Disclaimer: I don't own any characters familiar to Marvel.

Author's Note: I was trying to have this out no later than Monday, but I didn't get as far in writing the chapter before I had my hernia surgery. I've been trying to flush it out, but as one may imagine, it's been difficult.

Chapter 3

It had been a week since Peggy delivered the handwritten letter Daisy had penned. The first day, spirits had been high among the future SHIELD team. However, with each day that had passed since then and no calvary arrived, their spirits dimmed, none more so than Daisy. Though neither Daniel nor Kora said anything to the latter, they both kept a concerned eye on her. It was no secret that even after a year of being separated from them, she still held them close to her heart. Daisy didn't say anything about the non-action, and neither were willing to bring it up.

"It feels like we're walking on egg-shells around her."

"That's because we are," Daniel confirmed, taking a sip of his coffee.

"I just don't…" Kora sighed with a shake of her head. "She can't possibly still think that anyone is coming for us…" Even she'd allowed a little bit of hope to get her through the days, but she was quickly realizing that it just wasn't going to happen. Daisy had been so hopeful, but they must have messed something up somewhere along the way…

"It was a Hail Mary, and she knows it," he acknowledged, even if Daisy hadn't expressly said anything. "But I can't…" He couldn't be the one to say something to her.

"Good morning," Peggy greeted as she entered the kitchen. When she received less than stellar responses, she looked between the pair. "What are we discussing?"

"The fact that no one has come to rescue us," Kora grumbled.

Peggy winced. "Yes…" she muttered, joining them. "This does appear to be a permanent situation. Does Daisy not agree?"

Daniel could only shrug. "She hasn't said anything, but…" She had to know, even if it only at the very fringes of her thoughts.

"She knows," Peggy finished softly.

"Daisy has…abandonment issues," Kora tacked on. "She grew up in an orphanage and bounced from one foster home to another. She never had a stable environment until she started working with SHIELD. The team, they became her surrogate family."

Peggy frowned. "I don't understand," she admitted. "Are they not yours as well?"

"You remember the first night when we spoke of timelines?" Daniel asked, waiting for her confirmation.

Kora took over then. "The version of me in her timeline died before Daisy was even born. She was never told of my…her…existence."

"Ah," Peggy nodded slowly, offering the other woman a sad smile.

"She's always held on just a little tighter to that team-"

"To her family," the English woman finished. When her companions nodded, she decided to speak once again, throwing in her own observations. "She knows." It was subtle, but with each passing day, Daisy smiled just a little bit less than the prior day. "She may not be willing to admit it yet, but she knows."

"So…we wait until she has an emotional meltdown?" Daniel asked, frowning.

"Perhaps a change of scenery is in need." When her former partner offered her a raised eyebrow in response, she met his gaze head on. "You guys haven't left this neighborhood since you've been here." They'd barely left the house, let alone encountered anyone else. She'd understood the reason, but the self-isolation obviously wasn't doing anyone any good. If they were waiting for Daisy to admit their situation was permanent, maybe she needed to be pushed along?

"What did you have in mind?"

"We're not too far outside the city. Maybe a trip to Bonwit Teller?"

"We don't have the money for that, Peg," Daniel immediately denied, recalling the retailer. Actually, they didn't have any money, but if they did, it wouldn't be enough to shop there.

Money wouldn't be an issue. "Do they not window shop in the future?" She responded.

He considered telling her that Daisy did most of her shopping online, but the idea of explaining the concept was interrupted when the subject of their conversation entered the room. "Morning, Daisy."

"Morning," she returned, making her way towards the coffee. "What are we discussing?"

Before her companions could say anything, Peggy spoke up. "I thought that you and Kora could join me for a trip into the city. You guys have been isolated from the rest of the world so long, I thought a girl's day out would be nice."

"Oh?" Daisy asked as she poured her caffeine. Turning around, she carried her cup to the table where the others sat, looking first at Daniel and then to Kora. "We don't have to," she tried to excuse.

