Later, when the dust had settled, so to speak, she had had to admit to herself that her dalliance with Chief Daniel Sousa had been quite...fun. She could think of no other word for it, really. She adored him, truly, and respected him, admired his courage. He was, perhaps unsurprisingly, a very good kisser, and it was quite obvious how much he revered her. Loved her, even.

And really, it was quite nice to have someone around who was not afraid to show affection, or express it. She relished in the feel of his arms around her, his body warm against her, grounding her here on this earth. Keeping her from fading away, not unlike the machine that Dr. Wilkes had had to build to keep him anchored here.

And Daniel was a good man. Good almost to a fault, really. She supposed, in hindsight, too good for her. But in the weeks following Agent Thompson's shooting, as they waited, nervously, to see if he would wake up from the coma he'd been in since they'd repaired the damage to his lung, he was a comfort and a delight to her. Jack had lost a lot of blood, and by the time he was found he was already in shock. The doctors feared that he'd suffered irreparable brain damage, but they admitted that only time would tell.

So the Agents of the SSR waited.

And despite their concern for Jack, it was, for a while, a pleasant, halcyon time. All smiles and hope and healing. Work was as drudging as ever, as they all diligently searched for Jack's would-be assassin, and scoured the city for Dottie Underwood. Peggy wasn't sure those two tasks weren't one and the same.

Still, on their days off there was still time for lounging by Stark's pool, going out to the pictures and out for supper. Sometimes just the two of them, sometimes with Howard and his belle-du-jour, and even occasionally with Ana and Edwin Jarvis, the former still recovering from the injury that had wounded Peggy's heart as effectively as it had taken Ana's fecundity.

But, the more time Peggy spent in the redheaded woman's presence, the more her guilt was assuaged, for Ana was as forgiving and vibrant and wonderful as Peggy had assumed any woman worthy of charming Edwin Jarvis into committing treason of all things must have to be.

And as Angie was far away in New York, disappointed that Peggy had decided to extend her sojourn in Los Angeles, and as Peggy was at most times, surrounded by men, they had taken to each other.

And while she liked and respected these men (most of the time), she supposed there was no substitute for pouring out your heart to your best girlfriend.

So she found herself growing closer to the butler's wife, who, it would seem, held Peggy in a high regard as well. Ana never hesitated to lend her an ear whenever Peggy had something she needed to get off her chest, and Peggy was more than willing to listen to Ana describe the struggles she faced, both physically and mentally, as she recovered from her injuries.

And Peggy had to admit it was nice to have a beau again. As the four of them lounged by the pool one warm weekend, Edwin and Ana, Peggy and Daniel, she had to admit it felt good to be part of couple. She was so used to being alone, a singular entity, and she felt especially so in the presence of Mr. Jarvis and his wife. So to have someone, finally, who was smitten with her, and whom she cared for deeply, as well, at her side was certainly different. In a good way, of course.

The four of them had an easy rapport with each other, having spent so much time together in such dire circumstances. Jarvis and Daniel were in the pool, tossing a ball back and forth, with Edwin prattling on about the benefits of keeping fit, and offering to teach Sousa the finer points of yoga, a meditation and exercise practice from India Jarvis was certain would help Daniel in the rehabilitation of his leg.

She and Ana watched them occasionally while the two women spoke about varied topics: their parents and siblings, Howard's next picture, Hungarian recipes, the climate, and, most hilariously, Bernard the flamingo. And while she felt relaxed and rested for the first time in what she was sure must have been years, she had to admit that she always felt comparatively dim when sitting next to the brightness and radiance that was Edwin's flame-haired, fair-skinned wife.

The California sun was seemingly casting a halo around Ana Jarvis today, despite the fact that they were in the shade, and her alabaster skin seemed to glow as if lit from within. Peggy did not often feel envious of other women, especially not when it came to looks, and she certainly was not prone to insecurities about her own appearance. She was confident in the body she'd been given.

