Pepper
Pepper Stark is not stupid when it comes to her husbands depression, it isn't often that Tony can hide anything from her. Being married for 5 years also helps to learn much of what Tony tries to hide from the world and only allows her to see. She runs a fortune 500 company, CEO of Stark Industries, it has trained her to look for what people where trying to hide and read between what people say and what they don't. She is a tough business woman and took no prisoners when it comes to the wellbeing of the company.
Tony's depression has been getting worse, after everything settled with the Accords and Ross being kicked off anything to do with the Avengers, he hasn't had much to really focus on other then work. His team is protected and together; no earth shattering events to distract her husband.
Pepper can imagine that his thoughts are towards wanting something/someone to take care of. Pepper is an Alpha as well as a Caregiver she has instincts that are the same as Tony's, maybe not as strong but still there all the same, and as much as caring for the company helps, her mind and heart are telling her to match with a Little, and if hers are strong enough to not ignore she can only imagine how Tony feels as he is a full Caregiver the depression and reclusiveness make sense.
Tony has never spoken about wanting to match with a Little, he never wanted kids because he is worried about turning into his father, but Pepper knows he would be an amazing father as well as an amazing Caregiver. He has so much love to give and a little would benefit Tony so much, it would bring him out of his shell more, and maybe learn to take better care of himself since he would have someone who depended on him.
Pepper never brought up the subject after they talked about it before they got married, but now 5 years have passed and so much has happened that now that the dust has settled from aliens and the accords that his instincts that he held back for everyone safety would be contained no longer.
Pepper enters her office after leaving a two hour board meeting, she walks over to her desk and lays down her papers. Sitting down in her chair she turns it to face the wall to floor window over looking New York. If she is going to do what she is thinking of doing she needs to plan. She wants to care for a Little with the right age group, Tony's age group that he is best matched with is A0 to A2 category of Little's where their headspace is from newborn to 2 years old.
With that being the case she knows that breastfeeding is the healthiest choice for that age group as their stomachs can't handle a lot of solid foods. She would need to start medication to bring on lactation, get bottles for when she couldn't be there, make a nursery/ big boy/girl room, toys, diapers, high chairs, cribs, changing table, baby proof the penthouse, set up protocols, so much to do.
"FRIDAY?"
"Yes Mrs. Boss?" FRIDAY replies
"I would like you help to surprise Tony, you can not tell him anything I am about to say and if he tries tell him to speak to me on the matter and say nothing, can you do that?" Pepper asks.
"Of course Mrs. Boss if it is to help Boss's wellbeing I will do as you say."
"Perfect, we are going to make a list of everything we need for a Little, start an order list make sure that what we buy is gender neutral as we don't know who our Little will be. Once we know we can order more gender related items, for now, do diapers and toys for age group A0 to A2, a highchair, crib, changing table, bassinet, baby proof locks, baby gates, bottles, rocking chair, books, car seat, a stroller, pacifiers, and that is all I can think of at the moment. If you think or come across anything else I am forgetting add it to the list and we can review it before I order everything."
"I have added everything you mentioned to the an order list, I have picked out what is gender neutral and for age group A0 to A2 also I found so Iron Man merchandise that you may like. Is there anything else you would like to add?" FRIDAY asks.
"Iron Man? Yes add those. Also can you forward me a list of places where we can adopt a Little, I would like to research each place before I bring this up to Tony."
"Of course Mrs. Boss, I will send a list of all institutes to your private e-mail under the Code name Addition. As that is what you are looking to do," FRIDAY says.
"Thank you I would appreciate that," Pepper smiles.
"If I may say so Mrs. Boss, I am happy that you are doing this. Having a Little around the place will bring everyone such joy especially you and Boss," FRIDAY says affectionately. She may be an AI however she has been in charge of protecting Boss and those under her roof, for so long that she now can express such desires as Boss updated her programming to be as such.
"Thank you FRIDAY, I know Tony and I will finally feel complete once we have a Little to care for," Pepper says. She turns from the window back to her desk so she can finish up some work, she has a lot to plan and a lot to do so best to get started.
