Virginia's phone rang. It was Tony.
She rolled her eyes but turned it on, trying her best to make her voice sound like her old, weak self: "Yes, Tony?"
"Pepper, I need you to run some equipment to the Avengers Mansion."
She gritted her teeth at his use of that old, pathetic nickname. "Of course, Tony. Right away."
She hung up and turned to Stefanie. "I'm afraid I must cut our little tete-a-tete short, dear. I need to drop some stuff off at Avengers Mansion. And I believe I'll pick up there something for sweet Tony."
She guffawed and Stefanie cackled with glee.
* * *
A disguised Calvin Zabo entered Dr. Donald Blake's office.
"Yes?" Jane Foster said.
"I'd like to make an appointment to see Dr. Blake, please."
He glanced down, noticing Jane Foster had a cup of coffee there. He was almost ready to test this on Thor -- but first, he wanted to see what it did to the loyal nurse.
* * *
Emma Frost was starting to have misgivings about the new Black Queen. Partly it was how her appearance was shifting -- partly it was because, well, Emma Frost hadn't realized that Stefanie would have such intense willpower that Emma couldn't read all the parts of her mind.
It was -- it was not a comfortable feeling.