Author's Note: I'm warning you now. This chapter is drowning in feels. Like seriously. I cried when I wrote it, because this is such an emotional chapter, and is pretty much the turning point in everything. This is where things are very different between Mack and Steve, and for those of you who have been waiting for them to get together, things are going to look very optimistic.

This also leads into the final original arc for the story. After this final original arc? Avengers.

Guys, we're about ten chapters away from getting into Avengers territory, and the stuff I have planned for Avengers is going to be a huge amount of fun, with Clint and Natasha coming back in and Tony and Bruce and Thor… and guys, I am so excited for Avengers it is not even funny.

But anyway, I don't own Avengers or any associated characters. I only own the original characters and a few original plot elements.

Also, Kleenex warning. You might drown in feels. I did. The entire chapter is pretty much drowning in feels, and I don't regret a single second of it. Please review, hope to hear from you after this chapter!

Also, please go vote on the poll on my profile! I want to hear what you guys think!

Bohemia
In her three years at SHIELD, Mackenzie Donahue has run into some strange things. Weird hammers, egocentric billionaires, and of course her archer SO. Somehow, a gentleman soldier out of his time turns out to be the best of it all. Steve/OC

Chapter 21 – Keeping a Promise

April 15, 2011

The ride to the cottage was the longest ten minutes of Mack's life.

The small cab was filled to the brim with tension. Mack stole a glance at Steve, who sat with her in the back seat. He was staring out of the window, a blank look on his face and a million memories in his eyes. Mack took a deep breath as she watched him, knowing that breaking the silence could be the worst thing possible.

She played with her charm bracelet almost unconsciously as she watched him. Steve himself fiddled with his compass. Mack watched as the super soldier opened it, taking a look at the picture inside. He sighed before shutting it again, looking outside.

Mack hesitated for a second before moving her hand. Steve jumped, glancing at her in surprise as she took his hand in his. Mack shot him a quiet, sympathetic smile as she squeezed his hand.

He squeezed back and did not let go of her hand for the rest of the ride.

Steve had never been more nervous in his life.

He hadn't been this nervous the night before the procedure that had turned him into a super soldier. He hadn't been this nervous in any of the missions he had gone through. He had never been this nervous in his life, and he was struggling to breathe.

He was about to see her.

It had barely been two months to Steve, but it had been sixty-six years for Peggy. She had grown old without him, had a life without him. She had helped to form SHIELD with Dugan and Howard. Peggy had done so much, and Steve had missed her more than anything in these two months.

He had sacrificed his life to stop that plane from destroying his home. He had also sacrificed a life with Peggy, and he knew he would always regret that.

Mack opened the door as they approached the cottage, nodding at Steve to enter. "She knows we're coming," she murmured as he walked in. Mack followed, closing the door behind her. She watched him carefully as he looked around.

Steve paused in the hallway, frowning in shock when he saw several of the pictures on the walls. There was one of the entire group – the Commandos, Phillips, Howard, and Peggy herself. That had been taken just after the group had formed, just after they had completed their first mission successfully.

The photo next to it, though, surprised it the most. It was of him, before the procedure. He took a deep breath, trying to remember back to those days. It had been him and Bucky against the world, trying to survive. Everything had changed after Bucky had enlisted. Everything had changed after he had met Erskine.

Everything had changed when Steve Rogers became Captain America.

He had lost nearly everything. He had lost Bucky, his life, his friends, Peggy… he had lost so much. But now, Steve realized, he was starting to get some of it back. He was starting to form a new life.

He looked up when he saw Mack making her way through the house. He followed her with only a few seconds of hesitation. The SHIELD agent paused as she stood at the door in the kitchen that led to the outside, and Steve stepped through it into a small garden outside.

Steve froze as he stepped into the garden, his shoulders dropping as he saw the woman standing there. For a few moments, there was absolute silence. Mack stood at the door to the cottage, watching the two with a sad look on her face. She hesitated, wondering if she should leave.

Peggy looked behind her, and her face broke out into a smile. Mack could see the tears gathering in Peggy's eyes from even where she was standing.

"You're late."

