All the Time in the World
Chapter 21
It was a few hours later when Amanda finally came to. And as she began to regain consciousness, she moaned when "Angel of the Morning" began playing in her head.
"Oh no," Amanda thought. "Why me?"
It just had to be a song from the 1980's that was prone to getting stuck in her head. Even since, the time Auntie Angie had played it while babysitting her and her siblings. And they had ended up having a little dance party while they baked cookies. Something that seemed to happen a lot when they were in the care of Angie.
Where was it even coming from? She hadn't heard this song in ages.
The twenty-five-year-old then attempted to focus more on her surroundings. And could tell that there was at least one other person was in the room with her. Even though her eyes remained shut.
She guessed they had turned on the radio and that's where it was coming from.
"Just….call me…angel…morning," Amanda mumbled.
From her place next to the bed, Peggy moved closer to her granddaughter and ran her hand through her hair, trying to coax her back into consciousness.
"Darling, wake up."
Amanda then squeezed her still closed eyes tight as she fought against the groggy feeling, she was currently experiencing.
"Turn down the music."
Peggy then let out a chuckle. "Amanda, there's no music playing."
The twenty-five-year-old then slowly opened her eyes, closing them again briefly due to the brightness of the light. As she adjusted, she then looked around the room, before finally focusing on Peggy's face.
"Grandma..."
"I'm here, darling."
"Grandma."
"Hi," Peggy said, relieved that her granddaughter was finally coming to. "You're okay, darling. You're okay."
Amanda then knitted her eyebrows again when she laid eyes on the monitors around her bed, in the white and yellow room. That wasn't her own.
"Where am I?"
"You're in the hospital," Peggy explained. "You've been asleep for a few hours."
"I have?" Amanda questioned, obviously still disoriented. "What happened?"
"You were at the Triskelion," Peggy said, moving to touch her granddaughter's face. "You got into an altercation during the chaos from what I gather. The doctor thinks you might have a concussion."
Amanda then brought her hand up to rub her forehead and gave a little moan, followed by a whimper. As she suddenly became aware of the headache she had brewing. The young woman then lifted herself into sitting position, fully intending to stand up. But as she did so, she began to feel dizzy. Which prompted her grandmother to reach out and steady her.
"Lay back, darling," Peggy said. As she guided Amanda back down, until her head was once again resting on the pillow. "Rest. You've had quite the day."
The older woman then leaned down to give her granddaughter a kiss on her forehead.
"Okay…"
"Good girl," Peggy said. Before pulling herself up from the chair. "I'll be back. I'm going to go tell the nurse you're awake."
The young woman then watched her grandmother walk across the room. Then just as she reached for the doorknob, Amanda spoke up again. "Grandma?"
"Hmm? What is it, darling?"
"The lipstick worked like a charm."
A smile then appeared on the former director of S.H.I.E.L.D's face. "I'm glad to hear it. I have no doubt you used it well."
The doctor and nurse then came in to check Amanda's vitals, before they proceeded to ask her questions to asses her memory and determine how bad her concussion was. Such as what her name is, her birthday, her address, and who's president.
All of which, Amanda answered without any difficulty. In fact, the only thing she was having trouble remembering were the last couple minutes, before she was knocked out. The last thing she could actually remember from the events at the Triskelion, was her using all of her strength to flip her and a HYDRA agent over a desk. But the events after that, she was drawing a blank.
"Well, Miss Harper," the doctor said. "The bits of glass have been removed from your arm. And any cuts that needed stitches were stitched up when you were brought in. As for your memory, bits and pieces may come back over the next couple days and you may experience some headaches and dizziness from the concussion. Other than that you're in perfect health."
Amanda then nodded, feeling a bit more herself now. "That's a relief. So tell me doc, when can I go home?"
"Soon. I would like keep you for at least twenty-four hours. Just to be on the safe side. But I see no reason why you couldn't go home tomorrow."
"But…"
"Thank you, doctor," Peggy said, putting her hand on Amanda's arm. A gesture that was clearly meant to stop her granddaughter from protesting this decision.
"You're welcome. I'll have a nurse come in and check on you later, Miss Harper."
