Tony's eyes were narrowed as worked his jaw in thought, recalling that night. "One month. The package said it was good for one more month," he muttered, remembering. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized he probably shouldn't have risked using a condom so close to its expiration. He shook his head, and raised his eyebrows in the realization that he and Pepper could easy have made a baby that night, all because his libido was raging and she'd run out of birth control. Not the most romantic conception in the world, he thought.

Tony grabbed for his phone and quickly dialed Pepper's cell. He waited for her to answer.

"What is it, Tony? I'm in the middle of something," Pepper said impatiently.

"You didn't actually take that pregnancy test the other day, right?" he asked urgently, ignoring her tone.

"What?! Why are you..."

"Just answer the question, Pepper," Tony huffed. "You didn't, right?"

Pepper exhaled. "No, Tony. I did not. Because I..." she trailed off. "Uh, just a moment," she said. She stopped talking, and he heard some shuffling noises. He heard some muffled voices and then the sound of a door closing. "Because I got my period. Remember?" she murmured, through what sounded like gritted teeth. "And why that's important for you to know right now is beyond me. So, if you'll excuse me. I'm trying to get all the loose ends tied up before I leave for my flight that, as you might recall, is to New York to meet up with you! Which begs the question- why couldn't this have waited until then?!"

"Pepper, listen to me," Tony begged. "That condom we used? I think it was faulty!"

"What? What condom? What are you talking about?!" Pepper cried.

"The condom, Pepper! Think! When was the last time we used a condom?" Tony asserted.

"I don't know! It was like, a month ago or more," Pepper replied.

"Right," Tony said. "Baby, think. You were late this month, and you barely had a period. You've had all kinds of weird symptoms you keep saying are some stomach bug, but Pepper," he warned. "There aren't any reported stomach bug illnesses going around in Malibu right now. I know. I've checked."

"What are you, the CDC?!" Pepper spouted. She huffed exasperatedly. "Tony, I have to go..."

" And you've only been getting sick in the mornings!" he exclaimed. Tony chuckled in awe of how they could have dismissed all of the evidence so quickly that only pointed to one thing. "Pepper, what else could it be?!" he exclaimed.

"Fine, I'm pregnant, Tony! Is that what you want to hear?!" she barked.

Tony froze. "You are?!" he exclaimed.

"I don't know!" Pepper spat out. "But you seem to think I am! So you know what?! For the sake of argument at the moment, I'm just going to say that I am, okay? Because God knows! I really need to be distracted with something like this right now, when I only have a couple of hours to spare before I have to get on that plane! And if you hearing that I'm carrying your child is going to get you off the phone so I can get back to work, then so be it! We're having a baby, Tony. Happy? What the hell. Let's make it twins! Why not?!"

The line went dead, and Tony was still frozen, holding his phone to his ear. His mind reeled wildly with the remnant of her words bashing around in his mind. He swallowed hard. "Okay, maybe I should've waited to bring that up until later," he muttered to himself, realizing that in his panic and excitement, he'd blatantly ignored the fact that Pepper hadn't been just sitting at her office, staring at her phone, waiting for him to call, and that quite possibly, she had far more pressing matters to attend to at the moment than a hypothetical pregnancy.

Tony smacked his forehead with his palm and scrubbed his hand down his face. "Way to go, dummy," he said, shaking his head. "Yeah, let's just stress out your already stretched-thin fiance who is fighting her way through the morning trying to clear a path long enough to take a plane across the country to be with you on New Year's Eve by calling her up and telling her you think the reason why she's been puking her guts out is that she's pregnant," he spat out, sarcastically. "Not your smartest move," he scolded himself. "You're lucky if she gets on that plane at all, now."

XxXxXxXxXx

Pepper abruptly hung up on Tony, and huffed, blowing her bangs out of her face exasperatedly. But she instantly regretted unloading on him like that. She knew he was only concerned about her health, and that he was grasping at straws, per his usual, to find a solution. Psssh, pregnant, she thought. She chuckled. That couldn't be what's going on with me. Sure, her symptoms had come on suddenly, and they were very odd to say the least, and she hadn't been able to kick whatever it was that was bothering her, but pregnant? "No," she said, shaking her head. "I got my period. It was short, but I got it. So I'm not pregnant. End of story," she stated. Still, she imagined the only way she'd be able to prove it to Tony is if she took a test, and he could see it was negative. But there was no way she'd have time for that before she left.

