"I'm British, it's how we speak. The nicer we are generally the worse we feel." Ask her one day about teaching grown men the alphabet.

"Presents?" Why would... Howard had jokingly said if he couldn't marry her that she would always be like his sister. Perhaps that very idea carried over into his children. At some point in her future she played the old maiden aunt to this Tony. It was enough to make her laugh really, but that might be any number of years off yet so who knew what Howard might see or do in the meantime.

"I'm glad to hear it though, and glad to know I've remained close with the Stark family. For all the faults Howard is a truly wonderful man. He has been there for me a a time when I desperately needed support and strength until I found my own. I feel certain Tony inherited the same traits." She smiled with a bit of nostalgia at Pepper.

"Stark men, don't let them fool you, when you need them, really and truly need them, they will move heaven and Earth to be there for you."