[ 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.

You mean, it's not the pain killers talking? You're sure?

[ a jest, nothing more. It's easier to deal her humor after all the sentimentality. He arches an eyebrow ]

How about another piece of good news?

[ she scoffs as if to say painkillers? what painkillers? but stops just short of giving voice to that particular choice. a glass of whiskey at night is as close as she gets to dulling what she feels. anything more and -- well, peggy doesn't want to start tangling with side-effects.

but the conversation is neatly sidestepped thanks to tony's own eagerness to move to greener pastures. she nods, she smiles, she prompts him. ]

Please. [ her head tilts. ] Do share.

You know, I am going to share with you a piece of information. I've learned it in a few years of Avenging. it's not in your books but someone has to tell you this.

[ and surely it's something very important. something about tactics? infinity stones? ]

-- when you're hurting, you're allowed your painkillers. there's a whole bunch these days. maybe a bit of aspirin, advil? Vicodin, even, that one's fun.

[ and now that we're past it. ]

how about a magic trick. I'll share a magic trick with you. you like those, right? see the two laces down my vest? give them a pull. it'll be fun.

[ no comment is made over his little lecture. avenging or otherwise, she doesn't much like the strategy proposed -- deep in her gut, she decides it's not for her. and why should it be? she has no powers; she has no suit. she has her wits, her instincts, her skill. and she doesn't dare dull any of them just to make the days pass a little less painfully.

but tony starts talking about magic tricks and... ]

Fun. [ she echoes, brows up. ] Is that a promise?

[ one finger curls around a lace. she doesn't pull; not yet. something in the appeal reminds her desperately of howard, and that raises her guard. ]

It's only that yours and my ideas of fun seem to be rather different. On a good day.

what - that's bullshit. who introduced you to pop tarts, huh? those are fun, you like pop tarts. and we both know that somewhere deep inside you don't hate the clash. One dinosaur movie and suddenly, we have different ideas of fun.

[ he gives her a look. ]

go on. I promise, you'll think it's cool. let me show off. it's what people do with their aunts. you have to, it's a family duty. it's just how it goes.

One dinosaur movie, one birthday party, and about fifty pieces of Iron Man merchandise too many.

[ but she grabs at the second lace (with her opposite hand) and gives them both a gameful and curious tug.

family duty, after all. ]