6- Christmas

The first thing Pepper noticed was her bed was moving. Up and down, up and down. For a second she wondered if Tony and her were out on the yacht. But it was December, and even for Malibu it was cold outside. In fact the last night they had been calling for a white Christmas.

Christmas, that was right. It was Christmas morning which explained the movement on her bed. Last night Tony and her had stayed up wrapping presents, drinking wine, and watching "It's a Wonderful Life". They hadn't actually made it to bed until a little after 2am. Which explained why she was so tired.

But Pepper Stark had two very bouncy and hyperactive reasons to get up this morning.

"Mommy! Up Up!" stated one high pitched little voice.

"Yeah Mommy! Christmas!" replied another.

As Pepper opened her eyes at her children's request, she couldn't help but smile. Two sets of blue eyes capped off with dark brown mops of hair stared back at her. The twins were four years old this Christmas, and more the capable of understanding what all the hype was about. They had been excited for weeks, each of them counting down to the second when Christmas would start. And considering both her children were already child prodigies she was pretty sure they had it down to the nano second too. Tony already had to come up with a program for Jarvis to successfully lie to the children when they tried to use the computer to track Santa's itinerary the night before.

Speaking of her husband, his side of the bed was noticably vacant.

"Grace," Pepper addressed her daughter who was still bouncing on the bed, " where's your father?"

"Daddy's downstairs, he said not to wake you." Pepper couldn't help but smile. Leave it to Tony Stark's children to do the complete opposite of what they are told.

"But he said when you were up we could start Christmas" her brother Chance responded.

"Well then, I think you made the right call," Pepper assured her son.

"Told ya! " responded her daughter.

"Ok, downstairs, let's go." Both children took off out of the room. Pepper made her way downstairs, the smell of coffee leading her to the kitchen while her children hovered around the tree, waiting for their chance to open presents.

Tony was already in the kitchen, sipping coffee, with a second cup already poured for her and made just the way she liked it. Without saying a word, Pepper came to stand next to him and inhaled the aroma of her coffee.

"I see you sent the little minions to do your bidding this morning" Pepper said.

"Minions, thats not way to refer to your children. And no I did nothing of the sort. I told them not to wake you." Tony retorted, watching his children and their limited patience as they shook one of the boxes.

"First off, they are 100% you, if I wasn't there I'd swear you just cloned yourself. Second, you and I both know if you want something done just tell Grace and Chance not to do it. And you Mr Stark, are just as bad as them. I know you had Jarvis doing a Christmas countdown since Halloween."

Tony could only smile in response. He was excited for this Christmas, he couldn't deny it. The twins were old enough to really enjoy it this year. On top of that, he wasn't on a mission, they weren't away somewhere or tied up with business. Christmas this year was exactly as it should be, at home with the people he loved most in the world.

"Think we should turn them loose?" Tony nodded towards his children.

"Yeah we better, we know that Stark patience issues is genetic"

Pepper and Tony walked into the living room and sat on the couch, eyeing their kids who stared right back at them.

"Ok," Tony said, "Have at it." That was all the permission the twins needed. Before long the room was a mess of paper, boxes, and toys. Both Tony and Pepper admitted to going over board, but in the end, they had two good kids who put up with way more then any 4 years olds should have to. And they did it marvelously. They put on a good show for the paparazzi, always behaved at any business function they were dragged to, and overall were caring for others. Add to that the worry that every time their Daddy went on a mission in his suit he might not come home, and Pepper and Tony couldn't help but spoil them rotten.

After presents were open by all the family members, breakfast was next on the agenda. All four Starks assisted with the process. Grace set the table, Chance broke eggs into the bowl, Pepper put cinnamon rolls in the over and Tony took over pancake duty at the stove. When breakfast was done and cleaned up, Pepper sent the kids upstairs to get changed. Over the years, their family had gotten bigger. Not only Tony, Pepper, and the kids, but their adopted family as well. Christmas dinner tonight would include that extended family. Rhodey, with his wife and daughter, Happy and his fiance, Pepper's parents who to this day still weren't sure what to make of their superhero son-in-law, and of course The Avengers past and present and their families. If nothing else it was quite a collection.

Tony took a sip out of his third cup of coffee and looked around.

"I know that look," his wife whispered coming up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"What look? I don't have a look" Tony replied.

"Hmmm you say so" Pepper kissed the side of her husband's face and leaned her head against his.

Tony pulled his wife around to the front of him, wrapping his arms around her.

"Just thinking Mrs. Stark. I think this is the best Christmas I've ever had"

Pepper leaned her forehead against Tony's. "You know, I couldn't agree with you more Mr. Stark"