Pepper sighed. "I hope not. An' if they do, then sod 'em. Got no right to judge." There. That sounded more like herself. She'd get through it because she had to, that simple.

There was a strange kind of hope lingering in Adam's voice that made her remove her hands and look at him, finally. "They put on a pretty good show too," she added with a weak smile. "I should write out Thank You cards."

It was good to be cocooned in blankets and Pepper turned onto her side, curling up in them. He said he'd stay. And she found that she didn't mind that at all. Probably be easier to sleep with him close by, just like her first day back. Funny, that. "Promise?" she whispered.