When multi-billionaire industrialist Tony Stark, inventor extraordinaire, dons his solar-charged steel-mesh armor, he becomes a high-tech warrior—the world's greatest human fighting machine –

The Invincible Iron Man

Vice and Virtue Part 2

Tony Stark sat stunned, unsure of what he had just heard. He thought the woman said she was pregnant and that it was his child but that could not be true, could it?

He swallowed hard. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"I'm pregnant Tony. I got pregnant during our weekend in Boston. Isn't that wonderful?"

Tony quickly replayed the last fifteen minutes in his head. This drop-dead gorgeous woman wearing a tight dress, high heels and an alluring fragrance came into his office. He does not remember meeting her, much less having a sexual relation with her. She says they met in Boston two months ago and spent the weekend together while he was attending a business conference in the city. Now she is declaring they have a child together.

Think Tony, think. My brain feels clouded. What the hell happened in Boston? Why can't I remember anything of that trip? Was my drinking that out of control? There must be an answer to this. Maybe she's making this up. Yeah, that's it. She made it up and she's looking for a quick handout. God, I can pick 'em can't I? Chalk up another mistake to alcohol consumption and an over active libido. Pepper is going to have a field day with this one. I have got get some therapy.

He responded cautiously, "Are you sure you're pregnant? You said we spent one night talking. Surely one night isn't going to…"

"Silly, it only takes one sperm to fertilize one egg. I guess you have pretty potent sperm not to mention an insatiable appetite for sex." She giggled. "When I missed my monthly thingy I took a home pregnancy test which showed positive so I visited my Doctor; she confirmed I am indeed two months pregnant."

"Are you sure it's mine? I mean, were you not with other men before or after me?"

"Tony, that's not a nice thing to say. Are you implying I am a slut? Yes it's yours. I hadn't been with anyone for a month before I met you and after our night together I decided I would save myself for you and do whatever I could to see you again. You are my soul mate Tony. I just know it. We belong together, you and me. Now we have a child conceived out of love. Isn't that wonderful? You're going to be a Father."

The gravity of the situation quickly became too much for him. The room felt hot. He felt hot. The air felt heavy. His head felt stuffed full of cotton wads. He felt a slight twinge of pain in his chest, near his heart. Oh no, not now, he thought.

Whenever stress overtook him the old chest pain would resurface reminding him of his near death experience in the jungles of Viet Nam. He hadn't felt the pain in years but he knew it was building fast and he knew that safeguards would kick in. He grimaced as the steel mesh chest plate he wore activated imperceptibly small embedded servos that controlled hundreds of micro needles spread across his chest. The needles quietly injected adrenalin into his blood stream, counteracting the heart palpitations and easing the pain. It was this chest plate and this painful procedure that has kept him alive this long.

"Tony? Sweetie, are you okay?"

"I… I don't know. I feel dizzy…feverish…is it hot in here…I am… I need a drink," he stammered.

"Yes, we should celebrate this occasion. Why don't we leave this stuffy old office and go back to your house and get comfortable and start planning our son's future." She placed her arm around his shoulder and calmly raised him from the desk chair.

"Son?" He groggily queried, feeling dazed from the adrenalin injection. "How do you know it's a boy?"

"I just do. Don't you worry about a thing. I'm going to get us home and get you to bed. You look like you could use some TLC."

Ginger pressed the intercom button and waited for Pepper to acknowledge.

"Yes Tony?"

"This is Ginger, Tony is not feeling well. Would you be a dear and order a limo for us. We'll be going back to the mansion. Thank you sweety."

"Excuse me? What…?" Ginger quickly released the button cutting off the questions. Immediately the office door flung open and Pepper Potts stood defiantly framed. She glared at Ginger.

"What is going on? Why is Tony not feeling good? He was fine before you arrived."

Ginger purposely ignored the questions and asked, "Have you called for the limo dear? Tony wants a limo brought to the front of the building. Don't you lover? He is not feeling well."

Tony looked up at Pepper, his eyelids heavy, his body slouching. "Pepper… please get us a limo… and call Jarvis and tell him we are on our way home. I think I've come down with a fever."

Pepper eyed Tony then glanced at the smiling Ginger. Her smile reminded Pepper of a cat who had ate the canary. Pepper bit her lower lip to keep from sharing a sarcastic thought. "You're the boss," she pronounced and wheeled quickly and headed back to her desk.

Ginger heard Pepper making the arrangements. She turned to Tony and held his face in front of hers, nose to nose, "I am going to take good care of you baby. Just you wait and see. You are in good hands."

To avoid any issues or contact with others, Tony and Ginger left the building and entered the limo from a secure and secreted exit that only he and Pepper were aware of. Once the vehicle was on its way, Ginger's demeanor quickly changed. She pushed Tony away from her and popped open her cell phone.

"It's me. Yes, he's with me. We're heading back to his mansion. No, no one suspects a thing. He seems to have had a reaction. I don't know. He cringed as if in pain then got all groggy."

Ginger glanced at the slumping Tony Stark, his eyes were rolled up into his head and he continued to mumble to himself, "No I don't think he's going to be a problem at all. Have a team meet us there. Oh and remind me to take care of that bitchy secretary once we're through him."