The sun was barely up when she awoke, stretching under the soft sheets and the strong arm slung around her waist. Her eyes fluttered open when a soft grunt came from her bedmate as he pulled her closer. His lips pressed a soft kiss to her bare shoulder, a murmured ‘good morning’ against her skin that made her smile.
This was the fifth Saturday she’d woken up like this, countless other times in between them during the past few weeks as well. It had become a routine since that first night.
They had been sat guard by Jack’s bedside all day, the East Coast Chief having made it through surgery after being found shot. They’d sat in silence for a long time, pouring over the case file and evidence Daniel’s team had collected from the scene. Until Rose arrived to swap shifts with them, they weren’t even aware night had fallen. She had ushered them out into the dark and Daniel had taken Peggy’s hand with a gentle squeeze and offered to drive her home.
A grip on his hand and a silent conversation between them led him to drive past the turnoff for Stark’s mansion and pull up outside his own house. If he’d been apprehensive about bringing her there after they hadn’t had a chance to discuss that kiss in his office, Peggy didn’t really give him the chance. She was getting out of his car and fetching her go-bag from the trunk, before he had a chance to think too hard about it. He took the lead up the little path and through the front door. When he flicked the lights on, he turned to see Peggy looking around his humble little house, eagle eyes casting over the simple but functional furniture. Exhaustion filled her normally poised frame and he realised neither of them had slept much at all in the past few days.
“Peg, you can investigate all you want in the morning. Bedroom is the last door on the left.” He pointed down the short corridor towards the back of the house. “Bathroom is opposite it. I’ll take the couch.” He purposely avoided the glare he got back from her in response, busying himself with emptying his pockets and putting a clean mug back in the cupboard. That was until he turned round to find Peggy in front of him, an eyebrow raised.
“There is no reason that two consenting adults cannot share a bed.” She stated. The corner of his mouth ticked up and she smacked his arm lightly. “Not for that.” She turned on her heel, stopping to pick up her holdall before looking back at him over her shoulder. “At least not tonight. We can pick that up tomorrow, Chief.”
And after that night, when he woke up with a soft Peggy in his arms, smirking at him mischievously, he left behind any and all hesitation about this side of their relationship.
They were still the best team in the office, and this was only paralleled at home. So on Friday night, they’d fallen into bed together after a dinner date, clothes strewn around the room as they made up for lost time. Slow Saturday mornings where he got to see this soft sleepy side of the formidable Peggy Carter had become his favourite mornings of the week. The unruly dark hair splayed over the pillow beside him, bare skin and soft kisses traded in the sunrise as the light spilled through his window. Her small bottle of perfume on the dresser, a bag of makeup beside his shaving kit in the bathroom. All of it seemed a little too good to be true. But then she looked at him, a smirk on her lips or a raised eyebrow and he’d decided who was he to question the universe that brought him her.
“You’re thinking again.” Peggy said, rolling over until she was practically on top of him.
“Hmm, dangerous I know.” He shot back, earning him a kiss to the jaw. As her lips trailed a path to his, he began to wonder if there's ever been a time he was more content. Sure there was an unknown shooter on the loose, more potentially corrupt agents in his office and endless cases making their way onto his desk but right now at this moment, nothing was going to ruin this mood.
* knock, knock, knock *
Both of their heads shot up in the direction of his front door, shock across both faces. Peggy looked back at him frozen, questions written on her face. He shrugged when the sound came again.
* knock, knock, knock *
“It could be the office.” Peggy suggested, rolling off him, pulling the sheets back up to cover herself properly.
“It better not be.” Daniel huffed, annoyed that his morning plans were being interrupted. “My agents know to call first.”
“It could be about Jack.” Peggy stated.
It was then that a loud voice echoed from the front of the little house.
“Danny Boy! TIME TO WAKE UP! Your favourite sibling is here!” This was followed by what sounded like squabbling and shuffling by the front door.
