It takes Pepper the whole night to dissect and examine her feelings. Why is she so angry? It is hardly the first time she saw Tony and Stephen kissing – there had been plenty of that in Stephen's memories, and up to now, she had never been jealous because of that.

No, she thinks, this is different.

Because this is the first time, they did it while she was around.

She doesn't dislike the two of them being together – on the contrary, she loves seeing them finally united – no; Pepper is angry because she is left out.

The realization comes as a shock for her.

I'm in love with both of them!

When Pepper finally dozes off into restless sleep, she dreams of Tony and Stephen, how she is trying to get to them, but she can never run fast enough to reach them.

-–-

In the morning, Pepper is preparing breakfast for Morgan, Nebula, and Rocket, when Tony enters the kitchen. It looks like he has the hangover from hell and Pepper can't help but notice he clearly isn't as young as he was in his wild days.

She greets him with a stiff "Morning" and wards him off when he tries kissing her on the cheek.

"Go, brush your teeth! Your breath stinks."

"Are we gonna talk about it?"

Pepper ignores him and turns to Nebula and Rocket. "Could you please take Morgan with you for half an hour or so? You could show her your spaceship. She's never seen one before."

"Don't know – ship like this is not exactly a safe environment for a little girl," Rocket states.

"I trust you two to take care she doesn't get hurt."

"I'll protect her with my life!" is all Nebula answers as she takes Morgan's hand in hers and leaves the room.

Pepper knows that in Nebula's case, these are no empty words, and as frightening the thought is, it is also oddly comforting.

When they are alone in the kitchen, Pepper sits down at the table. She crosses her arms in front of her chest and glares at Tony.

"Do you love him?" She doesn't see the point in beating around the bush.

"No!" Tony's answer comes too fast and far too insistent that she would believe it. He seems to notice because a sharp look from her is all it takes for him to cave in. "Even if I loved him, that doesn't mean anything! I would never risk what we have for some random wizard!"

"He's not some random wizard! He saved your life! He is our friend!"

"Wait! Why are you sticking up for him? Isn't that kinda counterproductive in our situation?"

She doesn't respond to that. Instead, she's staring off into space. "I should have known this would happen. I've seen millions of times how easily you fall in love with Stephen Strange." She huffs a joyless laugh.

"Pep, please!" He sounds desperate. "Do you really think I would throw away what we built together in the last two decades, just because of him?" He gets on his knees in front of her.

"He's in love with you, too. Did you know that?"

"What?"

"He's in love with you."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because it is not my business to tell you the secrets of other people."

"Oh." He lays his head on her knee. "Listen, I mean it when I say this doesn't have to change anything. I can ignore what I feel for him. I love you! You are all I ever wanted. More than that! You are far more important to me than some fling with Stephen Strange!"

She starts stroking with her fingers through his hair. "Yes, maybe, but that wouldn't be fair – neither to him nor to us."

He looks up at her. "I don't understand."

"There is something he told me when you were still in the coma, and I didn't understand it until now. He said he had never been jealous of us because he loved how much you love me and had still so much love for him left. I see now what he meant – you are the kind of person who has so much love to give that it is more than enough for two people. Do you understand, Tony? It's okay. This thing – that's not a competition." She continues to run her fingers over his scalp. Then after a moment, she says, "I love him too."

"Wait! You do?"

She nods.

"So, what are we gonna do now?"

With her thumb, she traces the line of his cheekbone. "We could sit here and freak out... or we tell him and see where it goes."

"Three people together? Bit unconventional, don't you think?" he jokes.

"Tony, you've been called many things. 'Conventional' isn't one of them."

-–-

In the afternoon, they drop off Morgan at Happy's restaurant.

"Thank you, Happy. We appreciate you could make the time on such short notice."

"Is it something serious?" Happy asks, concerned.

"No, we just... we have to talk about something with a friend, and..." Tony starts.

"We are going to tell Stephen what we feel for him," Pepper explains calmly.

The reaction they get from Happy is not what they expected, at all. "You mean you're finally telling Strange you love him?" He pauses. "Both of you?"

Tony stares at him in shock, but Pepper nods.

"Thank god! The poor man wanders through the Sanctum like a kicked puppy after being abandoned on the side of a freeway."

"And how do you know that?" asks Pepper.

"Wong's my friend. He lives with Strange, and I visit them every once in a while."

"Wong's your friend? You do have friends outside of us?" Tony points between him and Pepper back and forth. He sounds surprised. "When did that happen?"

"Yeah, Wong's my friend, Tony. The world doesn't always revolve around the great Tony Stark!"

Pepper sighs. "Can we do this another time, please? We have to go now." Pepper pulls Tony to the door. "Again, thank you for looking after Morgan." She cowers down at Morgans side and kisses her daughter. "Take care of Uncle Happy, will you?"

The little girl nods.

"Good, we'll be back tomorrow."

Tony hugs her too, and they turn to leave when Morgan asks, "Can Stephen be my daddy too?"

"Would you like that?"

"Yes! He can teach me magic, so I can protect you when the big purple monster comes back."

Pepper's heart hurts at those words. "The big purple monster will never come back. Daddy took care of that."

"Yes, that one, but there could be another one, you don't know that."

"...and you want to protect us?"

Morgan nods.

"Good."

Pepper already fears the day when this child that is so much like her father will decide to follow in his footsteps, but right now, she has a different problem to solve.