"I could actually use a day out too," Peggy piped in. "When we had the children, I decided to take a smaller role in SHIELD until they were a bit older. I adore my husband, but I'm afraid my adult companions since then have been lacking." She intended to return one day, but that was still a few years off.

Daisy nodded slowly at her before once again looking at her sister. "Is that something you'd like to do?"

Aware that everyone was waiting on her, Kora fidgeted in her seat. "It would be nice to get out of the house for a bit," she admitted softly.

"Okay…" Daisy agreed after a moment. "A girl's day out then?" What did that entail back in the 1950's? She was sure she was completely off base, but she was thinking malt shop. Of course, that was something she wouldn't mind experiencing too. She'd never sat at a Woolworths soda shop.

"Yes. I thought we could go into the city," Peggy shared.

Daisy hesitated. New York in 1958? Instantly recalling the team's adventure there in 1973 and again 1976, she wondered how different it would look compared to then. "Think we can make a stop at the Krazy Kanoe?"

Peggy's eyes widened. "You know about the Krazy Kanoe?" She watched her companion nod. "You've been there, I take it?"

Daisy shrugged. "A couple times. The first was in 1931 and then again in 1973. Daniel was with us that second time."

Peggy looked expectantly at her former partner.

Her eyebrows were arched though she didn't have to say anything for him to know she wanted to more information. "By that time, it wasn't nearly as exclusive," he recalled, remembered the large crowd that they infiltrated.

"What is it like now?" Daisy asked, looking to Peggy.

"Still a boy's club," the other woman responded, her nose wrinkled in distaste. "I've only been there once," and she had to be escorted by Howard. "I don't think they'd take too kindly to us showing up." They wouldn't be happy about her, and they especially wouldn't be happy that she'd brought along friends. "Bonwit Teller it is."

"This is where we're going?" Daisy wondered as she looked at the large marble building before them. She looked through the large front window display, spying several well-dressed people through it.

"It is," Peggy confirmed as a doorman opened the door for them.

Kora nodded along with her sister's amazement as she followed Peggy inside. She almost fell short when she watched the scene before her. "This is shopping in the 1950's?"

"Given your reaction, I assume that this is no longer around in your time?"

Daisy shook her head in negative. "No. At least not as long as I've been shopping as an adult," she admitted, trying to remember if the building was still standing in her time, or if it was even a clothing store. If it was, she never would have been able to afford to shop there. "Shopping is different in the future."

"Oh?"

"You don't have to leave your house to shop," Daisy admitted.

"So…the concept of door-to-door salesmen are still around?"

"They still have that, but that wasn't what I meant. You can order an item directly through your computer and the retailer can send it to your home."

"You keep a computer in your house?"

Daisy was almost tempted to smile in amusement by the question, understanding that there was massive miscommunication between them. "They're smaller in the future, small enough so they can sit on a table or desk." Had Steve not mentioned that? Did he speak about his time in the future? He had told her that Peggy was aware of Hydra and SHIELD falling, but did he not speak about everyday life? "Does Steve not talk about the future?"

Peggy knew her companion found it odd, and she didn't blame her for feeling such. "No, not really," she denied. "Every so often he'll chime in with an anecdote but hasn't specifically said anything through a story." Sometimes she wondered about the time he spent away from her, but since he didn't appear to be eager in sharing anything, she didn't want to push him for information. Pushing the thoughts away, she focused on the current situation. "You're in for a real treat, this is one of the most luxurious stores."

While they remained skeptical by the words, both women followed her through the store with open minds. The tall ceilings had crown moldings painted in opulent shades of varying colors that changed from one room to another. A large display case that was run by two operators, was found in every room. Each case specialized on one item, such as perfumes or make up.

From their position in the back of the crowd, Kora watched, almost mesmerized by the mass of women drawn to the fancy counter. "All this fanfare for scarves?" She whispered to her sister, not wanting to offend their companion.

Daisy nodded slowly, also fascinated by the scene before them. "Apparently." She turned her attention to the various patrons.

Not having missed the exchange, Peggy called them out. "Not impressed?"

