''Incoming call from Colonel Rhodes.''
Tony was in his workshop one afternoon, working on a few layouts to pass the time. He had spent the past few days upgrading his suits, and they were all finished now, which only left a few things to do for the day.
''Put him through.'' Tony instructed. ''What's up?''
''I'm at the base, there's some stuff going down in Iraq.'' Rhodey told him, instantly grabbing Tony's attention as he moved away from the hologram layouts. ''They're lining up a strike team to go in tonight, but they need the place to be scoped for weapons before they can move in.''
Tony looked over to his suits. ''When?''
''About two hours.''
''I'll be there.'' Tony told him in a tone that implied his promise. ''See you at the base.''
Tony stood up and walked over to the suits he had lined up around the room, instructing Jarvis to assemble the specified one onto the dock. He hadn't been on a mission to Iraq in a while, he was sure he was going to need the newly updated suit. There had been the odd missions with the military, but they weren't as big as these ones were. Tony was used to helping them out now, and he felt it was his duty to always be there on the missions that involved weaponry overseas since it was one of his highest Iron Man priorities.
Tony began loading the location and information into the HUD ready for when he had to leave, and then he was busy looking over the area they would be heading into. It seemed like an isolated group, but they had massive tents that hid their weapons and explosives, which was what Iron Man was required for.
About an hour later, Tony headed upstairs to find Pepper, and he discovered both her and Abby in the kitchen. They were baking cupcakes, Abby's favorite. There was food dye lined up along the bench as Abby sat up on top with her legs crossed, mixing the batter. Pepper was carefully adding colors, making rainbow sections of the cupcakes.
''Mama, sprinkles!'' Abby stopped mixing, picking up the container and showing Pepper as she slid a tray of uncooked cupcakes into the oven.
''They go on later Ab.'' she told her. ''You want me to mix?''
Abby grabbed the spoon again. ''Nuh uh, I do it.'' she smiled. She was struggling as the mixture became thicker, but she was a stubborn child and didn't like asking for help, she wanted to do it herself. It reminded Pepper far too much of someone else.
''Mm, something smells good.'' Tony walked into the room, leaning on the bench.
''We making cupcakes.'' Abby told him proudly as she stirred. Tony went to put his finger into the batter to taste it, but he was stopped by Abby's protest. ''Not cooked yet!''
Tony frowned, the smell of the cupcakes cooking making him hungry. Pepper chuckled at Abby scolding him and Tony pouting in response. They continued on like this for a while longer, until the tray of cooked cupcakes came out of the oven and sat on the bench.
''Let them cool, and then we can decorate them.'' Pepper told Abby who was eager to shake the sprinkles on top of the icing when it was ready.
Tony looked over and seen Abby now back to stirring the mixture of the next batch, all her attention focused on the batter, and he turned to Pepper who was right next to him.
''Rhodey called.'' he told her. That's all he had to say anymore, and she knew exactly what it meant.
Pepper nodded. ''When do you have to go?''
''An hour.'' he told her sadly. ''Weapons in Iraq.''
Pepper know how passionate he was about stopping the weapons, but that wasn't what bothered her. What bothered her was the fact that she never knew if he was going to be alright when he went on these sort of missions, or any really, but since he hadn't gone on one like this in a while, it made her nervous, but she tried her best not to let Tony see. Tony knew though, he could see it no matter how hard she tried to hide it, and he hated it. He hated making her feel that worry and anxiety when he was gone, but he needed to do this, and he knew he had her support.
''Have you gone over the list?'' she asked.
Tony smiled slightly. ''I know that list off by heart now.''
''Well I'm coming down to make sure before you go.'' she told him with a light smile as well. ''Now, go get ready.''
''I am ready. I have an hour to spare.'' he told her, stretching his arms.
''Well then, you can help decorate the cupcakes.'' she told him, sliding over the bowl of icing mixture for him to stir.
''You trust me with this?'' he asked, knowing his history with cooking wasn't all too good.
