Tony woke late one morning, which was unusual. Parents of three year olds didn't wake up late. Ever. The bed was empty, too— Pepper was gone.

He checked Morgan's bedroom, which was empty.

He got down to the kitchen and saw Pepper, hair a mess, dressed in jeans and a pink top, stirring her coffee gently while she smiled outside the window. She turned when she heard him come down the stairs and her grin widened. "Good morning."

"Good morning," he repeated, kissing her forehead. God, he was so lucky to have her. "What have you done with my daughter?"

"Oh," Pepper replied teasingly. "She's been kidnapped."

"Has she now?" Tony joined Pepper out the window, where he saw a certain redhead lift his daughter into the air and swing her around.

"We're never getting her back."

"She's gone forever," Pepper faux-admitted, shaking her head.

"Mm." Tony put an arm around his wife and kissed her forehead again. "When did she get here?"

"Early," Pepper answered.

"Oh?"

"Very, very early. As in, sitting on our back porch before any of us woke up early."

"That is early. Also the most in-character thing I've ever heard. Did she say why? What's going on?"

"She wouldn't tell me. And she seems kind of out of it, I don't know. Something definitely happened. You should talk to her."

"I will," Tony promised, but he stayed exactly where he was. Natasha lunged at Morgan to tickle her, and she squealed with laughter. "Nat's good with her."

"Yeah," Pepper agreed softly. "She doesn't seem too good herself, though."

That was correct. Natasha's hair was unkempt, her eyes dark, and she looked tired.

Tony sighed.

In an attempt to pick up the mood, Pepper said, "Ask if she wants to stay for breakfast. It's Saturday, we can make pancakes."

"Oh, I don't deserve you," Tony replied instantly, not skipping a beat. There was something about Pepper's pancakes. She didn't make them often, maybe once a month, but when she did…

Pepper pressed a kiss to his hand, but her eyes remained on the window. "What's it been now? Twelve years?"

Tony hummed agreement. "Natalie Rushman from Legal. I still wonder how she passed the background check."

"Beat Happy up," Pepper recalled.

"Poor guy was so embarrassed. She's a conwoman."

"Mmm. What's she up to now?"

Tony thought about it. "I… uh, I don't know. Last I heard, she was at the compound with Rogers. I'll ask her."

Pepper agreed. They lapsed into silence for another moment. Tony didn't want the moment to end, but eventually Pepper tapped him twice on the chest. "Let's go."

Tony hummed in protest, but he knew that she was right.

When they got outside, Morgan left Natasha's side to launch herself into Tony's arms.

"Well, good morning, little miss," he greeted, pressing a kiss into Morgan's hairline.

"Hi, Daddy!"

"Have you been playing with Auntie Nat?"

"Ye-ah! She is the coolest."

Tony furrowed his brows in mock anger. "I thought I was the coolest?"

"Nah. It's Auntie Nat. Can she come over and play every day?"

Tony looked above his daughter's head, where Natasha had a smile pasted on. "We'll see, Morgina."

Pepper jumped in, rescuing Morgan from Tony's arms. "Let's go inside, sweetheart. Mama's making pancakes."

"Yay!"

With a meaningful glance at Tony, Pepper led their daughter away, leaving Tony alone with Natasha.

"Hi," he said.

"Hey," she replied gently.

"Morgan likes you."

Natasha smiled widely at the mention of his little girl and glanced over Tony's shoulder at the house. "I like her. You got a good kid, Tony. She's smart. Just like her dad."

"Nah, she gets that from her mom. I'm lucky to have both of them."

"Yeah."

Tony decided to bite the bullet, gently starting to walk into the forest. She followed. "What are you doing here, Nat? If you're going to ask me to come back—"

"I'm not asking you to come back—"

"Good, because that would be ridiculous." Tony exhaled. "Why are you here, Nat?"

"I thought I'd see Morgan. I haven't spent any time with her."

"Bullshit." Tony's eyes bored into her. "You don't show up at the crack of dawn for that. Come on, Nat," and his voice softened, "you don't have to lie. Not to me."

Natasha exhaled deeply. Her eyes flicked to the ground and then back to Tony, who patiently waited for a response. "I was lonely."

That's… unexpected. Tony blinked. "The rest of the team?"

"None of them live at the compound. It's just me. I was mad at Steve," she continued matter-of-factly, "and you were next closest."

"I was next closest?" Tony sounded mock-offended, raising his eyebrows.

"Oh, yeah," replied Natasha, cheekily playing along. "That's the only reason."

They walked a few moments in silence, and Tony saw the tension melt off her shoulders. Not completely, but she seemed lighter here, away from the compound.

"Why were you mad at Steve?" Tony asked, and immediately regretted it. Her face fell and she made a face.

"We had a disagreement. I'd rather not…"

"Okay," Tony agreed readily. "That's cool." He had a lot of questions—he hadn't even known that Steve was no longer at the compound—but he knew not to push her.

Natasha met his eyes and smiled a very small smile.

"You're staying for breakfast, right?" Tony confirmed.

She hesitated. "I've been gone a while—what if someone calls?"

"Then they can wait for however long it takes to eat pancakes. There. It's decided. You're staying."

"Tony…"

"It's not up to you. Fact of the matter. Sorry, I don't make the rules. Well, actually I do, but—"

"Tony," Natasha interrupted. "Thank you."

He smiled. "Anytime. Literally. Come over. I feel like I haven't seen you in years. Just maybe call ahead next time."

"No promises."

And...the third imstalment is finally here! not gonna lie, I had it wirtten out long ago, and it was just editing that took awhile. this chapter was harder to write than the others, because I wasn't sure where the characters should be at, emotionally speaking. Still, I hope you're not disappoimted. Review and tell me what you think!

Lots of love,

aurea