Later that night at dinner, I was surprised that Phil hadn't shown up yet. He usually never misses out on Taco night. Joey was lying content between the twins highchairs, me sneaking him some ground taco beef every few minutes. Just as we were about to start eating I heard, "Wait for us!"
Phil came in with Audrey Nathan and I whooped in joy.
"Oh man, I hated that I had to lie to you," I said, hugging her tightly.
"I know why now. It's understandable. I'm still crying about it though. He's alive," She said, wiping her eyes as we separated. I saw a flash of diamond on her finger and nearly screamed again.
"Crap, she noticed," Phil frowned, "Well everyone, I would like to introduce you to the future Mrs. Coulson, Audrey Nathan."
"The cellist!" Steve said in understanding, as we all looked at him.
"Now I got what you said Stark," He said smiling at my Dad.
"Oh sweetie," I said, kissing his hand.
"Now, I was told you had quite the set of lungs on you. How about a song for the happy couple?" Gabe said, and I looked at Trip in confusion.
"Don't look at me!" He said, as Bucky chuckled.
"Steve, fess up," He said as our husband tried not to look guilty.
"It was back when you were helping me," He confessed. I clued in and nodded.
"I do sing, only when forced." I teased.
"Lies," Bucky coughed.
"What are you going on about?" I sassed.
"I could clearly hear you in the shower this morning before you left." He snarked.
"The kids love it," Steve chuckled.
"Oh brother," I rolled my eyes.
"Oooh, do that new one," Wanda said, excited.
"That's still in development," I laughed nervously.
"Stop stalling. Sing," Peggy said as Wanda queued up the music in the kitchen's system. Huffing in jest, I sat up straight, and threw my napkin down on the table as I stood.
"Trip, you have to help me out," I said, dragging him to stand beside me. He nodded as we all pressured him. Wanda started the music and I began:
I found myself dreaming
In silver and gold
Like a scene from a movie
That every broken heart knows we were walking on moonlight
And you pulled me close
Split second and you disappeared and then I was all alone
I woke up in tears
With you by my side
A breath of relief
And I realized
No, we're not promised tomorrow
So I'm gonna love you
Like I'm gonna lose you
I'm gonna hold you
Like I'm saying goodbye wherever we're standing
I won't take you for granted 'cause we'll never know when
When we'll run out of time so I'm gonna love you
Like I'm gonna lose you
I'm gonna love you like I'm gonna lose you
[Trip:]
In the blink of an eye
Just a whisper of smoke
You could lose everything
The truth is you never know
So I'll kiss you longer baby
Any chance that I get
I'll make the most of the minutes and love with no regrets
Let's take our time
To say what we want
Use what we got
Before it's all gone
'Cause no, we're not promised tomorrow
[Both:]
So I'm gonna love you
Like I'm gonna lose you
I'm gonna hold you
Like I'm saying goodbye wherever we're standing
I won't take you for granted 'cause we'll never know when
When we'll run out of time so I'm gonna love you
Like I'm gonna lose you
I'm gonna love you like I'm gonna lose you
Hey
Whoa
I'm gonna love you
Like I'm gonna lose you
I'm gonna hold you
Like I'm saying goodbye wherever we're standing
I won't take you for granted 'cause we'll never know when
When we'll run out of time so I'm gonna love you
Like I'm gonna lose you
I'm gonna love you like I'm gonna lose you
Our audience clapped and hollered, and I chuckled, "Pipe down, my babies are sleeping."
"Trip I didn't know you could sing," Phil asked surprised, as Audrey was tucked into his side.
"Daisy loves that song, and soon I was singing it without realizing. Then she and Wanda tried to get Sera and I to sing together. It was kind of a one time thing." He shrugged.
"What was a one time thing?" Daisy asked coming into the kitchen with Mack.
"You missed Trip and Sera singing."
"Awe man!" She said, disappointed, before noticing our guests.
"Um, hi. I'm Daisy," she smiled at the Commandos, giving an awkward wave.
"I'm Mack," He waved, sitting down to make himself a taco.
"Guys, this is Peggy Carter, Timothy Dum Dum Dugan, Gabe Jones and Jacques Dernier."
"Nice to meet you- Wait! Oh my god, the original Howling Commandos?" Daisy said looking over at Phil to watch his reaction.
"You're not fangirling," She said, sounding dejected, making our group chuckle. We all knew how much of a fan Phil was of Captain America and the Howling Commandos.
And then she noticed Audrey.
"Skye… I mean Daisy. Dammit, I've got to remember that." He said, shaking his head, "This is Audrey Nathan. Audrey, this is Daisy."
"She's basically Phil's daughter too," I piped up. Audrey held out her hand over the table, "It's nice to meet you."
"You too. Wait a second," Daisy said turning over Audrey's hand and sitting back in shock. She looked over at me and we had the same thought.
"Dad's getting married!" She and I cheered, air high fiving across the table, making everyone laugh.
"Okay," I said standing, "I've got to get these little ones to bed. Can you guys show our guests to their rooms?"
"Sure babe," Bucky chuckled as I grabbed Callie, and Steve handed me Elijah. Joey didn't need to be told to follow, but led the way instead. He was enjoying his new home, and the number of people he got to meet on his first day unfrozen. I smiled to myself as I hummed to the twins, and they yawned.
"You've had a big day," I said softly, kissing their heads. Deciding they needed baths, I walked them straight to the bathroom. Grabbing their bath seats, I undressed them, and ran warm water before grabbing their pajamas. Taking my time I played with them, showing them all sorts of bath toys I'd picked up last week in New York. They giggled at the sight of the duckies and the funny noises they made.
