(A/N Month 8 is here! The next chapter of Forever will be here shortly!)
Month 8
Tony was walking down the hall and paused for a moment. He heard humming. Tony glanced in the nursery and saw Pepper folding baby clothes and putting items away. Tony smiled and leaned against the door frame. Pepper glance up from what she was doing and saw Tony leaning in the doorway smiling. Pepper smiled back. "Hey. Can you hand me that bag?" she asked and Tony grabbed the bag and sat down next to Pepper. He handed her items from the bag one at a time. Diapers, wipes, baby rags. Pepper placed them on shelves in the way she liked. "There! Everything is here is all set!" Pepper said happily. Tony stood and helped Pepper off the floor; which wasn't easy. Once Pepper was standing she scurried to the bathroom. Tony chuckled and went to their bedroom to grab his cell phone.
After using the bathroom for the sixteenth time that day Pepper went down stairs and started her homework. Tony and Rhodey walked in talking about Iron Man stuff. "Hey Pepper." Rhodey greeted and gave her a hug. Pepper smiled "Hey guys, what's up?" she asked after Tony quickly kissed her. Tony and Rhodey looked at each other like they were hiding something. "Nothing important….just armor upgrades." Tony lied smoothly. Pepper nodded not convinced. The boys quickly went into the garage. That led to Tony's home lab. Pepper shook her head and thought He'll tell me when he's ready. She sighed and went back to her homework.
Tony and Rhodey went into the garage and took an elevator down to Tony's home lab. "Man you have to tell her, some time." Rhodey said crossing his arms. Tony shook his head "No, it will make her all stressed. The doctor said stress isn't good." He said as the elevator doors opened. Tony walked over to a work table and started to work again. Rhodey sat on a stool and gave Tony a look. "She's going to get stressed because, 1) you aren't telling her something. And 2) all of your enemy's are after her." Rhodey said picking up a wrench and handed it to Tony. Tony sighed "Pepper is safe…..She just can't go out by herself…." He said. Rhodey shook his head and sighed "Have you figured out the….power thing? Because that's what everyone is after." He asked and Tony shook his head. "It must be a form of Extremis. We use 3% of our brains…..right at the moment because of the baby Pepper can use all of her brain. When the baby is born Pepper will go back to using 3% again. Well that's what I'm thinking." He said and winced when he accidently zapped himself with a loose wire. "Makes sense….How do you think all your enemies know about Pepper's power?" Rhodey asked. Tony frowned and got an angry look in his eyes. "Gene….he must have told them…..All of my enemies want to use Pepper as a powerful weapon." He said getting zapped again Tony cursed and shook his hand. Rhodey shook his head angrily. "You still should tell her…." He said. Tony rolled his eyes and connected two wires together and got zapped again "Mother-"he yelled jumping back cursing out the security system he was making for the baby's room. Rhodey just started laughing. "Did you get a ring yet?" he asked curious. Tony nodded still looking at the demon security system. "Dude! Let me see!" Rhodey said. Tony pulled a little black box out of his pocket and tossed it to Rhodey giving him a weird look. "You there is something really wrong about a man being exited over jewelry." Tony said going back to work wearing rubber gloves this time. Rhodey rolled his eyes. "This coming from a guy who hunted down rings all over the world." He said and opened the little lid on the black box. The ring glimmered the silver band had the infinity symbol all around it with a red diamond in the middle, around the red diamond were little white diamonds. "Wow. Shiny…" Rhodey said closing the lid and tossing it back to Tony. "It was my mom's." Tony said putting the ring back in his pocket. Rhodey nodded and smiled. The two then worked in silence for a few minutes to be interrupted by a video call. Tony turned and smiled Pepper's face filled the computer screen. "Hey guys want anything at the store…? I have to go grocery shopping." Pepper said holding a piece of paper. "No…thanks Pep….did you put milk on the list?" Tony asked and Pepper gave him a look. "Yes Tony I put milk on the list." She said rolling her eyes. Tony smiled at Pepper and nodded "Ok then I'm all good as long as I have milk for my cereal." He said and Pepper laughed "Yes god forbid I forget the milk. If I do the world will freaking end." She said then turned off the video com. Tony and Rhodey laughed but it slowly died they looked at each other "She going out alone…. "Tony said wide eyed "And every villain in New York is after her…" Rhodey said both boys flew to the evaluator yelling "PEPPER!"
