"Where are her rings?" Marilynn asked, suddenly noticing that Pepper's engagement ring and wedding band were no longer on her left ring finger. She looked at Tony with slight alarm, and Tony responded by producing them out of the collar of his t-shirt on a long silver chain around his neck. Marilynn sighed in relief and smiled. "How good of you to put them on that chain," she said.

Tony shook his head. "Wasn't my idea," he admitted. "It was hers," he said, tucking them back into his shirt. "And good thing, too," he said. "At least I know they'll be here, you know? If she wakes up?"

Marilynn shook her head. "We have to believe she will, darlin'," she murmured. She squeezed Tony's hand that was resting on Pepper's forearm.

Tony smiled weakly. "I wish I could," he said sorrowfully. "I want to believe she will. You know I do."

Marilynn watched her son-in-law for a moment. "You should put them back on her finger now, honey," she encouraged softly. "Let her wear them. Some how I think it will help."

"How do you know?" Tony murmured.

Marilynn shrugged. "I don't," she said. "But just give it a try. What could it hurt?"

Tony furrowed his brow and looked at his wife for a moment before looking at Marilynn. After a moment, he nodded. He slowly slipped the chain from around his neck and undid the clasp. He delicately dropped the rings into his palm, and handed the chain to Marilynn. She took it from him and smiled encouragingly. Tony sat forward in his chair and lifted Pepper's left hand. The bandage around it ended right at her knuckles, but her fingers were exposed. He gingerly lifted the hand, and gently put her engagement ring on first, and then he slid on her wedding band. The large white center diamond of her engagement ring and the two blue diamonds on either side of it sparkled, shining brilliantly in the light along with the blue and white alternating diamonds of her wedding band. Tony gasped and smiled at the sight. He looked at Marilynn and she smiled at him lovingly.

"You're right," he said. "That's much better."

Marilynn nodded in agreement. "They're so beautiful. She deserves to wear them as much as possible," she said.

"She deserves to wear them all the time," Tony agreed. "We were just trying to be careful, you know? Maintain security?"

Marilynn nodded. "I understand, honey," she said. "But right now, putting those rings back on her finger is more important than you probably know."

"You think?" Tony asked.

"I do," Marilynn replied. "Believe me, a woman's wedding ring is a very important piece of jewelry to her. I know you feel better with it being on her finger, but believe me, she does, too."

Tony smiled. "I hope so," he murmured. "I really do."

XxXxXxXxXx

Pepper was quiet and pensive when they touched down and disembarked from the jet at Stark Aviation that evening, as well as during the ride home. Tony chalked it up to her being tired (as was the usual case these days), but soon he noticed a frown appear across her brow.

Upon entering the condo, they both walked inside quietly. Tony took her suitcase from her and put both his and hers in the bedroom. When he reappeared, he found Pepper standing at the living room window staring out in deep thought, the same frown painted across her brow. Tony frowned in response, as he walked up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder, but not before planting a soft kiss on it first. Pepper patted his arm lovingly and rested her head back on his shoulder.

"You've been really quiet since we landed," he murmured. "Something I should know?"

Pepper smiled softly. She sighed and turned around to face him. He looked at her with a furrowed brow as he laced his fingers behind her back. "These last couple of weeks have been amazing," she said, smiling weakly. "But I guess, now that all of the excitement is over, it's time to face reality."

Tony frowned again. "What do you mean, Pep?"

Pepper gazed into her husband's eyes. "Tony, you know we have to be careful, now more than ever."

Tony nodded in agreement of what was she was referring to. "You mean with us being married now, and the..."

"Baby. Right," Pepper finished.

"Pepper, we both knew this was coming," he reminded her.

"I know, Tony," she said sheepishly. She sighed again. "I just wish I could do what every bride, or pregnant woman, for that matter, gets to do. Tell anyone who will listen how happy and excited I am."
Tony gave her a sympathetic smile. "I know, Pep. And believe me. Noting would make me happier than to be able to give you that chance. But it's just too risky, right now. You know that."

