The final section is in the works! Enjoy Part 2!

Peggy stared out the window of her cab, on her way to a secure shield base where they were keeping Steve as he adjusted to life again. She could hardly wrap her mind around what had happened, couldn't make herself believe it completely. Not until she saw him herself. Troubled, her mind wandered back to Daniel. A member of the 107th, he owed his life to Steve Rogers, and she knew that was in the back of his mind as he let her go. She rubbed her temples. Daniel had been there for her in a way no one else ever had. He considered her an equal, and when things had gotten very dark for her after Steves death, Daniel had been the only one to really see her. His kindness and friendship had soothed her raw heart, and his goodness had endeared her to him, blossoming slowly into love. At least, it had seemed slow to her then. Now viewing the last year and a half from what would be Steve's perspective made her cringe. Suddenly, a year and a half was a very short amount of time to mourn, much less get engaged. Daniel had proven himself over and over to her, even risking his life for hers. How could she do this to him?

The cab hit a pothole in the road, jolting her back to the present, "Miss, we are arriving at the laundromat now."

"Oh, yes thank you."

The cabby eyed her in the rearview mirror, "Don't you have any laundry?"

"Oh, no I'm meeting a friend here." He shrugged, "Well have a nice day, and smile! You're too pretty to be sad!" She scowled at the ground as she got out. As if being pretty had anything to do with how she felt. She slammed the door behind her, and headed into the laundromat. Reaching the back of the room, she flashed her SSR badge at the camera in the corner, and a secret door popped open in the wall with a hiss. She walked through it, unphased, and entered into the SSR hospital.

Her stomach clenched as she headed for the reception desk, she was starting to feel nauseous. The lady at the front desk lit up with recognition as Peggy approached, "Agent Carter, I've been expecting you." She got up and led her down the hall, "Right this way." Peggy nodded mutely and followed her. As they approached the door the woman paused, "He's just inside, I've sent the nurses away for the moment." She hesitated, then gave her arm a quick squeeze and returned to her desk.

Peggy's heart hammered in her chest as she stared at the closed door. Abruptly she opened it, and leapt forward into the room. There, standing with his back to her gazing out the window, was Steve. He turned and her breath caught in her throat. His eyes, blue as the ocean, met hers. "Peggy," he said in a whisper. She swallowed hard, "Steve." He looked the same, exactly, impossibly the same as the day she had last seen him. To her irritation, tears welled up in her eyes and her breathing spiked, "Steve how…" she gasped, her hand going to her chest. Quickly Steve crossed the room to her, taking her in his arms. Against her better judgement, she clung to him, her face buried in his shoulder. "I'm sorry Peggy, I'm so sorry." He tentatively ran his hand over her hair, unsure what else he could say.

"Are you really alright?" Peggy asked, her voice muffled.

"That's what they tell me. They are only keeping me here for observation, they don't know how this happened. I guess the serum-"

But Peggy cut him off. Pulling away from him she hauled her arm back and punched him. He reeled back in shock. She stood tall, suddenly furious, "Why did you crash that plane?! We could have figured something out Steve! Why did you have to be so God damn selfish?!"

Steve held his jaw, still stunned at the turn of events, but at her angry accusation his face darkened, "Selfish?! I saved thousands of lives Peggy! I had to do it!"

"You don't know that!"

"Well I wasn't going to risk all those lives for the off chance that I could save mine! I'm a soldier Peggy, that's my job, to make the tough call!"

"And what about my life Steve? How was I supposed to cope with the knowledge that you wouldn't even have gotten involved if I hadn't pushed you to be more? Do you have any idea how deeply I suffered that guilt?" Her voice cracked, her anger draining away, replaced by grief.

Steve calmed and regarded her sorrowfully, "Peggy I'm sorry. But I knew you would be strong enough to move on."

She crossed her arms over her chest defensively, "Well I wasn't. I went through a dark period after you.. left, or died, or whatever the hell you did. Getting out of it was a huge ordeal, it marked me."

Steve took a cautious step closer, taking her hands in his ever so slowly, as if she was a bomb that might go off any second, "But you were strong enough Peggy. Here you are." At that moment Steve felt the ring on Peggy's left hand. He brought it in front of him to see it better, and she regarded him solemnly. When he met her eyes, his blue eyes pained, she shrugged, "I wasn't. I couldn't do it alone. Daniel is the reason I pulled through, why I'm not racked with guilt anymore. He has made me so incredibly happy Steve, despite everything."

Steve dropped her hands, "You're.. Married?"

Peggy shook her head, folding her hands in front of her, "Engaged." Steve nodded mutely, processing. With a pang of regret, Peggy noticed his jaw swelling from her punch. She grabbed an ice pack from the counter and led him to the bed, making him sit down. She gently pressed the ice against his face, avoiding meeting his eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"For what?" Steve asked, sounding dejected.

"For everything. I'm sorry for getting you into that plane, I'm sorry that you had to give your life." Finally she looked at him, "I'm sorry for punching you. I know it must not seem like it but I am so incredibly overjoyed that you are alive." She put her hands on his shoulders and pressed her forehead to his, her voice coming out soft as silk, "I can't… I still can't quite believe it."

"I'm sorry I missed our date," he whispered back, "It's the biggest regret of my life." Peggy sighed and sat on the bed next to him, and he put his arm around her companionably. "You know I went? I sat there in that club for hours, even knowing you were... " She shrugged, "I didn't know what else to do." Steve gave her a little squeeze, "I'm really sorry." Peggy just nodded, her mind moving to the way he felt against her, how whole and healthy and ALIVE he felt.

"Who is he?" Steve asked quietly.

Peggy glanced up at him, uncertain how he would take it, "Lt. Daniel Sousa of the 107th division." Steve's eyes widened in surprise, "Oh. I know him."

"You saved him. And he saved me." Steve nodded thoughtfully, "He's a good man."

"He is." She looked down at her hands, letting silence stretch between them for a moment.

"Steve I-"

"No there's no need to explain. I was dead, you moved on as best you could. There's just one question I have left."

She looked up at him expectantly, "What is it?" Taking her face in his hands, Steve kissed her. She stiffened, then relaxed, he felt so familiar. Hadn't she dreamed of getting just one more chance to kiss him? She kissed him back, slowly, tenderly. In her heart she felt the closure she had been looking for. He pulled away slowly, looking into her face questioningly, "Now that I'm back, are you sure he's the right partner?" She reached up and gently took his hands from her face, and placed them back in his lap.

"Steve… I will always care about you. You may have broken my heart but you saved Daniel, and he put it back together. In a way, I owe you for that. I think… I think too much has changed. Our lives aren't on the same path. I do love you, or I did, but... I love Daniel more."

Steve cringed at her words, but part of him was grateful for her honesty. Peggy had never been one to play any games. "Will I still see you?" Peggy smiled, "Of course you will." He nodded, taking and releasing a big breath. "Thanks for not punching me again." She laughed, suddenly feeling lighter, "Thanks for not dying after all." He smiled at her sadly. "I'll see you around?" She nodded. Steve watched as she turned to go, feeling like a chapter of his life was coming to a close.