Saving Private Whitman
(AKA, Dick Whitman pays it forward)
Blurb: Lieutenant Donald F. Draper resolves to help young Dick Whitman have a better life. AU. Dick Whitman, Lt. Donald F. Draper, Anna Draper, Adam Whitman, Betty Hofstadt, Roger Sterling, Pete Campbell, Freddy Rumsen, Joan Holloway, Peggy Olson. *I OWN NOTHING. MATTHEW WEINER AND LIONSGATE OWN EVERYTHING.
Author's Notes: I apologize for the delay in posting this next chapter. Real life got in the way and I took some time off. Thank you those of you who have read and reviewed this story so far. I really appreciate the feedback. :)
Chapter 7
The morning after:
Dick woke up early the next morning with the intention of slipping out of Peggy's apartment without waking her roommate. Dick quietly got dressed and leaned over and gently kissed Peggy on the forehead, causing her to stir.
"Mmmm..." Peggy groaned, "What's going on? Dick? Are you leaving?"
"Shhh." Dick whispered. "Don't get up. I can show myself out. Go back to sleep sweetheart. I'll see you at the office on Monday. I love you."
Peggy quickly sat up, pulling the sheet up over her body and moving her hair out of her eyes. She smiled, "I love you too, Dick." Peggy said softly.
Dick gently cupped her cheek and kissed her softly on the lips. "Goodbye, Peggy. I had a wonderful time." Dick said softly with a smile.
Peggy yawned and laid back down in her bed. Dick covered her with the blankets and then kissed her lightly once more on the lips. Dick gathered his belongings and quietly left Peggy's bedroom and then her apartment.
For the remainder of the weekend, Peggy's encounter with Dick was never far from her mind. She found that she couldn't regret what they did despite what she had been taught through many years of Catholic school. This wasn't some brief office flirtation, she truly loved him with all of her heart. She hoped that when the time came to see him at work, that she would be able to maintain professional decorum in his presence. She knew that their working relationship would never be the same.
Dick found that he felt a nervous excitement when he arrived at work on Monday and he couldn't keep himself from smiling. Dick politely nodded and greeted everyone in his path on the way to his office. The secretarial pool couldn't help but notice how well Dick's happy mien became him.
Peggy admired his person as he strode through the office and she took note of the extra spring in his step that wasn't usually there. There eyes met when he reached Peggy's desk and Dick smiled warmly.
"Good morning Mr. Whitman." Peggy said brightly.
"Good morning, Peggy." Dick said cheerfully as he handed Peggy his hat and coat. "Did you have a good weekend?"
"Yes I did, thank you Mr. Whitman. How about yourself?" Peggy asked.
"I had a wonderful weekend, Peggy." Dick said sincerely, holding her gaze for longer than was proper in their current setting. Peggy blushed, but then she quickly recovered herself.
"Come into my office so we can discuss this week's schedule." Dick said, gesturing towards his office. Peggy entered and Dick followed closely behind and shut the door.
Once inside his office, Dick led Peggy to the area near his couch which was out of the view of the semi-translucent walls. He then took her in his arms and kissed her passionately.
"I'm sorry, I've been thinking about you all weekend. I missed you." Dick said sheepishly after he ended the kiss several minutes later. Peggy put her hand to her swollen lips but she couldn't help smiling.
"I missed you too, Dick." Peggy said honestly. "But are you sure it's a good idea for me to continue on as your secretary? It seems like you might be tempted to misbehave if I stay put. I could ask Joan to switch me to someone else."
Dick shook his head emphatically. "No, that won't be necessary. That was just a momentary lapse...I can control myself from now on." Dick smiled ruefully. "Anyway, I don't think I could stand it if you were someone else's secretary. I'll behave myself, I promise. How are you doing?"
Peggy chuckled. "Good. I feel like everybody knows about us though...like everybody is staring, watching to see how we're going to interact."
"That's all in your mind Peggy. Nobody knows."
Peggy felt some measure of relief, but she still felt a little uneasy.
"Now...we really should go over this week's schedule Ms Olson." Dick said, changing the subject.
"Yes Mr. Whitman." Peggy said dutifully while locking eyes with Dick who gave her a knowing smile.
After his initial lapse in propriety, Dick was able to keep his relationship with Peggy strictly professional while in the office. They would occasionally exchange meaningful glances while in the presence of the other executives, but it was never enough to draw anyone's notice. Behind the closed door of his office there was the occasional chaste kiss, and once in a while Dick's hand would "accidentally" brush up against Peggy's and then he would squeeze her hand as a result. But there was never any huge breech of propriety that could accidentally expose their relationship. The other executives did take notice of Dick's improved mood, but they never suspected that Peggy was the reason for it.
