Tony had spent most of the morning in the shop after Ginny went back to sleep. Jarvis had been keeping him posted on her condition, and so far, nothing had caused alarm. He had just decided to take a break when Jarvis had let him know that Ginny was out of bed and coming to see him. "Is she okay?" he asked with concern, but Jarvis didn't answer as Tony saw her coming down the stairs just then. He went to the shop door, and opened it for her. She looked at him with squinted eyes as she entered, and he figured that was a sign her pupils were still dilated. "What's the matter, baby?" he asked her.

"I can't sleep any more," she answered. "It's too boring."

Tony chuckled, understanding what she was talking about. Too much idle time, and his brain, like hers, demanded stimulation. "Well," he said. "I was just about to quit for today, and go watch some cartoons," he told her.

She looked at him skeptically. "Daddy, you don't watch cartoons!" the little girl said, giggling.

Tony grinned. "I do so!" he cried. "Especially when my daughter is home to watch them with me. So how about it, Toots?" he asked, extending his hand to her, and smirking. "Do we have a date?"

Ginny grabbed her father's hand.

"Alright!" he exclaimed happily, as they headed back upstairs. "Best sick day ever."

XxXxXxXxXx

The two had settled in on the couch, and Tony had made sure Ginny was plenty comfortable with pillows behind her head, a fluffy blanket over her, and her legs draped over his lap. He didn't really care what they watched. He was just happy to have this time with her. He never, in his whole life, would have thought that he'd enjoy having a daughter. But not a day went by that he wasn't amazed by her. He adored how much she reminded him of Pepper. And he loved talking with her, and learning about how she saw the world. She'd always been very perceptive, and sometimes said things that seemed so far beyond her years, that Tony would be in awe of what was otherwise just an innocent observation. But then, she'd go right back to being a giggly, happy-go-lucky little girl. This made him miss Pepper greatly, and he deeply regretted her not being able to watch their little girl grow up. He regretted that for both of his children. Pepper had been such a loving, attentive mother, and it broke his heart that she wasn't there to share these kinds of moments with him.

Ginny caught her father gazing at her, and blushed, giggling. "Watch the show, dad!" she scolded playfully. Tony caught himself staring, and gave her an impish grin.

"Sorry, honey," he said. "I'm just enjoying taking care of you today." Ginny smiled and Tony smiled back. "How's your head?" he asked.

She shrugged. "Okay, I guess," she replied. "It just aches. Sometimes worse than others."

Tony frowned. "Well, if it gets to be too much, you'll tell me, right?" he asked.

Ginny nodded, and Tony smiled.

"Daddy, can I ask you something?" she asked after a moment.

"Always, baby. You know that," he replied.

"Do you ever wish you could start over?" she asked.

Tony looked at her curiously. "What do you mean? Why would I want to do that?" he asked.

Ginny shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe make different choices? Live a different life?" she said.

Tony frowned. "Ginny, why are you asking me this? Do you think I should have made different choices and lived a different life?"

Ginny looked away in thought silently for a moment. "I know you're still sad, daddy," she said softly. "You miss mommy, and that hurts you. I know because I hear you talk to her in your sleep."

Tony felt suddenly exposed and vulnerable in his little girl's eyes. A lump formed in his throat. "You do?" he said hoarsely.

Ginny bit her lip and nodded. "So, if you could go back, you could choose...to not have to be sad," she said.

Tony leaned over and looked his daughter in the eye. "Ginny, listen to me," he said. "I've never wanted a different life. But you wanna know my only regret?"

Ginny furrowed her brow, and nodded.

"My only regret is," he said, picking up her hand in both of his. "Not getting with your mother sooner."

Ginny smiled. And Tony smiled back. "Yeah, a lot of years were spent without her love in my life. And every day I curse myself for being so blind. So, if there's anything I can tell you, honey. It's that life is precious. Don't waste time chasing after the wrong things. Because you'll forget to see the right things right in front of your face. God knows I did. For almost a decade."

Ginny smiled at her father's words.

