Suiting Up For Fatherhood

Homecoming

The fluorescent lights of the bustling hospital halls were one of the many factors that were starting to get on Tony's nerves. He was so anxious to finally see his newborn daughter after helping Pepper get through a five hour experience of the 'miracle of life'. He didn't have much time to sneak a peak of his newborn as the hospital staff rushed her away for cleaning and other mandatory care only moments after she had came into the world.

Tony re-entered the room and glanced at Pepper who was exhausted after enduring five hours of what sounded to be excruciating pain. She laid on the white bed covered in sweat, but her breathing became steady as she was relieved for it to be over. Tony couldn't help but smile at the sight of her right now in this moment. He knew she had always been strong, as she had saved his life countless times in the face of danger, but there was something about the fact that she had just given birth to their first child that made him cherish and look up to her even more.

"Pepper?" Tony asked as he reached to place a hand on her shoulder, noticing that she was starting to nod off.

"Hmm, what is it? Is she back yet?" Pepper sleepily questioned, as she began to regain her consciousness.

"No, not quite yet, but I think they're coming back soon and I wanted you to be awake for this. After all you did all the work." Tony laughed out, trying to ease her mood as he had just woken her up.

Just like magic, the handle on the door to their hospital room began to turn and a smiling nurse wearing pink scrubs had entered the room carrying his most treasured gift...their newborn daughter. Pepper proceeded to sit up at attention at the sound of the handle turning and covered her mouth unable to speak out of pure joy at seeing her daughter for the first time. Tears trickled down her face when being presented with their baby girl, and with loving open arms Pepper gladly welcomed her daughter into her embrace. Tony stood up from his seat next to his wife to get a better view of the newest addition to the Stark family.

"Tony, look at her. She's beautiful" Pepper beamed teary eyed, as she stroked her daughter's cheek.

Tony was still speechless as an immense feeling of pride resonated throughout him just from gazing upon his daughter for the first time.

"The baby is completely healthy. She is 6.2 pounds and is 20.47 inches tall. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Stark, your daughter is doing great and will be ready to go home in a few days' time. Have any ideas of her name yet?" The bubbly nurse inquired as she looked up from the clipboard she was reading the information from.

Pepper looked up from their daughter and up to Tony then nodded. Tony knew they had discussed about naming their child Morgan ever since he had that dream and proposed the name to Pepper, as he thought it was a sign. Pepper graciously agreed, so this nod was her green light for Tony to answer the nurse's question.

After a few seconds of silence, Tony spoke up.

"Yes, I believe we have agreed on her name. We're going to call her Morgan." Tony proudly stated.

Pepper then handed Morgan off to Tony to which Tony delicately accepted. He knew he was going to be an overprotective father from the moment they had found out about the pregnancy. He had already baby proofed the estate from top to bottom, double checking his work. But, now that she was real, and, in his arms, something came over him that caused him to vow to fiercely protect and care for his daughter even more. With her big blue eyes looking up at him, he had already been wrapped around her tiny finger.

It only took two days of staying at the hospital making sure the staff could monitor Morgan until they deemed her clear to return home with her parents. Tony didn't mind the nights spent sleeping on various wooden chairs strewn together to form a makeshift bed, the really crappy food and coffee served in the cafeteria, or even the sleepless nights due to Morgan's cries. None of this mattered as he was now a father and all he was concerned with was the well-being of his girls: Pepper and Morgan. Sure, entering parenthood was going to take some time adjusting to, but Tony would do whatever it took to make sure he was going to raise Morgan to the best of his ability.