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Thursday morning. A call was put into the office that if there were any emergencies, Carter and Sousa would come back in but they were actually taking a much needed day off. Peggy insisted this morning. She pretty much insisted and then rolled back over into bed. Mickey herself seems to have been catching up on sleep, so the whole family slept in. But that was a good hour or two ago and now, drowsily, the trio are around the breakfast table. Even Mickey is still only half awake, silently munching a bacon as Peggy nurses her tea. Completely unexpecting ANYONE from the office to stop by, Peggy herself is still just in her night gown and fluffy robe, but it's not even tied shut right now.
*
Times were crazy. Very crazy. And in this time Dr. Pinkerton saw fit to at least make a house call once she figured out that Director Carter was not about to walk into the office. It was a sad sight really. She sat outside of the womans door bouncing her knee and making most of the agents who walked by nervous. She was nervous. In fact, she was a wreck. But she managed to bun up her hair and look slightly professional when she wasn't in the lab.
Probably crying.
Yup. She was crying.
Cause lets face it. Whoever thought up this Avengers crap was insane. A dare devil! An adrenaline junkie! Someone who didn't get enough hugs as a kid. Someones who's books were knocked out of their hands and chased into back alleyways to get kicked and pushed into dog pee. Someone who got the girl but was all pimply faced and totes insecure! That's who! Who does this crap anyways?!
But, with Akiva off to run a few errands and a promise to pick her up after, Ann reaches out a hand to knock on the door. And ring the doorbell. And knock on the door again. This time three times in a sucession of cadences that almost sound like a song.
And a final knock.
*
Breakfast today was simple: Scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast…mostly because Daniel needed to be able to make something that wouldn't require him to be on his feet too much. He's able to balance fairly well with the two crutches but it's a little less mobility and he needs the use of his arms a little more. He's also in his robe as well as two-piece pajamas, a slipper on his one foot.
The day off is certainly needed for all, but it also means that there's some more time to spend with their daughter. "How about later on, we go shopping for some school things, huh? Maybe a new dress and shoes for the first day? A new lunchbox?"
At least he's not promising a puppy!
*
While Mickey hasn't exactly been quiet, she's also not been her demanding self this week. It's still strange to have mum and dad home during the week and that means something is still a bit wrong, even if she was happy to have them. She eats voraciously, probably a good example to both of them, little fist grabbing for another piece of bacon as she nods to her father's words. "Yes! Yes…though, I still need a swin suit of we're seeing Tias and Pop-pop this weekend. Are we?" Well, that hadn't exactly been a conversation they had yet.
Fortunately, Peggy is saved from it by the doorbell. She blinks, a confused frown crossing her lips as she stands. "I…I'll get it. Just…just stay put. Stay in here." That has the tone of a quiet order, protective and worried. She might be just a bit paranoid. She ties her robe shut around her, walking through the house to the front hallway. Instinctively, she opens the high drawer where the gun is kept, but then she looks out the peek hole before releasing her breath and immediately opening the door. "Anna! …Are…are you well? What are you doing here? Come, come in…we're just at breakfast, come now…there is coffee and tea." She seems comfortable enough with the woman to let her in and expose her to Mickey, whom she's going to meet in just a moment. Peggy still looks ragged, her cheeks too thin, but she's better than she was when they were gone.
*
Ann was practically bouncing. And not in a happy way. Her gaze flits left. And then right. Her hand reaches back to rub at her neck as she turns swiftly to look behind her. Then she relaxes. No, not yet! To the left again, and the right. She even steals a peak at the sky as a plane flies ahead and feels immediately sick. Though, it was a quick passing, for the click of the door has her righting herself almost immediately, and quite frankly, her eyes were all wide as the devil as she forces on a smile that looks equally creepy.
"Hiiiiiiiiiiiii…" Professional courtesy was totally gone.
Even though that was all she mumbled, she hitches the bag upon the crook of her elbow as she ducks her head to enter, not that she was tall enough, then takes a slight step aside to survey the hallway of the house and a clearing of her throat. "I'm well." Liar. "Though this is an official house call so I don't think I'll partake in any pleasantries while on the job. Pardon my forwardness.." It was forced, really. Poindexie needs a nap.