~*~
The planning takes a month to complete, everything she could think of to order and more has been ordered and delivered. While Tony is in the lab or out to meetings she set up the room, she paints it a pale blue and yellow. When Tony asks her why it smells like paint she simply tells him she wanted to redecorate the room beside theirs as a mini relaxing room and asks he not look until she is done as she wants to surprise him.
Pepper could not help but notice the sadness that washes over his face when she says that, but quickly masks it away. Over the few weeks she takes to complete the room she would catch Tony staring at the closed door with sadness, he would quickly cover it up with a sigh and then plaster on a smile for her.
She sets up the crib on the left side of a window that is in the middle of the room, it is a wall to ceiling window that acts as a divider to the room. The changing table on the far left side of the room beside the door that leads to the bathroom. The rocking chair and book station in the middle a little ways from the window but across from the door, with a play mat that sits on top of plush carpet so it will not hurt the Little's knees when/if they crawl around and a toy box that is against the same wall as the door.
On the right side of the room is a regular bed with guard rails that can go up and down, the bed it against the far right wall with the head board against the wall the same side as the door so no matter the head space they can peak in and see both the crib and the bed to check on their Little while they sleep, with a night stand with a lamp and clock beside the bed. There is also an 'L' shaped desk against the wall on the right side of the window so their Little could work on homework or build things or read, a computer is set up as well with a desk chair.
All the toys and books have been put away in a neat organized way and clothes have been put away in the walk in closet that is on the left side of the room between the changing table and bathroom door. The Crib and changing table are gold and red, the colors of Iron Man same with the sheets on the crib and bed. She chose those colors so that regardless of gender they would represent Iron Man their Daddy watching over them.
Pepper walks into the now completed room and walks over to the changing table. Sitting on top is an Iron Man diaper bag, when FRIDAY added it to the list, as well as the Iron Man diapers and pacifiers, she could not help herself. She even got a onesie that is Iron man red and gold with hands that have removable mitts that can go over the Little's hands with padded blue circles and they look like his repulsors. She takes a look around and is happy with the results, she just hopes that Tony loves it too.
Walking out of the room she closes the door and makes her way down the stairs to the living room. She finished her work and has he assistant holding off anything that isn't urgent so that she can order dinner and set up a romantic evening with her husband so she can finally sit down and talk to him about bringing in a Little to their family. She grabs a glass of water and takes her pill to bring on lactation. She has been on them for 3 weeks now it has to be taken 2 hours after or before a meal they prefer you take it before lunch or dinner as in the morning it could cause nausea and at night it may cause insomnia.
Pepper is busy at work during the morning so she takes it before dinner, she has started to feel the signs that the medication is working however the Dr. Cho said it can take up to a month before she starts lactating or if may not start until she hears the first cries of a Little that will usually trigger it.
Pepper walks over to the couch and pulls out her Starkpad while she waits for Tony and starts to flip through the list of orphanages that have Little's, she found two here in New York, and one in New Jersey. She figures that they will visit the ones in New York first and then if they don't find a Little to match with then they will look at the one in New Jersey and if not there then they will look else where.
There is one place that looks like promising, it is called "Little Adoption" there are pictures of the place and the history, and the type of Little's they have, real age range between 13 and 17 years of age their Little headspace ranged between A0 and A5.
"Mrs. Boss, Boss is on his way up to the penthouse, you may want to hide your screen before he arrives," FRIDAY announces.
"Thank you FRIDAY," Pepper closes the screen and brings up her work e-mail so it looks like she is just working. FRIDAY has been helping her by announcing when Tony is close by so she can hide what she is working on. "Your help this past month as been greatly appreciated FRIDAY, thank you," Pepper says sincerely.
"You are most welcome Mrs. Boss, I am happy to have been able to assist you this past month with your planning, I look forward to seeing how Boss reacts once you tell him."
When Tony walks in she shuts down her Starkpad and places it on the coffee table, and turns to her husband.
"Welcome home Tony how was the board meeting?"
After their dinner and talk Pepper leads him up the stairs, she is so happy that Tony finally told her what he was feeling and that she was able to help settle his fears.
