Learn to Love Again

My Daughter

 They all piled into her car. Morgan asleep against Steve in the back, Natasha in shotgun, Tony next to Steve trying to meet Pepper's gaze.

"Can Daddy read me a story and put me to bed Mommy." Morgan pleaded her bottom lip jutting out. Pepper was about to retaliate but then she stopped. Give him a chance Pepper. Just give him a chance.

"Of course sweetie."

"Thanks! Goodnight Mummy. I love you so much." Morgan said grinning.

"I love you too Momo sleep tight." Morgan pulled Tony towards her bedroom grinning from ear to ear.

"Night Auntie Nat, Night Uncle Steve!"

"Goodnight Morgan!" Both of them shouted back before the three collapsed onto the couch.

"Oof I'm worn out." Natasha groaned her head falling against Steve's shoulder.

"You should head home Nat you've had a long day," Pepper spoke eyeing the unusually large bags that stood under Natasha's eyes. She wondered when the last day her friend actually slept was.

"No, I don't wanna leave you with Tony if he's gonna be a dickhead." Pepper quieted down her eyes meeting with Steves pleading with him to say something to Natasha. He lowered his voice to only slightly above a whisper.

"Hey, Nat why don't we head home right now maybe pop in a movie and sleep you look really tired honey." Pepper's eyes widened at the name he called her. Was Steve her boyfriend? Natasha nodded standing up only half awake.

"Goodnight Pepper." She mumbled making her way outside to her car.

"Do you want me to drive him home?" Steve asked a look of concern crossing his features. Pepper shook her head

"No it's fine just take care of Nat." He nodded but still looked uncertain

"Promise you'll call me if you need to?" She nodded in response, he pulled her in for an unexpected hug. "Your a really amazing person Pepper, Morgan's really lucky to have you as a Mom."

 Pepper beamed "Thank you Steve you're going to make an amazing Dad one day you know." He smiled softly before disappearing into the night air. She sighed softly before making her way into her bedroom. She slipped into sweatpants and a tank top finally into clothes she could relax in. She grabbed a book awaiting his return. Hearing her daughter's door shut softly she glanced up as Tony approached taking a seat in a chair. 

"This house is great Pepper." He said through a strained voice.

"Thanks," she responded quietly her eyes glancing towards the ground. Neither spoke for a long time but he finally broke the silence.

"She's a really good kid Pep a really good kid. I can't believe how much she's grown. She's so much like you." Her heart panged at his all too familiar nickname for her.

"Well, she's missed her Dad a lot." Pepper confessed softly his eyes widening in shock 

"Really?" Pepper nodded her eyes threatening to release tears

"Every day she asks about you. You haven't been a great person Tony but at the end of the day, you are still a Dad. A Dad to a girl who thinks the world of you."

"Do you thi-" Pepper cut him off before he was even able to finish

"No."

"Pe-"

"No Tony." She spoke firmly "This is the first time I've seen you sober in years. I am not about to give you custody of my daughter."

"Our." He corrected guilty and sadness building up inside him.

"Mine." She corrected trembling with rage "I have raised a smart, talented, beautiful, happy little girl all by myself. I pay for her school. I take care of her. I pay for anything she needs. I bring her to karate each week. I am the one who has cared for her since she was born. So she is my daughter, not yours no matter who's blood runs through her veins." His heart shattered once more.

"Pep-"

"I think you should go, Tony. Have a nice night" With that she went to her room dissolving into sobs. She couldn't go back into this cycle. She couldn't let this start all over again.