Chapter 2
Pepper drove into the Stark Industries Headquarters parking lot in one of Tony's last fancy cars. She had left Morgan with Happy and Jarvis who both adored Stark Junior and had promised to keep her safe and out of her father's things. She was recalling a shopping list in her head. Pajamas, sunscreen, and sunglasses for Morgan, a new Mister Teddy...
She had washed her face and changed her clothes. She was wearing Tony's sunglasses. She could have gone home to pick up her vehicle, but why bother? Her own home didn't feel like home anymore. Her home was where Tony was. And now, when he was out of reach, she was a little... displaced?
Or maybe it was because of the time travel?
At least she knew where she was going.
People were super busy in the legal department. She found Natasha right away.
"Excuse me, Miss Rushman. Could you help me briefly?" It wasn't a request but an order—a quite polite yet determined order.
"Of course, Miss Potts." Pepper recognized that pleasing smile that hid all kinds of thoughts. Nat had to have noticed her before, but they had never talked.
"Please follow me", Pepper continued with a warmer tone.
She walked into Tony's office next to Obie's, the bigger one. Nat followed her. Not a muscle on the agent's face twitched when Pepper sat behind Tony's desk.
"How can I help you?"
Pepper felt so many emotions flushing over her: sadness, anger, despair. Determination. She was so done with all the pretending. She looked at Natasha. She looked right through her.
"I know that you're working for SHIELD", she said calmly.
The look on Nat's face didn't change at all.
"I know Phil Coulson is your boss and you're here to report about Stark Industries."
Still no reaction.
"I know about Clint, Laura, and their kids."
"Who are you working for?" Nat asked bluntly. She looked bored but Pepper knew she was scared. She was just good at hiding her true feelings like Pepper nowadays.
"I'm working for Tony Stark." And for the world peace. And for Stark Industries, for the long run. Should she rename it Potts Industries?
Nat looked like she didn't buy that at all. "What do you want?"
"I want no harm for you, or Clint. I want to be your friend." Suddenly she sounded almost pleading. She remembered their friendship while working together as Nat was Tony's PA and Pepper was the CEO. That wouldn't happen anymore, not in this timeline. She felt a wave of sadness flushing her. She wished they'd find friendship another way. She needed to focus on the task at hand.
She didn't want to tell anyone about the time travel before she had talked to Tony. She handed her laptop to Natasha.
"Can you get into Obie's emails and redirect all of them to me?"
Nat took the device, typed something shortly, and gave it back.
"Thank you."
"Do you need anything else?" Pepper saw Natasha was pissed even though she didn't want to show it. Pepper knew Nat didn't want to be the one who didn't have all the facts. They were alike in so many ways. They didn't trust anyone easily. It was so easy to get into the wrong sides of the table.
Pepper checked Obie's new emails.
"Yes, could you please translate and write subtitles for this video?" Pepper forced herself to watch it just to see if it was the same as the last time. It was.
But her actions changed the future. From now on she couldn't know what was going to happen anymore.
"Mr. Stane organized the murder attempt of Mr. Stark!" At least some of Natasha's expressed shock was real. "He must be arrested."
"Yes. But first, we have to save Tony."
"We?"
"I know where he is. If the army arrives, he will be killed. But a small group of experienced field-agents, like you, Clint, and Maria", she dropped the names of her friends from another time nonchalantly,"can free him and his companion Doctor Ho Yinsen."
Natasha looked at her keenly, like trying to read her mind. Pepper was sure she was still thinking how she knew but was too proud to ask. She wanted to find out herself and brag about it.
"I can talk to Director Fury, if you call him. I can give you some extra equipment not in production."
Nat typed something on her phone. "He will meet you tonight at 9 PM at Mister Stark's house", she announced.
"See you then", Pepper said smiling, escorting Nat out of the room.