“David.” He said, swinging his legs off the bed and reaching for his prosthetic. “What the hell are my siblings doing here?”
Peggy was aware of Daniel’s large family. There were pictures of him and his four younger siblings on the mantle in the living room, one brother and three sisters. It sat beside his parents' wedding portrait. And she loved the way his face softened when he talked about them all, telling her stories about his mother teaching him to cook or the antics he had to bail his brother out from when they’d been growing up. But this was not how she planned on meeting them.
“Oh bloody hell.” Daniel sprung up to a sitting position as Peggy leapt into action, collecting her own clothes from the floor, and getting dressed at an almost impossible speed.
“Peg?” Daniel questioned, running a hand through his hair as he watched her slide into the bathroom on now stocking covered feet, stopping at the sink as she started to tame her hair.
“Yes, Daniel?” She hissed back, scraping her hair into a ponytail before quickly rinsing her face. When she caught sight of him sat watching her from the edge of the bed, just in his underwear and undershirt, she whirled round, toothbrush in her mouth and mascara held in one hand. “Why are you just sitting there?”
“I’m wondering why you’re panicking.” She turned back to the mirror, spitting into the sink. She grabbed her make up bag, threw it under the sink, closing the cupboard before everything could fall out of it.
“I can hardly let your family see me here. I’ll go out the window.” She wiped her mouth and raised her lipstick, swiping on her signature colour in well-practised movements before throwing that in the vanity drawer.
“Out the window?”
“Yes Daniel. Howard’s is only a couple miles from here.” She entered the bathroom, doing up her shirt and tucking it into her skirt as she did.
“You are not walking to Stark’s.” He said, chuckling under his breath as he pulled a clean shirt out of his wardrobe.
“I was going to suggest I run actually.”
“You only have heels here.” He countered.
“I can run in heels. You’ve seen me do far more strenuous activities in heels higher than these.” She pointed to one shoe that lay on its side by his dresser. She was on her hands and knees then, digging under the bed when he turned round fully dressed.
“Peggy.”
“Aha!” She declared victoriously still in a hushed tone as she lifted the previously missing shoe above her head. “Your belt is under here too.” She threw the item at him before she stooped to slip her shoes on. “Right.”
“PEG.” He half-shouted at full volume, shocking her out of her search for something. “You don’t have to leave at all.”
“Daniel, this is hardly how I imagined meeting your family. Plus won’t they… assume things if they see me here at this time in the morning.”
“They might.” A wide smile stretched across his face, “But I promise you it’ll be fine.” He used the dresser to walk towards her, grasping her hands. “Do you trust me?”
“Of course I do.” She muttered.
“Okay, so can I trust you to not try and do a running leap out of the window too?” She nodded with a small glare at him. “Right, c’mon then.”
He grabbed his crutch, gave Peggy one more reassuring look before heading out and into the hall, turning the corner to head for the front door where there was only bickering and the occasional knock audible. He took a deep breath, aware of Peggy hanging around near the kitchen as he reached for the door, unlocking it.
Immediately it swung open with a cacophony of sound that always accompanied a bunch of Sousas. He was engulfed by all three of his sisters as soon as the door was open wide enough, almost knocking him off his feet if they hadn’t been holding him up. He struggled to breath through the strong grips they each had on him, but he looked over them to see his parents and brother, smiling wide at him. It wasn’t long until his mother batted her daughters out of the way so she could fold him into an embrace herself.
“Ah meu filho. Faz muito tempo.”
“Sim mãe. Que bom te ver.” His father shook his hand and hugged him quickly while his mother was still under his arm. “Pai.”
“Daniel.”
Then his brother was in front of him with a mischievous grin. “What took you so long to get to the door huh Danny boy?”
With his mother now standing a good foot from him, Daniel made a fake jab at his brother who jumped backwards before the pair embraced.
“What are you all doing here? Could you not have told me you were coming out here?” He turned to his whole family who were looking at him with some type of joy on their faces.
