"It is." Beautiful and significant; Tony truly had outdone himself with the design. Few people could truly understand just what the ring meant for both of them, in terms of their past as well as their future together. Pepper fully suspected that Eugene and Jack would have something of their own, some secret meaning shared by only them, and she couldn't be happier for them.

"Role models? I don't know if I'd put it quite like that." But the notion of having another married couple around was reassuring in a way. Of course Pepper knew that some relationships were very successful even without taking that step; she'd planned on her own to be for a long time. But now that it had all changed, she was glad for the silent offer of commiseration. "There aren't that many married couples around, though. I suppose we should try to stick together."