''All you have to do is stir, Tony.'' Pepper chuckled.
''Oh sure, it sounds easy.''
This was one of those family moments Tony knew he would look back on one day. All of them in the kitchen, happily baking cupcakes and laughing at all the mixture going everywhere, he and Pepper watching their daughter smile and laugh as she shook sprinkles over the top of the iced cupcakes, her eyes widening at the many colors that came out. One day he could look back on this and smile, knowing at this very moment, he had everything he could ever want.
Except he had to leave them now, and he didn't know how long he would be gone, but he vowed he would come back unscathed, just for them. They were everything to him, and for his everything, he would do anything.
Pepper lifted Abby off the kitchen bench, setting her feet on the ground as she toddled beside them, holding their hands, as they headed toward the staircase to the workshop. Abby still wasn't sure where her dad went, or why he wore the metal suit, but she knew he had to go, she knew the routine. When they reached to workshop, Abby walked in front of them to her little hologram area.
''We play daddy?'' she asked, hopeful.
Tony sighed sadly, looking at her. ''When I get back, I promise.''
Abby accepted that and walked over beside her mom who picked her up and held her close for comfort as Tony stepped onto the dock to be suited up. Pepper always marveled out how his robotic systems could assemble the suit onto him so smoothly, it was mesmerizing. Abby watched on with wide eyes as well, wondering how the metal arms were doing what they were.
''Did you check off the list?'' Pepper asked.
''Yep, every last thing.'' he told her proudly. ''I'm set.''
Pepper nodded. ''Good.''
When he was in his suit, he walked over to them and, as usual, said his temporary goodbyes. He leaned in and kissed Abby on her chubby cheek, making her giggle which instantly put a smile on his face. Pepper was smiling too, but Tony could see straight through to how she really felt; sad and worried.
''I promise I'll be back as soon as I can.''
''Don't rush.'' she shook her head. ''Just...be safe.''
''I will.'' he pressed his lips to hers, prolonging the moment before he had to pull away, and he saw the sadness in her eyes. ''Pepper-''
''No, I'm fine,'' she nodded, smiling. No matter how many times he left on these things, she was never going to be used to it, every time would be just as hard as the one before. ''I'll see you when you get back.''
Tony nodded, moving back and looking between his wife and his daughter. ''Love you.''
''Love you too.'' she smiled.
''Love you!'' Abby told him, blowing a kiss, something she had picked up from one of her cartoon shows. ''Bye daddy.''
Tony grinned back at her cute farewell, her little hand waving at him as he walked back up onto the dock and pulled on his helmet. He looked back at them one more time, and then he had to go.
Pepper stood in the empty workshop for a while after he had left, as she normally did, looking around and listening to the silence that filled the room. Abby rested her head on her mother's shoulder, looking around sadly and wishing her dad didn't leave. After a few moments, Pepper walked them out of the room and up the stairs.
''How about we go eat some cupcakes, huh?'' she asked Abby with a cheery voice.
Abby nodded. ''Mm, cupcakes!''
It was late at night when Pepper missed Tony the most, when she was alone in their room, sitting on their bed and looking around at how empty the room was without him. She had put Abby to bed about an hour ago and had tried to pass the time reading her book, but she found herself reading the same paragraph over and over again since she could barely concentrate. Then she turned to work, answering e-mails and checking off reviews, trying desperately to find something to keep her busy.
When the lights were out and she laid in the bed alone, she kept convincing herself she could hear him coming home downstairs, a clatter of metal ringing through her ears, but Jarvis assured her he wasn't home yet, and she continued to battle with her mind for sleep.
In the morning, she got Abby bathed and gave her breakfast, quickly jumping into her normal routine after Tony hadn't arrived home. She knew she was being dramatic about the whole thing. He was in Iraq, it wasn't exactly a quick flight from home. Her work was done by ten, and she had the whole day left, wondering what to do. Tony wasn't going to be home soon, she knew that, so she decided to go out for a while.
