AUTHOR'S NOTES: Happy Valentines Day Everyone!

Chapter 10

Peggy decided to go to the grocery store for a few essential items on a Saturday in early September. Stan offered to sit with the baby while she was out and she enjoyed having a few minutes to herself while she shopped. It had been several weeks since she had heard from Dick and her curiosity was getting the best of her. Did he get to meet with the parole board? Did they consider his request for an early release? She supposed that she would have to wait until she received word from him one way or another.

When she returned from the store, she expected to see Stan sitting on the couch waiting for her. She did not however expect to see the man who had come to occupy her thoughts day and night sitting there instead.

Dick rose to his feet the second Peggy opened the door. Peggy was carrying a bag of groceries which she immediately dropped at her feet when she saw him. She closed her front door and then hurried over to where he stood and threw her arms around him, pulling him into a warm embrace. She then pulled back slightly and she took his face in her hands and kissed him full on the lips.

After a few moments Peggy released him and stepped backwards so she could get a good look at him. Dick was wearing the same suit he had worn a year earlier, but the fit was a little loose since he had lost a fair amount of weight. He had a full beard that was speckled with grey and his hair was longer than she had ever seen it. He looked exhausted, but his eyes were bright and he seemed happier than she had ever seen him. She touched his face just to ensure that he wasn't a figment of her imagination. Dick smiled and he took her hand and placed it over his lips and kissed it tenderly. He then took her hand and held it in place over his heart.

Dick smiled warmly, "I'm happy to see you too, Peggy."

"So...tell me everything! They obviously let you out." Peggy said, her stomach fluttering with excitement.

Dick grinned. "Yes, I was apparently a model prisoner."

"I can't believe it! How did you get here?"

"I took a bus...I didn't want to spoil the surprise. Luckily, Stan let me in otherwise I would've waited for you on your stoop like a hobo. I hope you don't mind me coming here. They sold my apartment and all of my stuff is in storage somewhere."

"Don't be ridiculous! Of course I don't mind!" Peggy exclaimed, her eyes filling with happy tears. "This is where you belong."

Dick smiled, "Thank you sweetheart. How are you? You look wonderful Peggy."

Peggy blushed. "Thank you, Dick." Peggy's hair had grown longer, falling well past her shoulders and her skin had a healthy glow about it. She had slimmed down considerably after giving birth but she maintained a generous bosom due to nursing her baby.

"I'm good...fantastic actually now that you're here. I can't believe you're actually here!" Peggy said looked around in confusion. "Where is Stan?"

"He took Anna with him to the park. He told me that the baby was a chick magnet and he didn't mind being gone for a while to give us some privacy." Dick said with amusement.

"Did you see your daughter?"

"I did. She is absolutely beautiful, just like you."

Peggy blushed again, "I think she favors you a great deal, with all that dark hair."

"She has your eyes." Dick said and he lightly caressed her cheek. He then took her face in his hands and Peggy's stomach fluttered as Dick kissed her passionately. Peggy eagerly returned the kiss and she threw her hands around his neck and played with the hairs on the back of his neck. Dick ended the kiss after a couple of minutes and he pulled her into a warm embrace, cradling her head with his hand. Peggy could hear his heart beating strongly as her head was pressed against his chest. Dick rest his chin on the top of her head and they just stood there for a while holding each other.

"I had forgotten how short you are Peggy."

Peggy laughed. "Sorry about that."

Dick chuckled. "No, it's a good thing. You fit here perfectly. It's nice."

Peggy sighed contentedly and she wrapped her arms around his waist. "Yes it is."

Peggy ran her hands up and down his back and she could feel just how thin he was. She pulled away so that she could study his face once again. Dick stood up to his full height and looked down at her.

"I can't get over how different you look with a beard. You almost look like a different person."

Dick smirked, "Yes, I'm sorry. I didn't have a chance to shave or get a haircut. Does it bother you?"

"No, not at all! It's just that even wearing this suit that I've seen you wear many times, you don't look like Don Draper anymore. You are still very handsome of course, but you look completely different. I actually like you with a beard which surprises me because I normally hate beards." Peggy said as she neatly arranged the hair that had fallen into his eyes.

"That's a relief because I'm not Don Draper anymore, and I don't just mean in name. I don't know if I can explain this very well, but I'm not that guy, that character anymore, Peggy. Being in that place changed me forever. From now on what you see is what you get...no more secrets."

Peggy smiled. "Good." Peggy looked into Dick's eyes and her breath caught when she saw an intense look of love and tenderness. Dick reached over and cupped her cheek, lightly brushing her soft skin with his thumb.

"I've missed you so much Peggy." Dick said quietly. "I'm so glad to be here with you."

Peggy smiled, "I'm so glad you're here with us. We can finally be a family. I love you, Dick."

"I love you too, Peggy."

Peggy studied Dick's face more closely and she noticed a few scars on his face that she had never seen before. She frowned as she reached up to gingerly touch one of the scars above his eyebrow. Dick winced involuntarily and stayed her hand.

"What happened?"

"There was a fight in the cafeteria. I wasn't involved in the dispute but I got pulled into it anyway. I didn't tell you about it because I didn't want to worry you. I'm fine I promise you."

"When did this happen?" Peggy asked, clearly alarmed.

"Shortly after Anna was born."

"Were you badly hurt?"

"It was pretty bad actually. I had to get quite a few stitches and I was in the infirmary for a week. I don't really want to talk about it."

"Okay." Peggy said, concern etched upon her face. She ran her fingers lightly over the healed scar and this time he let her. "I'm just glad that you're all right and you're home."

"Me too." Dick said sincerely.

Peggy looked at her watch. "How long ago did Stan leave? Do you think we have time to..."

Dick laughed. "He could be back any minute Peggy. Plus, I am exhausted. Would you mind if I took a shower and then we just laid down and held each other for a while? That's all I'm capable of doing right now."

Peggy smiled, "Sure. I would like that."

Dick took a long hot shower and he changed into some clean underwear. They lay down together in Peggy's bed and Dick pulled her into his arms protectively and was asleep within minutes. Peggy heard Stan return a while later and she wriggled out of Dick's grasp and left him asleep in her bedroom to meet Stan and the baby.

"Where is he?" Stan asked

"He's sleeping in my room."

"He looks like shit. I almost didn't recognize him."

Peggy smirked, "I'm sure you would too if you had been through what he has over the last year. Go home Stan. I can take it from here."

"Are you sure?" Stan asked, his eyebrows raised.

"Positive. Thank you for everything. I'll see you Monday."

Stan kissed her on the cheek. "Call me if you need anything Chief."

"I will, Stan. Thanks." Peggy said sincerely as Stan closed the door behind him.