Chapter 2 [Kensington Gardens, outside of London—Next Morning]
The sun shone brightly on that mid-October day in the British Isles. A few puffy clouds skirted ahead of the slight chill billowing about the branches and shaking the leaves to the ground. The grass had begun to yellow. The flowers showed some signs of wilting despite the groundskeepers' efforts. Only a few visitors strolled its winding paths and cobblestone walkways in the midst of the fading fauna.
Peggy coughed into a handkerchief gingerly. She hated that she needed to be pushed around in a wheelchair through this place. As a child and later as an adult, she'd frolicked down these century-old ways losing herself in their labyrinthian wonder. She'd forgotten about the world's cares. She'd enjoyed it with her own children while Reginald had been away on his last few missions. As with the state of affairs, she sat in the late autumn of her own life.
Then a gentle yet strong hand squeezed hers. "You're not getting down on yourself again, are you?"
She immediately straightened herself. The reminder renewed her spirit. "As if I'd disappoint you?"
"Never," Steve insisted from where he pushed her chair. "We may not be what we once were. The world isn't what it was before. However you're still you. I'm still me. We're free to love each other. Our friends support us. What else is there?"
"The barriers of age," she lamented. "I'll never leave you, my Captain. I just want more. I want those years back we were cheated of."
"We have what we have," he reminded her. "Let's make the most of now." He kissed her cheek gently. "You're not overexerting yourself again, are you?"
She rolled her eyes. "No. Still I hate that I can't do more."
"You've done enough. Let some of us help you," he urged gently.
She smiled. Since his revival, he'd certainly learned a great deal about relationships and what women wanted in them. He'd split his time between time, training and being with her. She didn't understand how the Americans could continue to afford to fly him back and forth across the Atlantic not to mention maintain the online chat connection. Wish we could be closer. But Steve has his duty and would never give that up. Nor would I want him to. Without that, he wouldn't be the Captain.
"No doubts," he reminded her.
"No doubts," she agreed letting him see the old fire in her eyes and the impetuous smile. "Having you with me is all the reassurance I need. Provided you could stop being late."
He laughed warmly. "I can't ever meet your standards, can I?"
She shrugged. "No but you're darling when you try. Let's see the azaleas. They're over this way."
"Anywhere you wish," he concurred while deviating off the main path and toward the different flora display through the trees. As with her, he struggled as well with the new world and their different state of affairs. However he wouldn't get down at least not in front of her. No, on the contrary, his role was to keep both of their spirits up. He didn't care about how she looked.
Her heart still beat as it did during the War. That's all he cared about.
If she wanted her flowers, he'd get them for her. Consequences be damned…..
[Tawney's Fish & Chips—Two hours later]
After the azaleas, they had left the chair behind and walked slowly through the daffodils and tulips. They'd indulged their noses with the sweet scents and their spirits with each other's presence. Then it was time to indulge their appetites.
Tawney's had stood on the East Side since the end of the first world war. While many of the tenements surrounding it had long since been torn down to make room for several generations of developers' dreams, the red brick building continued along as it always had. Clientele poured through its door for traditional pub fare with a seafood twist. The Tawneys served them as they had for the previous century—with the best of fish, ale, a cheerful attitude and all at the lowest possible price. The chairs creaked. The tables may have been timeworn. However the homey feeling continued.
Peggy leaned back against the booth's cushions. "Mmm…time may pass but this place never changes." She savored the piece of fried cod from her fish and chips. "Remember the first time we found this place?"
He nodded. "We only had a couple of hours before we hit that Hydra installation in western Germany. At least we weren't late for that."
She shrugged. "You're never late for duty…except when a girl needs a call of course." She bit into a fried potato chunk. "Malt vinegar puts the right touch on this dish."
"Was it my fault Howard didn't make the transponder tougher?" He chuckled. "Speaking of tough, remember when Dum Dum Dugan cleared this place out?"
She giggled. "Oh my yes!" She sipped from her tea cup. "Those ruffians thought they'd get the better of the Commandos. They were the ones cleaned out." Her cheeks flushed with happy memories.
"Nice to see that," he told her.
"It shows off the wrinkles and crow's feet," she complained.
"Not important to me. I'm looking at your eyes and knowing your heart," he insisted. "I'm old too despite the age. Nobody at SHIELD says it but the interns treat me like a relic sometimes. Physical beauty's skin deep. Real beauty's deep down, Peggy."
"Now you're really trying to turn my head," she complained. "Maybe that deep sleep did have some benefits after all?"
"Maybe," he concurred. Then he saw the elderly bartender. "Wow. No flies on that guy. He's been serving up a storm without missing a beat. Walt would love him."
"He did," she informed him. "Remember Mike?"
"The toddler? Really?" He assessed the man again. "Hard to believe."
"The waitresses are Fiona and Marie, his granddaughters. See, Steve, not every place has to change," she continued.
"I like this better than those rapid eat places." He made a face. "What they call hamburgers are poor!"
"Fast food restaurants are what they're called," she corrected gently. "At least in the army, we got fresh rations." She emphasized the point with another bite of their meal. "And this is real food. "
"I'll second that. Do we get another dance later before my training session?" he supposed.
Her eyes sparkled at him. "Just try and say no, my Captain."
And so went the afternoon for them…..