[For Aaron]

To suggest it's been a trying few weeks would certainly be an understatement. Fighting with Aaron was nothing like fighting with Tony by any stretch of the imagination, partially because even when being maddeningly stubborn, Aaron still manages to be sensible. It's very difficult to feel self-righteous when you're up against someone so reasonable, even if you're certain you're in the right.

Aaron may be over-compensating a little now, insisting on dress-up dates with flowers and wine, but Pepper is letting him do it. That she's enjoying the benefit of it is undeniable, but there's a degree of catharsis in recompense, she thinks. If he needs to take her out and make her feel special to feel better about everything that happened, the least she can do is accept the attention.

The night is just a little warm, but there's a breeze blowing in off the lagoon that more than makes up for it, skimming over the bare skin of Pepper's back as the two of them make their way to Aaron's hut. Her shoes are off, dangling from easy fingertips, and she feels sincerely good and unworried for the first time in quite awhile.