" and the worst thing I ever did was what I did to you "

Chapter 05:

The Therapy

Words couldn't describe how much Annabeth hated Pepper at the given moment. The strong-willed strawberry-blonde only just had to make therapy for the employees of SI compulsory and somehow, she was one of the only ones who were asked to visit Dr. Allen again this week.

Understandable, considering Annabeth had typically thrown a baseball that was kept there at him but completely unnecessary.

Dr. Allen, had it set in his mind that Annabeth merely just had to talk about Peter in order to start the process of healing. She was already healed, remained the fact that the doctor didn't understand according to her.

Therefore, sadly she did what Pepper asked but what Annabeth didn't know was that Tony was installing a new updated version of JARVIS on the second floor of Stark Industries, Malibu and Dr. Allen's room was exactly what he was analyzing when she entered the room for her appointment.

"Look, Ms. Pierce, I understand—" Dr. Allen, an old doctor was saying and with a lot of thinking about it— she recalled who this guy was, the man she and Tony were told to sit in the office of when they were caught sneaking in the labs. He used to be a nice guy.

"OH, NO, YOU DON'T!" Annabeth yelled back, a pointed finger at the peaceful therapist, "I AM NOT CRAZY."

Dr. Allen merely stared at her, waiting for her to calm down which she ultimately did.

"I am sorry," Annabeth said, falling back on the green sofa, "I am not usually like this."

Dr. Allen smiled.

"I know," he assured her, "So why don't we start afresh from the beginning? I didn't catch many answers yesterday, what with that ball aimed at my face."

Annabeth nodded with a little dry laugh.

"So I am going to ask you some general questions that I really need to be answered truthfully. This is a secure place to speak your mind."

"Okay," Annabeth agreed, but still was a bit hesitant.

"Alright then, let's start with the basics," the doctor started, "What's your name?"

"Annabeth Brittany Carter Pierce."

The doctor nodded, "Does your name have any significant meaning? And is Carter, like a middle name?"

"My Aunt Peggy named me Annabeth, and Tony removed Carter from my surname in the government folders as a practical joke and we never really fixed it. Carter became somewhat of a middle name over time but ever since my dad left us, I have been more fond of using Carter."

"Okay," Dr. Allen smiled at her, "You speak of Tony... Do you mean Tony Stark?"

Annabeth looked away. The doctor already knew the answer to this. "Yes."

"Can you describe your relationship with him for me?"

Oh, Pepper was dead.

"Tony—" She sighed and gathered a deep breath, "Tony was my best friend. We did everything together, and it happened just like that— I fell in love with him. I think he loved me too."

"Did you doubt his feelings for you?"

"Oh no!" Annabeth answered at once, "I never doubted it but love can barely last for so long. It ended for us."

Dr. Allen noted something in his diary, "Why did it end?"

Annabeth stopped— flashbacks of her nightmares appearing, the drinks, the drugs, Peter...

"Because his parents died and our son was stillborn'," Annabeth said, "We could have worked it out but..."

The doctor didn't even look fazed, staring at Annabeth as if waiting for her to say something more.

"It— it just hurt so damn much. I found out my dad was having an affair for the last four years, and then my mom was diagnosed with cancer. It just became completely overwhelming for me to handle. I was only hurting Tony by staying so I didn't. I left."

"Do you think you made a mistake?"

Annabeth shook her head, "I think that the worst thing I have ever done was what I did to him."

There was silence for a few moments.

"What about your son, whom you could never have? Do you ever think about him?"

"Every single day."

The doctor smiled at her reassuringly as if advising her that thinking about her son who died five years ago before he was born was completely normal.

"How do you imagine him to be?"

"I— I imagine Peter growing up, being a miniature version of Tony— incredibly smart and handsome. I imagine Tony being the best dad there could be — always spoiling him with great gifts. I see a life for him— the one Peter should have gotten. Look, I know he is someone that had never seen the light of the day but to me, I had his entire life planned. He was in me for nine months and when I finally got the chance to hold on to him in my hands, cruel fate snatched him away from me."

Dr. Allen looked at her sadly.

"You don't want to move on, do you?"

Annabeth shook her head, "He is all I have left."

"But you don't have him anymore. You have never had him. He is a figment of your imagination."

The silence after that was deafening.

"Doctor, have you ever lost someone you loved?"

Dr. Allen smiled sadly and nodded, "Yes, my wife. She was murdered when my son was eleven— he witnessed the entire thing."

Annabeth broke down then— for Peter, her mom, for Howard and Maria, for Jarvis, even the doctor's wife, and then finally for herself and Tony.

"Does it ever get better?"

"No," Dr. Allen replied truthfully, "But as long as we are not alone, we learn to bear it."

Annabeth nodded.

"Do you have any family left?" Dr. Allen interrogated her and she nodded.

"My aunt."

"And when did you visit her last?"

Annabeth remembered when she saw Peggy Carter last.

"A few months ago, actually. She has Alzheimer's and she thought I was my mom," Annabeth replied, "I stayed for a while, but my cousin Sharon convinced me to come back here to Malibu. She set up this job interview and everything too, she thought being back home would be therapeutic for me. She wanted me to have my old life back."

Dr. Allen nodded.

"Hence, isn't it time now to stop fighting your feelings and earn back the family you once called your own?"

"I just don't know how."

"You're an intelligent girl," Dr. Allen smiled at her, "You'll figure it out."

He went back to his notes and then looked at Annabeth again.

"You mentioned you were in love with Tony. Do those feelings still exist?"

Annabeth didn't want to defy it anymore.

"I will forever be in love with Tony," she replied, her fingers playing with her necklace, "After all, that's the promise I made."

pepperpotts Dr. Allen is returning to SI to have a healthy discussion with all the employees. Your Mental health is as important as your job! Take care of yourselves.

17 hours ago

tagged- drallen

liked by merchantofdeath colonelrhodes nothappyhogan and 12.3K others

view the comments...

Barryallen so proud of you dad!

5 minutes ago

colonelrhodes oh pep this is a good idea!

2 hours ago

Annabethpierce01 VIRGINIA POTTS-

19 hours ago

- AnnabethPierce01 YOU ARE FUC*ING DEAD-

3 hours ago

- Merchantofdeath We are gathered here today to remember Pepper Potts who screwed up bad.

1 hour ago

EDITED- 30/01/22