Tony and his children spent the rest of Sunday together, watching movies and lounging around. And by that evening, Ginny was back to her inquisitive, giggly self. She still had a sizeable bump on her head, but she hadn't complained of any pain since she'd woken up from her nap, and said she was feeling much better by the time bedtime rolled around. Which is why Tony was a bit alarmed the next morning, when H.A was the one who was up first. This had never happened, in all of H.A.'s life. And he wasted no time in bragging to his father that, for once, he was ready for school before his sister had even opened her eyes. Tony hadn't planned to have her go to school that morning anyway, but the fact that she hadn't even stirred since the night before made him very uneasy.

Tony knocked on the little girl's door softly. "Ginny?" he called out. "You okay?"

He heard a grumble from the bed, which made him feel slightly better, but still a little alarmed. "Daddy, I don't feel good," she moaned. Tony frowned and walked in, crouching down beside her bed. Her skin was pale and clammy, and he put a hand to her forehead. She felt a little warm, but what concerned him was her pupils being dilated, in a room filled with sunshine, which made her squint.

"What do you feel like, baby?" he asked softly.

"I'm tired. My head hurts again, and I feel like I wanna puke," she said.

Tony stroked her hair, and watched her for a moment. He didn't like how lethargic she was. This was so unlike her. Ginny took after her mother in that she was always bright eyed and bushy tailed first thing in the morning. He knew she probably still needed to heal from her concussion, but these symptoms were very concerning. She seemed to have gone from being on the mend, to feeling worse than when she got the concussion in the first place.

Ginny rolled over. "I just wanna sleep," she said weakly. "I'm so tired."

"Hmmmm," Tony said, frowning, and realizing the problem with taking H.A to school, and Ginny not feeling well enough to ride along. "Hey, J? Call Happy. Tell him he'll have to dust off his chauffeur hat today. H.A. will need a ride to school."

"Of course, sir," the AI replied.

Tony stroked his daughter's hair. "I'm sorry you feel so yucky," he said.

Ginny gave him a weak smile, and soon she dozed off again. "J?" he whispered. "Monitor her vitals, and do a scan of her head. I'm not liking this turn for the worse with her."

"Certainly, sir. And Mr. Hogan is set to arrive shortly to drive Master Stark to school."

Tony watched his daughter sleep as JARVIS scanned her head, and was growing increasingly worried.

"Scan complete," JARVIS reported.

" And?" Tony asked softly.

"There is some residual bruising from her injury a few days ago," the AI explained.

"But nothing else that's suspect?" Tony asked, a small part of him bracing for the worst.

"Nothing that would cause alarm, Sir," he said.

Tony exhaled with relief. "So why is this worse after last night?" he asked.

"Concussions typically take a week to recover from. I would suggest that this is all part of her recovery. It's best for Miss Stark to get plenty of rest and fluids over the next few days. I'm afraid her studies may have to be put on hold," JARVIS explained.

Tony smiled. "Won't be a problem,J. Plus, some time spent with my little lady might just do us both some good," he said, picking up his daughter's hand and kissing it tenderly.

XxXxXxXxXx

It was an overcast, dreary day. Many people stood around the casket with umbrellas, to fend off the light drizzle that had begun, but Tony didn't care if it was a downpour. He was barely aware of anything else besides the sudden emptiness in his life, pressing down on him like a lead weight. H.A. stood huddled next to him, hugging him around the middle. Tony had one arm around his son's shoulders, and his other was holding his daughter, who was asleep against his shoulder. He couldn't blame her. She was so young, and with so much happening and so many strange people around since Pepper had passed away, he knew she was a little overwhelmed. And he could relate to her exhaustion. He wished he could curl up and go to sleep, too. These days, he had that urge more than anything. He had secretly wished he could just go to sleep and never wake up again.

But he knew he couldn't do that. His children needed him. And,truthfully, he needed them,too. They were the very last living part of Pepper he had left. And he had to be strong and take good care of them, like Pepper would have wanted him to. He turned his head to kiss his little girl on the forehead, making her and H.A. this solemn promise in his head.

"I can't believe we've lost another one," Pepper's mother, Marilynn said. She was standing next to Tony as the priest spoke to the mourners in attendance. "And so young this time. I never thought I'd have to bury my Ginny!" she cried, as tears spilled onto her cheeks.Tony pursed his lips and closed his eyes, fighting hard to keep yet another round of tears from coming on.

Marilynn shook her head. "It's such a shame. Just a tragedy to be leavin' you and these babies behind." She looked at Tony through her tears, but he just stared at Pepper's casket. He couldn't look away. It was so hard to believe that just days ago, she was in his arms, alive and well, and now she was cold, and lifeless inside that box, and about to be sealed up forever in the crypt freshly marked with her name, in the place where he'd always thought he'd be laid to rest long before her.

"Ashes to ashes," the priest said solemnly, at the end of the service.

"And dust to dust," the mourners chanted in unison.

Then the pall bearers came, and lifted the casket off the casters, and carried it into the Stark Mausoleum. Tony entered first, followed by Pepper's mother and other relatives. He sat down on the bench in front of Pepper's open crypt, adjusting Ginny so that she was across his lap, and he could hold her in his arms. He watched as Pepper was eased in,, and the mortician sealed the door behind her, the sound of the handle clamping down echoing in the white marble room. Tony closed his eyes. "Goodbye, baby," he whispered, closing his eyes. He heard H.A. sniff loudly, and he looked at his son. The boy's eyes were red and tears ran down his cheeks. Tony pulled H.A. to him, and kissed the top of his head.

"I miss her, dad," he murmured softly.

"I know you do, buddy," Tony answered. "I miss her, too."

His grandmother noticed this, and rubbed her grandson's arm. Tony looked at her and gave her a sad smile. She returned the same smile, and nodded. Then he turned his gaze back to the door of the crypt, and for the first time, read his wife's name on the placard that had been placed there just the day before, where his own name once rested. He flicked his eyes to the next crypt over, where his placard had been moved to. Someday,Pep, he thought. We'll be together again.