Chapter 2: The Fear Never Leaves

(Pepper's POV)

You don't know what it's like to get the call. I think very few can relate to the sheer panic that one gets when they get the call. I, on the other hand ... I'm used to those types of calls. They have all been from different perspectives and different people. The reactions are the same though… ok, that's a lie…. I get more and more worried as the connection deepens. I am always worried about Tony and the trouble that he got himself into. Sometimes other people would cause the trouble, those fires were easy yo put out…. I could take care of those in my sleep with one phone call. When he became Ironman, I start to feel helpless. I couldn't do anything from the sidelines but watch…. Watch him fall from the sky, thinking that this would be the last time I would see him. That I couldn't rush to his side but they could, I was glad the Avengers were there to help him but…. They didn't know him. The stories I heard, the things they would say and think about him. Of course, he would never tell me these things because he didn't want me to worry but… I always knew. Those calls, no matter how many of them I got…. I could never get used to them. I feared them, I dread them…. It's even worse being there. Last time, ugh! Do I dare think or talk about last time? My world was falling apart around me, Tony tried to keep his composure and make jokes but all I was worried about was if he was going to make it out of the house? Was he going to be standing by my side, holding me in his arms? The answer is no to all of this. His never ok and he only pretends to be for me. I love Tony to death and apart of me dies every time I see him in pain, even though he isn't physically being hurt. Gosh! The look of torture on his face whenever I'm in trouble. The pain and anger he feels whenever someone else gets hurt, the look of disappointment when someone gets hurt because of him. The worse look is the feeling of hurt and betrayal when he found out about steve's lies. He tried to hide it from me when we got back together but, I saw the emotion in his eyes whenever someone would bring him up. To put it simply, he hated him and I hated him too...American hero my ass! You don't treat your friends like that. This call was different, this time I felt like I had betrayed Tony… this time, this was my fault! Tony would've been fine if I hadn't left him. He would've been ok if I would've stayed, I mean it was our anniversary! And I just left him ...Gosh! I can't get that moment out of my head, I was smiling when the phone rang and I picked it up thinking it was him. I thought he was calling to scold me or tease me for leaving him but it wasn't him….. It was Rhodey( that was the worst) because he was beside himself, saying that there was so much blood. That is the last thing that anyone wants to hear about her husband being kidnapped. So much blood in our home, so much blood in our home…..so much….too much. A drop is a too much blood, no one should be shedding my husband's blood. My first thought was to call the Avengers but I knew that Rhodey already had. I was frozen there, in my chair with the phone in my hand and just…..staring out into space. Tony in danger! That sent blaring sirens in my head, it sent shockwaves and pain to every inch of my body. I was so scared that I couldn't think, I was so worried that it made me sick. So sick that I was throwing up profusely, I cried so much that I didn't think that I had an ounce of water left in my body. I tried to breathe but no air filled my lungs and I collapsed to the floor from my seat. My body started to shake and everything just went black. Gosh! Memories started to fill my mind, such sweet memories of Tony started to fill my mind. Like when I first discovered Tony's password to his computer was MrsStark83, he was so embarrassed that we never talked about it. I would just smile every time he opened his computer and he would blush bright red and smirk as he stared at his laptop. I would laugh at the thought of how bad Tony had it for me, thinking it was some phase. That he only desired what he couldn't have but boy was I ever wrong. I felt so guilty for having those thoughts because then I was thinking just like them and I hated that more than anything. I remember the first time he met my family, Oh my gosh! That was an entire movie in its own right. Tony was Tony and my family was my family it reminded me of a family vacation, cheaper by the dozen and all of those funny, chaotic family movies. All of the troops were there and I couldn't believe it. Tony got hit with all of the questions " When are you getting married? When are you going to have kids and so on, Tony, of course, said " you should ask her, I've been asking her these same questions for years then he would look at me and smile. I would just shake my head and he would just smile at me. Oh my gosh, there were so many embarrassing moments! Like my parents being parents and showing Tony all of my pictures and awards and Tony pictures of them all and putting them on his phone. I told him that I was going to delete them all but he said: " Friday already has them in a secure location". I still never found those pics but I often hear him giggling in his workshop and I know why. When he saw my awards, it was more like of course she has all of these and a very proud look with each reward. They asked about his work, tech stuff and other stuff he was doing then my uncle chimed in. oh my gosh! The fact that they never put a muzzle on my uncle Morgan is beyond me. That's why he never invited to family events, why he's never around period…. We just call him eccentric but his a live wire that one even Tony thought he was too much and you guys know how Tony can be. So we're all just sitting there and my uncle just burst out and says " so how many women did you sleep with, I heard you sleep with a lot. I hope you haven't slept with anyone in this town or this room. That would be awkward for you too ( he laughs and Tony could only contain his laughter for so long). Then my uncle continues " I heard you had one for each day ...and night, jeez you were ranking them up, you didn't waste any time… did you sleep? This point Tony felt like he had to chime in, he only said " that's not me anymore" then he looks at me and smiles and says " I have all I need right here. My uncle groaned in protest and said bullshit! Tony whispered wow in my ear and I felt so embarrassed. It's what he said after that broke my heart, he said, " I wish I had this…. I wish mom and dad could've met you, they would've liked you. The memories started to flash even faster then they slowed down like slides being shown on a screen. The day we reunited kept flashing in my head for some reason but, why? Tony's safety was all that mattered to me, it rattled in my head and I couldn't shake the feeling. The feeling that this time was different, that this time Tony was in real danger. I felt a jolt and I jumped up in shock when I woke up I was in the hospital with Rhodey and Happy surrounding me. I watched the panic and fear leave their faces once I jolted up, they were relieved and sad at the same time. They had me but ...Tony was still M.I.A. Not how I imagined my first anniversary would turn out. I only left because it was an emergency, I never planned to stay longer and just when I was about to leave, I got the call. Now I'm here in the hospital because I was so worried about Tony. well, that only let me know that I was supposed to do something ...I had too! I couldn't just lay here in the hospital bed and worry but…. I was also worried about what I would find. Just as I was about to get out of my hospital bed, the doctor approached me. Great! Why am I always interrupted when I'm about to do something important?

