All the Time in the World

Chapter 6

One evening, Steve set foot into a dance hall and nodded to the man who had opened the door for him as he passed. His eyes then fell upon the various couples dancing in the center of the room.

A smile then appeared on his face when his eyes landed on someone standing over by the bar, dressed in a bright red dress. Steve would recognize her anywhere. Steve then made his way over to the bar and watched as she took a sip of her drink.

"Hi Peggy."

Peggy then spun around when she heard Steve's voice. And once they were facing each other, a look of surprise flashed across her features as she met his eyes, followed by a look of pure relief.

"Steve," Peggy breathed. "You're alive."

"I am," Steve said. "I couldn't be late for our dance, now could I?"

Peggy then looked over at the large clock behind the bar. It was 8 o'clock exactly. He was right on time.

"No, we couldn't have that," Peggy replied.

"What do you say about finally showing me how to dance?"

"I think that could be arranged."

The two then exchanged smiles, and Steve held out his hand for Peggy to take. Once her hand was in his, she proceeded to give it a squeeze before leading him out onto the dance floor. And soon, they were dancing amongst the other couples. Though the pair didn't really pay attention to the other people in the room as they stared intently at one another. To them, they felt like they were the only two people in the room as they danced. Both equally caught up in the moment and in each other.

"So, how am I doing?" Steve asked.

"Very well."

"Well, I have a good teacher."

Peggy smiled brightly at him in reply. While Steve slid his hand down her arm and moved into place to be able to spin her.

Then when she spun into him and their bodies touched, Steve gazed down at the beautiful woman pressed against his chest. And for a moment there, he couldn't even hear the music anymore. All he saw was Peggy.

"I love you, Peggy."

Peggy smiled warmly at hearing this and then whispered into his ear. "And I love you."

The two then leaned in for a nice long kiss.

The next thing Steve knew, they were back to dancing. Only this time they were much closer, and Peggy had her arms resting up on his neck.

As they danced, Steve became increasingly aware that Peggy had something on her mind.

"Peggy, is everything okay?"

Peggy then broke from her thoughts and looked up at him. Before proceeding to lick her lips, as she thought about how she would tell him.

"Steve, there's something I have to tell you."

"Okay," Steve said. "What is it?"

A deep breath then escaped Peggy's lips as she collected herself.

"Steve, we're going to have a baby."

Steve's jaw then proceeded to drop as he stared at her. "We are?"

"Yes," Peggy replied, nodding as a smile appeared on her face.

Steve's eyes then glanced down at Peggy's stomach, before returning to her face. And much to Peggy's relief, his face then broke out into a huge smile.

"We're going to have a baby," he repeated.

"We are. I know it's a little soon…but…"

"No, it's okay. We'll be okay," Steve assured. "Oh Peggy."

Steve couldn't believe that he and Peggy were actually going to have a baby together. He then felt a wave of completely joy go through him as he pulled Peggy into a hug and held her close for several minutes.

Then all of a sudden, he heard Peggy's voice whisper, "Sarah."

"Sarah," he repeated as he continued to hold her.

Then when he opened his eyes again, Steve realized that they were the only people in the room. Everyone else had gone.

"Steve."

"Yeah?"

"What is it, darling?" Peggy asked, as she continued to rest her head on his chest.

"I don't know…something just feels…" Steve then felt a rush of cold air hit him, and he shivered in response as it went right through his clothes and brushed against his skin. "Peggy?"

"Yes?"

"Do you feel cold?"

"No," Peggy answered, finally lifting her head from his chest.

"Then why does it feel…"

Then just like that, everything went black. The entire room, along with Peggy disappeared as images of the Valkyrie hitting the ice flashed through Steve's mind.

Steve eyes then snapped open as he sat upright in bed. Taking in a big gulp of air as he did so, which then slowed to a few deep breaths as he tried to figure out where he was. Before finally remembering that he was in his hotel room in Washington DC.

It had been a dream. It had just been a dream.

After finally catching his breath, Steve swung his legs over the side of the bed and walked over to the window and looked out onto the city.

Well, not everything had been a dream. Steve's mind then went back his conversation with Peggy, less than twenty-four hours ago. His reunion with her had meant the world to him. And honestly, he wished that he hadn't waited so long after coming back to see her. Just being around his Best Girl again, made everything feel right.

His mind then drifted to the other matter, which now occupied most of his thoughts. As he began to replay the part of the conversation where Peggy had informed him of something very important. Something that she would have told him sixty-six years ago. She had been pregnant when he crashed that plane.

Nothing could have possibly prepared him for that revelation. Nowhere, not even in his dreams could he have imagined this coming to be.