"I'll be here. Thank you," Amanda replied. Then after the doctor left, she turned towards her grandmother and gave her a look. "I saw that."
"I have no idea what you're referring to."
"Oh I think you do. That was well played, Grandma."
"Amanda Margaret," Peggy scolded with a sigh. "You will do as the doctor and I say and stay the night."
"But I."
The former agent then clicked her tongue. "Oh no you don't, young lady. You're not going anywhere until tomorrow. End of discussion."
Amanda then let out a sigh. "Oh all right."
"Good girl." Peggy then gave her granddaughter a smile and reached up to stroke her face. Being very careful to avoid the recently stitched gash on Amanda's right cheek. "Now how are you feeling?"
"Tired but otherwise good. I think my headache's going away for now."
"That's good… Oh, I'm so relieved you're all right," Peggy said, leaning in to give her granddaughter a little hug.
"You were really worried about me, weren't you?"
"Of course I was worried about you. I always worry about you," Peggy said. While reaching over to pull some of the young woman's hair behind her ear. "It's what grandmother's do. But…I am so proud of you. You were incredible today."
The young woman then gave her grandmother a smile. "I just wanted to do what was right."
"And you did just that, Amanda. You did so much good today and helped stop a very great threat."
HYDRA had been stopped. They had done it. At hearing this, the twenty-five-year-old lifted herself off the pillow.
"We actually did it? We succeeded?" Amanda questioned, almost not believing it had worked. As the last thing she heard was Maria saying one more chip had to be switched out on the third hellicarrier.
"Yes, darling," Peggy said with a little laugh. "Didn't you know?"
"I guess I missed that part."
"Well you did. You're grandfather... He saved the world again. And this time with you."
"Grandpa," Amanda said. "Where is he?"
The young woman then looked towards the door. Now that she thought about it, it did seem odd that Steve hadn't come to see her yet.
Peggy then licked her lips. "Darling, he's...Your grandfather's missing."
"What?"
"Near the end of it, your team lost track of him. They're out looking at him right now," the former director explained. "I'm sure they'll find him soon. Don't worry."
"He's missing. But…." Amanda then scanned her grandmother's face and could see the worry in her eyes. "You're worried for him too, aren't you?"
Of course she was worried. How could she not be? The last time Steve Rogers went missing, he was gone for almost seventy years. So yes, Peggy was worried about him. But this time, she believed with all her heart that he would turn up sooner rather than later. He had to.
"Darling, he's only been missing for two hours. That's not long. He'll turn up."
Then just before, Amanda could ask her grandmother another question. The door opened and Sharon and Amy walked into the room.
"Mandy," Sharon said, running over to give her cousin a hug. "Thank god, you're awake."
"Sharon." Amanda then looked behind her cousin at her friend. "Amy."
"Hey. Don't worry, I'm not HYDRA."
"I didn't think you were."
"You better not," Amy said, giving her friend a hug.
"I'll give you ladies a few minutes," Peggy said, standing up to leave the room again.
"Thanks, Aunt Peggy," Sharon said. Right before her great-aunt closed the door behind her, leaving the three young women alone to chat. "So how are you feeling?"
"Good," Amanda replied. "A little out of it. But otherwise good."
"I bet," Sharon said. "You got a pretty nasty head-wound. I made sure the paramedic took a look as soon as we got you out of the building"
"Wait?! You were the one who got me out?"
"Yeah. With Cameron's help."
The twenty-five-year-old then gave her cousin a funny look. "Really? Cause Cameron doesn't look like he could carry anyone."
The other two women in the room then exchanged a glance and a smile at Amanda's comment.
"So concussion Amanda is going to be fun," Amy remarked.
"Very."
"Hey. You two knock it off. Don't make fun of me."
"Now, would we do that?" Sharon questioned with a wide grin.
"Yes," Amanda replied, without hesitation.
Amy then let out a laugh as she went to go retrieve something from her purse that she had set down, upon entering the room. And when she returned, she was holding a pudding cup that she had brought up with her from the cafeteria.
