Nancy:

I had the impression from Peggy's first day at SC, in Dons office, that they had met before. Something about Pete's easy, chiding manner just seemed too familiar to me.
I later thought that she may have been pregnant with Pete's child before SC. And then Pete's great news that he was indeed very able to father a child, made me wonder again.

If all this is true, I doubt that Pete would have guessed, and I am sure that Peggy would not have shared the news. They do certainly seem to have a rather complex relationship and are drawn to each other time and again.

Oh well, we shall see...

Nancy, Good point!
We kept wondering how Pete got her address. This could be it. Not only that, but she invited him in the first time he shows up on her door, obviously drunk and ready to marry? Peg is no slut.
I would tend to disagree with you on Pete's attitude of softening up around Peggy. I thought he was smug, and is still trying to stay above her in status. I think he is jealous.

I can't dispute your true love idea. (If that is what true love is like).

I'd have to disagree with you here. When Peggy started at SC, she came across as extremely naive and would have done anything to fit in, taking Joan's advice to head to the gyno for birth control, putting her hand on Don's suggestively, etc. Pete was just being an ass to her because that's who he is, and since she was a lowly secretary, he felt he she was easy prey. Same reason he came over to her apartment for some nookie...he thought this was one girl who would give it up to him because she didn't really know "the rules' yet (if there were any). And I think she was flattered that he showed interest in her in that way.

Peggy was also very shy towards him in the beginning, and it was obvious she had a massive crush on him. I don't think Pete would have othewise bothered with Peggy because of the circles he travelled in...where would he have met her if they did know each other? My only guess is that they first hooked up when she was in the steno pool, if they met at all before she became Draper's secretary.

Pete does seem to respect her much moreso than in the beginning. He started to confide in her more and more, which is ironic because since becoming a jr. copyrighter, Peggy had started pushing him away. I'm sure he's jealous of her success at SC, and losing the Clearasil account means he'll continue to be unless he pulls something great to make him stand out. Yet since Trudy has turned into a baby-wanting nightmare, Peggy became more and more appealing, more than just a sex object...she has substance and intelligence and those are two very attractive qualities.

I like how complex their "relationship" is, however the show needs to pick up the pace already! Get this storyline with the baby moving...I am going to be so mad if they don't at least touch upon it in the season finale. How could they barely show their child? Not very realistic...

I thought it was weird that she would just let him in her bed ... just like that

but maybe she thought this would make her a sophisticated worldly woman .... with Pete ... YUCK

@Trudyisannoying -- great name, btw! How do you explain how Pete knew where she lived? He was at the bar, got drunk and decided to go find her. Not like he was at work when the idea struck him where he could just go look it up.

There are all sorts of ways they could've met. Maybe Peggy's mom was their housekeeper and Peggy tagged along from time to time - or her dad (now deceased?) was their driver or gardener - all very Sabrina-like.

great post, nancystoweOH, wow, this never even occurred to me!

hmmmm....., thinking about it. could be a really interested set of flashbacks.......

@ Trudyisannoying: I'm with you in hoping the finale at least tells us where the baby is now. Peggy will be conversing with the prying Fr Gill so I think (hope) some of the questions will be answered.

@NancyStowe: I've also thought Pete suspects Peggy was not at a "fat farm" when she went missing from SC. Trudy's comment about unprotected sex being "risky business" (season1) wasn't lost on Pete and he knows his swimmers are viable. Hummmm?

I just don't know what, if any, relationship Pete & Peggy had prior to her becoming Don's secretary. It's delicious to speculate about how he found where she lived and why we've never seen him bragging to the "frat boys" about scoring when Ken and Paul didn't get to first base. I'd bet the SC office was their first meeting but I could be wrong.

I think it is a bit of a stretch to think Peggy and Pete met before SC. About as much of a stretch as the Don is a spy idea. The writers have given us no clues to this. Even Jane told Roger where to get her home info - the personnel dept.

.....Nancy....Good post, and I also agree with you, as much as it pains me to say that.

However, Peggy isn't the same Peggy as before, so she might not be into the bear eating (or whatever) now... just a thought.

People complained that Peggy shouldn't have an office since she is just a lowly copywriter. The thing about that is, she is RUNNING that entire department, and doing it just about as well as Don Draper.

She knows her worth, and knows that she has no serious competition, career-wise, either. No one else covers all the bases that she does, or pinch-hits better.

I loved the scene where Snivelling Twit Campbell visited Peggy in her new office and asked, "Are you getting a secretary?" She says "yes," and he shoots back, "Well.... she's in for it!" Then her dry joke about sleeping with Don. Hilarious.

They do have a special rapport, as much as I hate to admit it.

And, I thought the spy idea was funny. It would be a hoot if there was any truth to that.

Does everyone know about the "Submit Your Questions to Matt Weiner" thread on the Blog?

http://blogs.amctv.com/mad-men/2008/10/ask-matthew-weiner.php

Hopefully, in watching the seasons again during the break, that will be one thing with which people can occupy themselves.

As much as I’ve disliked Pete in the past, I’m starting to like him a little bit more after the past two episodes or so.

I think he married Trudy out of convenience and obligation. Her family ran in the same circles as his, and Trudy was a “proper” choice for him as a wife. Being a kind of lemming in the beginning of the series, Pete went with what was expected of him, instead of what he truly wanted out life –including what he wanted and needed in a wife.

I think Pete has grown up a bit, and he’s finding out that the pinnacle of his life is not to be a husband and a father. He’s realizing that he wants someone who challenges him intellectually and who is just as career driven as he is. Pete’s found that in Peggy. He may have resented her at first, hence his deplorable treatment of her. But, as he’s matured and has found himself in a loveless marriage with meddlesome in-laws (remember his conversation with his father-in-law when he spoke of loving Trudy in the past tense), Pete’s found out some things about life and about himself.

From what I’ve observed, some men think they want a brainless woman that they can mold, but, if a man is truly honest with himself and doesn’t allow his ego to get in the way, he wants someone who is his equal.

Cool theory. Except didn't she get on the elevator with him and the boys her first day? There didn't seem to be a flicker of recognition between them.

Call me crazy, I've never gotten the chemistry between them. Except that in Season One he felt powerless and like the new guy and she was newer than him, so he felt he could prey on her.

Pete isn't oblivious to the fact that his wife married him partly to "marry well." He did the same. So there's some facade action going on there. Since Peggy is from such humble origins, maybe he feels he can be himself with her in a way he can nowhere else.