Agent Carter An AU Series

Chapter 14 (Part 1)

Peggy's POV:

Its been over a week, and all ready I'm loosing my nerve; and I think Stephanie senses that. She starts to cry again and Daniel picks her up.

"Aw, come here little sunshine." He lifts her in the air and she starts to laugh and giggle. I look up from the newspaper and can't help but smile.

"She loves you so much, I should be jealous." Daniel looks at me and laughs.

"Nah, you don't need to do that. Does she anjo?" Steph giggles again and tries to speak.

Over the span of this week and living with Daniel, I've heard him speak more Portuguese to her than normal, and she responds to it; or tries to. I can speak and write in four different languages, but Portuguese isn't one of them; but Daniel has been teaching me phrases here and there. From the way he talks to her I think her first word may not be in English. I look back down at the paper, but I can't stay focused enough and not look at Daniel. He's soo good with Steph, a part of me wishes he were her father; but every time that thought occurs I try and squash it down. We're just friends and that's how it will stay. But I don't always want it too...

"Hey Peg....?"

"Hmm?"

"Look..." I look up and can't believe my eyes. Steph has grabbed and pulled Daniels shirt so hard shes ripped a piece of fabric off of it.

"Oh my God!" I get up off of the couch and touch his shirt. "I-I'm so sorry Daniel. I had no idea she was that strong yet..."

"Its fine." He laughs gently. "I know who her dad is, remember? I doubt it if she'll ever not be stronger than everyone else her age." I shake my head and walk away. I grab him a new shirt and enter the living room again.

"Here." I say. "I still can't believe she did this... I was hoping it would take a least 4 years, not 4 months!" And we laugh. I take Steph from his hands and he starts to unbutton his shirt. "Oh! Uhm.." I look away. "We should probably get going. I need to drop her off with her sitters and then head to work."

"Oh, yeah... uh, right." He changes his shirt quickly and I turn back around; although it isn't quite buttoned all the way. His chest is very toned, and I'm taken back by it. Our eyes meet and I freeze. I know I should feel wrong for looking but...I don't. "I should, uh...probably get ready too. It would be best if we didn't show up at the same time."

"Yes, of course." I say quickly. I grab Stephanie's things and get ready to leave and then Daniel meets us at the door and says goodbye.  

"Bye sunshine, I'll see you later." She reaches for him and starts to fuss, so he kisses Stephs cheek...and then mine. We both freeze this time. "I-I-I'm soo sorry, Peggy! I-I didn't mean to do that! I swear!" He backs away and raises his hands in the air, surrendering.

"Its alright, Daniel." I smile shyly. His eyes are still wide and he's still afraid of what he's done. "Daniel.." I laugh. He sighs but is still stiff. I reach over and embraced him. At first he tenses, and then reaches around and returns the favor. When I release him, he's almost completely relaxed. "Its okay, really. You don't have to worry about it. I know you didn't mean to."

"Good..." He sighs again. I take Steph and head to the Automatt. When we get there, Steph falls asleep and I eat breakfast while looking back at the newspaper. On the radio I hear the 'Captain America Adventure Program' and it infuriates me.

"Angie,  would you mind changing that?" I ask, annoyed. 

"Oh you bet" She says as she changes the channel. And then repeats the lines in her own actors voice. "Much better, right?"