(1) When We Collide (T. Stark)

Chapter Thirty Four

Spencer hums a little as she sits beside Tony, Trinity in her car seat. Home. They're going home. Kyoto and Quebec behind them. But this is it.....home. Happy is thankfully quiet as he drives allowing the Starks their quiet. It's not often he lets other people drive for him. Very rare actually. But he wants to spend a bit more time with his wife and daughter before the hardness of reality sinks in. just a little longer. Tony threads his fingers with hers pulling them into his lap. The closer it's been getting to her.....'due' date. The worse it's been getting. Emotional. It's been emotional. She has a week left. One week. Seven days. Seven days left with her daughter. With the man she loves. With her husband. She worries her lip leaning into his shoulder, nuzzling almost, taking in his scent. Something so Tony. That aftershave. That fabric. That....him. Just him. He wraps his arm around her pulling her close. His lips pressing to her crown. She wrinkles her nose and moves her lips to his ear.

"You've got yogurt on the back of your jacket....think someone had sticky fingers earlier" she whispers in his ear and he groans as she pulls away to let him shrug out of his jacket. He shoots his daughter a look but she just smiles back at him. Tony sets the jacket across one of the other seats and then pulls Spencer back to his side, his fingers brushing down her arm. He then smirks and presses a button on the door. "Happy" he starts. "Let's make a stop" His eyes are amused as they linger on the bright yellow M approaching them from outside. Spencer snorts but smiles into his arm.

..................

Spencer touches Happy's arm softly as he sets their bags down, he smiles back at her and then nods to Tony before leaving, Trinity yawns against Tony's neck and clutches to his shirt, he chuckles softly and kisses her head before turning to his wife. Spencer looks exhausted, utterly drained, he gives her a weak smile.

"I got her" Tony kisses Spencer. "Why don't you grab a drink?" he offers softly. "Then we'll go to bed" she nods and nudges his nose softly. He bounces Trinity on his hip and then carries her upstairs, Spencer sighs a little and moves to the living room.

"Welcome home, Mrs. Stark" Jarvis' voice offers as she shrugs out of her jacket.

"It's good to be home" she whispers draping her jacket over the couch as she moves to the drinks unit. There is two glass bottle filled with whiskey, two different types, two different price ranges. Expensive for guests. And the cheap stuff for her and Tony, because they both prefer the taste. She grabs a glass and pours out a measure of the cheap stuff before setting it back and grabbing the glass. She loves the couches in this house. Long and comfortable. She drops into one and lets out a sigh as she kicks her boots off of her feet.

She takes a small sip of the whiskey but it barely stays in the glass more than a moment as Spencer downs the liquid before setting the glass down on the table. The tears already flowing down her cheeks as she rests her elbows on her knees, her teeth pulling on her bottom lip to try and stop it. It doesn't work. Spencer presses her hands into her eyes as she cries. All of it just catching up to her. She takes a shaky breath then struggles to pull one back in, her chest constricting, her throat tightening. Tony is suddenly there at her side. He kisses her head pulling her back against his chest, her hands coming up to wrap around his arm.

"I've got you, beautiful" he whispers in her ear. "Breath" she sets her head back against his shoulder, her body shivering, she struggles a little to breathe as she cries. Overwhelming her. He kisses her head and rocks them slightly. "Breath" he begs holding her. "Come on, breath with me" she takes in a deep breath and closes her eyes. "We're okay" he whispers nuzzling into her neck. She turns and clings to him, her legs around his waist, arms tight around his neck as she cries. He kisses her shoulder and rubs her back as she sobs. He hates seeing her this upset. He hates knowing there is nothing he can do to make it better. He hates that he is going to lose her.

"I'm sorry" she whispers against his neck, he shakes his head and just holds her to him. She pulls back. "For everything" she adds. "This is all my fault...."

"Yeah, it is" he agrees, she closes her eyes. "But you did it for the right reason, I know that" he brushes his hands over her cheeks to remove her tears. "I know how much you love Sam, love both of them, and I know you'd do anything for them, no one...." he sighs a little. "No one hates you for this...." he offers and she sniffles. "We'll be fine" he tries to assure her. "Okay, I got Pepper watching my back....." her lip quivers.

"I'm a terrible mother" she whispers hanging her head.

"No" he argues kissing the side of her head. "No, you're not" he clutches her to him. "She's happy and healthy and that's all that matters" he strokes her back as she nuzzles into his neck. Her breath warm against his skin. "We'll be okay" he whispers again. She kisses his neck, his hands stilling against her back before he pulls her closer to him, pressing his fingers into her flesh.

"Take me to bed" she begs kissing his jaw.

"Are you sure?" he asks her, she nods.

"Please" she whispers against his lips, he nods and stands with her, her legs wrapping around his waist as he carries her out of the room. Taking her to bed.

.............

Tony holds Spencer's hand as he watches her wedding ring catch the morning light. He hums softly then kisses her head, she smiles against his bare chest. They've been awake since the sun rose, waiting for Trinity to wake them. Tony likes mornings like this. Mornings when he can enjoy her in his arms.

"I love you," he tells her. "I know I don't say it enough"

"You say it plenty" she argues lifting her head to look at him, he gives her a smile and lowers his head to press his lips to hers. He hums and slaps her thigh a little, she nips at his lips and pushes him back. "I should call my brothers" she points out, he groans.

"No" he complains. "Sex first...." he pulls her closer, she chuckles against his lips as he kisses her. Her fingers draw along his jaw to his neck. "Before the Princess wakes and steals all your attention from me" Tony pouts at her. She smiles at him, eyes soft and loving.

"I see you in her you know" She admits. "She gets this twinkle in her eye when she's thinking about doing something naughty" Tony smirks and raises an eyebrow. "Just....something so you" she whispers. He strokes up her arm till he reaches her hair hanging over her shoulder.

"I'm going to miss you" he admits sadly twirling a strand of her hair around his fingers.

"We still have some time" she counters, he nods a little and gives her a crooked smile.

"Yep," he agrees and threads his fingers through her hair to pull her closer. "Time" he repeats and then kisses her, holding her close to him.