"You guys are growing up too fast," I whispered, as they started talking to one another, passing toys.
Their squeals of delight had Joey perking his ears up, but I smiled and said, "It's okay boy." He huffed and laid his head back in his paws, watching them closely.
"I love you two," I laughed when Elijah splashed me slightly. Draining the tub I took each out and dried them, kissing and making farting noise on their stomachs, eliciting shrieks of joy from each of them. Even after their normal lullaby, they didn't want to fall asleep.
"You two are trouble," I joked, thinking back into the far reaches of my mind for inspiration.
"I heard this song when I was little, and I loved it. I wanted to be a princess just like any other little girl, well… for a time I did. I thought my Dad would come riding in and save me. But Grandpa didn't know about me for many years. And I learned that I had to save myself," I said, as both of them stared up at me with wide eyes. Looking over to Joey, he was sitting patiently by the door.
"But you both, have two Daddies that will love and protect you for the rest of your lives. Even if they get hurt I the process," I laughed, a sad smile coming to my face. Setting the recorder, I hoped that they liked it. But again, they were baby's and didn't know what they liked or not yet. But neither of them like avocado, I thought with a chuckle.
Lavender's blue, dilly dilly,
Lavender's green
When you I am king, dilly dilly,
You shall be queen
Who told you so, dilly dilly,
Who told you so?
'Twas my own heart, dilly dilly,
That told me so
Call up your men, dilly, dilly
Set them to work
Some to the plough, dilly dilly,
Some to the fork
Some to make hay, dilly dilly,
Some to cut corn
While you and I, dilly dilly,
Keep ourselves warm
Lavender's green, dilly, dilly,
Lavender's blue
If you love me, dilly, dilly,
I will love you.
Let the birds sing, dilly, dilly,
And the lambs play
We shall be safe, dilly, dilly,
Out of harm's way
I love to dance, dilly, dilly,
I love to sing
When I am queen, dilly, dilly,
You'll be my king
Who told me so, dilly, dilly,
Who told me so?
I told myself, dilly, dilly,
I told me so
I sighed, noticing they were drifting off. I backed up softly, setting the recording to play another two times to be certain they were soothed. Joey just about fell asleep at his place at the door, but I motioned for him to back up into the bedroom.
"She's four times the mother I was. I'm ashamed to say that I put work first most of the time." I heard, as I went to our closet and took off my shirt.
"She's perfect, for both of you. She balances you out," Peggy said and I was confused. I put my shirt back on, peeking out to see Peggy and Steve sitting on our couch. I smiled at him and he grinned back, beckoning me over. Sitting on his lap, I checked his leg. Joey sat beside us, and he put his head in Peggy's lap.
"All healed," He said, nuzzling into my neck.
"Steve," I said embarrassed by his actions. Even if she was 95, Peggy was still his former love interest.
"Sera don't be embarrassed. He's much more open now about physical displays of affection." She chuckled.
"I'm not embarrassed for me," I explained, "Even if he and Bucky are my husbands now, you were the love of his life when he woke up."
"I could have never shared him like you do with Bucky. He would have told me and my jealousy would have done us in." She smiled.
"Besides, I am a 95 year old widow, no sense starting a courtship now," She joked.
"I'm glad you had Daniel, Peg," Steve said smiling at her.
"You would have liked him. Did you know, before we ever dated, he walked in on me changing? I was just in my slip and his face went bright red. I wasn't embarrassed because being a female in the army meant learning to make due with what you had."
"He walked into the ladies changing room?" I asked confused.
"No, the men's. We didn't have a women's as I was the only one. Jack Thompson, who was the typical Alpha male of the bunch at the SSR, told Daniel that I was on the other side of the lockers, but Daniel didn't know I was changing for a mission." She laughed.
"How awful." I said, as Steve shook his head.
"Well the rest, as they say, is history," She said, looking at her watch.
"Steve, would you show an old women to her room? I'm feeling the effects our day has had on me. I'm not as young as I used to be." Peggy joked as I got off Steve's lap.
"What about that rain check?" I suggested. Both looked at each other and shrugged.
"Now's as good a time as any. I don't know how long I have on this earth," She laughed lightly.
"Peg, don't talk like that," Steve said, frowning.
"Captain, you may not want to admit it, but I'm quite alright going into the light any day now. I've had my share of fun in this world, seen and done things I'd only dreamt of, and I got to see you again. I'd say I have done everything I set out to do. Now it's your turn." She said, smiling with watery eyes.
"You still owe me that dance," He replied, a tight smile in place. I backed up and said, "This isn't a good space. Let's go to the studio."
Grabbing the baby monitor, I saw Steve offer Peggy his arm and smiled. Joey and I followed behind them slowly as we made our way to the studio. I had just the song in mind for them, pulling it up on my phone. As I opened the door, Peggy gasped.
"You say it's a hobby, but this looks professional darling," She said to me, taking in the ballet bar and wall of ceiling to floor mirrors.
"I've only been in here once," Steve said, looking around.
"Yeah, I was curled up on the floor. Do you know they put a camera in here to make sure I didn't hurt myself?" I told Peggy, starting up the song. She gasped, "How dare you Captain."
"I had a good reason," He said, holding his hands up in surrender as I put on the music. Le Vie En Rose poured our gently, the strumming of the guitar soothing and soft to the ears.
"I'll leave you two," I said, as I turned up the volume slowly. Peggy's shining eyes winked at me and I motioned for Joey to follow me out. I stood outside the door, giving them their first dance in private.
