Chapter 11

After Stan left, Peggy wanted Dick to be able to sleep in her bedroom for as long as he could. She closed her bedroom door and tried to keep Anna as quiet as possible. She made dinner for herself and she kept an extra plate for Dick warm in the oven just in case he woke up later in the evening and wanted to eat. She watched a few programs on television and was ready for bed by nine o'clock. Peggy laid Anna down in the crib in her room and Peggy climbed into bed beside Dick, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him close to her body. He smelled great and she could feel heat radiating off of his body. It wasn't long before she fell fast asleep too.

A little after one in the morning, Anna woke up screaming and Peggy scrambled to her room to keep her from waking Dick. Peggy brought Anna to bed and she lay on her side with her back facing Dick and began nursing the baby. Peggy soon began to drift off to sleep when she felt Dick stirring beside her. He had woken up feeling completely disoriented. Once he realized where he was he felt a sense of euphoria wash over him. He rolled over and saw Peggy's back and he ran his hand from her hip up to her waist and was about to put his arm around her and pull her close to him when he discovered she was not alone.

"What's going on here?" He asked with amusement.

"I'm sorry, did we wake you? Annie was hungry."

"Annie?"

"That's just what I call her. It seems fitting. She's such a spunky little thing. Do you mind? I know you wanted her name to be Anna...and it still is on her birth certificate."

"It's fine Peggy. Whatever you want, I trust you." Dick was silent for a moment as he observed what was happening on the other side of the bed. "I had no idea you decided to breastfeed. That is what you are doing over there isn't it?"

"Yep. I know it's a little earthy, but I guess it's supposed to be really healthy for the baby and I feel closer to her this way. Does it bother you? I can go to another room."

"No, absolutely not! I've just never seen anything like it. It's quite beautiful actually. You look like a renaissance painting." Dick gazed at her in admiration. "You're a natural Peggy."

Peggy made a face. "Well that remains to be seen. You should've seen me during those first few weeks. I didn't have a clue what I was doing and I felt like I hadn't slept for days. We're finally getting the hang of things though."

Dick's face fell. "I'm sorry I wasn't here to help you."

"Stop it." Peggy said sharply, admonishing him. "You're here now and that's what matters. And don't you worry about having missed out on things. I'll put you to work right away if you want. There will be plenty of diapers to change, and she drinks formula too so you can have your fair share of late night feedings. She's usually pretty good about sleeping in her crib, but you never know with her. I've ended up bringing her to bed with me like this more times than I can count. I'm not used to sharing a bed with an adult though. Do you have enough room over there?"

"Peggy, I was sleeping on a bunk bed that was too short, in a tiny cell with another man who snored for the last year. This is like a Hilton as far as I'm concerned." Dick said drily.

Peggy laughed. "That's good. I just want you to feel comfortable here. This is your home now."

"It's wonderful sweetheart." Dick said sincerely.

Peggy smiled, "Are you hungry? I can warm up a plate for you when she's done. I made pork chops."

Dick smiled. "That sounds great actually. Thank you."

Peggy was able to put Anna back in her crib asleep and she went into the kitchen to heat up the plate for Dick. Dick pulled on his dress pants from earlier and went into the kitchen where Peggy presented him with the plate of food.

Dick moaned happily as he ate the pork chops. "You have no idea how good this tastes to me Peggy."

Peggy grinned. "I'm glad you like it. We've got to get some weight back on you! You're lucky because before all I could do was make spaghetti, but I've actually had to learn to cook in order to feed Stan and Pete as a small gesture of gratitude for their help."

Dick smiled and continued to eat voraciously. After he finished eating, he helped her wash the dishes and then the two of them sat at the kitchen table and talked for over an hour, getting caught up on everything. Peggy offered him a drink but he refused.

"Really?" Peggy asked, in surprise.

"I haven't had a drink in over a year Peggy. If there was one good thing that came of me being in that place, it was that I finally was able to sober up. I feel better than I have in years."

Peggy smiled, "That's great Dick. I will make sure to keep any alcohol upstairs and out of sight if that helps."

"You don't have to do that Peggy. I'm a big boy, I can handle it.

"Well just the same, I want to be supportive. Your daughter and I need you to be around for a long time."

Dick took her hand in his and squeezed it. "Thank you, Peggy."

Peggy told him about several of her agency's clients and campaigns and he was happy to be able to offer up opinions and advice. As confident as she was working on her own, she had to admit that she had missed their easy collaboration. She had always loved how quickly his mind worked, how he was always able to come up with a better, more elegant way to say things. She had no idea if he planned to return to advertising, but she knew that if he asked her for a job she shouldn't turn him down.