"It isn't that. It's just…so different from where we came from," Kora excused, hoping that she hadn't insulted the other woman.

While she knew her companions meant no affront, she couldn't understand how they weren't taken in by the scene around them. She hadn't been kidding when she told them it was one of the most luxurious stores. "How so?" She inquired, genuinely curious.

Daisy hesitated, trying to find the best thing to say to her companion. "It just seems that at this point, the stores dictate what goes out for sale. Where we come from, items are chosen by customer demand."

"And there's more," Kora tagged on.

"More what?"

"Just…more," she trailed off, knowing that she wasn't explaining things well enough.

"Of everything," Daisy tacked on quietly, her mood slightly dimming.

Kora frowned at the tone of her sister's voice, meeting Peggy's gaze.

Unaware of the audience, Daisy slipped back into her thoughts. She had to admit, she'd been amused by the differences. But the more she began to notice, the more she began to feel homesick. How could this be it for them? Was she even equipped to live in that time? Did she even have a choice?

What was she going to do? She…Daniel couldn't possibly expect her to take on the role of a typical 1950's housewife, right? She couldn't imagine not working. She hadn't grown up that way and the concept was completely foreign to her. She mentally rolled her eyes for the train of thought. Daniel hadn't even broached the subject of marriage. And what about living together before marriage? Was it completely scandalous? Would he even want a life with her if they really her were stuck in his time? If she didn't want to stay home and play Suzie homemaker there was someone out there that would. Would he be willing to live in an unconventional household? She supposed it was one thing in 2020, where it wasn't quite so unconventional. But now? In a time where his co-workers would more than likely have a more conventional home life? Would he be happy with that?

And what would she do for work? She knew what was expected from women at this time…at least she thought she had a pretty good idea. She wasn't going to work as a secretary, not only was it tedious, but she would end up resenting everything. Maybe Peggy could get her into SHIELD, even at the bottom level, she could work her way up. But what would that be like? Would the men she worked with make her fetch them coffee and type reports? She was willing to put a little effort in, but would it even matter in the long run? She'd have to prove herself, not that she minded on that front.

And what were they going to do about Daniel? She doubted he'd step away from SHIELD. He'd probably be in his element here. But Daniel Sousa was declared dead in 1955. How could he resume the identity? There was no way. He could continue to go by Daniel Johnson, the name he used for those that weren't privy to his backstory. But what would he say if he managed to come across old co-workers and employees?

"Daisy?"

"Hmmm?"

"I thought we could have a light lunch before we head back," Peggy repeated. "Does that sound alright to you?"

Daisy nodded. "Sure," she offered weakly. When Kora and Peggy slipped back into their conversation, she turned back to her thoughts.

"Hey," Daniel greeted when Daisy walked through the door. "How was shopping?"

"Fine," Daisy replied with a faltering smile. "I'm going to head up to the bedroom for a bit."

When things got hard, Daisy ran. And though she may not be running away in the conventional sense, she was obviously bothered by something and pulling away. He watched her retreat upstairs before turning towards her afternoon companions with a severe frown on his face. "What happened?"

"Nothing."

He narrowed his gaze on the remaining women. "She doesn't react like that to 'nothing.' So, I'll ask again, what happened?"

"Honestly, Daniel, nothing happened," Kora answered. "I think that she just…after witnessing how things move around here, I think it got to her."

"I should have known this would happen," he muttered, mostly to himself.

"It needed to happen, Daniel. You three have been sitting in limbo since you arrived. At least now you have a clear direction," Peggy replied, trying to get him to understand her reasoning.

"She's upset."

"Yes, she is," Peggy easily agreed. "I imagine that you felt the same way when you realized you couldn't go home." She wasn't ignorant of Daisy's feelings, despite what Daniel thought. "However, it needed to happen. And instead of you and/or Kora receiving the brunt of it, I took on the role." Seeing that he was still concerned, she rested a hand on his shoulder. "She'll be fine. She may be named after a flower, but she certainly isn't one." She didn't suppose it would be easy for her new acquaintance, but she was strong. Daisy would get on, she may even flourish…

Daniel looked at Kora. "We should probably go speak with her, let her know that we're there if she wants to talk." He looked back at Peggy for a moment, making sure she was okay with the decision.

