6074/1954: Under the Weather

1954: Under the Weather
Date of Scene:	29 April 2021
Location:	06 Peggy's Suite - Playground
Synopsis:	1954, Peggy starts feeling suspiciously ill most mornings. She and Daniel finally call a doctor and get the good news a few days later -- they are expecting! They process a whole lot of emotions they didn't let themselves dare speak of before and then get a well deserved nap.
Cast of Characters:	Daniel Sousa, Peggy Carter

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Daniel Sousa has posed:
It was one of those rare occurances for Peggy and Daniel, a day off, which meant no alarms were set and no phones rang. Still, Daniel ever the early riser got himself out of bed sometime around eight and headed into kitchen to make some breakfast for them both. It's a full half hour later Daniel returns to the bedroom, tray balanced in one hand, cane in the other

"Peg, wake up," he tells her. "Made you our favourite and you don't even have to get out of bed for it." He'd seen she'd been feeling off this week so why not make a special day all the more so by making life easier for her?

At least that's the plan.

Peggy Carter has posed:
The scent of food coming into the room is actually the first thing to wake her up, though she's trying to ignore it. Because it's not in a pleasant way. Then he's jostling her gently and bringing it closer. There's no way to ignore that scent which should be heavenly and instead is entirely turning her stomach. She rolls away, slightly curling on herself in her ever famous grumbling about mornings. But it's rare to turn away from food.

"Mm... not...hungry. Just... sleep? More? It's bright." She grumbles. He's not in bed for her to bury herself into his chest so all she can do is bury her eyes in her pillow at the far edge of the bed and wait for her stomach to maybe calm down.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Turning quickly Daniel moves out to the hall and sets down the tray on the floor before coming back in to bed. He sets his cane down and crawls over next to her, gently rubbing her back. "Hey Peg are you okay?" he asks her. He was beginning to suspect something was going on but part of him didn't dare hope it was what he thought.

"Need me to drag the trash can over?" he asks remembering the last time. Though on the other hand it really could be poison this time... all the same he grabs his cane, hooks the trash can and drags it over to the bedside just to be safe.

Peggy Carter has posed:
"No, no..." Peggy protests, possibly a lie, but she hasn't yet figured out how much she wants to acknowledge she is sick or, really, how sick she might actually be. She gives a little groan, rolling into his hand against her back but still not uncurling entirely. She's just sort of leaned against him as she considers if her stomach will let her go back to sleep. The answer is an unfortunate one. Sleep is well and gone.

"Well, maybe. Oh...hell I hate this." She admits as he does drag it over and she considers how much better it might feel just to be sick. She takes in a shallow breath, just trying to swallow back that nausea. "And you *cooked*. You got up.. and cooked my favourite. I... just give me a minute. I'm sure this will pass."

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel supports her with his hand, frowning with concern as he watches her wrestle with the question of how sick she really was. His guess was a lot or? it was something else entirely. When she mentions the food, he nods, "Yeah, but just smelling it was making things worse, something's definitely wrong Peg, so just take it slow and if you feel like food in a bit I can definitely make you more." Any thoughts about their day off morning alone long since replaced with concern for his wife.

Peggy Carter has posed:
With the scent of food no longer in the room, she's not immediately on the edge of being ill. That nausea has just settled back into a faint discomfort instead of something threatening to be overwhelming. She slowly rolls onto her back, looking up to him through tired eyes. She looks ashen gray around the edges, a faint, clammy sweat across her features as she studies his eyes.

"Still, you cooked. And it's our day off. And you... god, you are very good to me and I am a miserable lump." She admits in a husky, somewhat gruff tone. If he dares to reach for her forehead, she's got no fever. Oddly reassuring, after several days of her being slow to move and avoiding most foods in the morning.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel does check her forehead, braving whatever retaliation might come, and some of the worry showing in his brow eases when it feels the same temperature as the rest of her. Though there's no missing that clammy sweat. He rises from the bed, collects his cane and limps to the bathroom calling back over the sound of the water running. "I'm as good as you deserve, you're only a lump because you're sick. Can't fault you for that, happens to the best of us." Even if he's not sure she's really sick or not.

