Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel or its characters; this is strictly for my own amusement.

Author's Notes: In this next chapter, Steve is getting desperate, Odin apologizes (and hell freezes over, just joking), and later Peggy has some tough decisions to make about her life. Please read and review. Thank you! :D

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Chapter 10: Choices We Make

City Hospital, later that evening:

Steve felt like the worst boyfriend in the world. He didn't think he could have felt any lower. After he had left Peggy in her room, he had gone to see Thor and Jane with the hope that they had a solution and a way to help him. But after he had told them what had happened in the ICU, Jane was outraged and Thor felt ashamed of him.

"Please, you have to help me. Peggy isn't even speaking to me, and … she was in tears when I left her," he admitted, head down and shame-faced.

"And what makes you think we would want to talk to you after what you did?" Jane asked furious with him. "I still can't believe you would say that to her. She loves you, Steve."

"I know she does, but …"

"There are no buts, Steve," Thor interrupted. "What you said to her was inexcusable. There's only one way to make it right. If I've learned anything since Jane and I …well, since we had our differences, it's that love will take care of everything. I believe that and so should you."

"I do believe that, but …" Jane interrupted him.

"Look, I'm done talking with you. I'm going to see her," she said and tried to get out of bed.

"Whoa there, young lady, you can't do that. Your ribs and your arm are still sore. And what about that bump on your head?" Thor tried to discourage her.

"I'm fine, but why don't you get me a wheelchair and then I can make it just fine?" She asked, hoping to placate him.

"Well, I don't know …" He hesitated.

"Peggy needs us, Thor. Just get the chair … now!" She demanded.

"Alright, alright," Thor acquiesced, but he did agree with her. Peggy needed someone to talk to.

"What are you going to say to her?" Steve asked, worried he may have more apologies piling up when he saw her again.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to say anything bad about you, although I'm very tempted, believe me," Jane admitted. "But what I will say is this … you love her and she loves you, and that's all that matters. She saved lives today Steve. We all did. Just concentrate on that and everything else will work out."

"I hope so," Steve murmured still worried.

A little while later, Thor returned with the chair and with the doctor in tow. "Ms. Foster, take it easy. Stay in the chair and come right back here after you visit your friend. Is that understood?"

"Yes, of course, doctor. I won't do anything else."

"Good girl," the doctor said then he turned to Thor, "Keep an eye on her," he instructed and then he left.

"I'll be here when you get back," Steve told them.

"You should head back to the bunker, Steve, check in with Nick, change and come back later. Peggy will probably need some rest before you see her again," Thor suggested.

Steve glanced down at himself. His costume was still dirty and he did want to change before he saw her again. "You're probably right, but I'll be back in an hour."

They left him alone then. Steve rang his fingers through his hair. I need to be a better boyfriend. Maybe there's a rule book about this sort of thing, or even a television show to help me. I wouldn't imagine there would be anything that could help me beg for forgiveness.

~o~o~

Meanwhile, on Asgard, minutes after the battle:

Heimdall was prepared for a mini-invasion. The Skrull henchmen, Loki and Thanos all arrived within moments after Odin. The coordinates had already been punched in and ready for Odin after he had arrived. All, except Loki would be sent back to where they had come from, but with a stern warning first.

The Cosmic Cube had been taken from Loki on the journey from Earth. Neither Loki nor Thanos would be able to gain access to it again. With a swift movement with his staff, it was removed from all eyes. Only he knew where it was, safe from all who would want to use its power for ultimate domination or another possible invasion.

"So, we meet again Odin," Thanos boldly greeted his jailor.

"This is the last time, Thanos. Your time is done, no more!" Odin told him.

"What do you intend to do with me?" Thanos was no match for the All-Father.

Odin, didn't answer him, but pointed the staff at him and Thanos and the Skrull all disappeared from their eyes.

"Where did they go?" Loki demanded.

"What do you care?" Odin asked his son.

"I don't, but ..."

"But what? He was a monster and so were the others, intent on destroying Earth. You knew that didn't you?"

"I had no idea he was coming before it was too late."

"It wasn't too late. You could have stopped this. Thor …" Odin began, but Loki interrupted him.

"Thor, Thor, Thor," Loki sneered. "He got what he deserved and so did all the others," he stated, unapologetic for his actions.

"You leave me no other choice. I had thought you would have learned from your mistakes by now, but you haven't. Have you?" Odin was disappointed.

"What does it matter? Do with me as you will," Loki stated, feeling defeated, unloved and unwanted.

"Before I strip you of your powers, Loki, know this … I loved you, treated you as my own son. There was nothing I wouldn't have done for you, but because of the way I handled the situation, not telling you your true heritage, you blamed your brother for it, which shouldn't have happened. It was my fault things turned out the way that they did and … I'm sorry."

Loki was shocked to the depths of his soul. He didn't know what to say to that, but one word came to mind, "Father?"

"It's too late, son," Odin murmured and then Loki was gone.

~o~o~

Peggy's private room at the hospital:

After being moved from the ICU about an hour ago, Peggy slowly awakened hoping to see Steve, but he wasn't there. Jane and Thor were standing over by the window talking but she could hear them clearly. She decided to listen when she heard Steve's name.

"I know what you told me, Thor, about Steve's inexperience with women, but what he said was inexcusable," Jane whispered still upset.