*
Sousa gets to his feet and moves to stand, strategically, at the entry to the kitchen when Peggy moves to the door. If there's an attack, they'd have to go through Peggy and then him to get to the child. Upon hearing the greeting, his brows crease and crutches a little closer, "Doctor, what a surprise! I thought you'd be taking a little time, yourself…you certainly earned it."
*
"I must agree, Anna, please…come in and relax. You should have taken time off. Truly. I…I know it was difficult for everyone. You are not on the job right now. I order it. Sit and relax, please." Peggy demands as gentle as a demand can be, especially as she takes time to look the doctor up and down and can all too easily catch the signs of stress, of unsteadiness, of someone who isn't ready to be in the field again.
Peggy leads the rest of the way back to the kitchen where Mickey is standing curiously now herself. The little girl, not quite yet six, could be *no one's* child other than Peggy and Daniel. She's got Peggy's skin, though she probably tans better in the summers, and Daniel's dark eyes and hair. Her hair is a huge mess of big, brown black curls and currently not tamed in any way. She gives the doctor a curious smile, "…I'll get tea! You need tea, mum said. I heard. What do you like in your tea? I'm Mickey. I'm good at making tea, mum taught me!" Oh no. Now Mickey has someone else to yammer on to. Anna is doomed.
*
"Chief Sousa.." She gives him a nod, then looks towards the crutches, the absense of leg and well.. that was awkward. It was like seeing him undressed, and if her brown cheeks could blush, they would have. In fact, the entire situation was a blush, but she retains at least a professional stance about it all, objective and just downright tired. "No. There was work that needed to be done and I still had to organize my lab. So that was my vacation."
And the fact that her family was across the world, she really had no one to relax with.
But, the orders were given and her bag was set down by the door, her shoulders slumping just a little as she follows Peggy back into the kitchen, her head shaking in clear reluctance. For if she wasn't thinking about work, she'd think about confinement, she'd think about where those nukes were and..
"D'aaha!" A kid! A kid that was talking to her! She looked a little freaked out, sliding into her designated chair with shoulders raised and eyes wide. "Dah.. uh.." What the hell does she want in her tea? That thing was talking fast! Her eyes wide, she looks towards Peggy for just a wee bit of help.
*
Sousa hops around and goes to try and intercept Mickey from getting to the tea kettle. "Why don't you get Doctor Pinkerton a plate and a fork?" They don't need the girl burning herself while trying to fetch tea for their guest. He'll take care of that. "The work can wait, Doctor. If you're too exhausted to think, then it doesn't matter if it gets done now or later and later is better in cases like this."
He moves to make the tea so that Mickey can get the plate and silverware to bring over.
"Doctor, this is our daughter, Michaela. Mickey, this is Doctor Pinkerton. She works with us."
*
Mickey looks a *touch* disappointed that she's not allowed to serve tea — she was taught, but under very careful circumstances with her mother strictly watching, but she nods to her father and scampers over to the cabinets instead, grabbing a plate from the low one, fork, knife and napkin. They are meticulously set down in front of the doctor with the perfectionism only a five year old who takes such duties quite seriously can have. "You should eat, Dr. Pinkerton. There is a lot of food because daddy thinks mommy is starving and is trying to make her fat again." Yep. Five. As if she said nothing wrong, she keeps going on, "But daddy should get fat too because no one was eating when they were getting the bad guys, I think." She moves to climb back into her chair, really oblivious to any awkward that is going on.
Hereggy just winces a touch and cannot help but allow a very quiet little laugh to escpe her lips at Mickey's estimation of the situation. "Mickey is… very excited when a guest comes, Anna, you must forgive us. And Daniel is correct, work can wait a little while at least. We should all be taking time off, whether we can or not, we need it." And while Mickey's words might be blunt, Peggy is still looking rather thin around the edges. She definitely barely ate while the team was missing. But, she seems more put together than possibly anyone else this morning, so that is something.
