The Hamptons' House

2000: Part 1

To say a lot happened between 1997 and the year 2000 would be an understatement. By the end of the first year, you'd moved in with Kurt. Six months after that he'd proposed and by the time you and Kurt pulled your rental car into the driveway of the Hamptons' House you'd been married for three months and you were five weeks pregnant.

Tony had actually come to your wedding which had been a surprise. As had Rhodey, but when you'd sent them each an invitation, you'd expected to see Rhodey, Tony - not so much. Tony had brought a date with him, and for the first time since meeting him over ten years ago, he bought you a gift. It was like he'd been saving every gift up for this one huge extravagance because instead of the one-week honeymoon you and Kurt were planning to spend in Florida, the two of you got a private water bungalow in the Maldives for two weeks and the use of his private jet.

You were nervous showing up at the house this time. You worried that now you had the ring on your finger Tony would be less open with you, that by seeing you standing up in front of a whole group of people and saying you had chosen someone else would make him reject this. Even when the invitation arrived telling you the party was happening you were still worried it wouldn't quite be the same. Adding the baby factor to it, just doubled that fear.

Tony was important to you though. So you came and you hoped that you were just scared because you were underestimating him. A lot of people did and you tried not to, but this situation was strange and everyone had their limits.

You'd arrived early for the first time. New millennium - new routine. It was different coming in during the day. The gates were closed and you had to be let in by security.

"You think it's okay we got here early?" Kurt asked as he grabbed your bag from the trunk.

"Yeah, of course," you said. "I'm gonna be here for the week. Besides, we're like an hour early tops, we'll just keep out of the way."

When you got to the door Happy opened it before you could even knock. "You're early," he said in a tone that you couldn't discern if that was an issue or not.

"Yep," you answered, walking in past him.

"Tony's in his room getting ready," Happy explained, following you and Kurt in. "He said to go on up."

You headed through the kitchen where there was a whole team of chefs cooking and plating up food and someone putting the finishing touches on a cake that looked like a missile with the Stark Industries logo on the side. You went to the secret door and headed up the stairs with Kurt following close behind.

Tony was in the bedroom with a tall red redhead in a blue pants suit going through a list of notes with him. "The cake arrived. They're putting the finishing touches on it now. The DJ will be here in half an hour. We checked the bar and restocked it. The bartender is already here," she sighed and rolled her eyes as she looked at the next item on the list. "All the rooms have condoms, dental dams, and lubricant available."

"What was that judgy tone?" Tony asked, coming over and kissing your cheek and gesturing to the closest. You headed to the closet and started unpacking your things with Kurt while Tony finished up his prep.

"You know exactly what that judgy tone was," the redhead said, making Tony laugh. "And finally the cleaners have been confirmed to come and clean up tomorrow morning. Was there anything else you need?"

"Can you get me a watch? The Bulgari," Tony answered. "This is Cookie and Cookie's husband. Cookie, Pepper, Pepper, Cookie."

"My name's Kurt," Kurt said as Pepper gave you both a perfunctory nod.

"Pepper's the best assistant around," Tony clarified as Pepper helped him put his watch on.

"Alright," Pepper said, brushing him off. "I'll do one last sweep and then I'm off. And it's my week off too, so you're on your own."