Two weeks had passed, and the agitation didn't seem to diminish. It was one of the major downsides of adult life: constant responsibilities. That Thursday, Pepper arrived home after 8 PM. She had left the art school at the usual time, 7 PM, but had an unusual craving for one of the pies sold at a delicatessen a few blocks away. The flavor was dried fruits. In her opinion, it had an unappealing color and not a very pleasant smell. For years, she avoided that pie, but apparently, her new baby didn't want her to continue that way. Before she knew it, the redhead found herself standing in front of the display, looking at the dessert as if it were a hidden treasure.

When Potts arrived home, she went straight to the kitchen. Although she wasn't hungry and felt a bit nauseous, she knew Tony would be there. The sound of dishes indicated she was right.

"Can you believe what happened today?" the woman said, sitting on one of the stools by the island. The brunet was organizing some colorful dishes in the dishwasher, indicating that their daughters had already finished their meal.

"I can't believe many things that happened today," he commented, still facing away from her.

"Is everything okay?" Pepper asked, noticing the unusual tone in his voice. The concern was reflected in her eyes.

"Sure, why wouldn't it be?" Stark replied, turning to her with a look that mixed distrust and fatigue.

"I don't know, maybe because you're being a bit sarcastic?" She raised an eyebrow, realizing something was off.

"Where were you?" The brunet asked, now leaning against the sink and crossing his arms in front of his body, as if preparing for an argument.

"That's exactly what I was trying to explain. Your daughter made me eat that awful pie from the delicatessen near the art school. The one with the huge glass windows and the pool-blue facade, remember? We've been there a few times."

"Yeah, I know which one it is," Tony commented dryly, the coldness in his voice making it clear he was distant from the subject.

"Okay, I don't understand why you're acting this way. Is it because I didn't call to say I'd be late? I'm sorry, but you're not my father, Anthony."

"I'm not worried about the lack of a call," he said, his voice maintaining a tone of coldness. "Your company seemed to be entertaining you too much."

"Company?" Pepper questioned, confused. "Wait, are you talking about Cole?"

The name seemed to cause an instant reaction in Tony, and the frustration was evident on his face.

"You know the answer unless some other ex-boyfriend showed up for the conversation," he replied with a mordant tone.

"Are you really jealous of him? Tony, I hadn't seen Cole in over a year. We only talked for what, three minutes? This is madness," the redhead retorted, her tone mixing confusion and exasperation.

He laughed ironically, the sound of his laughter being a combination of irritation and frustration, knowing it had been more than just that. Stark had just left the company, his workday ending a bit earlier than usual. He thought of surprising his girlfriend, planning a little treat with one of her favorite desserts from the delicatessen near the art school. With light traffic and time on his side, he quickly headed to the location, eager to see Pepper's smile upon receiving the treat. With the pregnancy progressing, she was giving in to her sweet tooth. However, as he passed by the large glass windows of the place, Tony's attention was immediately caught by an unexpected scene. The redhead was sitting at a table, with an expression of pleasure as she ate something he couldn't identify from a distance, while a man sat across from her, making her laugh easily. At first, the brunet didn't recognize the man, but soon realized it was Cole Danvers.

Stark knew enough about Cole to understand the situation. The man was Pepper's ex-boyfriend, someone she had had a serious relationship with until shortly before Tony reappeared in her life. Although the redhead had assured him that Cole had nothing to do with the twins, it was obvious that there was a history and a connection between them. He knew the breakup had been amicable; Cole had found a great job opportunity in another city, and Potts would never consider leaving everything she had built for him. As he observed the dynamic between the two adults, Tony noticed the way Cole looked at Pepper. There was a sparkle in his eyes that did not go unnoticed. His feelings for the redhead were clear, even if he tried to hide them.

The scene he witnessed seemed to have a life of its own, like a painful reminder that Pepper had a life before him and that, despite everything, there was still a trace of that history. Tony found himself analyzing the details of their interaction, trying to understand what exactly was going on. There was a lightness in the way they talked, and the way his girlfriend smiled seemed more intense than usual. Feeling nauseous with all of it, the brunet discreetly withdrew, not wanting to interrupt the moment.

"It's not madness!" Stark insisted, trying to stay calm while moving.

"Tony, he was a great friend when I needed one. I can't just ignore him," she replied, trying to control her tone of voice, but the frustration was evident.

"That guy still has a crush on you. How can you not see that?"

"Cole has a girlfriend, and even if he still felt something for me, I'm not to blame for that. He knows he has no chance with me. There's no reason for you to be jealous."

"It's not just jealous. It's about you, maybe unknowingly, still giving him hope."