"Is that pudding?" Amanda asked, upon zeroing in on the item in her friend's hand.
"Yeah, chocolate," Amy said, watching her friend's gaze stay firmly on the cup. "You want it, don't you?
"Thank you so much."
A bright smile then appeared on Amanda's face as her friend relented and handed the cup over to her.
The twenty-five-year-old then proceeded to dig into the pudding cup with a blissful look on her face. Like it was the best thing she had ever tasted. Which amused her cousin greatly.
"How is it, Mandy?"
"Food of the gods," Amanda replied, not caring that she currently talking with food in her mouth.
"She's going to fine," Amy said.
A little while later, Amanda sat up in bed watching various news reports of the events of the day on the TV in her room. Her visitors including Peggy, had left to give her some time to rest. Though her grandmother planned to come back later and keep her company until visiting hours were over. As she watched the news, her eyes stayed glued to the screen. And her mouth hung open slightly, as a reporter gave an update of the events at S.H.I.E.L.D and showed a life feed of the Triskelion. Well, the remains of the Triskelion that were still burning. An image that Amanda was sure would be burned into her brain for quite some time.
S.H.I.E.L.D was all but gone now. Sharon and Amy had made that known to her during their visit.
The world now knew that HYDRA had been operating secretly inside S.H.I.E.L.D all these years. From the news reports, Amanda could feel the shock and horror that everyone in the D.C area and around the world was experiencing in light of this revelation.
Amanda could relate, as she was very much still reeling from it.
In fact, she really hadn't had the time to really grasp what the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D would mean for her. She had been focused on job at hand. That she hadn't considered the fallout, until now.
A huge part of her life was just gone. She wasn't an agent anymore. Which was a very strange thing for her to think about. Since in many ways, Amanda didn't know who she was outside work. Besides the fact that she was a daughter, sister, granddaughter and friend. Agent Harper with S.H.I.E.L.D was just who she was. And who she had been for the last six years of her life.
Even before that, ever since she was a little girl. Amanda had always known she wanted to be an agent. Sure, she went through different phases and interests growing up. Art History being the biggest of those interests. Hence the reason why, a position at the National Gallery of Art became her cover job.
But by the time she turned eighteen, it had come back to S.H.I.E.L.D.
As her eyes refocused on the image of Triskelion on the screen. Amanda thought about the many sacrifices she had made to be an agent, both personally and professionally.
She didn't have any regrets though. Not for a second. Even now.
In thinking about all this, Amanda asked herself what she would do now. But then very quickly stopped herself from down that road.
She didn't need to worry about that right now.
All she had to do now was rest and celebrate their victory against HYDRA.
Which was a big victory indeed. Part of her couldn't believe they had actually succeeded, when she thought about everything they had been up against. But they did. They had stopped HYDRA from launching Project Insight and eliminating over half of the population.
That was reason enough to celebrate.
The young woman's attention was then drawn to the door as it cracked open. To her surprise, it wasn't a doctor or a nurse, but Natasha who stuck her head in.
"Nat," Amanda greeted, sitting up. "Have you…"
"We found him."
"Is he okay?"
"He's okay… Unconscious. But okay. The doctor's suspects he'll wake up within the day."
"Thank god," Amanda said. 'May I see him?"
"Can you walk?"
"Yeah, I got this."
Natasha then came close to the bed. And held out her hand for the other woman to take, knowing that she would probably need it. Sure enough, as soon as she stood up, Amanda started to feel a bit woozy.
"Easy there," Natasha said, steadying her. "You good?"
"Yup. Might want to stand next to me, though. Just in case."
"You got it."
The two then made their way out of the room and started down the hallway to Steve's room. When Natasha guided her through the threshold of the doorway, Amanda's eyes locked first onto her sleeping grandfather. Before she noticed the other person in the room, Sam, who was currently sitting in a chair next to the bed.
"Hey Sam."
"Hey Mandy," Sam greeted. "Should you be walking around?"
"It's debatable."
"Sam. How about we give them a moment," Natasha said, gesturing for Sam to come with her.
"Yup."
