A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews guys. They make my day! :')

The elevator doors slowly opened on the floor where her office was located, and the face of Pepper's assistant greeted them as soon as they entered the reception area.

"Good morning, Jenna," Pepper said, smiling, as she stepped into the hallway. "You look a bit distressed. What's up?"

"Oh God, I don't even know where to begin."

"Well, then think about it and get back to me when you do," Pepper replied with a smirk.

Morgan giggled softly at Jenna's stunned face. She loved to see that everyone she had met so far seemed to stand in awe of her mother. And she admired her just like everyone else did, wished she were old enough already to have what she had. She couldn't wait to carry on her mother's work.

"Morgs? Please meet Jenna, my personal assistant." Pepper looked down at Morgan and smiled. "She does what I used to do for your father."

"She tells you what you have to do?"

"No, honey, that's..." Pepper laughed. "Well, you're not exactly wrong, but it's a little different. Unlike your father who didn't know the first thing about managing personal and business life, I already know what I have to do. It's just that Jenna's helping me—"

"I'm here to relieve your mom from the stress," Jenna told the kid. "Because, you know, even though your mama knows what she has to do, it can be a bit stressful to manage everything. So, I look out for her. I bring her coffee or food, and I schedule meetings for her. I make sure the private jet's ready when she needs to travel. I reserve hotel rooms and rental cars. I remember birthdays for her, like the birthdays of people she works with, so she doesn't get into trouble. I answer some of her phone calls, write emails, and I take notes when she tells me something... or even when she doesn't tell me anything. I do all that stuff that your mother is too busy for." Jenna smiled. "Though she could do my job as well if she wanted to, because your mom is a freaking powerhouse."

Jenna noticed the sense of pride passing over the steady curiosity of Morgan's eyes fastened on her face. She looked at Pepper, smiling at the woman she considered more of a friend than her boss, and stared back at the little girl, who was beaming with pride now.

"Mommy can do everything," Morgan said proudly, a soft giggle escaping her mouth.

"I don't know about that, sweetie, but I'm trying to do everything the best I can," Pepper responded, chuckling. "So, what is it you so desperately needed to tell me, Jenna?"

Jenna frowned. "Oh, right... One sec." She quickly checked her notes, then looked back at Pepper. "I need you to call Bronx Arts and Science asap, 'cause the Smart Boards we were supposed to give them yesterday had a malfunction."

"All of them?"

"We had 500 of them delivered, but something's wrong. Maybe it's the hardware, I don't know. I sent the tech unit over to check it out, but you really need to talk to them. They were counting on us, and you know they have this big ass event on Friday..." She cast a quick glance at Morgan. "Did I just say...? I'm sorry. Bad word, Mo." Morgan giggled. "It looks like they can't do anything until we've figured this out."

"We're running their entire digital classroom response systems. If those Smart Boards aren't working, there might be something wrong with the whole set-up." Pepper sighed. "I'm gonna call the school administrator right away. Let me know if our guys can solve this or I'll have to call Tony." She looked at Morgan. "This is how Mommy loves to start her day."

"Uh, Pep? There's more," Jenna said meekly. Her expression looked slightly worried as if she knew the other thing would upset Pepper even more.

"What?"

"The speech you ought to give at the International Conference on Reducing Violence Against Women is scheduled for another day."

"But not —"

"Yes, I'm afraid so."

"But it's my wedding anniversary. I can't... I'm... We booked... I can't!"

She was appointed an UN Women Goodwill Ambassador only about a year ago, and she loved being a special envoy. Her efforts were geared towards raising awareness on the infringement of women's human rights around the world, with a particular focus on putting a spotlight on violence against women. Tony, on the other hand, helped to focus attention on environmental issues with the launch of an organization committed to using advanced technologies for the good of the environment.

"Well, I think your man would love nothing more than to boast about his wife in a room full of politicians and A-listers, especially on the anniversary of his wedding, but I understand why this would be rather inconvenient."

"Is there any way I can reschedule?"

"I told the executive director of UN Women she'll hear back from you to talk things over, but I don't know, Pep. It didn't sound like you can. I'm sorry."

Heaving a sigh, Pepper closed her eyes for a moment and pinched the bridge of her nose with thumb and forefinger to stave off her headache. It was a habit she'd affected. It really did nothing for her headache, but she found herself doing it more and more at work lately. When she looked at her daughter, she noticed that Morgan still seemed surprisingly interested in all the boring work stuff they talked about. Pepper smiled, and the little girl smiled back, her small hand slipping into her mother's.

"Relax, Mommy," she said. "Everything will be okay. You just need to breathe."

Pepper's smile instantly grew bigger, her eyes glazing in a look of ineffable love and admiration for the kind and gentle human being that was her daughter. Morgan's sensitivity to other people's feelings, to the subtlest nuances of tone, was like her very own superpower, her high level of empathy something Tony and Pepper were incredibly proud of.

She squeezed her daughter's hand affectionately, rolling her thumb over her knuckles, and said, "Thank you, my baby." Morgan wrapped herself around her mother's legs, and Pepper bent to pick her up. "God, you're getting heavy," she remarked, chuckling, and the girl giggled. While she twined her arms and legs around Pepper like a monkey, Pepper buried her face in her daughter's mass of wavy hair. "I'm really happy you're here with me today," she whispered.

"Uh... Okay... I guess I will... I'll see you girls later," Jenna stammered, feeling like her presence was disturbing the intimate moment between a mother and her child. Pepper didn't even look at her when she said thank you, but Jenna could hear the smile through her voice.

"Are you ready to meet Allie?"

"Who's Allie?" Morgan asked, pulling away to look at her mother.

"She's my receptionist, and one of my favorite people," Pepper answered, as she walked over to her friend, carrying her daughter, her portfolio business case held in one hand. "She takes my calls and welcomes anyone who enters this floor, and she has been dying to meet you."

