Hushed Willows The nightmare scenario has happened.

As he spoke, her frown deepend. There was a tangled mess of emotions within Pepper at this point - not as muddy as Stark surely, but enough differing responses that she wasn't sure how to proceed. She followed her gut.

I think its better that you didn't. If she was on the verge of... y'know... then seeing that might've just... been bad for him. It was hard to phrase her thoughts properly, and would continue to become more difficult the longer she tried to calm and support the emotional mess that Stark had become. This wasn't what she had signed on for, nor something Pepper was skilled at, but she had to try and make things better. All we can do now is look at the future, Stark. Tambourine is still here and he'll need all the support he can get, and you will too. I'm... I'm here, and so is the rest of the pack.

Swallowing a lump in her throat, she added, It will take time, but it will get better.