Disclaimer: I do not own Iron Man or any of its characters used in this story. What is written here is for entertainment purposes only. No profit is being made from it and no infringement is intended.

Chapter 5 – He couldn't do it.

Contractions weren't new to Pepper or Tony.

Tony had signed up for one of those artificial labor simulations so that he knew what Pepper was going to go through when the time came, whereas Pepper went through practice contractions in the form of Braxton Hicks.

The pain that lanced through Pepper just a few seconds ago was quite different, however. It was sharp. It lasted longer. It kept on coming back.

God, did she love and hate being pregnant.

Sure the pregnancy sex was mindblowing and Tony indulged all of her cravings, no matter how disgusting. But the constant smothering, everybody feeling the need to give her a belly rub, the lack of high heels, the back pain, and the contractions?

Boo.

Pepper bit back a cry of pain when a contraction came for the third time, knowing that if she did so much as moan Tony was going to panic.

He was currently drafting blueprints on a new project in the corner of the bedroom. And as long as Pepper didn't make any unusual noise, there would be no unnecessary chaos erupting.

She took deep breaths. She still had time to get to the hospital in an orderly fashion. Her water hadn't even broken yet.

Pepper took out her phone and texted her OB, informing him of the labor pains and to await her arrival.

She was just about to call Tony when another wave—this one more acute—came and a cry she wasn't able to stop escaped her lips.

Tony was immediately by her side, crouching by the bed.

"Is it that time?"

Pepper could only wince in reply, riding out the wave.

"Okay, okay, okay," said Tony, mistaking her expression for immense pain. He quickly righted himself and got down to the business of getting them both to the hospital.

He came back to her side a moment later with a duffel bag in his hand. It was filled with Pepper's clothes, some diapers, and medicines. Even the Iron Man armor was packed inside in the event something awful occurred (God forbid).

Tony slung the heavy bag over his shoulder and then helped Pepper up to her feet.

Pepper's knees shook and she managed a few seconds standing before she sat back down, a hand held over her big, bulging stomach.

Damn. This was like her menstrual cramps except it was dialed to 13. And rising. The Braxton hicks were nowhere near this bad.

"I'm fine. I just need a minute," Pepper insisted knowing that if she didn't reassure Tony, he'd do something stupid.

Tony's face was stuck in a grimace as he watched her. No doubt he was remembering his own artificial contractions.

After another set of even breathing, Pepper stood up again and with Tony's help began to head out the bedroom.

One step out the doorway and there was an "Argh!"

This time, Tony decided to intervene.

"Okay, baby, up." Tony slid an arm under her legs and another went to her back. He lifted her up, carrying her like a bride.

Despite the pain, Pepper rolled her eyes at the gesture. Figures he would carry her.

During the first month of the pregnancy alone, Tony had done everything for her; he carried her bags, he drove her to work and back, he did the grocery shopping.

Somehow Pepper knew without a doubt that if it were possible, Tony would give birth for her.

"Tony, no," said Pepper. "I can walk. My body was built to handle this."

"Yeah, well, my body wasn't built to watch you do this to yourself when I can easily carry—" he faltered in his step. "Okay. I take it all back. Wow, honey, not to be rude, but you're kind of packing on a little weight there."

"Seriously?" Pepper said through grit teeth. "Half of this weight's yours considering you're the one who knocked me up."

With the additional weight of the emergency labor bag, Tony struggled to keep his arms from smarting.

Damn it. He really should train with Rogers after all of this is over.

Tony persisted in carrying her, cringing whenever Pepper stiffened in his arms.

He's grateful he and Pepper had moved to one of the guest bedrooms in the first floor of the house. He's not sure he would've been able to carry her down the stairs, if they hadn't.

They had passed by the living room when Tony froze.

"Please tell me that the wetness I feel flowing down my arms is amniotic fluid and not urine," said Tony

Pepper smirked, pleased at the fact that she's managed to get back at Tony for having her stick her hand in his chest full of inorganic plasmic discharge (not pus, still gross) all those years back.

"Still want to carry me to the hospital?"

Tony put Pepper down by the couch. He stretched his back, then he looked pleadingly at her. "Your water just broke which means you're officially officially in labor. Let me just put on the suit. We'll fly to the hospital. It'll be faster than driving."

"There is no way I am flying while in labor!"

"Fine. Can you walk? Because I don't think my back can take anymore of it. Contrary to popular belief, I'm getting old."

"What is it with you and your need to carry me around?" asked Pepper, rising to her feet. "I'm in labor. Not dying."

"We should invest in a wheelchair," Tony muttered sourly, his worry over Pepper making him upset.

They tried again. Tony held her hand while Pepper walked to the front door during the periods of relief in between contractions.

The frequent pauses made Tony's stomach painfully tingle. Pepper's scrunched up face alone reminded him so much of his own labor. He hadn't lasted five minutes in that thing and already, Pepper's been in labor for almost ten.

They finally made it to the car parked by the driveway.

Tony drove as fast as his Audi was capable.

When they arrived at the emergency room, Tony had barked for a wheelchair.

An orderly came with one in tow. Tony snatched it from him and wheeled Pepper to the private room himself.

Pepper couldn't help but smile at the sight. Tony was beside himself trying to be useful. It was amazing what impending fatherhood could do to a man. Only 9 months before she couldn't get him to even listen to her if his heads up display was open.

Half an hour later, Pepper was on the hospital bed, her pain slightly relieved due to the epidural.

Tony was sitting on her bedside, clasping her hands tightly. She can feel his skin thrumming, just waiting for the moment their child was going to be born.

"I'm really sorry I couldn't carry you," said Tony, reaching out to caress her cheek and looking slightly put out at his own self-perceived failure.

"I didn't need you to carry me, Tony. I just needed you to be here. And you are." Pepper kissed him. "I love you."

"This is really happening, huh?" asked Tony, mouth turning upwards in nervous excitement.

Pepper's grin matched his own. "Uh-huh."

"When do you think the baby's gonna—"

"AAAAARGH!"

Tony jumped in surprise. "NOW. Baby's coming now! I got you, I got you!"

He climbed on the bed and positioned himself behind Pepper, letting her back rest between his legs.

The doctor and a few nurses made their way inside the room.

"She screamed!" explained Tony.

"We heard, Tony," said the OB, a small amused smile on his lips. "Let's see if your baby's ready to come out, shall we?" He looked in between Pepper's legs and hummed.

"What? Is it ready? Is it coming?"

"Hush, Tony."

The OB looked up and nodded. "Time to push, Pepper."

Pepper pushed.

She pushed hard.

Even Tony pushed. He pushed so hard, he swore a vein in his cheek popped from the strain.

"You're not gonna faint on me are you?" asked Pepper in between pushes.

"If I will, will you carry me?"

Pepper inhaled a sharp giggle.

A/N: That ends this story. Thank you for reading!