Chapter 5
They’d both made sure their schedules were clear that morning to take Penny to school. They planned to drop her off and then head into the office to speak to the principal about the situation and give him as much information as they felt he needed.
“You have your bag?” Pepper asked as she nervously sat in the front passenger seat.
“Yes, mama,” Penny sighed out. Pepper was more nervous than she was. She’d been asking her if she had everything for nearly the entire ride, “I’m going to be fine you know?” She said with a raised eyebrow.
Tony snorted and then chose wisely not to say anything when he got a glare from his wife. “I know you will be, baby,” Pepper told her softly, “I just can’t help but worry.”
“You guys are a text, phone call, emergency shout to FRIDAY, or yell away. I’ll be fine,” Penny pointed out with laugh as Tony pulled into the parking lot. “I better go. Love you, mama,” She said as she leaned forward and hugged her mother. Pepper squeezed her tightly. “Love you, dad,” She said as she hugged Tony. She was gone moments later.
“Pep,” Tony said softly when he looked over to see her crying, “She’s going to be fine, sweetheart,” He told her as he reached over and took her hands in his, “She’s the strongest kid we know. She’ll be fine.”
“I know,” Pepper sobbed and sniffed as she wiped at her eyes, “But she’s my baby,” She whispered and Tony couldn’t help the small smirk that took over his lips. “What if something happens? What if her phone stops working? What if-” She was cut off by Tony.
“Pepper, baby, you’ve got to breathe,” He told her softly and reached out to cup her cheek and rub her tears away, “She’s got state of the arc technology, dear. I’m a little offended that you think her phone wouldn’t work.” He got a feeble smack to his arm for that, “Pep, she’s going to be fine. I promise. We’re going to make sure of it anyway. Right?” He asked her gently.
“Right.” Pepper responded and nodded.
0~0~0
Mid-way through the day, Penny was starting to feel overwhelmed. She wanted to make it through the day. She wanted to prove to herself, Tony, and Pepper that she could do this. She wanted to do this so badly.
She rifled through her bag and pulled Tony’s hoodie out. She scrunched her face up in confusion until she saw a note attached.
‘Finally got it back from him. It should be perfect now, little bug. I know you’re going to rock today, but know that we’re always here for you, Penny.
Love you darling,
Mama <3’
Penny blinked quickly. That was the first time that Pepper referred to herself as ‘mama’ instead of her name. She folded the note up and put it in the side pocket of her bag with the others that she’d kept from the two of them. She then lifted the hoodie to her face and could instantly smell Tony’s cologne, the scent of the lab, Pepper’s perfume, and the woman’s soap on it. Her nerves started to relax as she pulled it on over her head.
When she got home, she made her way to Pepper’s office first and the woman looked up and started asking her dozens of questions at once about her day. Penny ignored them in favor of hugging her mother tightly. Pepper had stopped talking suddenly and wrapped her arms around her daughter.
“Thanks, mama,” She whispered against her chest, “For everything.”
0~0~0
Their life had gone back to as close to normal as it could. Penny had settled back into her school routine. She’d even gone out a few times as Spider-Man, though she didn’t go as often as she had before. She was more okay with being in the penthouse or one of the labs by herself now and didn’t mind them leaving her if they had meetings or trainings. She still saw Dr. Kate once a week and could call to request a virtual session any time she needed.
Penny was currently sitting in one of the lower-level intern labs working on new tech for the latest StarkPhone when FRIDAY called her name. “Yeah?” She asked distractedly.
“Mrs. Potts is in the elevator heading to the penthouse,” FRIDAY informed her. Penny looked up from the hardware she was working on and furrowed her eyebrows. She knew Tony had been working on some new security protocols with FRIDAY, she’d have to remember to tell him that he’d programmed Pepper wrong.
“Thanks, FRI. I’ll be up in a minute,” She mumbled. Penny gathered the materials she’d been working with, put them back in their appropriate places, left her goggles and lab coat in her locker, and headed for the elevator.
