Hello again!

This story has been in my files for a while, and I finally decided to share it with you because I really think they deserved a much better ending than they got. I tried my best, and I hope this new chapter in their lives warms your hearts just as it warmed mine while I was writing it. I'm sorry for the necessary angst, but the ending, as always, is a happy one.

Just like my other fanfictions this story was originally published in my native language, Portuguese. I'm doing my best to translate and revise it to make it as close to English as possible, but since I'm not fluent in the language, there may be errors. Therefore, please let me know if there's anything I need to correct. In any case, I really hope you enjoy it!

Please leave your comments, it means a lot to me to read what you're thinking.

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There are moments in life that change our entire history, and for me, being kidnapped in Afghanistan was definitely one of them. Surviving those months in that cave transformed me into who I am today. And while many, including myself, made it clear in my first press conference after being rescued that it meant becoming Iron Man, this time I'm not talking about the alter ego. I'm talking about me as a person, and how that event changed Anthony Edward Stark. "I shouldn't be alive. There's a reason for this. I'm not crazy, Pepper. I finally know what I have to do. And I know in my heart that I'm right." That's what I told Pepper when I needed her help to stop Obadiah, and although back then much of my feeling was about preventing my enemies from seizing my technologies and creations, deep down I knew it boiled down to a single reason. None of this was caused by some motivational speech about valuing life more, because I was never afraid of death. My true motivation was always to protect those I loved, those without whom I wouldn't know how to live. And as you probably already know, this list is quite short, but at the top of it is the woman to whom I made my reasons very clear: Virginia Potts.

Fifteen years ago, if someone had asked me if we would end up together, my answer would have been no. First, because when the 22-year-old redhead, newly graduated, came for her job interview, my initial instinct was not to hire her, especially after the audacity she had to correct one of my math calculations — and it doesn't even matter that that little misplaced comma saved Stark Industries from a loss of over 8 million dollars. Second, because I thought countless times about firing her — she was the best at her job, and I had no choice but to hire her. The woman simply refused to do what I wanted; it was always the right thing, not the easiest, which annoyed me. Third, she never gave in to my advances, and I tried, a lot, until I just gave up. I could list many other reasons why I would still think we would never be here at this moment, but time is a funny thing, and when it comes to love, nothing is truer than the right person, right place, and especially the right time. It may have taken a long time to get here, maybe too long if we're honest, but we're exactly where we should be. With engagement rings on our fingers and one step away from walking down the aisle. However, let's take it step by step, since some of you might have missed something, and talking about us is never too much.

When it all started, at least officially, you already know: 2010, right after the mass explosion of Vanko's armors, which made us land on the terrace of the Empire State. From there, it was a few outbursts from her, who had reached her limit, and a few from me, after all, how could she have just stood there? And of course, there was all that initial embarrassment with Rhodes watching everything, but it didn't matter much. I finally had the woman of my dreams in my arms, and from the beginning, it was always her, even if I didn't know it. Our relationship evolved gradually, as it had to be, taking the time to get to know each other beyond professional boundaries. We had our first dates, trips, arguments, and before we knew it, the media already knew about our relationship. Then, we started working on Stark Tower, our "baby," as we used to call it, since she wanted a dog and I'm allergic. Then came the invasion of New York, Loki and his Chitauri army, my brief visit to the wormhole, and with the necessary renovation of our ongoing project complete, we were already living together. And I thought that would be the peak of our peace, but then Aldrich Killian came along, the destruction of the mansion, the Extremis, and all the crap that it meant for our lives.

We tried to sweep our problems under the rug, but it's true what they say about the past coming back to haunt us if we don't deal with it when we should. And between Hydra conducting experiments on humans, the Sokovia Accords, and all my anxiety, we ended up breaking up. Those were the worst three months of my life, but they were necessary to make me realize many things and seek help. We got back together stronger than ever; she stayed focused on the company, and I helped with a few things, dividing my attention between less practical tasks as Iron Man. Suddenly, Peter Parker showed up with this "friendly neighborhood" thing, which made me experience a new role: mentor. And I actually liked it! But then, on the day of introducing him as the new recruit for the Avengers, the kid misunderstood everything and left the press conference before it could even start. Fortunately, I had a good backup announcement for the occasion, with my mother's ring now weighing in my pocket and practically begging to be placed on my girlfriend's ring finger. However, traumatized by my poor choices and controversial statements, I was sure she would say no just to see her comments spread through the media. And let's be honest, this moment should, after all, be just ours.