“Well we barely hear from you anymore now you're a big and important Chief man.” His mother admonished. “We last heard from you when you told us Violet broke off your engagement. Then barely anything since. We were worried!”
“Ma, there’s nothing to be worried about, I’m fine. But it is nice to see you all.”
“Dan, please say you’ve got coffee because I’m desperate for a cup.” Bella groaned. Daniel looked over them all, his eyes landing on Peggy who had somehow managed to avoid being spotted in the moment of chaos as everyone had come in. But his softened smile had his whole family following his gaze and she soon found herself being evaluated by a large number of Sousa’s.
She’d taken note of each of them as they entered. All five Sousa siblings had their father’s eyes and mother’s dark curly hair. If she hadn’t known better, Daniel could have had a twin in David, the pair eerily similar in appearance as they stood beside one another. She had the rogue thought of that being a great basis for a prank they could play on Jack now he was recovering.
“Everybody, this is Peggy…” Daniel didn’t even get his words out before Ines interrupted him.
“PEGGY CARTER?” She said, whirling round on her oldest brother and slapping his arm over and over again. “You said you would tell me if anything happened, you dumbass. I listened to you talk about her for a year!” Every word was punctuated with another slap and a brilliant red blush rose in Daniel’s cheeks at the implication. Peggy herself was holding back a giggle.
“Ines. ‘Nes. Nessie. Stop. Stop!” He half laughed, looking for help as he caught her by both arms. “Anyway, as I was saying…” He still had his sister held at arm’s length. “...Everybody, this is Peggy Carter. Peggy, this is everybody. My parents, brother David and sisters Esme, Bella and Ines. Who seems to have made herself far too well known already.” He released her shoulders and she harrumphed in his direction.
“Hello, it’s nice to meet you.” Peggy offered from where she stood, rolling her shoulders once as if steeling herself, preparing for battle. Within a second Thelma Sousa was in front of her, wrapping her in a hug. To give her her credit, Peggy only stiffened for a second before relaxing into it.
“Come Miss Carter, we must all get to know each other.” The matriarch of the Sousa’s, released her from her embrace, but took her hand, leading her through to the living room. “Daniel! Coffee meu amor.”
“Ma… “
“Shhhh boy. Get us some coffee. We will look after your girl.” There was something strange about Peggy being called his girl, something warm in his chest he couldn’t quite place.
He looked at Peggy who was smiling as his sisters began to chatter around her and she winked at him to let him know she’d be okay. Of course she would be.
Wandering into the kitchen, he heard his brother’s footsteps fall into step behind him.
“Danny, how the hell did you land a dame like her? She’s…” David couldn’t find the words.
“Incredible. Gorgeous. Way out of my league?” Daniel offered with a smirk. “I know. I’m the luckiest son of a bitch to grace the planet.” He popped the coffee on and pointed to the cabinet on the right hand side of the sink. “Get the mugs down David.”
“And that’s the same Carter you worked with in New York?”
“Yup, she’s transferring to my office.” He reached for the tea bags he stored besides his coffee pot, opting for a single cup rather than a teapot today. Daniel doubted Peggy would mind. “Did you guys eat yet?”
“No Ma wanted to get here first. Wait - that woman, a British bombshell, is moving across the country. For you?”
“Well don’t sound so surprised.” Daniel pulled the kettle off the stove as it began to boil and he started making up the drinks. “It’s not just for me. She gets an automatic promotion due to my novice office and her vast experience. Some of her best friends are out here. Plus have you seen the weather?”
“Oh so you’re really a second thought then.” His brother smirked at him and ended up with a dish towel thrown at him.
“Piss off.” Daniel shot back.
“You’re picking up those Britishisms I see too. Do I need to ask Peggy her intentions?”
“Go and take the mugs through. Come back for the tray.” Daniel commanded, loving the banter that he and his brother had not been able to have since he’d moved out here.