Returning with a damp and well-wrung out washcloth he stretches out on the bed beside her again propping himself up on one arm before offering wipe her brow. "Can I?" he asks her.

Peggy Carter has posed:
A protesting little groan escapes her throat as he says she's only a lump because she's sick. "No...it is our day off. I refuse to be sick." Peggy protests, still feeling shakey but not so bad that she can't manage a bit of humor, especially now that the scent of food isn't making this all worse. She lets her eyes close again until she feels him crawling back into the bed, drowsy gaze reopening to figure what he's asking about. His words are so tender that she can't even try to be stubborn about it.

"You walked all that way. I'd be fairly awful to tell you know. But... please. Maybe it will help. God, I haven't felt this way since..." And then her words die in her throat as it hits her what she was about to say. She's not been awake or well enough feeling to process the possibility until that moment.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
"Not sure it works that way," Daniel calls back with a grin at Peg's refusal. "But if anyone could pull it off it's you," he says a grin in his voice. Then he's there beside her offering to wipe her brow. When she says yes, he gets to it gently, applying the warm wash cloth gently taking away the clammy sweat and leaving only warmth behind even if it's only for a few moments.

He's only just started when Peggy reaches the same possibility he's been considering and been too afraid to mention. Not of their reaction, because they both wanted this, but because he didn't want to jinx it. "Yeah, I was thinking that too," he tells her, meeting her eyes.

Peggy Carter has posed:
Six months now, they've been vaguely trying. Or, more specifically, simply not being careful. But work kept them busy a lot of nights, and there weren't always weekends off. Even if there were, sometimes they've been simply too tired. It's been a long six months. But they both want it, they both agreed, this was almost *planned* at this stage. Now her eyes are a little too wide, staring up at him with that wariness of not wanting to hope. She takes in another deep breath through her nose, steadying herself, then she just leans into that touch of the cool cloth. It helps more than anything.

"It... could be poison. We were with the Cuban delegation last week..." But even as she says that, she doesn't really sound convinced. "But that's been five days now." Poison normally works faster.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel was slowly becoming to accustom to the idea or at least not fighting it and allowing himself to hope. As he continues to dab with the cloth he says. "Well the Cubans are off their game if it takes this long to get you," he says with a smile, a sure sign he wasn't worried about poison. He rests his hand gently on Peggy's stomach, daring to say it, "I think we might want to call the doctor for another house call and a test." Okay, maybe almost say it.

Peggy Carter has posed:
As she feels that gentle weight of his hand against her stomach, her throat tightens just a bit. Peggy didn't want to hope. She doesn't quite meet his eyes, instead staring up at the ceiling as she considers all the other possibilities. "It...it could be the stomach flu. Has anyone in the office been sick and they just haven't told us? They're scared of us, you know?" She muses, a smirk crossing her slightly paled out lips. The worst wave of nausea seems to have abated -- as long as she doesn't move too much or smell anything.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
"Really?" Daniel asks. "I mean maybe the rookies, but the senior agents have all known us forever," he says more amused than doubtful.

"And nobody I've heard about or seen, though Rose is the one to ask, she knows everything about all our agents," he says. She was a one woman gossip mill, while somehow being one of their most effective agents. Daniels fingers stretch and contract gently against her stomach. "I guess neither of us are a doctor, but if things don't clear up in a couple of days, i think we need to call."

He still hasn't said it yet.

Peggy Carter has posed:
She takes a deep breath against his hand across her stomach, feeling that familiar weight in a way he's not touched her in years. Peggy's throat tightens a bit, a quiet terror peeking up with the genuine, deep hope. She finally brings her outside hand down to gently brush over top of his. It's not words, but sometimes touch says much more. There's not of the dread that came with the first time. Just the gentle tremble of almost-need.

"If... we wait a few days to call the doctor, then we'll have to wait a few days *more* to hear back. That wait is... forever. If we call today..." Her head turns back to him, meeting his eyes. "Maybe it's too soon. I know we've been... trying, but... Maybe we're being silly. Jumping at shadows."