Love Bug: I didn’t know you’d be done this early?
Penny sent the text off as she rode the elevator up to the penthouse.
Mama Bear: I’m not done yet, baby. What are you talking about?
Penny furrowed her eyebrows and was about to reply when the elevator stopped on the penthouse floor. She took a breath and walked out when the doors opened.
The girl glanced around as she walked into the apartment. A woman sat on one of the armchairs. She’d picked up one of the books Penny had left on the coffee table and was leafing through it. “Umm,” Penny started and the woman looked up.
“Typically, my daughter greets me and not one of the interns, but this is fine,” The woman said as she stood. Penny gave her a once over and immediately felt that she knew who this woman was. Her strawberry blonde hair made it just a little too obvious after all.
“Right, and your daughter is?” Penny asked hesitantly.
“Virginia,” The woman answered simply. Penny blanked for a moment before realization dawned on her. Duh.
“Right, right,” Penny stuttered, “I’m, um, going to go call V-Virginia for you,” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder as she back out of the room, “And I’ll be back,” She said quickly before darting into the kitchen and leaving the room.
Penny quickly thumbed her phone back on and clicked the button to call Pepper. She found herself pacing subconsciously around the kitchen as she waited for the woman to leave her meeting long enough to answer her daughter’s call.
“Hey, baby. Are you okay?” Pepper asked as she answered and Penny could hear the worry in her tone.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” She answered quickly, “Actually, I’m supposed to be calling Virginia because her mother is here and waiting for her,” She rushed out in a breath.
“Whose mother?” Pepper asked and Penny stifled a laugh.
“Uh huh,” Penny said and nodded though the woman couldn’t see her, “She’s in the living room. I thought FRIDAY had a bad code earlier when she told me Mrs. Potts was headed to the penthouse,” She told Pepper.
“Okay, darling. I need about ten minutes and I’ll be there,” Pepper told her gently, “Are you okay until then?” She asked her.
“Yeah, definitely,” Penny answered as she glanced back into the living room to look at the woman, “Is there a reason I wouldn’t be?”
“No, she’s perfectly safe, baby girl,” Pepper told her, “I just didn’t want to leave you alone if you weren’t comfortable.”
“I’m good,” Penny told her after a breath, “Does she know about me?” She asked. Pepper was silent for a beat too long, “That’s a no,” Penny said and let out a little giggle.
“I’m not hiding you, bug. I promise,” Pepper rushed to say, “She just isn’t someone you tell something like that to on the phone. She’s old-fashioned.”
“I get it, mama, really,” Penny tried to reassure her, “So, entertain your mother. Remember that your legal name is Virginia. It’s been an eventful day,” She said with a shrug.
“Ugh, quit saying that name,” Pepper groaned out and earned another soft laugh, “If you’re sure, baby. I’ll finish this meeting and head up.”
“I got this,” Penny said and hung up a moment later. She took deep breath as she walked back into the living room, “She’s finishing up a meeting and she’ll be up as soon as she does.”
“Excellent,” Mrs. Potts answered her and nodded her thanks, “She answered your phone call while in a meeting? She doesn’t answer anyone’s phone calls while in meetings,” The woman said and squinted, looking so much like Pepper in that moment.
Penny breathed out as her eyes widened slightly, “I guess I got lucky,” She said with a shrug, “Can I get you anything?” She asked after a moment.
“No, dear, thank you,” The woman said dismissively, and Penny suddenly felt awkward. She trudged back into the kitchen to wait for Pepper to arrive.
When she heard the elevator approaching, she made her way to it. The doors opened to reveal Pepper and Penny was immediately pull into a hug, “She’s expecting you, Virginia,” Penny said playfully and earned a glare, “I’ll be right back,” Penny said before darting down the hallway towards her room. Pepper watched her go before walking into the living room.
“Ginny, nice to see you, dear,” Mrs. Potts said as she stood and hugged her daughter.