*
Anna was practically holding her breath as Mickey loomed near. As a doctor and a scientist, she knows that children carry at least a million bacteria on their hands alone, and often times harbor some germ that most scientists don't even have a name for. As the little one moves away, she looks a little relieved, her hands placed upon the table, her fingers fiddling with the other as she gives a solid nod towards Daniel. "I worked fine. I mean slept fine. I went to sleep and then woke up and came straight to work. Though, admittedly, Chief, I did not leave work as I found it fitting to stay in the lab to analyze the data that was present."
Twitch!
She does nod towards Michaela.. even if the little one didn't know what a nod meant, but once she comes back again, Anna tenses. She winces, and even eeps a little as she gets close and sets the table in front of her. "Well, thank you very much!" She says in a high pitched voice. "That.. that.. is a swell job you just did there little Miss." She fixes the fork a little, and wisely keeps any mention about Peggy's weight to herself until the young one was out of earshot. And.. you know, if Ann felt like dying. She didn't feel like dying. Not today.
"There is nothing for you to forgive. It is just a child." She smiles towards Mickey, BRIEFLY, then tries to keep herself as small as possible so the young one doesn't pounce. "I have no family in the area. My brother is off with his studies and my parents are overseas. I thought it best to continue to work but.." She relents. "An hour or two doing mundane tasks is good.." Though, a quick glance towards Peggy. "..When your self imposed vacation is over, we need to weigh you." She quietly says. "And check your blood pressure."
*
"Help yourself, Doctor," is offered in regards to the scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast on the table. Daniel then returns to his seat while the kettle boils, "Don't make me force you to take a vacation, Pinkerton. If I have to check up on you, I will." It's mostly said in good humor. When the doctor mentions checking Peggy out, he offers, trying to sound a little nonchalant, "Well, if you have the items with you, why not do it now? We have a scale upstairs that is mostly accurate, I think."
Nope, he's not nervous about the baby at all.
*
Mickey is trying not to be a chatter box. She's sharp enough — dangerously so, being Peggy and Daniel's kid — that she can sense something else is going on here. She just doesn't understand what it is. And the doctor doesn't seem to like her much, which gets a frustrated little pout of a frown from the dark haired girl as she quietly goes to munching bacon again — but she's not letting Anna out of her sight. She just does that unashamed, curious staring that kids do.
Peggy almost relaxes as Daniel mentions a vacation, thinking she's going to get back up, but then the blood pressure is mentioned and Daniel's done a complete about face and she stares at them both in just a bit of shock. "…I…I'm not certain that's necessary *right* this moment, let the doctor eat, Daniel, please…" An attempt at a pleasant, not awkward or nervous smile at all, is then given to Anna, "I'm sure matters are fine, there is no rush, Doctor. Eat something, please."
*
In truth, Anna hasn't had much dealing with children, if at all! Due to her 'condition', it was thought wise by her parents for her to keep away from 'odd anomalies', especially in her early years. When she was better controllable in her teens, she was sent to boarding school, and back into the states to enroll in college and graduate amongst her peers. So, Mickey? TOTALLY NEW THING! And weird. And chatter boxy. And for some reason she smelled like bubble gum and baby powder.
And bacon.
It takes a moment for Ann to even reach for the food, her fingers pressed against the edge of the plate to turn it a few times until she feels better, her hand reaching out to grasp the bowl to carefully scoop the food upon her plate. It was all done meticulously, she was a psuedo robot after all. and she was quiet. Focused. Until she finally lifts her head with a smile. "Eat and then upstairs." So keen on working. "Though I should not be the only one eating. Yes?" She looks towards Peggy pointedly. "In any case.." She didn't know what to talk about, so.. she goes for the obvious. "This is.. a very, very nice home you three have." Awkward.
*
Sousa merely smiles a little smugly and grabs a strip of bacon for himself, "You heard what the doctor said. Eat and then upstairs." Oh, he's definitely looking at Peggy at that. See? He's eating…carefully, as his stomach is still a little wary of too much food. Peggy, however, has no excuse.
Having an almost-six year old means that he's fairly immune to the child-staring that goes on, so it isn't even noticed to be commented upon.
