Agent Carter An AU Series

Chapter 9

*The beginning is a recap from Peggy's POV and why she was up by the table crying.*

Peggy's POV:

I jerk awake from my dreamless sleep and glance at the clock. Its only been 30 minutes? Ugh. I stand up and make some more tea, but when the kettle boils, I vomit again. Once the tea is done I take a drink of it, but my stomach still hasn't settled. I make some more toast and try that, and yet I still feel the same. Maybe a bath would do. I take off my dress and lay in the hot, steaming water; heaving a sigh as my body relaxes. This feels nice... I look down at my belly and frown, its bruised to hell. The colors look like petrol in a bloody puddle. Oh little one, why must you do this to mummy?  Within another half hour, I get out; not wanting to sleep in a bath when no one is around.

 When I'm dressed I head to the kitchen to try some more tea, but room starts to spin. Oh, not again! And then, another kick, much harder than others before. Please make it stop! I reach for the table and hunch over, the cloth falls off, dropping everything on it. The teacup breaks, the toast falls, and the kettle spills. 

Before I know it, Daniel is by my side. Wait, Daniel?  He tries soothing me and asking if I'm alright, but I'm not. I'm not alright and I'm not fine. I feel as if I'm dying and I don't know what to do! I take my anger out on him, but soon notice my mistake and apologize. 

My body starts to shake and feel as if the walls are closing in. I can't hold it in any longer. I sit on the bed, like Daniel asks, but it doesn't help. He asks about my intake of the day, and its not much.  He takes my hand and it grounds me. I feel as if my body is being invaded by a swarm of emotions and pain and there's nothing I can do. 

What if this is caused by the baby, or the serum she may poses? Or worse, its something else and its affecting her and me in turn. Will she be alright? Is she alive? Wha- no,No,NO! Oh God why!?!  I cover my face and sob, but Daniel tries to help. We stand and he embraces me, and suddenly, I don't feel so overwhelmed. I don't know how long we stand there but I hold him tight; hoping he doesn't disappear. Hoping that he is real. He holds me close, or as close as he can with my large belly in the way, and holds tight. Minutes after I finish crying, he still holds on, and so do I. I feel so safe and this, whatever this is, feels so right. I don't want this moment to end. But all good things come to an end eventually.

"Hey..." Daniel says softly. He must have felt my body relaxing. I pull away, slightly, and he holds my face in his hands. "Its gonna be okay." I nod and embrace him again. At first hes surprised, then he too relaxes. He rubs circles on my back and it feels incredible. "So, what happened? Your roommate said you were sick. What are your symptoms?" I can't help but give a small, dry, chuckle.

"I don't know Dr. Sousa." At this he laughs, a full body laugh. All too soon he pulls away, letting go of me, and I don't want him to...

"I'm serious, Peggy. Whats going on?" I take a deep breath and let it all out.

"I don't know, Daniel. I.." He takes my hand and squeezes them. One look is all it takes, and I can breath steady again. "I woke up this morning feeling terrible and I got sick. Colleen made me breakfast and tea, but it didn't help, so I tried to sleep it off." 

He gestures towards the bed, and I sit down, and soon after he sits next to me. Not too close, but thankfully not too far away. 

"When I woke up, I was still ill so I made some more tea and set it down on the table. But I got sick again." He takes my hand once more and I continue. "I took a bath, which helped, or so I thought... I uhm, got dizzy and got a large kick. Then I lost my balance and..." I gesture to the mess on the floor.. "I still feel horrible, Daniel. I don't know what happened or what to think."

"What kind of tea was it?"

"Uhm...Rosemary I think. I'm not sure."

"Well it makes sense why the tea wasn't helping." I look at him, puzzled. "Rosemary, taken in large doses, can be bad for pregnant woman, and its not good for the baby." My eyes enlarge and my mouth drops, now I'm starting to panic again. "Hey hey hey.. Its okay. I'm sure she's fine, but I think that's why it wasn't helping. Instead it was why you were worse and not better. You didn't have a lot did you?"

"No, I uh, Only had a little. Normally I drink a peppermint blend or ginger root. Colleen said that's what her sister in law used to help with nausea."

"Yeah, she's not wrong." Since Daniel is holding my right hand, I take my left and rub my face, God I'm a mess..."But there are other plants and herbs of tea that could help."

"Like what?"

"Well.. Ginger root and peppermint are a start. There's also-" Before he finishes his sentence, he stops. It looks as if he's had a bright idea. "Wait here." Before I knew it, he was gone. Odd...When he returns he has a small box in his hand.

"Daniel... What is that?"

"This," He says excitedly, "will help you feel better."

"Wh-.. how? What is it?" 

Instead of answering me, he takes the kettle, rinses it out, and boils some water. I know if I stand I'll only loose my balance but I feel as if I should be doing something. He leaves and returns again, but with a bag.

"Daniel? What are you doing?" Still, he doesn't answer me. He brings out berries, greens, and cooks some eggs. What in the blazes is he doing?  "Daniel?" The water hisses and he takes a small bag out of the box. What on earth? He pours some of the content from the bag into the kettle and pours whatever it is into a new teacup. 

"Here, drink this." 

"I-I don't understand..."

"Just try it. Please?" His face has a small pout to it as he says please. Why is this man so charming and adorable at the same time?  I take a sip and taste raspberries."Do you like it?"

"Mm, I do actually. Raspberry tea?"

"Almost. Its Red Raspberry leaf tea. It has a bunch of vitamins and health benefits. It helps pregnant woman who are sick, those with nausea , vomiting, cramping, ... and it even helps with labor." 

"Ho- How do you know all of this?"

"I have two sisters with 2 kids each. " Oh how could I forget that. 

We both laugh and I drink more of the tea. Daniel walks away and comes back with a plate of eggs and fresh berries and greens. 

"What is all of this, Daniel? You didn't have to do so much."

"Yes I did. You need to eat, Peggy. This should give you some strength and the tea should help keep your stomach settled." What did I do to deserve to have this man in my time of need? 

"I... I don't know what to say." I  shake my head in amazement and look into his eyes. Everything feels at peace, and I couldn't be more thankful.

"You don't have to say anything, just eat and drink. It'll help." 

I look down at my food and then at Daniel. Before I know what I'm doing I lean in and kiss his cheek. Oh no. He looks at me, shocked, and I'm quite sure I look the same way; except I try to shake it off.

"Thank you, Daniel. I don't know what I'd do with out you." For a moment he's still in shock, but soon he recovers, shakes his head, and smiles brightly. I could get lost in his smile and be content to never look back. Thank you God, thank you for this wonderful man. I hope he stays...