As he headed for the door, Sam then paused briefly to give Amanda's shoulder a friendly squeeze. A silent gesture to let her know that Steve would wake up.
Once the other two left the room, Amanda continued over to the bed. And her jaw dropped a little, upon getting a closer look at the bruises that now covered her grandfather's entire face.
Steve looked to have been threw the ringer and back. Through she briefly wondered what had happened, she quickly shook off those thoughts. As it didn't matter right now.
All that mattered was that he was okay. And alive.
Amanda then took his hand and squeezed it. "We did, Steve. We saved the world. Just as you did back in 1945. You were amazing today. And I couldn't be prouder than I am right now to be your granddaughter. Wake up soon, okay? We need you."
Then, before she left the room, Amanda leaned down and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
The following day, Amanda changed out of her hospital gown and into the change of clothes her grandmother had brought for her. Before she proceeded to gather her things that had been on her person when she arrived at the hospital. That the nurse, had kindly left on her bed while she was in the bathroom.
Amanda's eyes then focused on a certain item in the pile. Her S.H.I.E.L.D badge.
As the young woman picked up the badge and held it in her hands, she felt a bittersweet feeling go through her as her lips curled into a little smile. And she continued to run her fingers over the badge's surface and thought about all the good times she had at S.H.I.E.L.D.
She wouldn't let HYDRA take those memories away from her. They couldn't. And she would remember them fondly as she went on with her life.
A voice at the door then snapped her from her thoughts. "Mandy."
The young woman then spun around towards the voice and saw Sam standing in the doorway.
"What?" Amanda asked with expectant eyes. Hoping Sam was there to tell her, exactly what she hoped he was.
"He's awake."
With that, Amanda followed Sam down the hall to Steve's room. A relieved sigh then escaped her lips as they walked into the room, and she saw that her grandfather was indeed awake. And when he spotted her, Steve's eyes immediately lit up.
"Grandpa."
The young woman then made her way over to Steve and pulled him into a hug.
"Mandy," Steve said. "Thank god. You're all right."
"I think I should be saying that to you."
The Captain then smiled and proceeded to knit his eyebrows as something she just said to him, began to sink in.
"Wait? Did you just call me Grandpa?"
"Yeah, I guess I did,' Amanda said with a chuckle.
"Hmm. You know, it's not as weird as I thought it would be."
"Really?" Amanda questioned. "But it's still pretty weird though, huh?"
"Just, a bit."
"I still can't believe you're a grandfather, man," Sam chimed in. Making it known that he was still in the room.
"Well, believe it Sam," Steve said. While gazing over at his granddaughter, with a look of pure paternal love and adoration on her face.
Sam then gave a chuckle, before he ducked out of the room to give them a minute.
"I like him."
"Yeah, he's a good guy," Steve said. And then as he looked at her again, he finally noticed the stitched up wound on her face. "What happened to you?"
"Oh that. Occupational hazard. Have it give it to them, HYDRA agents don't play around. But neither do I."
Steve then let out a chuckle, before concern returned to his eyes. "You're okay though?"
"Yeah, I'm good. Nothing that won't heal."
"That's my girl," Steve said, proudly. "You are definitely Peggy Carter's granddaughter alright?"
"Oh, how so?" Amanda asked. As she sat down in a chair beside the bed.
"You're a fighter, Mandy," Steve said. "You should have seen your grandmother during the war. She was something. As are you. And I couldn't be prouder to have you for a granddaughter."
"Thank you. You know, you're quite the fighter yourself. I mean, you certainly have the battle wounds to prove it."
"Must run in the family then."
"I guess it does," Amanda said. "So, speaking of battle wounds. I'm sorry to ask, but did you have a run in with..?"
Steve didn't say anything but instead looked down, which gave Amanda her answer.
"I'm so sorry, Steve."
"Don't be."
"I was really hoping he'd remember you."
"I think he did…Well, I think he remembered something."
"Well, I'd say that's a good sign. All things considered," Amanda said in a hopeful tone. "Poor guy though, I can't even imagine."
"Yeah."
"…So baring present company, Fury and Bucky Barnes aside. I have to say, I hope no one else comes back from the dead."
