Agent Carter An AU Series

Chapter 10

Daniel's POV:

It's been two weeks since Peggy was sick. Ever since then, she's asked me to make her tea and almost every night we've had dinner together. I don't remember how it started, but one thing led to another and we were always running into each other in the hall and then...having dinner. I've never smiled or laughed this much in my life. Even with the ass hats at work, coming home and being able to talk to Peggy and have dinner, it's a nice kind of peace and quiet. Tonight we're having a simple pasta I got from a restaurant on my way home. Right now, Peggy's telling a story about her brother, and I am laughing my ass off. 

"No, he didn't. C'mon, Peggy." Her laughter fills the room and brings music to my ears. 

"I cross my heart, Daniel. I'm not lying. He really did!" 

"Wait, wait, wait." I need a moment to stop laughing, but it's not happening. "So, you're telling me...that your brother got soo drunk," and now Peggy's laughing again. "That he got up out of his seat in front of EVERYONE and danced on the bar...and FELL?!" She's been holding back her laughs, but not this time because she bursts into laughter like I've never heard. 

"Yes! And he-" She can't stop laughing and it's amazing. "He..." She tries to compose herself. "Oh, God- he ripped his trousers... and had to explain to Mum and Dad... He had to explain why he had on no pants!" I can't believe this! For the next few seconds, we're both laughing hysterically. That is until Peggy gasps and grabs the table. 

"Peggy?" Her eyes are wide and she looks like she's in pain. "Peggy!?" I say with more worry. Her hand disappears from the table and is placed on her stomach. "Peg? Whats wrong?" She finally looks at me and her lips are wide open. 

"Daniel..." She gasps again. "Oh my god.."

"Peggy? Whats wrong?" I get out of my seat and walk to her, only to notice a wet spot on the floor. Oh no...

"Daniel.. I think my water just broke..." Holy shit!! 

"Uhm.. right... uh.. wh-what do I do?" She looks at me and all I see is fear.

"I think you should call a doctor!" Her breathing is heavy and she's starting to panic. Dammit! Right okay, call a doctor. I rush down the hall and half way down the stairs I run into Mrs. Keller.  

"Mr. Sousa? What's going on?"

"Pe- Mrs. Carter, she just went into labor!" Instead of panicking, she simply patted my shoulder and started to head up stairs. "She asked me to call a doctor."

"Oh there's no need for that, I'll handle it. You go on to your apartment, it will all be over soon." 

She smiles calmly and I follow her upstairs. When we get to Peggy's apartment, Mrs. Keller walks in, and I get a glimpse of Peggy. She's holding the frame of her bed, hunched over and in pain. Mrs. Keller glances at me and glares. 

"Go on now, this is ladies work." I hesitate, not wanting to leave Peggy, but there's nothing I can really do, so I leave. I stay up and pace around until I can't take it anymore. I leave my apartment and run into Ms. O'Brien. 

"Mr. Sousa? You look like something's happened. Are you okay?"

"Peggy just went into labor." As I blurt this out, her eyes get wide and her mouth falls open. She rushes into her apartment and I'm left alone. A few minutes later she comes back out. "Peggy's okay, for now. The only thing we can do is wait." I nod my head and lean against the wall. "You should probably get some sleep. You won't do her any good pacing and hurting yourself." I give in to her advice and head to bed. I feel like Peggy was waiting for me to leave because when I lay down, I hear her scream...

Several hours later:

I didn't think it was possible to fall asleep hearing her scream in pain, but I did. It wasn't until I heard a different scream that woke me up. A baby crying, more like. I get up and get dressed, then head to her door. Knocking gently, Ms. O' Brien opens the door. 

"Come in," she says, and so I do. 

"Colleen?" Peggy calls out.

"You have a visitor."

 As I enter the room, Mrs. Keller glares at me and tells Peggy that if she needs anything, to just let her know. She looked over at her as if to say hell would freeze over before she did that, but she nodded her head anyway. When Mrs. Keller leaves, Peggy speaks.

"Couldn't wait to meet her, could you?" Peggy smiles tiredly.

"Her? It's a girl!?" I grin. 

"I told you it was. When will you ever listen to me?" Colleen says. Peggy and I both laugh. Colleen leaves to room and goes to the bathroom. 

"She's right over there," Peggy points to a bassinet right in the corner of the room. I peek over to see her and she has a full head of light brown hair. 

"She's beautiful," I say, and she is. She has Peggy's button nose. I look over at her and she's smiling. 

"Could you bring her to me?"

"Me?!" I wasn't expecting that..

"Well, you are right next to her." She smirks. 

I lean down and pick her up. She's so small and delicate. She stirs in my arms and wiggles to get comfortable. I hand her off and she starts to fuss. 

"What's her name? Have you picked one out yet?"

"I have actually. In memory of her father..." I look at Peggy and she's smiling at the baby. "Stephanie. Stephanie Marie Carter." Marie!? I must have looked as shocked as I felt. "What?"

"Huh? Oh, uh.. nothing."

"Daniel..." She stares me down and I cave in. 

"It's just... Marie," I stop and can't help but smile. "Marie was.. my mother's name."

"Wait, what!?" I nod my head and laugh, and so does she. "You're just having a go at me, aren't you? You're just joking." I look her in the eyes and shake my head. "You're being serious?" Peggy smiles brightly and the baby gurgles. "Well, what a happy coincidence... It was my grandmother's name. I wanted her to be named after the two people I cared about during the.. hard times in my life."

"Did you tell him?" Colleen comes up from behind. "I did, and you'll never guess what." Peggy tells her about the name and we all laugh about it. "It was meant to be". I look at Peggy and she looks at me. In that moment, it seems like everything is right in the world.