Pepper arrived at the super market and got a cart. She walked through the fruit and vegetable section grabbing various things. She hummed to herself as she picked out a bag out apples. She didn't notice the strange man looking at her. Pepper pushed the cart down isles and picked up everything that she needed. Pepper looked down at her list Hmmmm I need some of that seasoning Tony likes… she thought and looked around. It was on the very bottom shelf. Pepper bent down and got on her knee's to get the seasoning. When she got the very last bottle from the back of the shelf she tossed it in the cart. Pepper tried to get up by herself but it didn't work out well. "Oh nuts…" she said trying again. Pepper heard a hurried clicking of heels. "Oh here dear let me help you!" Said a woman. Pepper felt a hand under her arm help her to her feet. Pepper turned and smiled at the woman. "Thanks…" she said gratefully. The woman smiled at Pepper kindly "It's no problem Hun." She said patting Pepper on the arm and she went back to her shopping. Pepper went to the dairy isle and got yogurt and milk still not noticing the man watching her.
Pepper pushed the cart to the car and opened the trunk. She put all the groceries in the trunk. Pepper heard someone behind her she turned and saw Maggia guys coming closer to her; Killer shrike and Unicorn were with them. "Now remember Count Nafaria wants her alive!" Unicorn yelled as the they got closer. Pepper put a hand protectively on her belly. "No she is ours! The girl belongs to the Mandarin!" Yelled a different voice. Pepper's head turned to see the Tong coming from the other direction. Everyone heard whips and looked up Whiplash was there lashing his whips. "Mr. Fix requires her." He hissed. "NO YOU FOOLS DOOM SHALL TAKE THE GIRL!" said the dark (A/N and cheesy…) voice of Doctor Doom. "Oh you have got to be kidding me." Pepper said and noticed that a small fight broke out between the villains. Pepper quietly closed the trunk of her car and moved to the front seat. She turned the car on and glanced out the back window. She seemed to be unnoticed so she drove forward and out of sight….until her car started to spin out of control because of Whiplash. The Tong got Pepper out of the car before it could crash. Pepper sighed "I liked that car…." She sighed when she saw it crash. A Tong guy held on to her arm but she was taken by whiplash. Pepper was now on his hover bored with him. Pepper was starting to stress now. Unicorn shot his head beam (A/N …..Head beam….? Lol just go with it…..) At whiplash and Pepper fell only to be caught by Killer shrike. Pepper heard boot jets and sighed with relief. Tony came to the scene to see killer shrike set Pepper on the ground so she could be taken by the Maggia. Tony started to fight whiplash, the Tong, and unicorn and killer shrike. War machine then flew to the scene and started to help Tony. Pepper was stressed and annoyed as the Maggia moved her into a black van. Pepper! Tony shouted in his head but he couldn't move because unicorn and killer shrike were attacking him at the same time. Rhodey was fighting off the Tong. Whiplash went after the van as well as Doom. "Tong! After the girl!" yelled the mandarin who appeared suddenly. "REALLY?!" yelled Iron Man who then was knocked into a building.
