Finally back to work! Pepper had officially left rest behind and was more than happy to dive back into the bustling and complete chaos of the hospital. Not that she hadn't loved the care Tony had been giving her, being pampered by him, but, gosh, the man had been so protective that it was starting to suffocate her. It was so good to be back in her routine and know that, in no time, she'd be in an operating room again. She even missed the reports she'd have to produce and the agendas she'd have to sign. Since the brunet had spent the night at her place, they had breakfast together and then dropped the kids off at school, with Ellie and Theo chattering the entire way about their plans for the weekend with "Uncle Tony," as if she wasn't even there. It was amazing how naturally her boyfriend fit into their lives. Afterward, they headed to work, walking through the doors hand in hand. It was a simple gesture, but it confirmed what everyone was already saying: they were together, and now they didn't want to hide it anymore.
"I can't believe we're really doing this," Pepper said, looking at Tony.
"Relax, darling. It's going to be fine," he replied, squeezing her hand affectionately.
They had a meeting with the HR committee that morning. Now that their relationship was more than declared and there was a baby on the way, they needed to officially inform them of what was happening. After that, there would be no turning back, and although they had concerns about what it would mean for their professional lives, they had no regrets. They knew they were doing the right thing.
"Are you okay?" the neurosurgeon asked, looking at her with concern. With each step they took, he could feel his girlfriend getting more tense.
"I'm fine," she answered, trying to smile. "I'm just thinking about how this will be received. It's not every day that two of the hospital's top surgeons announce a relationship and a pregnancy all at once."
Tony chuckled softly, wrapping his left arm around her waist.
"We're going to be okay," he assured her.
When they arrived at the HR office, the couple was greeted by Mrs. Johnson, who welcomed them with a smile. It was strange for them to schedule a joint meeting when what usually brought them there were complaints made against each other.
"Dr. Stark, Dr. Potts, please come in," she said, pointing to the chairs in front of her desk. "What can I do for you today?"
Pepper exchanged a look with Tony, feeling slightly uncomfortable. She opened her mouth to speak but seemed uncertain about how to start. Of course, the brunet noticed his girlfriend's hesitation and took the initiative.
"Well, Mrs. Johnson, it's nothing like the last times," he said, trying to break the ice with a joke. "But this time, we're here to announce something important… a relationship."
"A relationship?" she repeated, surprised. "You two?"
The redhead nodded, finally finding her voice.
"We're together. And, as part of the hospital's regulations, we thought it was important to officially inform."
"Well, this is news," the older woman said with a slight smile. "Given your history, I must say I'm a bit surprised. But as long as you follow the rules and maintain professionalism, I see no problems. We won't prevent you from being in a relationship."
The couple nodded, exchanging glances before continuing.
"There's one more thing," the brunet added, in a more serious tone. "We're going to have a baby. We just found out that Pep is pregnant, 12 weeks along."
"And it wasn't planned at all. We didn't even suspect," she felt the need to explain.
Mrs. Johnson remained silent for a moment, processing the information. "I understand. And congratulations to both of you," she said, genuinely happy for them. The woman had a large family, with photos of her seven children and four grandchildren on her desk. "As I said, the main thing is that you maintain professionalism within the hospital. And, of course, we'll make the necessary adjustments to Dr. Potts' schedule to accommodate her needs during pregnancy, adjust her shifts accordingly, and do the same for Dr. Stark during his paternity leave," the woman then briefly explained to them how these processes would be handled. She took the opportunity to go over some information in the regulations and the kind of behavior she expected from them, especially considering Pepper's new position.
"Understood. We'll ensure that our personal lives don't interfere with our work," the redhead sighed with relief, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders.
"Remember to inform us of any significant changes. And finally," Mrs. Johnson concluded, handing them some documents. "We need to formalize the communication of your relationship and the necessary adjustments to your future schedules. Please review and sign these forms."
Tony took the documents, giving them a quick glance before passing them to his girlfriend. They signed the papers, formalizing their situation.
