Author's note: Here is it, the sequel to Legacy. Seeing that this is a sequel, I do strongly recommend that you read Legacy first, at least after reading this chapter.
All the Time in the World
Spoilers: For both Captain America movies, Agent Carter, and The Avengers movies.
Chapter 1
"You won't be alone."
Steve slowly looked up at Peggy, who offered him a small, reassuring smile.
"Thank you," Steve replied.
Peggy gave him a nod in reply, while never breaking eye contact. And soon they found themselves staring at each other for several minutes.
After a while, Peggy licked her lips. "Come on, we should get indoors."
"Yeah, you're probably right."
Peggy then moved to stand up, and Steve followed. The two of them then cautiously made their way out of the burned out pub, avoiding the fragile charred wood as much as possible. As they exited the broken building, Steve held out his hand a few inches away from Peggy's back, just in case she lost her balance, as they stepped over what remained of the front door.
After she was clear of the debris, Peggy glanced back to wait for him, and noticed how quickly his outstretched arm dropped to his side.
Once he too was over, Peggy gave him a small smile, a silent thank you for his sweet gesture a few moments ago.
"Come along, Captain."
As they walked along, Steve glanced up at the sky and noticed how quiet the streets of London were. Everyone was still inside, safe from the bombs that had fell onto the city a few hours prior. Steve wasn't sure what time it was. He had lost track of it, in the process of going to the pub for a drink, but he guessed it was a little after midnight, if not later.
The quiet atmosphere was oddly pleasant though. Just being alone, with no one around, with the exception of Peggy, was rather nice. And in some ways, it felt like they were the only two people in the world.
Then out of the corner of his eye, he caught Peggy glancing over at him, so he offered her a small smile.
After a few minutes passed, without really thinking about it, Peggy slid her arm through Steve's and he bent his elbow so that they could walk together, with their arms linked. Peggy then moved to rest her head on his upper arm, as they continued to walk along.
Steve was momently taken off guard by Peggy's actions, but after the shock wore off, and he settled into it. He realized how nice it felt. How right it felt. And he couldn't be more grateful to have Peggy by his side, now more than ever.
Peggy had been his support tonight. At a time when he needed it most, and perhaps she had been that for him all along.
When they finally reached the hotel, Peggy released her grip on him as they entered the building. Steve then followed her to her hotel room in silence. A silence that was broken once they arrived at Peggy's door.
"Captain."
"Agent Carter," Steve said. "Thanks, thanks again, for well, everything tonight."
"You're welcome."
"So…"
"So..." she repeated.
Steve then paused before continuing, "well, goodnight, Agent Carter."
"Goodnight, Steve," Peggy said, and then without thinking about it, she gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
As they pulled away and looked at each other. It was clear, from the looks on their faces, that they both could sense what was going to happen next.
Then at the same time, Peggy and Steve both leaned in for another kiss, this time on the lips. This kiss was longer, and more intimate. So much so, that when it ended, they both had to pause to catch their breath.
"Peggy?"
"Yes?"
"What are we doing?"
"I'm not entirely sure," Peggy admitted, as she leaned in for another kiss.
"Me either," Steve said, and she gave a little chuckle.
Whatever it was, it felt right. And when they kissed again, this time Peggy's hand moved to turn the door knob behind her.
The next thing Steve knew, he was waking up to light shining in through the window. After looking up at the celling for a minute, it then became very apparent to him that he was not in his hotel room, but Peggy's. In remembering this, it took all his strength not to bolt upright in bed, so that he wouldn't disturb the sleeping brunette next to him.
Steve then briefly glanced over at Peggy's sleeping form, and smiled at the beautiful woman lying next to him. Before gently running a finger down her face.
Part of him couldn't believe what had happened the night before. It almost felt like a dream, a very good dream.
Steve then felt Peggy stirring next to him, and when he glanced down to look at her again, he saw her eyes start to flutter open.
"Good morning," Steve greeted.
Peggy smiled. "Good morning."
"So we?" Steve asked, though he already knew the answer.
"We did," Peggy said, adjusting the sheet as she sat up slightly, and rested her head on her hand. "What did you call it that one time? Fondue?"
Steve then let out a chuckle. "You're not going to let me forget that anytime soon, are you?"
"No." Peggy then smiled and leaned in closer to give him a kiss.
"So, Peggy, I know how this is going to sound but I have to ask."
"Ask what, Steve?"
"You don't….regret what happened? Do you?" Steve asked.