Yet, it had happened. It was all true. He was a father. He could still hear Peggy's voice when she told him so clearly in his mind. The way her voice had started to break, made his heart ache. Steve then felt his stomach twist into a knot as his guilt resurfaced at the very thought of all this. He then closed his eyes, and allowed a sigh to escape his lips as more pain bubbled up. The only thing he had to compare this feeling to, was the day Bucky had died but this was a different kind of pain. One that was marked by the number of years he had missed. It truly made his heart hurt thinking about the fact that Peggy had to go through everything without him. Especially back then, when children out of wedlock was very frown upon.

He should have been there.

Despite his guilt, he was so proud of Peggy for going through all that, though he never doubted her ability to do so. Still, he admired the strength it must have taken her to do everything she had accomplished in her life. His Best Girl was truly amazing, and he knew without a doubt that she was a wonderful mother. At thinking about this, his thoughts then drifted to his other girl. Their little girl. The one that Peggy had raised.

Sarah. His and Peggy's daughter was all grown up now and out of the country at the present time. Peggy had informed him of this right before he left, when he finally managed to ask where she was.

Steve then left the window and made his way over to the desk and laid eyes on the picture of his daughter. The one that Peggy had given to him. She really was beautiful. And Steve still couldn't believe that he and Peggy had actually made this person.

Steve let out another sigh as he sat down and proceeded to take the picture into his hands. A sad smile then formed on his lips as he stared at the picture of the person who he had only known about for a short time, but who already meant so much to him.

The following morning, Steve drove back to Peggy's and soon found himself in her dining room, looking over various photo album, which Peggy had kindly laid out for him. Albums that all contained pictures of Sarah at various stages of her life.

Steve smiled as his hand brushed over a picture of Sarah as a little girl in the arms of her mother. His heart just completely melted at the sight of Peggy kissing their daughter on the cheek while the child smiled brightly at the camera. His eyes then left the picture when he heard movement, and when he looked up. He saw Peggy walking into the room with a cup of tea in her hand.

Peggy then moved to sit down in the seat right next to him. And after she was seated, Steve greeted her with a little smile and then moved his other hand that was blocking her view and pointed at the picture.

"How old was she here?"

Peggy leaned forward to get a closer look and then smiled when she saw what picture it was.

"Six," Peggy replied. "She really was a happy child, Steve. Always running around and smiling."

Steve smiled, happy to hear that bit of information. Though, the smile quickly faded as a surge of pain and loss went through him. Luckily, a minute later, he was able to collect himself and give a nod.

"I have no doubt. You two look very happy."

Peggy then stared intently at Steve as she tried to read his emotions. She could see that though he was genuinely happy to hear about their daughter's life, it was still very painful for him and understandably so. How could it not be?

"Steve."

"Yeah?"

"What is it?" Peggy questioned.

"Nothing."

"You know, you're not a very good liar. Never have been."

"Ouch," Steve replied, chuckling at Peggy's bluntness. A trait of hers that he was very fond of.

"Steve, come on now. Tell me," Peggy urged. "It's all right."

Steve let out a sigh as he glanced down at the picture of little Sarah, before meeting Peggy's eyes once again.

"I don't know. It's just, I missed everything, Peggy."

Peggy then let out a breath as she reached out for his hand, before giving it a comforting squeeze. "Not everything."

"Peggy, I've missed out on most of her life."

"Maybe…but it's not her whole life. She's still here. Yes, you may have missed out on Sarah growing up. And trust me when I say that we would have given anything for you to be there. Both of us."

Steve nodding, knowing that deep down Peggy was right. While it was true that he missed his daughter growing up, there was still time. He could still see her.

"Have you spoken to her since yesterday? Sarah, that is?" Steve asked.

Peggy nodded. "I have, yes. I gave her a ring this morning to tell her that you had come by."

"And?"

"And she's…well. Truthfully, I think she's feeling very similar to you right now," Peggy said, pausing briefly as Steve looked at her with a concerned expression. "She'll be fine. She just needs some time. You're her father, Steve. She wants to get to know you."

"And I want that to, Peggy. Really I do. It's just…" Steve started, knowing that he did want to get to know his daughter. More than anything else in the world, he did want that chance.

Peggy smiled as the thought of Sarah and Steve finally meeting. Though she knew with Sarah being out of the country that it would be awhile yet. A realization that had been a difficult thing for both her and her daughter. Since as much as Sarah wanted to come home, she knew that she had to stay and finish her teaching program before she could. A decision that Peggy was very proud of Sarah for making, as it reminded her very much of Steve.

