It was at 1:00 when a knock sounded on Pepper Potts's door. Morgan jumped up from her seated position on the couch.
"Who's here Mama!!!!" She shouted quickly running towards the door.
"Morgan no! We don't open the door to str-." Pepper quickly cut off seeing Natasha. Natasha was once of Pepper's best friends. She still was. She was even deemed Morgan's godmother. But she was still friends with Tony. Pepper knew it was unfair to ask her to cut their friendship off but it had still unintentionally caused a rift between the pair.
"Auntie Red!" Morgan screeched clinging herself to Natasha. "
What's up short stuff!" Natasha said smiling returning the hug.
"For your information, I've grown 3 inches since last Summer." Morgan shot back as seriously as a little kid could.
"Nat it's so good to see you!" Pepper said with a real smile on her face as she embraced her friend.
"Good to see you too Pep." Pepper winced at the nickname and Natasha immediately realized her mistake.
"How's life been treating you?" Natasha quickly asked changing the subject as Morgan retreated to her bedroom finding things to show her favorite Aunt.
"It's been fine." Pepper knew Natasha those were lies right as they came out. "life's been shit." She rephrased causing Natasha to snort out laughter.
"Pepper Potts swearing? I didn't know she had it in her." She teased but turned serious at the saddened look on her friend's face.
"I just feel so alone. I feel like after I got full custody everyone flocked to Tony leaving Morgan and me in the dust. I used to see Rhodey practically every day. I saw him for the first time in months the other day. I haven't seen Steve since court. Maria even barely calls anymore." Pepper stopped short when little footsteps sounded.
"Your not alone Mama I'll always be here," Morgan said obviously having overheard the adult's conversation. With tears in her eyes, Pepper wrapped her arms around her daughter. It hurt looking at Morgan sometimes. How much she looked like him. Her smile. Her laugh. Her humor.
"I love you so much Mo."
"I love you the mostest Mama." Natasha froze feeling as though she was intruding the moment.
"I'm sorry I can step-"
Pepper cut her off "No Nat don't worry we're all good." As tough as Natasha was Pepper knew she was cracking on the outside. She knew how much she wanted to have children and how hard it was to see Morgan. She had heard briefly about Natasha's past from Steve but had only recently learned the fact of her sterilization. If anyone deserved to be a Mom it was Natasha. "Hey, Mo why don't you go watch a show I think they have a new episode of the odd squad." Morgan shrieked in excitement running off. "So how are you doing Nat?" Pepper asked offering her friend a seat on the couch.
"I've been okay." Natasha responded slowly making sure she didn't mention Tony "Clint and Laura just bought a new house it's really pretty, Thor has a kid now-"
"I wasn't asking about our friends I was asking about you, Nat," Pepper responded her eyes glistening with sadness. Natasha looked at the ground tears building up in her eyes. A sight which was very rare.
"I'm struggling a little bit." She admitted "It's just really hard. I really really want children but it's not possible."
"Maybe you can get it reversed?" Pepper weakly suggested. Natasha shook her head
"too expensive besides it would only be a 50% chance of getting pregnant after that."
"There's always adoption?" Natasha nodded quietly head hung low. Pepper quickly changed the topic "How is the infamous Natasha Romanoff doing in the romance department?" Nat's smile instantly lit up. It had been an ongoing joke for years about the many men Natasha had seduced.
"Well, I stayed single for quite a while." She slowly began. Pepper squealed knowing where this was leading. "I was talking with one of my acquaintances and this person asked me on a date and I said yes." Pepper's mouth hung low
"Um, who is this man?" Natasha's cheeks turned to a pink
"It doesn't really matter" "Yes it does!" Natasha's face turned serious in seconds
"Shit I'm running late."
"Shit." Natasha shot a glare towards Morgan
"Damn it you're gonna get me in trouble!"
"That is correct." Pepper said making room for Morgan on the couch. She shot Natasha a look signaling that their conversation was not over.
"Anyways I'm heading over to Rhodes for his bbq I'm taking you guys with me. Shortie go get a swimsuit for the sprinklers." Morgan ran off happily to her room. Tears threatened to fall from Pepper's face
"Nat I can't face him I can't! I haven't seen him since court!" Natasha hesitantly laid a hand on her shoulder
"He's gotten a lot better. That of course does not change the fact of what a douche he's been however I do think it's a good idea for you to at least see how he's doing."
"No!" Pepper said sternly.
"Virginia Potts. You are a strong independent amazing woman and Mother and businesswoman who is a fuckin CEO. He is an idiot. You are going to show him how amazing you are doing without him do you understand!"
Pepper finally nodded "Let's go beat his ass."
"Let's go beat his ass!"
"Uh oh, Mommy's in trouble now," Natasha smirked. Pepper laughed before a sense of dread came over her. Why on Earth did she agree to this.
///AN: Ok so I literally have no idea who to ship Natasha with. Please leave suggestions below I'm open to her being with anyone, male or female.
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Learn to Love Again
Hayran KurguPepperony AU. It had been a year. A year since Pepper finally caved. Since she'd left with Morgan. Since Tony had gotten himself so deep into alcohol he'd completely changed. The man Pepper once loved more than anything in this world was gone. He wa...
