Chapter 6: Taking A Chance On Love
The sun was shinning outside. The draperies swayed in the morning breeze and a beam of light passed through a window ajar, directed to Peggy's face.
The sudden clarity awoke her. She slowly opened her eyes and immediately covered them with her right hand to avoid the brightness. After a long minute adapting to the light, she finally looked around her, noticing she was in the theatre's apartment, more specifically lying on the ground.
She felt her left arm strained; something was pressuring it. Peggy glanced at her side. It was nothing more than Angie, asleep, with her back turned to Peggy and using the agent's arm as a bolster.
Peggy felt confused about the situation for a few seconds, until she remembered the events from the last night.
After the unpleasant confrontation of the two with Ralph, they stayed on the ground, cuddling for what felt as hours to Peggy. They would chat sporadically, but not for too long - random thoughts would come out of their mouths, not exactly waiting for a response, for the warmth they shared felt just enough. Angie had eventually fell asleep on Peggy's arms and the Englishwoman thought it was unfair to wake her up, so she had just took one of the pillows from the couch that was beside them and lowered them both on the ground. The agent had spooned Angie so she wouldn't sense any difference and keep comfortably sleeping. After a while, she fell asleep too.
And now there she was.
Feeling her arm uncomfortable, Peggy carefully adjusted it under Angie.
The movement, although soft, made the actress shift her position.
Shite, Peggy cursed, as she feared she had woken up the other woman.
Fortunately, she didn't. Instead, Angie just turned around and moved closer to Peggy, resting her head on the woman's shoulder. Angie inhaled deeply and unconsciously threw her free arm around Peggy, pushing her even closer.
Peggy's heart started beating fast.
She had spent a whole night this close to Angie but at the time they were both too shaken up and focused on comforting each other to think of the closeness itself. But right now Peggy was too woken and too conscious and there was nothing more than a very possessive Angie clinging on her.
Peggy desperately looked up at the ceiling.
Why was she feeling this way? It surely wasn't the first time she felt agitated around women, even though she never really worked on it. But Angie…Angie made her feel way more than that. Every little thing about her touched Peggy in unexpected ways. It was almost like - it felt odd thinking it - but it was almost like how she felt around Steve.
Almost unconsciously, Peggy embraced Angie with her left arm and started trailing lines on the woman's side with her fingers.
Steve was gone and Peggy believed she would never feel the same way again. Now she wasn't so sure anymore, and it scared her.
"Why do ya always look so serious?"
Peggy thoughts were interrupted by a drowsy voice. She looked down and saw a half-asleep Angie staring at her, chin resting on the agent's chest. The girl's hair and make-up were messy, but it was still a delightful sight and Peggy couldn't help but smile at the woman beside her.
"And now you're smilin' like that again. I'd give everythin' to know whatcha thinkin'"
"Right now I'm just being allured by your charming face," Peggy teased.
"So funny. I just woke up, I must look dreadful." Angie slightly rose her head so she could face Peggy better, "But I'll accept the compliment," she finished, grinning.
"Good, because I was being honest." Peggy told her.
Angie smirked and detached herself from Peggy, rolling over and lying on her stomach. She rested her chin on her hands and crossed her legs at the back.
The agent internally whined when she felt Angie's warmth leaving her.
"How did we end up sleepin' here when we have a bed next door? Last time I remember, I was a cryin' mess in your arms."
"You fell asleep and I didn't have the courage to wake you," Peggy explained. "The carpet seemed rather comfortable."
And she wasn't lying. For someone who had slept countless times on the cold floor at war camps, the carpet at the apartment was closer to a featherbed than ever.
"Well, I did sleep fine," Angie stated, "but guess the company helped. Thanks, English…for everythin'."
When she added the last words, Angie's joy progressively faded and a contemplative mood took place. Peggy guessed the actress was remembering Ralph's attack. It certainly wasn't an easy situation and she was unsure of how Angie would proceed in the future regarding her acting companion.
"Will you tell anyone about what he did?" Peggy asked.
"At this point I'll manage nothin' more than ruin the play if I do it," a conformed Angie said. "A man got mad over a denied kiss, how many more ya think there are out there everyday?"
"And all of them should be kicked until they reach the gates of hell. We can't allow them to walk free from consequences." Peggy had her blood boiling just from the thought of it.
