So here's the next chapter and we'll deal with the aftermath of Pepper's second revelation.

Thinking

Tony struggled to breathe, another baby? Could they cope? Well from a financial point they were set for life but emotionally? Tony and Pepper were not in a good place right now, they barely spoke to each other without an argument, Iron Man and business already got in the way of the family life he wished he could have.

"…of course the doctor says because of my age its high risk and…Tony are you even listening right now?" Pepper had been spouting off an unending stream of dialogue since she'd told him she was pregnant.

Snap out of it! He told himself "Pregnant." It was a question rather than the statement it came out like.

"Yes Tony, you know just like the other two times, do we really need to discuss how this happened?"

"I want to discuss how, when we've not had sex in three months."

"Just what are YOU accusing me of?"

"You said three months, we've not had sex in three months in fact we've barely spoken…"

"Just over three months Tony. She estimated at about 3 and half months so that's just before you cheated on me."

Tony winced, he should've paid attention and he couldn't quite believe he'd accused her of cheating on him. He knew her better than to believe she'd betray him, he had twenty years of evidence to the contrary. "But we've been using protection."

"The night before Beth's first day of school, we both had a little too much wine and you said you could out romance Ryan Gosling in the notebook..." Pepper trailed off hoping he wouldn't need much more of a prompt than that.

"Right." He nodded, having a vague memory of the night.

"Tony I'm keeping the baby." Pepper announced.

He paused, surely she didn't think he'd ask her to get rid of it. "I wouldn't…"

"I know. I'm just making sure that you're aware of the fact." She said softly, after realising how much she'd hurt him by accusing of him of that.

"I just need to get some air." He stood to leave when JARVIS announced he had an incoming call from Nick Fury, he took and it and walked towards the workshop so he could suit up. Pepper followed him down.

"I don't think this a good idea Tony."

"I've got to go Pepper."

"Your head's not in a good place tonight has been an emotional rollercoaster." She tried to reason with him. She was silent as he finished putting the suit on.

"I love you." He told her as the facemask came down and the eyes lit up and he blasted off.

"I love you too." She said to the empty workshop.

… …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. … … … … … …

Tony had been gone a few hours when JARVIS made an announcement that Pepper was not prepared for.

"Mrs Stark, Miss Romanoff of SHIELD is here."

"Natasha?" Pepper was immediately filled with worry, why would SHIELD send over an agent? Had something happened to Tony?

"Pepper?" Natasha called out.

"What happened is he ok?" Pepper didn't even greet the SHIELD agent.

"Tony's fine." Pepper let out a sigh of relief. "It's you we're worried about."

"Me?"

"Yes, you and the children. Somebodies out to get the Avengers, they already tried to snatch Betty Ross, but…"

"JARVIS where are Beth and Ed?" Pepper cut Natasha off.

"They're in the play room Mrs Stark."

Natasha grabbed her arm before she could run off. "Pepper we need you to get them, pack a bag and come with me we'll take you somewhere safe."

Pepper went to get the children whilst Natasha packed a bag and soon they were all bundled in to a discreet looking car heading away from the mansion.

"Mommy where are we going?" Beth asked her mother, who looked at Natasha for an answer only to be told they were going to a secure SHIELD facility.

"We're gonna go see Daddy." Pepper told her trying to keep a brave face on the situation.

"Ok." She said happily and went back to playing with the doll she had on her lap. Pepper glanced down at Edward who had fallen asleep on her lap.

They arrived shortly at the Stark Industries air field. "We're flying?" Pepper said looking at the strange aircraft parked waiting on the tarmac.

"Yeah." Natasha said as she buckled in Beth.

They took over an hour later they were landing on what looked like an aircraft carrier. As the ramp on the back of the aircraft lowered Pepper was glad to see Tony stood waiting for them, Beth ran off to see him as soon as she was unbuckled.

"Elizabeth! Don't run away!" Pepper called as the little girl was gathered up in her father's arms.

Pepper made her way towards her husband and daughter clutching the hand of a sleepy Edward who'd not long since woken up.

"Hi." Tony smiled sheepishly at her and kissed her cheek.

"Hi." She mimicked kissing him on the lips. "I was worried."

"I'm sorry."

"I hate to break up this family reunion Stark, but you're not going to…" There was a flash of light and a clap of thunder as Thor landed on the deck. Edward started to cry, he didn't like Thunder storms and Beth clapped her hands on her ears.

"Way to go Thunderstruck!" Tony said sarcastically as he looked at his friend.

"My apologies friend! It was not my intention to scare the young ones." Thor looked at the crying child who was being comforted by his mother.

"…as I was saying we're not going to want to be out here for much longer." Natasha managed to finish her sentence.

"Why not?" Pepper said although her question was soon answered as the Helicarrier began to take off, doing nothing to slow Ed's tears. "What the hell is this thing!" She shrieked.

"It's called a Helicarrier, it's SHIELD's flying base, you're going to want to stick a mask on or get inside." Tony said as he lead the small group inside the ship.

"Tony Stark, your child is in distress!" Thor announced pointing at Edward.

"His names Edward and he doesn't like Thunder." Tony said shooting Thor a pointed look.

"You do not like the Thunder young Edward Stark?" Thor asked the child, who looked terrified at being addressed by such a huge man. He shook his head then buried it in his mother's leg.

"Sorry Thor, he's a little shy." Pepper told the man, who she'd finally recognised from the night in Stark tower after the first Avengers battle.

"Do not be afraid young Stark!" Thor said crouching down to look at the child. "Next time there is Thunder call out for me and I shall banish it." He smiled at Ed, who continued to hide against his mother.