So, if I had said we were wearing engagement rings, how did that happen? The answer is quite simple and only confirms how much this woman has changed me, as romantic and meaningful gestures were never part of my personality. But let's not lose focus; it all started on September 27, two weeks after our press conference—where she came up with business topics—and on her birthday, with a romantic dinner at our home. Every detail was meticulously planned: the setting decorated with candles, flowers, soft music, presents I had learned to choose very well, and a specialized chef, since the best thing to do was to stay out of her kitchen. The next day, I thanked the heavens it was a Saturday and she was in a less workaholic phase because we decided to have a picnic by a newly discovered lake, which remained deserted due to not being well-known. The sun was setting as she laughed, and her hair, now a long strawberry blonde, reflected in a way that highlighted her eyes and freckles even more. It was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen, something even Van Gogh couldn't paint, and it would make Aphrodite jealous and Shakespeare speechless. That was the moment; it had to be. So, I knelt before her with the ring in hand, and while Pep shed a few tears, I expressed all my deepest feelings, reminiscing about each of our moments together and sharing my hopes for our future. I knew her feelings were reciprocated, but I can't deny the huge butterflies I felt during the milliseconds between asking her to marry me and hearing her say yes.

We kept the engagement a secret, sharing the news only with our closest friends, who congratulated us with a few "why did it take so long?" and "we knew it would happen sooner or later." With my activities a bit more distanced from Iron Man and Stark Industries away from controversies, we were enjoying life better without enemies popping up every half-second and the constant media pursuit. The latter had been eager for news ever since, just 8 days ago, when Pep was seen leaving a bridal store — she was helping a friend choose a dress for her wedding — rumors of us being about to walk down the aisle surfaced from all sides. And yes, we are getting married, just not this week as speculated. However, Happy has been handling that part, keeping the paparazzi away from us, which allows me to focus on what is truly urgent right now: my dream from last night. And hang on, you'll understand what it's about soon.

"Honey, slow down!" I ask while my fiancée – I love saying that – quickens her pace even more, even though we've already finished our morning run through Central Park; it's almost as if she's avoiding the subject. Oh, and before I forget to update you on this part, we've been living in New York for the past year and three months because of the logistics our lives demand. For a while, we lived in the tower since the entire top floor was designed solely for us, but with the recent sale, we opted for a penthouse in Manhattan, which, in addition to its modern and urban design thanks to Pep's good taste, provides us with privacy and excellent mobility. With that, we added another thing to our couple's list: mandatory morning runs through the park. Believe me, as boring as it may seem to some of you, it's extremely enjoyable for us. But back to the point...

"You're just talking nonsense, I'm already lost", she responds, ignoring my request.

"I can explain!" seeing that she will start running again if I don't stop her, I give a little sprint and start walking backward, looking at her, thus slowing down our pace. "You know when you dream, and in the dream, you need to pee?"

"I know." she agrees but doesn't seem very convinced by my argument.

"Right, and then you say, 'Damn, there's no bathroom here. What do I do now?', 'Is anyone looking? Can I try to go in secret?'"

"And then you wake up and really need to pee." Pepper completes, beginning to understand where I'm going with this.

"Exactly!"

"Okay, I get it. It happens to everyone."

"Exactly, and that's my point." I finally stop, and she does the same. "Based on that, last night I dreamed that we had a child. It was so real, and we even gave him the name of that eccentric uncle of yours… What was his name again?" I say what I wanted to, and it feels so good to finally get it out.

"I understand..."

"Morgan!" I exclaim in the middle of her sentence.

"So you woke up and thought..."

"Naturally..." I murmur.

"We were pregnant." Pep concludes.

"Yes!" I confirm.

"But no." she's emphatic.

"No?" I ask incredulously. "But I dreamed about it. It felt so real!"

"If you really wanted a child, you wouldn't have done this!", she unties the jacket tied to my chest and taps her nail on the device to activate the nanotech suit. Okay, I should have known she wasn't as okay with it as I thought. "Do what you think is best" coming from a woman never actually means what those words seem to express. Rookie mistake, I admit.

"It's good you mentioned it, because it's actually nothing." I justify. "It's a nanoparticle storage unit." I try to downplay it.

"You know you're not helping yourself, right?" She sighs and gives me that look, making me question all my choices.

"It's totally removable!" I defend myself.

"You don't need that!"

"I know, but I just want to protect us. And anyone else who comes along..." I approach her. "In case there's a monster hiding in the closet instead of coats." I smile, using the best argument I can think of. It seems to work because even though she's still not satisfied, she smiles a little, and I almost feel like I can convince her.

"You're unbelievable."

"You know me so well!"

"Oh God..." She rolls her eyes. "You should have coats in the closet." She doesn't say anything else, but I imagine she wants to add "secrets" or "skeletons."

"Yeah..." I agree, pulling her by the waist. "You know what? Let's have dinner somewhere nice tonight, show off that Harry Winston on your finger, no more surprises!" I joke. "I should promise that."

"Yeah, you should."

