"Souls. The best way to describe it is our souls moved back in time and inhabited our old bodies. We merged with our past selves, bringing all our knowledge of the future to the here and now," explained Natasha.
"We do not know why we were chosen to come back, only that we have to stop things from playing out as they did before. Something… bad occurred which Tony and I wish to prevent. We need to keep the team together and working on the Accords is the best step forward." Natasha stated.
"I think I understand," said Pepper. "You're still the same person only with memories from a life you've already lived. Sort of like Vision? He remembers being JARVIS but now he is sentient, alive. But… how did your souls get back? What about your bodies in the future? Did you die?"
"Honestly? We don't know. We both woke up here," admitted Tony, knowing he couldn't tell Pepper the full truth.
He didn't want to worry her. Maybe one day he would but right now wasn't the right time to tell her that he and Natasha had died in their future.
"But we both hear a voice. Whatever is responsible for sending us back is with us. It guides us, hints to us as to what decisions to make. You saw me look at Nat. That was the voice talking to us." Tony said to Pepper.
"It just spoke into our minds about our souls moving back in time," confirmed Natasha.
Pepper swallowed. "I guess this means you won't be giving up being Iron Man?"
Tony lowered his chin against his chest and took a deep breath. "I can't. Not just yet. Not while I still have to make sure the future I come from doesn't happen." He looked up.
"But once this is done, I will retire. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Tony said somewhat emotional.
"What if you die before you can retire?" Pepper asked sadly.
It was always a possibility he would still die. Tony knew that. "I can't promise to come home." After last time, he couldn't.
When he'd left to go on the Time Heist, Tony had had a feeling he wouldn't see his home again, just a niggle of doubt, as if he knew his time was up.
He'd been proven right. He'd never promised Pepper he'd come home safe.
She had known the risks, let him go, and knowing she could lose him forever. And Morgan… God, Morgan…
He hoped the voice would tell him otherwise but he was met with silence.
"Then if I am to die then I want to spend whatever time I have left with you. If you let me…" She deserved to have the choice to walk away. "I'll be alright if you choose not to be with me."
"Tony…" Pepper's shoulders slumped. She looked weary and tired. "This last month since we decided to take a break has been difficult for me. I've missed you. Thought about you every single day and I've been tempted to pick up the phone just to hear your voice. I demand a lot from you. I expect a lot from you and I know I can be very overbearing sometimes but I love you. I know giving up the Iron Man suit is a lot to ask…"
Tony twirled his fingers together with hers. "I will always be Iron Man, Pepper. Nothing can take that identity away from me. I've been given a second chance. Both Nat and I have, I can't sit back and let things happen again, not when it is in our power to do so."
"We have a mission to accomplish before either of us can rest," added Natasha. "We didn't come back together. I've been here a tiny bit longer than Tony has. He only arrived recently. We found one another quickly enough."
Pepper nodded thoughtfully. "Have you changed anything, apart from telling me, of course?" she added as an afterthought.
"Yes. Lagos. I wasn't supposed to be there."
Pepper gasped. "MIT speech. You cancelled on them. I received the notification you had done so."
"I had to be in Lagos to prevent something worse from happening. It worked. Lagos was the start of it, where everything started to go wrong originally. It started a chain reaction which resulted in a catastrophic event. The Avengers were not together. We broke apart…"
Natasha continued. "Being apart was one of the reasons we lost."
"The Accords were the driving force which split us," revealed Tony. "Now it will be the legislation which will keep us together. For us to function as a team we have to follow the Accords, especially if we want to be ready for what's coming. Facing it together with the world is better than trying to fight it apart where failure is more certain."
Leaning back in the sofa, Pepper sighed.
"What is it?" asked Tony, his eyes studying her beautiful face.
She squeezed his hand. "I'll help you," whispered Pepper.
Tony was taken back. "What?" He was surprised but the feeling of happiness burst through him at her words.
"I know you are not telling me everything. Guess there are rules you have to follow. "
"There are," Tony confirmed.
Rules stymied him but he recognised the importance of them in this situation.
He simply couldn't tell Pepper he'd died, though he suspected she might already have that inkling of doubt.
"You've been truthful, not kept me in the dark. Coming clean when you didn't have to? It shows me you care and you want to make this work. I'm willing to try again."
Tony's face split into a broad smile. "Pep…" He moved quickly, joy running through his body, as he pulled her close, hugging her and burying his head in her shoulder.
He wanted to cry because he had one part of his life back.
Moving her face, Pepper kissed him on the lips, pulling him down.
Natasha stood hastily from her perch on the table. "I think I should leave."
Tony broke out into laughter as Pepper drew away from him. "We're not going to do anything…"
"Yet," Pepper's eyes sparkled.
"Oh." Tony's eyes widened.
"Later, Mr. Stark," teased Pepper.
Leaning back, Pepper moved her gaze over to Natasha. "I'm assuming the others do not know of… this?"
"No." Natasha shook her head. "We do not plan on telling them. I don't think the voice would let us."
"It told us to trust you though," admitted Tony quietly. "I guess it knew doing so would reconcile us."
"Tony…" Pepper smiled sadly. "I didn't want to go on a break. But I needed time to revaluate and I realised I can't be living my life without you."
A lop-sided smile pulled at Tony's lips. "Guess we're stuck with one another, aye Potts?"
Pepper squeezed his hands. "Fortunately for us, we are."
She leaned in and kissed him on the lips. "What happens now?"
***
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