"Well," she said, sighing. "It'll just have to wait until New York, then." And with that, Pepper squared her shoulders, and walked back out to reception.

When she reached her secretary's desk, Bambi was looking at her silently with wide eyes. "Is...everything alright, Ms. Potts?" she asked cautiously.

Pepper frowned, and then her eyes went wide, instantly realizing her conversation with Tony had been overheard, even behind her closed doors. "Oh my God, Bambi! You heard that?!" Pepper said, slapping a hand to her forehead and adverting her eyes in embarrassment, her cheeks turning scarlet red. "Yes! Yes, everything is, um...just fine. Thank you," Pepper stammered.

Bambi leaned in. "If you don't mind me asking, is it true?" she asked Pepper in a quiet voice.

Pepper smiled sheepishly. "Well," she began, finding the seeds of doubt in her opinion quickly sprouting in her brain, for which she secretly cursed at Tony for planting. "I...don't think so, Bambi," she said resolutely, unable to lie to her loyal secretary.

Bambi smiled a giddy smile. "Well, if it is," she said to her boss. "I'm very happy for the both of you."

Pepper smiled and nodded. "Well, if it is," Pepper said. "Then, thank you. And we'd be completely shocked."

"But happy?" Bambi asked, hopefully.

Pepper sighed. "But happy," she admitted, smiling dreamily.

XxXxXxXxXx

Tony had called for Happy to bring the car around at 11:30 that morning. He was supposed to be having lunch with Rhodey and Marilynn at noon at the Waldorf Astoria's Peacock Alley lounge. After he and Pepper's last conversation, he knew he needed to give her time to breathe. That meant leaving her alone for a while, and having lunch with Mama Potts would certainly brighten his spirits and give him the perfect distraction from obsessing over the idea that Pepper was quite possibly pregnant after all. Plus, he was excited to see his future mother-in-law and his best friend anyway.

Tony stepped out of the elevator, freshly shaved, showered, and smelling deliciously expensive as she slipped on his RayBans. He wore a navy blue blazer with a light blue pocket square, which matched the light blue dress shirt he wore with a thin white pin stripe and the top button unbuttoned, and a pair of dark, cuffed blue jeans, with a black Gucci belt, and black suede dress shoes. His hair was thick, wavy, perfectly moussed and combed. He was proud of the ensemble he'd picked out sans Pepper, and he preened and primped for an extra few minutes in their full length mirror, as he'd admired the view. She'd find me pretty hot right now, he thought cockily. Hell, I even find me hot right now!

Happy nodded to his boss in approval when he saw him exit the elevator and start walking his way. "Lunch with the future mama-in-law, ay Boss?" Happy quipped.

"Yep," Tony said happily. He posed, hold out his hands from his sides, palm up, and slowly pivoting on the balls of his feet. "I clean up nice, right? I mean, look at me."

Happy chuckled. "Very nice, boss. Very nice," Happy replied.

Tony patted him on the shoulder as he got in the car. "Thanks, Hap. I know you're always good for the truth," Tony said, smirking.

Happy just rolled his eyes and shook his head, smiling at his boss's antics. He closed the door and made his way around to the driver's side, getting in the car and turning the ignition.

They pulled out onto the street and Tony watched the traffic go by, smiling quietly to himself. "Hey, Hap?" Tony asked.

"Yeah, boss?" Happy asked, glancing at Tony in the rear view.

"That nurse, uh...what's her name..." Tony said, snapping his fingers trying to remember.

"Irene?" Happy offered.

"Yeah!" Tony said, pointing at Happy. "That's the one. Did you talk to her? Is she coming tonight?"

Happy smiled widely and nodded in the affirmative. "Yeah, boss. She's comin'," he said.

Tony grinned, and clapped his hands together. He rubbed them eagerly. "Alright! Sounds good! That's what I like to hear!" he said proudly. Happy chuckled. "So, uh, any chance she'll be the future Mrs. Hogan? You know, given the spirit of the whole situation?" Tony teased. He smirked and waggled his eyebrows.

Happy blushed. "I can't speak for her, Sir, but uh...let's just say I wouldn't mind it," Happy said.

Tony pressed his lips together, nodding in acknowledgment. "I read ya', I read ya'" Tony said. He shrugged. "Who knows, right? Next New Year's Eve, we might be throwing you guys a party," Tony gushed.

Happy just smiled bashfully, and looked away.

