Pepper watched the traffic and buildings pass by as she and Tony rode quietly in the back of the town car. They'd finished lunch with her mother and Rhodey, and saw them safely off to the airport. She'd enjoyed the conversation with her mother, and thanked Tony profusely for arranging for them all to have lunch together before Marilynn flew back home.
While the men chit-chatted, the two women talked about prospective baby names, and how Pepper wanted to decorate the nursery, and Marilynn promised she'd come out to California for at least a week as soon as the baby was born to help them both adjust to life as new parents. Tony was particularly grateful, as he, of course, knew nothing about caring for a newborn, and welcomed her motherly expertise. It was times like this when he wished his own mother was around. He smiled to himself at the thought of what her reaction would have been to their news. It made him chuckle. She would have rattled on and on in Italian, jabbering about the big plans she had for her new grandchild. She would have hovered over Pepper like a hawk to make sure everything was as it should be in her eyes, and Tony would have got an earful on a daily basis about what they should and shouldn't be doing. She would have spoiled their baby rotten, and that child would have known full well how much he or she was loved by their grandmother. Just as I knew how much she loved me, he thought wistfully.
When lunch was over, Marilynn had given her daughter a big hug in parting, and made her promise to call weekly with updates. "Mama, I call you every week, anyway," Pepper had reminded her lovingly.
"I know, darlin'. I know. But now we just have one more thing to talk about," she'd argued. "One very important thing."
Next, Tony got an equally big, affectionate hug. "You take good care of my grandchild, honey," she'd said.
Tony grinned at her. "Oh, you know I will," he'd assured. "The hard part will be getting this one to slow down," he'd said, jabbing a thumb in Pepper's direction.
"Honestly," Pepper had said, shaking her head. "You guys talk like I'm carrying a bomb or something. I'll be fine," she promised. But Marilynn and Tony gave each other skeptical looks.
"Right," Tony said rolling his eyes. "Because you're the expert at taking it easy, and asking for help?" he'd teased.
"Oh, and you are?" Pepper retorted back.
"Hey, I'm not the one with a bun in the oven. You are," Tony stated.
"Listen to the man, Ginny. He knows wherefore he speaks," her mother insisted.
Tony just smiled at Pepper smugly, and Pepper rolled her eyes and smirked.
Now, as they quietly rode home, Pepper sighed. "That was a lovely visit, wasn't it?" she said dreamily. "Thank you again."
Tony wrapped an arm around her and pulled her to his chest. He kissed the side of her head and squeezed her lovingly. "Yeah, it was," he said fondly. "And you're welcome. I'm really glad we told them about the baby. Especially, your mom. I don't think she could be more excited."
"You don't know how long she's wanted a grand child," Pepper remarked. "Ever since I went off to college, she's talked about me settling down and having babies. If it had been up to her, that would have been the only reason for me to go to college. To find a husband, get married, and get pregnant."
Tony chuckled. He kissed the side of her head again, and lowered his hand to her stomach. Pepper laid her hand on top of his and he rubbed her stomach lovingly. "I guess good things come to those who wait?" he said quietly.
"Mmmm Hmmmm," Pepper said softly, nodding in agreement. "That they do."
XxXxXxXxXx
Happy pulled the car into Tower parking, and the two climbed out of the backseat. Pepper's energy was dragging, as Tony could see, from the way she lumbered out of the car. "Nap time, prego?" he teased.
Pepper scoffed. "Prego?" she asked. "Really, Tony?"
He shrugged. "What? No new pregnancy pet names?" he joked.
Pepper shrugged back. "I don't know," she said lazily. "I don't really care what you call me right now, as long as you point me toward the bedroom."
Tony's eyes brightened, and he grinned widely. "Well, okay then!" he teased. "That's the best pick up line I've ever heard! And I guess if you need it that bad, I can try to oblige, I mean..."
Pepper chuckled. "I meant for that nap you spoke of?" she said, looking at him curiously.
Tony smirked and tried to play innocent. "Oh, right," he said, nodding his head. Then he shrugged, "And then after, maybe we could?..."
Pepper giggled and grabbed him by the hand, pulling him to the elevator. They both waved goodbye to Happy, and Pepper jabbed the up arrow button. Soon, the doors opened and they entered. Pepper leaned back against the wall and sighed sleepily. "Pregnancy is hard work," she said, putting a hand to her mouth as she yawned. "I don't think I've ever been so tired in my entire life."
"It's double the work for Stark babies," Tony replied, matter-of-fact.
Pepper chuckled and smirked at him. "Oh, is it now?" she asked. "And do I dare ask why that would be?"
Tony smirked. "Well," he said, clearing his throat. "When you have this much awesome to construct," he stated, gesturing up and down his body. "It's very labor intensive," he remarked.
"Uh-huh," Pepper said, skeptically. She clicked her tongue. "Of course! That's makes total sense, Tony."