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel smiles as Peggy fingers trace along the back of his hand, feeling his own feelings mirrored in that touch. They both wanted this.

Peggy's reasoning gets a nod, "Good point," he says. "And if we are being silly, only person that's going to know is the doctor. So? should I give them a call?"

He meets her eyes.

Peggy Carter has posed:
A little groan escapes her lips as she considers that doctor, "He's going to lecture me again, isn't he?" And then her eyes turn a little more serious, some other thoughts hitting her. "...if it is, though, if I am..." She still can't dare voice it, though her fingertips tighten overtop of his for a heartbeat, "I... I'll have to be careful, next week. Until we... know. Maybe we should call him. Just better to know, faster... So we know if I'm in the field or not." It seems Peggy is going to take the desk job seriously this time. Some lessons only need learned once.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
"Yeah, probably best if we call sooner rather than later," Daniel says the memory of their loss turning his eyes haunted for a moment. He never wanted to feel like that again. "I can do it now," he says. "It's just nine o'clock, someone should be at his office."

A beat. "And yeah, probably," he says about the lecture. "At least things are on purpose this time"

Then he looks to her again. "And we'll both be more careful this time. Like everything else, we'll do this as a team."

Peggy Carter has posed:
A deep, slow breath is taken, like Peggy is steeling herself to take an incredibly hard gunshot or go in on a dangerous mission. Yet, all she's doing is still laying there in bed. She squeezes his hand one more time when she sees that momentarily haunted look in his eyes. She's been trying not to think about it and so ends up slightly dwelling on it constantly, especially as they try again.

Finally, she nods. "Yes... Call. I'll try to sit up and see if I can *think* about breakfast. I know it... should smell good." She pulls his hand up to her lips, giving it a quiet kiss, before she lets go so he can escape the bed. Instead of heading into the hall, she starts with just trying to push herself up into a seated position.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel can see Peggy struggle and after his hand is kissed he gets himself carefully out of bed and makes his way into the hall, stepping past the food to get to the phone. He dails and calls, making the arrangements, but in doing it there's no escaping the word. Pregnant. He says it and at least at the moment the sky didn't fall and nor did it start raining blood. So far so good.

Returning to the bed, he does bend to take the cup of Peggy's brand of tea off the tray and carries it to her on the bed. "It's done, he's got a spot today if you're up for it," he tells her though he'd already tentatively agreed. "Also, if you think you can manage some tea, it might help."

Peggy Carter has posed:
Peggy's up. The sheets are mussed enough that she probably got up and slipped into the washroom for a few minutes. She's looking a touch clammy again, but still isn't feverish to the touch. She just settles back into bed in time for him to return with the tea and that news. The tea seems mild and familar enough that she doesn't immediately shy away from it, but his breakfast is probably dead on arrival.

"Oh. I'll make myself up for it. We... We need to know. How soon? I can get up... a shower, I'll be right as rain." Peggy reassures him, that stubborn, pale smile across her features. She does, at least, take an experimental sip of the now well cooled tea. That settles on her stomach fine enough. For the moment.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
"Just before noon, so, a few hours," Daniel says as he looks Peggy over, smiling that she at least took the tea. "If you're game I'll call him back and we can get things going." Now that they accepted the need to call the doctor, he has to admit he wants to find out sooner rather than later.

Peggy Carter has posed:
The offer to call him back earlier gets a good laugh from her. A little bit of a wince after as that's a BIT too much movement, but it's laughter at least. "He's going to HATE us. Yes... Call him back. I'll get dressed." She then leans up, pressing a brief kiss to the corner of his mouth before swinging her legs down off the side of the bed and double timing for the bathroom. She probably moved a little too fast. It'll still be worth it, in the end.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel returns the kiss smiling. "I can stand him hating me if it gets him here sooner," Daniel smiles before he winces in sympathy as Peg rushes for the bathroom. He slips out of the room to make the call and drop off the tray of food in the kitchen. He comes back with some water and is waiting on the bed, when Peggy returns. "He'll be here soon," he reports. "Best as I could nail him down for," he says. "You going to be okay to see him?"