“Yes Chief sir.” David mock-saluted him, before leaving and returning. By the time both brothers arrived in the sitting room, Peggy had her head thrown back in a laugh as Esme told a story, seemingly of when Daniel and David snuck out to go dancing with some girls from down the street, only to get caught climbing back in the window by their mother.
“That was entirely David’s fault. He fell through the window.” Daniel chimed in, handing over Peggy’s cup of tea and saucer to her.
“Thank you darling, I’ve been learning lots of stories about your rebellious years.” Daniel groaned. His mother didn’t miss the small smile on his face when Peggy took a sip of the tea he’d made her and hummed with satisfaction.
“What’s the plan then?” Daniel said, settling onto the arm of the sofa besides Peggy.
“Well, we have a hotel booked, one just up the road. We thought we’d come to collect you for breakfast. Do you have to go to work today?”
“No, I’m on call 24/7 though so could get called away at any time. We’ve… I’ve started trying to take Saturdays off if possible. We did have dinner plans at a friend’s… but I can cancel. Sorry Peg.”
“I can handle an evening with Howard, Daniel.”
“I was thinking more about Jack but sure.” Daniel nudged her, reminding her of the convalescing patient currently residing in the suite besides hers at Stark’s.
“Oh yes. Well while I can handle anything those boys throw at me, I do have an idea. Let me call Ana. Excuse me all.”
“Peg…” He caught her hand as she wandered past him.
“She loves to throw a dinner party, as does Howard, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind. In fact I think she’d be furious at me if I didn’t let her know.” Peggy squeezed his hand. “You can say no Daniel, if you don’t want to.”
“No, it’s okay, as long as the Jarvis’ don’t mind. And if I see Howard even look at one of my sisters…”
“I’ll take him out for you Chief, no holds barred.”
“That’s my Peg.” He said, pressing a kiss to his knuckles before she wandered to the study to call the mansion. It only occurred to Daniel that they had an audience when he turned to see his family staring at them mouth agape. “Sorry… we’ll likely be having dinner at our friends’ tonight. He loves to… entertain.”
“Look at our Danny Boy, he’s in lurvvvvvvvveeee.” Esme drew out in the word, teasing her big brother who was clearly head over heels for the woman currently in his small home office.
“Will you pack it in?” Daniel threw a throw cushion at her as he took the seat besides his mother. That only made all of his siblings start oohing and aahing at him, making kissy noises like they were all 12-years-old.
“Don’t tease your brother. You should be happy for him.” Their father said, sipping his coffee. “Peggy seems lovely.”
“She’s so cool.” Bella added, quietly.
“Yeah she is.” Daniel agreed softly, smiling into his own mug.
The look on his father’s face in the passenger seat as he pulled the car up the winding drive of Howard’s home was something he wished he could take a picture of, his jaw dropped as he took in the sprawling grounds, the flamingo that had apparently escaped and the overly grand house.
He’d not made his family aware of who exactly they were having dinner with, but they’d got dressed up anyway. His mother had always drummed into them the importance of first impressions. In keeping, Daniel had donned his nicer suit jacket and settled for a crisp white button down rather than one of his colourful printed ones, that had almost given his mother a heart attack when she went snooping through his closet this afternoon. She had not commented on the dress of Peggy’s that had been sent out with his dry cleaning this week, and was still hanging in its cover besides his jackets. He doubted Peggy even knew it was there, the way she’d gone scavenging for yesterday’s clothes this morning.
As everyone piled out of the cars they’d arrived in, all the New York Sousa’s stood in complete awe at the base of the stairs.
“Jeez Dan, you’ve made some friends out here.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I knew him in New York too.” Daniel started up the steps, his family dutifully following him, muttering between themselves.
The large front door swung open before he reached it.
“Ah Chief Sousa, perfect timing as always.” The butler offered his hand to him and he shook it warmly.
“Jarvis, it’s good to see you. Thank you for this.” Daniel said sincerely.
“No problem at all. Ana has been looking for an opportunity to throw a soiree recently. I think Miss Carter rejected the other reasons she came up with.” Daniel was all too aware of Ana’s suggestions and had been glad when Peggy had politely declined them.