Steve was stock still for a moment before he finally made way forward, heading to the former agent. Mack bit her lip as she felt tears in her eyes. She knew how much this meeting meant to him, how much it meant to Peggy.

Mack only hoped that it would help him.

Steve pulled Peggy into a tight hug, and it was in that moment that Mack gave a small smile, confident at last that this was the best thing that could have been done for Steve at the moment. The SHIELD agent turned back into the house then, closing the door behind her, leaving the two to a reunion they had waited far too long for.

"I'm so sorry," Steve whispered. He held her tightly, trying not to cry too hard. His tears made the way down his cheeks anyway, the first tears he had let loose since Bucky had died. "I'm so sorry, Peggy."

"Hush. It's okay. You did what you had to." Peggy hugged him back, and Steve was again assaulted by thoughts of what could have been.

Neither of them knew what could have been. Steve couldn't begin wonder what might have happened if something had changed – if he had figured out a way to stop the plane without crashing, if he had been found sooner, if Schmidt had been stopped some other way…

Maybe he would have married Peggy. Maybe they would have grown old together, and he would have helped form SHIELD. They might have had children together, little girls with their mother's attitude or a boy with his looks and temperament.

Maybe they wouldn't have. Maybe their relationship would have ended; maybe they would have parted ways. Maybe they would have just stayed friends.

Steve would never know.

Instead, he had been frozen for sixty six years, and had lost his chance for a lifetime with her.

"I'm so sorry."

"If you don't stop apologizing, Steven Rogers, I will shoot you," Peggy murmured as she finally let him go. She walked over to the small table in the garden, sitting down. "I will shoot Dugan for telling Mackenzie about the cancer," Peggy vowed drily as she sat down at the small table in the garden.

Steve sat across from her, unable to look away. "I didn't want you to feel pressured to come," Peggy explained.

"It was my choice," Steve promised her. It was always choice between the two of them – he had made the choice to give his life to take down HYDRA's plane, Peggy had made the choice to form SHIELD, and he had made the choice to come here today.

"General Ross… he is not going to get near you." Peggy leaned back, and Steve could practically watch as the wheels danced in her head, trying to figure out something. "If Fury doesn't figure something out, I have old contacts within the government. A lot of people remember Phillips, and even more remember Dugan and myself."

"I think I'll be okay. I have some good people looking out for me." Steve hesitated before asking, "How long do you have?"

Peggy sighed. "I had six months… nine months ago. It's almost a relief. There's no timeline for when I won't wake up."

Steve swallowed heavily, trying to figure out what he could possibly say to her now. "Are you in any pain?" he finally asked, not sure what answer he wanted.

"No," Peggy replied honestly. She took his hand in hers, and smiled softly at him. "I'm just glad you're here. The last thing I wanted to know before the end was what happened to you. Thank you, so much for that."

Those were the words he had hoped he would hear. Steve had no idea what he had expected in this meeting, but he realized now that he was closing a chapter on his life. He would always remember what he had lost, but now… now he might be able to move on a bit, find a new life in 2011. He already had friends here.

Taking his future did not mean forgetting about his past

"I think I owe you a dance," Steve said, looking the flowers in the garden before he looked back at her. He stood as he shot her a warm smile.

"You do. I've been waiting quite a while for it." Peggy chuckled as Steve took her hand, pulling her into the garden. She walked slower than he remembered, but her poise was just as perfect, her eyes just as bright, and her smile just as beautiful.

"I'll try not to step on your toes," he murmured, realizing that he had never seen her this happy.

"Stop worrying about it," Peggy ordered, shooting in a disbelieving look. "You cannot possibly be that terrible, Steve."

Steve rolled his eyes. "I think you'd be surprised."

Peggy slapped his arm lightly, and Steve chuckled again. "Just follow my lead," she told him, as she started to lead the dance.

For the longest time, the two just danced. There were no words between them. Instead, there was only the other, and the thoughts of what might have been. There were no regrets in either of them for the shortest amount of time, only the acknowledgement and relief that a promise that had been waiting for sixty six years had finally been fulfilled.

Steve hadn't felt so at peace in a very long time.

"I saw the way you were looking at her," Peggy mentioned. She shot him a teasing smile, and glanced back towards the cottage. Steve realized than that Mack had disappeared. "She cares about you."