"And besides," he said, raising her hand to his lips and kissing it sweetly. "If I'd chosen a different life, I wouldn't have you and H.A., would I?"

She shook her head, and Tony shook his in response. "No, I wouldn't," he said. "And you guys are the greatest thing in my life. Who could ask for better kids?"

Ginny gave her father a satisfied smile, and turned her attention back to the TV screen. Tony smiled back at her, glad he could put this question to rest for her, and turned his gaze back to the screen as well.

Several minutes passed, and Tony noticed that Ginny had gone back to sleep. He watched her chest rise and fall softly, and he was glad she was getting some more rest. He was feeling a bit drowsy himself. So he shifted down in his seat, and propped his crossed ankles up on the coffee table, settling in to close his eyes and nap with her.

XxXxXxXxXx

Tony felt the presence of someone walking behind the couch. His sleepy eyes slowly opened and he lolled his head from side to side, trying to orient himself as he felt the sensation of someone's fingers brushing across the back of his neck. "Tony," he heard them whisper, and this made him gasp and bolt upright in his seat. He blinked, trying to reckon his surroundings, and, there, standing in front of him, was Pepper.

"No! It can't be!" he whispered, his eyes wide. He glanced at Ginny beside him on the couch, who was still fast asleep, and then back at Pepper. He slowly stood up to face her, and she smiled warmly as he approached her. She was in the same, white, sparkly dress she'd been in when he saw her on the beach, her skin still radiating white light all around her. But this time, there was something very different about her. Tony shifted his eyes down to her middle, where he noticed she was quite round, as if she was in the third trimester of a pregnancy. This made his breath catch in his chest, and a sob escape his throat.

"Look at you!" he said, slowly resting his hands on her belly. She just continued to smile as he marveled at her, tears of joy forming in his eyes and rolling down his cheeks. He bent down and kissed her belly, and then raised back up to look into her eyes. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked her.

She just kept smiling, but she looked deeply into his eyes. "Save us," he heard her say, though her lips didn't move as he heard her voice. "Save us, Tony."

Tony choked out another sob, and shook his head. "Baby, I don't know what you mean," he murmured. "Help me to understand, okay? I don't know what you need me to do."

Pepper flickered before his eyes, and then started to fade. "Save us," he heard her voice say again, her eyes now pleading as she faded from sight before him.

"No, Pepper," he whispered, trying desperately to grasp her, but his hands just cut through thin air. "No, don't go. Please! Stay with me, Pepper!" he begged, but it was no use. She was gone, and he was left standing in the middle of his living room, alone once again.

Tony's mind whirled, trying to make sense of what had just happened. His chest heaved and he stumbled backwards before he collapsed back onto the couch. Bitter tears filled his eyes, and his shoulders shook as he began to sob, the feeling of being alone again crashing over him like a tidal wave. He held his head in his hands and cried, trying not to make a sound and wake Ginny.

But soon he felt her stir, and her sleepy voice called his name. "Daddy?" she asked.

He quickly swiped at his tears, and took a deep breath. "Yeah, I'm here, honey," he said, trying to put on a brave face.

Ginny looked at him through bleary eyes for a moment. "Are you...are you crying?" she asked him cautiously.

Tony just looked at her for a moment, and then smiled at her sheepishly. "I'm just missing mommy," he explained.

Ginny climbed out from under her blanket and piled onto Tony's lap. She hugged him around his neck as she laid her head on his shoulder, and Tony pulled her across his lap, and held her close, burying his nose in her hair, and trying to steady his breathing.

"I don't want you to hurt any more," she murmured.

Tony smiled through his tears. "I don't want to hurt anymore, either, princess," he said. "But having you here with me helps."

Ginny raised her head to look at him. "It does?" she asked.

Tony smiled lovingly at her. "Of course it does," he said.

Ginny smiled with satisfaction, and laid her head back on her father's shoulder. He squeezed her to him again, and rested his cheek on the top of her head. But his face when back to a pensive frown. Save us, Tony, he could still hear Pepper's voice saying.

What could she mean?, he asked himself. And what could I possibly do?