“Jarvis, meet my family.”
Jarvis offered Frank Sousa a handshake before opening the door wider. “Welcome to Mister Stark’s house. Allow me to take any coats and bags and I will show you all through to the drawing room.”
The family still didn’t pick their jaws up off the floor when they entered the atrium, Jarvis buzzing around them as they shed their coats. From above them, a familiar voice called out.
“Good evening everybody!” Peggy gracefully descended the stairs in a new outfit. She had excused herself when the Sousa’s left for breakfast this morning, citing a whole range of errands to run and their need for family time. Now she stood before them, refreshed, curls reset and a gorgeous blue dress with white piping across the hem and neckline. Daniel’s gaze roamed over the outfit and she let a smirk pass onto her face at his reaction, instead addressing his family who were all overjoyed to see her. “How’s your first day in Los Angeles been?” She dropped a kiss to Daniel’s cheek as she passed before linking her arm with Bella’s, chatting with them all as they headed to the drawing room.
Inside the panelled room, Daniel found the usual suspects. He was pleasantly surprised to see Rose playing cards with Thompson, Ana pouring a drink at the drinks cart. As they entered the Hungarian woman practically vibrated with glee, greeting them as long-lost friends with hugs and kisses pressed to cheeks. Daniel started to make introductions when the patio doors swung open to reveal Howard Stark strutting into the room, as the centre of attention, as he always wanted to be.
He glanced at Peggy, to find her rolling her eyes hard at Howard.
“Is that…” Bella took a sharp intake of breath at her oldest brother's shoulder, leaning into him. “...Howard Stark?” Daniel should have seen this coming but between his family surprising him this morning and Peggy suggesting that they come here for dinner, Bella’s reaction hadn’t crossed his mind.
Bella was the ‘smart’ Sousa sibling, always top of her classes, one of the only women to get accepted into a high-achieving class at New York University, where she’d just finished her first degree in Engineering. Graduated top of her class. As Howard mainly acted as a large pain in his ass, Daniel had not considered his sister may have a different view of the mainly highly-regarded inventor. Hadn’t thought about the fact she’d had a poster of several of his inventions on her bedroom wall as a teen, scribbles with equations in her slanted writing all over them.
“In the flesh!” Howard said, picking up Bella’s hand and pressing a kiss to it. Instinctually Daniel stepped forward, in front of Bella.
“Absolutely not Stark.” He snapped.
“Whoa Chief, just saying hello!” Howard held his hands up in mock surrender. “Peg’s already read me the riot act, just being friendly. That’s all.” Meeting Peggy’s eyes, she winked at him subtly before offering to help Ana with drinks for everybody.
Before Daniel even registered what was happening, everyone was settling onto the couches, Rose floating over and no doubt gathering insider knowledge about his life from his siblings. Even Jack came over to introduce himself, cane in hand, something he’d required since his surgery despite how much he despised the thing. The Thompson charm hadn’t been injured unfortunately and Daniel huffed when his mother blushed under his attention.
Never one to turn down an opportunity, Bella was chattering away to Howard at a rapid pace about something Daniel couldn’t grasp. When Howard answered in kind, pointing out toward the corridor, his entire body stiffened.
“Chief, we’re gonna go to the lab. Don’t panic.” Howard called over his shoulder before opening the door, Bella waving at her big brother before leaving with the mustached man. He was about to follow when a hand on his arm stopped him, and he turned to see Peggy smiling up at him.
“He’ll be good. Here.” She pressed a glass of bourbon into his hand. “Just relax darling. This is supposed to be fun.”
“I know Peg. He’s just…”
“Under strict instructions on pain of major physical bodily harm.” She smarted back at him. “Plus he knows where the boundaries are. He joked about us being in-laws and I made it clear he was not to marry into the Sousa family.” There was an insinuation there, one he wasn’t even sure she even meant until her eyes met his. “Alright then?” That smile on those red painted lips got him every time. He dropped a chaste kiss to her lips, aware of their audience.
