Avengers: The life of Morgan stark (the pre-qual)

Chapter 22- Interruptions

The meeting with Secretary Ross was in full swing, the air thick with tension. Tony and Pepper sat across from Ross, discussing critical matters of Stark Industries and their future endeavors. The atmosphere was serious, every word weighed carefully.

Suddenly, the door to the meeting room creaked open slightly. Morgan, their two-year-old daughter, managed to toddle in, her small legs moving determinedly towards Pepper. Happy, who had been tasked with watching her, was slumped in a chair outside, clearly asleep on the job.

Morgan took a few shaky steps before falling. She let out a small whine but quickly got back up, determinedly making her way over to Pepper. She clutched her favorite toy tightly and stretched out her hands, whining for Pepper's attention.

Pepper's eyes widened in shock and anger. "Morgan! What are you doing here?" she snapped, her voice harsh. She bent down, snatched the toy from Morgan, and set it aside. Morgan, startled by the sudden harshness, looked up at her mother with wide eyes.

Tony, who had been silent, watched the scene unfold but did nothing. He stayed in his seat, his face a mask of neutrality.

Morgan, confused and scared, began to cry, stretching her hands out towards Pepper, wanting to be held. But Pepper, seeing red, was too angry to offer comfort. "This is not the place for you, Morgan!" she said, her voice rising.

Secretary Ross and the others in the room watched the scene with varying degrees of surprise and discomfort. The weight of the moment was palpable, and the room was filled with an awkward silence.

Tony finally spoke up, his tone calm but firm. "Pep, she's just a kid."

Pepper shot him a glare. "Tony, this is not the time for this. We are in the middle of an important meeting."

Morgan, still crying, reached out for Pepper, who reluctantly picked her up, holding her at arm's length. "I can't deal with this right now," she muttered under her breath.

The meeting dragged on, and Morgan began to grow restless. Still in Pepper's arms, she started to squirm, pushing against her mother's hold. Pepper's grip tightened, but it only made Morgan more determined to get free.

"Stay still, Morgan," Pepper whispered harshly, her frustration evident.

Morgan finally managed to wriggle out of Pepper's grasp and plopped down on the floor. She started to crawl around the room, her tiny hands exploring the space. The room's occupants watched in a mixture of amusement and discomfort as she moved from person to person, trying to give her toys to anyone who would take them.

One of the attendees, a young woman, smiled warmly at Morgan and reached into her bag. "Would you like a strawberry, sweetheart?" she asked, holding out a small container of the bright red fruit.

Pepper's eyes widened in alarm. "No! She's allergic!" she exclaimed, her voice louder than intended. The woman quickly retracted the container, looking apologetic.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know," she said, putting the strawberries away.

Morgan, oblivious to the potential danger, continued to crawl around, now making her way back to Pepper. She reached up, tugging at Pepper's skirt and babbling incomprehensibly. Pepper looked down at her daughter, her stress levels clearly peaking.

Tony, noticing the escalating situation, finally stood up. "Alright, that's enough," he said, walking over to Morgan. He scooped her up gently and tried to soothe her. "Morgan, let's go back to Happy, okay?"

Pepper shot him a grateful yet exhausted look. "Thank you," she muttered, rubbing her temples.

Secretary Ross cleared his throat, attempting to bring the focus back to the meeting. "Shall we continue?" he asked, though his tone was noticeably more sympathetic.