Steve hesitated. If he could talk to anyone about this, he could talk to Peggy. "She got hurt recently. She took a sniper bullet to the chest on a mission in Sarajevo. I had no idea what I was going to do. I just felt…" He shook his head.

Steve had no idea how to describe it – that sudden fear when he had realized he might lose her, that shock, that feeling of being plunged back into the ice…

"Helpless. Hurt. Guilty. You were faced with the possibility of losing her, and you didn't know what you were going to do," Peggy finished, looking up at him with a sad, fond smile on her face. From the way her shoulders were relaxed, Steve realized she was relieved, for whatever reason. "You love her."

Steve took a deep breath. "I don't know," he admitted.

Peggy chuckled. "She visited me after you were found. We talked, and I told her that she would have a lifelong friend if she could get through to you. She obviously did more than that. I'm glad."

Steve just watched her, his heart breaking more every second.

"I want you to be happy. I want you to find someone you can love. I don't want you to waste your life with regrets or what could have been. You clearly feel something for her, Steve." She looked up at Steve again, and the super soldier was reminded why exactly he had fallen in love with Peggy Carter. "So what is holding you back?"

Steve didn't answer. She had always known him so well without even trying.

He remembered the terror he had felt when he had seen Mack in that hospital bed. That had been the moment where he had realized that yes, he had feelings for Mack. But it had taken now, with the girl he had loved first (he would always love Peggy, on some level) for him to realize that it wasn't just a simple attraction he had for the SHIELD agent.

It hit Steve in that moment. He was falling for Mack. He was falling in love with Mackenzie Donahue.

Steve choked back a sob as he looked down at the girl he had loved in another lifetime. "Peggy-" he started, unsure of what he could possibly say.

"I've had a good life." Peggy gave a soft smile as she said, "It hasn't been easy, and saying that it hasn't been painful at times would be a lie. But it's been a good life. I'm happy with what I've done. I want you to be happy. And she makes you happy."

Steve swallowed. "I'm sorry I was late. I'm so sorry, Peggy."

She shushed him, and the smile she gave him made him feel like no time had passed at all. "You're here now. That's all that matters."

And so they danced, with what could have been and should have been forgotten for now.

In the bathroom of Peggy's cottage, Mack sat on the edge of the tub, her phone to her ear and tears brimming in her eyes.

She knew that he wouldn't answer her phone; he was probably on his newest mission, God knows where and doing God knows what. But she had to do this now, before she chickened out. Her life had been falling apart for over a year now, and she had thought that she had dealt with it all.

She knew now from watching Peggy and Steve's reunion that some of her regrets were never going to die.

In some ways, Mack knew that Grant was to her what Peggy was to Steve. Mackenzie Donahue was not in love with Grant Ward. She didn't know if she ever had been in love with him. But she did love him, in her own way. She was always going to love him in some way, like she knew Steve was always going to love Peggy.

She took a deep breath as the phone went directly to voicemail. "This is Grant Ward, please leave a message."

She missed his voice sometimes.

Mack gave a broken smile as she murmured, "Hey, it's Kenzie. I know you're out right now and probably won't get this for a bit. But… I wanted to say thank you. I realized I never said it."

Mack couldn't stop the tears now, but she didn't want to. Not now. Not when she had finally picked up what she assumed was the last piece of her broken self.

"You met me at a really dark time, and you never judged me for it. We bitched at each other, sure, but you never used what happened in Australia against me. And then we got close and… Grant, you saved my life. Clint and Natasha did everything they could, but without you, Grant? I don't think I would have survived the summer after Australia."

She smiled. "I am never going to be able to thank you enough for that. You helped me out of that dark time, and I don't think you realize how much that means to me."

Mack bit back another sob before she added, "You and I are friends, we both talked about this in Sarajevo." She gave a sarcastic chuckle before adding, "And by the way, if you don't stop blaming yourself for that sniper attack, I am going to kill you. We didn't know about it until it was too late. But you saved my life, Grant. Guess that's twice I owe you."

