As Peggy listened attentively, her mind raced to jot down the name that Ian had mentioned. But before she could utter a word, Ian suddenly wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace.

Ian struggled to find the right words to express how much he appreciated everything she had done for him, without any expectation of reward. Finally, he blurted out, "Thank you! Thank you, Peggy! Thank you for everything you have done for me! I am forever indebted to you!"

Peggy, touched by Ian's words, smiled warmly at him. She gently reached out and placed her hand on his broad, muscular back, feeling the strength beneath her fingertips. "I did it because you reminded me so much of my late brother," she explained softly. "He was a kind and generous soul, just like you. Seeing your memorial brought me to tears, but it also reminded me of how much good there is in the world." Her words hung in the air, suffused with emotion and meaning. Ian felt a lump form in his throat as he realized just how much Peggy's act of kindness had meant to him.

Ian slowly let go of Peggy and then, with a smirk on his face, teased her, "You? You can even cry?" Peggy narrowed her eyes and balled up her fists playfully, causing Ian to take a few steps back, laughing.

Ian's laughter subsided, and his expression grew serious as he fixed his gaze on Peggy. "Peggy, get in the chamber," he ordered firmly, his voice brooking no argument.

Peggy's response was immediate. "No!" she exclaimed, her eyes narrowing in intense animosity as she glared at Ian.

But Ian refused to back down. "Get in the chamber, Peggy!" he shouted, his voice rising with each passing second.

Peggy shook her head vehemently, her body tense with defiance. "Not!" she retorted, her voice rising to match Ian's.

Ian's frustration boiled over, and he let loose with a string of profanity. "Get in the fucking chamber, Peggy!" he roared, his face flushed with anger.

But Peggy stood her ground, her eyes blazing with determination. "I won't!" she declared firmly, backing away from Ian as she spoke.

Ian advanced towards Peggy, his voice edged with frustration. "You are so damn stubborn!" he exclaimed, his patience wearing thin. "Stop pretending to be brave when you're not! Everyone has flaws, Peggy. It's okay to accept them and work on them. That's what makes us human!"

Peggy hesitated at Ian's words, momentarily caught off guard. But before she could respond, Ian lunged forward and scooped her up like a sack of potatoes. Peggy fought back, biting his back and scratching his arms, but her attacks seemed to have no effect. Ian's wounds healed almost instantly, leaving Peggy feeling helpless and defeated. She watched in despair as he lowered her into the chamber and locked her arms and legs in place.

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Ian initiated the procedure, and as the chamber closed around Peggy, the serum infusion began. Peggy's screams echoed through the room, her voice reaching a crescendo as the serum flowed through her veins. Ian could feel his heart racing as he monitored the progress of the procedure, hoping against hope that everything would go smoothly.

For what felt like an eternity, the room was filled with nothing but Peggy's cries. Finally, the bright light emanating from the chamber began to dissipate, and the screaming slowly subsided.

The chamber opened with a hiss, revealing Peggy lying still inside.

Peggy's breaths came in heavy pants, and her body was slick with sweat. Her clothes hung off her in tatters as if they could no longer contain the newfound strength coursing through her veins. She stood taller now, at a height of six feet. Her muscles were defined and toned, but unlike Ian, her physique was still distinctly feminine. Her features had been transformed as well, her body, skin, and face enhanced in ways that left Ian momentarily speechless.

Unable to contain his excitement, Ian let out a low whistle, enjoying the spectacle before him.

At the sound of Ian's whistle, Peggy's eyes snapped open, glowing with an intense rage. Without a word, she lunged at Ian, her movements lightning-fast and fueled by the raw power coursing through her veins.

Ian managed to dodge her initial attack, but Peggy was relentless, chasing him up the stairs with inhuman speed. As he turned to face her, she swung a powerful right hook at his face, but Ian managed to duck just in time. With lightning-fast reflexes, he countered with a punch to her ribs.

* WHAM *

The impact of Ian's blow echoed through the room, but Peggy didn't even flinch. Instead, she responded with a left hook to his face, her other hand moving in to strike at his ribs.

Ian deftly dodged Peggy's hook and raised his leg, blocking her incoming punch to his ribs. In a flash, he threw a powerful right hook, but Peggy managed to duck under it. Without missing a beat, she spun around and delivered a swift kick to Ian's chest.

* WHAM *

The impact of Peggy's kick was like a thunderclap, sending Ian flying backward. Though he managed to get his hands up to block the blow, the sheer power behind it sent him crashing through the nearest window and tumbling out into the backyard.

* CRASH *

* THUD *

As Ian staggered to his feet, dazed and disoriented, he saw Peggy advancing toward him. With a flick of her wrist, she hurled the refrigerator and television at him like they were mere toys, and Ian barely managed to dodge them out of the way as they smashed into the ground behind him.

With lightning speed, Peggy launched herself at Ian just as he narrowly dodged the refrigerator and television she had hurled at him. They collided in mid-air, crashing to the ground in a tangle of limbs and fists. The two combatants landed a flurry of blows to each other's faces, each one determined to emerge victorious from the fight. The sound of their fists hitting flesh echoed through the backyard as they grappled for dominance.

The once-pristine backyard was now a battlefield, stained with blood and littered with debris from the fight. The sounds of their grunts and blows echoed through the air, punctuated by the occasional crash of shattering objects. They fought with a ferocity that bordered on madness, each refusing to give an inch. After several grueling minutes of exchanging brutal blows, Ian found himself gasping for breath on the grass, his battered face contorted in pain. As he lay there, he reflected that Peggy had likely been resisting the serum before the procedure, leading to her temporary but intense rage. Now that the effects had subsided, she seemed to be returning to her normal self.

He rolled over to see Peggy sitting beside him. She seemed to be lost in her thoughts, examining her own hands, flexing her fingers. Suddenly, she turned to him and asked, "How's it feel?"

Ian managed a weak smile and replied, "Like I've been hit by a truck."

Peggy's expression changed to one of amusement as she quipped, "Well, I feel great! Strong!"

Ian couldn't help but chuckle at her response. "Don't smile too hard, you have a bit of blood on your face. You're starting to look like a psychopath."

Peggy laughed and retorted, "Says the one who's covered in bruises and cuts."

Peggy helped Ian up and they both walked into the house, their faces battered and bruised. Over the next few months, they trained together in the backyard, their bond growing stronger with each passing day. Peggy shared secret moves she had learned from her days in the SSR, and Ian helped her adapt to her newfound strength.

They spent hours upon hours sparring and practicing, pushing each other to their limits. And as they trained, they talked about their pasts, their hopes for the future, and the challenges they faced.