"Anything else you need to know?" the HR officer asked, looking at both of them.
"I think that covers everything," Stark replied with a smile. "Thank you very much for your help and understanding."
"We're here to support you," she said, smiling back. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to reach out to me."
With the meeting concluded, the couple stood up, thanking her once again before leaving the office. When the doors closed behind them, the brunet pulled her into a quick hug.
"See? It wasn't that hard," he said, kissing the top of her head.
"Now your nurse friends will have all the proof in the world," Pepper teased with a mischievous smile. "They're going to be devastated to know that you're actually off the market."
Tony laughed, shaking his head. "I can't wait to see their reactions when they find out we're expecting a baby together. It'll also be great to scare off those who are after you," he added with a playful gleam in his eyes. "You could even put a ring on that finger to make it even clearer, you know?"
She raised an eyebrow, amused. "Are we at that point already?"
"For me, the sooner, the better," the neurosurgeon replied with a cheeky smile, looking at her fondly.
The redhead laughed, shaking her head. "Okay, Mr. Impulsive. We need to work now."
"Right, right," he agreed, but couldn't resist a quick kiss before they parted. "But remember, it's never too early to start thinking about it."
"We'll see," she said, still smiling as she walked away.
They headed to opposite sides of the corridor, each immersed in their responsibilities. For Pepper, the highlight of the day was leading a complex procedure to remove a tumor from a patient named Mr. Miller's heart. In the operating room, the tension was palpable. With her team around her, she focused intensely on the monitor, her movements precise and calculated. She recalled reviewing his exams at least 100 times, feeling prepared, but the tumor was located in a delicate area, making the surgery risky.
"Let's begin the incision," Potts said, her calm voice cutting through the tense silence of the room. The assistants moved in sync, handing her the instruments as she worked with skill.
After hours of intense work, the surgeon finally managed to successfully remove the tumor, freeing Mr. Miller's heart from the mass that threatened his life. With the removal complete, she and her team moved on to suturing and checking, ensuring there were no additional complications. Once the entire process was finished, Pepper felt a wave of relief and satisfaction. After changing clothes, she headed to the waiting room where the patient's family was anxiously waiting. As soon as she saw them, she approached cautiously and reassured them by informing them of the successful surgery. After that, she returned to her office to review the next cases, stopping only for meals and the ultrasound she had scheduled for that afternoon to check on the baby.
Meanwhile, Tony had a relatively uneventful shift. He reviewed cases, had some consultations, and even found time for a quick coffee break. However, his day took an interesting turn when he attended a meeting at an elegant restaurant with representatives from a hospital in Massachusetts, a meeting he had been postponing for some time. To be honest, he always thought it was just another job offer, something he could let slide without much consequence. However, the persistent contact piqued his curiosity, and he finally decided to hear what they had to say. The brunet arrived at the scheduled time and immediately recognized one of them, an old college friend named Peter Hamilton. They greeted each other warmly, exchanging a few jokes about the old days before sitting down.
"Thank you for finally accepting our invitation."
"I admit I was curious; you didn't give me much of a choice."
"Well, then I'll get straight to the point. We know you have an impressive background and an impeccable reputation in the field of neurosurgery. That's exactly why we're here today. We want to discuss a unique opportunity."
Tony raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Opportunity? So it is a job offer."
Anderson, one of the other gentlemen at the table, laughed, shaking his head. "No, my dear, it's much more than that. We want you to become the face of one of our projects. We're transferring ownership of the Summit Medical Institute, and we want it to have the best future possible."
The surprise was evident on Tony's face. He leaned back in his chair, absorbing the information. Hogan, the third man, continued:
"The hospital is state-of-the-art, focused on innovative treatments and advanced research in the fields of neurosurgery and cardiology. Your expertise is essential for this project. We want you to be the brain behind everything it can become; we want you to be in charge, making strategic decisions and helping shape the future of medicine."