The Captain then let out a laugh. At her attempt to lighten the mood. "Haha. I guess I can't blame you for that. It does make things more complicated."
"And bizarre."
All of a sudden the two heard the sound of a phone vibrating. And Amanda moved to retrieve her phone from her pocket. "Ah. Grandma's here. I'll be right back.
Once she left the room, the twenty-five-year-old started walking back in the direction of her room. Until she spotted Peggy walking down the hallway towards her.
"Grandma," Amanda said. As she waved over to her grandmother.
"Amanda, there you are," Peggy said. "Are you ready to go? I'm sure you'll be happy to know that Sharon has retrieved your car and it's waiting in the parking lot."
"Great."
Peggy then noticed that her granddaughter had a huge smile on her face. And had a feeling it had nothing to do with her car.
"Darling, what it is? Is..."
"Yeah, Grandpa's awake!"
"Steve."
"Yes," Amanda confirmed. "Come on. He'll want to see you."
The two women then walked down the hallway back to Steve's room. And as they got closer, Sam appeared around the corner of one of the connecting hallways.
"Mandy."
"Sam. There you are. Coffee run?" Amanda asked, nodding to the cup in his hand.
"You bet." Sam then turned his attention over to the older woman next to Amanda. "Ah you must be Steve's baby mama."
A comment which earned him a punch in the arm from Amanda. Peggy, however just chuckled and reached out to shake his hand.
"I suppose I am. Peggy."
"Nice to meet you, Peggy. Sam Wilson."
"Nice to meet you too, Sam," the older woman said. "Thank you for all your help at the Triskelion. You seem like a very courageous young man."
"It was my pleasure, ma'am."
"Well, I should probably get in there," Peggy said, looking at the door to Steve's room. "Excuse me."
The other two then stepped aside to allow her to pass.
"Peggy," Sam said. "Wait? Amanda, is your grandmother, Peggy Carter? The Peggy Carter who helped found S.H.I.E.L.D?"
"The very one."
"Wow. That's some family you have there, Mandy."
A smile appeared on Amanda's face as she got a glimpse of her grandparents' reunion through the blinds. "Come on, let's go. Show me where you got that coffee."
Meanwhile, inside the room, Peggy's eyes locked onto Steve's figure, lying there on the bed. And her mouth then opened at the sight of him, still so bruised and battered. Though his injuries were fading quickly.
It was nothing she hadn't seen before, having served alongside him during the war. But seeing him like this, still made her heart ache. Despite the bruises on his face, Steve looked so peaceful, lying there with his eyes closed. Even though she knew he was awake.
"Hello Steve."
Steve then opened his eyes at the sound of her voice. "Hi…I knew it was you."
"Oh?"
"Your perfume."
"Ah. I should have guessed."
"And our granddaughter mentioned you were coming so."
The former agent then gave him a smile, before tears began to well up in her eyes.
"Peggy," Steve said, reaching out for her hand when he saw the tears.
"Oh Steve. You had me worried sick."
"Really? Me? You were worried about me?"
The former agent then replied by giving him a light slap on the arm. "Of course I was. How could I not be?"
The Captain then wrapped his arms around his best girl and held her close. He couldn't blame her for worrying about him. Especially given their history. And the last thing he wanted to do was cause more heartache in her life.
"I'm sorry, Peggy. I didn't mean to worry you so."
"Oh, it's all right," she said with a sigh. "I just…I don't want to lose you again. I can't"
"You won't. I'm here, okay? I'm not going anywhere."
"Don't make promises you can't keep,"
"I'm not," Steve said. As he took her hand again. "I mean it, Peggy. I'm not going anywhere. But given everything, I don't blame you for worrying."
"Well, good. I'd certainly like to keep you around this time."
"And I'd like to be around. You and our family mean everything to me," Steve said, before pulling her into another hug. "Come here."
"And you mean everything to us."
Steve then smiled as he continued to hold her in his arms. "Peggy."
"Hmm?"
"Tomorrow, I'll be able to wish you happy birthday."
"You remembered," Peggy said, breaking the hug. As she sat down on the side of the bed, next to him.
