In Another Universe

SIX

1970
Camp Lehigh
Two months after Steve arrived.

The last two months have been excruciating for Steve, He's learned more about technology in this time than he has in all the years he spent fighting alongside Tony and Bruce.

Back home in the future, He always put all of his faith in Tony and a Bruce being able to handle any given situation. But with his family on the line now, He hasn't been willing to leave his only chance of getting home in anyone else's hands.

Still, Even after two months of constant focus being devoted to repairing the damaged watch...

"It's because of the way the glass shattered on impact... If we remove this shard, It would allow us to adjust the dial, However in doing so I'm afraid it would rupture the tube containing the-"

"Pym Particles." Steve interrupts Howard, As he paces the lab floor for the millionth time.

"Right, Yes. So this means you can't choose the year which you'll be returning too... You'll be stuck returning to 2030."

Steve's heart pounds in his chest, Turning around to face Howard's worried expression with a scowl.

"If that's my only option."

Peggy frustratedly waves her arms in the air between the two men, "That's six years after you left for this mission!"

"I'm well aware." He glares down at her.

She's spent the last sixty three days doing everything in her power to convince him to stay, Pleading for him to help her reshape the world by giving her his knowledge of the future.

"Then why bother?! You've been saying this is all to get back to your child but if you're returning six years later, The child you'll find won't even know you! You'll have missed the most important years of their life!"

"You think I don't know that?!" He snaps.

"Then why won't you stop being so god damn stubborn and stay?! You can help us, Steven! You can help Shield prevent so many tragedies from ever happening by simply telling us when and where they'll take place!"

"You know he can't, Pegs. It would destroy the entire fabric of his reality, He would cease to exist..." Howard warns her.

"That's why he would tell us where to find him now, Where our Steve is right now in the ice somewhere! Then we can could bring him home!" She grabs ahold of Steve's forearm, Her glossy brown eyes boring into his.

"Trust me, Peggy. There is no version of this where you get your way, I'm going home. To my family." He hisses, Prying her hand off.

He struts toward Howard, Allowing him to strap the band of Steve's watch tightly around his wrist.

"And what if you return home to nothing? What if your family has moved on without you?!" Peggy rattles off, His stomach preforming summersaults as each possibility she throws at him, Cuts him deeper.

Whatever's happened, We'll get through it.

Together. He reminds himself.