It was just that Ana was so captivatingly serene and effortlessly beautiful, delicate and feminine, yet still a force to be reckoned with. Not to mention terribly kind and selfless and soft-spoken, and really, just all of the things that Peggy Carter knew she wasn't and would never be.

And why it left her with a mild, yet lingering feeling of discontent while in the presence of the Jarvises and her new SSR Chief boyfriend, she didn't want to ask even herself. She was happy with Daniel. He and she had been dancing around this thing for quite some time, had they not? And he was such a lovely man: determined and brave, intelligent and endearing.

If Ana noticed her discomfort, she did not let on, nor did she appear to have noticed the glances Peggy accidentally shot at Edwin from time to time, only to find her driver already gazing back at her with that look of his. And as Edwin's gazes were nothing if not intense, and she always found it very difficult to look away when his blue eyes were boring in on her. But he was her friend, and they just happened to be rather attuned to each other, having grown up in the same country and experienced a lot of the same things. She didn't put much thought into it.

Later, as the boys exited the pool and entered the house to 'cook up some vittles for our ladies' (Daniel's words, though she expected it had been the butler's idea), Ana smiled, and sat for a while after the door had closed behind them, gazing out at Howard Stark's beautifully manicured back yard.

Peggy took a cue from her and leaned back in her lounge chair, taking a deep breath and relishing the fact that for the next day or two there were no bad guys to chase. Well, there were, but they would keep until the good guys were appropriately rested.

She smiled at how loose her muscles felt, at how the sun seemed to imbue her with a natural calm. She was relaxing with her closest friends and her charming new beau at a palatial estate. Whitney Frost was locked away forever, Jack, according to the most recent report from his doctor, seemed to be showing more and more signs of life, they had a few leads on his shooter that she'd investigate come Monday. Life, as it were, was good.

But then Ana Jarvis decided to speak.

"Daniel is a very lovely man," she said, almost drowsily, and Peggy smiled at her words.

"He is, Mrs. Jarvis, he truly is," she replied.

Ana was quiet for some time, and Peggy turned to her in the warmth of the afternoon to see her contemplative, tapping her delicate fingers on the arm of her chair.

"But you don't love him, do you, Peggy Carter?"

Peggy's heart quite possibly skipped a beat as she stared at the woman beside her. For several seconds she couldn't think to speak.

"I—well, I don't…that is to say, Mrs. Jarvis, that I care for him, and very deeply so, and I expect in time, I'll grow to love him," she said, feeling like an idiot. "Daniel and I haven't had a lot of time—"

"You've worked together for years, have you not?"

"Well, yes, a few years, but that was work. I didn't, I mean, we didn't, or rather, we haven't had a chance to get to know each other, as people," Peggy stammered out, sighing defeatedly. She knew her bumbling words had convinced no one.

"But what about Dr. Wilkes? The two of you seemed to hit it off right away."

Peggy sighed. "Well, yes, and I do still care for him, but I suppose I got a bit caught up in the moment. The danger, the dancing. But it is very hard to forget a man pointing a gun at your head as a means to his own end, however understandable that end may be. Still, he's such an intelligent man and as a man of colour he has faced so much—"

"Not unlike the adversity that your Chief Sousa has faced, no? The piteous looks and the hours of physical therapy."

"Well, I don't pity him," Peggy said, and it was the truth. "He's proved himself time and again."

"I wasn't implying that you did," Ana said. Peggy was getting increasingly uncomfortable with this line of questioning. "I am just trying to help you see what others see, but perhaps you cannot."

Peggy frowned and turned to look at the woman. "I don't understand."

"Can I ask you a question, Ms. Carter? A personal one?"

Peggy scoffed. "You might as well."

"I know that it has taken you a very long time to feel comfortable with romantic pursuits again," she said, her round blue eyes gazing at Peggy imploringly, "but I'm curious. If, when you met, if Mr. Jarvis had not been my husband, or, anyone's husband for that matter, would you have pursued a romantic relationship with him, when you were ready to?"

"Mrs. Jarvis!" Peggy burst out, as scandalised as Peggy Carter could possibly be. "Why on earth would you ask me that?"