*
This is not a battle Peggy is going to win. She sighs to herself, taking another bite of bacon and continuing to eat slowly, though her plate is half empty so she has probably actually been eating her food already. "What happened to all of us taking a vacation? But…fine… after we eat. And thank you, Doctor. When we had Mickey there, we decided a bigger place would be nicer, so we bought this. We rather like it." Yep, just three super spies sitting around having a normal breakfast. This is what normal is like, right?
Since no one is moving, and *clearly* Mickey was included in Anna's last statement, since she said you three, Mickey takes that as permission to talk again. "Vacations are good! We're going to go on vacation and see my Tias and my grandparents and eat a lot of clams and swim and it's going to be real nice. Then we're coming back and getting a dog, but it wasn't fair to get a dog before we left and leave it all alone in the house, so I let them wait on getting me a dog. But we're doing it and I can't wait for either."
*
Awkward! "I.. uh.." Yeah, it looked like she was caught in between a marital disagreement, or at least she felt that way. So she remains quiet, picking up a piece of bacon to lightly nibble upon, her shoulders bunched up as her eyes shift left and right. Though once the house was mentioned again, Anna perks right up. "It is a goal of mine to acquire a house. Well, not one as large as this since it's only me. As of now, I live in Harlem. A one bedroom apartment overlooking the streets. It's fairly noisy. There is a dog, he barks all hours of the night. Though I assume it's because he's lonely."
Annnd.. Mickey was talking again. Anna promptly shuts up, her eyes growing wide as she watches the little thing talk its head off. It was like Mickey grew two heads in this, and Anna, tries her darnest to engage. It was rather unfortunate. Where in the bloody hell was Akiva! He was good with social situations! People talk to him like crazy and he responds!
"Uh. When, little Miss?" Anna asks. "And please do not eat the clams raw. They are too strong for your little tummy. Your little tummy does not produce the proper amount of flora and fauna to digest raw foods. You could get sick and die." She comments. Then dogs. "I would like to have a dog too one day. I think that would be nice." Yeah, she was getting the hang of it! "Though I am barely home and I do not believe that I'd be around long enough to care for it."
*
Sousa was more than happy to let Peggy and Anna talk about the house while he sort of drifted in his thoughts, but Mickey's commentary snaps him right back. "What? Who told you that? We're not getting a dog." Dark eyes shoot to Peggy as if asking 'Did you put this in her head?' before he looks to the doctor, "I'm sorry. She likes to talk."
Yeah, Peggy is totally getting blamed for the whole pet debacle. He practically drops his head in a hand as Anna mentions dogs. It's not a marital spat, more of a strong-willed, intelligent child issue.
Right, house. "We had an apartment in the city, but we wanted Mickey to be able to run around outside…spread out a bit. I have to say, living out here is very different than living in the city. It's a little more like Los Angeles, but colder and fewer palm trees." Change the subject, change the subject!
*
What had Peggy said when she was so exhausted and just desperate to give her daughter some comfort? Had she brought up the dog again? She could barely remember! She winces just a bit, actually looking a little guilty for the moment about it, "It…we…we can discuss it…another time…" She finally stammers. Suddenly the scale and being prodded were looking WAY more tempting. "Doctor, I think whenever you are ready, I…I'm done with breakfast…" Yes, escape! Maybe.
Mickey gives her father a rather grumpy look then looks back to the doctor, "I will help you baby sit your dog and would walk it every day if you get one, you just need to move here. I don't think I can walk to your apartment. Your dog can play with my dog. Because I *AM* getting a dog and that is the end of this story!" The way she says 'the end of this story' makes it clear that is something she has stolen from ONE of her parents. As if to affirm her words, she stands up and marches off in the direction of her room, her final pronouncement having been made!
*
Uhoh. Anna felt that she should just keep her mouth shut from now on. A spoonful of eggs were soon scooped up and shoved right into her mouth, her head down and glances exchanged from Mickey, to Daniel, to Peggy all in random order. Shit. No mentioning of a dog. She loves dogs though. At least that's what her and the little thing have in common. So there was a tiny little kinship formed, at least in Anna's mind. And it was keeping her off of work.