Even with her back to the door, words didn't have to be spoken for her to know that she was no longer alone. "We're not going back, are we?" Though it was phrased as a question, she required no answer. She knew her words reflected the thoughts in Daniel and Kora's minds. "We never were," her voice broke, but she quickly found her control. "Our fate was sealed the moment that alien device went off, we just…didn't realize it."

"Maybe not," Daniel denied, not so much for himself as for his lover.

She smiled sadly. "When we reunited with Fitz in your original timeline, he said that our traveling back to 1931 automatically created an alternate timeline…even if we didn't realize it. And because I'm thinking along that line, we would have created an alternate timeline this time too."

Kora pushed her way through the door and settled at Daisy's side, grabbing her hand. "She's right, Daniel. And in the small possibility that we didn't immediately create a new timeline, we probably did that when we came here looking for help. Dead people usually stay dead…"

"No," Daniel denied softly, though even as the word passed his lips, he knew that Kora had a point. But he'd been the one to suggest turning to Peggy… His gaze fell on Daisy to see how she was reacting to her sister's point. Was this his fault? Were they stuck there because he suggested going to Peggy?

Squeezing the hand that held hers, Daisy pulled away from Kora and approached him. "This isn't your fault," she denied, reading the expression on his face.

"But I was the one that suggested-"

Daisy nodded. "And we both agreed to go along with you," she interrupted. "This is…it's…it happened and there's no point in assigning blame." It wouldn't help anyone. She supposed that she could blame him, but it wouldn't change anything. And it wasn't as though the decision had been made with any malice on his part.

He paused, unsure of how to process her words. Just because there was no point in assigning blame didn't mean that she didn't harbor some resentment or feeling of such.

She stepped up to him and immediately wrapped her arms around him. Pressing her face in his neck, she spoke. "I don't blame you for this, Daniel," she told him, knowing that he needed to hear the words. "I don't blame you," she repeated. When he raised his arms up, returning her embrace, she melted into his arms.

For one brief second, all felt right in the world. Daisy was in his arms, and she didn't blame him. However, just as the feeling struck him, he was pulled out of his internal musing when she began to shake against him. From over her shoulder, his eyes found Kora's compassionate gaze.

"I'm not going home." Daisy's words were muffled against him, but he heard them clearly. "I'm never going to see Coulson again." May, Mack…Jemma… She'd never get to see them again. "He's going to think we died. They're going to think we died." She didn't know which was worse, that she'd never see them again, or that they would think she died.

"I'm so sorry, Daisy. If I could, I'd spare you from this…" Daniel replied softly.

Daisy pulled herself away from his form. "Is this what you felt like when you woke up on the Zephyr?" Her eyes were wide and almost wild.

His mouth opened and closed twice as he grasped for something to say. Yes. For one brief second, his heart broke with the realization that he would never see his parents and friends again. He knew exactly what she was experiencing.

His silence was answer enough. "I mean, I could only imagine…but now in this moment…I seriously underestimated how you must have felt when Coulson told you that you weren't able to return to your life." No wonder why he'd been so confrontational with her and Jemma in '76. The realization that he was powerless in that situation must have damn near killed him.

Daniel shook his head in effort to head her off. Yes, it had been a devastating moment for him, but he didn't regret staying with them…her. "Is there anything that I can do?" He reached for her hand.

Daisy shook her head in negative. "No. I just…need some time to come to terms with it."

Kora nodded slowly and made her way towards the door.

Daniel frowned. "You sure?"

"Yeah, I just…need some time to process things," she told him softly.

Placing a kiss on the back of her hand, he released it as he moved to join Kora at the door.

"Hey, guys?" She waited for them to look at her. "I'm really glad that I'm not alone here."

Kora offered her a supportive smile. "I'm glad I'm with you too." She couldn't imagine reuniting with Daisy only to lose her all over again.

"We'll be downstairs if you need us," Daniel tacked on.