"And I will," I say, but the sound of my voice is muffled by our lips coming together, because I can't resist kissing her, and if there's one thing I love about our relationship, it's that over the years, Pepper has stopped being against public displays of affection. But she definitely wouldn't approve of what I have in mind, except before I can suggest we go back home, we're interrupted. And this is exactly one of those moments that change our lives. Split-second decisions altering destinies, transforming our stories. In front of us, as if it's the most normal thing in the world, a portal of bright light and a distinct humming opens, revealing a stranger I've never seen before, but his presence is unmistakable. He's wearing a cloak that looks like a circus magician's, and his eyes carry a knowledge that goes beyond human understanding. Before I can fully process the situation, the man starts introducing himself.

"Tony Stark? I'm Dr. Stephen Strange. I need you to come with me." Instinctively, as he speaks, I step in front of Pepper, holding her hands to protect her. Her gaze meets mine, a mix of surprise and unease. "Oh, and congratulations on the wedding," he adds as if he's an old friend.

"Sorry, are you handing out tickets to a show or something?" I ask, feeling Pepper's judgment for my choice of words, but damn, doesn't he realize he's just interrupting?

"We need your help." If my comment bothered him, he doesn't show it. "It's no exaggeration to say the fate of the universe is at stake."

"We? Who's we?" I ask, already tired of this cryptic conversation.

"Hi, Tony." It's not Stephen who answers, but Bruce. "Hi, Pepper." I haven't seen him in a long time. After the last Avengers mission, we kept brief contact, but that was almost a year ago, almost 12 months without any news from him. However, whatever Banner has been doing in that period, I'm sure it's left him unsettled. I can see the fear in his eyes, and he doesn't even try to hide it.

"Are you okay?" I ask, concerned.

"We need to talk," is all he says. "But not here."

"Great, we're less than 10 minutes from home," I inform him.

"No, at the Sanctum Sanctorum," the wannabe sorcerer speaks up again, supported by my friend.

"I'm not leaving just like that, I need to take Pepper home and…" But he doesn't even let me finish.

"That won't be a problem." In seconds, a new portal opens, this time directly to our living room.

"Babe…" My fiancée captures all my attention. "You should go, it seems important and…"

"Our conversation was also important," I interrupt, making sure to convey my irritation with the surprise visit.

"We'll talk about it when you get back, I promise." She smiles, running her hands along my arms. She's always known it takes very little to convince me when it comes to her.

"I won't be long."

"You better not be, because I have plans for us." Pep whispers in my ear and bites my earlobe before pulling away. And then, as if she hadn't said or done anything significant, she says goodbye to the other men, crosses the portal, and disappears from sight.

"Great, what happens now?" I ask the two men staring at me.

"We save the universe," is the response I get.

x

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Never, in my wildest dreams, did I imagine I would be involved with Anthony Stark. He was, without a doubt, an impressive figure, but at the same time, his inflated ego and reckless behavior made me question how anyone could be so insufferable. In the beginning, working alongside him was a true test of my patience; his unfunny jokes and lack of consideration for others made me want to slam the door and never come back. So, if someone had told me that one day I would be wearing an engagement ring on my finger given by him, I would have laughed in their face. It seemed completely absurd. The idea of marrying Tony Stark was so far from reality that I simply couldn't conceive it. But then, as always happens in life, time passed and over the years, I was able to see beyond the facade of arrogance and egocentrism. I discovered that behind that exterior was a complex man, full of vulnerabilities and imperfections. As we got to know each other better, I began to see a side of him that few had access to. He had a generous heart and a brilliant mind that constantly surprised me. Over time, I realized that many of the feelings of irritation I had initially felt transformed into something entirely different. Love grew from where I least expected, and now, here I am. Life can indeed be surprising that way.

I love Tony Stark, and I love even more being loved by him. Every moment we share together is unique, special. Of course, it's not always a bed of roses; Tony isn't the easiest person to live with, and I can say the same about myself. We both have strong tempers and the need to be right, which often results in unnecessary arguments. However, over time, we learned that we need to make concessions for our relationship to work, the maturity we've gained over the years being crucial for that. We've learned to value each moment together and understand that communication and mutual respect are essential for maintaining a healthy relationship. In the end, we realized that the difficulties we face only make us stronger as a couple. We've learned to appreciate our differences and celebrate our achievements together, and so, despite the ups and downs, our love has only strengthened. That's why our breakup didn't even last a full 3 months. We loved each other too much to stay apart, and I've never been more grateful to have him by my side, especially since a few weeks later, I was hit with the worst news of my life: my mother's passing. It was only then that I understood how much Tony and I completed each other, because even though I was weak, wanting to give up, he stayed strong, lifting me up. Those weeks were essential to show how much we've grown, how ready we were, and that we were truly on the same page.

