it's been a long, long time,
harry james

patience, take that

  THE CAPTAIN KNEW his final destination all too well. Thrust into the 70s, Steve carefully entered the military camp which Tony and him had already visited to get the stone for the first time, and where the super soldier project was born. Both men were shaken by the trip, as Iron Man had accidentally met his dad, a young Howard Stark struggling with the idea fatherhood closing, while Steve had seen Peggy Carter, former love of his, through the window pane of a bleak office.

Head bent low, a cap shading his face from anyone threatening to recognise him, Captain America discreetly sneaked back inside the small building which the stone used to be concealed. Now that he had made sure that the place was deserted, all he had to do now was find where it had been kept. And there, it dawned on him: Hydra having invaded Shield from the inside, the space stone was nowhere near safe in this facility. Executing a spin on his heels after a quick pause to form a new plan, Steve backtracked; he had no Pim particles left, but some were hidden in the main building, where he had previously stolen them. Which decade would he have to go back to? When and where would the gem be unlikely to fall in the wrong hands? If only he had the whole spectrum of options in mind to choose.

But there was another solution — one Steve believed to be the best one. Or perhaps was it something stronger than rationality guiding him? A profound longing, a wound cut open from the barrier of stitches that he had tried so desperately to weave over the years. He had always listened to his heart after all, hadn't he?

The blond man quietly closed the door behind him while exiting the room, squinting as an outpour of sunlight welcomed him back outside. Besides a couple of officers chatting and few soldiers marching here and there, the path to the main building was all clear. The time had come for plan B.

Steve casually stepping inside, acting as though he was a simple Captain, and certainly not the Captain America that was created by this camp's very own project rebirth. Using the information he remembered from his last visit, he managed to locate the Pim particles room and went looking for the one opposite, briefly glancing through windows and opened doors. Then a voice erupted behind him:

"Excuse me." Steve froze, turning around. "Do you need some help?" Curiously asked a woman.

"Uh," The man cleared his throat. "Yes, please. Captain Stevens. I'm looking for... Margaret Carter?"

"Come with me, Captain. I think she might be in room 4-C," the woman indicated politely, gesturing for Steve to follow her.

"Thank you," he allowed himself to give her a small thankful smile as she didn't seem to have a clue about his real identity.

The pair walked down a corridor, seeing occasional men in uniforms or neat suits behind window panes, caught up in meetings and discussions.

To be back in the military camp, especially since he had last been there with Tony, was providing the Captain a gut-wrenching uneasiness. There hadn't been a day where Steve hadn't missed him, wishing they would've spent more time together and found a way to prevent the situation that had torn them apart years ago. In addition, the thought of reuniting with Peggy, constantly pounding in his chest, made him conscious of the fact that two of his worlds were about to come together in a time where he had no ties. It seemed that ripping through the fabric of space and time had become a recurring event in Steve's life.

And Steve's greatest fear, at the moment, was to hurt Peggy again. The last thing the Captain had heard before crashing into ice had been her voice, her broken, loving voice calling his name. Eyes closed, he had wanted to confess that he loved her. He had been so scared then, and she gave him the last ounce of courage that made him change the plane's course. But after the Captain's presumed death, the young woman must have most certainly moved on with her life, and the idea of showing up at her door as though nothing had happened tightened the man's throat. She deserved to keep living happily, freed from the ghosts of her past. He knew he couldn't stay — however she was the only one who could carry that mission, he trusted her. Years later, Steve was still relying on his best girl.

Steve and the welcoming woman reached room 4-C in a couple of minutes, the latter knocking on the door. "Peggy, there's someone for you."

"Come on in, thank you," Peggy Carter's elegant accent came swirling through the air, thumping Steve's chest.

"Thank you," the man quietly thanked his guide as well. As she departed, he took several shaky breaths in. There was no better choice.

Removing his cap then running a hand trough his hair, the Captain carefully opened the door, ready to get his heart broken all over again.

"Peggy."

There she was.
Standing by a desk, dressed in a brown ensemble, her lips their familiar red colour, her hair tidily arrayed into neat curls falling onto her shoulders. Steve couldn't believe that she was real, right in front of him.

Peggy turned around, a pen swaying between her fingers. "Hel..." And paused abruptly. Her mouth fell slightly open, the young woman taking a few steps towards him. "S... Steve?" It came out in a whisper breaking her lips apart with difficulty.

"Yes, Peggy." He tried to smile at her, eyes stinging from the tears that menaced to pierce through his defences. It had been so long. But the Captain couldn't forget about his duty, so before anything else, he briefly told the brunette woman about his miraculous survival and explained her the reason of his arrival. "I'm sorry to drag you into this," he finally concluded softly. "Just say the word and I'll go. But there isn't anyone I trust with this more than you."

