Ted agreed on the vote to join McCann. A five year contract, he said would be the rest of his life. But when Don spoke about being creative again and needing this job, all Ted could think of was Peggy.

"I'd move back to the city?" Ted asked in the meeting. No more three thousand miles separation. If he was back in the office in New York he would see her, run into her making coffee, and see her in meetings. Even if they weren't speaking or friends again anytime soon, she would be right there.

Without talking to Nan, Ted again made a decision. Moving to Los Angeles was a mistake, he thought he was saving his family but they were already broken, moving only made things worse. In New York, Ted had Peggy and work. In Los Angeles it was family and work, and he soon realized why he loved working so much, why he always wanted to stay late and come in early, it wasn't work at all, it was Peggy. And it was when he was working with Peggy that he felt alive. Why did he think Los Angeles would offer a fresh start? After months of living in Los Angeles, Ted stayed late in the office just to avoid being home. He loved his kids but no longer felt anything for Nan, only guilt and anger and guilt again for being angry with her. She wasn't Peggy and that wasn't her fault.

When Ted got the call about Burt Cooper's passing he was too eager to fly to New York. Nan and the kids stayed behind. Ted had been sloppy in the office for weeks, shaving one day but not the next, drinking screwdrivers all day long while propping up his feet and watching soap operas. He no longer cared about work at all; the plane ride with Sunkist execs was no joke. But when Ted learned of Cooper's passing and flew to New York for the funeral, he thought of Peggy. So he shaved and wore his lucky suit –the same brown suit he wore when he won Chevy. He flew in for support, for the agency, for the partners, but truthfully it was all for Peggy. He didn't know he'd end up in a partners meeting deciding his future for the next five years…

Roger made the announcement as secretaries and copywriters all gathered. He made a nice speech about Cooper and then announced the sale to McCann and Ted coming back. Ted stood there, standing next to Jim but his eyes scanned the room and found Peggy. She was wearing a white dress with orange stripes and buttons, and as Roger talked, Ted tried to place the dress as he remembered her wearing it before. He always noticed her clothing, and many times in his office in L.A. he tried to imagine what outfit she'd be wearing at that moment in the New York office. He hadn't even seen Peggy since that awkward encounter in the kitchen when she walked in on him making toast, after that he avoided New York at all cost, thinking it was best for the both of them. He had heard her voice weeks ago on speakerphone, her lovely voice, Ted thought. And now she was there in the same room with him, all these people gathered around and all Ted could think of was her. Frank's passing…It hit him- that's the dress Peggy wore when he found out Frank had died. She consoled him in his office, placing her hand on his arm, and Ted remembered how at the time he felt guilty for enjoying her touch so much at such at an unfortunate moment.

It was then Ted noticed that he had been looking down at the floor and Roger was no longer talking, and most people had scattered and left the room, but Peggy was still there talking to Stan.

Stan asked Peggy, "So where's Don?"

"Working."

Stan furrowed his brow and smirked at Peggy, she just smiled and nodded.

Stan saw Ted across the room standing perfectly still; he nudged at Peggy and nodded in his direction. Peggy replied his look with one of her own, shaking her head and the echo of a memory rang in her head I'm fine, it's fine. She wasn't and from the look of him, neither was Ted. She wondered if she should approach him, after all this time now he was here, and moving back and what did that mean? Had things changed? Peggy had been excited once before and then he ran away, but now he was here. She heard about the plane and Sunkist. Pete was telling her how miserable Ted was, but she thought it was just Pete being nice and telling her what she wanted to here.

Ted looked at Peggy and Peggy looked at Ted from across the room, but neither of them moved. And then Ted felt something he hadn't felt in a while, a smile widen on his face. It was a physical reaction, she had always made him smile and she didn't have to do or say anything, it was just her. Stan walked off in the direction of his office, he didn't need to be there for this, he thought.

Now it was just Ted and Peggy standing there, Peggy saw his face turn from despair to a smile and she felt a rush within her and her heart flutter but she thought better of it. Before Ted could muster up the courage to walk over to her, she turned on her heels and headed for her office. All these thoughts flooded her at once; how dare he! he thinks a smile is all it takes? He can just decide to move here – there he goes making decisions again. I can't—

Peggy had already reached her office, made a quick drink and was sipping it while leaning on her desk when she was interrupted with her thoughts when Ted appeared at her door. Everyone else in the office had gone home early, but when Ted saw her turn away from him he instinctually raced after her.

"I'm sorry…" He started.

"Sorry?"

"Yes, I didn't know about the McCann sale until just now in that meeting and I didn't have time to ask you what you thought about me moving back here. I don't want it to be like this, Peggy. I want to be here and I want to be with you."

And there it was - nothing from him in months and now this. The flowers on Valentine's Day, that wasn't from him after all, but even as upset she was the thought of it slightly warmed her heart. She had hoped for letters, even late night phone calls where Ted would call from California just to hear her voice answer "hello" and hang-up. But none of that happened. Peggy wanted him but more than that, she wanted to be with him, to be his wife but couldn't see that happening now.

She clutched her drink and took another sip, "Ted, you say one thing but do another. You say you love me and then you run away – why are you doing this?"

He rushed to her and held her hand, but she flinched and moved it away from him. Ted signed and sat on her couch, rubbing his temples unsure what to say next.

"I'm sure you heard about Sunkist and the plane…" Ted started. "I'm not just unhappy, I'm miserable. I thought leaving was noble, that things would change but who you are, your life, your memories and desires, they follow you…"

Peggy understood him; she walked over and sat on the other end of the couch. "Ted…" Peggy paused, looking down at her own drink and thought of Ted in his office drinking all day, angry and bitter, and saw herself slowly self-destructing as well.

"Nan knows…"

Peggy shot right up, and Ted grabbed hold of her arm to sit back down.

"She doesn't know that, but she knows about me. It was foolish to think things were going to be different."

Peggy nodded.

Ted turned to her and grabbed her hand again, this time she let him. He looked her in the eyes and said "I am leaving my wife, Peggy"

Peggy shook her head, a tear rolled down her cheek.

"You've said that before and look what happened."

"In that meeting, I said yes to the contract because of you. Because it would mean living in New York and all I could think is maybe I will see you again at meetings, but I don't want to see you just for a second in the hallway or passing by in the kitchen. I want to see you every day, every night, I want to wake up next to you and kiss you good morning. I love you – I've always loved you."

Now tears flooded Ted's eyes as he raised Peggy's hand to his lips and kissed her gently.

"Ted, I don't know…" She trailed off. She stood up with Ted still holding her hand. "I need time and you…"

"It will happen, Peggy. I will give Nan all the money she wants and I can make arrangements to see the kids on weekends and holidays. I'm sure they would all be better off without miserable Ted around them – and without you in my life, that's all I am."

Peggy flinched whenever he said her name, "Nan" but Peggy thought better of it. That was his wife, they loved each other once, and maybe she still loved Ted. But Nan was no evil wife, she was kind and nice. And if Ted was miserable, and if Ted loved Peggy, Nan also deserved happiness and a love that was reciprocated.

"I wouldn't want them to hate me – your boys". She wiped away a tear off his cheek.

"They will adore you, like I do."

Peggy flashed a smile, and Ted stood up and wrapped his arms around her and held her. He wanted to kiss her but didn't want to push things. Peggy wrapped her arms around him in the embrace and thought he felt frail, when she always remembered him to be so strong. Maybe Los Angeles had changed him, or being away from her had – she never thought anyone would love her like this.

Peggy let out a laugh, "maybe we could take them to Burger Chef."

They pulled away from each others' embrace and Ted chuckled, "They'd like that."