They walked in silence to the small room where the team had gathered. Pepper smiled as she saw the familiar faces . "I see we're all here." Nick Fury announced as Pepper and the kids slipped off to the side of the room to join the small group of people who looked equally out of place in the room as her and kids.

"Jane Foster." The woman next to Pepper whispered extending her hand which Pepper shook.

"Pepper Potts." She returned the handshake. "Hello Betty." Pepper whispered to the other familiar face in the room.

"Hello Pepper." Betty whispered back before the small group settled in to silence as Fury briefed the Avengers on the situation.

"I'll show you where we're sleeping." Tony led Pepper and his children to a small cabin in a corner of the ship. "They put us away from anything really dangerous, although Fury says the kids need to be supervised at all times just in case." The room was small, it only had two beds.

"Uh the kids'll have to share." He said quietly.

"It's fine." Pepper said.

"Are you sure."

"Yes Tony." She gave him a small smile anyway. "I am hungry though."

They found the mess hall and were eating when they were joined by Steve Rodgers who politely greeted the family and began to eat in relative silence, until Thor and Jane showed up.

On seeing the giant man Ed shuffled closer to his father. "I wouldn't expect your child to be shy." Steve chuckled.

"Not shy!" Ed called from his hiding place "Scared!" He pointed to Thor, who looked a little put out at being called scary by the small child.

"What's his name?" Jane whispered to Pepper.

"Edward." She then pointed to Beth, who was dripping pasta sauce down her chin. "This is Elizabeth."

"Edward?" Jane called softly, and Edward peaked around his father to look at the woman.

"Hi." He said quietly.

"Are you scared of Thor?" She pointed at him just so Ed would know who she was talking about. Ed nodded and Jane smiled. "A big brave boy like you!" She was surprised. "I thought boys were braver than girls?" She asked.

"They are." Ed told her, still not speaking very loud.

"I'm not scared of him, because he's not scary and if boys are braver than girls then you shouldn't be scared either right?" She winked at Pepper as Ed removed himself from his father's side.

"Hello Edward Stark!" Thor said quieter than his usual boisterous voice. "My name is Thor Odinson and I am a friend to your father and you!"

"Hi." Edward repeated quietly.

Pepper smiled at Tony as they watched Ed slowly begin to talk to Thor who even though, he didn't always understand what Ed was saying was listening intently.

Ed turned to Steve after he'd finished his dessert "Want to play GI Joe's with us?"

Steve looked like a deer caught in the headlights as the child looked at him expecting an answer, Steve looked at Tony who just shrugged. "Uh, sure."

"I want to play too!" Beth declared.

"Girls can't be GI Joe!" Ed declared.

"Edward." Pepper said sternly, the boy in question just huffed resigned to the fact he would be sharing his new friends with his big sister.

… …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …

The sight of three grown men and two children highly engrossed in the make believe battle they were taking part in would not leave Natasha Romanoff for the rest of her life. Tony Stark's children were being well entertained by Thor, Steve and Clint (who upon seeing the GI Joe's had to take part in the game). However there were no signs of the children's parents. Natasha had been sent to find Tony and bring him to director Fury.

She thought she'd try the lab where Banner was working. "Bruce have you seen Stark?" She asked the scientist.

"He's locked in his room with Pepper."

Natasha screwed her nose up, that was something she didn't want to see when she went to interrupt him.

However she was pleasantly surprised when she knocked on the door and was told to come in to find them both fully clothed and just sat opposite beds. "Fury wants you. he needs to talk to you." She told Tony and looked at Pepper, something was different.

Tony stood to leave and when he kissed her goodbye she clicked as to what it was.

"You're pregnant?" She asked Pepper.

"How could you tell?" Pepper asked the spy.

"Your hand keeps flying to your belly whenever you get panicked and when Tony left then he placed his hand on your stomach." Pepper accepted the explanation.

"Everything is ok right?" Natasha asked the woman who still seemed sad. Tony had been right, they hadn't got along when she worked for Stark Industries but Natasha could tell she wanted someone to talk to.

"We keep arguing, not about the baby, well not just about the baby but about everything."

"You don't trust him anymore." Natasha reasoned.

"I do."

"No you don't." Natasha said. "What he did was unforgivable yet, you've forgiven him anyway you just don't trust him yet."

Pepper thought about what she said and realised that Natasha was right. "Listen Pepper, Fury's about to send him and the others to take out this guy who wanted to hurt you and the kids, so when he's back take him away. Get General Rhodes to keep the kids and get away from Malibu and fix whatever problem it is you guys are having. He's sulking all the time, makes him hard to work with.

… ….. … … ….. … … … … … … … …. … … ….

Pepper thought about what Natasha had told her and whilst Tony was off on his mission she made some calls and had organised two weeks off for her and Tony and waited his return from his mission.

The door slid open and Tony shuffled in, took a glance at his sleeping children and then looked at his wife.

"You didn't have to wait up for me." He told her.

"Don't I always?" She answered with a grin. "Did you get him?"

"Yeah we did. Eye patch says we can go home tomorrow."

"The kids are going home tomorrow."

"Pepper, please don't…"

"We're going to the house in Bora Bora." They'd only visited Tony's wedding gift to Pepper once since it's completion on their first/second (delayed because of Pepper's pregnancy) anniversary and even then it was only a brief four days.

TBC…

Hope you liked it (I'm not sure I like it), the next chapter will be happier I hope, I need cheerful as I draw this story to a close.