XxXxXxXxXx

A short time later, Happy pulled up in front of the Waldorf Astoria, letting Tony out of the backseat. "If you don't mind, boss, I've gotta go pick up Irene."

"Oh!" Tony said, delighted. "She's flying into town right now?!" he asked.

Happy nodded. "I'm going to drop her at my place at the Tower, if that's alright. But I'll be back here in plenty of time."

"Yeah, yeah, go ahead," Tony said, waving him off with a hand. "Give her my best, and uh...take her shopping later. On me. Make it a trip she won't forget, huh?"

Happy smiled gratefully. "Will do, boss. I'll treat her right. Or you will, as the case may be," he joked.

"Eh, take the credit just this once, Hap. I know how these things work," Tony said. He winked at his driver, and Happy nodded.

Tony walked in through the door of the hotel and over to the restaurant, where he instantly spotted Rhodey and Marilynn seated at a small square table. Marilynn instantly spotted him as well,and she began vibrating giddily in her seat, anxious to greet her daughter's fiance. Tony swiped off his sunglasses and hung them in his shirt collar as he walked over to them. Rhodey beamed at his friend, standing to shake his hand. Tony grinned as he shook it firmly, and then opened his arms wide for Marilynn, who clapped her arms around him tightly. "Hello there, Mr. Tony!" she squealed happily. She planned a big kiss on his cheek, and then began smudging off the lipstick with her thumb.

Tony wrapped his arms around her in return and squeezed back. He grinned, delighted to see her. "Hello, Mama Potts!" he cried. "So good to see you!" he stepping back to look at her fondly. He grabbed one of her hands and kissed it sweetly, and Marilynn cooed.

"Always the gentleman, aren't you?" she purred. "Well, almost always!" she teased, winking at Rhodey.

"Oh,yeah! You owe me for that one, pal! Big time!" Tony joked, pointing at his friend.

"Hey, the woman deserved to know who her daughter is really marrying," Rhodey defended, smiling mischievously. "And I thought it was my duty to inform her."

"Yeah, yeah," Tony said, waving a hand at him, and smirking. He turned to Marilynn. "Well, my dear. How about some lunch?" Tony asked, his eyes sparkling as he smiled his best charm-filled smile.
Marilynn agreed, and he guided her back into her seat, He pushed in her chair behind her politely. He then took a seat beside her and unfolded his napkin, putting it across his lap.

"So, tell me?" Tony said. "Has the big guy, here, taken you out on the town yet?" he asked, jabbing a thumb in Rhodey's direction.

"Oh yes!" Marilynn said. "We were up early this morning, weren't we Colonel?" she asked, nodding at him. Rhodey chuckled and nodded back. Marilynn continued. "I found the perfect dress to wear tonight. I know if Ginny saw it, she'd call me fancy! But it is! And this afternoon? I've got an appointment, like you told me Tony, for a little pampering." she stated.

Tony beamed. He nodded. "Glad to know you're following my directions to the letter," he said. "And you make sure you have a good time later on, okay? That's an order."
"Yes, sir!" Marilynn said, saluting Tony playfully. They all laughed.

"So, if your question and answer period is done," Marilynn said. "I have a very important question for you, Mr. Tony."

Tony held up his hands in surrender. "Fire away," he said, smirking and looking from Rhodey to Marilynn. Rhodey smiled.

"I want to know," she said coyly. She leaned in closer to him and spoke in a murmured tone. "When am I going to get some grand children?"

Tony spluttered, and Rhodey snickered at his friend being put on the spot. He tried to hide it behind his hand, as he looked in Tony's direction."Yeah, Tony? Tell the woman! We all would like to know the answer to that question!" Rhodey cajoled. He looked at his friend expectantly.

Tony's cheeks colored and he smiled bashfully, looking downward. He chuckled to himself. "Well," he said, raising his gaze back up to Marilynn. He cocked an eyebrow. "Uh...soon," he said, confidently. Tony smiled knowingly. "I...have the feeling it'll be...soon."

Marilynn cooed with delight, but Rhodey stopped laughing, picking up on his friend's clues in his answer. Tony flicked his gaze to his friend's face. Rhodey subtly raised his eyebrows questioningly, his face dead serious, and Tony nodded once in the affirmative while pursing his lips, following that with a knowing smile, before turning his attention back to Marilynn.

Boy, things are heating up quickly, here, aren't they? Just hours to go, my dears, before it's all out in the open! Can you wait that long?! I can't! :D

Thank you as always for your wonderful feedback!