Pepper didn't manage to get up quite so early, but she bounds down the stairs looking slightly disheveled. It's obvious she just woke up and threw some clothes on, because she could hear the both of them talking.

"Aw, you started without me?" she asks a little incredulously, but it's obvious from the look on her face that she's teasing. "Happy Birthday, Gene!"

Pepper hugs him from behind, which is actually a clever ruse for distracting Gene from the gift she's placed on the table next to him.

"Wow, Tony, have you been taking cooking lessons from Gene? These look awesome," she chirps.