Tony's family had always been relatively small. He didn't have siblings or even cousins. Over the years, he had built his own, Morgan being the latest addition. Morgan had truly loved the idea of a party to celebrate Friday, and Tony found it impossible to deny her. After all, her endless energy and boundless enthusiasm for anything new around her were infectious, much to the amusement of Pepper, who watched those two with an indulgent smile.
Pepper was as weak to the little girl as her husband was. It was evident to Pepper that Tony adored their daughter. Tony didn't have a traditional family background, but he was determined to make sure Morgan always felt loved and supported. She enjoyed having her family around. Tony had experienced personally the abuse and isolation that came from growing up with someone like Howard Stark. He was determined to do better than that. The bar was pretty low.
Stark Industries was on top of the world, number one in the world of innovation and technology. The board was ecstatic, and most board meetings only had to focus on the colour palette of the next Stark product. With Pepper Potts at the helm and Tony Stark directing the R&D department, the future seemed brighter than ever. Tony has been working hard recently, inventing and updating enough to last a year. They deserved some time away from the company, to spend some quality time with their family together.
And now they had another very competent AI to assist them with everything in their lives.
After the three days he had spent in their holiday house, something had changed in Tony. It was subtle, difficult to pinpoint the specific difference. She couldn't ignore the signs and the slight worry that came with. Tony was always quite touchy, but now he was almost needy. Pepper didn't mind any of it, of course. In fact, she was happy about it. But there were times when Tony's actions left her puzzled. There were the moments when Tony would drift off into a reverie, his gaze distant and unfocused, causing uneasiness to linger at the back of her mind.
Their relationship had not always been smooth sailing. There were times when she wasn't there for him when he needed her the most. She was only human, after all, with her own flaws and limitations. Life in the relentless glare of the spotlight was not easy, being subject to criticism and scrutiny all the time from people hiding behind a screen and keyboard.
Nobody had prepared her for it, not even Tony, despite his best efforts to help her in his own way. He had been forced in front of the press since he was four years old. Pepper was now a member of the Stark family, and they were growing from their mistakes. She would do just the same.
Tony had come a long way from the tumultuous days of his past, leaving behind the haze of alcohol and one-night stands. Pepper didn't doubt for a moment that Tony was faithful to her. Their relationship was based on mutual respect and trust, which they developed over years of shared experiences. But there was something troubling him and he was trying to hide it from her. Even within a married couple, not everything needed to be shared, but she wanted to be there for him, to help him even a little bit.
Pepper was just as addicted to coffee as Tony was now. Their state-of-the-art coffee machine, capable of creating any combination of beans, milks, sirups and much more, had become a beloved fixture in their home. Pepper found comfort in the peaceful moments she spent sipping a well-made latte or cappuccino and letting her thoughts drift amid the swirling steam and comfortable perfume.
Yet, no matter how hard she tried to distract herself, her thoughts inevitably circled back to Tony, thinking about those minor changes she couldn't pinpoint exactly. For better or for worse, they were in this together, and she would stop at nothing to ensure that their love remained strong, no matter what.
"Mum! Mum! Are you listening to me?"
Pepper snapped out of her reverie at the sound of Tony and Morgan's voices, realising she had been lost in her thoughts once again. Morgan's joy was contagious. The small girl had her arms full of decoration despite Tony evidently carrying the majority of their haul. Morgan was unmistakably Tony's daughter, inheriting not only his boundless energy but also how they had to always go all in on everything they did. Pepper couldn't help but smile at the sight of them. They must have bought everything in the store. The happiness on their faces assured her that it was all worth it.
