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Friday morning. They SHOULD be at the office, but Mickey's down sick, the nanny called out, the office has been quiet, Peggy's either caught whatever has Mickey sick or hormones are wreaking havoc with her, and there was simply no actually getting OUT of the Sousa-Carter household today. Maybe Daniel plans to go into the office in the afternoon, but otherwise Peggy put in a call to Heather about it all and asked the woman to come deliver some files to the house so Peg can work over the weekend, sick or not. It was the best solution she had.
So, mother and daughter are currently curled up on the couch, looking comically miserable and identical. There is NO DOUBT they are related in this moment, curls similiarly messy and noses matching red. They're even both in similar robes though Mickey's has little Minnie Mouses all over it and Peggy's is a plain terrycloth white. The TV is on something mindless as Peggy mutters to her daughter, "You, young lady, are going right back to sleep as soon as mum's work gets here, alright? You should be there now." As if Peggy had any room to talk.
*
Heather, upon receiving the request to bring Peggy's files in and finding out why, took no time at all in sending out for matzo ball soup, gathering up all the latest intelligence wires, packing the files she prepared for the day into a box, securing the box of cupcakes she baked last night on top of all those files, and ordering car service to be at the door (with the soup) in under a half hour. There is little like the magic of homemade soup, even if Heather hasn't had a chance to make it herself.
A hapless intern finds himself with a handful of petty cash, a short grocery list, and orders to run like the wind. National security depends on it! The poor boy isn't sure he went through training in order to pull off an emergency dash through the fruit market but there he goes. Can you find a pineapple in New York in October? You can if you work for SHIELD and want to make a good impression!
It is exactly thirty minutes later that Heather turns to take the string bags from the out-of-breath intern sprinting toward her and then steps into the car. She settles everything into its respective boxes and opens her satchel to get a little more work done on the way. No sense wasting time. She arrives at the Sousa-Carter household with two large file boxes, her bag slung over her shoulder, and a determined look on her face. Now. She waits for someone to answer the security buzzer.
*
With Peggy nearly halfway through the pregnancy and sick and Mickey sick, Daniel wasn't going to leave them to fend for themselves. He -is- planning on going into the office and drinking a lot of orange juice in the hopes that -he- doesn't get sick. He's made sure that both of his girls have what they need before he retreats into the study, closing the door so -he- can get some work done on the phone.
It might take a moment for him to remember that he's the only one who is actually dressed so that he can get the door. "Are we expecting anyone?" is asked as he limps from the study to the front door, a hand resting on the holster of the gun under his arm…he's definitely ready to get to the office!
*
"The new secretary I told you about, Heather! She's bringing me some files so I can work!" Peggy's rasping voice calls but, apparently, this person is someone she trusts enough to actually answer the door in her pajamas. Mickey is about to get up and rush, despite sickness, but the young kiddo remembers what happened last time. So, instead, she buries herself down onto a pillow on the couch, pouting for the sheer habit of it. It's a go-to thing when sick. Peggy leans over, kissing Mickey's mess of hair before getting up so she can join her husband at the door.
It's only a minute or so before the door of the Carter-Sousa residence is opened up. A totally calm, entirely too normal looking two story house out on Long Island, it's achingly NORMAL compared to Peggy and Daniel's actual lives. They've got a modern living room with the best of shag carpeting and most modern black and white television which is currently playing some game show. Peggy smiles, standing next to her far too put together husband. "…Heather, thank you… You really didn't have to rush but…thanks. Come in. Daniel, this is Heather. Heather, Daniel."
*
"Lovely to meet you, Daniel." Heather is small and red-headed and gives the impression of a whirlwind packed into the shape of a young woman. "And I didn't have to rush, Peggy?" Heather seems rather familiar and at ease for a secretary. "If I don't get you accustommed to seeing me arrive ASAP, you might be tempted to get up and do it yourself. I prefer to nip such bad habits in the bud." She sets the boxes down on the nearest clear surface and begins to dig through them.
"If you ask me for help, I assure you, I will provide it almost as quickly as you could do it for yourself. It's the only way to be sure you'll stay off your feet when you need to be — " She pauses and points into the living area. " — Off your feet. I've got your files and I brought fruit for you, Daniel, I'll make you some juice if you like as soon as I get Peggy sorted. And matzo ball soup for Peggy and Mickey, because you need to eat to get better. Cupcakes, because I really can't keep making David eat all my baking. If you like, I'll stay here to work, or I can head back to the office once we're all set."
*
Sousa's eyebrows lift at the informalness of the introductions and he glances to Peggy for a moment. He then looks back to the new secretaty, "A pleasure," is offered before he looks back to Peggy at the mention of doing things herself. Daniel actually takes a step back and crosses his arms, completely bemused and curious to see how his wife is going to take someone telling her not to do things herself.
