Why Won't You Stay

This Time it's Forever

One more week. Peggy was the last one to leave work, as she always is. She shut all of the lights off, packed her briefcase, and put her jacket on top of her arm. While she was walking out, in the hallway was a man wearing a bloody Captain America suit. He had the same physique as Steve. Her stare was at his shoes which slowly went up towards his face. When she say his eyes she was speechless.

"Steve?"

"Hi Peg."

Peggy had pure shock written all over her face but he was holding down his smile while trying to push back his tears. He took off his helmet to reveal his crystal blue eyes and the dirt all over his face. His suit had rips and tears all over it. Around the rips was blood.

"I-I-"

"Shh. It's ok baby I know." His voice was so calming. "The dream I've been having. You wanted to know about it so badly. I didn't have the words for it like the ones I have now. I was having flashbacks of the crash. Peering over the broken windshield while falling to my death and hearing your voice over the radio. It's all I can think about these days. This memory has been haunting more and more each day for whatever reason. I've been blanking out lately. That's what you saw while I was staring out the window. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you before. I just didn't have it in me to say it but when I heard the words come out my mouth, it doesn't do justice to what I've felt. Can I come over and hold you again?" He stretched out his arms for Peggy to run to him. She stood there crying and dropped her briefcase to the floor. "What's wrong baby?"

"Can you stop leaving me?"

*

Steve held her in his arms. He was covered in blood, sweat, and more blood but not all of it was his.

"Let's go home." He said in her hair. She nodded against his shoulder. Steve picked up her briefcase and coat then escorted her outside. They hopped in the car and drove to the SSR apartments. Most of the men were asleep so Steve could avoid the questions.

When they got up to their room Peggy sat on the edge of the bed. He rubbed her back and tried to calm her down. Steve sat down in front of her on one knee like he was proposing.

"I'm sorry."

"Steve I-I've been so lonely. It's been so long."

"Yes baby I know and I'm sorry."

"You've been sorry a lot lately." She said between tears. "You've been gone for nearly forty days and show up to work all bloody and dirty and-"

"Peggy I-I'm sorry. I didn't come here to hurt you but I can't stop. Maybe it's better if we-" Peggy put her hand over his mouth and his eyebrows relaxed.

"Better if we break up? Is that what you were going to say?"

Steve didn't have to say anything to let her know the answer was yes. She looked away, disgusted.

"I just, I don't want to hurt you anymore."

"Steve if you haven't noticed love isn't easy."

"I know but it just adds on to the other times I let you suffer."

"Breaking up won't do any good."

"Trust me I don't want to break up. It's been Heaven just being here with you. I fell in love with you the day I met you." His eyes were so innocent while he was looking up at her. His eyes were a lighter blue.

"We're not breaking up. You can't get rid of me that easy." Steve thought he saw a smirk form across her mouth but he was lost in her dark eyes.

"I missed you." He brushed back a curl over her face and wiped her tears with the back of his hand. Peggy grabbed his hand that was still on her cheek to feel his touch. She hadn't felt the warmth in weeks. Her eyes closed and pressed the back of his hand on to her lips. When she kissed his hand, her eyes opened to nothing.

He had never been there. What was left of Steve was only a bitter sweet memory. Needless to say, he was late for the wedding. Seventy years too late.