"Thank you guys for helping me with this. I really appreciate it." Daniel said as he finished putting up the streamers.
Today was Peggy's 28th birthday and party. They were throwing it in Howard's back yard for lack of a better, comfortable place. It was a small party with just the Jarvis's, Howard Stark, Rose, Daniel and a special, surprise guest.
"Oh, it's no trouble," replied a very excited Ana. "Peggy is a good friend."
"Yeah," Daniel muttered to himself. It was almost 2 and that's when Daniel told her to come home from work. Later, he'd take her out for dinner.
"It's 5 til 2," Jarvis informed. "Darling, is the cake ready?"
Anna scoffed at the silly question. "Of course, dear. And so are all of the refreshments."
"She just pulled up," Howard called from the foyer.
"Where's-"
"She's coming. Hide!" Howard whisper-yelled-interrupted.
Jarvis pulled closed the curtains and Daniel reached over and turned the kitchen and dining room lights off.
Everyone heard the sound of the front door opening and heels entering the house. They stayed quiet as Peggy set her keys on the kitchen counter. The very second the lights flickered on, everyone screamed, "Surprise!" Howard being the loudest. And Jarvis opened up the curtains.
"Bloody H," Peggy shrieked. Everyone shared a laugh. "What's all this then?"
"Did you forget what day it is?" Howard asked incredulously.
"Happy Birthday, Peggy," Daniel said walking to give her a hug.
Peggy returned Daniel's hug. Calming her heart beat, she asked the small crowd, "How many times have I told you, I'm not one for surprises?"
"Aw, Peg," Howard said waving hand of dismissal. "Sometimes your no fun."
Everyone chuckled and the Jarvis's wished her a happy birthday. They all started heading to the back yard when a knock at the door made them stop in their tracks. Sousa and Jarvis exchanged a knowing glance. "I'll see who that is," Mr Jarvis said heading for the door.
A young, fair skinned young woman stood at the door, with a suitcase in one hand and a pocketbook in the other waited to come inside. "Miss Martinelli," Jarvis said as he offered to take her bags.
"Oh," She said. She recognized the man but didn't know his name. "Thank you..." She smiled as he took her bags and awaited to hear his name.
"Edwin Jarvis, at your service," He replied.
"Hello, Mr Jarvis. And please," She says whilst Mr Jarvis lead her to the party. "Call me Angie."
"Well, Angie, I'll set your things in your room and show you to the party."
Angie smiled as she watched him head to a door at the very end of the hall. She made note that that was hers.
"Right this way."
In the back yard, Peggy sat, talking to Ana while Daniel and Howard talked about... Well, something. Whatever it was, Daniel looked uncomfortable.
Angie and Jarvis walked up behind Peggy. "Miss Carter," Jarvis said. "You have a visitor."
The agent paused hey conversation with Mrs Jarvis and turned around. "Angie," She exclaimed in surprise.
"English," Angie said with just as much enthusiasm. They embraced each other in a friendly hug.
"What are you doing here?" Peggy asked with a smile on her pasty skin.
"Well, it's your birthday, of course," Angie beamed. "And I got a job offer."
Angie pointed to Howard.
"Stark Productions?" Peggy asked knowingly. Angie nodded, being her usual excited self. "Congratulations."
"Thank you. And Happy Birthday to you."
Peggy laughed. "Thank you."
"Let's eat!" Howard called. "Well... Let's snack!"
~•~
A
fter the excitement died down, everyone went about their normal business. After Angie settled down, Howard took her to show her what she was to be doing. But, not before he had a talk with Peggy. "Don't do anything like... Well Stark like. Stay away." She said sternly.
She didn't know where the Jarvis's were. Daniel was talking to her right now. "Get dressed up," He says.
"Why?" She asked raising a quizzical brow.
"There's one more surprise."
"Oh," She said taking the last drink of her lemonade. "And what's that?"
Daniel chuckled, "Nice try. If I told you it wouldn't be a surprise, now, would it?"
"Well, where are we going?"
"Ah-ah," Daniel getting off the couch. "I'm going to get myself ready. I'm going to come back and pick you up in 30 minutes."
They shared a chaste kiss before Daniel disappeared. Peggy sighed in contentment before jumping up to 'get dressed up'.
...
And exactly 30 minutes later, Daniel was back at the door almost dying to see his girl.
"You look... lovely," Daniel complemented. "Beautiful."
"Thank you Daniel," Peggy said as she followed him out to his car. "You don't look too bad yourself."
Daniel scoffed, "Yeah, I know."
They both laughed as they got in the car.
...
"How was it?" Daniel smirked as she finished her last bite of chicken parmesan.
"Delicious," She said as she finished chewing. "Thank you for taking me out. You didn't have to."
"Yeah, I know. And you had to order the lost expensive meal on the menu." Daniel laughed as he saw Peggy's offended glance. "Nah, it's all good. There's one more thing I have up my sleeve.
Peggy smiled at the way Daniel looked at her with adoration. He set the money on the table and took Peggy's hand. As they walked out the back door of the restaurant Peggy had managed to completely missed the fact that the restaurant was on the beach.
They walked out into the sand. The tickling, wet substance spilled over her sandals as they walked along the ocean. The sun was setting, putting of oranges, pinks and purples. "It's beautiful," Peggy said as they stopped walking.
"Well, Margaret Carter," Her first name was rarely used, so when it slipped of of Daniel's tongue, it caught her attention, immediately.
"Hmm?" The brunette Brit inquired.
"I've known you for... 4 years? And the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew, who I could easily spend my future with. And for the past year that feeling only grew," Peggy watched his every movement. The way his eyes flickered from each of her chocolate eyes to the way he moved his lips with every word. "So, my question to, Margaret Elizabeth Carter," As Daniel got down on his knee with practiced ease, Peggy gasped, covering her mouth. "Will you marry me?"
Daniel watched as happy tears -he hoped- rolled down her flawless face. "Yes," She almost choked on the word but glad it came out clearly. "Yes, Yes, yes."
Instead of making Daniel stand up Peggy knelt in front of him and kissed him passionately. They both laughed as their knees were damp with sand.
Form here on, it could be happily ever after. But neither of them counted on it.
~•тнє єи∂•~
