Tony stiffened and froze when he felt her arms around him, his own arms just resting at his side at first. He'd never known Pepper to be so physical with him, and he thought about how bad he must have made her feel. His hands came up to rest over hers, his head lowered to look at them. "I do need her. She's my wife. I wouldn't have married her if I didn't need or love her. But I need my best friend, too." Releasing her hands, he turned around in his arms and hugged her in return, pulling he as close and as tight as he could manage without suffocating her.