Chapter 17
So, Pete, how was your week with Papa?" Tony asked as he and Peter drove back to the tower.
"We had a lot of fun, Daddy. Papa and Pete watched cartoons, played football, and doctor. Uncle Wong took me shopping, and he also gifted me this," Peter said, showing off his new action figure.
"Good. So, you like being with Papa, don't you?" Tony asked.
"Yes," Peter said.
"Papa said we could go to Disneyland during my vacation. Can we go, Daddy?" Peter asked.
"Yes, you can go," Tony replied.
"You won't come? I want to go with you and Papa together," Peter said with a pout.
"Yes, yes, we will see," Tony said.
"Okay," Peter said.
When they reached the tower, Tony and Peter sat on the couch, with the latter describing his week. Tony was amused to see how happy Peter was after getting his Papa back.
He remembered how Peter used to cry all night, asking for Stephen. Tony had to calm him down, reassuring him that his Papa would come back—even though he wasn’t sure of that himself.
Tony hated Stephen at those times for abandoning them like that. But it always ended in self-blame because it was Tony's wrong move that caused it all. Now, though, he was happy to see Peter this cheerful. Still, he was scared about how their divorce was going to affect Peter.
"Peter," Tony called.
"Yes, Daddy?"
"Always remember, no matter what happens, Papa and Daddy will always be in your life," Tony said.
"Okay," Peter said, confused.
"Now, do you wanna go out and play?" Tony asked, cheering him up.
"Yes!" the boy squealed.
Tony carried Peter on his shoulders and walked out to play.
Tony and Pepper were discussing the divorce.
"Does Stephen have any demands for alimony?" Pepper asked.
"No, but I would like to give him my private estate in Long Island," Tony said.
"Are you sure? Isn't that your mother's property?" Pepper asked.
"Yes, and Stephen loves that place. We had dreams of moving there, away from all this city chaos, and making a family there," Tony said, smiling sadly.
Pepper just looked at her friend sympathetically.
"What about Peter? How is custody going to work?" Pepper asked.
"He's okay with the current situation. There don’t have to be specific days—whenever he's free, he can take Peter," Tony said.
"Tony, don't you think this is too favorable to Stephen? You don’t have to be this generous," Pepper said.
"It's not about generosity. I don’t want to make any of this arrangement hurt Peter or Stephen," Tony said.
"Tony, you should stop loving Stephen. It’s only going to hurt you more," Pepper said, holding his hands.
"I don’t think I could ever do that, Pep. Stephen… he’s the only reason I’m still alive, still human. If he wasn’t there with me when I came back from captivity, I would’ve never become the hero the world sees me as. I was devastated, and I wanted to destroy everyone who hurt me. But Stephen and his love brought me back to my senses. He stayed with me through all my bad days, suffering my moods.
And what did I do in return? When he was going through the same thing after the accident, I didn’t listen to him—and I did the worst thing a husband could do to his partner. Pep, I’m the only reason this marriage failed, and I can’t forgive myself for that," Tony said, tears streaming from his eyes.
Pepper hugged him tightly.
"Tony, you’ve already corrected your mistake by taking care of Peter all these years alone, giving him a good life when Stephen was out there. Now, it’s enough. You’re not such a sinner that you have to keep hurting yourself. You need to get a life, Tony, and this is the best way for a new start," Pepper said.
Tony stayed in Pepper’s arms, crying.
Stephen was at the library, studying an ancient book.
"Miss Potts is here to see you," Wong came and informed.
"Pepper?" Stephen asked, surprised.
He followed Wong and saw Pepper standing there.
"Hi, Pep," Stephen said, smiling.
"Strange," Pepper said coldly.
Stephen could feel the hostility in her tone.
"What brings you here?" Stephen asked.
"Tony sent me to discuss the divorce clauses with you," Pepper said.
"Oh, please, be seated," Stephen said.
Pepper sat on the couch while Stephen sat opposite her.
"First of all, I want to ask: do you have any demands to put forward?" Pepper asked.
"Nothing. I just want to see Peter and be in his life," Stephen said.
"Of course, after abandoning him for years, isn’t it?" Pepper scoffed.
Stephen stayed silent, guilt washing over him.
"Any alimony requests?" Pepper continued.
"Nothing. I already told Tony that," Stephen said.
"Yes, but Tony wants to give you the private estate in Long Island," Pepper said.
"I don’t want it. I’ll talk to him," Stephen said.
"He won’t listen to you. You know how he is—or have you forgotten that too?" Pepper asked coldly.
Stephen knew how stubborn Tony was, especially when it came to his loved ones.
"Tony doesn’t want fixed days for Peter’s custody. He said you can take him whenever you’re free. Are you okay with that?" Pepper asked.
"Yes," Stephen said.
"Okay, that’s it. I’ll make the documents, and you’ll have to come to the tower to sign the petition. The rest will be handled by the court," Pepper said, standing up to leave.
"Pepper, is he okay?" Stephen asked.
"No, he isn’t. He hasn’t been okay all this time, either. Stephen, we all considered you a friend—me, Rhodey, Bruce. You couldn’t even let us know you were alive. You know how much Tony suffered. He blamed himself for what happened, but he never failed to take care of Peter. Yes, Tony made a mistake, but was it so big that it made him deserve all this suffering?" Pepper snapped.
"I never thought of leaving Peter like that. I wanted to come back. But I didn’t want Peter to be in danger. My duties as Sorcerer Supreme—" Stephen started.
"What duties, Stephen? Tony has been managing a multi-billion-dollar company, saving the world as Iron Man, and still being there for Peter," Pepper interrupted.
"I’m sorry," Stephen said, tearing up.
"Don’t apologize to me. Peter and Tony deserve to hear that. And for what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re back and that you agreed to this divorce. Tony has finally decided to move on. He’s met someone. But he was waiting for closure with you," Pepper said before leaving.
Tony has met someone. He’s moving on. Stephen is no longer part of his life—just Peter’s papa. Stephen felt his eyes cloud with tears.
"Stephen, are you okay?" Wong asked
"I’m not, Wong," Stephen said, crying in Wong’s arms.
Tony was waiting for Pepper to return. Deep down, a part of him hoped Stephen would rethink the whole situation, but he knew it was a useless hope.
"How did it go?" Tony asked eagerly when Pepper came back.
"Good. Stephen is aligned with everything," Pepper said.
"Oh? So, you’re going to file it?" Tony asked.
"Yes, tomorrow. I hope everything will end soon so you can start your new life," Pepper said, smiling.
"Yeah," Tony said.
"So, can I schedule a date for you and Helen?" Pepper asked.
"Yes, you can," Tony said before heading to the lab.
He sat on the chair, sighing deeply. It was finally going to end—officially.