"Daniel" Peggy forced a smile, "can you bring that in the kitchen. I've got a bit of business with – ah"
"Right" Daniel nodded and pulled the wagon into kitchen. Daniel knew not to ask too many questions, especially in front of business associates. There was protocol to follow, and while Peggy and Daniel were certainly equal at home, there were rules and regulations to toe where work was concerned.
Peggy knew that Daniel understood. They'd had the conversation back when SHIELD had begun, a conversation that had occurred soon after Peggy and Daniel's engagement.
For all intents and purposes, it looked like Daniel hadn't recognized Steve, since he, Daniel, had come through the door walking backwards, dragging the wagon with him, and had gone directly into the kitchen, scarcely glancing at Peggy's company.
While Daniel puttered about in the kitchen, unloading the groceries and putting them away in their various places, Peggy pulled Steve closer to the front door.
"You've had your fun" she was firm, "and now it's time to go"
"What are you talking about?" Steve frowned, "I've come back, all this way just for you, and you're going to throw me out on my ear?"
"Life's moved on" she explained, frustrated, "the world's moved on; it's changed. Sometimes, the best thing to do in a situation like that is to start over" she exhaled, "I know that I did"
Steve grinned, remembering their conversation when he'd visited her in the convalescent home.
"Well, I'm glad that the concept has made you smile at least" she was terse, "I'm sorry" she didn't sound sorry at all, "but this is my decision"
"You're going to throw away everything we had, for him?" Steve pointed though the open doorway to the kitchen, where Daniel was heating up a saucepan over the fire.
"Yes" she was emphatic
"What can he do that I can't?" Steve repeated his question from earlier.
"He listens to me. And, he respects me"
"I-I- I never laid a hand on you unless you wanted me to" Steve faltered, for the first time since he came here.
"Not like that" she sounded exasperated, "but yes, that, too. Have you forgotten leaping out of a still moving aircraft even though you were given explicit instructions not to"
"That was different, it was seventy- I mean"
"Maybe for you, it was seventy years ago" Peggy scowled, "but for me, it was barely eight" she went on, "and if you'd listened to me that last time, instead of being so overly dramatic, you'd have been with me right now"
"but I'm here with you right now!" Steve's voice rose finally. That was all it took for Daniel to shut off the stove's burner and walk, crutch in hand, to the living room.
Meanwhile, Steve went on, "Do you want me to go back to being what I was before? The man who couldn't get a dance for fear of being stepped on?" he snapped at her.
"I think you owe the lady an apology" Daniel stepped forward, crutch in one hand, a dishrag in the other.
"I suppose you're going to snap me with that towel?" Steve scowled at the other man.
"No" Peggy spoke up, "I'm going to ask you to leave" she scowled equally hard at Steve.
"Where do you expect me to go?" Steve balked, looking for an answer.
"You're resourceful" Peggy's voice was hard, "you were the only one who could get that damn flag down. You'll think of something"
"You're shutting me out of your life, just like that?" Steve queried
"No" Peggy shook her head sadly, "Life has moved on, and maybe you should, too"
"Some people move on, but I don't" Steve stepped outside of the doorway as Peggy closed it behind him.
As he stood outside the closed door momentarily, Steve heard Daniel from inside ask, "Who was that guy? And was that my sweater?"
Steve scoffed to himself, some people moved on, but not him.
This wasn't over.