Doctor: Mrs. Stark?

Pepper: yes( I plaster on a fake smile when in reality I don't want to be bothered. I want to go find Tony on my own since no one else seems to be doing a good job.)

Doctor: we got the results of your lab back(smiles)

My lab? Did he want to talk to me about the results to my lab? Was he serious? Did he not know Tony was missing or did he not care? Because I didn't have time to discuss my medical condition when Tony was in severe danger!

Doctor:(clears his throat): Ummm ! Mrs. Stark!

Pepper: What! ( I say really annoyed and kinda mean, I regretted it as soon as the tone leaves my lips) I'm sorry ( I saw afterwards and the doctor just smiles at me, what a creepy thing to do)

Doctor: I would expect nothing less from a mom to be(smiles)

Pepper: what?!

Happy: (lit up with excitement) yes! That's such great news. I'm going to be the best uncle you ever saw.

Rhodey: I think you mean that you're going to be the second-best uncle in the world. I'm number one.

Happy: that's not clear, why would you say it was clear. I'm more fun, cool and funny, they are going to enjoy spending time with me more than you. Trust me!

Rhodey: fun? Cool? Funny? You've worked for Tony how many years and you still can't figure it out?

Happy: you think kids wanna hang out with you? You're so uptight, strict and boring.

Rhodey: I'm a professional, I'm mature and grounded but I'm also very fun, funny and exciting.

Happy: I've seen no evidence to back this up

Rhodey: I've seen no evidence to back yours up! The only reason you haven't seen mine is that you're not in the fun bubble.

Pepper: guys! Your both going to be great uncles, that's all that matters. But right now your both behaving like children and Tony is still missing!

