[ so at the very least, the war doesn't break on his 48th birthday. Sure, tony has his fair share of worries and he's losing sleep again but he can find a silver lining easily enough.

He spots his present as soon as he comes back from a patrol. He smiles at the card, slips the bracelet on and fiddles with it for a moment or three.

Of course she remembers. Even at his years spent away at boarding school, she never forgot. Tony looks at his wrist and heads for the window.

He still hasn't learned to knock. He uses her window, as always. ]

-- you're teaming up with Friday. I should have known.

There is a lot to be said about how your computer program is more the more reasonable one.

[ something's different -- or, rather, it's a lot of little things. first of, peggy doesn't rise to her feet to greet him. she stays where she sits (feet up!) on her modest sofa. she has a pot of tea within reach, alongside a couple notebooks and a novel or three. it looks as though she hasn't budged from the spot for a few hours. her hair isn't in curls but is instead pinned and tied back so as not to be a nuisance. and although she's wearing makeup, it's minimal.

beyond that, a glance around the shelf-divider suggests that her bed hasn't been made. whatever happened to her in the prison, she's still recovering.

for now, she sets aside pen and paper. she reaches for her mug instead. but not before eyeing his wrist and noticing what he's wearing. peggy smiles. ]

It looks good on you.

My computer programs were always the more reasonable ones. You should have met JARVIS.

[ he gives her a look but says nothing. somehow, nothing about this comes to him as a surprise but then, he has known that woman for a while now. younger or older, some things are constant. he drags a chair ( loudly, without grace ) and sits down before handing her something.

it's a candy bar. ]

you look like shit.

[ and she looks right back. there's a twinge in her stomach over the name (jarvis!) but she doesn't go chasing that tail just yet. for now, it's enough to take the candy bar and turn it idly in one hand while he provides her with his verdict.

a snort of laughter. ]

Good to see you to, Tony. [ ... ] Happy birthday.

[ the ice breaks. Tony's fears are chased away and he feels a little like himself again and not plagued by the weight of his own memories. He shifts forward in his seat, he kisses her cheek. ]

Auntie.

[ oh so serious. ]

Do I need to get you a hot water bottle or something?

[ she tears open the wrapper and snaps the bar in two. one half is, of course, offered to the birthday boy. or perhaps it's less offered and more shoved into his possession. he will share it with her; she insists. ]

Heavens, no. [ she scoffs. as if he might as well have suggested living on the moon. ] There's no need to add insult to injury.

Oh come on.

[ he bites into the candy bar, shrugs as he sits back and pokes at her foot ]

It can look like iron man. That could be adorable. I am absolutely getting you one. You look like you need it.

Adorable? [ at least she can still roll her eyes. ] I'm not holding a little Iron Man against my cracked ribs. It's too absurd. And it won't help, besides.

[ translation: don't you dare. ]

It's your ruddy birthday. Not the time to be talking about getting me things.

we can call it another birthday present.

[ but it's said with a small smile a moment before he lets it go. apparently, the state of her and tony's mental state of being grateful for her company leads him to give her some slack. he does, however, pokes at her foot again. ]

so you're bed-resting. you should have said something, I'm such excellent company for times when people have nowhere to run.

[ he waggles his eyebrows ]

want to hear a story?

[ perhaps she probably should have said something, yes, only she never wanted any fuss. so the fewer people who realize the extent of her injuries? the better. for now, it's miserable enough to be sat here -- out of commission -- and enduring even an ounce of someone else's sympathy.

she wants to remind him that she's made of sterner stuff. she wants to explain that she's endured worse, and likely will go back home to worse soon enough. but she can't quite bring herself to spread such doom and gloom. so, instead, she bites into her half of the chocolate bar and answers: ]

What manner of story?

[ yes. with her mouth full. ]

A true story. and it'll be a good one, I promise. only the good ones. something funny, some good news. nothing involving dinosaurs or world-crisis. come on, it's a good deal.

[ it's certainly one of the best tony would offer anyone. but then, there is the general population of wonderland and there's peggy, he will never hide the fact that she's different from most others.

she's family. ]

you'll get to choose a timeline. I'll tell you whatever you want about me last week or about me when I was five.

