The air was thick and humid. Typical of a sweltering Summer's night in New York city. The sound of sirens and the raucous hustle bustle of night time endeavors ring through the air. The city that never sleeps. Especially not with the big news that day. It seemed the night was electric now. Helicopters hovered over the city all through the day, like perilous vultures waiting for first glimpse of their prey. Searchlights beaming down. Out on the back deck of a Brooklyn townhouse sat a lone man, gathering his thoughts, the distant hum of city life lost on him. His eyes were cast downwards, swirling a glass of scotch not even paying attention to the bugs dancing around in the bright glow of the porch light above him. Normally on nights like this, when he could leave the stressful office work behind, he would have the wireless on while he lounged back in the chair but that night he felt no joy in listening to sweet floating melody of symphonic jazz. He lifted the glass to his lips and took a slow swig. The sharp taste tingled on his tongue. He held it in his mouth for a second, closed his eyes and swallowed before bowing his head down again. It's been a long day. The gold band on his wedding finger made an echoing clink against the glass. It caught his eye and he stared down at the shiny ring twinkling in the light. A symbol that he paid little or no attention to before but now, well now it meant everything. His world had been shaken this evening when he took that phone call. He closed his eyes once more as he clenched the glass harder to feel the tension of the band against his skin
"Daniel?" a soft voice cut through the air. His heart sank. A voice that would be his saving grace on any other night. He couldn't bring himself to look at her, instead turned his face to the side, his eyes focused on the dark perimeter of the yard. His stomach lurched as he brought himself to speak. "So they found him huh?" he says with no enthusiasm, but trying to sound like the news hadn't affected him. His eyes collectively fell back to the crystal glass clenched in his hand. "Yes" she sighed and slowly moved towards him. Her heels clipping the wooden deck. Each step banging like a drum on his heart. She came to stand beside him, her navy coat hanging from her clasped hands. "Did you see him?" He pursed his lips bracing himself for her reply. "Briefly. He is still adjusting as you can imagine. It can't be easy waking up from a five-year frozen coma" she chuckled softly. He tried his best to give a smile but inside his heart clenched tighter. "It must have been nice to see him again...after all this time" and that's when he felt his heart begin to tear. He finally had his happily ever after and now it was all hanging in the air. "It was. It's a little hard to believe actually" she smiled down at her fumbling hands. And he couldn't even fake a smile. He was just waiting for the crashing blow. "How was work?" she sighs placing her coat and hand bag down beside her. "Oh, you know…same old boring" he musters up enough breath to answer. "Any lead on the Vikander case?" she asked looking at him cautiously. She could tell he was tense. There was an undeniable divide between them. "Daniel? Is everything alright?" She frowned as she placed her hand on his shoulder to give a gentle squeeze. His eyes closed at her touch and he inhaled sharply. "I don't know…. You tell me" he replied softly and turned to look up to her. "Whatever do you mean?" She laughed confused. "Your old boyfriend wakes up from the freezer and well…. I know how close you two were…." he turned away again, taking the final swig from his glass.
"Daniel?" Peggy starts as she sat herself down in the chair beside him. "Are you insinuating that I am still in love with Steve?" she frowned staring at him. "Peg, can you blame me? It's not like you guys broke up. And now he's….and you're… How can I compete with Captain America for Christ's sake" he sighed frustrated, throwing his free hand in the air and slumping it back down on the arm rest. "Why on Earth would you compete with him?" She laughed exasperated. But Daniel doesn't look at her and she sensed his turmoil. He needed reassurance. "Steve was….my first love, yes. And losing him crushed me, I won't deny that" she said matter of fact in her stern London accent, watching as Daniel's jaw tensed. "He may have been my first love" she softly repeated, reaching out with her left hand, she squeezed his. "But he is not my last love" Her diamond engagement ring and wedding band twinkled in the light. His eyes glanced down at her hand on his and he gently squeezed her hand back.
Looking up his eyes catch hers for the first time and the love he had for her flooded his heart. She was his everything. Peggy smiled at him with that dazzling, toothy grin of hers and he couldn't help but return one of his own. She stood up and moved to sit down onto his lap. Her arms wrapped around his neck while his hand slid around to rest on her hip. "You are a Ninny sometimes do you know that?" she chuckled as she leaned in to plant a soft kiss on his lips. "Oh, I am reminded often!" he laughed as he kissed her again. He broke away from their feather light kisses and looked at his beautiful wife, gently pushing a stray hair from her face. "I love you Peg" he utters in an almost whisper, like a secret for just the two of them. She smiled at him, placing one of her hands on his cheek. "I love you more Daniel" and leaned in for another kiss. This time it is more heated. When they finally broke away they were both breathless. "I think we should go inside" Daniel whispers leaning his forehead against hers. "Why is that Mr Sousa?" she coos biting her lip, knowing full well what her husband was alluding to. "Well I don't want the neighbours to see Mrs Sousa in the throes of passion" he cheekily winked smacking her bottom as she feigned shock. "Daniel Sousa!" She opened her mouth wide with mock astonishment. "Come on" he heartily laughed landing a rough kiss on her lips. She hopped off his lap and extended her hand to pull him upwards. He grabbed her waist and pulled her in to him again and kissed her once more. "Daniel!" Peggy laughed as she broke away from his amorous display of affection. "What has gotten into you this evening? You are like a tom cat" she tilted back her head as he nuzzled her neck, nibbling at her delicate skin. "You do it to me honey" he coos. Their lips met again as he began to walk her backwards towards the doorway..