''How about we go shopping, hey Ab?'' Pepper asked, crouching down to her daughter's level. ''We'll get some new shoes for you.'' Abby looked up at her mom and nodded. ''Let's get ready then.''
Most of the day was spent walking around the mall, stepping into a majority of the stores. Pepper never gave herself time to go shopping for herself, and she did need some new clothes. It was retail therapy, but she kept her purchases to a minimum. She bought some skirts, tops, shoes and accessories. Abby picked herself out some new shoes that flashed, just like the ones Tony picked out, and put them on straight away.
Happy stopped by late that afternoon as he usually did whenever Tony was away on a mission. Tony had asked him to make sure they were okay, although Pepper had promised to get Jarvis to emergency contact him if anything was wrong, but having Happy stop by gave him peace of mind while he wasn't there.
''How are you?'' he asked Pepper, sitting on the couch opposite her.
''I'm great.'' she smiled, and she saw the look he was giving her as if he was telling her she didn't have to lie to him. ''Really, I'm fine. Tony goes away on missions plenty of times, I'm a big girl, I'm fine.''
Happy nodded. ''Okay, but you know you can call me whenever you need.''
''I know that.'' she smiled.
Abby walked into the room then, sporting her new shoes that flashed with each step, and she stopped in front of Happy to show him. They were purple and around the bottoms flashed with multicolored lights, and she moved around on the spot.
''See? They flash.''
Happy grinned. ''Those are some nice shoes.'' he told her excitedly. ''Think I could borrow them?''
Abby make a face and looked at his feet. ''Nuh uh, too small.'' Then, she remembered something and took off as fast she could to the kitchen, and she soon called out to Pepper. ''Mama!''
Pepper smiled, knowing what she was doing and walked into the kitchen to help her. A few moments later, Abby rushed back into the room and straight over to Happy with a decorated cupcake, holding it out to him as if it were made of gold.
''For me?'' Happy asked. Abby nodded and held it up to him further until he took it. ''Mm, how'd you know I liked cupcakes?''
Pepper watched on as they talked to each other about their favorite cupcake flavor, but her mind was far away, thinking about Tony over in Iraq, wishing he was back home.
Later that night, Pepper had only just closed her eyes to sleep around three in the morning when she heard a smash downstairs. She sat up straight away, panicked.
''Jarvis, what was that?'' she asked quietly.
''Mr. Stark has arrived home.''
Pepper threw her blankets off and rushed into the hall, checking on Abby who was sleeping soundly in her room before making her way down to the workshop. She was expecting to see shattered glass where Tony must have hit something, but instead she saw Rhodey helping Tony's limp body onto the dock so he could get out of his suit.
The metal was swinging off him, torn to pieces and he looked like he was barely moving. Pepper rushed inside, hurrying to Tony's side. There was blood on the tiles from where he landed with a big thud, and Rhodey tossed him helmet off to the side in order to see better.
''Tony!'' he shouted. ''Stay awake, we need to get the suit off.''
''What happened?'' Pepper asked worriedly.
Rhodey didn't notice she was there until she spoke, and he began tearing the suit off him as the machines could barely familiarize which part was which since it was that badly damaged.
''There was a hidden explosive, we didn't see it.'' he told her. ''It was powerful, Tony was the closest to it and it knocked him around.''
Pepper shook her head. ''Oh my god. Tony? Tony, can you hear me?'' Tony mumbled a few words, but Pepper couldn't make them out. ''Keep your eyes open! Just stay awake for me Tony, we'll get the suit off.''
Pepper and Rhodey tossed pieces of the suit off him and onto the ground, not caring what they broke in the process, as long as Tony was out of it. Tony's head rolled back, unable to hold it up, and Pepper rushed behind him and held him up.
''Please stay awake, Tony, please.'' she pleaded, not wanting to lose him. ''Rhodey, call an ambulance! Now!''