[ oh. that's easy. she knows exactly where she wants to prod -- but peggy won't mind avoiding the rawer nerves. not today. she leans forward that little bit, putting some strain on her bruises, and watches him carefully.

curiously. ]

Something good must have happened while you were gone. [ back home. ] Why don't you dredge up a story from then?

[ they haven't really talked about it. ]

Can you - stop moving so much, geez.

[ tony stark is generally known as immature, reckless and irresponsible. But just now, he huffs and sorts her pillows for her. It's apparently a natural thing for iron man to fuss about his aunt. ]

I'm getting married. No joke. I proposed to Pepper - amazingly, she said yes.

[ christ alive! tony, how is she meant to sit still with news like that? she reaches out and grabs for his arm -- holding tightly, but only so she can tug him downward. only so she can look him in the eye. ]

You -- proposed? [ congrats, she's just a little lost. a little dumbstruck. ] The pair of you were on the outs when she was here last. What on earth changed?

[ she'll congratulate you. soon. probably. ]

I did. apparently that can happen. I know - shocker. she felt like I was making an effort. I was. I was trying to.

[ make an effort, be better. be the man pepper thought and knew he could be. it's not there yet but he must have done something right. ]

I work with the government. I try to be responsible. hey, I quit being a drunk, there's that.

[ there were also the sokovia accords but that might bring up the subject of Cap and tony knows better. the mood is right. it'll be a shame to spoil it. ]

so I proposed. she said yes. we're getting married. no final date yet.

[ there's that.

now, peggy can't pull him into a proper fierce and full-bodied hug. but she can clap her hand to his shoulder, she can tug him close, and she can rest her forehead against his -- just briefly, just long enough to communicate that same visceral affection that a real embrace might have done. but just as soon she's letting him go.

still, she doesn't stop smiling. ]

It's about time. And just under the wire! [ she teases. but she is oh, so happy. ] You were soon due to be put out to pasture. I'm convinced.

Have I told you lately that I think you're hilarious?

[ but he reaches for her hand, squeezes it for a moment. He stands to lose so much at home and here, too. It seems like he can finally appreciate it all. ]

You know, if she ever comes here again, you're the one who'll have to give me away.

[ he's joking, surely. ]

Aren't you at least meant to ask--? Not simply dispense it like some duty: Peggy Carter, you must do this.

[ a roll of her eyes. but she flumps back on the couch, gingerly curling up and hugging at a pillow. ]

Incorrigible. Do tell me you at least managed to propose the proper way.

It was memorable but I'm pretty sure she'd be able to talk about it in public.

[ which means the whole thing wasn't orthodox but it wasn't too much of a scandal, either. maybe once in a blue moon, he can find a semblance of balance in his life. ]

you're the one family I have.

[ and it's sweet, it's intimate and so - ]

so obviously you'd have to do it. I'm just letting you know. I'm expecting a speech, too. something about my generosity and how brave I've been and that I have a good profile.

I don't give ruddy speeches.

[ -- not long ones, at any rate. but there persists a flare of warmth in her protests that suggests, should push come to shove, perhaps an exception might be made for tony stark. doubly so with so much affection hanging in the air. family, indeed, and if she's not careful she might actually look on him with fondness. ]

Language, young lady.

[ it's said with a crooked little smile. She's not really that young nor is she ladylike. He tugs at her palm, though the very movement is gentle. ]

I won't nane my first born daughter after you if you keep behaving like this.

Is that meant to be a threat?

[ a snort of laughter -- it makes her ribs sear, but it's worth it. ]

Your poor future daughter. Does anyone even name their daughters Margaret in the future? Or, if they do, I can't imagine anyone shortens it up to Peggy.

[ a fact she's gathered from all her VERY SCIENTIFIC READING, probably. ]

People call their kids North West and Asia, so.

[ he makes a face. ]

People use that name - though they will usually shorten it to Meg or Maggie. Do you want me to start calling you Meg? Aunt Maggie?

-- Absolutely not.

[ which is probably the last answer she should give but, honestly, some lines need to be drawn.

rather than draw attention to it, she lapses back to the earlier topic: ] I am happy for you, Tony.