Mack hesitated. "I don't know what's going to happen with Steve, if anything is going to happen. But Grant… if you ever need me, for anything, you call me. I mean it, if you need me, I will come for you. You're one of my best friends, Grant, and you know I take care of my friends. Just…thank you again. So much. I love you. Call me when you get back."

Mack hung up, and let herself cry – over Australia, over Grant, over Sarajevo, over Steve, over everything.

As the two made their way back to the SHIELD safe house, Mack's phone vibrated.

Whenever you need me, I'm there. Love, Grant.

"You okay?"

Steve looked up as Mack's voice broke through the silence. The small loft that SHIELD held as a safe house had a small balcony, and Steve had spent hours there, just thinking about everything. He had been watching the city for those hours, letting his thoughts roam free for the first time in a long while.

For the first time since he woke up, he allowed himself to confront every thought that came to mind. For the first time in a while, Steve felt at peace, if only a little bit.

What Peggy had said about Mack, though, kept going through his mind.

"I think so." Steve took another deep breath, shooting the girl in question a weak smile. She looked exhausted, and Steve had noticed as they had left that Mack's eyes were red and her face flushed. Considering he himself had been crying, he hadn't said anything. She hadn't asked him anything.

Whatever had happened to both of them, it was something that both had to deal with on their own.

Steve nodded to himself before repeating, more confidentially, "I think I'm okay."

Mack nodded slowly, leaning against the balcony door. "I'm sorry I dragged you to London," she murmured, looking away for a bit. Steve watched as the guilt flashed over her face. "I… I just needed to get you out of New York. I didn't know what I was going to do if Ross got you-"

"I'm alright, Mack," he assured her gently, shooting her a warm, gentle smile as she finally looked back over at him. She was actually worried about him, and he didn't know why he was so glad she cared. "I'm alright. You did what you thought you had to. I understand it."

Mack nodded, distracted. "We're good?" she asked cautiously.

"There's nothing to be worried about," he assured her. She shot him another small smile before turning around. Steve sighed before calling out, "Mack?" She turned around, watching him curiously. "Thank you. I'm… I'm glad I saw her"

Mack's smile was warmer this time, and genuine. "Anytime."

Steve hesitated before continuing, "I'm bad with women. I was always nervous around them before he serum, and after it… Peggy was one of the only people who really understood me." He looked up at her before adding, "You understand me now, but back then it was hard."

Mack nodded slowly. "You never had any problems talking to me," she pointed out. Steve had been polite and sweet that week or so he had lived in her apartment.

"I was hiding it, honestly," Steve admitted, watching her as he gave an embarrassed smile. "But after those first few days, I never had any problem talking to you. I don't know… you just reminded me of the people I was always more comfortable with… you reminded me of Bucky and Peggy."

"That's a good thing, right?" Mack asked, raising an eyebrow.

"The best," he murmured, smiling slightly as she blushed. "I'll be back inside in a few minutes. I just want to get some more air."

She nodded before walking back inside, and Steve watched her go. He was in so much trouble.

He was falling for her pretty quickly. Peggy had noticed it, and from what Grant and Cecelia had hinted to him, there was every chance that Mack had feelings for him too. He was starting to realize that it was probably noticeable to everyone but themselves, and wondered how exactly they had gotten themselves into this situation.

Mack was beautiful and smart and unstoppable. Steve had been comfortable with her within weeks of meeting her. She had made him laugh and smile and had started to make him feel good about life again.

In so many ways, she was his opposite. Steve was cautious and went into situations with a plan. Mack was borderline reckless and jumped into situations for better or worse. But in other ways, they were so much more alike – they were fiercely loyal and far too stubborn to back down from anything.

Mack was his anchor to the present, and Steve knew that she was the reason he hadn't sunk into a depression. So many times he had forced himself to keep going, for those who hadn't made it and for Mack.

At the same time, he knew that she was going to be a target, if she wasn't one already. HYDRA would not stop until he was dead, and Steve knew that he would never stopped until all of HYDRA was killed or captured. He had made that promise to himself when Bucky had died, and he had no intention of stopping it now.

But he would not let Mack get caught in the crossfire. She deserved so much more than that. She deserved someone who could keep her safe, not someone who would draw her into the line of fire. He stood then, biting his lip before going back inside the small living room of the safe house.