Angie sadly smiled, grasping Peggy's hand. "I know how ya feel, but our world ain't prepared for this fight. No one will care 'bout a woman complainin'…they might even blame me."
She was right, as much as it infuriated Peggy. For once, the agent felt powerless.
Angie carried on, "This play is my dream, and I can't put everythin' to lose. I'll fight for this chance 'til the end, even if it means facin' Ralph again."
The idea of Angie sharing space with the man stressed Peggy. No one would know about what happened and that placed Angie in a dangerous position. Peggy didn't trust Ralph and even though Angie was trying to be strong and convincing, she knew the actress was afraid too.
It was true others would hardly make Ralph pay for what it did but it didn't mean Peggy couldn't help Angie with it - at least preventing unpleasant outcomes.
"I think it's better if I accompany you in the occasions you have to practice for the play alone with him," Peggy suggested. "If you allow it, of course."
Angie studied the idea for a few seconds.
"I'd feel safer," she finally said.
"So it's settled then?"
Angie chuckled. "You'll be my official bodyguard, English! Always imagined havin' them, but never like you. Though, your fightin' skills last night were very impressive, how did ya get'em?"
Bloody hell, my undercover! Sometimes she felt so comfortable around Angie it was difficult not to forget she was supposed to be playing someone else. And the situation last night surely had woken up the instincts of Peggy, the trained agent. She had to come up with a good excuse now.
"Ah, I told you I worked at the army. Even as a secretary you can learn a few tricks to use in special cases. Plus, my father didn't really care about all those lady-like things and taught me a few moves when I was younger."
It wasn't completely a lie. Her father certainly had helped her training in an early stage. Peggy's father was one of the reasons she enlisted the army to begin with. Still, it bothered Peggy she had to lie to Angie.
"You're pretty good at it," the petite woman said.
Peggy blushed slightly. "Thanks."
"Now-," Angie quickly lifted from the ground, "I have to get myself presentable. And you too, English." She started adjusting her creased clothes. "We can use the apartment's bathroom to have a shower, but first I need to grab a few clothes in my cabinet downstairs."
"I'll do it, Angie. I also need to pick up my stuff at the changing room so I can do both. You can start that shower and I'll leave your bag there as soon as I can."
"Oh, ok then." Angie proceeded to reach out her hand to help Peggy get up.
"Thank you." Peggy said, now standing up beside the woman.
The agent looked at the mirror across the room and got slightly scared with the state of her hair. She then checked the hours at her wristwatch. It was early and that meant there would be no one inside the theatre beside the security guard…and them. Peggy had to be careful not to be seen.
Angie was already gone to the bathroom and Peggy could now hear the shower's water dropping. She then left the apartment, being careful in order to not shut the door loudly.
Peggy easily made her way to the changing room and grabbed clean attire. When she was leaving, she saw the security guard at the end of the hall and quickly jumped back so she would not be noticed. She waited for the man to turn the corner and headed to the opposite side of the hall. In a minute she was sneaking into Angie's cabinet.
Inside, she went straight to Angie's small suitcase, where she kept her clean clothes. Above the portmanteau there were copies of Angie's last photoshoot. Peggy picked the collection and started looking through them. Not that she hadn't done that before – she had been the one receiving the pictures in the first place – but it was something she just couldn't resist. Angie looked gorgeous in them.
The memory of the woman in the pictures clinging on her earlier haunted Peggy and she started blushing, embarrassed with herself. But what overwhelmed Peggy was concluding the actress had not felt slightly embarrassed when she woke up wrapped on Peggy. Angie had actually acted like it was a normal chain of events.
Could Angie feel the same way Peggy felt about her? Did Angie fancy women too? It all seemed very unlikely, but Angie had certainly acted unconcerned and Peggy started questioning if she was the one reading too much into it.
Trying to calm the turmoil in her head, she set the pictures aside, and not sure of which outfit Angie would choose, she picked the whole trunk and carefully exited the cabinet.
When she finally entered the apartment again, she didn't hear the water in the shower. Maybe Angie was done and already waiting for her.
Wonderful job, Peggy Carter.
The brunette rapidly headed to the bathroom and knocked on the door.
"Angie, I have your suitcase here."
A muffled voice answered from inside. "You can come in."
