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It’s obvious that Stephen’s walked in on a private conversation. Pepper’s body language is closed, her expression pained. Tony is sitting up in bed—something he’s supposed to do sparingly until Stephen has bled off the lingering power of the Infinity Stones—and he’s reaching out to her. Stephen should turn and leave, but then Tony speaks:
“Pepper, please. I just want you to love me one more time.”
She smiles sadly. “It’s always ‘one more time’. I keep giving you chances to put me first, but you never do.” She laughs, dashing tears off her cheeks. “It’s terrible of me, to want to come before the world, but it still breaks my heart every time.” Tony’s heart is clearly breaking now. Stephen aches with him; he knows this pain.
Pepper turns, and Tony’s eyes follow her, and they see him. “I apologize for intruding,” Stephen murmurs. “I should go.”
“No,” Pepper says firmly. “I’m leaving.”
She brushes by Stephen, and he slowly makes his way to Tony’s beside. He hitches up one leg to sit on the bed, facing Tony. Tony drops his gaze. Stephen takes a steadying breath and begins: “I didn’t think much of Christine when I met her…”