I Love You 3000: The Road After the Endgame

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Pepper's POV

 I'm just begin to pack up some of our belongings, Tony and I's that is. We are set to move back into Stark Tower in a few weeks. I really am going to miss this place but I also know that the city is home for Peter. His friends, his school, and hopefully a part time job (coming soon) are there. Plus the Tower was home to me for years too. Morgan has never had the chance to see it and I feel like by her living there, a piece of her father will be added to her life. She'll be surrounded by his greatest inventions and will never forget him. I know I'll never forget him. I'm also onto Happy a bit. I can tell he has a crush on me or at least some kind of sexual attraction he hopes to fulfill in the future. 

     Happy is a wonderful man and I think the world of him, but all I want him to be to me is a friend and an uncle figure to Morgan. Nothing more and nothing less. He's family but he's not putting a ring on my finger. No one else is going to put a ring on my finger except me. I'm not trying to sound like one of those typical, super depressing widows who constantly say they'll never betray their deceased loved one by moving on to someone else one day. I just truly believe I had the great love story of my life with Tony. I don't want to recreate that or have anyone else tarnish those memories over time. Even though Tony was Iron Man and beloved by many in the world, he also had a lot of critics. I wouldn't stand to listen to some stranger bash him. It would sicken me beyond belief. 

     As I progress in the packing process (I started with Tony's belongings first since his would be the hardest to pack), I find an unopened envelope with my name on it. I recognize that it's his handwriting, refine yet slightly messy. I smile to myself and begin opening it. It's a letter, a letter to me from my dear Tony. I take a deep breath and begin reading it. 

Dear Pepper,

  I'm guessing you're reading this because the grief of my loss has consumed you. I really hoped you'd be past the wallowing, all consuming grief stage at this point. Since you aren't, let me remind of everything you still have. You still have pieces of me all around you. My inventions aren't going anywhere. Morgan will probably grow up to become the next Iron Man, I mean Iron Woman herself. As she gets older, you'll find her tinkering in the lab more and trying one some of my suits. I really wish I would still be around to see that. There's no one else in this world I would want to take my place as a lead Avenger than Morgan. She's only a small child but she's got the gift of leadership. Any room that she walks into, people stop and listen to her. Basically, she's a mini Pepper Potts but more nerdy. 

 I pause for a moment because I'm giggling at that statement. He's not wrong though. I wipe a tear away and keep reading. 

 Pepper, I love you. I'm looking down on you from heaven and am rooting you on. I also hope you're looking after Peter Parker. He was always like a son to me, a Spider son too (see what I did there?). He'd be a good brother to Morgan. I know that's a wild thought but it's one to consider. The world is lonely enough these days. Why should Morgan grow up without a sibling in her life? I'm sure you're considering this thought, possibly having already made it happen. If it has already happened, then you made one of the best decisions of your life. I'm so damn proud of you. You'll always be my wife and I'll always be your husband. Our love story may have ended physically on Earth, but it forever shall live on. I'll see you again in heaven one day but hopefully not for a very long time. Your work on Earth isn't done yet. You have two children to raise. Good luck and don't give up my precious Pepper. 

                                                                                                                                             Love always,

                                                                                                                                                 Tony

I clutch the letter close to my heart and hug it like Morgan would one of her dozens of stuffed animals. I close my eyes and try to imagine being in Tony's arms one last time. I'm so grateful that he wrote me this letter. I'm definitely keeping it and will read it whenever I need motivation to go on. Thank you Tony, I love you more than 3000. I love you to infinity and beyond. 

Hoped that you guys liked this chapter! :) -Mary