It wasn't until two hours after dinner that Daisy emerged from the bedroom that she'd taken refuge in upon returning from her afternoon out. She knew she must have looked awful, but no one commented on it when they saw her.

"How are you feeling?" The question came from Steve before anyone else could say anything.

She met his gaze with a small acknowledgment and a shrug. Other than stating the obvious, what could she say? Her gaze fell on her teammates. "I'm suddenly understanding Deke on a whole new level," she confessed wryly. She'd never approved Deke's willingness of taking advantage of various situations. She could only imagine the horror of growing up under the watchful gaze of the Kree. But even after he mysteriously appeared in her time, he held onto those same ideals. However, faced with the idea of never returning home again to the helpful hands of her chosen family, she understood the need to use hew knowledge of the future to her advantage.

"What does that mean?" Kora asked, not having spent any time with the man her sister referred to.

"We know the future."

"So…we use the situation to our advantage," Daniel finished for her.

Daisy nodded with a set jaw.

"What did you have in mind?" Kora looked from Daisy to Daniel, wondering if he managed to figure out where Daisy was headed.

Daisy nodded in response before focusing on Daniel. "When we were still in 1955, you wanted to go after Hydra," she recalled, "maybe now is that chance."

Daniel looked at her, almost gob-smacked by her suggestion. "You're serious?"

"There is no timeline to preserve this time around," Daisy replied. "If I can never go home again, then I at least want to give them one last gift. And a world without Hydra sounds pretty good to me."

"Not to play Devil's Advocate here," Kora began, "but wouldn't that mean we run the risk of making things worse?"

"Potentially," Daisy admitted. "But I spent four years fighting Hydra off and on. I know names and facilities. You were shown things through the time stream. Between us, we share a lot of knowledge." Her attention fell on the former Avenger. "And I'm betting that Steve knows a fair bit as well."

"And what if Steve doesn't want to help?" Daniel countered, not wanting to drag him and Peggy into their fight. He'd meant what he'd told the other man, he really had no intention of bringing any harm to their family. And if Peggy knew of such a thing, he knew she wouldn't just sit idly by.

"I'm not asking him to fight," Daisy countered, turning her attention back on her boyfriend. "The three of us are more than capable of-"

"I'm in."

The words stalled the conversation and Daisy once again turned to look at Captain America. "I wasn't trying to put you on the spot or ask you to do anything," she excused.

The man nodded. "You didn't," he confirmed. "In the reality that I came from, Bucky spent decades under Hydra's control. I didn't…I was late in helping him break from them, but maybe I can change that for the version of him that exists here."

"I'm in too," Peggy chimed in with a tone of finality to her voice. "If Steve is to be believed, then I invested too much time and effort for someone like Gideon Malick to undermine everything that I built." She still couldn't believe that the child she'd been introduced to at the Malick's last Christmas party would grow up to do such a thing.

"It isn't just Gideon Malick," Daniel denied. He didn't immediately follow up with more, hoping that his silence would be enough for Peggy. She'd always been a quick thinker.

Reading into what hadn't been said, Peggy shook her head in denial. "That can't be right," she muttered, momentarily shocked by the idea that someone as cordial as Wilfred Malick could be so…

"It was Malick that I went to with my suspicions about Hydra. It was him who ordered the hit that night."

Daisy watched the other woman process his words and began speaking again. "We know that it's around this time that they began infiltrating multiple organizations, and I want to nip it in the bud."

She'd speak more on Wilfred Malick later. "We're on board, but how are we going to do this?" Peggy asked. "There are only five of us, even if we have the knowledge at our disposal." Hydra could bury them before they have a chance to truly strike.

Understanding Daisy turned her attention on her sister, silently asking her if she was okay sharing their Inhuman status. With a minute nod in response, she cleared her throat. "Kora and I have powers."

Steve looked from one woman to the other. "What does that mean?"

"I'm able to manipulate a highly versatile form of energy. It builds inside of me, and I can turn it into controlled blasts that usually result in severe burns."

