Steel Hearts

- 52 -

Eventually, once everything calmed down, Steve and I were successfully able to get off of the Army base without being caught.

"Can I show you something before we go home?" Steve asks, gently playing with my fingers as we walked aimlessly.

"Of course."

Quietly, he leads me through the streets and toward the suburbs to a quaint little house with a long walkway leading to the porch. The shrubbery was trimmed neatly and the trees weren't quite turning just yet. My husband hesitates, standing at the end of the walkway.

With a furrowed brow, I turn to him, "Who lives here?"

"Peggy," he breathes.

"Steve..."

"It's okay," he reassures me with a gentle squeeze of my hand, "I just wanted to introduce you to her and let her know that I'm alright."

Nodding silently, I pull him toward the door. The stairs creak ever so slightly as we step up onto the porch.

With a deep breath, he knocks on the door before taking a step back and nervously playing with his hands. This was something we probably weren't supposed to do, but are going to anyways.

If we got all of the stones back from where and when they came from, our timeline would be reset to normal. Regardless, this may or may not throw everything off and create entirely other issues aside from Thanos and the blip.

After a few minutes, the door swung open, and a woman with short brown hair gasped. "Steve?"

"Hey Peg."

She launches herself at him, embracing him tightly; it's as if she thinks he might disappear again. In reality, he would.

"What are... how are y... what is happening?"

"It's a lot to explain... but I'm me... from the future."

She scoffs, "What?" For the first time, she glanced over to me, then back to him. "You can't be serious."

With a nod, I assure her, "He is... We are."

"I can't tell you what happens in the future, but... I wanted to let you know that I'm alright." He tells her before glancing at me with a small smile.

Peggy's brow furrows briefly as Steve introduces me, "And this is my wife, Eleanor."

For the smallest of moments, I think I see sadness in her eyes, but it passes quickly as she extends her hand to me, "Peggy Carter."

"It's nice to meet you." I shake her hand.

Lacing her hands together in front of her, Peggy asks Steve, "And you're happy?"

He nods as he takes my hand in his. "More than I've ever been."

The look in his eyes says it all. There was a glint of brief sadness. He still missed the time he came from, but there was no questioning his love for me.

"Good... I spent years wondering if you had maybe survived the crash. And now I know you do... Even if it's without me I'm glad you're happy, Steve."

He nods with a small smile on his face, taking a moment to bask in the reality that Peggy Carter was in front of him once more. "Besides, I still owe you that dance."

She looks at me as if she's asking permission and I simply nod silently, gently pushing Steve toward the doorway. Not having it within my heart to watch the two of them reminisce on their lost time, I take a seat in one of the chairs on the porch.

Soon enough the crackling of a vinyl record sounds through the cracked open door and It's Been a Long, Long Time by Harry James begins playing. I cover my mouth to stifle the sadness that would emanate from me if I hadn't.

It felt as if I were trying to swallow a still-beating heart as my lip shook like an earthquake trying to rattle me to my core. Once the first tear broke free, the rest followed like water rushing through a broken dam. My mind raced as I got lost in the storm.

Steve may be coming home with me, but it couldn't put a stopper on the feeling of guilt that weighed heavy on me like a wet blanket. He could be... He would be happy if he stayed here. There was nothing stopping him from reaching that happiness except himself.

I'd be okay.

Without him, I'd be just fine.

I have Sam, Bucky, and Wanda. I would be alright.

I'd be a mess, but I'd be fine.

Closing my eyes, I use the rough fabric of my sleeve to wipe the tears away from my reddened cheeks. Running my fingers through my thoroughly knotted hair, I attempt to detangle it as my ragged breathing slows back down to a normal pace.

It was like I never even cried.

In the blink of an eye, I was changed out of the clothes I had stolen and back into my black, white, and purple suit. A large sigh escapes my lungs as I sit back down and place my head in my hands.

Guilt wracked my body like a disease that wouldn't go away. Steve would never truly be happy if he came back with me. Sure, we have the girls and another on the way, but he has always longed for the time he lost.

My mind was racing so fast that I barely even registered my husband walking up to me. Kneeling down and placing his hands on my knees, "Hey, Dove, what's wrong?" His voice was gentle and full of genuine concern, it broke my heart.

Sucking in a breath, I nervously run my fingers through my knotted hair, "It's okay if you want to stay..." My voice is barely above a whisper and I don't dare meet his eye, for fear that he would be relieved at my statement.

"No..." he shakes his head in disagreement, "I love you too much to leave you now. Especially after everything we've been through."

A disbelieving laugh escapes my lips, "But would you be happy?"

His brow furrows in confusion, "I wasn't lying when I said I'm happier than I've ever been." Steve reaches up and tucks a piece of hair behind my ear, dragging his thumb across my jawline to my chin, "Look at me, please." He tilts my head up gently so I can meet his eye. My own were slowly brimming with tears that threatened to spill as he searched mine, looking for purchase in the storm. "I love you and our family far too much to just up and leave now. Okay? I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me... forever."

Both of his hands had wandered up to gently hold both sides of my face and I squeeze my eyes tightly shut, allowing my walls to come down just enough for my forehead to fall against his shoulder. He tucks the rest of me into his strong embrace and the flood gates open once more.

"I'm sorry," I whisper through the sniffles, leaving a fairly large wet spot on his shoulder.

Steve plants a kiss on the top of my head before asking, "What for?"

A deep breath makes my body shudder, "Always thinking you might leave. It's just... I don't ever want you to feel like you're forced to stay with me."

His face drops, holding me out in front of him so I can look him in the eye, "Eleanor, listen to me. You are not a burden... I know your father told you that for a long time, but to me you are the most incredibly loving and caring person that I've ever met. You are everything to me. Okay? If anything, I should be worried about you leaving me now that you've got your fancy new title and everything."

Satisfied with my small bought of laughter, Steve places his forehead on my own with a smile that lit up his face like a Christmas tree.

"We're gonna be fine, Dove."