Hushed Willows The nightmare scenario has happened.

He seemed hopeless. Pepper couldn't fathom what it had taken to lay there with the dying woman, but to envision such a scene caused the hair on the back of her neck to stand tall. It was an eerie picture in her mind, somber and quite honestly, the antithesis of everything she imagined of Stark. Had he been careful with her? Had he screamed and bellowed at the stars afterward? The powerlessness must have been immense and draining, so no wonder he was so dejected now. Stark was always in control - except for that one moment that mattered to him.

Did you.. Talk? Maybe it was a one-sided conversation if Octavia really had been that far gone, but maybe not. Pepper carefully chose her words, and spoke lowly, trying not to overwhelm the man with too much at once. I.. I haven't had much experience with this kind of thing. But I like to think, even in the last moments, there is some piece still there. She must have been listening to you somehow, Stark. Maybe whatever was left of her... Maybe it was waiting for you, or for some other family, so that it could... evaporate? Could the soul evaporate? She didn't want to say die, and thus Pepper's attempt faded to silence again.

She was uncomfortable, but hid it well. Whatever Pepper was feeling paled in comparison to the dark alpha's withered heart, as he had lost so much. With a small sigh she added, rather grimly, At least she isn't sick anymore.