Ana, to her credit, merely shrugged, a tiny half-smile crooking the corner of her mouth.

"I—I can't even really begin to answer that question," Peggy said. "I mean, everything would be different if he were not married to you. The first time we met he spoke of you, and I could tell how much he loved you. I never thought of him in that way."

"But if he hadn't spoken of me?"

Peggy could only shake her head at this perplexing woman sat beside her. "I suppose, I mean, it was nice to hear his accent if anything. Made me think of home. Of course, the first time we met, I socked him." Peggy laughed, and saw Ana smile at this as well. "And then Howard pulled up and I was so happy to see him again. He made me think of Steve." Peggy smiled at the memory. "Of course, I was very grateful when Mr. Jarvis came with me to the Roxxon plant without even a second thought. He saved my life, you know? We both could have easily died that night if not for him." She sighed, looking down at her lap. "I knew I'd met a friend for life, and yes, perhaps if circumstances had been different we may have travelled down that path in time, we certainly get on well enough. But he only had eyes for you, Ana."

Ana smiled. "And I love him too, with all my heart. But you must understand that before you showed up our lives were relatively…dull," she said.

"Er, yes, as you both keep saying."

"He was bored. I know he missed the war, even if he never spoke it. He knew I did not miss it. But I could tell he ached to have purpose again, and you gave him purpose, Ms. Carter. He was himself again, the same man who rescued me all those years ago. I knew it could be dangerous, but Edwin was enjoying life again. I didn't care why. And as time went on and he told me of your exploits, I couldn't wait to meet you," Ana said, and Peggy smiled in spite of herself. "Of course for a long while I assumed it was the adventure Edwin loved so much. I know that was part of it. But he cares for you, very much so. I see the way you look at each other," she said, and Peggy opened her mouth to object. "You don't have to defend yourself. Sometimes two people meet and they are just suited to each other. And you are an amazing woman, Peggy Carter. Daniel is a good man who loves you deeply, but I suspect that in the end he won't be able to keep up with you. Edwin, despite his occasional bumbling, I believe, is very much your equal."

Peggy could only shake her head at these words, her mouth open with denials she couldn't seem to articulate. It was some time before she was able to speak.

"Mrs. Jarvis, I assure you that is not the case. Your husband is a dear friend to me, and I care for him a great deal. But that is all he is to me, a friend. I couldn't—I don't feel that way for him, and I don't see how he could feel that way about me. He loves you, so much. If only you could have seen him after you were shot. He didn't care about me, or anything else. You were the only thing on his mind."

Ana smiled, genuinely, and nodded. "I know that Edwin was very upset. I could see it in his eyes when I first awoke. But I think that in part his reaction was as much due to guilt as it was to love," Ana said. "I don't doubt that my husband loves me, Ms. Carter. But I also believe that there are feelings between you and him that, perhaps, defy convention. Feelings I don't believe either of you have acknowledged."

Peggy could only shake her head. Why was this woman doing this to her? The Jarvises were the perfect couple, happy and so very much in love with each other. Devoted to each other. She didn't understand.

"I can love Daniel, Ana," Peggy said, at last. "And I'm not in love with your husband." She turned to see what she had been dreading: Ana gazing back at her almost sadly, a wrinkle of doubt creasing her pretty brow.

But then the door opened and the men burst out, chattering animatedly about something and carrying trays laden with assorted crudités.

And she and Ana were forced to be themselves again, smiling as Daniel and Jarvis laid the trays down on the little table. It left Peggy to wonder if her bizarre, discomfiting conversation with Edwin's wife had even happened, as she picked up a particularly appetizing-looking item that looked like dumpling with a hard crust.

"What are these, Mr. Jarvis?" she asked, perfectly normally, as if she and Ana had been discussing hair salons and frocks the entire time they'd been gone. She had to admit she was getting rather good at this acting business.

"Miniature tacos, Ms. Carter!" Jarvis exclaimed, and Peggy exchanged a smiled with Ana. "And I assure you, they are just as delightful as the regular-sized ones!"

Peggy couldn't help but laugh.