Peggy heard the front door opening, signaling Jarvis's return with Angie and leapt off the couch to greet them.
"Angie! I'm so glad you made it."
"Hey English. Gosh this place is huge. Is Danny here?"
"Yeah, he's in the other room."
"So this mystery person is pretty important, huh?" Angie said. "Why do I get to meet him?"
"Because you are both very important to me and I want you to meet. And this way Daniel and I don't have to hide it from you."
"Shut up English, you talk too much," Angie smiled.
Behind them Daniel called out, "are you ladies coming?"
"Yes, we're coming," Peggy replied.
When they walked into the sitting room, Steve stood up to meet Angie.
"Oh my gosh, you're Captain America. You're huge!" Angie said, shocked.
Steve laughed, "I guess we can thank Dr. Erskine for that. It's nice to meet you, Angie."
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude, Angie said. It's great to meet you Cap. I've seen all of your films obviously and English has told me all about you, I just didn't expect you to be so tall. You're still tiny in the picture Peggy keeps of you."
Steve turned to Peggy, "you keep a picture of me from before the serum?"
"She does. It's on her bedside table," Angie responded for Peggy. "I'm just saying!" Angie said when she saw Peggy's expression before sitting down next to Daniel.
Steve and Peggy took their seats again when Howard spoke up, "speaking of pictures, my men found your compass in the wreckage, Steve." He pulled it out if his pocket and passed it over.
"Thank you Howard," Steve said. He opened it quickly to check that the picture was still inside. It was and still in perfect condition.
When Peggy saw him open the compass she smiled, remembering the first time she had seen it in one of his films. She could still see the expression on Colonel Philip's face when he saw it.
"What's in the compass?" Angie asked.
"A picture," Steve replied, tucking the compass into his pocket.
"You all are too much," Thompson said, setting down his coffee and standing up. "I'm going into the office, I'll see you later Chief."
After he left Angie turned her attention back to Peggy and Steve, "so are you two together?"
Peggy looked at Steve before responding, "yes we are, but we're keeping it quiet for now so the press doesn't find out."
"We can go on double dates," Angie exclaimed excited, grinning at Daniel
Steve laughed, "a double date with Angie Martinelli, sounds exciting."
"Never a dull moment with Angie," Daniel said, making Angie blush.
"That would be nice," Peggy said, taking Steve's hand in her own.
"How long have you been together?" Steve asked Angie and Daniel.
"A year," Daniel replied. "Our anniversary is this week. Peggy set us up actually."
Before anyone had a chance to respond, Howard strode back into the room. None of them had even noticed he had left. "I just got off the phone with Philips, he wants to hold a press conference on Thursday at 10am to announce Steve's return so that gives us five days to get prepared."
"Jack and I can put together a small team for security. We don't have to tell them what it's for," Daniel said.
"Sounds good," Howard replied.
"I should probably head to the office now," Daniel said as he stood up.
"I'll come with you, Daniel," Peggy said.
"There's no need, Peg. Take a sick day if you want."
Peggy glanced at Steve, it was clear she wanted to stay. "I really shouldn't, I'm sure Thompson will stir up some for if I don't show."
"I'll talk to Thompson," Daniel said. "Stay here and catch up with Steve."
"If you say so," Peggy replied, snuggling back onto the couch with Steve.
"I'll come with you, Danny," Angie said. "I have to get ready for the show in a couple hours."
"Are you an actress, Angie?" Steve asked.
"This is my first show," Angie responded happily.
"Congratulations!"
"Thanks Cap."
"I'll see you later, Angie," Peggy called out as her best friend left. "Good luck tonight!"
"See ya English," Angie shouted back.
When Angie and Daniel had gone, Howard asked Jarvis for some assistance in his lab, leaving Peggy and Steve alone.
"So, what should we do today?" Steve asked as soon as they were alone.
"I don't know. I was thinking we should catch you up on everything that's happened while you were gone, but we have time for that."
"What about you Peggy? What's happened with you?"
Peggy was silent for a moment before she responded, "I kept busy."
Steve could see that the past two years had been hard on her and decided not to ask for details. Instead he just pulled her closer as they sat in silence enjoying each others company.
The next few days passed quickly. Peggy spent her time telling Steve the events of the past two years and Angie insisted on showing him as many of the new films he had missed as possible. Preparations for the press conference were going well and Wednesday was soon upon them.
During their final meeting, Daniel was particularly nervous and seemed to have other things on his mind as they went over the plans one last time. They all knew he was going out to dinner with Angie to celebrate their one year anniversary, but Peggy had never seen him this nervous. When the meeting was over he was the first one to leave, saying he had to get ready.