When Peggy did, she did not expect to find Angie wrapped in a very small towel that barely covered her body. It was strictly hiding the extension of her bosom to her private parts, but anything else was uncovered, which allowed Peggy a privileged view.
Instinctively, Peggy turned her head.
"What? Never saw a naked gal before, English?" Angie teased. "It's alright, I don't mind you lookin'."
Peggy obeyed and looked back at her. She felt her heart racing again. The woman in front of her had a stunning body. She was rather slim but her muscles were neatly defined. Her clean skin appeared soft and Peggy could just see the top of her breasts above the white towel.
She swallowed dryly.
"Here, have your suitcase," a slightly embarrassed Peggy said as she lowered it on a chair beside her, "I'll be outside waiting for my turn."
"Sarah, wait!" Angie cried out. She ran to Peggy and held her hand as the agent was turning to her again.
"I'm not sure I should say this but…I really liked our night." Angie looked tense and somehow shy.
Peggy didn't know how to respond to that. Was Angie really trying to say what Peggy thought she was saying? It all sounded too good to be true.
"I enjoyed it too." The agent replied.
Is that all you can say? Peggy cursed herself for the poor response.
Angie, on the other hand, seemed more pleased. "Do you mean it? Like really, really?" The implied question wiped whatever doubts Peggy previously had.
"Definitely."
"Then I believe we missed something", Angie blurted out, leaning towards Peggy.
Before the agent could think further, Angie pressed her lips against hers, on a decisive kiss.
The actress' lips felt soft against her own and just when Peggy was starting to enjoy the touch, Angie pulled off with an expectant look on her face.
Peggy softly smiled, starring into Angie's eyes, and glancing at her lips afterwards. Intoxicated by the actress' fresh smell and hot skin, the agent fiercely kissed the woman back, her right hand cupping Angie's face and the other pulling her by the waist, so they could stay even closer. Angie tightly wrapped her arms around Peggy's wait.
The kiss went on for several seconds. When they finally pulled apart, Peggy unintentionally pushed Angie's towel and it fell on the ground, dragging out a surprised "Oh!" from Angie, when she realized how bare she was.
"It's alright, you said you didn't mind," Peggy jested, amused by what just happened.
Angie picked the towel and softly slapped the agent's arm. "Shut up, English, you talk too much!" A blushing and pleased Angie said.
[…]
Later that day, Peggy was on her way to the costume department to deliver Angie's measurements when she heard a familiar voice.
"Miss Carter?"
It was no other than Edwin Jarvis, Howard's loyal butler. Since the latter had lent his house to Peggy, she had spent some time with Jarvis, an Englishman that somehow reminded Peggy of her homeland. They had a very singular banter together and Peggy sincerely enjoyed the man's company, but since she was assigned to the new mission she had lost some contact with him.
Not spotting anyone around them, Peggy roughly dragged him to a dark corner.
"What are you doing here? And I'm not Miss Carter, my name here is Miss Butler."
Visibly distraught about the whole scene, Jarvis excused himself and started explaining what brought him there.
"Yesterday I was reorganizing Mr. Stark's set of ties when I answered a very odd call. They insisted in Mr. Stark himself receiving the message, so he did it. Happens it was the SSR requesting his presence."
"I know about that," Peggy commented, "I actually offered to contact him myself."
"He went to the office and they asked him about some of his stolen inventions," Jarvis said, pausing afterwards.
"Please, hurry up, Mr. Jarvis. I'm failing to see the point of your visit," a distressed Peggy demanded, always looking behind to assure they were alone and unnoticed.
"Right. Ahh…Mr. Stark knew exactly about which items they were asking, but managed to delay the answer until today under the excuse of having to search about them on his personal files."
The confession confused Peggy. Why would Howard want to hide information about his inventions if he was the first one interested in recovering them? For all Peggy knew, Howard had offered help since day one. But there was always something new with Howard and Peggy wondered about what could be this time.
Peggy's face might have given everything away since Jarvis didn't wait for a reply and continued the explanation.
"He says he can't tell the SSR anything before talking to you first."
"Me? What on Earth can he tell me and not the others? I'm an SSR agent too!"
"Please, Miss Carter, just come with me and you'll find out soon. He's expected at the office in one hour."
Jarvi's sincere plea convinced Peggy, who had to be quick in order to not be missed in her workplace.
"Alright. Where is he?" she asked.