"Seriously? And what about when you still keep in touch with those women you've been involved with? Pepper asked, letting her irritation show. "And Laurel? Are you still friends with her?"

"I never had anything with Laurel and you know that. There's no feeling on my part, and I asked you many times if our friendship bothered you. You always said no." The brunet defended himself, his tone rising.

"Sure. There may be nothing from your side, but she still has feelings for you," the redhead retorted, her tone cutting. "And I trust you, Tony. I trust that you would never betray my trust, but you clearly don't share that sentiment."

"Pepper, it's not that..."

"No. You wanted to know? Fine, now you're going to hear it!" Pepper raised her voice. "I never gave you any reason to doubt me. Never. I have always been faithful to you, even when we started and didn't know what we were. I've always been honest and always honored our relationship. I chose to be with you, even knowing the kind of person you were, and I never threw that in your face." She was getting worked up, and the argument was becoming increasingly intense. It was like déjà vu; suddenly, they were back in Malibu, years ago, saying things they didn't mean.

"You know what? Maybe you're right." Tony headed for the kitchen door, his gaze fixed on the floor, tired of fighting.

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know. I need some time to think. I recommend you think too, because if you really believe half of what you said, maybe there's no reason for us to stay together." With those words, he left the room, and Pepper stood frozen, watching him disappear through the door.

The redhead was stunned. She knew she had said things she regretted, just like Tony, but the idea of ending the relationship devastated her. How had they reached this point? Did he really consider that an option? She sighed deeply, running a hand over her face in an effort to calm down. Without thinking much, she went upstairs to check on the girls. The twins were in the playroom, playing happily. Pepper joined them, helped them bathe, and put them to bed. But as she watched the little ones, the gravity of what had happened began to weigh on her.

As soon as the girls finally fell asleep, the redhead realized the magnitude of the situation. She lay down on the bed, feeling the weight of the tears falling non-stop. The fatigue and pain overwhelmed her, and she fell into a restless sleep. Hours later, she woke up with her stomach growling. Her body was tired and her mind still in turmoil. Potts grabbed her phone from the bedside table and, with a sigh, called her personal assistant.

"Friday?" She murmured, her voice hoarse from sleep.

"Yes, Miss Potts?" The robotic voice responded promptly.

"What time is it?" Pepper asked, trying to regain mental clarity.

"It's now 2:47 in the morning," Friday informed her.

The woman sighed. That explained the unexpected hunger she was feeling. She turned to Tony's side of the bed, noticing it was pristine, as if no one had slept there.

"Is Tony home?" She asked, her tone of concern growing.

"I'm sorry to inform you that he is not, Miss Potts."

"And is there any news from him?"

"Mr. Stark embarked on a mission just over two hours ago," Friday informed her. "The mission has become a bit more complicated than anticipated, but the Avengers have been called in."

"And I shouldn't worry..." The redhead murmured, the sarcasm evident in her voice.

"Mr. Stark is fine. Only minor damage to the suit has been identified. He should be home soon," the AI tried to reassure her. "Would you like me to contact him?"

Pepper hesitated. She knew the conversation would be complicated, especially after the heated argument they had. But the idea of hearing Tony's voice, even if just to hear an "I'm fine," seemed comforting. Very much so.

"No need, Friday. Thank you," she replied instead.

She hated fighting with her boyfriend. The discomfort of the argument still bothered her, and she was desperate to resolve the situation. Deep down, she knew Tony should take the initiative. It wasn't a matter of pride, but of rational understanding. I mean, it was understandable that he felt jealous; Pepper also experienced insecurity, especially when comparing herself to the many women the brunet could have. But the encounter with Cole had been accidental, a simple meeting. It meant nothing more than that, but Stark seemed to have made it a bigger issue, as if she had planned something. As if she were capable of betraying his trust in such a cruel way.

Pepper was starting to feel bad again. She loved Tony deeply; he was kind, caring, and attentive. But when he got something in his head, he seemed to lose all reason completely. His words echoed in her mind: "If you really believe half of what you said, I don't see any reason for us to stay together." Why hadn't she stopped him from leaving? Why hadn't she made it clear that wasn't what she wanted? Did he really think that way, or was he simply overcome by anger at the moment?

With these unanswered questions and sadness taking over her, Potts began to cry again. It wasn't just the effect of pregnancy hormones; it was the genuine pain of a shaken relationship. And speaking of pregnancy, her stomach growled again.

"Okay, sweetheart, mommy got it," Pepper murmured, gently caressing her belly. "Let's feed you. I'll sort things out with daddy later," she looked at the ceiling with a resigned sigh. "I hope."

They couldn't have the same ending as years ago. It wasn't fair; it shouldn't be like this.