Chapter 9
She didn't sleep much. She woke up every moment, her mind cluttered, trying to understand why Mary had done something like this. Tony must have had a really good reason to break up with her. She saw how broken he was, how terribly hurt he was. How much he loved her.
A little before six o'clock in the morning, she finally got up from the couch, knowing she would not fall asleep again. She went to the kitchen and started preparing breakfast for both Peter and Tony. Somehow, subconsciously, she knew Tony would struggle with a hangover and wouldn't want to cook. And now that the woman's hand isn't here... She sighed softly. Maybe the woman's hand wasn't here even when Mary lived with them.
When the sandwiches with a pile of chopped vegetables were placed into the fridge,it was half-past seven and she started playing with the idea of not going to work today, watching over Peter, before Tony gets better, and she'll also watch a little over Anthony. She hoped that he will quickly pick up for his son and learn to live with it. But she guessed it wouldn't hurt to come to them from time to time, visit Tony at work and ask if he needs any help... And how will he manage it now with all the meetings and his projects?
She rubbed her temples. Yes, she should probably call to work and call it off for the day. She was sure it wouldn't be a problem, this was a truly exceptional situation, and Pepper often didn't take time off. She would stay here, talk to Tony, and offer him help. And she sincerely hoped that he will accept her. It won't be a simple time for him now.
"Pepper? You're still here!” said Peter, surprised, who suddenly appeared in the red pajamas in the kitchen and drifted to the chair. She smiled widely at him.
"Hi, little one, how come you're awake so early? How did you sleep today?" she wondered and watched as he tried to climb the bar stool, which he eventually succeeded, and he looked extremely important. Additionally, he liked it being so high. “Oh wow, now you look just like your dad! What if I drew you beard, huh?"
Peter giggled. “I don't want to sleep anymore, I slept for a long time. And I'm looking forward to seeing mommy. I'd like to show her and Dad the little house we built together from lego yesterday."
Pepper's heart ached when she realized that his mother would never return. But she did not indicate anything. This was up to Tony, and it was up to him to explain it to him, with her help, or not.
"They'll certainly like it," she assured him, pulling breakfast out of the fridge. "Are you hungry? Would you like to have some cocoa?"
"Yes, please!" he cheered, then bit into butter-bread without protest. Pepper smiled and took out a small mug from the cabinet with a roughly drawn shield of Captain America who had heroically fallen for his homeland in World War II. "That belongs to daddy. He drank from it when he was little. He told me he was his greatest hero."
“Oh, good morning. Are we all here now?" said a grumbling voice, and Tony, drowsy, joined them. His eyes were flushed, his hair disheveled and his clothes creased. Pepper tried not to stare too much and rather quickly got out of the refrigerator breakfast for him.
"Hi, Dad. Pepper makes me cocoa!" Peter boasted, nibbling on the cucumber peel, "I told her you loved Captain America. Yeah, and we're not all here yet!" he added importantly. “Mommy is missing. Is she still asleep?"
Tony stared at him for a moment, then sat in the chair beside him. He glanced at his breakfast, and Pepper quickly slipped a mug of strong coffee over him, hopefully putting him on his feet. He nodded gratefully.
"Daddy, why aren't you talking to me? Where's mom?" Peter asked, frowning a little. Tony sighed and slipped his hand into dark hair. His gaze fixed on a slice of cheese, which depressingly lay on a slice of bread. He tried not to succumb to sadness and not to cry. He must have been strong, for Peter's sake.
“Go play, Peter, okay? I need to discuss something with Pepper. Then I'll come to you and explain everything," he assured him in an empty voice.
"No! Why can't you explain it to me now?" Peter screamed, climbing somewhat mysteriously to his lap and not falling. Tony looked helplessly at Pepper, who was watching them both sadly.
"How do I explain something like this to a two-year-old?"
"Tell me, Daddy, I will understand," Peter said emphatically, and Tony had to smile, tears stinging in his eyes.
"All right." He decided to tell him, directly, without some empty promises and lengthy descriptions. That's just how it was and Peter had to know. He had to understand. Accept it. Both of them had to. But, for God's sake... leave a small child? A small child who has the purest, boundless love... "Mom won't be back, Peter. She left. Now we'll have to be just the two of us."
Peter looked at him, startled. "I guess I don't get it."
If they were in a different situation, Pepper and Tony would probably laugh at his statement. But now it would not be appropriate. It did not fit.
"It's exactly as I say it, Petey, munchkin. Mom's gone. She moved. She left us.” It hurt, so bad.
"This is silly. You're lying!" Peter cried, ignoring the comforting words of Pepper and persuading his father, quickly released himself from his grip and ran into his parent's bedroom while he was calling his mother.
"How could she do that," he breathed, tears in his eyes, big pain in his heart. He took a sip of his coffee and then grinned a little. "Throw me some sugar here, Pepper."
"I'm really sorry, Tony," she said honestly, and he nodded. "Please, if you need anything, any little thing... to look at Peter, arrange something... promise me you'll call me. Or at least someone of your friends."
“Thank you for your concern,” he murmured. “If necessary, I will contact you if you don't mind. Well, especially if I need a little help with Peter. He'll be happy to see you anyway. And now... I guess he'll need the woman's maternal care..." Pepper's heart clenched and Tony smiled at her. "Yeah, and by the way: Peter lied telling you that I loved Captain America." And then they both laughed at least for a moment.