It's for this reason that, for the first time in my life, I'm not afraid to face a pregnancy test, a small stick that can change absolutely everything for us. My period has been late for a few days now, four days to be specific, and indeed, it's a small and even common delay, as my gynecologist had explained. However, my cycle has always worked like clockwork for these 36 years of my life, and as much as I wanted to ignore the dates, after Tony told me about his dream and insisted so much on the matter… Well, I know I told him there was no chance, and indeed I thought so because we always protected ourselves, but maybe it's not as absurd an idea as I imagined. So, as if already knowing the result, I carefully unwrap the rectangular box, freshly bought amidst a plea for discretion. I walk to the ensuite bathroom, following step-by-step the instructions on the package. During the 5 minutes I wait for the result, my mind is racing. All the doubts the moment carries are present, of course, and the anxiety is palpable, but it doesn't come close to all the other thousands of wonderful feelings. There's also a bit of irritation imagining that Tony will be right and will boast about it forever. If years ago someone had said we would have a child together, I would have recommended psychiatric help. However, now, I stare at the test stick, hoping it shows the two pink lines confirming that I'm pregnant as soon as possible. I feel with all my being that if we're to take this step forward, it has to be at this exact moment. We're really ready for this.

And I could talk about how time seems to freeze and all the known clichés surrounding this moment, but in reality, the seconds seem to cut in half because I'm sure the 5 minutes haven't passed when the answer comes: pregnant, we're going to have a baby. And the smile that spreads across my face is huge, I feel my heart race and tears well up in my eyes. We're going to have a child. We're going to be parents. There will be a mini version of us in the world. And again, I hate having to tell Tony "you were right" because I know with his ego he will torment me for days, but I couldn't love this fact more. Heaven knows, with the certainty he spoke with, I'm sure this child, our daughter, already has her name decided. But I also know it's not enough to just act on emotion right now, I need to do some tests and hear the confirmation from my gynecologist, so I reach for my phone to schedule an appointment as soon as possible, and with my mind whirling, I turn on the TV intending for the external noise to silence the internal one. And as it happened years ago, making me feel like I'm living a terrible déjà vu, all programs are interrupted to report an attack on New York: Tony, Bruce, Stephen Strange, and another guy I don't recognize are fighting the so-called "Black Order." The city is in chaos, especially Greenwich Village, the neighborhood where the confrontation is most intense. Instinctively, I feel a massive urge to vomit, the sensation of fear and helplessness hitting me overwhelmingly. Without much thought, the person I call changes completely, and I feel a wave of relief when he answers on the third ring.

"Tony, are you okay?" I ask hurriedly. "What's happening?"

"I am," my fiancé replies, but I don't feel very reassured by his affirmation. "But we'll have to postpone our plans for today," he adds after a few moments.

"Why? You said you were fine…"

"And I am, but I don't think I can make it back in time," he explains without much detail.

"Please tell me you're not on the ship," I implore, even though I know the truth. I've always known that it would be impossible for him to leave Iron Man behind. No matter what he says, the superhero will always be a part of him, and will always significantly influence all his decisions.

"Pep…"

"Please!" It's not that I'm not proud of who he is, because I think it's incredible that he always wants to save the world, but I hate that he doesn't understand that he doesn't have to do it all the time. He's not the only one with the power to do something. He can't be the only one to take on responsibilities.

"I'm really sorry, honey," Tony says with regret. "I really am, I just don't know what to tell you right now."

"You shouldn't say anything, you should just come back home." And to hell with it if I'm being selfish; we've been through too much to not put ourselves first.

"Babe…"

"Tony, please come back soon!" I plead, my voice choked with urgency and anguish. This wasn't how I wanted to reveal the news; in the brief minutes since I took the test until I tried to speak to him, various special ways to announce my pregnancy ran through my mind. But in the milliseconds that followed, as the call seemed to falter, an overwhelming sensation took hold of me: this was the right moment, the only one that truly mattered. All other considerations were secondary to the need for him to know. "I'm pregnant," I say finally, but the signal cuts out before, and now he doesn't know that he needs to come back to us, that there's someone else he needs to stay safe and sound for.

The next few hours are a rollercoaster of tension. The clock seems to have its own will, speeding up at times and stopping at others, as if it's as confused as I am. I can't hold back my emotions any longer, the lack of news from Tony is driving me to desperation. The media continues to broadcast chaotic information, the city is in hysteria, and I feel completely powerless, unable to rationalize. Anxiety takes over me, each passing minute feels like an eternity. I can't focus on anything, my heart is racing, my hands are trembling. I feel like I'm about to explode at any moment. And then, the night arrives, and I barely notice how it happened. Suddenly, Natasha is standing in front of me, and no matter how much our relationship has advanced in recent years, how close we've become, getting a visit at 2 AM is not normal. So, when Nat reveals what I feared, that Tony is lost in space, I'm hit by a devastating pain. I feel something warm trickle down my legs, realizing it's blood. The only thing I can think of is: how is it possible to lose everything so quickly?