"And, of course, we know there are tax and legal matters to consider. We don't expect to close the deal in a single meeting, but it is an official offer. We've prepared everything and formalized it," Peter said, handing over a file with the relevant papers. "Read it carefully, have your lawyer take a look, and then get back to us. I can assure you it's a unique opportunity; it's not something that comes up every day. We're talking about owning a hospital. Your own hospital."
Tony sat at the table, listening to the representatives enthusiastically discuss the proposal. The idea of not only working at a cutting-edge hospital but also owning it was incredibly attractive. He had always dreamed of having a greater impact in the field of neurosurgery, and the chance to shape the future in that way seemed like a unique opportunity. However, as he listened to the promises and expectations, his mind began to wander. The reality of his personal life pulled him back. Pepper was by his side, and now they were building a family. The prospect of Massachusetts, more than 400 km from New Jersey, weighed heavily. How could they make the relationship work long-distance? The idea of trying something like that seemed risky. Could they withstand the separation? And Pepper, would she be willing to move with him for a fresh start? These questions swirled in his head as the men in front of him continued to outline their plans for the hospital. Each passing second made the offer more tempting, but Stark knew that such a significant decision couldn't be made impulsively.
Time flew by during the meeting. The discussion delved deeper into the financial details, growth expectations, and planned innovations for the future hospital. Each new piece of information was more enticing than the last, making Tony ponder the possibilities this offer could bring. However, when the clock struck 5 PM, he knew it was time to leave. The appointment with the obstetrician was important, and he wanted to be by Pepper's side for that special moment. With a final wave, he bid farewell and left the elegant restaurant, his mind still buzzing with the offer.
Upon returning to Metropolis Mercy, Tony found his girlfriend in the gynecology department. As soon as he entered, he noticed she was watching him with a curious expression. There was something different about him, an excitement that did not go unnoticed. But before they could talk about it, the obstetrician approached, calling them into the consultation room. The first step was the preliminary conversation, which began with questions about how the redhead was feeling, recent symptoms, her doubts, and the results of the laboratory tests that showed no changes other than those expected due to the use of the IUD.
Right after that, they were led to the ultrasound examination. Although they had been through this before and had even heard the baby's heartbeat, each new experience brought renewed emotions. Upon entering the room, Pepper settled on the examination table, feeling a mixture of anxiety and joy. Dr. Richie, with a reassuring smile, spread the gel on her belly, the cold liquid contrasting with the warmth of her skin. As the doctor positioned the device, images began to appear on the screen. As she moved the transducer, shapes were revealed, and the world around them seemed to disappear. Each new contour and each heartbeat echoed as a reminder of the life they were bringing into the world.
"We have a baby developing very well here, within all expected parameters. She's about 15 centimeters long and weighs 114 grams, which is great considering that at our last exam, you were a bit under the expected weight," explained the doctor with the calm of someone who had done this for years.
Tony stared at the screen, his eyes shining with happiness and a bit of amazement. "She's moving so much; I hope she uses up all her energy now. Can you imagine another child always on the go?" he joked, trying to lighten the moment's tension.
"With so much activity, it won't be long before you feel the first kicks," replied Dr. Richie as she adjusted the device once more. "Oh, and look at that. It seems she'll be quite the show-off too, parents."
"Wait... did you say..." Potts interrupted, her heart racing.
"Did you say... she?" the brunet questioned, incredulity in his voice.
"Congratulations, it's a girl!" the doctor confirmed, looking at them with a smile. "She must be very happy with all the attention she's getting because it's rare to see the gender before 20 weeks."
Pepper felt a mix of emotions upon hearing this. A girl. The idea of having another daughter was so new and exciting. Tony, on the other hand, couldn't contain a wide smile that spread across his face. He could already imagine the family dynamics shaping how special it would be to share these moments with his girlfriend, from the first steps to the dreams and aspirations that a father and mother could help shape. Dr. Richie continued the examination, showing details of the baby's development on the screen, while the couple exchanged glances, understanding that this little one was about to transform their lives in ways they couldn't fully comprehend yet. Every moment during that ultrasound was a memory to cherish, a step closer to the realization of a dream that now felt tangible and real.