Peggy Carter has posed:
Looking a little piqued, but at least steadier than when she dashed from the bed, Peggy gives him a faint smile as she leans in the bathroom door. "Mm, yes. I suspect he will understand if this is... what... well. You know. Just let me get into some clothes and we'll do our best to look presentable for the poor man." Peggy half chuckles with that, moving mostly steady for her dresser. She's not bothering getting her hair ready, but she will get dressed.

The appointment itself is much like the first time, complete with the careful warnings to take things easy, especially until they knew, and the gentle implications that maybe Peggy shouldn't be working too much longer. She bit her tongue, let him handle matters, take her samples, and leave. Then it's three days of waiting where she's certainly not gotten any better. But they've got a few habits from the last time -- Mint tea and ginger tea in the mornings. Crackers. Taking things slow a few hours. It's easier to get back into the coping techniques. The morning of the third day, she rolls over, having taken the day off work in hopes they'll be home when he calls. She's laying there in the bed, relcutant to really get up but the worst of the morning has passed with a cup of ginger tea he's made her. "If this...isn't what we think, I am going to be quite confused, considering all the old tricks seem to be...Helping."

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel is sitting in bed beside her looking over a few files while he does, in a vain attempt to get ahead of the work piling up at the office but he sets it down smiling. "Well by this point we can definitely rule out posion, and if the old tricks are working..." he lets that trail off but smiles all the same his hope clear to read on his expression.

That's when the phone rings and Daniel is jumping right out of bed and going to the phone, his hand hesitating above the reciever for a moment, glancing back to Peggy before he yanks the reciever up to his ear. "Hello Doctor, thank you for calling," he says before he listens looking over to Peggy as he does.

Peggy Carter has posed:
An echo of a hopeful smile crosses her lips as he dares to let himself think the same things she's been going over. Peg is about to turn her head to kiss the side of his shoulder when that phone rings. She jerks, jumping like she's heard a gun shot, but she simply wasn't expecting it this early in the morning. They must have gotten the answer first thing in the morning coming into the office. She doesn't get out of bed, but she sits up hopefully, watching Daniel with wide, quietly terrified eyes as she tries to swallow her galloping heart down her throat.

"Mr. Sousa, of course. Your test came back just this morning. Congratulations to you and your wife, it looks like you're expecting. Make certain to schedule a follow up appointment in the next few weeks but make certain that lady stays off her feet and out of the office, alright? She's not a spring chicken, you understand..."

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Despite Daniel wanting to tell Peggy himself his face gives it all away, his jaw dropping slightly before a grin crosses his face, yep, there's no room for doubt. "Thank you for calling this early we were sure we'd be waiting all day," he says. "We'll definitely make that appointment and I'll let her know what you said." Well, not the spring chicken part perhaps. "Thank you again Doctor." By the time he puts the phone down he's practically buzzing with excitement. "It's a yes," he tells her with words at last. "We're having a baby."

Peggy Carter has posed:
As she sees his face, she already knows. Just seeing his grin and those eyes light up like that is enough to tell her everything. One hand jerks across her mouth, trying not to yelp or make any sounds. Fortunately, she doesn't hear the ENTIRE message, she's just getting what she wants from the look on his face. While she's not one to much ever cry, there's suddenly happy, glassy tears behind her eyes that she simply can't stop. The moment he puts the phone down, she's out of bed and dashing to his side, her arms wrapped tight around him. She's holding on for dear life as a few of those tears finally escape down her cheeks. "He... he really said it's positive? We're...definitely pregnant? This isn't some...some joke?" She breathes out against his neck.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel braces himself against the wall when Peggy grabs hold of him and he nods. "Yep," he confirms. "We, or rather you, are pregnant," he says his own eyes becoming glassy from seeing Peggy's joy at the news, letting his own feelings come out in full force. "No joke, we're really going to have a baby, Peg. We need to go see him for a follow up but other than that he said keep off your feet as best you can and don't work too hard." Not at all what he said but Daniel knew what battles to pick. "So, how about we get you back to bed, and see if we can find something you and little Michael or Melinda will enjoy."