“Yes ma’am.”
When Howard and Bella finally reemerged, it was only because Jarvis had gone to fetch them. They were still jabbering as they entered the formal dining room where everyone was sitting.
“Let’s get this shindig started then!” Howard said, clapping his hands before taking his seat at the head of the table. The table that was laden with so much food it may burst. Howard’s poor chef had likely been stressed all day. “Let us feast.”
As everyone started to move, plates were passed around, potatoes and vegetables dispersed in between meat dishes. Ana had just passed Peggy her favourite goulash when a spoon dropped to the floor. As the Agent bent over to pick it up, Daniel instinctively leant over to cup the sharp corner of the table. As graceful as she was in the field and how conscious she was of her surroundings, Daniel had learnt in just a few short weeks how she could be a little more clumsy when her guard was down. An instance of her almost tripping over a corner table in his living room in just her slip came to mind. So he leant over to soften the corner just in case, moving away once she was up past the point of any accidental injury, taking a plate of green bean casserole that Jarvis passed him. Peggy didn’t even notice and Daniel didn’t think much about it. Until he caught sight of Jack and Ines looking at him a little slack-jawed, until Rose nudged Jack in the arm. Shrugging in Ines’ direction, he passed Jack the dish he had before answering a question from Ana.
They were most of the way through the meal when Peggy asked Bella what she thought of Howard’s lab.
“It’s very impressive, much better than we even have at school.” She took a sip of her wine.
“Well, that’s the benefit of money. I heard through the grape-vine NYU is struggling to get funds this year.” Bella hummed in agreement. The clanging of cutlery and occasional clink of glasses settled over them for a few minutes.
“Actually, I did learn something in the lab. Peggy, I saw a picture of you down there, I knew you served but I didn’t know you served with the Howling Commandos!”
Daniel stilled, as did most of the table. Jack had a forkful of potatoes half-way into his mouth, Rose dabbing her lips with her napkin. It wasn’t that they thought Peggy would react in a dramatic fashion, but her service was something that no-one really talked about. Her history was something whispered about in corridors rather than something she discussed a lot. His family knew she’d served, but Daniel had never revealed anything more than that.
“You served with the Howling Commandos?” David spluttered across from Daniel, and it took everything in him not to kick his brother in the shin.
Peggy cleared her throat, composing herself before opening her mouth.
“I did. I fought with the 107th, before transferring back to the New York Office after the war.”
“On the front line?” Esme queried, shocked on her face when Peggy nodded.
“I was recruited when I was a code-breaker at Bletchley into the S.O.E. who wanted to train women in the art of espionage. To be invisible. They never suspect a woman to be an infiltrator.”
“She is an incredible agent.” Howard boomed from the head of the table. “You should hear about the time…”
“Howard, I have no doubt whichever story you are about to tell is highly classified and not dinner table talk.” Peggy scolded him.
“So not even about the 100-one-armed push-ups?” Howard shot back, “You beat Dum-Dum and Pinkerton by miles that day. Even Barnes tapped out early.”
“Well they shouldn’t have challenged me that day.” She smirked at her old friend, who raised his glass in a half-toast to just her.
“You must have known the Captain then.” Frank Sousa’s comment hit his oldest son like a knife in the chest. He was sure his entire body had jolted.
Daniel was happy with Peggy, and she was happy with him, but the relationship was still new. They’d had a few discussions that first week about everything that plagued them both, but there was more to said. He thought he’d have more time, and not be confronted with one of his intrusive thoughts at dinner at Stark’s with his whole family. He was insecure and that made him feel weak. He knew how much Rogers meant to Peggy, having seen the look on her face when she’d showed them the remaining sample of his blood that she’d stolen. Staring down at his now empty dinner plate, he took a swig from his wine glass.