Though, Once Peggy says it's time to go, it was time to go. She raises from her seat, then sits right back down as Mickey begins to talk. Her eyes widen, the prospect of moving in was lovely but.. "Oh.. I.. you.. nooo.. I mean.. it.." Yes. Anna stammered through Mickey's declarations with one hand raised and the other gone down, lifted again and down towards the plate to turn it awkwardly. Then back again and an opening and closing of her mouth. Holy beans. The kid was angry.
What to do! What to do! Anna didn't know what to do! She wanted to lift her hands to shake them at the air and squawk like a bird but she couldn't. This was almost worse than that mission! All the tensions were high as it was in the house, and Anna didn't know what to do! "I.. think .. I.. should… go…"
*
Sousa starts to say something in response to Peggy, but his eyes widen and his words are cut off as Mickey makes her announcement and her dramatic exit. He was quiet all through her rant, but once he hears her stomping up the stairs, he actually can't hold it in any longer; he just bursts out laughing, right there at the table. It takes him a moment or two to recover before he offers, "I'm sorry, Doctor. She's…usually better behaved." But he's still chuckling.
"It's all right, Doctor. It happens a lot here…she'll go sulk in her room for a little bit and then come back out when she's ready." She gets that from one of her parents as well, no doubt.
*
"Truly, Doctor, it's fine. Take a breath. Relax. She is… a remarkably stubborn child. I have not a clue where she gets it from. Truly." Peggy deadpans that last little bit, though there is the glimmer of a tease behind her eyes and a slightly warmer smile. See? Everything was fine. "But…if you would rather go home and relax, there is no obligation to stay. However…well, you came all the way out here. I should do better to *not* act like my 5 year old daughter and be a touch less willful about these matters." Peggy sighs, at least willing to eat a little crow about this, especially with the dog matter. So, she stands, waiting to see if the doctor is going to stay. If she does, she'll lead the way upstairs. They can clean the kitchen later.
The second floor of the residence is just as nice, light cream shag carpeting, wood paneling walls. The bedroom is a *touch* messy, suits and shirts draped over various surfaces, but it certainly could be worse. Cherry wood furniture, a big four poster bed, a large window with a plush, heavily pillowed window seat. It's a look into the strange side of the fact that the Director and the Division Head were actually people. Normal, regular, every day people.
*
"Aach!" Anna jumps as soon as Sousa breaks out into laughter, her hands nearly raising up to shield herself from the quick outburst. She obviously wasn't used to this much life, life which was only read in books and played about upon the television. She truly needed to get out more. Not to mention, that fright nearly had her in tears, but she quickly sucked it up like a very poor agent and gave off a stiff upper lip by way of wiping and batting away at her face.
"Okay.." That's all she could really say. Jesus, these people were mad! (Because they were normal.)
She does take a breath. A moment. Suddenly, the food didn't look as great as it tasted. Thankfully, Anna survived on bread and cheese alone with the occasional drink of milk or hot sandwich at the local diner. So eating three peas would be enough to sustain her for hours. "This is all so very, lively.." She finally manages to recount, her head shaking as she continues to take that little moment to gather her wits. "No no no. I did come here to do a job. Your health is just as important and I would not like to see your vacation ruined because you're ill. Or could be." She clears her throat, then stands.. fully expecting Sousa to follow. But yet, once upstairs, Anna takes her time, eying the decor with a little bit of her own childlike wonder, who would have thought that the Director and Chief were.. disgustingly normal?
*
Sousa blinks over at Anna, "Sorry if I startled you. She just makes me laugh sometimes." He makes sure to turn the kettle off (it was just about to boil and whistle!) before he follows them upstairs. He's a bit behind seeing as he has the crutches, but he's actually taking doctor's orders and giving his poor leg a rest from the prosthetic. He'll need it enough if they manage to go away this weekend.
At least Peggy is complying…it's surely close to the end of the first trimester and after that they can breathe more easily. But he also knows that Peggy has been under a lot of stress and they don't want that to end up causing harm to the baby. "After this though, Doctor, you have to promise us that you'll take a vacation. Even if it's a few days."
*
"Mickey is… well, very much a combination of us. Best and worst parts. But she's charming in her fire. We…probably encourage her too much." Peggy admits, and it's something so very different from her now than what is seen in the office. Warmer, more immediately loving. She is utterly fascinated by and a complete push over to her daughter, where she's not a pushover to *anyone* else in the world. It's definitely jarringly different to see the couple at home, in their domestic life style.
