Summary: Pepper brings her daughter to work.
Tony stepped into the shower behind her, his soft skin merging with Pepper's as he enveloped her with his muscular arms. He brushed his lips ever so slightly across her temple, her cheek, the side of her throat. Then he began to nuzzle her neck with a feathering motion that drew a sigh from her, a current of pleasure sent down her spine.
"Good morning, beautiful," he breathed, running his large hands down her thigh.
The cold metal of Tony's bionic arm made her shiver, but she didn't flinch. She was so used to it now; amazed by how gentle the touch of his hand was, almost as if it was still made of flesh. One day, Tony would have figured out a way to use nano tech to create an arm that didn't even feel like metal anymore, let alone look like it. She was certain of that. He was already working on it, in fact. But Pepper had told him she loved him just the way he was. He was alive, that was all that mattered.
"Hey," she whispered, her fingers sliding over the cool metal and over the line where the titanium ended and he began.
She heard his breath catch in his throat, and she smiled, turning around to face him. Pepper kept her eyes closed as drops of water poured through her mane, just feeling his fingers skimming across her flesh. He brushed back her hair with a touch as soft as snowflakes and cupped her cheeks with both hands. She slowly opened her eyes and cast her gaze upward. Tony's smile was so full of tenderness that it was like being kissed; a smile so beguiling, it tripped her heartbeat to a breathless pace.
"Ready for your big day?"
"This day is a day like every other workday, honey," she answered, smiling.
"But you'll finally introduce our daughter to your world. That must be exciting for you." Tony wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him, and she buried her face against his neck. "I'm so proud of you. For all you do at SI and for charity... and for me. And I know Morgan's too."
"You're my favorite charity case," she mumbled against his skin, making him giggle.
"She'll love it, Pep," he said, stroking her back. "Spending the day with her mama instead of staying home with me."
"I think she's more excited to wear one of her daddy's suits when she's old enough than to see her mommy boss around her employees."
Tony laughed softly and tilted her head so he could look at her. "Then why is she already downstairs, waiting for you?"
"She is?"
"Yup! All dolled up in that cute little business outfit you got her."
"But we didn't even have breakfast yet," she said surprised.
"I think she doesn't care." Tony chuckled and then gave her a light smack on the butt. "You better hurry. We Starks are very impatient."
"I know," Pepper replied, grinning, as she wiggled free of his arms. "I'm done here anyway."
"You should never be allowed to take morning showers without me," he said with a playful pout.
Pressing her breasts against Tony's chest, Pepper crushed her mouth over his, leaving him gasping for air. "How about I'll give you a rain check?"
"I'll swing by your office during lunch break," he muttered.
She laughed. "While our daughter's there? I don't think so." She stepped out of the shower, brushing her hand across his chest. "Tonight, Tony." She smirked. "I'll be all yours tonight."
"And what am I supposed to do about this—" he pointed at his erect penis, "now?"
"You got two hands, right? I'm sure you'll figure it out."
After gathering her stuff, Pepper went through it one last time to see if she was missing anything, then she turned to her daughter and smiled. "You got your lunchbox?"
Morgan nodded.
"Avengers Hero Inventor Kit? Because board meetings can get kind of boring."
"Check," she said with a grin, and added hopefully, "Beet sandwiches?"
"No, honey, I made avocado sandwiches. We had beets yesterday, remember?"
"I don't want avocado."
Morgan loved avocado. It was one of her favorites. But those beet sandwiches her mother had made her the day before had been so delicious...
"Beet sandwich! Beet sandwich! Beet sandwich!" she chanted, her Iron Man plush backpack bouncing up and down as she jumped.
"Spoken like a true Stark," Tony said proudly, coming down the stairs, and patted Morgan's head. "And a true daughter of mine." He looked at his wife with a big grin on his face.
"You say that like it's a good thing," Pepper joked and turned to Morgan. "Allons-y, ma petite sirène, we don't wanna be late."
"Tardiness is not acceptable in the Potts family," Tony said amused.
"You're right, it isn't," she told him, grinning.
She kissed her husband goodbye, grabbed her things from the kitchen counter and took her daughter's hand, leading her toward the car. She would never get used to how small and warm and totally vulnerable Morgan's hand felt. That girl was her whole world, so grown up but still so fragile. It scared her a little to know that someday she would have to let her walk this earth alone; to not be able to be there for her anymore, every step of the way, to protect her.
"Can I have beet sandwiches tomorrow?"
Pepper chuckled. "Sweetie, you can have beet sandwiches every single day, if you want to, we just don't have time anymore to make them today."
Morgan smiled happily as she pressed the back of her mother's hand softly against her mouth.
"What was that for?" Pepper asked, surprised at her child's tender caress.
The young girl looked up, her smile making her eyes shine. "Thank you."
"You wanted to thank me?"
She nodded.
"For giving you what you want?" Pepper grinned.
Morgan giggled. "Thank you for taking me to work and making sandwiches and being my mommy."
"All those things?"
Morgan hopped in the car once her mother had opened the door for her, and Pepper secured her in the car seat, dropping a kiss to her forehead.
"That's so sweet, honey, but you really don't have to thank me, especially not for being your mommy," she said, smiling. "Because being your mommy is my favorite thing in the world."
"I want to be a mommy, too."
Pepper laughed. "Please don't let your father hear that," she mumbled, closing the door and getting into the driver's seat. "He's already having a hard time thinking about you dating."
The answering giggle was lilting for a girl Morgan's size. She had an infectious giggle. Pepper knew all mothers said that, but hers really was. When her daughter cried, though, it was a fingernail down the blackboard of Pepper's soul. She could hardly bear seeing her cry.