"Of course I did. I'd never forget my best girl's birthday."
"Well, your best girl appreciates that very much."
"I'm sorry the days leading up to your birthday have been…interesting to say the least."
"Yes, it has been rather interesting as you've put it," Peggy said. "You and Amanda have a way of doing that."
Steve then let out a chuckle. "I know, we have a flare for the dramatic."
"Yes, you do. The both of you. But I wouldn't have it any other way."
"I'm glad to hear it."
"Steve," Peggy said, reaching out for his hand. "I really am so grateful, that you both made it out okay. Watching what happened on the news was…What you two accomplished is extraordinary and I couldn't be prouder."
"We just did what had to be done."
"Oh don't be so modest. You saved the world, again. And this time you did it with our granddaughter."
"I guess we did." Steve then opened his mouth slightly, as something occurred to him. "Peggy. S.H.I.E.L.D. I'm so sorry."
Peggy then gave his hand another squeeze and put her other one on top of his. "Don't be. What happened, happened. There was no way anyone could have known."
"I know, I just..."
"What is it?"
Steve then looked over at her, realizing that she didn't know the whole truth yet about HYDRA and their involvement in what had happened to Bucky.
"Have you heard of the Winter Soldier, Peggy?"
"The spy ghost story? Yes, I've heard about him."
"He's real."
"Come again?" Peggy questioned.
"…It's Bucky. Bucky's the Winter Soldier. I don't know how he's alive. I guess it's because of the experiments they did on him back in '43. They must have found him after…and..."
Peggy's jaw dropped, upon hearing this revelation. "Bucky's alive."
"Yes," Steve replied in a soft voice.
Peggy then inhaled as she processed all of this. Though she had so many more questions for him, she could see that now wasn't the time. He just needed her to be there for him. And that's what she would do.
The two then said nothing more. But in their silence, Peggy gave his hand another squeeze as their hands remained firmly intertwined.
By afternoon, both Steve and Amanda were discharged from the hospital and had gone to meet, Sam, Nick and Natasha at the graveyard to discuss where to go from there. They may have stopped HYDRA from launching Project Insight but they were still very much a threat. HYDRA had come out of the shadows now. And they had since managed to take control of some of S.H.I.E.L.D's many bases around the world. Besides the threat of HYDRA, the US government was now pulling what remained of S.H.I.E.L.D agents in for questioning. Desperate for answers.
Something which Natasha had been dealing with all that morning.
Once the meeting was over, the group went their separate ways.
Nick was headed off to Europe. Natasha was leaving D.C as well, to start over and gather intel to help Steve in his search for Bucky. Though Amanda suspected she was also going to go meet up with Barton along the way. And Sam had offered to accompany Steve on his mission to track down Bucky.
"See you later, Sam," Steve said, parting ways with his new friend. Until they began their search in a few days.
"See ya man," Sam said. "Bye Mandy."
"Bye Sam."
As they left the graveyard, Amanda linked arms with her grandfather as they made their way back to her car.
"I'm coming with you too, you know?"
"Mandy," Steve said in protective tone.
"Steve, I just helped take down S.H.I.E.L.D to stop HYDRA. I'm not an agent anymore. I need this. And I know you need me too," Amanda said. "So I'm with you, okay?"
Steve then smiled. He couldn't ask any of his friends or his granddaughter to join him on this. But if they were willing to help, who was he to turn them away.
"Well, I couldn't be happier to have you then. If this is what you really want?"
"It is," Amanda said. "Besides we do make a pretty good team."
"That we do."
The twenty-five-year-old then chuckled as she unlocked the car and hopped into the driver seat.
"So shall we go home, Steve?"
"Yeah. Let's go home," Steve said. "Oh, we should probably stop by a bakery on the way home. And order your grandmother's cake."
"A cake?" Amanda questioned. "Oh my god. It's her birthday today, isn't it?"
"Tomorrow."
The young woman then sighed as she closed her eyes and leaned forward to rest her head on the stirring wheel for a second.
"Oh, thank god. I would have felt horrible. I can't believe I forgot."
"Mandy, you have a concussion. I think she'd forgive you."
