AvengerGal, you cheater! You already knew what was behind Fury's back because I sent you the chapter ahead of time. You're not allowed to guess!
Recap:
"Well, Natasha took a major hit, but she's recovering quickly," replied Tony. "The more shocking bit of news is that she and Clint are now an item."
…..
"Yes, but we have yet to see how effective it is," said Pepper. "So far he looks more serene than he has in years."
"I hope this means that he and Betty can finally be together," sighed Becky dreamily.
…..
"Captain, I have something for you," said Nick Fury in a tone that almost implied happiness.
"It's not my birthday, director," joked Steve with a slight chuckle.
"I'm aware," responded the director. "I actually have two things for you, but let's focus on one at a time."
In a flash, Nick Fury presented the faithful red, white, and blue shield to its longing owner, who grasped it in disbelief. Steve slipped his arm underneath the familiar straps behind the shield, wielding it proudly in front of his chest.
"Thank you, sir," thanked Steve with an underlying layer of sadness. "What was the second thing?"
"We recovered the modified super-soldier serum," informed Nick Fury. "We can return you to your former state as Captain America."
Becky's hand gripped Steve's firmly, for she knew what that news entailed.
"The hitch is that we don't know what the side effects could be, since Red Skull tampered with it," said Nick Fury.
"I still want the procedure," asserted Steve.
"No, Steve!" admonished Becky. "They haven't even tested it for side effects."
"I'll be the test. It's okay, I'm used to being tested on," said Steve jokingly, attempting to lighten his fiancée's mood.
"No, no, no," repeated Becky.
"Cap, you sure about this?" questioned Tony.
Steve nodded. "I've got a good gut feeling about this. I know the dangers, but I wouldn't go through with this unless it helped me continue to serve my country."
The hopefulness in Steve's eyes cut down Becky's verbal protests, but she still squirmed at the course of the conversation.
"Becky, I won't do it if you really don't want me to," Steve stated sincerely.
Feeling enormous emotional pressure on her shoulders, Becky bit her lip and thought for a long while. She really really wanted to tell Steve not to do it, and she almost did; however, she knew how badly he wanted to do this, and feared eventual resentment for her standing in the way.
Steve understood Becky's silent mental debate as the cue to say, "All right, Director Fury, I'm not doing it."
"Wait!" exclaimed Becky, whose breath hitched from emotion. "Go ahead with the procedure."
"Are you sure?" asked Steve steadily.
"Yes. I fell for Steve Rogers, but Captain America has inextricably become a part of that identity."
Steve pecked Becky on the nose and smiled at Nick Fury, who understood it as an affirmative on the procedure.
Enclosed in a box, being strapped down by the arms and legs, and having about a thousand needles stuck into his body at once. Completely déjà vu, but totally worth it. Every inch of his body burned as if he were smoldering in hellfire, and he couldn't resist unleashing a torrent of tortured screams. He had thought that he would only have to endure this pain once in his lifetime, but he seemed destined to taste its bitterness once more. After weeks of being drained of the super-soldier serum, he was having it infused in his body within a span of mere moments. His body stretched, hardened, and bolstered with its former prowess, making his heart beat erratically with excitement. His encasement unlocked and opened, allowing him room for a deep, relieved breath.
When Steve opened his eyes, he saw his surrogate family staring with joyful tears twinkling in their eyes. He gravitated to Becky and instantly engirdled her with his renewed, brawny arms. Her hands clasped behind the nape of his neck as her eyes greedily consumed the curves of his face and the aquamarine of his eyes. She was never letting that face out of her sight again.
"You're okay," whispered Becky.
Steve kissed her tenderly and nodded. Then, four people joined the happy circle to share in their captain's restoration.
"Steve, you're awake," said Natasha as if she wasn't surprised.
Steve smiled to see Clint's arm hugging Natasha's waist, and Bruce's hand intertwining with Betty's.
"It's good to see you all," commented Steve.
All of them smiled their unique smile according to each of their personalities, expressing their mutual gladness at being reunited with Steve. A manner of thoughtfulness spread over Steve's features as an idea seeped into his mind.
"I have a proposition," said Steve, "Why not go get shawarma, for - what do you call it? - old times' sake?"
"Okay, old timer, I'd be up for that," agreed Tony. "Ryder, stop playing around, we're going out to eat!"
"Roger that!" replied Ryder.
"What?" said Steve, confused about the use of his last name.
Becky chuckled. "It's an expression, Steve."
Steve sighed. "I'll never fully understand the 21st century."
Becky kissed Steve's cheek. "And that's fine with me."
Steve hefted Ryder so that he could sit on his broad shoulders, and thus have a stellar view of the world below him. Steve approached the heavy metallic door to open it, but someone outside recklessly threw wide the door with enormous force. Steve's hand shot forward to impede the oncoming thrust of the door, and then came the sound of a metallic crunch. The door's swing halted in its tracks, and everyone stared at the place where Steve's large hand met the door's surface; Steve withdrew, fully revealing the crater that he had made with his bare hand. It was as if a miniature meteorite had collided with the door, nearly bursting through to the other side. The SHIELD agent who had opened the door entered the room and also gaped at the hollow on the previously smooth door.
"D-did you do that?" stammered the agent.
Steve's hand was shaking with shock, and he could feel himself entering a state of hyperventilation. Was he that strong before?
"Well well, looks like you've been holding out on us, cap," commented Tony jokingly. He never could take anything seriously.
"I'm never doubting your gut feeling ever again," said Becky. "I thought you had all the strength humanly possible, but now you have superhuman strength."
Steve amazedly looked at Becky, the love of his life, his close companion, and his future wife; in her eyes he saw his past sufferings, his present occurrences, and his future home. The bond between them, instead of snapping from the strain of Red Skull's schemes, solidified into a union that not even his enhanced super strength could break. He could tell that this was the beginning of something new, something unexpected, and something great.
So... I'm thinking epilogue. Any guesses as to what it's gonna be about? This time QuirkyRevelations isn't allowed to guess because she gave me the idea.