"So what happens now...for you I mean?" Peggy asked. "Do you need to legally change your name? I would imagine that is going to be pretty complicated."

Dick sighed, "Yes, it will be. I have quite a few things I have to take care of. I need to meet with my attorney as soon as possible so that he can help me to square a few things away with the bank, and a bunch of other agencies in order to establish myself as well...myself. That is going to be unpleasant and very time consuming. But before I do any of that I need to make some calls and find where they stored all of my stuff. The only clothing I have to my name is the suit I was wearing earlier. At the very least I will need to borrow some clothes from someone so I am not sitting around in my underwear."

Peggy chuckled, "I'll call Stan in the morning. He should have something. He's at least closer to your size than Pete."

"Stan? You're going to have me wearing love beads and fringe?"

Peggy laughed heartily. "No, but I'm sure he still has some of his old stuff from his frat boy jock days. They won't fit perfectly since you're a good two inches taller than him, but it will at least be something for you to wear around the house. I can pick up a few things for you in the mean-time if you want until you find where your stuff is stored."

"That would be nice sweetheart. Will there be enough room here for my clothes do you think?"

Peggy chuckled, "I think so...do you have that many suits?"

Dick laughed, "I have a fair amount, yes."

"I think we'll be able to find room for everything you want to bring. Don't forget that we have a ton of storage upstairs too."

"That's right, I keep forgetting that you own this whole building. You've really done well for yourself sweetheart. You're the Creative Director of your own agency, you own an entire building and you're what, thirty-two? Very impressive, Peggy."

Peggy smiled. "Thanks."

Dick was quiet for a moment. "There is something serious that I need to ask you if that's okay."

Peggy nodded encouragingly. "Sure Dick, you can ask me anything."

Dick surprised her by standing up and then getting down on one knee. He took her left hand in his and gazed up at her affectionately.

"I don't have a ring yet to do this properly, but I don't want to wait any longer. Peggy Olson, you are my dearest friend and I don't think I could have made it through this past year without your unconditional love and support. You stood by me when most people would not have. I realized when we made love over a year ago that you are the woman I am meant to be with. Thank you for sticking by me and for being such a wonderful mother to our beautiful daughter. I'm sorry that it has taken us over ten years to get to this point, but we're here now and I'm so excited for a future with you in it. I love you very much Peggy. Will you please do me the great honor of becoming my wife?"

Peggy was completely caught off guard by Dick's speech and she was moved to tears. "Yes Dick Whitman, nothing would make me happier than to be your wife so that we can truly be a family. I love you and I would love to marry you."

Dick grinned and he picked Peggy up out of her chair and spun her around as if she weighed nothing. He then set her on the floor and kissed her passionately.

"Thank you, Peggy. You have made me very happy." Dick said a few moments later.

Peggy grinned. "Me too."

Suddenly the baby started to cry and and Peggy started towards Anna's room to console her. Dick held up his hand to stop her.

"Why don't you let me take this Peggy. It's late and you should try to get some sleep. I'll stay up with her and we can get to know each other. I have done this before you know."

"Really? You would do that?"

Dick nodded. "It would be my pleasure."

"Well okay then, I'm not going to say no to that!"

Peggy led Dick to Anna's room and she picked the crying infant up and handed her to her father. Peggy then left the room to ready a bottle, leaving Dick to try to calm the baby.

"Hey, hey hey, shhh." Dick whispered, cradling his daughter protectively. "It's okay. Don't be scared, I'm your daddy. I'm never going to let anything happen to you. You're my baby girl and I love you and your mother very much. I'm sorry that we haven't met before now. I've been away but I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere."

Peggy had peaked her head in once she had Anna's bottle warming to check on the two of them and what she saw moved her deeply. She'd heard the last part of Dick's speech to his daughter and it warmed her heart to see that he was gently rocking Anna while he stood near the window. Anna eventually stopped crying and peered up at her father curiously.

"She likes you" Peggy whispered. "She normally won't let anyone hold her but me or Stan. She must sense that you're family...or it's the beard. She really doesn't like Pete."

Dick laughed. "Then I guess I'll have to keep the beard at least for a little while, which is fine because I hate shaving. I am getting a haircut first thing on Monday."

Peggy chuckled. "You do what you have to do. I think you look good no matter what." Peggy walked over to him and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm going to go to lie down. The bottle is warming on the stove and all of the diapers and things are over there." Peggy said pointing to the changing table against the wall. "Thank you for doing this, Dick."

"I'm happy to do it, Peggy. Go get some sleep."

"Okay. I love you."

"I love you too."