Daniel's comment about a vacation gets an almost immediate nod, "Listen to him. I mean it. We'll get you danger pay bonus and leave time starting tomorrow. You need it as much as anyone." Peggy then slips out of her robe, standing in just her night gown, a gray satin piece trimmed with matching lace. Simple and oddly elegant. "Alright, fine…let's get this done with."
*
"I have no where to go." At least Anna thinks that vacations mean going somewhere fancy. There really weren't places that she was hard pressed to visit. None that would accept people like her readily unless she knew where she was going. But, once Peggy complies with the examination, she actually takes a step forward, lifting upon the tips of her toes to use her hands to check against her lymph nodes. Each press of her neck was careful, and Anna was gracious enough to avoid eye contact where needed.
"Encouragement is good for children. That I've read. Not that I was reading up on such things. I just know." She had tons of it, actually. But then after, Anna was quiet again, lowering her hands to carefully press into Peggy's belly, waiting for a reaction from the woman of phantom pains or usual discomfort. "And you have been taking your vitamins while we were away? Drinking plenty of fluids?"
*
Akiva arrives late, but, then, also arrives precisely on time. The delay resulted from a few difficulties on the freeway, which Akiva explained over the phone were impossible to have predicted. He estimated his delayed arrival time and, unsurprisingly, was within a five minute range of it upon arrival.
He's brought a vase of flowers, what he's read is a traditional gift for visiting the home of an American, along with a bottle of wine - a tradition of his own people. He's perfectly coiffed, despite having spent so much time bottled up in a hot car, smelling fresh and clean as he knocks on the door.
*
"Well, you can stay at home and rest…go about the city. Museums, shows…" The good thing about New York is that there's always something to do! "It's about getting rest," Daniel explains as he leans against the doorway. He doesn't want to interfere with the examination, but he'd like to know how things are going. He's actually about to say something else when there's a knock on the door downstairs. "Who on earth…" he looks to Peggy to see if she was expecting someone, but then starts to crutch his way back down the stairs.
*
This is always entirely awkward. Peggy feels like a slab of meat, even if she trusts Anna and the woman's hands are expertly clinical. Still, it's nerve wracking and she has actually lost a touch of her softness — at least everywhere but her stomach which is now showing just the slightest tell-tale bit of firm outwardness — but her ribs are more noticable and the last few weeks of work have done *nothing* for her health. She's tried, just probably not hard enough. Her blood pressure is on the uncomfortable edge of normal to high for her state, but isn't quite dangerous — while she's sitting in her house, relaxed on a drowsy morning. It's been a bad few weeks. She just takes a deep breath, no odd pains with those press of fingers. At least that is going well enough. "I have been taking the vitamins and…lots of tea. Some water. I've managed that much, at least, I promise." Peggy admits quietly. She then frowns, shaking her head, "No, not expecting anyone…but didn't Anna say Akiva was coming after…Probably him."
And it's probably good that Peggy at least remembered that so Daniel doesn't have a *complete* heart attack when little legs go skyrocketing past him down the hall, "I'll get it, I'll get it!" Mickey calls, using her speed to actually get to the door before everyone else for once. A minute later, the door is being opened by a tiny facimile of Carter and Sousa in a very curly haired, pink night gown wearing body. She's got huge brown black eyes and just that look of curious stubbornness that says she's probably a nightmare. "…Are you Akiva? I was listening, mum talked about you. Are those flowers for your girlfriend? Is it the doctor?"
*
"The library.." Anna comments, though it was an off-handed comment that told that she really wasn't listening to Sousa at all. In which she'd apologize about later. Every thing was on the up and up where Peggy was concerned, save for the weight. In which Anna does a very disrespectful poke and slight tickle to the ribs to at least lighten the situation of poke and prodding. "You need more food."
The door knock? Ignored! The little feet running through the hallway? Not! Anna freezes up, pauses.. then continues to work again, then time by checking Peggy's pulse. For if it was Akiva, thank the lord. He can distract the tiny monster while Anna runs away. At least for now. Hopefully Mickey wasn't thinking of following her home so that she could pack her bags, move in, and buy a dog.
