Peggysous Collection

Till Death Do Us Part

A/N: This is a prompt I received on tumblr asking for Daniel reminiscing about his past with Peggy on the eve of their wedding. I hope you like it!!

Mackenzie xoxo

Daniel took a deep breath as he looked in the mirror, straightening his tie for the hundredth time.

"Danny boy, I think it's straight enough. You're gonna wear it out if you keep messing with it." Howard Stark's voice cut through Daniel's thoughts, and he smiled ruefully.

"Yeah, I suppose you're right. I can't help it, I'm just so-"

"Nervous?" Howard finished for him. "Yeah, trust me, I get it, pal. I'm not the nervous type and even I almost passed out proposing to Maria. I don't even know how I'll handle the actual wedding." Daniel chuckled at Howard's rambling, recalling the day his friend had asked for his help proposing.

Remembering that sends his mind back to his past with Peggy. He couldn't believe they were finally here. They'd both been through so much, and there was a time when he never thought they'd ever get this far. But now here he was, getting ready for the moment he'd stand there as Peggy walked down the aisle towards him. His mind wandered to the day he first met her.

Daniel stared in shock at the beautiful brunette standing before him, introducing herself as Agent Peggy Carter. He started a little at her accent, but he shook her offered hand with a smile, quickly introducing himself as the newest SSR agent. He grimaced as her eyes took in his crutch and limp, bracing himself for either the sickening words of pity or the scoff that he shouldn't be in field work. But neither came. Instead, she said simply two words.

"How long?" Daniel was taken aback, immediately knowing she was asking how long since he'd been back on his feet. Or rather, foot.

"Um, six months. It's been about a year since it happened but, uh, I wasn't healed enough for the prosthetic until then. And even then I should've waited longer but I couldn't stand just sitting around. I wanted to do something," he answered, "But people don't seem to want to hire a cripple," he said somewhat bitterly. He surprised himself with how much he'd told her. She smiled softly at him, nodding.

"I know the feeling," she said. "During the war, I was constantly needed, constantly being made useful. They needed all the help they could get. Then the war ended, and I suddenly was placed on the back burner. No one wants a female agent anymore. We're no longer the "necessary evil" we were before. All I do here is file things and fetch lunch. But I satisfy myself with the knowledge that I've had more field experience than half these agents put together," she said with a fire in her warm brown eyes.

Daniel smiled softly as he recalled that moment, the moment he'd first fallen in love. His thoughts began to wander again, to the day he decided to move on, not knowing she returned his feelings. He could still hear the shock in her voice when he'd told her he was leaving.

"You're what?" she asked in confusion. Daniel sighed, rubbing his eyes with his free hand.

"I'm transferring, Peg. I've been offered the position of Chief at the new SSR L.A. Division. And I've decided to take it," he said softly. He didn't tell her that she was the reason he was leaving, how could he? Peggy stared at him for a while before speaking.

"That's...that's fantastic, Daniel. We'll be sad to see you go, but I'm sure you'll make a great chief." Daniel's heart broke with her words, although he wasn't sure why. It wasn't like he'd been expecting her to protest, to beg him to stay. But a part of him had hoped. He gulped as he shook her hand slowly before she gave him a sad smile, turning to leave. As he watched her walk away for what he assumed was the last time, he couldn't fight the tears that spilled onto his cheeks.