Thor squatted down in front of her. "I know, but he was very worried about her, and he wasn't thinking clearly. You know he adores her, Jane."

She sighed. "I know he does." She looked into his eyes. "It's pretty remarkable, their story. It gives me hope … for us," she sadly admitted.

He reached up to smooth her hair away from her face. "Me too," he murmured.

Peggy had heard enough. "I'm awake," Peggy announced, startling them.

"Oh, hi, Peggy, how are you feeling?" Jane asked, quietly, as Thor wheeled her over to her bedside.

"I'm feeling alright. Where's Steve?" Peggy couldn't help asking.

"I sent him back to the bunker to change. He'll be back in a little while," Thor paused. "Are you ready to talk to him about what happened?"

Silence for a minute, then, "I think so," she replied thoughtfully, eyes down, still unsure about her feelings.

Jane took her hand. "Give it time, Peggy. There's no rush," she said. She watched her closely then chose her words carefully. "Steve hadn't meant to hurt you. You do realize that, don't you?"

"I know, I just … it hurt what he said to me. I felt unwanted and if I could go back, I would," she stated, blinking back tears, and not thinking clearly.

"You don't mean that," Thor told her a bit shocked she would say that.

Unbeknownst to them, Steve was in the hallway and he had heard every word. He closed his eyes more hurt than he ever felt in his life. He knew he had hurt her deeply, but to hear those words coming from her, hurt him just as much as when he had said them to her. He realized that now, and he just hoped it wasn't too late. Everything they had ever wanted was hanging in the balance. He wouldn't let it slip through their fingers.

"No, she didn't mean it," Steve stated firmly, as he entered her room. He then spoke to Thor and Jane. "Peggy and I need to talk," he said.

"We'll come by in the morning, alright, Peggy?" Jane asked.

"Yes, please and thank you both for coming," Peggy told them.

Jane squeezed her hand again. Then they left them alone.

Awkward silence followed as Steve stood there beside her bed staring at her. "You look much better than the last time I saw you," he said and tried to smile.

Peggy raised her eyes to look at him and he looked so nice out of his superhero costume, like a normal guy, but he wasn't. He was extraordinary. "I don't want to talk about the last time you were here, do you?"

"I think we should talk about it, clear the air. I want us to get back the way we were before … you know, before I said those terrible things." He pulled a chair over, sat down and took her hand. She didn't pull away from him. "I'm sorry I hurt you Peggy." She was silent. "I didn't mean those things I said." She was still silent. "Don't you believe me?"

A smile pulled at the corners of her lips because he had said the exact same thing to her when he had explained about the woman who had kissed him, and she had been jealous. It had truly shocked her how jealous she had been at the time, but now jealousy was not on her mind. Their entire future could depend on her accepting his apology … or not.

She was so quiet, that Steve was beginning to worry. "Peggy, I love you. I'll always love you. Please, can we please get past this? I want that more than anything."

More silence for a moment, then, her eyes slowly moved over his face and she squeezed his hand. "I believe you Steve, but that's just it. I believe everything you tell me, but I have a mind of my own, and I can make my own decisions, my own choices. I respect you and what you do. I just want the same thing. Promise me, you'll try?" She asked eyes bright and with a hopeful expression.

He stood up then and smoothed her hair away from her forehead. "I promise, now no more talking," he whispered and then he kissed her. It was a sweet and tender kiss. His lips moved her hers and then he kissed her cheek. "I love you," he whispered in her ear.

Peggy sighed blissfully happy. "I love you too, Steve," she said the words back to him.

He rested his forehead against hers. "I'll be back tomorrow. How soon can you come home? I miss you."

"I miss you too. The doctor said several days."

"Good, that gives me plenty of time to find us a place to stay."

"Oh, will you be looking for a house or an apartment?"

"An apartment sounds good, something close to the water maybe?" He asked smiling, knowing how much she loved the water.

"Sounds perfect," she said then returned his smile, but just before their lips met again, the doctor came in.

He cleared his throat. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but Ms. Carter needs her rest, and we don't want to upset her again … now do we?" The doctor asked, clearly worried about this gentleman and what had happened earlier in the day.

Peggy felt the need to explain as she looked into Steve's eyes. "He's my boyfriend, and he can come by anytime, day or night."

"I see, well, I need to examine you and he should wait in the corridor, please."

"I'll be right outside, Peggy," Steve told her and left before the doctor chewed him out again.

Peggy smiled and watched him leave.

After her examination, Steve returned but not before shooting daggers into doctor's back. The nerve of doctors in this time period, but maybe they weren't all like that, he wondered.

Steve sat down again and took her hand. He could see how tired she was. "I'll let you rest and come by first thing in the morning with a place for us to stay. How does that sound, and we can't forget our long-delayed first date, now can we?" Steve asked but she was already nodding off, probably from the painkillers.

Peggy managed a few words for him, as she whispered to him, her voice barely audible, "I … love … you."

He stood up again and kissed her forehead. "I love you too, Peggy," he whispered.

But, she was already asleep. They would have to kick him out now, so he sat there and watched her sleep.

TBC!

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A/N: Awww, so sweet. I hope you enjoyed it. I just may have several more chapters. Please stick around and there may be a surprise or two in store for you. Thanks for reading. Reviews and comments are like little bursts of sunshine. I love them so much. Thanks again.