"I know," Pepper said regretfully. She laid her head on his shoulder, and Tony kissed the top of her head. She held up her left hand to admire her rings. "I just wish I could keep these on a little longer," she said. "But, alas, I can't. So, into the jewelry box they go tomorrow morning."

"I know this situation isn't easy," Tony said. "But just know it won't have to last forever, okay?"
Pepper raised her head and looked at him curiously. "What do you mean?" she asked.

Tony smiled. "Finding out we're pregnant has made me want to spur on that project I was telling you about at our wedding," he said. "Pepper, if what I'm trying to to do works? It wouldn't just mean more time at home. It could mean my retirement."

Pepper gasped. "Oh, Tony! Really?" she asked hopefully.

Tony nodded and smiled. "I don't want to miss a moment of this kid's life. That only means one thing. I need to put into place something that can take over for Iron Man. Hell, for all of the Avengers, for that matter. A velvet rope for the world to be protected behind, if you will."

Pepper smiled in amazement. "How are you going to do that? That's a massive undertaking!"

"It is," Tony agreed. "That's why it won't happen over night. But I promise you, Pep," Tony said, grasping her hands in both of his and looking into her eyes earnestly. "It will happen. And once it's in place, you and I, and junior, here," he said, smirking and glancing down at Pepper's belly. They both chuckled and smiled at each other softly. "Will be able to ride off into the sunset to live like normal people do."

Pepper smirked. "I thought being with you meant kissing normal goodbye," she teased.

Tony chuckled. "Good point. Okay, as normal as to be expected. How's that?" he teased back.

They chuckled again. Pepper shook her head in disbelief. "Do you really think this will work?" she asked.
"By my calculations?" he said, cocking an eyebrow. "Absolutely," he replied, rolling his eyes with a cocky smirk.

Pepper giggled. "Well, I hope you're right," she said. "Oh, wouldn't that be wonderful?" she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Tony wrapped her in his arms and squeezed her tight. "It would be," he murmured, kissing her temple.

"I love you," Pepper murmured. She pulled back to look at him, and then rested her forehead on his. "And I love that you want this for us."

"More than anything," Tony agreed. He bent to peck Pepper's lips, and she kissed him back, but held the kiss, cupping his face in her hands and kissing him earnestly. Tony's eyebrows shot up and he smiled to himself at her unexpected affection.

Pepper soon broke the kiss and rested her forehead back on his. She kept one hand on his cheek and lovingly stroked his lips with her thumb. "I can't wait," she whispered.

"Neither can I," Tony whispered back. He lifted his head, and sighed, looking into her eyes. "But, unfortunately, we have to."

Pepper nodded. "I know," she said. "How long do you think it will take to put all of the pieces into place?"

"I'm hoping within the year?" Tony said, shrugging. "That's just a guess."

Pepper's face brightened. "Within the year? You mean, by this time next year you could be..."

"Retired? Yeah. That's... the hope," Tony said.

Pepper grinned. "Think about this, then," she said. "Judging by the fact that I got pregnant at the end of November, I'm probably due at the end of August, right?"

"Right," Tony agreed.

"So that means that by next January, our baby will only be a few months old! How wonderful would it be if you were retired and home from that point on!" she said excitedly.

Tony grinned. "That's a great thought, isn't it?" he said hopefully.

"It is," Pepper agreed. "Oh, can you imagine? Our son or daughter having their father around all the time? It would be more than a lot of kids get, and that would be amazing," Pepper mused. She smiled lovingly.

"Wow," Tony whispered, smiling in awe. He exhaled sharply. "Then that's the goal, Pep. By this time next year, I want to be popping the cork on some champagne to celebrate my retirement, and our new life together."

"I'll be looking forward to it," Pepper said dreamily. "Correction. We'll be looking forward to it," she said, patting her stomach. She grinned and Tony grinned back at her.

He marveled at how her expression had gone from being so sullen to one of hope and excitement. It warmed his heart to see her so happy, and it was exactly the kind of shot in the arm he needed to get moving on this new project. He loved the idea of them being able to live their lives with as much normality as possible, and to raise their child together safely and in peace.