Peggy Carter has posed:
A breath of pure relief escapes her lips tailed by a happy, almost hiccuping laugh. She leans against him still, her head buried in his neck, and she just breathes in deeply of his scent and tries to steady herself enough. But the room is spinning in some odd, giddy joy. "Oh hell... Oh thank God. Thank...whatever. I was... I didn't know if we really could... still... I was so scared." She confesses softly, a fear she's never really said to him but privately held so close to her heart all of these years.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel's smile has not gone away and he's happy to hold Peggy tight and let her steady herself. Indeed he needs a moment or two for that himself. "You were worried too?" he asks her. He had never spoken about it but he had wondered if the injuries Peggy had taken had robbed them of their chance for a child of their own. He nods about her fears, ones he very much shared and pulls her close again, "It's okay now Peg, it's happened, we're going to get to meet our child."

Peggy Carter has posed:
As she hears he had the same thoughts, her arms just tighten around him almost uncomfortably firm. Peggy hangs onto her husband for dear life for a few ragged heartbeats before forcing herself to pull away enough he can breathe. She's still blinking away a few tears, one hand coming up to try and use the back of her wrist to push them away before it's too noticable.

"I... I know. I'm sorry. I probably... god, I didn't even know how to bring it up and now it doesn't matter. We... managed, again. Too old or not, injured... or not. We managed. God, I'll be careful. I promise, promise I will. Out of the field until we've got that baby in our arms, I promise." She's clutching his arms now, like she needs him to know just how seriously she will take this. Needs him to trust her that she will be careful. Another tear escapes down her cheek.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
"It's okay Peg, really," he says wiping away an errant tear she'd missed. "I didn't know how to say it either, I didn't really even want to think it I guess I just hoped that if things worked out we'd never have to," he says, his expression makes it plain that he knows how dumb that sounds now, but there it was.

"And I know you will Peg, because I know you and I know how much you want this, and I'm going to be right there beside you doing whatever I can to help, because I want this too."

Peggy Carter has posed:
Not exactly hyperventilating, but on the edge close enough and with her head still slightly spinning, Peggy finally realizes that yes -- sitting down and getting back into bed is probably the right choice. She grasps his hands once more, reaching them up to her lips for a soft kiss before releasing them just enough she can step back into sinking onto the bed a little less steady than her normal self. Down, she feels a bit better. She truly can breathe easier now.

"I... suppose we didn't have to. Things have... worked out. We'll have to tell people, the office, at least. They'll wonder why I'm out of the field. Lily will figure it out. It... God. I just don't want to muck this up again. I... I love you so much." She's probably going to be gently terrified for the next few months.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Peggy won't be the only one who will be gently terrified. The last go around showed them there were no sure things when it came to babies and they had to work to keep their's safe. For now though he's happy to help Peggy back into bed and sit down on the edge of it beside her. "We'll let the office know, and we should let Edwin and Ana know too, they'll want to help out," he says and letting them would, he hoped take some of the sting out of their own circumstances.

"I love you too, Peg," he tells her squeezing her tight before he thinks better of it and loosens his grip. "We're going to do things right this time, you and me," he promises her, pulling back enough so she can see the sincerity in his eyes.

Peggy Carter has posed:
"I know... I know we are. This isn't something we can, or should, do alone. God knows I couldn't do it at all if you weren't here -- not just the... making a baby part." She's slightly teasing there, a wry smile tugging across her still pale lips. Peg then leans up and over to tug him in a gentle, momentary kiss, something meant to be grounding for both of them when she knows their heads and hearts are in the sky.

