Aging around seven years overnight in the middle of everything else that's been happening - trying to build a government, trying to run a police force, and losing a lot of close friends - has not really helped things. But in other ways it's been... strangely cool to see what she's going to look like in the future.

Still, when things get crazy, tea helps. Gene always makes tea, so there's always tea around to help. It's nice, to have that stay the same when everything else feels like it's changing.

"Hey," she says quietly, smiling when she sees Gene. His face is a little different, but she recognizes the attitude. "You're doing that pensive thing," Pepper comments, reaching to pour herself tea. "What's up?"