"You can follow me," the butler said.
"And be caught sneaking out with you? No, thank you."
"I'll go first then. There's a Dodge Sedan parked on the left corner of the street. We'll be there."
With that, Jarvis left and soon disappeared from her sight. The agent decided it was less suspicious to leave the theatre through a secondary door and soon made her way to where the car was waiting for her.
She entered the back of the vehicle and joined Howard, who seemed more stressed than usual. He still managed to smirk when he laid eyes on Peggy.
"Nice attire, Pegs," he said, all smug.
Peggy rolled her eyes. "What do you have to tell me of so important, Howard?" she inquired.
"I know what are those items in the Russian message."
Noticing Peggy's surprise regarding his knowledge on the source of the message he added, "Yes, I know about the Russians. I'm quite a good spy myself."
Peggy was not amused, but he still carried on.
"Whatever I tell you, you have to promise me you keep it to yourself," Howard said, expectant.
Peggy gave him an incredulous look. "So you're asking me to lie to my colleagues about the mission I am conducting?"
"Yes. But I'm sure you'll be the first one to understand as soon as I'm done," Howard simply said.
Peggy knew Howard for some years now and was wary he could be capable of almost anything to keep his interests in sight, even ruin her credibility among her co-workers. But this time he seemed genuinely concerned and Peggy decided to give him a chance.
"What are the items?" she simply asked.
Taking it as a yes to his request, Howard started talking.
"Item eleven is a biological weapon."
Biological weapons were not a new concept to Peggy. They had been avoided through history due to their high risks of a worldwide calamity.
Peggy exchanged looks with Jarvis, who was in the front seat. He too looked heavily concerned.
"What are the consequences of that weapon?" Peggy asked Howard.
"It's a device that releases an undetectable gas. The virus that is discharged affects your brain, destroying the connections between cells. It basically shuts you down if you inhale it. But not right away, it takes three to five days for the virus to be activated. And that's the dangerous part…"
"Is it contagious?"
"For now…yes. It's an unfinished invention and I'm still working on a formula to tame the virus and deny its dissemination."
"If it's contagious and it takes days to be detected, we're facing a bigger threat than we thought." Peggy was appalled by the revelation. "I don't know what's wrong with you to think inventing such thing is a good idea", she added.
For once, Howard seemed guilty.
All the new facts certainly increased the importance of Peggy's mission and her overall responsibility. She couldn't keep this to herself and needed all the help she could find.
"Howard, I'm sure you are aware the SSR needs to know about this. I don't know what made you think I could keep this a secret, but it's not gonna happen."
"It's not about that I need secrecy," Howard told Peggy, "It's about the second item."
The new information awoke Peggy's curiosity. When Howard took more time than expected to start speaking, Peggy said an impatient "…yes?" and it triggered him to finally say something.
"Uhh, you know, item thirteen is nothing more than a small globe…and…it could easily be a random bomb if…uhh…"
Howard was sounding too confusing for Peggy's taste. He always acted like that everytime he feared her reactions.
"If what, Howard? What's item thirteen? Is it a bomb?" She was growing more impatient.
Peggy's tone coerced him to get his thoughts straight and start speaking again.
"It's not a bomb. The capsule came from a bomb but there's nothing inside that will cause an explosion. At least not literally…"
"What is it then?" Peggy asked.
"A vial. With blood."
"Blood?"
Peggy was downright lost at that point. How could a vial of blood be so important? But then it hit Peggy…
"Blood from what, from whom?" The answer could only be there.
Howard went silent for a few seconds. Peggy noticed the drops of sweat in Howard's forehead. He gulped, looking straight at Peggy's eyes.
"Captain Steve Rogers."
The three words Peggy was deep down expecting came like a punch in her stomach. Her memory went straight to the day she accompanied Steve to the medical tests, the day after his physical transformation. She remembered the nurse collecting his blood while she watched, still amazed by how different he looked.
The agent focused on Howard again, who was expectantly looking back at her. Peggy didn't say a word to him, which encouraged the man to keep talking.
"There were eleven vials and I got only one. All the remaining was ruined trying to recreate the serum after Steve was gone. I can't lose this last sample, and if the SSR knows about its existence…I won't be able to get my hands on it ever again."
Peggy got suddenly infuriated. "Why? Are you going to try and create another Captain America yourself?"