"Of course not, Steve. Don't be silly." Peggy then paused for a minute before continuing. "I don't regret it, any of it. Not with you."
Steve smiled upon hearing that. He knew it was both of their decision, but still, he couldn't help but feel like he should apologize. He then opened his arm for Peggy, and she scooted over to cuddle up next to him.
"Me either…I guess I should take you on a real date now, though. Once this is all over."
Peggy then lifted her head from his chest. "I'd like that very much."
"So it's a date then." Steve then reached over to play with a strand of her hair.
"It's a date."
A few days later, the 107th had stormed the main HYDRA base.
"I'd hate to step on your…"
Darkness. That was all Steve Rogers saw after that. Everything just went completely black.
It wasn't until he saw light, followed by him waking up in that hospital bed, that he began to feel anything again. Well, what he thought was a hospital, but it turned out to be fake, a stage, which had been set up to soften the blow for him.
He had been gone for almost seventy years.
Sixty-six years he had been gone.
He wondered how that was even possible. By all accounts he should be dead.
Steve's mind was racing as he sat on the table, in the medical center of an agency called SHIELD. Which he guessed was similar to the SSR, though he hadn't been told exactly what it was that they did. And honestly, he wasn't sure if he trusted them or not. Despite this, Steve had agreed to go back with the man he had met in Times Square, Nick Fury, who was apparently the director of SHIELD.
Steve then snapped from his thoughts when the doctor excused herself and left the room.
After she left, his mind began to wander again. He just felt so lost. And he wondered how so much time could have passed. It was such a strange feeling, one that he couldn't quite explain. It felt so unreal. Almost like a nightmare that he wouldn't wake up from.
This was all real. Steve was becoming more and more convinced of that. And that everything he had been told was true, being in Times Square had showed him that. The world, and everything around him looked so different.
He was certain that the world he knew was gone.
Steve then heard the door crack open, which took his attention away from his thoughts. And as he looked up, he saw Nick Fury walk into the room.
"Well, the Doc tells me that you've been given a clean bill of health, Cap."
"That's something I guess," Steve replied.
"How are you holding up?" Nick asked. "I imagine this is all very disorienting for you."
"That's one way of putting it."
Nick then let out a chuckle. "The world has changed a lot since 1945. There's no denying that. And SHIELD will help you adjust in any way that we can."
"What is SHIELD exactly?"
"SHIELD is an agency founded on protection. In fact our predecessor was the SSR."
"The SSR?" Steve questioned and Fury nodded in reply.
"Yes, making a long story short. Sometime after the war ended, SHIELD was formed and the SSR was dismantled," Fury explained.
"Oh," Steve said, taking it all in.
"I'm sure you'll be interested to know that SHIELD was founded by a few friends of yours." Steve looked up at Nick upon hearing this, obviously intrigued by this information. "I believe you're acquainted with Colonel Philips, Howard Stark and Agent Carter."
Steve's head then snapped up again at the mention of Peggy. "Peggy…I mean, Agent Carter."
"Yes."
"Is she…?" Steve started, but couldn't quite finish the sentence. As he wasn't sure that he wanted to know the answer, fearing the worst.
"She's alive."
Steve then let out a sigh of relief. Peggy was still alive, though it did occur to him that she would be much older now.
"Thank god," Steve whispered to himself, before looking back up at Fury. "And Phillips and Stark?"
"I'm sorry."
Steve looked down at the ground, as it sunk in, that at least two people he had known very well, were now gone. No doubt along with many others.
"Thank you," Steve said with a nod.
"I'll give you some time alone, I'm sure this is a lot to wrap your brain around," Fury said. "I'll have an agent come to take you to a safe house in a bit."
Steve nodded in reply, as he continued to stare at the floor. The world he had known was indeed gone. As well as most of the people who had been in that world. Except Peggy.
Steve sighed as he thought about Peggy and their date. The date that he had been so looking forward to, and was now very late for. He then felt feelings of guilt start to rise up in him. As he began to think, about what maybe, he could have done differently before the crash. As well as what he had lost.
He then shook his head, knowing that he shouldn't really blame himself for what happened. It was done, and there was no going back. So Steve did the one thing he could do, he took a deep breath and tried to keep his guilt at bay.
His best girl was still out there. She was still alive. And wherever she was, Steve hoped that she was doing well.
Thanks for reading.
I hope that you guys like the first chapter. Next chapter: Peggy, and another important someone will show up. Stay tuned for that.