Tony could hear them talking, but nothing registered to him. He didn't know what they were saying, all he could hear was their mumbled voices. His vision was blurry, but he could tell he was not in good shape, although he couldn't feel any pain. There was blood all around him, and he felt a weight lifted off him as they took the suit off. The last thing he remembered was a bunch of people with medical gear helping him onto a stretched and sliding him into the ambulance, and then his eyes closed.
Pepper rushed down the corridors of the hospital, Abby in her arms clinging to her shirt as they searched for Rhodey. He was down the hall sitting outside a room, and Pepper hurried over, not even having to ask before Rhodey answered.
''He's in surgery.'' Rhodey told her. ''The explosion embedded some of the suit into his legs and his arms. There's also a gash on his right abdomen, which is why there was so much blood.'' Pepper looked horrified as Rhodey spoke. ''He's going to be fine, Pepper. They're just taking the metal out, they're not going to ask questions about the reactor, they know the circumstances, they're just taking the metal out and doing some stitches.''
Pepper's eyes were tearing up, and she couldn't help a small sob that escaped her lips as she thought about him lying in there with metal in his body, being stitched up from the explosive. Abby looked at her mother, wondering why she was crying.
''Mama,'' she spoke quietly. Pepper hated that her daughter had to see her like this, but she couldn't help it. Abby pressed a kiss to her cheek, then placed both her hands on the side of her face. ''No cry.''
Pepper hugged her close, wrapping her arms around her as much as she could. ''No, I won't cry baby.''
Rhodey wished he could help somehow, but there was nothing he could do. All that could be done was being done, now it was just a waiting game.
Hours had passed since Tony's surgery, and the nurse finally came and informed Pepper that they could go and see him since he had spent a few hours in recovery. Rhodey sat outside the room, insisting Pepper and Abby go see him first.
When they walked in, Pepper couldn't help look at him in shock as his face was covered in purple bruises. His arms were bandaged in numerous spots where the metal had been taken out, his legs were also wrapped and his side had been dressed to cover the stitches he needed. He looked over to them tiredly, smiling as he saw them.
''Hey,'' he spoke quietly.
Pepper moved over to the side of the bed. ''Hey,'' she smiled, bending over to kiss him gently on his cheek. ''You scared the hell out of me.''
''Sorry,'' he looked up sadly.
''How do you feel?''
''Sore. When can I go home?''
Pepper shook her head. ''You're staying overnight. In fact, it's three in the morning.''
Tony sighed. ''I just want to go home.'' he whined. ''I'm sorry Pepper.''
''This isn't your fault.'' she told him.
''I told you I'd be safe.''
''You were. Rhodey said no one saw that explosive, it wasn't your fault.''
''I should have been more careful.''
''Tony-''
''No, Pepper. It's one thing leaving you when I know you're worrying all night, but then I scare the hell out of you with this...and you saw me when I came home. I'm sorry.'' he told her.
Pepper grabbed his hand. ''Tony, stop. This is not your fault and you can't blame yourself. I'm just glad you're okay.'' Abby squirmed in her Pepper's arms, reaching for Tony, but Pepper held her back. ''Daddy needs to rest.''
''No, it's fine,'' he shook his head, sitting up. ''Just put her on this side.'' he gestured away from the side with stitches. Abby sat down next to him, looking up at him with her big brown eyes. ''Hey there.''
''Okay?'' she asked.
Tony nodded, leaning his head down to kiss her on her forehead. ''Daddy's fine Ab.''
''Mama cried.'' she told him sadly, and Pepper frowned remembering when she broke down in front of her daughter.
Tony looked over to her and grabbed her hand, assuring her. ''It's okay now, we're all okay.''
Abby hugged her dad, settling in beside him as her eyes closed. She had been woken up in the middle of the night and stayed here with her mom, she was tired. Tony wrapped his arm around her and held her to him protectively as Pepper pulled a chair over to sit next to them. It was all going to be okay.
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