She couldn't bare the idea of Howard doing that. Steve was too important and no matter what they tried, there was no way he could be replaced. The mere thought felt offensive to his memory.
"There will never be another Captain America, Peggy." Howard tried to soothe the brunette and softly touched her forearm. "But his blood can be the key to the cure of many diseases and a lot more. We may change history's course with it!"
Peggy was now connecting the pieces and finally understanding Howard's worry and why he wanted to keep it all a secret.
Even dead, Steve can still protect his people. There's nothing more honourable than that.
"We need to recover that vial," the agent decisively said.
"And I can't trust anyone better than you to do it," Howard added.
"I won't tell the SSR about the vial," Peggy guaranteed him. "You need to find a cover-up story before you talk to them."
"Don't worry, I've got it."
"Good luck," Peggy said as she exited the car, so her friends could head to the SSR office.
Howard opened the car's window. "You too!" he shouted.
She watched the car leave, still shaken from the roll of revelations. She turned around and started heading back to the theatre.
For the first time her mission felt it was going out of hands and Peggy felt weak. How would she be able to deal with a threat like a biological weapon, retrieve Steve's blood and still protect everyone? It all felt too heavy.
Oh, if Steve was here…everything would be easier.
When reminding Steve, another person came to her mind: Angie. She thought about their kiss earlier and felt slightly unburdened. A smile crossed Peggy's lips.
I have to do it for Angie too. Especially for her. She's very alive and she needs me.
[A week later]
Peggy rubbed her eyes and put on her glasses again. It was already night outside and the latest days haven't been easy. Peggy hadn't slept more than a couple of hours and she was feeling more tired than ever. But she couldn't stop, so she kept looking at the several papers in front of her, filled with notes, diagrams and her own plant sketches.
She was working on the operation plan of the SSR, for the premiere. Her work on the theatre and at the secret agency has been more difficult to conciliate than before but it was also a gift, since she had access to privileged information during the creation of the plan. Right now, she was checking every staff member and their position during the premiere, so she could find the best way to infiltrate her agents.
Just when she was writing Daniel Sousa's name on her sketch, near the hall of the actor's cabinets, she was startled by a man's voice.
"No! You're doing it wrong!"
From across the room, Peggy saw Ralph and Angie discussing once again. She has kept her promise to Angie and always came with her to the apartment when she had to practice with him. It was not exactly easy for Peggy to work on her plan while the two quarrelled over small details or just simply practiced lines and songs, but she had to do it, so she managed it the best she could.
Ralph seemed to be over his past situation with Angie. Maybe he was just afraid of consequences, but the truth is that he never tried to do anything anymore, and was just overall unpleasant and passive-aggressive.
Angie's reaction to the whole situation also helped, since she never acted frightened when it came to him and was always up to a good fight of words, which was something Ralph probably wasn't expecting.
"Oh, okay, Mr.-I'm-da-best-and-ya-suck! I quit," Angie angrily said, "We can carry on tomorrow."
Ralph groaned and tightly grabbed the scrip papers in his hands, bursting out of the door and leaving it open behind him.
Angie, on the other hand, calmly went back to their previous spot and neatly organized her papers at the top of the central table. She closed the door Ralph had let open, and headed towards Peggy.
Noticing the actress coming to her, Peggy quickly hid the confidential files under some receipts from the theatre. She was supposed to be helping Elizabeth with them in her free time - or at least it was the excuse she gave Angie.
Peggy stared at Angie, checking her out on the way.
"To be honest, I was just tired," Angie commented, "but it was funny to see him all mad."
Angie's smirk made Peggy chuckle. The Italian woman sat on the desk, leaning on her arm.
"And ya? Busy again? You're all over those paper and lookin' like hell."
"I…" Peggy started gathering her thoughts, but Angie interrupted her, "We barely spend time together now," she said, visibly unhappy.
The confession made Peggy think about the two of them. Since their kiss a week ago, Peggy had been too immersed in her mission and everything that came with it, and somehow neglected Angie. They were never intimate again and Peggy thought maybe Angie was feeling rejected.
Peggy reached out for Angie's hand. "I'm so sorry, love. Work is keeping me awfully busy. I didn't mean to upset you."
When Peggy said that, Angie leaned down and kissed her.
