Chapter 26

After crying for what seemed like an eternity in his mum arms, Dane finally fell asleep. Pepper carefully placed the bed sheet on top of him and affectionately stroked his hair out of his face. From behind her, Edna came and firmly gripped Pepper's shoulder.

"Don't worry, Ginny, he will be ok," Edna reassured.

"I know you're right, but it's a lot of emotions for him in such a short time," she said, continuing to caress Dane's hair.

"Like it is for you too, sweetie," her mum added. Pepper eventually turned her head away from Dane to look at her mum. "I know you worry for Dane, he is your son. But I also worry a lot for you, Ginny. Don't lose yourself in all this. It won't do you any good."

"I know mum, it is hard for me to try to deal with my own emotions while simultaneously taking care of Dane's in this situation." Edna gave her a soothing look. She averted her eyes and sighed. "I know I have to tell Dane the truth, but I don't know what his reaction would be." She raised her head looked at her mum in the eyes and added, "And more than that, I don't even know what I want anymore, Mum."

"I know-" Her mum started.

"No, you don't understand," Pepper interrupted while standing up from Dane's bed. "I was doing fine, we were doing fine. The first few years had been hard, yes, but I found myself new goals and a new life. Tony… Tony lost me everything! From my work, to my friends, and my house," she said angrily, "And now he is back, and I'm so mad at myself for being that weak around him. I hate him so much for what he made us live through!" she said while looking through the window of Dane's room "Why is it that I feel compassion for him? Why is it that I even found myself guilty from not coming back to him and not telling for Dane?" she asked to no one in particular.

"For the same reason that led you to work for him all these years despite the hell he was putting you through," Edna stated.

Pepper turned and look at her mum uncertainty "Because I'm perfectionist and I don't like to let go at the first sign of difficulty?" she said ironically.

Edna laughed softly, "Yes, you are a perfectionist," she said smiling, "but more than that you always see the good in people, and you had always seen the man he really is behind his mask and his mischiefs."

"I didn't know you were such a big fan of him," Pepper said sarcastically.

"I'm not, Ginny. And you know it," Edna answered back. "Any mother would have dreamed for a better man for their daughter than someone like him." Pepper closed her eyes and shook her head slowly at her mum's words, "But I've been watching you and Tony Stark for years now. All he ever had to do was crook his little finger and you went running. And it was the same for him from the moment he laid eyes on you! It took both of you years to realize what everybody else had noticed a long time! And the reason why, is simply because you two are so proud and stubborn. You both have such strong and independent personalities that you didn't even realize you completed each other." Pepper stared at her mum in disbelief. "Why does it sound so surprising to you, Ginny?" Her mum asked when she saw her daughter's look.

"I don't know, it just that I'm lost… Why are you saying all this to me now?" Pepper gazed at her mother in resignation.

"Don't misunderstand me, Ginny. I do not like the man at all and you know that, but he's always been a big part of your life and even when you tried to keep him out of it, he came back. I have the feeling that whatever you both do, you'll always come back to each other at the end. And even more now that Dane is in the middle." Edna explained patiently.

"Shhhh," Pepper cut off her mum, scared of Dane listening to them. She looked at Dane to make sure he was still sleeping. "I know what you mean mum, but I really don't want my relationship with Tony to define me!" She stressed, "I'm more than that, I know I am!"

"I never said it is or it ever was. I'm just saying that you probably mean more to each other than either of you would ever care to admit."

"I did admit it and let myself accept it, but he called it off. And I had to pay in the worst way for loving the great Tony Stark! All my life I trod the straight and narrow path for fear of letting go and getting hurt. And look where I ended up!" She tried to keep her voice down to a murmur, "Oh no mum, believe me, I won't make the same mistake again so easily," she concluded coldly.

"I know darling, and I hate him for that! But at the same time, I really want you and Dane to be happy, Ginny, that is the only thing that matters to me now," Edna added, the last words filled with conflicting emotions.

Pepper crossed the distance between them and hugged her hard, "Thank you mum," she said blinking tears out of her eyes, "I love you."

"I love you too, sweety," Edna said, her own eyes becoming moist.

"I love you both too," An adorably small sleepy voice added.

Pepper chuckled softly while stepping out of her mum's embrace to go to Dane's bed. "Hey baby, you're awake. How do you feel?" she asked tenderly.

"A bit better" Dane replied.

"Are you hungry?" Pepper questioned lovingly.

A small shy smile began to grow on Dane's lips, "Maybe," he said.

"Maybe?" Pepper repeated playfully, "Mum, did you hear that? Our Dane is maybe hungry."

"Yes, I heard," Edna said, smiling "Should we ask the Doctor for some food then?" She played along.

"I don't know," Pepper answered, "What do you think Dane?"

Dane, a broad grin on his face now, replied excitedly, "I think we should, yes!"

Pepper laughed, "Fine, let's see what we can do," she said as she gently tousled his hair.

At that moment, someone knocked softly on the door and tentatively opened it. Pepper turned her head to find Tony at the embrasure of the door, apparently not sure if he could enter or not. "Tony!" Dane exclaimed.

"Hey buddy!" Tony said, grinning at Dane. "How's that arm of yours doing?" Tony asked.

"All mended!" He said while proudly displaying his splint.

"I'll go see If there is something you can eat," Edna said, subtly giving Pepper a look, and joined Tony where he was still standing. He moved aside to let her pass. "I'll be back soon," she added, looking at Pepper in the eyes and finally closing the door behind her.

A heavy silence filled the room, suffocating everyone except for an oblivious little boy.

Pepper sighed.