A/N Note:

So this is different that my usual stuff, really different, but when you have weird plot bunnies that nibble on you at the kitchen table, you sometimes just have to go with it .

FYI this story could be considered semi-AUish, although the only major deviance from canon made was that Tony and Pepper have gotten married at some point in time for the sake of the plot.

I also took an ample amount of liberties with Norse mythology and BS-ed the components of a fertility ritual. Imagination for the win!

For about 10 minutes, Pepper had been laying on her side of the bed staring up at the same spot, a square shaped illumination on the ceiling cast by the glow of her husband's Stark Pad. Sighing she turns in his direction and observers as he flicks through the device in the darkness of the room.

"Tony…" She begins.

Stark looks up, giving her an apologetic grin. "I'm sorry babe, is the glare bothering you? I'll turn down the backlight."

As he fiddles with the setting, Pepper starts again, "No, it's not that."

"I know it's late, but I promise, give me five more minutes and I'll go to bed. JARVIS uploaded the specs to that project I've got stabilizing in the workshop and I wanna look it over so there's a game plan for tomorrow. "

"I'm not trying to bully you into going to bed, Tony. I wanted to speak with you about something important. JARVIS, can you turn on the lights?"

"Of course, Mrs. Stark," The AI replies, obeying her command and clicking on the dimmed lights from the bedside table.

Tony watches Pepper scoot up the bed into a sitting position, so he follows her lead, setting his tablet down and sitting up a little straighter to face her.

"This seems serious. Is everything okay?"

"I hope it is." She answers him quietly. After seeing the concern flicker across his face she amends, "No, I mean, it is. I'm fine. I was only thinking, we've being trying to have a baby for quite a while now."

Tony's eyes widen a bit. "Oh my god, are you …!?"

"No, no. Sorry. I'm not pregnant." She says, disappointment evident in her tone, "That's just it, it's been months and nothing yet."

He smiles at her confidently, "Don't worry, it'll happen when it's time."

"But I don't have time, Tony! I'm already shy of 40 and I'm not getting any younger. Tony I'm… I'm worried."

"Well, you shouldn't be. There are plenty of women your age and older who are still having babies."

"Which is exactly why I think we should visit a specialist. To make sure there's nothing wrong with me or maybe…" She trails off and lets the words go unspoken, but Tony gets her meaning, trying to hide how horrified he feels.

Pepper catches his expression, quickly blurting out, "But a doctor could help us!"

Tony merely frowns, so she continues her ramble, reading his grimace as skepticism, "There are treatments and medications and of course clinics, and then there's in vitro fertilization or-"

He slides closer to her, pulling her toward him, "Whoa whoa, slow your roll! You're getting ahead of yourself here." Placing a soothing hand on her lower back, he rubs in circles. "Now you listen very carefully, for I'll only say this a hundred times: There is nothing wrong with you, Pep. There's nothing wrong with us. We're going to have a baby; we have to be patient."

"I want to believe that, Tony; but we can't know that for sure." She whispers.

Tony studies her for a moment and then leans down to kiss her forehead, "Alright, if it'll give you peace of mind, I'll locate the best doctor in New York tomorrow and get you set for an appointment. I'll even find a doc and get myself checked out. I don't want you to worry, Pep."

"Oh, Thank you, Tony! Thank you!" Pepper utters, slinging her arms around her husband's neck. "I know we'll get some answers this way!"

Tony says nothing in return, simply hugging her back and feeling her gratitude, but just seeing her have hope again was enough to make him happy. At that, he can't resist sweeping the strawberry blonde locks away from her face and kissing her once more.