That weekend Dick took Peggy out for an actual date. They decided to stay in Brooklyn for the evening to ensure secrecy. They had an early dinner out and then went to the movies. Dick picked Peggy up at her apartment and was formally introduced to the roommate. They made love that night and once again Dick stayed overnight at Peggy's apartment. This time however, Peggy insisted that he stay and have breakfast with her before she went to Mass.
Things continued in a similar manner for several weeks. Dick invited Peggy to his apartment one evening and introduced her to his brother Adam. Adam took to her immediately and the two of them got along very well.
"You must be very special to him Peggy. I don't think Dick's ever brought another girl home to meet me." Adam said matter-of-factly.
Peggy had a difficult time detecting any familial resemblance between the two half brothers. While Dick had dark brown hair and a tan complexion, Adam had red hair and freckles. They both were however about the same height as they had the same green eyes.
Adam explained that he was working most nights as a janitor in the Empire State Building and he was going to school during the day.
"What are you studying?" Peggy asked.
"I'm learning to be an auto mechanic. I've always been good with my hands...Dick got all of the book smarts. But it's good money and hopefully once i'm done with school I can quit being a janitor and find a great job so I can try to pay Dick back for all he's done for me. I'm just so grateful that he's taken me in. I don't want to think about where I would be if he hadn't let me move in with him." Adam said with great feeling.
"He's a good man isn't he?" Peggy said as she looked lovingly at Dick as he prepared their dinner in the kitchen. As if sensing that he was the topic of conversation, Dick looked in their direction and smiled. He was happy to see that two of the most important people in his life were getting along so well.
"He's the best." Adam said emphatically.
Later that night in the privacy of his bedroom, Dick opened up more about his past, revealing that he and Adam had in fact been raised in a brothel. Peggy was horrified, but she realized how ashamed Dick must feel about his past. She admired him for having the resolve to overcome such seemingly insurmountable obstacles to make a better life for himself and Adam. She was honored that Dick trusted her enough to be completely honest with her about his past and she promised to keep his secret forever.
Due to Adam's busy schedule, he was hardly ever home when Dick was, thus Dick often had the apartment to himself all night. It eventually became quite commonplace for Dick and Peggy to stay at his apartment most nights of the week. They would stay at her own place on Saturday nights so that she could be seen at her church on Sunday and remain in her mother's good graces.
Eight Weeks Later
Things continued to go very well in Dick and Peggy's relationship. They spent practically every night together but they managed to keep their relationship a secret at the office.
One morning Peggy became ill and she stayed home from work. She continued to feel poorly for the next several days and she missed work for a week. Dick was concerned and insisted that she see a doctor to find out what was wrong. The doctor ran some tests and when he called with the results she was surprised to find out that she was pregnant.
Dick was overjoyed when she told him the news. "Peggy I know you are probably upset, but I couldn't be happier. I was planning on asking you this very soon anyway, but will you marry me?"
Peggy was relieved. "You want to marry me?"
Dick grinned. "I do, very much. I love you Peggy. This just feels right. All I've wanted for the longest time was to have a wife and a family...just to have the sort of stability in my life that I never had growing up. I'm now in the position financially to provide very well for a wife and however many kids that should happen to come along, I just hadn't met the right person yet. But you're the one Peggy. I'm thrilled with this news! I knew there was something special about you from the first moment we met. I want to marry you spend the rest of my life with you."
"My mother is going to kill me...and you too actually!" Peggy said dramatically. Dick grimaced.
"Did the doctor say how far along you are?" He asked.
"About nine weeks or so. Ugh, there's no way that this can explained without me looking like a strumpet."
Dick frowned. "I don't ever want to hear you use that word to describe yourself again. You did nothing wrong. You love me right?" Peggy nodded. "And this baby is a result of that. I don't care what those nuns and priests taught you. You are a good person Peggy and you are going to be a wonderful mother."
Peggy began to cry and Dick folded her into his arms. "Shhh, Peggy. Please don't cry. Everything will be fine. We can get married as soon as possible at City Hall, and tell people we eloped if you like. No one would be the wiser except for Adam and your roommate...and Freddy."
"Freddy? How does he know about us?" Peggy asked with alarm.
"Freddy is the one who encouraged me to forget my rules and ask you out. He saw me admiring your beautiful smile and told me I should just go for it. That was the best advice I have ever been given." Dick said with a warm smile. "But you never answered my question Peggy. Will you marry me?"
Peggy wiped away her tears and looked into Dick's eyes. "Are you sure this is what you want?" Peggy asked.
Dick nodded. "Absolutely. I love you Peggy. I knew I wanted to marry you after our first night together. We'll make it work...I want to raise a family with you."
Peggy gazed at the amazing man in front of her with happy tears glistening in her eyes. "Then yes Dick Whitman, I would be happy to marry you."