The kiss started soft and meaningful but it gradually grew into something more rough and hungry. Peggy lifted from the chair as Angie grabbed her head with both hands, pushing her. The agent was quick to push Angie's sides to herself, dragging her to the centre of the table, completely forgetting the files. Some fell on the ground on a mess and Angie started smiling into their kiss.
"Your…hmm," Peggy kissed her once more, "…files."
"Screw the files," Peggy said, reaching for Angie's legs and finally turning the actress completely to her, bringing her closer, the rest of the papers getting lost between them.
Angie, sitting on the edge of the desk, opened her legs so Peggy could fit between them. The agent grabbed Angie's hips and pushed her closer, so their bodies could finally meet. She started trailing kisses down Angie's neck and collarbone, getting small gasps from the woman as she did it.
Peggy's hands were going up Angie's waist when the agent softly stopped, looking back at Angie, as asking for permission to carry on.
"Ya know, I'm done usin' this living room when we have such a large bedroom next door." Angie said. She then whispered into Peggy's ear, "Maybe ya can take me there."
Peggy smirked and smooched Angie, "I'm quite fond of the idea".
"Plus, you're such a dreamboat with those glasses!" Angie teased.
Those were the final words Peggy needed to pick Angie in her arms and guide them both to the next room, shutting the door behind them.
[…]
Hours later, an half-naked Peggy came back to the living room, so she could organize and hide everything in order to not eventually compromise the mission. Angie was deeply sleeping on the bed and Peggy took the chance to leave without notice.
When she reached the desk, she saw a small piece of paper on top of it. All the other files and papers were either on the ground or at the edges of the desk, but that piece of paper was just in the middle of the table. Someone must have put that there while Angie and Peggy were in the other room. The idea startled Peggy, who rapidly checked around the dark room, not sensing anyone there. It was still a reason for the agent to grab the paper knife she had on the table, in case someone showed up.
The agent picked the paper and read what was written on it.
'Have fun. Maybe next time you can unzip my dress too.'
The message was accompanied by a purple lipstick mark.
Peggy thought about the message and was quick to conclude it came from the mysterious woman, Dottie Underwood.
Shite, shite, shite! I can't believe this!
The brunette grabbed the files in haste, confirming if everything was there and not a page was missing.
After a few minutes, she concluded Dottie hadn't taken anything with her. But it wasn't tranquilizing either, for the soviet spy very certainly had checked the content of the files and was now aware of half the plan for the upcoming premiere.
Peggy went back to the room, dressed up and slowly made her way to the beautiful woman sleeping on the bed, softly kissing her on the cheek. She then returned to the living room and wrote a small note to Angie, apologizing for leaving sooner, offering a couple of compliments and sweet words on the way.
She finally left the apartment and soon existed the theatre through the staff's door.
[…]
"What do you mean she was there? And what were you doing to not see her!?"
Howard seemed highly confused on the other side of the line.
"Howard, it's complicated to explain right now, but she was there and left a note," Peggy said, "I have no idea what information she gathered, but it's possible she now knows we intend to keep Steve's blood to ourselves."
"That's bad, Pegs, that's really bad. Are you telling anything to the SSR?"
"And ruin my reputation? Of course not. Plus, they'd want to know what I was doing and I'm running out of excuses."
"You know you'll have to tell me about that eventually, right?" He said, teasing.
"I know you won't stop asking."
She hang up the phone.
Even if Dottie knew about the vial and some of the SSR's movements inside the theatre, it was just a matter of Howard being extra careful in case they got their hands on the item, but it still frightened Peggy.
[Two weeks later, premiere's eve]
When Peggy was leaving Angie's cabinet, Elizabeth approached her and gave her a list with the names of all the people that were personally invited by the actors to watch the play and asked her to deliver it to those who would be in charge of organizing entrances and seats.
Curious, Peggy took a look at the list, noticing most names were from family members or significant others. She then checked which names were given by Angie: her parents, another Martinelli name Peggy assumed to be Angie's brother's and…Peggy read twice so she knew she was seeing it right…Dottie Underwood.
Notes: This chapter is longer than usual. Since I only have one more chapter left, I had to fit the rest of the story in the last two chapters...and I guess it's better when chapters are longer. The song for this chapter is "Taking A Chance On Love", by Benny Goodman and Helen Forrest (watch?v=E65N6d_vBVw). Pretty sweet!