It was almost midnight and Peggy was already in bed when the phone started ringing. Grumbling, she rolled over to answer it, "hello?" she mumbled into the mouthpiece

"Hey Pegs, it's Daniel."

"Daniel, Angie isn't back yet. I think she may have gone on tonight since Susan wasn't feeling well."

"Oh that's wonderful news, but that's not what I was calling about. Um..." there was a brief pause, "could you come into the office?

"Daniel, it's midnight!"

"I know, I'm sorry. But this is really important and I can't talk about it over the phone."

"Fine, I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Thanks Peg," Daniel said before hanging up.

As Peggy got dress, she heard Angie come in the door.

"Oh English, you're still up! Wonderful, let's make some hot chocolate and have a midnight snack. Or maybe we can find some schnapps."

"I would love to, Angie, but unfortunately I have to go into the office"

"At this hour?"

"Daniel said it was important. I'm sorry love. Get some rest and I want to hear all about the show in the morning," Peggy said, giving Angie a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Alright. Come home safe, English. And say hi to Danny for me"

Peggy stepped outside and realised that there would be no taxis at this hour. She began walking when a car pulled up beside her. "Good evening Ms. Carter," Jarvis said, getting out to open the door for her.

"Good evening Mr. Jarvis. And what does your wife think you are doing at this hour?" Peggy replied opening her own door before Jarvis was even halfway around the car.

"She believes Mr. Stark is in dire need of assistance. I'm not lying to her, if that's what you're asking."

"Oh so Howard is involved in this too. What is going on Mr. Jarvis?"

"I think I should let Mr. Stark explain it to you," Jarvis said as he drove off.

Peggy sighed. She knew Jarvis wasn't going to explain anything to her. As he drove, she realised they were going to Howard's private residence and not to the SSR office. When he parked the car he rushed out to open the door for her but she calmly stepped out of the car before he reached her.

"I am perfectly capable of opening my own door, Mr. Jarvis," she said.

"I am aware of that, Ms. Carter. However, that does not mean I won't stop trying."

As soon as they entered the house, Howard immediately made a beeline towards them through everyone running around. "Pegs I'm so glad you made it you're just in time actually, they're just about to arrive."

"Who is about to arrive? Howard, what's going on?" Peggy asked, grabbing Howard's arm before he could run off again.

"You'll see, Pegs"

"No, tell me now or else I'm leaving."

Howard paused a moment before whispering, "I found him, Peggy. I found Steve."

Peggy stepped back, releasing Howard's arm, "you found his body?" She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes.

"No Peggy, I found him. He's alive. I don't know how, but he's coming home."

"They're here!" Sousa called from his position at the window. Suddenly everyone was frantic, Howard ran to the door to meet the men carrying Steve and the scientists were running everywhere making sure everything was ready. And in the middle of it all, Peggy stood rooted where howard had left her, unable to move. All she could do was watch as Steve was carried in and laid on the table in Howard's lab where everything was set up.

"Are you quite alright, Ms. Carter?" Jarvis asked.

Suddenly shaken from her daze Peggy replied, "I'm feeling rather faint, Mr. Jarvis."

Jarvis guided her to a seat nearby where she could still see what was going on and then went to get her some water.

As Peggy sat waiting, Sousa walked over to see how she was doing, "it's a lot to take in, isn't it?" He asked.

"I never thought I'd see him again," Peggy replied, not taking her eyes off of Steve. "After all this time..." She paused for a moment, "I used to think about all things I never said to him when he was here and how now I'd never be able to. After a while I finally accepted that he was gone. But now that I have the chance to say these things to him, I don't know if I can. I'm sorry Daniel, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"Don't worry about it Peggy."

"Here you are, Ms. Carter," Jarvis said returning with a glass of water.

"Thank you, Mr. Jarvis," Peggy said, taking a sip.

Sousa stepped back to give her some space when Thompson walked up to him, "I guess Marge doesn't need you after all."

"It's a lot for her to take in, Jack. She thought he was dead. We all did."

"I mean you missed your chance. Now there's no way she's gonna trade in a red white and blue shield for an aluminum crutch"

"Shut up Thompson, you know I'm seeing Angie now."

"I see how you look at Carter. You're still into her."

"Yes, I like her because she is a decent human being. I have Angie now and she's all I need. She makes me very happy."

"If you say so, Susan," Thompson said before walking off. Sousa watched him go and when he turned around, he found himself face to face with Peggy.

"Did you really mean that, Daniel?"