Once the kiss breaks, she actually sinks back into the pillows, that initial adrenaline hit mostly crashed now and she's feeling the abrupt wake up call on top of not having eaten today and the quiet, deep exhaustion that's begun routinely settling into her limbs. She shifts around so she's pressed against his hip, but is mostly curled onto her side now. She can really just let herself take the day off and not feel guilty, for once. "...I feel like I've been chasing a speeding car." She admits with a half embarrassed laugh.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
A wry chuckle escapes his lips about the making the baby part. "I'd be disappointed if you could," he offers with a bit of a chuckle before growing more sincere. "And I know what you mean and like I promised when we got married, Peggy, I'm not going to let you do this alone. I'll be here with you."

He accepts that grounding kiss his hands cupping her face as he does. When she collapses against the pillows he quickly puts his files on the bedside table shifts over to let her find a comfortable position beside him, his arm draped over her when she moves in close. "Oh?" he asks about feeling like chasing speeding cars.

Peggy Carter has posed:
"I'd apologize for distracting you from work but... I suspect you'd be distracted no matter what, at this point." Peggy confesses, shifting a bit deeper into the bed and his arms. She rolls onto her back, so she's mostly facing him instead of being half buried in the pillow, but she doesn't move from his grasp at all as she's doing it. She tucks her nose in against his arm, taking in a deep breath of his scent, one of the few things in the world that doesn't send her stomach spinning right now.

"Just... felt bloody awful all morning, then got up everything was one hundred and ten percent for the last few minutes and now all of me has remembered I'm exhausted and both want to eat but do not... and I'd forgotten how gently awful the first part of this all is." She admits, mostly a goodnatured, tired laugh behind it. "I could fight half a dozen men in the blink of an eye a few weeks ago and now one phone call has knocked me on my arse."

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel laughs in response to the apology. "This was just me trying to feel busy so I wouldn't feel guilty about playing hooky," he says. "And yeah, think the ship has pretty much sailed on distraction for the day."

Smiling as she stays in his grasp he continues to hold her as they talk. He joins her in that good natured laugh. "Well at least it's a nice arse?" he ventures cheekily before saying. "But I get it, anything I can do to make things better for you right now?" he asks her before glancing at the arm around her. "Or am I already doing it?"

Peggy Carter has posed:
"Already doing it. You... absolutely are already doing it. You are too damned good to me and I feel half useless though, I suppose, that's what the doctor said I should do." Peggy already slightly resents it. She is going to go stir crazy, that much is clear. But she's willing to go stir crazy. She tucks herself a bit deeper into his arms, eye lids a little heavier than before. "I do suppose this is a lovely excuse to simply go back to sleep. Maybe I'll be up for breakfast after another long nap. Though... I don't want you stuck in this bed all morning if you are awake." The fight between indulging what her body wants and her own work ethic is clearly already starting, but she seems willing to most likely indulge this morning.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel grins leaning over to kiss Peggy on the cheek. "No such thing," he tells her as he settles in beside her, his own head on the pillows. "You deserve all of this Peggy."

"I am totally fine staying right her in this bed and getting in a long nap of my own. It's been a long while since we've had a day off and a decent lay in," he says. "So, I'm going to take advantage of it," he says with a smile. "When we wake up, we'll take a second run at breakfast whatever you think sounds good."

Peggy Carter has posed:
"...a decent lay in sounds ... fantastic. Best idea you've had all week." Peggy drowsily praises him, turning her head up for one last kiss, but it's the sleepy, searching sort of kiss she normally gives him right before they are tucking into bed at night, not the morning. She's already half asleep herself having given herself the permission to just take that nap and enjoy it.

So, kiss stolen, she tucks herself back in against his arm and drapes one hand over his waist, lacing their bodies together enough that she's stealing most of his warmth and can hear his quiet breath as she starts dropping off into rest. She'll be asleep in moments, her own breath content, comfortable and even. It's possibly the quickest sleep he's seen her get in ages, and one of the most content ones, a faint smile still painted across her lips.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
The kiss is returned and Daniel watches as Peggy drifts off with that smile still on her lips. Leaning forward he kisses her forehead before he settles back on the pillows and joins her for a well-deserved nap. They were both going to need it.