Tony and Pepper woke up — again — to the baby's cry from the baby monitor.
— Whose turn is it? — Tony asked groggily. — You know what, nevermind. I'll go.
— No... — Pepper held him. — She must be hungry, so I must go.
— Yeah, I can't replace you on this mission.
— Try to sleep some more. — she said as stood up. — Consider this a gift. — then she approached her husband's face and placed a kiss on his cheek. — Happy birthday… — she said with a smile. And the man barely managed to thank her, as he was already falling asleep again.
When the sun lit up his face, Tony finally got up. If someone didn't know him, thays would never suspect that the man who went out to pick oranges and feed the animals early in the morning used to throw parties until the sun came up, slept late and was completely irresponsible years before.
He left Pepper asleep and went to the baby's room to find Morgan awake and fidgeting in her crib.
— Good morning, sunshine! — he picked her up. — Did you sleep well? I bet yes. Mommy is sleeping, so it's just you and me. Shall we work? — he talked to her, while walking. — First I'm going to introduce you to a friend. I'm sure you will love it! — He went to the garden and approached Gerald, who ate leaves from the plants that stood on the grass. — Good morning, buddy! Let me introduce you to someone very special... So please don't spit on her, or we will both have to find another place to live. — he started to hold his daughter with only one arm, to use the other as a shield, in case the alpaca do not obey him. — Gerald, this is Morgan.
The alpaca slowly approached and sniffed the baby, who grabbed a handful of his hair. Tony opened Morgan's little hand very carefully. And when he finished sniffling, Gerald walked away.
— See? He liked you. When he doesn't like someone, he spits in their face. You will love to hear the story of when he spat in Uncle Happy's face… — Tony talked to his daughter, while walking through the garden.
He left the girl comfortably lying in her car seat and receiving occasional sniffles from Gerald, while catching the morning sun. Then he fed the chickens and took the eggs, gave the alpaca some leaves and picked some oranges for breakfast. When they got home, they could hear Pepper talking on her cell phone in the living room. Tony left Morgan, still in her car seat, on the counter and started trying to prepare breakfast.
— Oh, no, no, no! Stop what you're doing right now, Stark! — she ordered when entering the kitchen. The man raised his hands, caught. — It's your birthday, so sit down!
— Yes ma'am. — he sat on a bench and watched the woman work. — Who were you talking to?
— Happy. He and my mom will come early to help me with dinner, so I asked them to buy some things on the way.
— Nice of them to help. — Tony said, playing with Morgan's feet. She fidgeted and made baby noises.
— Yeah. If they didn't help me, I'd pay someone to do it. I just had a baby, I'm too tired to prepare dinner for so many people.
— How many people?
— My parents, Rhodes, Happy and some co-workers, like Bambi. I invited Harley, but he'll have a test tomorrow. And the Avengers...
— What about them? — Tony asked seriously.
— They didn't say anything.
— Yeah, we both knew this would happen. — he went back to playing with Morgan.
— I'm sorry.
— Don't be. I got everything I need right here. — Tony stroked his daughter's little hand. Then Pepper reached out and kissed him on the lips.
— By the way! — the woman broke contact. — Are you prepared to lose all attention, at your own birthday party, to this little thing here? — She sniffed the few tufts of Morgan's hair, and the baby stirred.
— I couldn't win, she's so cuttier than me.
— Yeah, you're gonna lose so bad. At least until eight, when the queen goes to bed.
— I'm afraid the queen needs to have her diaper changed... — Tony commented, noticing that his daughter was about to cry. — Come on, queen. Your lackey will keep you clean. — He left the kitchen carrying the girl, who was already crying loudly.
…
In fact, the attention of all the guests was turned to the baby until bedtime, when Morgan started to cry and they soon gave her back to her parents. After that the spotlight went all over to Tony, who ate, drank, told stories and had fun with everyone, while monitoring the baby by an electronic dot in his ear.
— First of all I wanted to thank... — Pepper started his speech, having all the attention of the people in the room. — You for surviving. For coming back. For your recovery. For giving me that little package that is sleeping up there, and in less than a month already has all of us in the palm of her hand. — she joked, and everyone laughed. — You are an incredible person, an exceptional husband and a great father. Thank you for making us happy every day. Thank you for being you, even if it sometimes drives me crazy. I'm very proud of who you are, and what you have become. I love you so much.
— To Tony! — Rhodes said, and everyone toasted. Then the couple kissed passionately, and Tony whispered a "thank you for everything" on the lips of his beloved.
— Another spring, huh? Feeling old? — James joked when everyone started eating.
— Why don't you tell me? You were that age a few years ago. — Tony replied.
— Yeah, thanks for reminding me. — his friend fell silent and everyone laughed.
…
Dinner was delicious and dessert was spectacular. Then one by one everyone left, leaving only the owners of the house and the in-laws of the birthday boy.
— It's amazing how she looks like Tony! — said Pepper's mom, before drinking some wine. — Ten hours in labor, and the child comes just like the father!
— At least the father is very handsome. — Tony inflated his ego.
— I can't disagree with that... —Pepper said, eyes closed and voice weak. She was lying on the sofa, with her head in her husband's lap and almost falling asleep with the caresses received in her hair.
— Yeah, Thank god Tony is handsome. Because there's nothing from our family in that little face, except for the cheeks and lips. And your beautiful name, of course. — she paused, with a nostalgic smile on her face. — My brother would love to meet her.
— And would make me have white hair taking her for a walk with his pets.
— Well, you already have an alpaca... — Pepper's dad joined the conversation, sitting on the sofa.
— Yeah, we'll get there.
— No, we won't! — Pepper opened her eyes when she heard her husband's words.
— Why not?
— Because I already have four chickens, a baby, an alpaca and you. That's enough.
— But...
— We will not have a zoo at home. — she gave the final word.
— Oh! She can have your personality! — Mrs. Potts changed the subject.
— For now she reminds me of Tony, when he slept during the day and threw parties at three in the morning, when I was trying to sleep... — Pepper closed her eyes again, exhausted. She and her husband haven't slept well since the day they left the hospital. — But all newborns are like that, so we'll see when she grows up. — she concluded.