A/N: Sorry about the delay, but I haven't been able to write for a while. I wanted to, but just have been. But here is the Next chapter. Lot of recognizable names, both from the past of the MCU and the more present say. And please, reply. I love to hear from my readers. A little comment can go a long way!

Those in the Know

It was only slightly upsetting to Peggy that it took nearly a bottle of Howard's best Scotch to finally get Anthony to go to sleep. But as the sun rose, the young man at least seemed to be asleep, under the watchful eye of Mr. Jarvis, who also insisted that Peggy stay at the mansion. She only lightly protested before retreating to Howard's office to conduct at least some of the rudimentary functions of her job. She got a status update from Agent Fury, which didn't amount to much more than what he reported initially. Next, Peggy knew she should get in contact with at least Pierce, but she actually found herself dialing her son's phone number instead.

She was thankful Michael answered on the first ring, and that he knew her so well. "It's too early for you to be calling with good news, Mother," he said.

The last time he had gotten a call this early from her had been when his father had died. Daniel had been crossing a street in Manhattan when he had been struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver, one that had never been identified. Michael had been overseas on his annual Army Reserve duties and was on the next military flight back to Stewart.

That painful memory brought forward took Peggy out of the moment, but she recovered her wits. "I thought you should hear it from me before it was broadcasted on CNN. Howard died early this morning," she informed Michael.

There was silence on the other end of the line before he asked her, "How are you doing?" Michael had always been the one to look out for everyone else. It was a skill that he put into excellent use when Anthony was born. Nearly twenty years apart in age, but they were like brothers.

"I'm...coping," she answered him.

"No stiff upper lip?"

She shook her head. "There have been quite a few tears, as a matter of fact. Anthony…"

"He was so close to Aunt Maria. His father, on the other hand." Michael's voice trailed off. There was another pause and she knew he was searching for another topic. "How did it happen?"

"Car crash. The police think he may have swerved to miss a deer," she lied smoothly, although her conversation with Mr. Jarvis the night before seemed to indicate that that particular skill was waning in her later years.

Proving herself correct, her son said, "Car crash? Is that the story you're coming up with?"

Peggy let out a sigh. She could try to lie to Anthony, Mr. Jarvis, hell, Daniel. But her children, Michael especially, always saw through her. "Michael, it's still early days. I...we don't know what to think. They were heading to the airport for a holiday. Is it really plausible to think some assassin knew that, knew the route he'd be on, to have him killed?"

"'They'? Oh, no, not…" Her son's voice broke a little bit.

She was fighting her emotions hearing her son's collapse. "Yes, Maria was in the car with him. She didn't make it either."

"Have you called Lizzie?" She knew her daughter was in Seoul inspecting Stark Industries' newest plant. She had become quite a respected scientist, one that Howard would have snapped up even if she hadn't been the daughter of his oldest friend.

"No, you were my first phone call," Peggy informed him.

"Then let me reach out to her. You have enough on your plate as it it. Have there been any arrangement made?" came the next question.

"Not yet. Anthony...we just got him to sleep. He needs to rest before anything can be planned. I was hoping you could get here as soon as possible. If he becomes difficult, maybe you can be there for him?"

"I'll be on the road as soon as we hang up. It'll be a couple of hours, though," Michael said. He was down in DC, an analyst for the NSA. It was the closest he could to following in his parents' footsteps that Peggy would allow. She had made it her life's mission to not have her children be part of SHIELD.

She nodded her head. "That will give Anthony time to sleep and me to get in touch with those who need to know." Alexander Pierce and Gideon Malick were at the top of that list, followed by Jason Wilkes. He'd been part of Stark Industries for forty years and had risen to being only second to Howard in the running of the company. In fact, in the last twenty years, he had pretty much run the whole conglomerate. Howard was busy with this two other babies, SHIELD and his son, though it was the former that seemed to give him an easier time. "I'll see you in a few hours then. Be careful." She had lost too much the night before to cope with losing anyone else.

"Always, Mother. See you soon," her son assured her and ended the call.

Peggy depressed the disconnect and dialed a secure line. After three rings, the call was picked up. "It's very unusual for you to call me on this line, Director Carter," Alexander Pierce's voice replied back.

"What I have to tell you is for your ears only for now. I'm also going to contact Malick at the WSC," Peggy answered. "Howard Stark and his wife were killed in the car crash last night."

"What?!" There was a sound of shock radiating from his end. Then, he asked just as quickly, "What happened?"

Peggy repeated what she had told Jarvis and Michael, but this time, added in Fury's report about the suspicious nature of the scene. "Publicly, this will be a tragic accident," she concluded.

"But you don't think that." It was a statement, not a question.

"First instinct? No, I don't. But I can't think of who would want to kill Howard at this point in his life. If it was during the war, it would be more obvious. But Hydra's been dead for nearly half a century. The Soviet Union is not more, which makes the KGB toothless. Howard's never seen any other rogue nation as that great a threat-"

"Isn't your daughter Elizabeth working on something for South Korea? Maybe Kim Il-sung is flexing his muscles," Pierce suggested.

