[Pepper tenses at the mention of Howard; before, it's been easy enough to discuss. Bring it up, and ask people to keep the truth of his connection to Tony unsaid. Now, however? Things have changed.]

Howard is here, yes. And he knows he's Tony's father, although Tony hasn't been born yet, in Howard's time.

[Then it's Pepper's turn to take a drink. She sets the glass back down again with a nod, confirming Natasha's suspicion about the lack of memory.]

That makes things easier. [Pepper has had her fill of dealing with the differences in timelines and universes, honestly. That Natasha is from around the same time is something of a relief.]