Losing control of a situation wasn't something which often happened to Peggy Carter, but she would be the first to admit this mission had gotten entirely out of hand. She hadn't expected that, but, in her defense, she also hadn't planned on meeting Angie Martinelli.

Within less than two hours, all her carefully laid plans had flown out of the window and now Angie was fleeing the scene as if the devil himself were chasing her.

"Carter? You okay?" Johnson's concerned voice floated across the room, pulling her from her musings.

"I'm fine," she winced, pinching the bridge of her nose. "But I'm afraid that poor young woman isn't." She nodded towards Angie's retreating from. "Can you manage this?"

"Absolutely."

"Good man," Peggy replied, and then she took off, racing after the turquoise bunny that had gotten a considerable lead on her. She watched as Angie darted through a swinging door and disappeared. Running harder, she soon reached it and called after the younger woman, but Angie didn't stop. She saw her round a corner and gave pursuit, but when she came into the hallway, she skidded to a stop, seeing nothing but blackness at the far end of the dim corridor and no sign of Angie. She paused, listening. A minute later, she heard a door slamming several yards away. Following the sound, she burst into an alleyway, the cool night air a welcome relief across her flushed skin. The area was dark, save a pale yellow light situated on the building opposite them, but through the faint illumination, she was able to discern Angie's small form.

When Angie turned to face her, Peggy's heart almost broke. Tears streamed down the other woman's face, and she eyed Peggy with a look that was practically fearful. Peggy shifted to step closer, but Angie raised a hand to stop her.

"Angie, I can explain –"

"I think we're past explanations," she whispered, then, "Oh my God, I can't believe you're a Fed!" Moaning, Angie slumped down on an empty wooden crate in the alley and cradled her head in her hands.

"No, not a Fed. Not precisely," Peggy tried to reassure her.

Angie glanced up hopefully. "You're not?"

"No, but I do work for a government agency," Peggy clarified.

Angie's head dropped again. "Not helping, English," she muttered from between her fingers.

Peggy laughed affectionately. "Oh Angie, do stop being so melodramatic."

She knelt down and pried the younger woman's hands away from her face. When Angie finally looked at her, she carefully removed her turquoise bunny ears and ran long fingers through the once-bouncy curls. Extracting a handkerchief from her clutch, Peggy gently dabbed at the wet tears glistening on Angie's cheeks. Once finished, she leaned back. "There," she said, smiling. "Much better."

Angie stared at her, seemingly surprised by Peggy's tender administrations. Her next words, when she found them, came out somewhat hesitantly. "So if you're not with the Feds, then who are you with?"

"I'm not sure I should say," Peggy admitted, biting her lower lip. "It's classified."

Angie gave her a long look. "I spent most of tonight throwing myself at a female government agent, Peggy Carter." Peggy didn't miss the emphasis on her last name. "Quite obviously, I might add," Angie continued. Her gaze fell, and the next words from her lips poured out in a muted whisper. "I think I have the right to know who's going to arrest me."

"Oh, Angie," Peggy sighed, her voice much softer this time. She dropped to her knees, heedless of her gown and took the young woman's hands in hers. "Nobody is going to arrest you."

Angie's blue eyes rose to see Peggy regarding her tenderly. "But I–"

Peggy squeezed her hands. "Nobody is going to arrest you."

The corner of Angie's mouth lifted into a smile. "You said that already."

Peggy nodded. "And I'll keep saying it until you believe me."

"But I don't understand. There are laws and stuff about people like me."

Peggy gave her a sad smile. "There are, but that doesn't make them right."

For the first time since she and Peggy reached the alleyway, Angie actually smiled. "You really are something, Peggy Carter." Her smile faltered, and she tried to pull her hands back. "I don't mean that in a queer way," she stuttered but stopped when Peggy's hand tightened around her own.

"I know you don't, Angie, and even if you did, it still wouldn't matter."

Angie looked at her in surprise. "It wouldn't?"

Peggy shook her head. "No."

"I know I keep saying this," Angie murmured, "but I don't understand. Don't you have to enforce the rules? I mean, that's your job, isn't it?"

Angie had her there. It was her job, but early on, Peggy had discovered enforcing black and white rules rarely led to a happy outcome. Laws were made to be followed, but the interpretation of said laws was certainly open to judgment at times – preferably judgment that contained a strong measure of compassion. Besides that, Peggy was inexplicably drawn to this woman who had so easily slipped past her defenses throughout the course of the evening and had, without a second thought, jumped into the fray to defend Peggy when she thought she was in danger.

Her heart sped up as she recalled the flirtatious smiles, audacious winks and brazen compliments Angie had showered her with all evening, and not because it was her job, but because she was genuinely interested. It had been a long time since someone had been able to rattle her like that, and Peggy found she'd rather enjoyed it. Perhaps it was time to show Angie precisely what she meant.

Leaning in closer, she brought a palm to Angie's cheek and softly murmured, "Perhaps this will help clarify things," before placing her lips against Angie's and pressing forward. Her left hand fluttered down to rest firmly on Angie's knee.

Peggy felt Angie's hands grasp her shoulders as the younger woman reached out to steady herself, her lips parting on a sigh. Peggy took the opportunity to deepen the kiss ever so slightly, then more as Angie responded and opened her mouth fully to her ministrations. They stayed that way for several heartbeats, slowly learning the feel of one another until Peggy finally pulled away and gave Angie a nervous smile. "Do you understand now, darling?" she inquired tentatively.

"Boy, do I ever," Angie whispered, an unfettered smile blooming across her face.

Peggy responded with one of her own and tenderly ran a thumb across Angie's lower lip, swiping away the traces of lipstick she'd left there. She regarded Angie with uncontained affection. "I must admit, this is not how I envisioned the evening ending."

Angie winked. "Right there with you, English."

Peggy cleared her throat a touch self-consciously. "Yes, well. I think, perhaps, I should take you home, darling."

Angie lifted a flirtatious eyebrow. "Why, Agent Carter!"

Laughing, Peggy swatted Angie's arm. "Nothing so tawdry as that." Her gaze dropped back to Angie's lips. "At least, not right now."

Angie grinned. "Oh boy! I knew you were trouble when you walked in."

"You knew no such thing," Peggy scoffed taking her by the hand and lifting Angie to her feet.

Angie bit her lower lip and nodded. "Oh yes, I did. That dress, those legs, that accent, not to mention your amazing –" her eyes flicked to down to Peggy's breasts, and Peggy smirked as a pink tinge suffused the bunny's cheeks.

"And I had so hoped it was my mind that drew you to me," she sighed dramatically.

"That, too," Angie agreed with a salacious wink, looping her arm through Peggy's. "So whose home are you taking me to – mine or yours?"

"Angie!"

"What? A girl can dream, can't she?"

Peggy shook her head and smiled affectionately and guided them back inside the club, already certain of one thing – life with Angie Martinelli would never be dull. Peggy found herself looking forward to what lay in store for them.