"I'm serious!" he cried. "Stark babies are extra-exceptional."
Pepper giggled, and Tony tried to look serious, but broke out in a beaming smile. He grabbed her hand, and kissed it sweetly. "I'm just glad you're feeling better than you were this morning, Pep," he said..
She nodded. "I am," she said."I told you the nausea always clears up after an hour or two. I still could use a nap, though."
Tony wrapped his arms around her waist and pecked her lips softly. "I hear ya'," he said. "And to be honest, after last night, I'm even a little droopy. So, a nap sounds amazing right now."
"Good," Pepper said. "I'd be happy to have an afternoon nap buddy," she murmured, smiling lovingly.
"And then after, maybe we could?..." Tony propositioned again, looking at her sheepishly.
Pepper giggled. "I have a feeling you're going to keep asking until I say yes," she replied.
"Can you blame me?" Tony purred. "I have a smoking hot wife, who's carrying my baby, which makes her even more unbelievably hot now, might I add..."
Pepper blushed. "Glad to here it," she said.
Tony nodded and smiled. He continued. "...And we have a rather large block of unoccupied free time this afternoon with which I can only think of one thing, well, two things..."
"I assume one of those is this nap we keep talking about?" Pepper interjected.
Tony chuckled and smiled. "As I said, two things, to do with it. So, if you ask me, Potts," Tony teased, cocking a suggestive eyebrow. "It's the perfect set up for some afternoon delight."
Pepper giggled. "Well, give me my nap," she reasoned. "And we just might see to the other thing on your list," she purred.
Tony grimaced. "Yeah, I'm gonna need more than a might on that, Pep," he said.
Pepper pursed her lips, and smiled coyly. "What if I can give you more of a...guarantee,then," she murmured, seductively walking her fingers up his chest and looked at him with smoky, eyes. "Would that get me what I want in return?" she purred.
Tony cooed in approval, and pumped his eyebrows flirtatiously. Pepper giggled, and pecked his lips. "Right now, I'd wear a hoop skirt while riding a unicycle for you if it meant getting some action later," he stated.
Pepper laughed out loud. "Okay, that's a visual," she joked.
"Seriously," Tony said. "That's what you're doing to me right now."
"So, tell me more about how you find your pregnant wife to be unbelievably hot, huh?" she teased.
Tony nodded emphatically. "Oh, yeah," he said. "I've never been into pregnant chicks before."
Pepper smirked. "You don't say," she said sarcastically.
"I know, right?" Tony said, not registering her tone, which made Pepper chuckle. "But with you? With you, it's like, wow, I did that, you know? I was the one who..." He paused and squared his shoulders. He shifted his gaze to the distance, and his voice went hoarse. "Knocked you up," he stated, trying to look serious.
Pepper spluttered and laughed at him. "Wow, that's really...deep, Tony," she replied.
Tony gave her a squinting, smoldering look. "Well, it comes from the heart, Pep," he joked, trying to keep a straight face. "Just know that, as a man, it's a mark of pride to know that you've got enough ink in the ink well to write the letter, enough troops to complete the mission, enough batter to bake the cake, enough Amish people to raise the barn, enough..."
"Alright, alright!" Pepper said. "I got it! You're proud you got me pregnant, is that what you're saying?" she said, laughing.
"If I was in any way unclear, I've still got about a million more analogies that are just waiting in the wings to drive the point home," he joked.
"Oh, of that there is no doubt," Pepper agreed. "And I'm sure I'll hear every one of them over the next several months."
Tony cocked an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge?" he joked.
"No, it's more like a prediction," Pepper replied. "I don't think you'll be able to help yourself."
Tony grinned and patted her belly. "Hey, at least nobody will be able to accuse me of not being a proud papa," he murmured. He bent down and kissed Pepper's stomach. She smiled at him sweetly, and he winked at her, and smiled sweetly back, as he raised back up again. Just then, the elevator doors opened, and they walked into the penthouse. Pepper sighed heavily as she slowly took off her coat. Tony took it from her, and he hung both of their coats in the entry closet. Next, he took Pepper's hand and lead her up the stairs and into their bedroom.
Quietly, they stripped down most of the way. Pepper kicked off her boots and her jeans, and pulled off her sweater and belt, so that she was clad only in her bra and panties.
Tony stripped to his boxers and tank top undershirt and climbed under the covers. Pepper joined him, spooning against him as he wrapped her in his arms. Tony wrapped his bottom arm around her chest, and the top arm around her middle, resting a protective hand on her belly. He kissed the space just under her earlobe, and murmured softly, "I love you, Pepper Stark."
Pepper smiled. "And I love you," she replied.
Tony patted Pepper's stomach tenderly. "Sweet dreams, mini-me," he said.
Pepper giggled and sighed, listening for a few moments as Tony's breathing became softer and more relaxed before she drifted off to sleep herself.