“I did, yes, I helped with the project that developed the super soldier technology. That’s how I met Howard as well. Captain Rogers was a good man. It was an honour to fight alongside him.” She could feel the tension flowing through Daniel on the right and reached out to take the hand that was flexing on his thigh underneath the table.
“Alongside? You taught him everything he knew, Peg, before you and Barnes, the man could barely throw a punch.” Howard had potentially had a bit too much whiskey at this point. Jarvis coughed to divert his boss’s attention.
“Anyways, I am grateful for what I learnt with the Captain and the Commandos. And grateful for everything that happened, that led me to right here. Right now. With all of you lovely lot.” Daniel squeezed her hand under the table, a small smile on his face as he tilted his head to look at her, finding her already smiling back at him.
“I can’t believe you mean all that about our Danny.” David said, to find himself being inconspicuously attacked by his mother and sister under the table. “Ow, what?”
“You’re not the only one who thinks that. At least you didn’t have to watch them pine over each other for months.” Jack murmured from the other end of the table, leaning back in his chair.
“WE DID NOT PINE.” Both shot down the table at him at the same time, they’d been receiving the same teasing ever since Jack had woken up from his surgeries to see Peggy asleep on Daniel’s shoulder, their hand clasped together.
“Sorry Chief, but you definitely were.” Daniel looked at Rose with betrayal on his face. “Those first few weeks? You’d ask every day if she’d called.” Peggy sniggered to his left, but Rose wasn’t going to let her get away with that. “You forget I have contacts in New York Peg, Eileen told me how you’d ask if he’d returned your calls every time you went into the office. I earnt money on both office betting pools.” A blush rose on her cheeks and Daniel covered his smile.
“Both as useless as each other it seems.” Peggy stated quietly before picking up her wine glass. In a motion of agreement, Daniel cheers his glass with hers, before they both drained what was left of their drinks. That was going to be needed.
By the late evening, the Sousas were all sitting around Howard’s poker table for their 5th or 6th round of Texas Hold’em with their new friends, Ana and Jarvis having excused themselves after refusing help with clean up.
“Ugh I fold.” David threw his cards onto the table, quickly followed by both Ines and Esme. Peggy raised the stakes, Daniel called and slowly one-by-one, everyone folded. There was a groan from Jack as he folded too after glancing between the pair of them with inquisitive consideration. The cards were dealt, and it was just the two of them.
He studied her for a moment, looking for her tell. She stared right back, no doubt looking for his. The tension grew as their audience looked on, the two of them unaware of everyone’s eyes glued to their interaction.
A smirk worked its way onto her face as she pushed all her chips into the middle of the table.
“All in Chief. What do you say?” The gleeful look on her face tempted him to fold right then, but that wasn’t the kind of girl Peggy Carter was. She didn’t need to be pandered to or given easy wins. She liked the challenge. So he pretended to debate for a second, taking a sip of his whiskey, fiddling with the edge of his cards, before shrugging and pushing his chips in to join hers. Peggy’s eyebrow shot up at his nonchalance.
“What’s up Carter? Scared of a little action?” He teased her, and he saw the flame he loved fire up in her eyes.
Rose scoffed before calling for their hands.
With her usual self-assuredness, Peggy flipped her hand to reveal three Queens. A gasp and sounds of shock went round the table, a slow clap from Howard.
“Nice one Peg.” Howard said, congratulations on the tip of his tongue.
“I wouldn’t count that as a win yet Mr Stark,” Daniel’s mother piped up from Peggy’s otherside, her steady gaze on her son. “Daniel’s got that glint in his eye. He may have the nuts yet.”
“Ma, can you quit telling people how to read me? I play poker with this lot every other week now.” The comment had the people around him chuckling.
“Well son?” His father prompted. Daniel took one more look at his hand.
“Sorry Peg.” He splayed the cards across the green felt. A Straight Flush laid out in front of him. A low whistle from David and Peggy’s jaw ticked at the defeat. As his siblings cheered for him, he had a small doubt in his mind that screamed that she was upset with him. But amidst the chaos of Howard arguing with Jack and David about something, Peggy turned her head to look at him, a wide grin on her face.
