A/N: So here's number 5… A little bit of a turn of tables but I realized that either there isn't many fics like this out there or I can't find them so here it is. This is set a little after New York and they're at the Malibu house… And I'll apologize in advance if the house lay out seems a little odd… I have this odd habit of setting up house layouts in my head that seem to be nothing like what they're supposed to be… but anyway I think that's about it so I hope you enjoy!
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Cramping
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Tony's brow furrowed as he watched Pepper, there was something different about her body language and he wasn't quite sure what but he had his suspicion and he knew that it'd been happening the last couple months around the same time. Tony was rather observant for the most part and when he first hired Pepper he quickly caught on to when he shouldn't push her buttons every month as her hormones raged. She would get a little cranky but nothing more than that usually, it wasn't until after the whole thing with New York and having to deal with all of it that he noticed this change in her. It took a couple months of it happening and one incident of him walking in on her asleep on the bed with a hot water bottle resting on her middle for him to figure out what it was. He didn't like seeing her in pain but he wasn't exactly sure how to approach the whole thing so after some serious thinking he decided it would probably be best if he let her tell him for the most part. He quickly threw out half that plan though when he realized he wouldn't have the patience to wait it out. Instead he decided he would let her tell him but he would help it along just a little. Tony watched pepper a little longer before slowing moving up behind her and gently wrapping his arms around her middle, pulling her close to his chest and leaning over her shoulder to place a kiss on her temple.
"You're stressing too much," Tony whispered softly into Pepper's ear, "You should call it a night and come to bed with me."
"Tony it's only 5pm," Pepper protested, "Don't you think it's a little early for bed?"
"We don't have to sleep," Tony said with a smile, "There is a TV in that room."
"I really should finish these up first," Pepper said motioning to the laptop in front of her, "They're going to double by morning."
"Then let them," Tony said in what he hoped was a convincing manner, "You've been working like crazy! You deserve a break."
Tony could feel Pepper deciding as her muscles tensed then relaxed.
"Can I at least finish this one email?" Pepper asked turning her head to look at him over her shoulder.
"Well I guess just that one," Tony said a hint of playful sass in his tone, "I'll go wait for you upstairs, don't take too long."
"Alright," Pepper said smiling before catching his lips in a soft quick kiss.
Tony kissed her back before flashing her one of his signature crooked smiles and releasing her to head up to his room. He changed into a pair of soft striped pj bottoms and a tank top before settling into bed and turning on the TV while he waited for Pepper to come up.
It took a little longer than he would have liked but finally Pepper quietly wondered into the bedroom and retrieved one of his old MIT shirts before disappearing into the en suite bathroom. When she emerged her suit had disappeared and she was wearing nothing but her panties and his shirt. She crawled into bed beside Tony and settled into his side under the covers. Tony wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her a little closer to his side.
"I was starting to think you got lost," Tony teased playfully.
"Took longer than I thought it would," Pepper mumbled before shifting to get comfortable again.
Tony leaned over and placed a kiss on the top of Pepper's head before he spoke, "Must be pretty important huh?"
"Mhm," Pepper hummed settling into his chest.
Tony left it at that and they slipped into a comfortable silence, only interrupted by the chatter on the TV and the soft hum of the arc reactor.
Pepper kept shifting but the first couple times Tony decided that she was just trying to find a comfortable spot and so he left it alone. But after she shuffled beside him for the 8th time in 20 min he decided he couldn't leave it anymore.
"Honey are you ok?" Tony asked, giving her his full attention.
"No," Pepper huffed after some hesitation and rolled onto her back, "This doesn't usually happen and it's driving me crazy!"
"What doesn't usually happen?" Tony asked, rolling onto his side and placing a hand on her hip.
"These cramps," Pepper half whined deciding there was no point in holding anything back now since she started, "It's just a this stupid achy pain right across my hips that won't go away."
"What do you need me to do?" Tony asked, hoping she would tell him so he could help.
"I don't know," Pepper said with a sigh, "Maybe some ibuprofen and a hot water bottle."
"Coming right up," Tony said softly, placing a soft kiss on her lips before sliding out of bed to retrieve the requested items.
He returned 10 minutes later with a glass of water, the painkillers and a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel. He handed each over in the order Pepper needed them before settling beside her on the bed again.
"Thank you Tony," Pepper said as she settled into his side again, visibly relaxing.
"Anytime Honey," Tony said, glad that she seemed to be feeling better already.
He wrapped an arm around her again and they settled back to watch their forgotten program.
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A couple programs came and went and Tony realized Pepper hadn't eaten dinner; he looked down to ask if she was hungry and was met with soft snores. He smiled and pulled the covers up over them more then turned down the volume on the TV so she wouldn't be woken up. This whole soft caring thing was still new to him but he was finding that he actually liked it.
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As it started to get late Tony turned off the TV and softly asked Jarvis to turn off the lights before settling down and pulling Pepper a little closer. Normally bedtime was a bit of anxietyfest since New York but tonight with Pepper pulled in close to his side Tony was happy to find that he felt completely at peace. He kissed Pepper's forehead before closing his eyes and letting himself drift off.
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The End