“You too, mom. Did I know you were coming?” Pepper asked her curiously as they separated.
“You didn’t,” The older woman replied with a shake of her head, “I’m here with the firm and we had a slow day,” The woman told her and Pepper nodded as she took a seat on the couch across from the woman.
They were chatting about everything that had been going on in Mrs. Potts’ life when Penny walked back through. “Penny?” Pepper called to get the girl’s attention. The girl found it odd, Pepper hardly ever called her by her actual name unless she was being serious.
“Mrs. Virginia,” The girl answered her cheekily.
“Stop that,” Pepper told her with a glare, “What are you doing?” She asked as Penny entered the kitchen.
“Snack,” Penny answered her simply. Pepper smiled fondly as she rolled her eyes. At least the girl was eating. For a while after coming back home, she’d ignored the fact that her body needed more nutrients than most and had nearly made herself ill again.
Her mother caught her attention again and Pepper momentarily left the girl to her own devices. When Penny walked back through with a bottle of water and a yogurt in hand, Pepper caught her attention again, “Pen, come here,” She requested.
“Yes, ma’am, Mrs. Virginia, ma’am,” Penny said full of snark.
“Penelope Parker-Stark, I will take your lab time away for a week,” Pepper threatened playfully and Penny’s eyes widened.
“I’m telling dad,” Penny bit back, completely forgetting the other person present.
“Go ahead, I’ll take his lab time away too,” Pepper countered.
“Mama, that’s so not fair,” Penny said and pouted as she finally neared Pepper. The red head laughed and tugged her daughter down next to her on the couch to snuggle into her side eliciting one of Penny’s adorable giggles.
“Tough,” Pepper replied and kissed the side of the girl’s head, “Quit calling me Virginia, Penelope.”
“Ugh, fine, whatever gets you to stop calling me Penelope,” Penny agreed quickly and earned a laugh. They both startled when Mrs. Potts cleared her throat and two sets of blue eyes met hers at the same time.
“Ginny, something to tell me?” Her mother asked quietly as her eyes darted back and forth between Penny and Pepper.
“Ginny. Now, that’s funny,” Penny said as she took a bite of her yogurt. She earned a nudge from her mother.
“Make it two weeks of no lab time,” She whispered and earned a shocked look, “Keep on,” She said with a playful glare. She then schooled her features and looked back to her own mother, “Mom, meet your granddaughter. This is Penny,” She said softly.
Mrs. Potts’ eyes continued to flick back and forth from Penny to Pepper before a small smile settled over her features, “It’s nice to meet you, Penny,” The woman said. “And I have so many embarrassing stories about your mama that she won’t dare try to take away your lab time again,” The woman told her conspiratorially.
Pepper’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped, “Mom!” She said indignantly.
Penny sat up slightly, smirk on her face, “Seriously?”
“Seriously,” Mrs. Potts told her, “Ginny, why don’t you go finish up the work you left and leave me to get to know my granddaughter?”
“Mom-” Pepper started and was cut off by Penny.
“Yeah, mama. Bye,” Penny said, playful glint in her eye, “Don’t you have another R&D meeting?”
Pepper narrowed her eyes at the two of them, “No,” She said.
“FRIDAY?” Penny asked and Pepper rolled her eyes.
“Boss Ma’am has another meeting in ten minutes,” She informed the trio and Penny smiled triumphantly.
“Off you go then,” Mrs. Potts said, and Pepper looked between the two of them, internal debate at war in her head. She finally settled her look on Penny a clear ‘are you sure?’ in her eyes. Penny just nodded her agreement.
“Fine,” Pepper sighed and stood, “Do not spoil your dinner,” She directed at Penny, “And, lord, please tell me you don’t still carry that photo album around in your purse,” Pepper directed at her mother.
Mrs. Potts smirked and produced an old-looking album. “Of course, I do, dear.”
“Great.”