“Nicely done. You surprised me.” Peggy offered.
“Hmmm, good to know I still can.” Her hand landed on his knee, a motion just for the two of them.
After Daniel’s score, the conversation moved away from poker and soon enough the sun had set. A nod between Daniel and his father prompted the Sousa’s to start saying their goodbyes to everybody.
Thelma was laughing at something Jarvis said and Esme was making plans to go surfing with Rose as Peggy stood back watching the two groups interact. Daniel’s family was polar opposite from her own, the parents back in England with whom she barely spoke. A phone call twice a year, a letter at Christmas. Whereas she knew Daniel called his mother and father at least once a week when he had a chance, kept in touch with his siblings too.
She pondered the fact that she spent so much more time with her friends out here, knew more about them and they knew more about her than her family did. Sure, some of that was due to the nature of her job, but there was an understanding and comfort from being around the Jarvises, Howard, Rose and even Jack. She suddenly missed Angie, a pang in her gut as she wished she could be here. Hopefully she’d take a trip out here soon.
And then there was Daniel. They hadn’t been ‘together’ for long, but they’d worked side by side for a while. Their bond of being the two underdogs of the New York SSR offices overlooked by everyone, to gaining the respect of their peers (for the most part). The way he cared for her was something she never knew she'd been missing. It was the small things that got her. Tea brewing besides his coffee in the early mornings. The pastries she liked from the market in his cupboard. The record he knew she enjoyed on the player when she arrived.
“Whatcha thinking about Peg?” The man that plagued her thoughts appeared by her side, following her gaze to the gathering of people. “You’ve got your thinking face on.”
Peggy chuckled, resting her head on his shoulder. “I was thinking about family. Those we are given and those that we chose.”
“Both equally important.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead, as she fussed with the lapel of his jacket.
With goodbyes said and plans for the following week made, the Sousa’s began piling back into the two cars they had arrived in. The siblings all piled into Daniel’s car as he stalled for a moment at the top of the stairs. Peggy waved to them all before turning back to him.
“Well, I think that went well. Howard mostly behaved himself.” Peggy commented.
“It did. It was a lovely evening, my family love you.” Daniel replied, taking her hand in his.
“I love them. They’re rather wonderful Daniel, although I’m not surprised.” When he had a look of confusion, she continued. “Well, you’re rather wonderful darling, it only makes sense that you come from good people. It’s so clear to see the love you all share.”
“Yeah, I suppose it is.” As the blush rose in his cheeks, his gaze cast back down to the awaiting vehicles filled with his dearest family. “You’re pretty brilliant yourself Peg, to take all of this on with no warning. Despite your initial gut instinct this morning of leaping out the window to avoid them.”
She batted at his chest playfully in mock horror, but his arm looped around her waist pulling her into him. As he pressed a deep kiss to her lips she melted into him, losing herself in him just a little. The heat from his chest radiating through her palms, the squeeze of his hand on her hip. The soft lips and taste of the bourbon on them.
However their moment was broken once again, when the car horn sounded amongst a cacophony of whoops and cheers from the car on the drive below them. Peggy had leapt back but Daniel just dropped his head to her shoulder, groaning lowly.
“I may kill them, Peg.” She chuckled and threaded one hand through the hair at the nape of his neck.
“Please don’t, I’d hate to have to arrest you for murder.” Her deadpan comments were some of his favourites.
“Make us 1-1 though wouldn’t it.” The chuckle she released could be felt through her whole body.
“Not the point Chief.” His head came up and she pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Call me tomorrow?”
“Will do.” He righted himself with his crutch, finally letting go of her. “Have a good night, meu amor.” It was a term of endearment he’d yet to use with her. One his mother used to her children or their father. But she knew what it meant, knew what it meant to him and she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face as he headed down the mansion's steps and folded himself into the car, looking up at her once more before driving into the evening.