The weeks flew by for Tony and Pepper. Since that dinner in New York, the two had been closer than ever. Their nights were filled with sincere and intimate conversations, where they discussed their hopes and fears and began to build a solid foundation for the future. They committed to being honest with each other, with no secrets or omissions, something they both recognized had been lacking in their previous relationship. As time passed, it became clear that they needed to tell the twins about their relationship. Neither of them wanted the girls to find out about them in the same abrupt way they had discovered about their parentage. The girls deserved to know the truth in a calm and loving manner, in a well-prepared environment.
On the last Friday of June, Erin and Iris started their summer break, and the couple decided to do something special to celebrate. They planned a fun night filled with activities the kids loved. They started by making pizzas together, each choosing their own toppings. Then, they all gathered in the living room to watch movies. They picked a few Disney classics and snuggled up with blankets and pillows spread across the floor. The laughter and comments about the animated scenes filled the room, creating an atmosphere of pure joy and relaxation. Next, they moved on to board games, a family night tradition. The healthy competition among the children, - but not so much among the adults - and the playful teasing were the highlights of the evening. Everyone was having fun without worrying about the time, and it was during one of these carefree moments that Pepper decided it was the perfect time to start the conversation that both she and Tony had been postponing.
"So, babies..." she began to speak calmly and lovingly, carefully choosing her words. "Mommy and Daddy want to talk to you about something important."
"Did we do something wrong?" Iris asked, sensing the seriousness in her mother's voice.
"No, you didn't do anything wrong," their father reassured her with a slight smile.
"Is it about our birthday?" Erin suggested, excited about the upcoming date.
"No, it's not that either," Pepper replied, trying to stay focused. "Do you remember that trip to the mountains where we told you that Tony was your dad?"
The girls nodded, their eyes attentive.
"On that day, we said we were very sorry for keeping the truth from you for so long. We didn't want you to find out like that and we promised to always tell the truth from then on," the redhead continued.
"And because of that promise, we want to talk to you today," Tony added, holding his girlfriend's hand. "You know that during these years, Mommy and I weren't together, right?"
"You guys fought," Iris said, recalling the stories they had heard.
"That's right. But then, we got closer again and made up," he reminded them. "When you came to New York, we realized that even after all these years, we still loved each other."
Pepper smiled at Tony, who returned the smile. They were connected in a way that the girls were just beginning to understand.
"Do you remember when we talked about what happens when two people love each other?" Pepper asked.
"They have kids," Erin answered with impressive conviction.
"Before that."
"They get married?" Iris ventured.
"What have you been talking to these two about?" Tony asked, jokingly, making Pepper roll her eyes.
"Before all that, they date," Pepper explained, not letting her boyfriend's teasing get to her.
"Ohhh..." the girls said in unison.
"And you know that I love your mom..."
"And that I also love your dad..."
"So, what would you say if we started dating?" Stark asked gently.
"Does that mean you're going to be kissing Mom all the time?" Erin wrinkled her nose. To her, kissing was synonymous with dating.
"That's one aspect," Tony confirmed.
" YUCK!" the twins shouted, making the two adults laugh.
"If you keep thinking that way until you're 40, I'll be the happiest dad in the world," Tony joked.
"Hey!" Pepper reprimanded him. "This is a serious conversation."
"I was serious too!" he replied with a mischievous smile.
Knowing him, she decided to ignore him. "Girls, Mom and Dad dating again means we'll be together, like we were before you were born."
"If you're going to be together, does that mean we'll live together?" Erin asked excitedly.
"And have another baby?" Iris added, with the same enthusiasm.
"And get married?" the older twin continued, almost causing her mother to spill the wine bottle next to her out of nervousness.
"That's a lot of questions and few answers for now," Tony said, laughing at his daughters' reactions. "I understand that you're excited, but things are a bit more complicated. You know Dad lives in the United States and Mom lives here with you. We can't just move from one day to the next. But that doesn't mean that, one day, all those things you mentioned won't happen.
Automatically, Pepper swallowed hard upon hearing his last sentence and looked at him, surprised. Did he really think that way? That they would end up getting married and having another child?
"And so? Is it okay with you if Pep and I date?" the dark-haired man asked.
"I think so," Erin was the first to respond.
"Yeah, I think so too. I don't like having you guys apart," Iris added.
"Does that mean we have your approval?" Pepper asked eagerly. She wanted to make sure.
The twins glanced at each other for a few seconds, as if communicating through their eyes, then got up and jumped onto their parents, shouting "yes" in unison. The adults laughed and hugged the girls, feeling a sense of relief and happiness.
As if time were truly flying, another three weeks passed, and on that mid-July Saturday, the children's fifth birthday party was happening. As usual, the party was small, only for a few of the girls' friends and closest family members. This time, the chosen theme was mermaids, and the decoration was enchanting. Colorful balloons were scattered throughout the garden, creating a magical atmosphere. A large table, filled with cake, cupcakes, and sweets all decorated with theme details, occupied the center of the area. There was a painting area, some toys like a bounce house and a ball pit, and a table full of utensils so the kids could decorate their own cookies. The party took place at Tony's house in Toronto. He, responsible for entertaining the birthday girls, was in the garden playing with them and some balloons, while Pepper took care of checking the final details of the buffet in the kitchen.
"Pep, the party is amazing," Pepper heard Kate say as she also entered the room and went straight to the table where the sweets were, picking one up with a satisfied smile.
"I can see that," she replied, laughing at her friend, who, three months pregnant, had been craving everything she used to avoid.
"Why are children's parties so good?" the brunette asked, heading for another tray of sweets.