"Aw geez Peg, you weren't supposed to hear any of that. I'm sor-"

"I'm talking about Angie. Does she really make you happy?"

Daniel blushed, "I uh, you know how Angie is, it's impossible not to be happy around her."

Peggy grinned, she knew exactly what he was talking about, "you've never told her this, have you?"

"I haven't" Daniel said.

"You should. Shed really like to hear that, especially coming for you, Daniel. She really likes you."

"You think so?" Daniel asked, not daring to get his hopes up.

"I know so," Peggy laughed. "She talks about you all the time."

Daniel smiled, "I guess I'll talk to her then. Thanks Peg."

"Any time Daniel," peggy replied before turning her attention back to Steve. They had cleared all the ice off of him and there were puddles everywhere, now they were just trying to bring his body temperature up.

"Excuse me Mr. Carter, Mr. Stark has requested that you be by Mr. Rogers when he wakes so he sees a familiar face, since I am sure this will all be very confusing to him."

"Of course Mr Jarvis," Peggy said, suddenly getting all flustered.

As they walked over,Jarvis said quietly to Peggy, "I think Mr. Stark needs your support for when Mr. Rogers awakens. He seems very distressed by all this."

As Peggy approach the table Steve was lying on, she finally got a clear look at his face. It was exactly as she remembered it, and she noticed how peaceful he looked when he was sleeping. Part of his uniform have your remove to speed up the drying process and he now like of covered with a thick blanket. quietly reaching under the blanket, she found his hand and held onto it. She stood there not moving just watching him as everyone else ran around moving things out of the way, changing settings on machines, and mopping floors until there's nothing left to do but wait. At this point Howard thanked everyone for their hard work and told them that, unless they wanted to stay, they were free to go. Slowly the room emptied out until the were only five people left, Peggy, Howard, Jarvis, Sousa, and Thompson. Chairs are brought out and they all sat down to wait. Barely a minute and gone by when Peggy thought she felt Steve's hand twitch. She didn't dare say anything in case she had imagined it, but she held still in case it happened again. Finally Steve opened his eyes. Suddenly everyone was on there feet which only made him feel uncomfortable in his confusion.

"Peggy? Where am I? What's going on?"

"You're at my house, Steve. In the lab,"Howard responded. "Ever since you decided to crash the plane two years ago we've been searching for you. One of my crews just found you a few hours ago."

Steve sat up, causing the blanket to fall into his lap, revealing his bare chest, "two years?" He asked in disbelief.

"It would have been a lot faster if you had given Peggy your coordinated before crashing. At least then we would have had some idea of where to look," Howard said, handing Steve a shirt. Everyone was silent for a moment before Sousa finally spoke up.

"I'm Daniel Sousa, chief of the SSR and this is Jack Thompson."

"It's nice to meet you," Steve said shaking both their hands. He looked around the lab until his eyes landed on Peggy, who has been standing by silent just staring at them. they looked at each other not knowing what to say. it was Jarvis who broke the silence talking to Daniel and Thompson,"gentlemen if you would like to follow me, I can show you to some guest rooms for you to stay the night." as they left, Howard also excused himself saying he had some other business to take care of and with check in later, leaving Steve and Peggy alone.

Steve looked at Peggy, finally getting a chance to study her face. her hair was slightly disheveled, she wasn't wearing her usual red lipstick and she looked and very tired, but Steve never thought she looked more beautiful.

"I'm so sorry that you two years I-"

"It's not your fault, Steve. you did what you had to do there's nothing wrong with that."

"I never wanted to leave you," Steve could see these eyes tear up. he opens his arms offering her a spot beside him on the table. she sat down next to him and he wrap the blanket around both of them hugging her close. she buried her face and his shoulder and it took me a second to notice but he realized she was crying hugging her close he kissed the top of her head, "I'm so sorry."

"I never thought I'd see you again," she sobbed finally allowing herself to let out all the sadness and grief that had consumed her over the past two years.

"I know. I won't leave you again, I promise."

"Don't make promises you can't keep Steve," she said looking up at him.

"I have every intention of keeping this promise. I never want to leave you again. I love you Peggy."

"I love you too"

Finally they said it. Those words have been hanging between them for almost as long as they known each other. Timidly, Steve leaned in, gently pressing his lips against the hers. After a moment of surprise, he felt her lean into the kiss. he could taste the salt from her tears but it was still the best kiss they had. No colonel Phillips, no Hydra, no plane crash to follow, it was just the two of them. When Steve pulled back Peggy's eyes were still closed. She kept them closes a second longer before opening them and smiling at Steve.

