-- Peggy felt instant turbulence when Howard's son betrays a gap in his own knowledge about the man. Ordinarily, it might be chalked up childish regard for a parent. But the Stark who stood across from her wasn't some knee-high boy. Surely, he knew of his father's bombastic personality. Surely, he know of...

Ice gripped her heart. Peggy pursed her lips and shook her head. Perhaps it was denial that prompted her to ask: "Don't tell me Howard mellowed in his old age?"

She sounded hopeful. She wanted Tony to tell her that the once dramatic young genius had grown old and sensible -- and that the question, on Tony's part, had nothing to do with the man not seeing his silver years.