Pepper arrived at the Maggia hideout and was put in a room with a bed. Pepper could hear Count Nafaria outside of the door along with a loud crash. "Get the girl!" yelled a voice Pepper assumed it was someone from the Tong. Pepper's door flew open and she was right a man in all black quickly went up to her. He bowed and grabbed her. Weird Pepper thought as she was taken to another van. They drove way past the speed limit. The van Screeched to a stop and a Tong guy held onto Pepper to make sure she didn't get hurt. The van lifted off the ground and the back door flew open. Only Pepper was pulled out of the van. She was floating in mid air and was slowly moving to the ground. Doom dropped the van and made Pepper land next to him. "You will come with me. Your baby will be mine….you as well." He said taking Pepper by the arm. Pepper stuck out her tongue. Eww she thought as she tried to tug her arm out of his grasp. "Doom!" yelled a metallic voice that made Pepper relax. Doom turned and laughed. "Ahhh Iron Man. You cannot stop me! Doom shall have what he wants!" he said yelling. Pepper rolled her eyes and tugged out of the crazy mans hands. Pepper backed away from Doom quietly. The Maggia, Tong, and Whiplash were back. Pepper couldn't count how many people were after her. It was a lot. Pepper backed up to were Tony was. He was in the air and was about to be shot down by everyone. They all fired and Pepper screamed.
A shield formed in front of them like a giant wall. Pepper's eyes were glowing white once again. A strong wind picked up and lightning flashed. One hand was on her belly and the other one raised and she waved it making everyone against her fly backward. Doom stood and shot something at her. Pepper caught it in her hand smiled and crushed it. Doom stood shocked. Pepper looked at the ground and it started to shake. The road moved like it was made out of rubber and formed a cage around the villains. Pepper looked up at Tony her eyes slowly going back to brown. She smiled and collapsed.
Tony flew down and caught Pepper before she hit the ground. "Stay here and make sure the police come for these guys!" He yelled to Rhodey who stuck his thumb in ok. Tony flew to the hospital and watched them take Pepper to emergency. Tony went into an ally way and dearmored. He ran in the front doors and was guided to Pepper's room. She and a doctor were talking. "Pep? Are you ok? What…" Tony asked worriedly. Pepper smiled. The doctor turned to Tony and said the same thing she said to Pepper. "Pepper has too much stress and that stress she has affects the baby. She needs best rest and she needs to relax." she said then checked her chart. "You can go when ever. Now remember best rest and relaxation." She said and left the room. Tony helped Pepper out of bed and signed her out. Tony haled a taxi and putting get a new car on his to do list.
When they got home Tony made Pepper get into her pajamas and get in bed. "Remember relax." He said as he tucked Pepper into bed. Pepper sighed but didn't argue. Tony went down stairs to make her some hot chocolate. So Pepper sat there thinking about how close she is to giving birth. Tomorrow I start my ninth month…I hope everything will be ok…. Tony came back with hot coco and cookies. Pepper chuckled and took them saying "Thanks." Tony's phone buzzed. He took it out of his pocket and read the message from his dad. Tony hey can you come here real quick? I need your help with something…. Tony sighed and kissed Pepper on the lips for a second. "My dad needs help with something. I'll be right back….don't move just sit and relax." He said backing away from her slowly. Pepper smiled and nodded. Tony left Pepper alone to watch TV and think.
Tony arrived at his dad's house and saw him sitting in the kitchen reading a news paper. "Hey dad what do you need my help with?" Tony asked. Howard gave Tony a look. "What do you mean son?" he asked. Tony tilted his head "Didn't you text me?" he asked and Howard shook his head. "No…." he said and Tony's eyes widened "Pepper!" He shouted and ran.
With Pepper:
Pepper watched TV and thought to herself. She heard a small crash and a tinkle of glass. "Tony?" she asked calling his name. Pepper got no answer. Tony would have answered… Pepper thought lifting the covers off her. She walked into the hallway and called his name again. "Tony?" no answer. Pepper heard another sound it came from the nursery. Pepper moved into the room and gasped. The man from the store, and Pepper remembered. Staring at her from the observation window. "Z-Zimmer….!" Pepper gasped and suddenly felt pain and wetness. Pepper clutched her stomach and cried out. Zimmer smiled and guided Pepper back to her room. "Now Pepper breathe and push for me…." He said laughing and closed the bedroom door.
TO BE CONTINUED….
(A/N OH NO CLIFF HANGER! LOL yes I'm evil today. Please review!)