Chapter Five:

Preparations

Sam's POV…

Present day…

Emily's eyes were filled with determination as she looked up at Sam. He could see that she was already making a list in her head of what needed to be done for Bella's arrival. Emily would soon be on a warpath that would put any Alpha to shame. Sam's Beast loves it when Emily gets bossy. Throwing out orders like a general. It showed everyone around just how strong and capable his mate was. How perfect she was for him.

"You know you're going to have to talk to the boss lady, right?" Asked Emily in her stern voice.

"I am well aware." He replied coolly.

"You go do so now. I'll call Paul and tell him to get his ass home quick. I'll fill him in on what is happening." Emily signed. "See now I bet you're glad that we didn't throw out any of those big plastic tubs."

"Hmm… Well I was hoping we weren't going to have to move again so soon. But Bella is…"

"Pack! And she needs us. I know Sam. I know." Emily quickly pecks Sam on the lips before pushing him towards the door. "Now go so I can start apartment hunting."

…..

Pepper's POV…

Pepper was finishing up a few things in the office when Tony popped by a little early to pick her up for their dinner date. Pepper has been working for Tony for almost ten years and now that they are together Pepper just can't get over how sweet Tony can be. Well… when he chooses to be. Tony had always had this blase attitude about most everything. It used to drive Pepper batty at how easily Tony could brush things off like it was yesterday's news. Act like nothing bothers you and hope no one looks close enough to the cracks in one's armor. Growing up with a camera in your face would do that to a person. I suppose. It ashamed Pepper just how long it took for her to see those cracks.

To see them and look past them. To see the wonderful, goofy, kind hearted, forgetful fool that Pepper loved. She loved Tony. She really did. Every bit. Even the part of him that could be a hyperactive immature child with a brain that was always going 60 mph.

"Pep?"

"Yes, Tony."

"Are you finished?"

"Just about. Five more minutes." Smiled Pepper.

"You said the same thing twenty minutes ago." Tony groaned.

"Well if someone didn't insist that we have this same conversation every 90 seconds maybe I could get somewhere." She scolded with a little heat to her voice. In all actuality Pepper had finished her work fifteen minutes ago. Pepper was usually the one to do all of the harping about finishing up things so they could make whatever deadline. Now that the roles were reversed she could help but play it out a little bit longer.

Just then a firm knock came from her office door. Pepper smiled when she saw that Tony had banged his head against her desk. She out right laughed when she heard him groan at her yell to come in. Pepper was just eating up Tony's torment. Oh, payback is sweet. Soo sweet. Pepper had yet to look up from her desk when Sam began to speak.

"Miss Potts, I'm sorry for the intrusion…"

"Then walk back out the door, beefcakes we're about done for the day." Snickered Tony.

"TONY! I can't believe…" Pepper was ready to rip Tony a new one when Sam barked out a laugh.

"Don't worry, . I won't take long. I have just come to inform that Paul and my family will be moving out of the tower." Smiled Sam. "It's been wonderful." Pepper was shocked. Tony was shocked.

….

Tony's POV….

Tony was flabbergasted. Panic truly began to set in. Sam was quitting? But why? It wasn't like he was ever going to find a better paying job than what I am providing. Tony looked to Pepper hoping against hope that it was a joke. Something she set up as payback for all the crap he has put her through. Though that thought went right out the window as Tony caught a look at Pepper's equally horrified face.

"Sam this is so out of the blue. I know working for Stark Industries… For the Avengers hasn't been ideal at times but I wasn't aware that it was too much. I thought everything was going smoothly. Please tell me whatever in the world has made you decide to quit?" Pepper asked.

"Son, you can't quit! Pepper is right with you and Paul, everything in the tower has finally begun to run smoothly. I don't think I would ever be able to find anyone that's qualified or capable enough to handle your positions." Tony quickly followed.

"Mr. Stark, Miss Potts, neither Paul or I are quitting, we are just moving out of the tower. We love our jobs." Sam replied coolly.

"Oh!" Tony said as Pepper sighed. Relief filled Tony.

"I was under your wife's impression that the apartment is perfect. Why the change of heart?" Asked Tony.

"The apartment is more than perfect." Sam paused. Looking around confused. "It's just that in our contract it states that company is allowed so long as they don't stay longer than a week and is approved by security before so."

"So…?" Tony probed.

"My little sister is being sent out to live with me." Sam stated.

"You don't have a sister." Tony snorted. "You're an only child."

Sam's face turned red. "What makes someone family is more than just blood. What your background checks will tell you is that my mother died when I was young. They will also tell you that I was arrested for shoplifting a box of cereal bars. What they won't tell you is that my father was a cruel drunk that was never home enough to ensure my well being. It also won't tell you that the officer on duty was not only able to talk the owner into dropping the charges but was also able to get the man to give a thirteen year old boy a job. Or that that same man offered up his home to me. His name is Charlie by the way.

Officially on paper I lived with my father but in reality I stayed more often than not at Charlie's. Charlie made sure I was fed, clothed, and that I knew I was safe and loved. Like my father should have done." Sam paused once again to breathe. "Charlie has a daughter. Her name is Bella. I have known her since she was knee high to a grasshopper. So when I more or less moved in she dubbed me her big brother and no one could tell her otherwise. Even my own angsty emo teen ass couldn't convince her otherwise. After a while she just grew on me." Sam laughed "Bella is funny like that though. She can grow on to anybody. She is like a fungus that way. Now some angsty emo ass of a teen did what I was unable to do. He broke her . A boy broke my baby sister and now she needs me. Charlie is sending her here to New York in a month's time. She is my family and I will not turn her away." Sam growled out so hard that Tony felt the vibrations all the way down his spine.

….