"I suppose, but they are so tied to the Soviet Union, they're in no shape for any power play," Peggy retorted harshly, frustration and a little bit of panic creeping into her voice. The last thing she needed was to begin worrying about her daughter. "Sorry, I've been up since one in the morning."

"I'm a big boy. I understand you're under a lot of pressure. Because of that, I'll help you out. Let me contact Malick. I know he and Stark had their issues. He may make an unsavory comment you won't like. Besides, considering how close you and Stark were, it might be best if you took care of his personal friends and I'll handle the bureaucracy he was involved in." It was a kind suggestion and would be a relief to Peggy, but she felt it was her duty to be the bearer of bad news. She was about to turn him down when he insisted, "Please, let me help you."

Taking a deep breath, she agreed. "It would be a great help. Thank you, Alexander," she told him as she ended the conversation.

Before continuing with her calls, Peggy got up to stretch her legs a bit. She walked around the study and let out a little laugh. Yes, she had been in this room, in most of the rooms in this house, but it was the first time she noticed there were no portraits of the owner on any of the walls. She wondered if that had been Maria's influence, or if he had just calmed down in his later years. She couldn't help but notice, however, that there were a glut of photographs on every conceivable surface in the room. Besides his wedding picture, there was one of Jason Wilkes and his wife, Daphne and, towards the back, one of her wedding to Daniel.

That took her back. On the day of, Howard had comically tried one last ditch effort to bed her, right in front of the groom! And he was the best man! It was all done with a wink and nodded, and truth be told, Peggy had appreciated it.

Then, he turned to her in all seriousness. Cap would have approved, he told Daniel. Her new husband had always known there was a place in her heart that would eternally belong to Steve Rogers. Besides, if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't even be here, he informed her. When both Peggy and Howard had given him startled looks, he went on to inform them he had been a prisoner at the Hydra facility Rogers had rescued Barnes and dozens of others from.

It was a fact that neither had even known in all the years he had worked with them. Peggy knew he had served in the European theater of the war but Daniel had never divulged anything beyond that to her. Because I always saw that look in your eyes when his name is mentioned. He turned to Howard. Both of you. He was a big part of your lives. I didn't want to use it to be part of your private club. It was the last time it was mentioned ever again. Their children didn't even know that Captain America had rescued their father from a prisoner of war camp, even though they knew their mother had worked alongside him during the war.

Peggy smiled sadly as she turned her attention back to the telephone. She sat back down and dialed another number. "Please put me through to Dr. Wilkes. Tell him it's Peggy Carter." While she waited to be connected, she turned on the television. CNN popped up and, sure enough, the top story was the death of Howard and Maria Stark. When Jason's voice came through, Peggy lowered the volume to hear the man clearer.

"We just got word," he said. "It's a terrible loss."

"I'm sorry you didn't hear it from me," Peggy apologized.

"If I was fifth on you 'to-do' list, I'd be happy," he said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Well, someone else offered a hand, so you moved up to third," she replied, a smile briefly flashing on her face.

There was a small chuckle. "Where are you now?" he asked her.

"I've been at the Stark mansion since early this morning, balancing security concerns here with concerns for Mr. Jarvis and Howard's son," she informed him. "Both are devastated, of course. In fact, when I got here, there was an EMT giving Jarvis a once-over." She glanced over at the TV screen. "How are things on your end?"

"Stock market's going to panic at the opening bell, naturally. Howard was a big mover and with his death, there's the natural uncertainty that come with it. Plus, Tony's seen was very young and untested. I'm not a young man and Howard knew that. He told me to delegate a lot of responsibility to Obadiah Stane. And that was something I don't think Howard entirely approved of himself."

"Well, whatever their differences, Howard saw Anthony as his successor. I'm sure he had his plans to groom him," Peggy suggested.

"You mean have me groom him," Jason corrected.

But Peggy didn't hear him. The anchor, in his report, implied that there seemed to be more to the accident than the authorities were revealing. "It has been noted that SHIELD Director Margaret Carter, a long time friend of Stark's, has been at his residence in Westchester County, New York since shortly after the accident happened."

"Jason, I'm sorry but I have to go. Something's come up," she said.

He must have heard the television through the connection, because he informed her he would be there as soon as he could before getting off the phone. Peggy was just about make another call when she saw Tony peek into the study. "Do they really think this was kind of conspiracy that got the old man killed? God, just because it's Howard Stark doesn't mean some superspy assassin was out to get him," her godson moaned. "I mean, I'm right, aren't I? Sometimes, a cigar is just a cigar."

Next Chapter: Good Intentions. Peggy shares some memories, an old friend of Howard's comes to call (without his gun this time!) and a young agents shows his mettle and promise to the Director of SHIELD.

I'm also prepping the first the first chapter of another story, "A Helpful Hand from and Old Friend," also set in the MCU. Look for it soon (having technical issues, but hope to get a response to them and cleared up fast.)