"She was also able to bring me back to life," Daisy tacked on wanting to remind her sister that she was also able to do good with them.

"And you both can do this?" Peggy asked, not fearful, but still a little hesitant.

Daisy shook her head in negative. "Everything around us has a vibration and I can control that vibration." She figured it would be easier to give them a demonstration. "May I borrow your water?" She asked the other woman.

Peggy handed it to her and watched as she placed it on a flat surface on the coffee table.

As she'd demonstrated for Jiaying in the other timeline, she focused on the glass, vibrating it so that the water moved in a deliberate manner.

"How is that possible?"

"We're not fully human. Kora and I…our people, are born with a certain gene that you aren't. The gene remains dormant until it's…activated by something called a Terrigen crystal."

"Your people?" He asked. How come he, as an Avenger, never heard of an entire community of powered individuals?

"To go through the process is like going through hundreds of years of evolution within the span of a few minutes. People go through vigorous mental training so that they are better prepared at controlling whatever gift they're given. There usually aren't any uncontrolled transitions that take place."

"Usually?" Peggy asked.

"Sometimes, some pour schmuck happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time," Daisy excused explained, referring to her own transition.

"There's a secluded community that exists, a safe place for this transition. People don't leave until they've learned to master their power."

"And the outside world doesn't know about this place?" Peggy asked.

"You've been there," Kora replied.

Daisy nodded. "You and the rest of the Howling Commandos liberated them from Hydra during the war. Our mother was among the people you saved that day."

She momentarily mused over the fact that had been revealed, before remembering bits and pieces of conversations she'd had with Kora and Daisy over the course of their visit. "Given various conversations that we've had over the past few days, I understand that Kora was born much earlier than you."

"Yes," Kora confirmed.

"But if your mother was an adult back during the war, how could she have had a have given birth forty years later?" Peggy asked, looking specifically at Daisy.

"Her gift."

Daisy watched the other woman process her words as she spoke up once again. "If this comes down to fighting, Kora and I can handle it," she said, pushing the conversation back on topic.

Peggy acknowledged Daisy's words with a slight nod of her head. "We also need to discuss how we're going to explain Daniel's reappearance."

Daniel immediately shook his head in denial. "Yeah, I don't think that's going to happen for some time," he admitted softly, resenting the idea of staying hidden from the rest of the world. "Even if we are able to say that the CIA interfered and I was only pretending to be dead, Hydra would know the truth and we risk exposing ourselves before we're ready."

"That's what I figured too," Daisy admitted with a sad smile, "but maybe we can make a couple exceptions?" It was brief, but an expression of hope crossed his face momentarily. "Your parents, for one," she specifically mentioned. "I also think we should bring Stark in on this. And I know that where he goes Jarvis does, so…"

"Howard's not the most subtle person," Steve replied, his tone taking on one of warning.

"I've heard," Daisy admitted. "But we need help. If we're going to establish identities here, we need more than…what we have." Howard Stark had resources, and she figured she could convince him to help in exchange for patents that would add to his wealth.

Standing up from his chair, Daniel approached her. "Are you sure this is what you want to do? Because once we start…"

"Hydra has ruined enough lives, if we can stop at least some of that from happening, it's a win in my book. I'm just sorry that you're going to be hidden away a little longer," she responded, setting a hand on his chest. "As for telling anyone else the truth about your appearance, I was thinking that you and Peggy could sit down together and start writing down names of anyone else that you think should and could be trustworthy with knowing the truth. Steve, Kora and I should have enough knowledge between us so that we can begin vetting them."

"It's not going to be a long list," Daniel denied.

"Maybe, maybe not…" Peggy left her statement open as she focused on Daisy. "What about the three of you?"

"I thought that while you two sit down together, the rest of us could put our heads together. If not to start a list of names, then a list of places of known Hydra facilities."

**Bonwit Teller was once a prominent luxury department store that sold high-end women's clothing. Merchandise was minimal so people could focus on specific options. The last store closed its door in 2000. The building in which I'm referring to was demolished in 1990 in order to make way for Trump Tower.