"You're always so dramatic," she wiped a tear from her cheek, smiling at him through the emotion she couldn't contain, and neither could steve . He remembered her saying the same words during one of his visits to the hospital, in 2014, and his mouth trembled. He missed her so much. "I'll take the job, Steve. The future hasn't been very tender with you, has it?" She came closer, taking him in her arms.

He held her tight, focusing on her. Nothing but her. The fabric of her clothes, the light smell of her perfume, the years they didn't get to spend through together.

"Considering what you told me about Hydra, we need to get somewhere safe," the brown-haired woman then stated as they pulled away, taking control of the situation. "Come with me, I know a place."

  PEGGY CARTER'S HOME was a lovely wooden house in the countryside, not too far from the military base; that was where the car pulled off after a fifteen-minute drive and a conversation which couldn't quite fit in the small amount of time it had been given. Steve had asked the woman about her life, her work, her future after the war. His words were stumbling upon each other, excited and fast, eager to reconnect with one of the people he cared about most. Just being in her presence somehow eased the burden he had been carrying on his shoulders after the battle against Thanos.

"Welcome," Peggy let the man in after unlocking the door. "Put yourself at ease." She said warmly, watching her old friend take a mesmerised look around.

"It's beautiful," Steve complimented the place.

"Thank you." As unreal as this whole situation appeared, she was infinitely glad to see him again. It was true that the woman had already made her farewell, but he had made it clear that he wasn't staying, therefore Peggy was simply relieved to know that he had survived the crash and build himself back up. She had always believe in him.

"Here's the space stone," the Captain opened the white box he was carrying, revealing the last infinity gem, glistening blue under the afternoon light trickling inside the room. "I know it'll be safe with you." He looked Peggy in the eyes, nodding. His trust in her couldn't be questioned.

"I'll do my best to protect it," the brunette woman asserted, taking the suitcase from him. "And I'll work on that Hydra situation."

"I don't doubt it," it was his turn to affirm. Now that he had entrusted her with the stone, his journey was over.

"Steve...," Peggy called his name after a few seconds of silent recollection. "I know it's not eight o'clock, but I believe we have got a long overdue dance."

The man crooked his neck to look at her, their gaze meeting. She remembered, and a piece of his heart snapped off for good once again. It fell on the floor, between them.

"I still don't know how to dance," his voice quivered.

"I'll show you," she offered gently. "But there's someone, Steve. And..."

"Peggy," he softly interrupted her. "I know. Things have changed. Let's say this is the goodbye we never got to have, okay?"

"Yes, let's do that." Peggy returned the young man a warm smile, then getting up to turn on the stereo.

"It's good to see you, Peggy." Steve said sincerely as she returned after turning the music on, offering her his open palm.

"It's good to see you too, Steve," she put her hand into his. "You know, I never forgot about you. You've kept on inspiring me long after you were gone," she told him, deeply moved.

"So did you. In the future, you told me you had a happy life." Steve closed his eyes, chin resting on top of Peggy's head. His hands placed respectfully on the woman's back and hers around his neck, they danced slowly to the slow, jazzy tune.

"Did you get to live yours?" she murmured against his chest, helping her partner by leading the way with her legs.

A small crease appeared on Steve's forehead as his eyebrows furrowed, the Captain rapidly putting together snippets from his life after the awakening — his fights within the Avengers, the friends he had made among them, Bucky coming back to him; Natasha, their years on the run with Sam; Tony, their final battle against Thanos, loss. Doctor Erskin's serum, as it was primarily designed, had turned him into a strong soldier, Captain America. But how about Steve Rogers? Steve Rogers was the man who jumped onto grenades and from buildings, who gave up his shield because he refused to hurt his best friend, who cried after losing his loved ones. And Steve Rogers wasn't Captain America only. Dancing here, with Peggy, Steve realised that he wanted to live. Get some of the life Natasha and Tony had advised him to experience.

"Yes, I did." He answered truthfully. "Not always the way I had imagined it, but I did. Some times were harder than others, but I made some friends I'll never forget, who I learnt from, who were there for me when I needed them most. And I'll forever be grateful for that. But I think it's time I finally do something for myself. I still got a bit of time." He chuckled softly, an idea starting to spring up in his mind. It was time he passed the shield on.

"You deserve it, Steve." Peggy stroke the man's back in a comforting gesture. "You've done enough."

"Thank you, Peggy. I hope that everything will work out for you, though I know it will. I wish you to be happy, that's all I care about. My best girl."

"Take care of yourself, okay? No more jumping on grenades." She smiled sadly, looking up to have a glimpse of Steve's face. Would he leave?

"I promise." The man opened his eyes again, smiling back at her with a hint of nostalgia. "Thank you."

They fell silent, their mutual memories waltzing along to the music in air all around; sometimes, quietness was the strongest form of sharing. That was it, their goodbye. Although Steve didn't belong with Peggy anymore, not in this time and not in this life, he knew that a special part of him would nevertheless remain there forever, safely hiding in a corner of the brunette woman's memories. They wouldn't forget each other.