"Good luck," is offered as Heather tries to order Peggy around. "She doesn't listen to -me- when I tell her that." The offer of juice gets a slight incline of his head, "I just had some, but thanks. And what is Mat…ball soup?"
*
In the living room, Mickey has gone from pouting to curious, because that's generally how long that lasts. A frizzy, curly dark haired little girl somewhere between five and six is kneeling on the sofa, peeking over the back of in as she clutches to the cushions, watching this new person with her parents. Feeling thoroughly ignored as well, she finally calls into the hall, "Muuummm… It's *coooold*. Shut the door!" See, she's smart and has needs! That statement alone probably speaks to just how spoiled, and smart, the child is.
Peggy is now getting it from BOTH sides, that *look* from her husband and those words from Heather. She really wasn't going to escape this. Then Mickey is calling about the door and she gives a little groan, "In, in…come on. The soup sounds wonderful, Heather." She does shut, and triple lock, the door as well. This was a normal house, but a paranoid one. She then seems to relax just a bit more at Heather's listing of her duties. She actually trusts this woman to handle everything she says she will, which is a far cry from her old secretary. I might end up a great help in the long run. "I…am more than capable of being on my feet, Heather, I promise you. Don't get the same ideas in your head he has. But… thank you. The files will help. I think that's all I need. I'm perfectly *sorted*." Well, she isn't perfect for Heather either. But she is accepting the help.
*
"The more you rest right now, the faster you'll recover," Heather says reasonably. She is undaunted. "You need to be back at work as soon as possible — and well — or people will begin to give each other those sideways looks they do that are so incredibly irritating. Rest now, put them in their places and shut the rumor mill down on Monday. Right?"
She leans over to see Mickey and to give a little wave. "Seems someone could use your company, as well. You've got a lovely excuse for cuddles around the paperwork, Peggy. I'll bring it all in once you find a spot that suits you. And once people are feeling better," she gives Mickey another smile, "they can help me out by eating some of these cupcakes. Really. I mean helping. We're going to end up just rolling poor David at the enemy if I keep feeding him the way I do. Not that it wouldn't be effective but he has his pride."
*
Yep, this is why he stepped back. It's kind of amusing seeing someone else put up with Peggy's stubbornness besides him. Daniel glances between the two and then at Mickey as she peeks up over the sofa. "Only one…or she'll be both bouncing off the walls from the sugar and miserable because of the cold…" and he really isn't sure he can handle both Peggy -and- Mickey that way! "People at the office don't descend, en masse, upon baked goods?" Maybe they need to go to a different department!
*
The MOMENT Daniel says she can have one, the imagine cold in the hallway is totally forgotten and Mickey runs on little slippered feet down from the couch, over to the trio, and puts her hand out. "One, please. I'm Mickey." Well, at least she remembered to introduce herself at all. But cupcake first. A girl has GOT to have priorities.
Peggy gives a little groan and slight chuckling roll of our eyes, "This is *Michaela*, our daughter. And Mickey, let her settle in… here. I'll get those. Really." Peggy offers to take the boxes of files so Heather can dole out a cupcake to their daughter. Of course that, no doubt, gets a glare from BOTH Heather and Sousa. She can't take the double glare. Sighing, she shakes her head. "Fine. Fine… in the office. My office. Not Daniel's. We need one clean room in the house." They had enough space for TWO offices! Must be nice. She leads the way down the front hall to the second side room where her work from home space is set up. It's actually more messy than her office at head quarters. "Just in there. I'll settle in soon with the files and *Mickey* needs to nap. As she promised me." Mickey is probably not the only one.
*
"You may carry this." Heather sets a cupcake on a pink napkin, then hands it over to Mickey. It has swirly icing and sprinkles and little silver balls on it — Heather always goes a little overboard with the goodies. "And you'll have to tell me what you think of that icing — it's a new recipe, so I need your opinion, please. Daniel can carry the goods to the kitchen — the soup need to go in a pot on the stove or in the fridge for later. And I will carry everything else to the office so that Peggy can get her work done." Heather gives Daniel the box with the soup and the groceries, then takes the files for herself. "You may carry your responsibilities, Peggy, and nothing else for the time being. That's plenty."
*
Sousa takes the soup container and looks at it for a moment, "What's floating in it?" is asked to Heather before he just shakes his head and follows the instructions for storing it. It's too early for lunch,, but they'll have it then before he goes back into the office. "Thanks," is offered before he limps carefully into the kitchen so that the soup doesn't get too jostled. He's back in time to see Mickey happily carrying the cupcake and Heather ordering Peggy about. "I think this one might work out," is offered with a smirk to his wife. A wink is then given to Heather before he leaves the two women to duke it out while he gets back to work.