Peggy and Steve took a short walk in the garden before they met Jarvis at the car so he could take Peggy home. Jarvis waited patiently in the car while they said goodnight to each other.
"I'll see you tomorrow Steve."
"Goodnight Peggy," he said, giving her a kiss.
The next morning, Peggy put on her blue suit and her usual red lipstick. They had contemplated wearing military uniforms but decided it would be best not to make it a big deal. Jarvis came by to pick her up and as she got in, she was greeted by Howard and Steve, who were both dressed in suits. Peggy had never seen Steve in anything besides his military uniform or Captain America uniform and thought he looks quite handsome.
When they reached the location for the press conference, Thompson and Sousa were already waiting. They quickly rushed Steve inside before anyone could see him while Peggy went to find Angie who had run into a nearby coffee shop to get some breakfast.
"English, so glad to see you," Angie said cheerfully as she handed Peggy a paper bag which presumably held her breakfast.
"Angie is that a-"
"What? What's wrong?" Angie asked, feigning confusion.
"On your finger, did Daniel propose last night?"
"Yes he did!" Angie squealed, no longer able to contain her excitement.
"Congratulations darling," Peggy said giving her best friend a hug.
"You'll be my maid of honour, won't you English?"
"If that's what you want, I would be honoured," Peggy said as they went to meet up with the rest of the group.
When they found them, Angie crept up behind Daniel, surprising him with a big hug.
"Hey Ange," Daniel laughed.
"Congratulations Daniel," Peggy said, giving him a quick hug.
"Thanks Peg."
"What are we congratulating him for?" Howard asked.
"He and Angie just got engaged," Peggy said, causing them both to blush as everyone congratulated them.
"3 minutes people", Colonel Philips called out to them. "And remember, not a word about Carter and Rogers's relationship."
Jarvis quickly busied himself checking to make sure everyone looked decent and straightening Howard's jacket.
"How do I look Pegs?" Howard asked.
"Hm, it'll do," she teased after giving him a quick once over.
"You nervous Cap?" Angie asked.
"A little," he replied.
"Don't be," Peggy said, holding his hand.
"The press is waiting for you," Philips called.
"We're coming," Daniel called.
Peggy stood on her toes to give Steve a quick kiss on the cheek. "For luck," she said before following Howard out to the flashing cameras. She took her place between between Daniel and Philips as Howard approached the microphone and began his speech.
"I'm sure you're all wondering why I called this conference today so I'll just cut to the chase," he began. "As I am sure you all remember, two years ago we lost our very own Captain America when his plane crashed into the Arctic. And while his bravery did win us the war, we lost a great man. Since then, we have had teams scouring the ice, searching for his plane, but to no avail. Until just a few days ago when one of my teams found the wreck. We searched the plane and pulled Steve out of the ice. But little did we know that the serum had kept him alive after all this time. And so, ladies and gentlemen, I am very pleased to give to you Steve Rogers."
Everyone was silent as Steve walked out. No one was expecting this. Then all of a sudden everyone was shouting for Steve's attention.
"What's it like to be back?"
"What do you plan to do now?"
"What happened on the plane?"
"Look this way!"
Peggy could see how uncomfortable Steve was with all the attention, however she wasn't the only one. Howard did his best to quiet the cameras.
Steve answered a few questions and stood for more pictures with Howard before Colonel Philips decided to end the conference.
"The press is going to have a ball with this," Howard said on the ride home. He was taking Steve and Peggy out to lunch while Thompson and Sousa went to work and Angie prepared for her show.
"Just wait until they find out I have a girlfriend," Steve laughed. "If I can call you that," he stammered, turning a brilliant shade of red. He and Peggy had never really talked about their relationship like that and he was unsure what to call her.
Peggy squeezed his hand, "yes you can call me your girlfriend," she said.
"I hope Philips lets you announce it soon," Howard said. "He's being ridiculous, making you keep it a secret."
"It's not that bad, it's nice having a bit of privacy," Steve said.
"And besides, we kept it a secret during the war, it shouldn't be too hard to do now," Peggy added.
Howard looked at them in shock, "you were together? Like together together?"
"I guess you could say that. We figured we'd wait to tell anyone and after Steve crashed the plane I didn't feel like talking about it."
"You surprise me Peggy. I thought I knew you, but you still surprise me." Howard sighed.
Steve smiled, "she's full of surprises, isn't she?" And all Howard could do was nod in agreement as Peggy turned her head to hide her reddening cheeks.