AN: I'm really sorry this took so long. I'm really busy because of school right now and this is also the reason the next update could take longer. I'm not abandoning any of my stories though.

Tony is on a business trip the day she finds out. She has been suspecting it for a few days now, but she somehow couldn't summon the strength to find out. But now... Well, she decides not knowing is worse than knowing can ever be.

So she takes the test. She bought it when she noticed she was late, but it was hidden behind her favorite Jimmy Cho's until now. She waits until she is sure nobody is going to walk in and then takes it. The instructions say to wait five minutes to see the result.

Pepper is pretty sure five minutes have never ever been so long before. She walks around, brushes her hair, looks at her blackberry, she even picks up a book and tries to read, but the letters dance in front of her eyes and won't make any sense.

Finally, the five minutes are over. She looks at the test. Two pink lines. She doesn't need to read the instructions again to know what that means.

She is pregnant. Pregnant. She closes her eyes and sits down. It shouldn't be such a shock, she's been suspecting it, but to have the confirmation clear in front of her... it's still making her knees weak.

She and Tony never discussed the idea of having children. When she was younger, Pepper always pictured herself as a mother, but now... she doesn't know. Would she be a good mother? She knows Tony could be a wonderful father, but can he get over his own father complex? She doesn't know that, either.

Would he be angry? Tony's never been angry with her, but this... This child will have a target sign on it's back 24/7. It's going to be a weakness, to the whole team. It will be small and defenseless and the perfect target.

She sighs and picks up her phone. She calls the second number in speed dial. After two rings, a woman's voice answers.

"Pepper?"

"Hey, Natasha. I... I was wondering if you could come over. I need you here."

Natasha must have heard something in Pepper's voice, because she just says: "I'll be there in two" and hangs up. Pepper is grateful for that. She really doesn't want to explain it over the cell.

When Natasha walks in, Pepper says nothing and just points toward the small stick. Natasha picks it up and Pepper sees her friends eyes go wide with realization. Then, Natasha walks over to her hugs her tightly.

"Congratulations. You will be a wonderful mother" It's good to hear her say it, even though Pepper isn't really convinced.

"How can you be so sure? I'm a workaholic and I don't know how to act around children. I just..."

"Pepper. Breathe. You will be a wonderful mother. I thought you knew. You've always been like a mother hen to us all, looking out for us and even tugging some of us into bed when necessary. You will be the perfect mother. And you'll have help."

"This child will be endangered from the moment of it's birth. So many guys who want to hurt me or Tony are out there and..."

"We will protect you and your baby. Always. Don't worry. We will be there. And really, I think you know that Tony would never allow anybody to hurt his wife and child. He will be thrilled when you tell him."

"You think so? Wait, how did you know I didn't tell him?"

"One, yes. He loves you more than anything else in this world and he'll be overjoyed to find out your pregnant. Two, I'm a spy, remember? It's my job to know things."

Pepper smiles.

"Now, call him. He'll be happy to have an excuse to go out of his meeting."

AN: I hope you liked it. Any request or ideas for chapters are greatly welcomed!