Chapter 14.

Two weeks flew by in a flurry of snowman building, hide-and-go-seek playing, tickle-fests, and afternoon naps. At least a half dozen books were read multiple times, and countless hours of radio-listening took place. But it wasn't all fun and games, Natasha turned out to not only be a good helper in the kitchen, but a good helper when it came to cleaning the house. Often times she could be seen as Helen's second shadow as she went about dusting or sweeping.

Little Natasha was also taken to nearby relatives where she was cooed and coddled over. Each member of the Carter clan took to the redhead, and were more than happy to take up their part in making sure that no one ever found out about her true origins.

It was in this matter that time passed quickly and eventfully, making it seem as if no time at all had passed before Natasha and Peggy's traveling companions arrived to retrieve them.

'Uncle James! Uncle Howard!' the redhead said as she scrambled down the stairs with all the enthusiasm of a puppy greeting its master after a long absence. Her face was lit up in unmitigated joy as she lept into James's open arms, hugging him tightly, and peppering his face with kisses.

'Hey, don't I get kisses?' Howard asked.

Natasha's answer was to leap into his waiting arms, and repeat her greeting to the millionaire.

'Did you guys have a good time? Did you get all your work done? Did you buy me a present?'

'Natasha!' a voice from above admonished.

The two men and child looked up the staircase to Peggy, who was making her way down in a less frenetic manner than her daughter.

'Aw don't be too hard on the kid,' Howlett drawled. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small teddy bear which Natasha happily received, and pulled into hug. 'At least she's easy to buy for.'

Peggy's smile was tinged with sadness. The Sargent was right, any little gift was received with the same amount of gratitude that one would get for a diamond ring, or mink coat.

'Yeah, besides she's just acting like a typical female,' Howard piped in.

The brunette rolled her eyes. Once she reached the bottom of the stairs she greeted James with a kiss on the cheek, and a warm hug.

'No wonder you're always single with an attitude like that.'

'You say that like it's a bad thing,' Howard said. 'And what? No hugs and kisses? I thought we were pals? What's he got that I don't?'

'We don't have enough time for me to make that list.'

'I walked into that one, didn't I?' Howard asked rhetorically. 'But at least someone around here likes me.'

'Mommy likes you, she just thinks you're a womanizing jerk who drinks too much.'

Peggy and James laughed while Howard face took on a mock hurt look.

'Thanks, kid,' he deadpanned. 'You really know how to make a guy feel good.'

'Your welcome, uncle Howard,' Natasha said in her most sincerest voice which won her even more laughter from the other adults.

'Come along,' Peggy said, a grin spread across her face. 'I'm certain my mother's wondering what's taking so long.'

The brunette led the two men and Natasha into the kitchen where they were warmly greeted by Peggy's parents. All six then took seats around the table where the redhead switched from Howard to her grandfather's lap. Tea was served as well as small talk about the weather, holiday plans and the flight over. Natasha then took over, regaling her uncles on everything she did, and everyone she met.

'So, how were your meetings?' Peggy asked. The look she gave the millionaire dared him to try to evade answering.

Howard and James shared a look before the Canadian shrugged his shoulders half in defeat and half in acquiescence.

'You might as well tell her what's going on Stark. She's gonna figure it out sooner or later.'

Howard gave a small sigh in defeat. 'I was going to wait until we were back in the states and then announce it to everyone at the same time. But, maybe it would be for the best if I told you what's going to be happening in the future. Especially since you're going to be having such a large role in it, that is if you're interested.'

Peggy's face took on a confused look with her parents mirroring her expression. 'What are you up to Howard Stark?'

'Well, the war's been over for over three years,' Howard started, and then raised a placating hand when he saw Peggy's mouth open in what no doubt would have been a cutting, sarcastic remark. 'But we're still out there fighting the good fight.'

'Yes, well unfortunately not all of HYDRA got that message. Not to mention there are still alien artifacts out there that the world is ill prepared to handle,' Peggy said. After the death of the Red Skull, HYDRA should have fallen like a house of card, and it had. But instead of merely disintegrating, other organizations were rising in its place.

Not to mention the Russians.

'Yes, well despite that, the government is getting tired of paying our bills. They want to cut our funding.'

'Again? How much this time?' This wasn't the first time that their funding had been cut, and if he hadn't been for Howard they would have felt the pinch of lost funds much more acutely.

'Completely, as of January first, Camp Lehigh will be shut down, and all personnel will be absorbed into other government agencies, or let go with honorable discharges.'

Peggy shook her head in exasperation. There was no other organization in the world better able to handle the kind of other worldly insanity that the SSR was. To have the United States government systematically shut them down was foolish and an open invitation for any country, agency or madman to seek out these artifacts, and use them for some nefarious purpose.

But, there was a part of her that understood. The war had been long and costly, and even though America's landscape hadn't suffered in the same ways as Europe's, they had suffered in blood and treasure as well.

'Then why were you speaking to members of Parliament?' Peggy asked as something dawned on her. Why would he need to make a trip to allied nations' respective governments if the SSR were being disbanded. 'Are you trying to find funding somewhere else?'

'I wish,' Stark said with a small snort. 'I don't think any European nation is going to be making monetary contributions any time soon. But that wasn't what I was looking for. What I was looking for was permission and cooperation. Like I said, winter is coming.'

'That sounds like something from a book,' Peggy said, her eyebrow quirked in question. 'Now stop being cryptic, and get to the point.'

'Fine. As of January 1st the SSR is dead. But the need for what we do is still exists, will always exist. It's just going to have to be small, and privately funded. That's where the meetings come in, I need permission to operate in our allies' nations if the need arises, and I need their cooperation and intelligence since we won't be able to be everywhere all the time.'

'And what is my role in all this?'

'Colonel Phillips will be director, at least until he retires. I'll be in charge of R&D and financing, and we want you to be co-director and in charge of recruitment and training,' Howard said. He reached across the table and took Peggy's hand. She was too shocked by the turn of events to pull away or admonish the genius for taking liberties. 'But most importantly we need you to be our moral compass. This is a new endeavor, and we need you to make sure we stay on the straight and narrow,'

'Moral compass?'

'Yeah. Everyone knows that you helped Steve find his way when he was lost. We need you to do the same for the Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement Logistics Division, or SHIELD for short.'

Peggy stared wide-eyed for several moments before a slow smile spread across her face. 'You really wanted to spell SHIELD badly, didn't you?'

'It was Gail's idea,' James cut in with a huff.

'Well, I think it's a fine idea,' Peggy said, before finally pulling her hand away from Howard.

'So, you'll take the job?' Howard asked, even though he knew the answer.

Peggy didn't need to think too hard, or too long.

'Absolutely,' she said with a nod.

Finally some respect, Peggy thought as she was pulled into a congratulatory hug by her parents and Natasha.

Author's notes: Next chapter we are back in the states.