Pepper parked her Audi in her reserved parking spot for executives at the front of the building and helped Morgan out of the car.
"Now, remember what we talked about. Stay close to me and don't touch anything you're not supposed to," she reminded her daughter.
"Because of the scary machines?"
"Yes, I don't want you to get hurt."
The security guard took casual note of them when they entered the building, and Morgan instantly gripped her mother's hand so tightly it almost stopped the blood flow. Pepper looked down and saw Morgan clinging to her leg. She could read her daughter's body language easily—the way she tensed up when she was afraid.
"It's okay, honey," she said, "That's just Tommy, our security guard." She looked at him, and he smiled at her as though he was trying to apologize for scaring the little girl. "I know he looks like a dangerous man, but he's a really sweet guy, aren't you, Tommy?"
Tommy crouched down in front of Pepper's daughter. "And you must be Morgan. It's so nice to meet you." Giving her a gentle smile, he ran a hand over Morgan's arm. "I'm sorry I scared you. I just need to look scary, so no one comes in here to hurt your mommy. You know, like, a bad guy."
Morgan peeked out from behind her mother's legs. "You're protecting Mommy?"
"Yes," he answered. "It's my job to make sure your mother always comes home to you after work."
"Daddy protects Mommy, too," she said, finally stepping forward.
"Your mommy must be a very important person then," Tommy noted, grinning.
Morgan nodded her head and looked up at Pepper, who was smiling at her. Then she stared back at the man in front of her and said, "Thank you for your service."
He chuckled. "You're welcome, kiddo. Now you have a good day." Tommy stood up. "And lots of fun."
She giggled and started tugging at her mother's hand, urging her to move. "Let's go, Mommy!"
They crossed the lobby and stopped at the front desk so Pepper could tell her, "This right here is Ian."
"Good morning, Mrs. Stark," the secretary welcomed her, and a smile touched the corner of his lips.
He was a bubbly young guy in his late twenties, who, according to Tony, had a major crush on her—Pepper never doubted this could be true. It was obvious that Ian was infatuated with her, and she had to admit, she liked it. It was nice coming into work every day and seeing that huge smile on the boy's face. And she liked detecting a proprietorial air about Tony whenever her husband accompanied her to business events where Ian was present, the words 'my wife' being mentioned countless times.
"Good Morning," Pepper returned his smile before shifting her gaze to Morgan. "Ian makes sure that everyone who enters this building gets all the info he or she needs. Say, someone wants to know on which floor my office is, then Ian is the guy who tells that person where to find me. He also receives information about any of our customers and passes this on to the correct department within the company."
The child waved at Ian with a smile, shouting, "Hi," and he waved back at her, doing the same.
"Will you stay with us all day?" he asked, and she nodded her head.
Pepper smiled. "I'm off early today, because we have a family thing later, so I thought this might be the best day to take her with me."
"That's nice," Ian said, smiling, and looked at the little girl. "What are you doing with your mom and dad this afternoon, Morgan? Anything exciting?"
"Yes," she answered, "We're going to the beach."
"That sounds like it will be a lot of fun. Here, take this!" Ian stuck a hand into his pocket and pulled out a lime green sucker. Morgan's eyes widened with surprise.
"Thank you," she squealed, taking the lollipop from him.
"I forgot to tell you, Ian is also the one who always keeps some candy in his pockets to cheer people up," Pepper said, laughing. "Now, come on."
They entered the elevator and Pepper let Morgan push the button. She loved to see the proud look on her daughter's face whenever she got to do something she considered to be a sign that she was finally grown-up.
"Mommy?"
"Yes, bébé?"
"Why don't you fly up to the floor with your suit?"
Pepper bit down on her bottom lip, trying hard not to laugh. "You mean with my Rescue suit?"
"I know you can fly with it and the elevator takes so long... Why do you not use the suit?"
"This is a great question, but honey, I—"
"Do you not like the suit Daddy made for you?"
"No, sweetie, I love it," she answered, smiling. "It was a beautiful gift, but, you know, we only use our suits when we are fighting." She paused. She really didn't like the thought of ever having to fight another battle where a suit would be needed. "And sometimes we use it when we're helping with construction work or something like that. I don't use it to get around, because I feel way more comfortable using my own two legs. I love walking and running, and I love driving my car and flying with a plane. I can do without a suit."
"Can I have a suit?"
"Maybe some day, you will," she replied, hoping Morgan would not make a scene. She knew how much her daughter wanted to have her own suit, but she still hadn't warmed up to the idea of her baby girl following in her husband's footsteps. It was too soon.
Morgan smiled. "Really?"
"Yeah, maybe," Pepper said, and quickly changed the subject. "So, how do you like it here so far? Are you still excited about today?"
"I think Ian really likes you... Like Daddy."
"You think Ian likes me as much as Daddy does?" Pepper grinned. "What makes you think that?"
Morgan's face instantly lit up with a huge smile, and it took Pepper a second to realize that her daughter was mocking the front desk secretary, copying his smile as best as she could. She laughed out loud, shaking her head at the child who was so undeniably taking after Tony.
"Does it bother you if someone smiles or looks at me the way your daddy does?" Smiling, she studied the fascinating brown eyes, staring up at her.
"No," Morgan answered. "It's okay. You are so pretty! I think he is not the only man who is in love with you."
She quickly covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a giggle, and Pepper ruffled her hair, laughing.
"You're just like your Daddy. He makes fun of Ian, too."
A/N: Look, I don't know a thing about Tony's nano tech and could be horribly wrong as to how that shit works, but trying to create a prosthetic arm that looks like it was made of flesh and feels that way too is what he's keeping himself busy with besides farming and being the perfect househusband and dad. I'm sorry I do make the rules.
To be continued.