Of course Dad didn't. And Pepper meeting his eyes across the table was completely by coincidence. Of course the fun part to the game was figuring out where Tony's influence ended and Susie's imagination began. Very often it was too blurry a line to distinguish.

"Oh, absolutely. It's very important to thank everyone who helped save the world from zombie unicorns." How far had they come, that Pepper could talk about zombies now without hesitating, or even thinking back to the time when she'd nearly become one? Those events were distant, so far back they might not matter, save for the joyous steps she and Tony had taken at their prompting.

"And to thank people for tea, so thank you very much, Iron Princess. You've saved the world and given me a refreshing drink."