She had of course explained this all to Steve the day before when he asked where Sarah was. And honestly, Peggy thought he was a bit revealed that he wouldn't have to face his daughter anytime soon. As he needed time to adjust to having a daughter and one that was physically older than him at that. And he wasn't the only one, Sarah needed time to adjust as well.

"I know." Then after a few minutes of silence passed, Peggy spoke up again. "You should write to her, I know she'd love that.'

Steve nodded, knowing that letters would be a good way to communicate with his daughter for the time being. To ease them both into it. As this wouldn't be an easy thing for either one of them.

"I think I can manage that," Steve said. "And, I'm sorry if I upset you."

Peggy then watched as Steve gestured to his own cheek. Prompting her to reach up and wipe away a stray tear that had fallen down her face.

"Oh darling, it's all right. I know this must be very hard for you."

"What about you?" Steve asked, shifting his focus to her.

"What about me?" Peggy asked, though she knew full well where he was going with this.

"Peggy, you raised Sarah on your own. I imagine that wasn't an easy thing either." Peggy then confirmed this by slowly nodding. "And I know that after I disappeared you must have thought I was dead…"

Peggy then looked away for a minute as she remembered the days that followed Steve's disappearance. Even now, thinking about it was extremely painful for her, brutal at best. And when she glanced back up at Steve, she knew that he could sense that.

"I did. We all did."

"When did you find out about the baby?" Steve asked. As Peggy met his eyes again and wiped away another tear that was making its way down her face. "What was that like? Tell me."

Peggy couldn't blame Steve for wondering about this. After all, he didn't get to see Sarah grow up. So the least she could do was answer any questions that he had.

"Well, I found out I was pregnant about a month after you disappeared. I had suspected it for about a week before then…. You know, I don't regret it Steve, what we did," Peggy said. "It gave us our daughter and I wouldn't trade her for anything. Sarah really is the best thing that could have happened to me."

"I'm glad to hear it," Steve said, making Peggy raise her eyebrow. "I mean…I know how much you love Sarah so. Oh, you know what I mean."

"You still don't know how to talk to a woman do you?" Peggy questioned, very amused by his babbling.

"I'm working on it," Steve replied with a chuckle. "Now, what happened after you found out?"

"Well, I was in some shock there for a bit. But I worked through it and wanted to make sure that the baby would have a good life, so I decided to move to America and start over," Peggy said, before letting out a laugh. "Although, come to think of it, my immediate shock was nothing compared to the look on Phillips's face when I told him."

Steve then let out a laugh as well. "Phillips. Oh I would have payed big money to see that."

"It was quite something." Peggy nodded, before continuing on with the story. "Well, then I moved to New York, to feel closer to you in part and then well…"

"You had Sarah."

"I had Sarah," Peggy smiled, as she thought about the day her daughter was born. "It was truly one of the happiest day of my life. I just wish you could have been there to share it with us.

"Me too," Steve said with a look of empathy on his face. Though at the present time he was more marveling at the love he saw in Peggy's eyes as she talked about their daughter, than the guilt he felt for not being there.

Peggy then reached out for the album in front of Steve, and flipped back a few pages to a very old photograph of herself holding baby Sarah in the hospital.

"Here," Peggy said. "There she is. This was taken the day after she was born."

"I can't get over how beautiful she is," Steve remarked, captivated by the picture of Peggy holding their newborn daughter. "Even then."

"My little darling. Ah, she was such a good baby too," Peggy said. "You know, I used to turn on the radio for her and rock her to sleep to "Somewhere over the Rainbow."

Steve smiled upon hearing this. "That's a good song."

"And it worked like a dream too, getting her to sleep. Well, most of the time."

The room then went quiet for a minute, as Steve continued to gaze at the picture along with Peggy. "You did good Peg. You really did a great job, raising our girl."

"I did my best," Peggy replied. "You know, I didn't do it alone though, even before I married. I had my friend Angie, who Sarah fondly called Auntie Angie to help out. You two would have gotten on great."

"I'm sure we would," Steve said, relieved that Peggy had someone there to help out her at the beginning. "She sounds like a really great person. I'm glad you had her."

"She was. And then there was also, Howard and The Howling Commandos of course."

"Ah, I had a feeling those fellas would have looked out for you," Steve replied. "Goofballs though they were."

"That they were," Peggy agreed. "They adored Sarah though, all of them. In fact they were quite protective of her when she stated dating."

"I can imagine," Steve said with a chuckle. As he gave a silent thank you to his friends for watching over Peggy and Sarah for him. Then something occurred to him. "Wait? Peggy?"

"Yes, Steve?"

"Sarah's sixty-five now."

Peggy nodded. "Yes, I'm well aware of that."

"Peggy, does Sarah have a family now? Her own family?"

