I woke up in a hospital, my chest stabbing a million needles through my heart. Sam Wilson sat next to me, reading a book. "On your left," I muttered, catching him by surprise. He gave a big grin, patting my shoulder. "How you feel man? Peggy wouldn't leave your side, but she needed to eat. Guess you got stuck with me," he chuckled, putting his book down. "Guess I did," I smiled, before the memories came flooding back. "Bucky..." I muttered, getting up. Sam pushed me down hard, shaking his head. "We know who he is," he admitted, looking at the glossy floors. "But how I-" I sputtered, letting Sam cut me off. "Natasha got his files, her hack worked. Before you worry, he didn't turn dark of his own choice. He was kidnapped, and the crazy psychos cut off his arm, then left him on the side of a mountain," he continued. I felt the needles in my chest turn into knives, repeatedly stabbing at my heart. "Hydra found him, and took it as a chance for a clean slate. Wiped his memories, and filled it with hate. If your Bucky is still in there, you've got a lot of digging to do," he finished, but my mind lingered on two words.

My Bucky.

"How long have I even out?" I asked, fearing the answer. "About a month... Everyone's fine, no worries," he replied, already sensing what I was about to say. "Stark saved the president, and the world. Thor's up in super town. Barton's who knows where... And Bruce has been hiding away from stress,"

"It gets harder doesn't it," I asked suddenly, then continue to elaborate. "Being a superhero... When I signed up, when I won; I didn't expect it to come with so much pain," I choked out. Sam pondered what I said for a minute, before giving me the best advice I'd eve heard. "Everyone has pain, Rogers. But you've got to be able to think of what's right and what's wrong, putting aside what hurts you for the safety of others. That's what really makes you a hero," he finished, getting up, and walking out.

*****

It's been so long.

So long since Nat and Clint's Budapest project was due.

So long since the superhero games.

So long since Thor went flying off into space.

So long since Bruce hulked out.

So long since Tony Stark had his first panic attack.

So long since I found Bucky.

We defeated Hydra, the institution finally fallen. Most of the kids that went there are now in either penitentiary for severe crimes, or just Shield detention for being there. Bucky was gone, like a footprint on the beach, but the tide had just moved in. I was always a second late. Always there just when he left. The universe was saying wait, my brain said danger, but my heart said go. All of those emotions made me boil, and the only way to feel relaxed, was with Peggy. Our dates had become more recent, her warming smile always making me feel okay. Like everything would be alright.

"Steve?" Peggy asked, walking into Tony's living room where I watched tv. "I need to talk to you about something..." She said unsure. There goes the feeling of 'alright'. "Anything peg," I answered, confused to where this was going. "I did it..." She whispered, "I finally made it," she squealed happily, but sadness lingered in her eyes. "Shield high school wants me to move up to administration training, for the real shield agency," she explained, walking forward. I enveloped her in a hug, swinging her around. "That's great! But, why are you crying?" I asked, just as her delicate finger wiped a tear.

"I need to move away..."

"We can make it work-"

"Far away. For a long time," she interrupted, letting the tears stream freely now. "Peggy I can-" I tried, but she shook her head. "Can what? Move with me? You have your dream now, I have mine. I'm not taking you away from what you've fought to build,"

I mustered up enough courage to ask her the question. "When do you leave?" I choked out. She stayed silent, before hitching her breath, "tomorrow,"

"Tomorrow?!" I shouted, pain rising through my veins. "It was a last minute decision," she replied, looking at the floors. I gently kissed her, but she pulled away. "This is goodbye," she sighed, and I decided to embrace her. "More like a see you later,"

*****

"Peggy you can't just-"

"I do what I want, Steve!" Peggy shouted through the phone. She was about to board her plane, and was having second thoughts. "Peggy, you won't give up your dream for me. Go for it, I'll see you at the end of this," I explained, trying to calm her down. "We never got our last date, could've gone dancing," she whispered.

I weakly chuckled, "yeah I'll need a rain check on that,"

"Alright, a week next Saturday. At the stork club. Don't you dare be late," she sadly whispered. "Just be there..."

"We'll have the band play something slow. I'd hate to step on your-"
*
My bed creaked as I bolted upright. My skinny arms pushing me out of bed, and slamming down on my blue alarm clock. As I fixed my hair for school, my 5'3 figure craned to look directly in the mirror. It was the day. The day he died. And the day that I always had the same fantastic dreams. Dreams that I was a superhero, not the kid who got picked on at school, but never backed down.

Except the real world didn't have Asgardians and flying metal men. The real world didn't have two super assassins. The real world didn't have a shy, yet green scientist. And the real world definitely didn't have skinny Steve Rogers become valiant Captain America.

Finally walking to school, one thought ran through my head, a memory from my blissful dreams.

I had a date.