As Pepper watches Tony open the door to the room she can't help the tears that fall when she sees Tony's reaction. He falls against the door frame, silent tears fall down his face as he lets out a small gasp at what he sees. When he turns to her she couldn't help but smile, because even though he has tears running down his face he has the biggest smile she has ever seen.
Taking a step towards her husband she reaches out and wraps and arm around his shoulders leaning against him, she asks, "So what do you think?"
"Pep I-I-I don't know what to say, I th-thought this was going to-to be your relaxation room?" Tony asks.
"Well it is a surprise and I wasn't going to tell you what I was doing because then it wouldn't be a surprise. I know how much you want a Little, hell, I want a little. I know you didn't think I did, but I do, and if my instincts are half of what yours is then, I know you are dying to have one. So with FRIDAY's help we got this done."
"FRI?"
"Yes Boss, I have been helping Mrs. Boss in secret. I have been observing you and your wants and needs and protections are my top priority. Having a Little is the only conclusion that Mrs. Boss and I have arrived at to make your family complete."
Tony smiles at this, "how long have you two been planning this?"
"Approximately a month Boss," FRIDAY says.
Tony can't help but stare at Pepper in shock, "A month?"
"Yes, those iron pills that I said I was taking are actually to bring on lactation, I asked Dr. Cho to change the name on the prescription so you wouldn't figure it out. She agreed," Pepper smiles. "I know your Little age range is A0 to A2 and that breast milk is the healthiest choice to feed a Little of that age range."
"You really put a lot of work into this," Tony says.
"I have, now go on in and take a look around, I have a few more surprises to show you," Pepper grins
Tony walks farther into the room to look around, he can't help but notice that room is split in two by the window from a nursery and a regular bedroom. The first thing he takes notice on the nursery side is the Iron Man bag sitting on top of the changing table. He can't help but bark out laughing. "Really Pep?"
"What? It is cute and I like it, besides that isn't the only thing," Pepper grins. She goes about showing Tony around and all the things she bought.
Tony laughs a lot at the Iron Man stuff and couldn't help it when it came to the softer baby things, like the stuffed animals carpet and the rocking chair, from getting a soft longing look in his eyes as he gently runs his fingers through the soft animal fur.
Tony sits down on the rocking chair, cradling a stuff bunny, not even realizing that he is doing it, rocking a little in the chair. "So you did all this, for us? Does this mean that we are going to be looking for a Little now? What about the company?"
Pepper smiles at Tony's actions, "I already have everything set up, I re- worked my schedule so that we can go this week to look for a Little, and then if we find one and adopt them then I make arrangements to do a lot of the work from home, and only leave for meetings that require my presence, otherwise it will be video conferences. We allow out employees to have maternity leave, we are entitled to it as well."
"So does that mean tonight we will be looking around for adoption places?" Tony asks with hope in his eyes.
"Already done, there are two here in New York and one in New Jersey. I figured we can start here in New York and move outside if we need too. However I have been looking at one place here called 'Little Adoptions' and they have a large variety of Little's ranging from A0 to A5 and they have some that are showing signs of a high IQ which would be nice since they could learn with you in the lab when they are in the big headspace."
Tony perks up at this, "you really planned everything out didn't you?" He can't help but smile at that news.
Pepper walks over and sits on Tony's lap. "I love you Tony Stark and I will do everything to make sure that we are happy and this is what will complete our family and I am just as happy and excited as you are to bring a Little into our lives, so yes after showing you this room I really didn't want to wait, I know you can be impatient once an idea is in your head, so I did all the leg work and now we can head out and go find the one that belongs with us."
Tony wraps his arms around Pepper and stand up with her in his arms bridal style, "well Mrs. Stark since you did so much for me, I think it is time that I show you how much I love and appreciate everything you have done and do some work myself." Tony places the bunny on the rocking chair and walks out of the room and into theirs. He places her on the bed and and crawls on top of her, he leans down and kisses her hard with all the passion he can muster. "I love you so much," Tony whispers.
"I love you so much too Tony."
Without being told FRIDAY turns down the lights and puts on their romantic playlist. She then goes about making sure that the couple would not be disturbed for the night.