Pepper inhales deeply and lets it out slowly in a shuddering exhale when he turns to hide against her throat, similarly closing her eyes against sudden tears. She strokes his hair almost mindlessly while trying to get a hold of her conflicting emotions.
"It was fine," she finally says in tight tone. "Mostly I just did inventory at the shop." It was a slow day, with everyone too preoccupied with sprucing up for the Queen's arrival to do much shopping. "How was yours?"