah, yeah, well, time for me to turn in, too, I suppose."
"Is it now," Pepper said coolly. "You're suddenly right as rain, huh?"

"Yeah, why?" Tony said. "Isn't this what you always do, Pep? When I have a nightmare?"

"Well, this and...other things," Pepper said, under her breath. She yawned sleepily. "Alright, Tony, you win this round. I'm too tired to interrogate you any further."

Safe!, Tony thought. "Okay, honey," he cooed. "I love you? Thank you for letting me hear your beautiful voice," he said sweetly.

Pepper couldn't help but smile, even though she was fully aware he was laying it on pretty thick. "Goodnight, Tony," she said. "And no more nightmares about Extremis babies, okay?" she joked.

Tony chuckled. "Okay, Pep. And I mean it. Thank you."

Pepper smiled. "You're welcome, Tony," she said softly. "And I love you, too."

Those nasty little nightmares-es! (said in my best Gollum voice). This one was particularly vicious I thought. But his lady love can always make it better afterwords, right? Only a couple more days, and they get reunited! Are you prepared to follow the white rabbit on this one? ;)

Thank you as always for reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting! It means so much! :)