With a newfound purpose Peggy walked into the bullpen of the SSR. She was wearing her deep purple dress she knew Daniel liked and carried herself with confidence. Peggy was no fool, she saw the way men looked at her. More importantly she saw the way Daniel looked at her. She saw the way his face dropped when she asked to postpone the drink he had so bravely requested.
Peggy Carter was no fool.
She stopped before Daniel's desk. He was buried in a file, his mind distant and eyes glazed over. She admired him for a moment. In her time at the SSR Peggy could count on one hand how many people she could trust. How many people she would take out to lunch or see a film with. Not counting Nancy who greets her every morning, there was only one other person. Daniel.
Daniel who had stuck up for her even when she told him not to.
Daniel who had taken her down with such dedication it was hard not to admire him.
She pursed her lips and felt the butterflies filling her stomach.
"Agent Sousa" she began, standing up straighter to appear more confident. Peggy was far from confident in that moment. In fact she felt more confident about going up against a dozen armed men with nothing more than a letter opener in her hand. Daniel didn't look up from the file, totally engrossed on the words in-front of him. "Daniel."
"Mhmmm?" He mumbled his reply nonchalantly, still not looking up.
Peggy felt the room go quiet and eyes turn towards her. Time slowed and the air filled with tension and uncertainty.
"Daniel I have a question to ask you."
"Peggy!" He dropped the file on his desk and quickly stood up "I'm sorry I didn't realise that you were there, I was lost in my own world."
"Yes, I could see that" she said, a small smile gracing her lips. "I was wondering when you would be getting off for lunch?"
Daniel looked at his watch and sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly "at one o'clock."
"I was wondering" Peggy stepped forward and dropped her hands by her side. This was it. The moment of truth. "I was wondering if you would like to go for lunch with me."
Daniel smiled and staggered forward slightly towards her. He gripped onto the table for balance for a moment, before standing tall in-front of her. "Yes, that would be lovely."
"Ok, well, there's a nice little place not far from here which has a delicious pie" she said, trying not to let the relief show on her face. She took a notepad from his desk and scrawled the address onto the top page "I'll meet you there at say, 1.30?"
"I'll try not to be late" Daniel replied, his warm grin not wavering.
Peggy returned his smile before turning on her heel.
"You better not be" she threw over her shoulder with a smirk, before walking away – once again oozing confidence and strength which was enough to make any man (or woman) weak at the knees.
"He's coming here!" Angie whispered drastically loud, leaning across the bench with her hands next to Peggy's "your Secret Agent Man is coming here?"
"Yes!" Peggy hissed, raising her eyebrows and smiling at her friend.
"And you asked him here?" Angie asked for what had to be the tenth time.
"It was the first place I thought of" Peggy replied "I….I panicked."
"Well darling you better get that look of horror off your face" Angie said, looking beyond Peggy and outside the door "because your man is about to walk in."
Peggy turned on her seat and saw Daniel entering through the glass door. Days ago she had beaten up three men not far from where she was sitting. And now she was here about to have a lunch date with a respectable man. Daniel looked up and the two locked eyes. He smiled at her and made his way over to her. Peggy stood from her seat and nervously smoothed down her dress.
"I was unsure where you would want to sit – what would be best" she gestured around them "table? Or booth?"
"I think a booth" he replied, placing a hand on the small of her back and gently guiding her to the booth she sat in most mornings.
Electricity shot through Peggy's back, igniting a flame of desire she thought had been put out long ago. The two sat down as Angie walked over to them.
"What can I get you two lovebirds?" She asked, grinning mischievously with her pen poised above her notepad.
Daniel chuckled and raised his hand in question "give me whatever's good."
"Two BLTs and one of those big bagels as well" Peggy ordered, looking up at Angie before turning back to Daniel "the BLT here is delicious."
"I'll take your word for it".
"Coming right up" Angie said with a wink before walking back to the kitchen.
Peggy leaned forward slightly towards Daniel "I'm sorry about her" she said "she's my bestfriend."
"Oh I recognise her" Daniel said, nodding "brilliant actress."
"Yes, she's trying for Broadway."
"She had your back" Daniel paused and the smile on his face dropped "and I didn't."
"Daniel, we've already spoken of this" Peggy said, placing a hand on his "I would've done exactly the same thing. All leads pointed towards me, I expected nothing less."
Daniel turned his hand over and threaded his fingers through hers. A pulse shot through his arm and cause a light blush to creep into his cheeks. "I hope one day I can make it up to you."
"Well" Peggy grinned and gave his hand a squeeze "you weren't late today so that's a good start."
"I promise not to be late to future dates."
"Oh" Peggy feigned shock, redness now spreading through her cheeks "you don't suppose you are getting ahead of yourself Daniel? You might find after lunch today that I am not the woman you would want to take out again."
"Peggy" Daniel shook his head and dropped it, looking down at their hands "I would be honoured to take you out until you get tired of me. You are a remarkable woman, and that will never change. I saw you" his gaze lifted and met with hers "I saw you, and I will continue to see you as a woman of many skills and talents."
"We are not so dissimilar you and I" Peggy said "I also saw potential in you that was not allowed to be expressed. We work in a tough place Daniel, but we're strong people. You are a strong person –and I believe I would quite like to continue getting to know you more personally."
They parted hands when Angie returned with their food, giving Peggy a discrete thumbs up and smile before serving another patron.
Daniel flapped a napkin onto his lap before taking a bite of his BLT.
"I was right, wasn't I?" Peggy asked as Daniel's eyes closed in appreciation.
"I think we should come here again" he said in reply.
If someone had told Peggy a week ago that she would be sitting in her regular booth across from Daniel, she would've laughed and mumbled about ridiculousness. In this moment however, she felt as though everything had finally fallen into place.
Peggy took a steadying breath and avoided eye contact with Daniel while eating. He made her feel ignited and passionate, a feeling she had missed.
Perhaps it was time to let go after all?
A/N
I am heartbroken over the finale…just leave me to cry over in the corner please.