"I have no idea," Potts laughed.
"So, how are things between you and Tony?" Kate broached the subject, leaning back against the sink. They hadn't seen each other for a few days and were eager to catch up on news.
"We're okay," Pepper replied, trying to sound casual, but her friend wasn't convinced.
"Okay?" She arched an eyebrow. "When you're in a serious relationship with someone, you expect them to say more than just 'okay'."
"Tony and I don't have a serious relationship," the redhead explained, though her words sounded less convincing than she intended.
"How can you not have a serious relationship when you practically live together and have two daughters?" Kate asked, surprised. She had known Pepper for years and knew she was usually straightforward about her relationships.
"You know there are plenty of topics to discuss before declaring a relationship serious. We're not teenagers," Potts said, trying to justify the situation.
The brunette sighed and grabbed another sweet. "So are you waiting for a marriage proposal to say it's serious? Because if that's the case, I guarantee he's just waiting for you to give a sign."
"Marriage? Where did you get that idea?"
"Is it so hard to imagine marriage coming from you two?"
"We've only been together for almost two months."
"Three years," Kate corrected, counting from the beginning of their relationship. "And you know what? I think it took too long for you two to sort things out since you reunited. It took what? Six months?"
"Is that a long time? It took us a decade to kiss for the first time."
"Which means you shouldn't have wasted time on the reunion," she said, making Pepper laugh. "Admit it, you know what you have is serious, you're just afraid to admit it."
"It's not about fear, Katherine, it's about reality. We've never talked about the future."
"Marriage and babies?"
"Living arrangements and the girls."
"I don't see a problem so far. As far as I know, you sorted out everything with the girls when you put 'Stark' in their names, and you seem to be handling the situation of living in different cities quite well."
"You know things aren't that simple."
"How not? The guy bought a mansion in the city and doesn't even use it, every time he makes sure to stay at your place with you. Not to mention you've never complained about the arrangements made."
"When did you become Tony's number one defender? Until recently, you hated him."
"I never hated Tony. I just hated that he made you suffer the way you did, and I've told you that before," her friend replied. "You know I think the decision to distance yourselves should have been made by both of you, not something he should have done individually."
"In short, you hated him."
"Maybe I did hate him, but not anymore. I couldn't hate someone who loves you the way you deserve," Kate said. "Besides, I always knew you two would sort things out someday."
"You knew?" Pepper asked, lacking any confidence in the brunette's words. She herself didn't believe they would be where they were at that moment.
"Anyone who knew you two would have known."
"Looks like Erin and Iris weren't the only ones Tony won over."
"Definitely not, Miss Potts," Kate replied, deepening her voice to mimic Tony when referring to her friend. "But now how about you tell me the real reason behind all this stress and questioning? All the conversations you've had seem fitting for the moment you're in, so something really impactful must have changed things. Like, I don't know, a new baby, for instance, but you're not pregnant, right? So there's nothing to worry about. Just live in the moment, Pep."
The redhead nodded and bit her cheek. But like her boyfriend, the woman in front of her could read her well. That's why she knew something was wrong.
"What?" she asked seriously. "Are you?"
"No. I mean... No, I'm not."
"Are you sure? Because this sudden change in mood could be a sign, and knowing you and Stark, I'm sure sex isn't an issue in the relationship."
"Oh my God, Kate... No."
"I'm just asking because I care. I don't want to go through another drama between you two."
"I'm not pregnant, and I'm sure of it now. I thought I was, but I went to the doctor and besides the negative result, my period came, so the answer is definitely no." Pepper paused. "But the possibility..."
"Scared you?" Kate asked as she analyzed her friend, who nodded. "So all this talk about the future makes sense... You were afraid things would repeat themselves.
Potts sighed, running her hands over her face. "I didn't know what to think or what to do. I just... It's not the right time."
"You don't need to explain yourself. You have every right to feel this way. But Pep, you're not alone, and I'm not just speaking for myself, but for Tony too. Things are different now, and your fear isn't helping. If you go through this relationship with doubts, just waiting for something to go wrong, finding a thousand excuses not to accept what you have, your love for him won't be enough."
"I'm not doing any of those things."
"Are you sure? If I go ask him about this pregnancy scare, what will he tell me?" Pepper remained silent, so Kate got her answer. "Tony can't guess everything, Pep. Just be honest with him, okay? You love each other, and I know things haven't always been easy, but use this second chance to change what you can, not to repeat the same mistakes."
The redhead smiled and nodded. She always felt lighter after talking to her friend. The truth was, Kate could be a bit harsh at times, but she always said what was needed, not what she wanted to hear.
"Thank you," Potts said.
"You know you don't need to thank me."
"I know, but still, thank you."
Kate smiled and grabbed another sweet before stepping away from the sink. "Anytime," she said, then returned to the party.
The remainder of the celebration was an absolute success; everyone had a great time. Erin and Iris were radiant, and despite receiving many gifts, mostly from their parents, the biggest one was the promise of a trip to Disney. In the first week of August, Tony, Pepper, and the twins flew to Orlando. The stay was magical from start to finish. They visited nearly every ride in the parks, watched parades, marveled at fireworks shows, and enjoyed a royal dinner with the princesses. The experience was topped off by staying in Cinderella's Castle, a dream come true for the girls.
The adults cherished every moment with their daughters, creating memories that would last a lifetime. Amidst laughter and pure joy, there was also room for deep and necessary conversations. There were a few tears shed as they talked about the future and the challenges they would face, but Kate was right: the love they shared was strong enough to overcome any obstacle.