The Future Meets the Past

Chapter 5

"So..." 

Daniel gives Mack a pointed look and he looks away sheepishly. Now was not the time to discuss what happened in the office. Mack raises his hand in the air as surrender, but the others aren't so easily persuaded. Of course Simmons spoke with Coulson on meeting Director Carter... and some of the more quiet observations, leading Coulson to jump in. 

"I thought you said you weren't married?"

"What?" Daniel looks around the Zepher at the others, whom were either looking on at the conversation or making themselves busy. 

"When we first met," He gestures to Daniel's left hand. "You said it was complicated, yet no ring." He smirks.

Simmons glances between them, a fan girl grin working her way on her face. May rolls her eyes but smiles on the inside at how this crazed mission of there has some what of a light atmosphere. Somewhat.

"Peg and I are... complicated. That wasn't a lie."

"Peg? Really?" Coulson's excitement was bleeding through and Daniel noticed.

"What?"

Simmons hides her face while Coulson's smirks shrugging as if it was nothing. When really it was everything. His two hero's were together and had done a lot of good for the world. They were a team in more ways than one, and both Coulson and Simmons we're excited at the news. Daniel glances between them, cautious and confused.

"Okay..." He says dragging out his words. He turns to Mack and says, "So we have want we need, ready to go?"

He nods in confirmation, looking oddly at the two as well before walking away. "Yeah, let's get going. We need to figure out what's next."

~~~

Daniels alive. Daniel's alive... Daniels alive!!

The words echo and bounce through Peggy's mind as she replays the events of the evening. It certainly was on her top lost of strange things she's encountered over the years. But to find her fiancé alive? After being told he was killed? Only to discover he was alive all along time traveling to save the universe... It was too much.

Peggy sits in her chair and sighs, head in hands while elbows rest on desk. 

As she stays there lost in her spiraling mind, her door opens, in entering an old friend. "Peg? You okay?" Peggy looks up and sees non other than Howard Stark. He takes on her pale appearances and stolen expression. "You look like you've just seen a ghost."

"Perhaps I did." She shrugs, but the nonchalant behavior doesn't reach her eyes. Instead a tear escapes and he comes to stand by her.

"Thinking of Danny boy again?" Peggy sighs and hides her face in her hands, defeated.

She was thinking about Daniel, just not in grief. Not like she always had. Instead it was shock, confusion, and resignation. Daniel was alive and okay but can't be with her. Not right now. He said he would come back and it would be as if none of this ever happened... Whatever that meant Peggy thought.

"Come on, I got something to help take your mind off of it." Howards says, sending her swirling thoughts.

"Howard I am in no mood for whatever party you plan on throwing."

"Hey! No parties. I told you I'm over that life." At her inquisitive brow he strings slightly. "Mostly."

"Mhmm"

"I have Marie, okay. She's good to me, Peg. I don't need... Anything else. I'm happy." As he says this Peggy look him over, noticing nothing but sincerity.

"I know. I'm happy for you, Howard." He dunks his head to hide the rising heat in his cheeks before pulling her out of the chair. He knows if she stays she'll sulk and keep thinking about Daniel like many times before.

"Come on. Up with you!" She rolls her eyes but chuckles, giving in.

What a night this will be. Only to think Daniel will soon, someday, come back and be apart of it. The idea thrills Peggy enough to keep her mind occupied. 

Daniel's alive! He will come back home.