One Too Many Covers

Chapter Seven

Tony couldn't handle the feeling that Grant's death was all his fault so he stayed up all night for months on end, only sleeping when Pepper would make him. He spent hours upon hours working on his notes and equations, theories and different tests just so that he could create the very serum that would have saved Grant. It was the way he coped and there was a need to see that through.

It was a cold night when Tony came running up the stairs, meeting Pepper who was in the kitchen. "Pep, god! You won't believe it!"

The woman yelped as he surprised her, wrapping his arms around her waist. He buried his face into her neck and kissed her skin lightly, beginning to sway. Pepper closed her eyes and hummed, leaning her head. "What is it, baby?" She whispered softly.

"I finished the serum.. I made it. It's done! I actually did it! I tested it again a simulated strand of Grant's DNA and it fucking worked.." He sounded so excited and Pepper felt horrible as she turned around.

"Tony.. Grant's dead.. it doesn't matter anymore.. you did what you could but this- this... isn't healthy for you because it's gonna get into your head..." She told him and Tony stepped back, looking away. "Honey.."

"I'm going to bed."

"Tony, you can't dwell on the past and blame yourself for what happened.. you- you have your own baby to worry about." Pepper said quietly, watching as Tony froze, hand on the banister. He slowly turned to her with a shocked look. "I.. I found out yesterday.."

"But.. I thought you didn't want.." Tony trailed off, a mix of emotions bubbling inside of him. He wanted to cry in utter joy and kiss her senseless but the guilt that had been with him all year sucked that out of the moment.

Pepper looked down at her hands. "I know.. and I was an asshole before we got married when I told you that.. that this was never going to happen. And then.. then I realized how much I was hurting you and how much I was missing out on.." She rambled, tears in her eyes but then Tony came back, kissing her forehead.

"Pep... I love you.. Hey, shhh.." Tony pulled her close. "I'm sorry I've been so detached and cooped up in my lab.. I promise that once I figure this all out, I'm gonna spend all the time in the world with you.." He promised. Pepper didn't know how to respond to that so she just nodded and leaned into, soon letting Tony lead her up to bed.

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"Just one trip."

"No, Stark."

"Just one, I promise. I won't ever ask for a favor again. One trip, please.." Tony begged, gripped his armored briefcase hard, eyes full of desperation. He had the serum in there and any back up solutions he would need. "Please, Strange. I need to do this. I need to right this."

The doctor sighed and leaned against the wall, looking around Tony's living room. He wanted to help Tony but at the same time, he didn't know if all the meddling with the past they had been doing would be good.

"I really don't think it's a good idea to use the stone again, Tony.. not after everything we've gone through." Stephen tried to soften his voice but Tony wpuldnt have any of it. He was near tears.

"I need to do this, you don't understand.. we've fixed the world but... for Natasha and Steve, their world is still broken and I have to fix that.."

After another hour of arguing, they were in the secured room Stephan had locked the time stone in. Tony gazed at it familiar glow and the sorcerer took a deep breath before putting it back on.

"One trip.. you have two hours and then I pull you back. Okay?" He told him and Tony nodded obediently, gripping his case harder. In a matter of seconds, he was walking through the dreaded hospital hallways that had become a part of his dreams.

He made his way down to the room and watched himself leave. He breathed in and then ducked into the room, startling Natasha.

"Tony! God, warn me next time before you run in here like something was chasing you!" She huffed and he grinned. He missed that hopeful look in her eyes, the sass and snappish way she talked.

"Hey to you too.." He moved to her side and gazed down at Grant, his heart speeding up. "How long has it been since you called Steve?" He asked and Natasha gave him a strange look.

"Shouldn't you know that?" When Tony shook his head, she frowned. "Three hours ago."

Tony's heart almost stopped and he nodded he slammed his case down quickly, opening it with shaking hands. He picked up the bottle of serum and Natasha stood up.

"Is that the serum?... I thought you needed Steve's blood." She quipped and Tony waved her off.

"I do.. I'm from the future. We made friends with a sorcerer who sent me back in time. So shut up because your son is about to die but I'm going to save him." Tony rambled and Natasha took a step back, looking frightened and confused.

Tony brought the tube over and hooked it up to an IV unit. He reached through the plastic wall, gripping then butterfly needle gently. He slid the needle into Grant's arm and took some tape that was safe for his skin, taping the needle down so that it would stay. He muttered something under his breath- maybe a prayer- and then stepped back, watching. He stood there for a good half hour before Steve burst into the room.

And Grant was still alive.

The child opened his soft blue eyes and Steve grinned widely through tears, moving forward. "Is he..?"

Natasha was crying hard as she hugged him and Steve pulled her close. "He's gonna be fine.. He stabilized a few minutes before you landed.." She whispered and Steve kissed her head. Tony left before his past self came back, hugging Stephan tightly right after he made it back.

"I did it. I actually did it." He laughed and Stephan nodded.

"Yeah, I know." He couldn't help but let his own grin come to his face. "Because Pepper's been trying to call you. Apparently you're going to be late for Steve and Natasha's wedding if you don't hurry up."

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Natasha sat in the bridal room, feeding Grant as Pepper helped do her hair. The red head smiled down at the sleepy one year-old, running her thumb over his blonde curls.

"Can you hold him throughout the ceremony? I want him to be up there with us even if he's about to fall asleep.." The woman laughed and Pepper looked at Natasha through the mirror, giving a big smile.

"I can do that. Besides, I have to practice keeping a baby asleep, right?" She laughed and that only made Natasha smile more.

"Yes you do, you're gonna have a mini Tony running around soon. I feel bad for you." She teased and gently rocked her son. "Grant's such an easy baby though.. I don't think you're gonna have such an easy time with yours."

Pepper groaned and leaned against her back, moving her hand down to caress Grant's face. "I know.. our kid is gonna be as crazy as their dad but, you gotta love him for that." She hummed and then ran her thumb down the baby's nose as he drifted off. "It looks like he's almost asleep. Want me to take him now so you can finish getting dressed?"

Natasha pouted before reluctantly handed over her son, as she pinned her veil into her hair and slipped on her heels. She gave herself one last look over in the mirror, feeling butterflies in her stomach before turning to Pepper. She leaned in and kissed Grant's forehead, the last thing she did before leaving to meet Clint at the end of the aisle.

Clint pulled her to his chest and kissed her cheek. "I love you, princess..." He murmured before kissing her forehead. He let her go slowly and then let her loop her arm around his as they face the altar. Steve's face was as happy as can be as he locked gazes with his soon to be wife and Natasha rocked on her feet in excitement as the whole gathering waited with bated breath for the music to start.