Rhodey: your right, sorry Pep.

Happy: sorry boss. No word from the Avengers about Tony's whereabouts?

Rhodey: no report just yet but they've been searching everywhere.

Happy: the avengers report to you, just to tell you they have nothing?

Rhodey: dude, I am an avenger.

Happy: Nah, you're more like a consultant.

Rhodey: yes, I was assisting the avengers. Why you got something against assistants? Did you hear that Pepper?

Happy: what?! That's not what I said.

Rhodey: yes it is.

Pepper: guys!

Both: sorry.

Pepper: I just wanted to know, who's going to be the littlest favourite

Rhodey and Happy began to bicker again. This was way better than worrying about Tony, Hey! Maybe they knew that maybe that's why they were doing this... A few minutes later the doctor came in and asked them to leave because the stress wasn't good for me or the baby. He was wrong, it was helping me not to stress out. When they left I just lied in my bed and thought of all the possibilities of where Tony might be. I close my eyes tight and pray that they would find him, I didn't know what else to do.

An unknown voice says hey and I open my eyes and see who it is. I sit up and smile to see who was smiling back at me.

Pepper: Maria ( I say smiling at her)

Maria: hey pepper. I just wanted to check in on you, are you ok?

Pepper: physically…..but emotionally, I just don't know what to do.

Maria: I know but Tony is smart and the avengers are resourceful. They will find him and he will be ok.

Pepper: I just didn't expect to be going through this alone.

Maria: I'm sure as soon as Tony comes home, you can still make your anniversary.

Pepper: that's not it, I just wish he was here when I got the news that I was pregnant.

Maria: you're pregnant! ( she exclaims) that's so great!

Pepper: Tony has been wanting a baby for the longest, I just wanted this moment to enjoy with him. I know he would've been so happy.

Maria: you can still tell him when he gets here

Pepper: it's not the same. I'm sorry, I just want him home.

Maria: I understand. We will do everything in our power to get him back to you. Anyway, the doctors said you're clear to go home.

Pepper: I know, I'm just waiting on my ride.

Maria: by ride, you mean Happy.

Pepper: Yeah. He said that he has all of my stuff ready.

Maria: what stuff?

Pepper: I don't know. I just know I can't stay at that house without Tony.

Maria: well, we can move you into one of ours. That way I can look after you.

Pepper: it wouldn't be too much trouble, I wouldn't want to impose.

Maria: you wouldn't be imposing anything besides, you are part of the family. We take care of one another, always.

Well, I wouldn't go that far but anything was better than staying in that house. I needed to get my mind off of Tony. I knew that the Avengers were doing everything they could o find Tony. If they couldn't find him, Tony had all the resources he needed to get away and make it back to her. She knew that that was all the motivation he needed to get home. She just didn't know when he was coming home and, what he would be like when he got home. Each mission seemed to take a piece of him and...she just wanted him to come home unharmed, physically and emotionally. She packed her things and made her way to the car, Maria just smiled as she saw all of the pillows Happy had to protect Pepper. He was also carrying all of her bags and he was fumbling to put them in the car.

Pepper: this is ridiculous.

Happy: when Tony gets back, I don't want to be scolded for not taking care of you.

Pepper: even he would say that this is too far.

Maria: is there a too far with Tony?

Pepper: I honestly don't think that the word exists to him but he would still tease Happy.

Happy: ladies, if you will (he opens the car door)

The girls get in laughing and Happy and smirking as well. They both strap in and Happy drives slowly to the destination.

Maria: wow! About time we get there, it will be next season.

Happy: hey! I'm just making sure everyone gets there safe and sound.

Pepper: ok but if you keep driving this slow, you're going to get pulled over.

Happy listens to Pepper and they finally arrive at shield protection base.

Maria: (smiles) here you will be informed of all of the progress on Tony, we can keep an eye on you and so we know that you are safe.

Pepper: thank you

Maria: don't mention it.