"Ehem." Steve and Peggy turned around to find Howard standing in the doorway. "If you two are done, I can show you to your rooms, or room if you would like."

Steve blushed, "I think we'll sleep in separate rooms," he said glancing at Peggy who nodded in agreement.

They followed Howard out of the lab and headed to Steve's room first.

"There are pajamas and extra blankets in the wardrobe," Howard told him.

"Thank you," steve said before awkwardly giving Peggy a hug. "Goodnight Peggy."

"Goodnight Steve."

Finally Howard showed Peggy to her room. Normally she would protest say she can find her own way, especially since stayed in the same room every time she was forced to spend the night at Howards, and it happened to be the room right next door to Steve's room. But tonight felt different, she could tell there was something he wanted to say to her in private, so she let him accompany her to her door.

"Thank you Howard," she said when they arrived and her door.

"It's nothing Peg."

"No, really, I thought I had lost you forever and I was ready to give up but you kept pushing you brought him home Howard"

"I felt I had to. I needed closure we all did. I never thought he'd still be alive. I guess now you too can finish whatever unfinished business you have. Speaking of which I'll have to figure out a way to prevent the fact that Captain America is off the market to the press since I'm assuming you too can now be classified as dating."

She you smiled looking over at the mall close door to Steve's room "I guess so."

"We will discuss it all in the morning, in the meantime you need to get some rest call me or Jarvis if you need anything and Sousa and Thompson are down the hall if you need to beat someone up."

Peggy laughed, "goodnight Howard," she said giving him a hug

"Goodnight Peggy."

The next morning as peggy was leaving her room, she heard Steve store open in her, "good morning Steve."

"Good morning Peggy. did you sleep alright?"

"I did, thank you. and you?"

"I didn't really get much sleep. I feel like I've been sleeping for the past two years," he joked.

Peggy laughed, "should we head down to breakfast?"

"Lead the way," Steve motioned

When they reached the kitchen everyone else was already eating pancakes and Colonel Phillips was with them.

"Good morning everyone," Steve and Peggy greeted.

"Good morning."

"So as I was saying," Phillips continued, "I will give you a couple of days to get settled before we announce to the public that Captain America is alive."

"What about Peggy?" Howard asked.

"What about Ms. Carter?" Phillips replied

"I mean is she going to have a role in Steve's public life?"

Phillips sighed before turning to Steve and Peggy, "I suggest to keep whatever this is under wraps for now. The world will be in shock already to find their golden boy is still alive we don't need to add to that he's in a relationship to that."

Steve looked at Peggy was suddenly very interested in her pancakes before asking, "will be announced it at some point?"

"If that's what you kids really want," Philip said as he got up. "Now, I've got a lot of work to do, it's great to have you back Steve."

"Thank you, sir," Steve said getting up to shake his hand.

"I can you out, sir" Jarvis said.

Later after everyone had finished breakfast they moved to the sitting room to start making plans. Daniel and Thompson found themselves sitting in large chairs opposite Steve and Peggy, who was curled up against his side.

When was settled in Howard began talking, "well obviously Steve should stay here and we should keep movement in and out of the house to a minimum. Daniel, do any other agents need to know about this or can you and Jack handle it?"

"We can manage with just the two of us," Daniel replied.

"Good so no one else has to know how about this before we announce it"

"Actually I would like to tell one more person about Steve before we announce it to the public," Peggy spoke up

"Would that someone be Ms. Martinelli?" Jarvis asked.

"Yes it would be."

"Who's that?" Steve asked.

"Angie Martinelli she's my roommate and Daniel's girlfriend. She's an actress and very funny and energetic, you'll like her."

"I'm sure it will," Steve smiled.

"I don't think we should bring civilians into this," Thompson interjected.

"Stark and Jarvis are civilians," Daniel countered.

"But we need their assistance," Thompson replied.

"So you're just using us, gee thanks," Howard said.

"I think we should let Mr Rogers decide if Ms Martinelli can come over," Jarvis said.

Shocked that he was given any say in the matter, Steve took a moment before replying, "I would love to meet Angie."

"Great I'll call her right now," Peggy said getting off the couch.

"I shall go prepare the car to pick her up," Jarvis told Peggy.

After Peggy hung up the phone she returned to the couch next to Steve, "she's very curious to see who you are Steve."

"You didn't tell her who she was meeting?" Steve asked.

"Not over the phone, and besides, this way we get to see her reaction."

"I'm going to pick miss Martinelli up now," Jarvis told Howard, "I should be back in about 10 minutes or so."