As soon as she spotted them, Allie threw her head back and flung her arms up in the air, shouting, "Listen up! Morgan Stark is in da house!"

Morgan laughed. "Hi," she said, a small, almost coy smile crossing her lips.

"I've heard so many stories about you, girl, it's really nice to finally meet you in person." Allie smiled. "Are you here to learn about your mother's business?"

"I met Tommy and Ian and Jenna, and now Mommy is showing me her office," she answered. "And I saw the big letters with our name outside."

"That's right. It stays Stark," Allie said, chuckling. "Did you also see your mom's pictures in the lobby?"

Morgan nodded, grinning proudly.

"She doesn't like to show off with how many famous people she met, and how many awards she's received, but your daddy likes to show her off," Allie quipped. "And I think it's great, because your mom totally deserves—"

"I just don't like to be the focus of attention when everything we do here is a big team effort," Pepper interjected, a smirk on her face. "And that's what I keep telling my dear husband every time he hangs up another one of these pictures, but I tell him that, and he just shouts 'Team Pepper' at me, so I let this man do whatever he wants to do. I kinda always have." She laughed.

"Team Pepper," Morgan mumbled, giggling. "My team!"

"We're all on that team, honey. Believe me," Allie said, laughing. "And most people who call me here also want to join Team Pepper."

"What do you say?" Morgan asked curiously.

"Well, whenever the phone rings I answer it and say, 'Stark Industries, Pepper Potts' office, this is Allie. What can I do for you?' And when I know what the person wants, I put the call through to your mother's office so they can speak to the boss."

"That's it?"

"Yep, that's basically my job."

"Wow, Mommy, I could do that!" she exclaimed.

"I bet you could," Pepper said with a chuckle.

"Only a few people call your mom's office directly, like—"

"Daddy?"

"Yes, although he usually calls her on her cell phone."

"Taylor Swift?"

"I'm sure Taylor has your mom's number. Beyoncé, too," Allie answered, looking at Pepper, both of them grinning.

Pepper put Morgan down, pulling the backpack off her shoulder, and said, "Mommy has to make a very important call right now. Can you stay with Allie for just a few minutes, sweetheart?"

"You can help me shred some papers."

"I'm not allowed to touch the scary machines," Morgan replied.

"You are if someone's watching you," Pepper told her, stroking her head. "I take your stuff with me. I won't be long, I promise." She disappeared into her office, locking the door behind her.

Allie handed Morgan a few sheets of paper, and since she was too small to reach the shredder, she lifted her up on top of the filing cabinet. She helped her with the shredder, and they laughed, giggled, talked and played the whole time until the door opened and Pepper poked her head out.

"This is fun, Mommy!" Morgan smiled, and Pepper smiled back at her.

"Do you want to see my office now?" she asked, and her daughter squealed with excitement, as she jumped from the cabinet and landed solidly on her feet.

"Bye, Allie," Morgan said, as she pushed past Pepper. The moment she walked through the door, she gasped, her gaze darting up to make eye contact with her mother before taking in minor details all over the room.

The office was spacious, with a big modern glass desk that supported a telephone-intercom system and a large flat-screened monitor, a low coffee table set between two comfortable three seater settees for visitors, and four grey colored filing cabinets which sat against the door wall. It also included built-in bookshelves, a fully stocked bar with refrigerator and a wall-mounted flat-screen TV. The window walls of Pepper's office were glazed from floor to ceiling to maximize daylight, offering a spectacular view over the City skyline.

"Do you like it?" Pepper had to grin at her daughter's obvious surprise.

"It is so big!" Morgan's eyes widened as she held out her arms to indicate the size of the room, making her mother laugh. Rushing forward, she cupped her hands over one of the large windows and tapped her forehead against the pane. "The people look like ants," she noticed, giggling.

Pepper walked over to her and laid her hand on Morgan's back, rubbing it gently. "Yeah, the world seems really small from up here," she mumbled.

"Mommy, I have a question," Morgan said, looking up.

"You know you can ask me anything you want."

"When Allie answers the phone she says your name is Potts, but Ian said your name is Stark, and I heard Daddy call you Mrs. Stark, too."

"It's confusing to you, isn't it?"

She nodded.

Crouching down to get to her level and be able to look into her eyes, Pepper tried to explain to her, "When I married your father I took his name, because sharing it with him means so much to me. He wanted to take mine, but I care about him so deeply and about the history we have together that I couldn't imagine not becoming Mrs. Stark. I love to be his missus." Her face lit up with a smile, thinking about the very first time she signed a document with that name—their marriage certificate. "But here at work, I like to be Pepper Potts."

"You don't like it when people call you Mrs. Stark?"

"No, baby," she said, chuckling. "Being called Mrs. Stark still excites me in exactly the same way as when your daddy first called me that, but I have spent more than a decade building up a professional identity and reputation and I didn't want to cast that off. So, I'm doing business under my maiden name, Pepper Potts. It's like a brand. You know, like Walt Disney or Burger King. I have always used that name and people are very familiar with it. I didn't want to change it. Does that make sense to you at all?"

She frowned. "Can I be Morgan Potts today?"

Pepper laughed softly and stroked her thumb across her daughter's cheekbone slowly and gently. "What do Daddy and I always tell you?"

"I can be anyone I want to be."

"Exactly," Pepper said, smiling, before pecking her on the lips. "You have always been a Potts, Morgan Hope Stark, and you always will be."

She gave her mother a brilliant smile and leaned over to hug her. "I love you, Mommy," she whispered, her small arms wrapped tightly around Pepper's neck.

"I love you too, darling," she whispered back, sighing contentedly as she snuggled her daughter close to her chest.

To be continued.