A smile then appeared on Peggy's face. "Yes she does. Our daughter had done very well for herself. Besides being a teacher, she's been married to her husband, Anthony for almost forty years, and they have three children of their own."

Steve stared at Peggy in amazement upon hearing this. In his adjusting to learning that he had a daughter, he hadn't found the time to stop and think about Sarah's current life. Other than Peggy telling him that she was in Europe teaching. Up until now at least. It was truly amazing for him to hear all this. And it did make him feel better, knowing that Sarah was living a very full life. He was also very grateful that Peggy had waited until now to tell him that their daughter had children of her own. As he was sure, that piece of information would have been too much for him to swallow the day before.

"We're grandparents?" Steve questioned.

"We are."

"Steve's mind then felt like it was being blown all over again. "Wow…Well, what are their names?"

"Jenna, Luke and Amanda," Peggy said. "As a matter a fact, the youngest, Amanda lives here with me."

Steve then looked around the room, though he got the feeling that she wasn't home.

"Wait? Is she the one who answered the phone when I called?"

"Mmhmm. That was her."

Steve couldn't believe that he had actually spoken to his daughter's daughter without knowing it.

"Where is she now?"

"She's at work," Peggy said. "…In fact, she works for SHIELD, Steve. Amanda."

Later that afternoon, Steve walked into the Triskelion and made his way upstairs to Fury's office. Once he finally got there, he knocked on the door before peeking his head into the room.

"Ah Captain," Fury said.

"Hello sir. Are you busy?"

"No. Come on in," Fury said, gesturing for Steve to come all the way into the room.

Steve then stepped into the room and walked over to Fury's desk, before sitting across from the SHIELD director.

"So," Steve started, trying to get his thoughts organized.

"So is there anything I can help you with? How are you enjoying DC?"

"Um, well that's actually what I wanted to talk to you about," Steve said. "I was wondering if it be possible for me to be transferred here to DC?"

Nick leaned back in his chair as he thought about it for a second, and then gave a nod.

"I don't see why not. May I inquire as to why?"

Steve then swallowed at Nick's question. He knew why he wanted to move to DC, of course. He wanted to be closer to his family. His family, something that was still so strange for him to think about, since it was all so new. It was also something that he honestly wasn't sure, he was ready to share with anyone else quite yet.

"Well there's just something…" Steve then paused when he saw how intently Fury was staring at him.

"I see. Does this request have anything to do with Agent Carter?" Fury questioned.

Steve's jaw then dropped slightly as he knitted his eyebrows and began to wonder if Fury knew about him and Peggy. "Sir?"

"I'm guessing she told you?"

At hearing Fury's reply, Steve's question was answered. He knew all right. There was no doubt about it in Steve's mind. Fury knew.

Steve then let out a little sigh, before a slight smile appeared on his face.

"She did," Steve admitted.

"Ah. I bet that was all a little shocking for you," Fury said. "And I don't mean to pry. Call it mild curiosity."

"Its fine," Steve assured. "And yes, it was that sir. Shocking to say the least."

"That's understandable."

"So, have long have you known? Did she tell you?" Steve asked.

"Not in so many words no. I did piece it together though. Between having met Sarah and then her daughter, Agent Harper working here of course," Fury explained.

"Wait? You know Sarah?"

"As a matter of fact, I do," Fury said as he watched Steve's eyes focus on him. Obviously, the Captain was very interested in hearing more about his new-found daughter. "I saw her a few times back when Agent Carter, well Director Carter was working here. She's a lovely woman, reminds me a lot of her mother. You should be very proud."

A smile then appeared on Steve's face as he nodded. "I am."

"I remember this one time she brought little Amanda with her to take Peggy out to lunch, I think it was. And Amanda started crawling around the furniture and said she was practicing to be a spy. Little did we know at the time, of course, was that little girl would end up coming to work for us."

Steve then let out a chuckle. "That is a nice story."

"Indeed," Fury said. "Well, I'll go ahead and put in that transfer for you and we'll look into finding you a new place of residence."

"Thank you, sir," Steve replied, moving to stand up.

Steve then started back towards the door and paused when he heard Fury's voice again.

"And Captain." Steve then spun around to face the SHIELD director once more. "Congratulations."

Steve gave Fury a nod as the idea of him actually having a family began to sink in, just a little bit more. "Thank you, sir."

Ouch. That dream sequence with Steggy was so painful to write. Poor Steve. There you have it, Steve now knows a little bit more about Sarah and that he's a grandpa!

I can't wait for you guys to see what I have in store for the next couple chapters. Should be exciting.

Who knows. Maybe Sarah will appear soon, in some capacity.

Thanks for reading.