To his surprise, Mack stood in the middle of the room, his shield in hands. She looked like she was having a blast, and Steve realized then that she was just playing around and looking with the shield. He grinned.

"So what, I'm out there and you're playing with my shield?" Steve laughed. Mack jumped a mile at his voice, and Steve laughed harder as she scowled over at him.

Mack gave a sheepish smile as she tried to handle the shield. She also ignored the grin on Steve's face as he watched her. "Oh, come on. I have been waiting for over a month to get a chance to look at the shield. It's a legend, Steve."

"You could have just asked me." Steve laughed again as he watched her carefully. "You're not holding it right."

"I can figure it out." Mack tried to readjust it, holding it up, and Steve rolled his eyes before crossing the room, helping her hold it up right. Mack tried not to grin at the physical contact between them. The whole not falling for Steve plan was starting to fail miserably. "This helped you win a war."

"It's been through a lot," Steve chuckled. He took a good, long look at it, the smile remaining as he added, "Those little scars on the shield? Those are from when Peggy tried to shoot me."

"Wait a minute, what?" Mack raised an eyebrow as she grinned up at him. She tilted her head, hair spilling over her shoulder as she started to pull off the straps of the shield. "You so have to tell me this."

Steve shook his head, nostalgia lighting in his eyes as he thought back. "It's a long story."

"We have time." Mack shrugged as she looked over the shield again. "We might be in London for a few weeks. It all depends on how long it takes for Fury to talk down Ross. He'll do it, but it could be a little while."

"That doesn't sound too horrible, actually. I was in London a lot during the war. We planned a lot of our operations not four blocks away from here," Steve explained. He glanced out at the balcony again, giving a small smile as he looked at the city. "It's changed a lot since then."

"If you don't mind, I might drag you around while I play tourist. I've always wanted to visit London," Mack admitted, smirking slightly. Steve chuckled as he watched her, and she frowned at him. "You're ruining my self-confidence by laughing at me. Thanks a lot."

"I'm sorry. I just haven't seen you like this before."

Mack frowned at him, stepping closer. "What do you mean, like this?" she demanded.

"Relaxed. Happy, almost." He smiled down at her before adding, almost out of impulse, "You need to laugh more often."

"Well, when you start smiling a bit more, I promise I'll start laughing more." Mack watched him carefully. She was suddenly very aware of how little space there was between them.

She was so done for. He was going to be the death of her; she knew it right then and there.

For seconds, they just stood there, and her hand slowly went to his arm, her face blushing as they watched each other. Mack was only dimly aware that she was still holding his shield. Almost unaware of it, Steve leaned in then, and Mack closed her eyes, realizing then that she could barely breathe.

Steve paused then, inches away from her. He frowned, looking around. "Do you hear that?" he murmured, his brows narrowed in concentration and his voice alarmed.

Mack took a step back, scowling slightly when she realized how closely she had just gotten to kissing him. She was in so much trouble. She was falling in love with Steve Rogers. Mack had never been in more trouble in her life. She was not going to fall in love.

Fuck. She was so in love with him. She was so officially in love with Steve Rogers. This was not going to end well at all.

On the other hand, she really wished she had gotten that kiss.

"I don't hear anything," Mack replied, frowning as she looked at him. She handed Steve his shield anyway, and pulled one of her knives from the strap on her thigh, holding it tightly in her hand. Steve double checked to make sure he had a secure hold on his shield.

His gut was screaming at him that something was wrong, and Steve wasn't about to ignore it now.

"It's some kind of beeping…" Steve listened to it carefully, the frown on his face growing deeper. It was so familiar. Mack looked around, frowning, her back turned to Steve. "It's getting faster."

The realization hit him like a tank a moment later when Steve realized why he recognized the sound. His blue eyes widened as he shouted, "Mack, get down!"

He tackled her to the ground a moment before the bomb went off.

Author's Note: I REGRET NOTHING.

Please review, darlings, and remember, if you kill me for this cliffhanger, there's no more updates. ;)

Chapter 22 – Hit the Ground
"Mack?" Steve coughed, his heart dropping as she didn't respond. Oh, God. She could not be dead. She could not be dead, not now.