Dick sat up with Anna for a few hours. He fed her a bottle and changed her diaper and the two of them watched a little late night TV. It had been a number of years since he had interacted with such a young baby, but it came back to him quickly. He thought little Anna actually bore a strong resemblance to Sally when she was that age.

Anna eventually fell asleep and Dick was able to successfully transfer her back into her crib. Dick climbed back into bed with Peggy and pulled her into his arms protectively. She stirred momentarily and then drifted back to sleep. It wasn't long before Dick was asleep as well.

The next morning Peggy called Stan and asked if Dick could borrow some clothes for a few days. After Stan came by, Dick got dressed in one of Stan's old shirts and pair of pants and the little family went out for a walk with Anna riding in her carriage.

It was the most relaxed Dick had been in very long time. It was a beautiful late summer day and he enjoyed feeling the sun on his face for an extended period of time. Dick smiled as he put his arm around Peggy as they walked through the neighborhood towards the park. There was something freeing about being able to walk around essentially incognito, wearing another man's clothes without having to worry about being recognized. He wasn't looking forward to having to straighten everything out with his life, but he was able to enjoy walking through his new neighborhood with his family. He was able to temporarily put the negative thoughts out of his mind for a while.

He and Peggy enjoyed talking about nothing in particular which was in great contrast to all of the heavy topics they'd discussed in their letters. Dick knew that they did have some weightier topics to discuss though so he tread lightly.

"So, does your mother have any idea who Anna's father is?" Dick asked suddenly.

"Not exactly. I told her that a man named Dick Whitman is Anna's father, which explained the name on the birth certificate. But she has no idea that this Dick Whitman person is the alter ego of Don Draper, the man that she has despised all these years. It's kind of funny when you think about it...even though I have tried to tell her otherwise, she still blames you for what happened all those years ago. I don't think she would appreciate the irony of the fact that you're actually responsible this time."

"What are you going to tell her?"

"I've already told her that you were a work colleague with whom I shared a night before you had to leave town...which is technically the truth."

"How are you going to explain me being back in town...and that we're engaged?

"I plan to tell her that I wrote to you shortly after Anna was born, and that once you heard about the baby, that you decided to move back to New York. I'll tell her you just got back into town and that you proposed last night."

"Wow, that's quite elaborate! I almost believe it myself."

"it's good that she's never met you in all these years, otherwise this wouldn't work."

"I don't like lying to your mother, but the truth isn't going to win her over and it would be nice to start with a relatively clean slate. I'm not going to tell all of the gory details, but she will get an edited version of my past...and the fact that I've been married before. Twice. And that I have three other children."

Peggy grimaced, "She won't like that, but you're right, there are already too many lies as it is."

"She'll like me just fine Peggy. I clean up real nice and I'm good with moms. Plus I'm finally going to make an honest woman of her daughter, as you so elegantly put it."

Peggy smirked, "That's true."

As they continued walking, they discussed tentative plans for their wedding. The both agreed that it needed to be small, just immediate family and a few friends and that it would take place at city hall as soon as possible.

They continued their walk and Dick eventually broached the topic he least wished to discuss.

"Listen Peggy, I'm sure you are wondering if I was planning on returning to work in advertising. Financially I never have to work again, but one of the conditions of my parole was that I had to find "suitable" employment. I feel strange even asking you this, but are you looking for another copywriter?"

"Are you asking me for a job?"

Dick's face turned red. "Yes."

"We would be lucky to have you, you know that, but we wouldn't be able to pay you what you're worth. What I really need is a junior copywriter."

"Peggy, I'm willing to do whatever you need...writing tags, coupons, any other scut work. I just need to have documented proof that I'm working."

"But all of that work is beneath you. Could you really be happy doing that?"

"I truly don't care what I do. The unfortunate truth of the matter is that no one else will hire me and you know it."

Peggy thought about what he was asking. "Well, I have missed working with you." Peggy said smiling. "Plus you could pop downstairs and check on Anna periodically."

"That's what I was thinking. I don't want our child to be raised by strangers, but I also don't want you to have to give up on your dream either. I've had my shot in this field Peggy, and now it's your turn. I figure I can do most of the heavy lifting with the baby, and you can utilize me as needed. If you need help with an idea, I'd be more than happy to lend a hand. I just know that I missed out on a lot of things with my older kids and that was mostly my fault. I don't want to make that mistake again. I need to be much more involved this time."

Peggy smiled, "I think that sounds great."

Dick stopped walking and turned to look right at Peggy. "I'm going to do things right this time sweetheart. My priorities have totally changed. I want us to be a happy family. I love you both very much."

"I love you too, Dick."