"I went on a date with him." Anna quietly confesses once Sousa was out of earshot. "I would like to ask him out on another but I think that would be too forward and unbecoming of me. My mother always considered women who do such, harlots."
*
It's not a complete heart attack, but Sousa does bellow, "Michaela Inez!" She knows better than to just answer the door! It takes him a few moments to get down the stairs and make his way over to her, "What did we tell you about opening the door?" It's a good thing it's someone he recognizes, albeit someone he's not all that familiar with. "Go upstairs," is said to the girl rather firmly, "Go to your mum."
Only then does he look back over to the visitor, "I'm sorry, Dr. Ben Avraham. You just met our daughter, Michaela." It's a lazy 'day off' for the Carter-Sousas as he's still in his two-piece pajamas and a bathrobe. Instead of his usual single crutch, he has two, his right pajama leg mostly free of a physical leg today. "Please, come in."
How many people have their address?
*
Akiva looks down at the small girl, his face non-plussed. He was aware that they possessed a child, but it's been some time since he's encountered one face to face personally. Especially unarmed.
"I am Dr. Akiva Ben Avraham, yes, young lady," he says solemnly. "The flowers are for your mother, a gift intended to wish her and your father a happy home. I'm sure their home is, indeed, happy with you in it, liebchen. Would you mind leading me to where your parents and my, er, girlfriend happen to be?"
*
Akiva looks up as he's greeted, "Ah, it is no problem, Chief Sousa, you are recovering, it is only natural."
*
Peggy smirks at the rib tickle, "I'm..working on it. It's been a rough few weeks. But see? I told you, just fine." The brunette insists, her shoulders squaring off a bit as she tries to maintain her confidence through it all. The doorbell and Mickey's running — more so Mickey's running — definitely gets a jump of her pulse but Daniel's out the door and clearly ready to handle it, so she looks back to Anna and gives a softer smile, "You should ask him…Daniel didn't dare try with me until I literally jumped on him and kissed him at his desk in the office. So…not all women are harlots who take charge. You should do it." She encourages the woman softly.
Mickey winces a bit as she hears both her names. Oh, she was in SUCH trouble, and she knew it, but she also gives Akiva a big smile that says it was worth it, showing off all her teeth, including one of the loose ones right at the front. "That is very nice of you, Dr. Akiva Ben Avraham." She pronounces his name so carefully perfectly, then looks back to her father with a pouting bit of a glare. "…fine. Going." And, as sulky as a five year old can be, she sulks back up the stairs. Step. Sulk. Step. Sulk.
*
Sousa waits until Mickey is heading up the stairs until he turns back to Akiva. Girlfriend! So this is the one Anna was asking him about? Moving to the door to close and deadbolt it, he then gestures to the living room, "Thank you, that's very kind. I'm sure Peggy will love the flowers. They're upstairs doing a quick examination, but they should be down in a moment. Can I get you anything? Juice? Tea? I can warm up some bacon and eggs if you're at all hungry."
He should really get dressed. Maybe once the women come down he can make an escape upstairs to do just that.
*
Akiva nods, "Tea would be lovely. I'm quite full and, even otherwise, I'm afraid I do not partake of bacon," he says. "I am considering going fully vegetarian, in fact, but I am unsure if it would cost me in terms of health. Nutritional supplement technology isn't advanced enough yet," he says. "I hope your wife is well, then? Merely a precautionary exam?" he says, making small talk and the like as he takes off his jacket and sets it aside, his wire-rimmed glasses perched easily atop his nose.
*
The rest of the exam is handled politely. While the Sousas actually might enjoy some adult company, Michaela is acting like a pure nightmare. Apparently, while she was excited for guests, she's less excited about having to split her parent's attention. So, it's not too long after Akiva and Pinkerton are reunited that apologies are said but the parents in the room need to actually have a private, stern conversation with the acting up child. And, you know, probably get dressed. So, polite goodbyes are exchanged, the doctor's permitted to go on their way, while an entirely too domestic family day sets itself in the Carter-Sousa household.
*