"I hope so," Amanda said. "And thank you for the reminder. This concussion is really tripping me up. And messing with my filter."
"It's okay, Mandy." Steve then smiled as he thought about the one or two things that Amanda had let slip in the past few hours that were a little out there. Before he reached over and patted her shoulder. "I have your back too."
A little while later, after a quick trip to the bakery, the two pulled into Peggy's driveway. And once the car came to a stop, Amanda engaged the parking break and turned towards her grandfather.
"You know what I'm going to do today, Steve."
"What?"
"Absolutely nothing."
Steve then smiled at her words. "You've certainly earning doing nothing."
"We. I think we've earned it," Amanda said, opening the car door. "Ooh Steve, we can catch up on our movie marathon."
"That sounds great," Steve replied. "We'll see if your grandmother wants to watch with us. I'm sure she'd love that."
After exiting the car, the two continued chatting on the way up to the house. Only to then, pause when they heard the front door open and close, just as quickly as it had opened.
When they glanced up, Amanda let out a gasp, upon seeing that it wasn't Peggy standing on the porch as they expected. But her mother.
"Mandy!" Sarah called.
"Mom!"
Amanda then broke off into a run to go meet Sarah. Within seconds of her leaving Steve's side, Amanda landed in her mother's arms. And as they hugged, the two woman held each other as tightly as they could, letting the other one know how much they missed them. The twenty-five-year-old then closed her eyes and rested her head on Sarah's shoulder. She couldn't believe her mother had come home. But she was so happy to see her. After the events of the last few days, Amanda realized there was only one thing she really needed right then. And that something, was her mom.
"Sweetheart. Are you okay?" Sarah asked, finally speaking. As she continued to hold her daughter tight and smoothed her hair.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Mom. I promise."
A few feet away, Steve observed the scene from where he had been frozen in place for the last couple minutes. Ever since Sarah had come out of the house. The Captain just couldn't will himself to take another step forward. No matter how much he tried. He was just completely awestruck. And almost couldn't believe the scene that was taking place right before his very eyes. After all this time, she was finally here.
The woman hugging the granddaughter he had come to know and love over the last few months, was his daughter. His and Peggy's daughter. Their little girl, who wasn't so little anymore was really there, standing only a few feet away from him. For the first time in her life, well, in their lives, they were in the same place. At the same time.
Sarah had come home.
Steve's mouth hung open slightly as his took in his daughter's appearance. The pictures he had seen of her, hadn't done her justice. For Sarah was even more beautiful in person. The longer he stared at her, the more of Peggy he saw in her. It was almost unreal.
All of sudden, Sarah finally took her focus off her daughter and shifted her gaze to Steve.
When her eyes met her father's for the first time, Sarah felt her heart skip a beat. She wasn't even sure she could form words as she continued to stare at the man she had seen photographs all her life. At that moment, it felt like time just completely stopped.
From the looks the two gave each other. They saw their own feelings reflected in one another's eyes. Which left them even more speechless. It was then, that the weight of the moment fell over them. And what this moment and the one that would follow, truly meant and would mean for them. Sarah then slowly loosened her grip on Amanda, causing the twenty-five-year-old to spin around, to see what her mother was looking at.
A grin then appeared on the young woman's face, as she looked between Sarah and Steve and back again. As she realized what was actually happening here. Her mother and grandfather were at last having the meeting they should have had a long time ago.
"Come on," Amanda said in a whisper As she slipped her hand into her mother's and guided her over to Steve, feeling like they needed a bit of a push. Or else they would probably continue to stare at each other for hours. "Well, it's about time you two met."
The father and daughter then smiled at Amanda's words as they then smiled at each other. Upon seeing his daughter's lips curl into a smile, Steve felt his breath completely leave him. He was certain that he had never seen a more beautiful smile in his life.
It was at this moment, that Steve pushed everything that had occupied his mind for the last few days out of his head. Nothing else mattered right now, only her. Only Sarah.
"Hi Sarah."
"Dad," Sarah said, in an almost questioning way.
Then acting on pure instinct. And maybe a longing she felt her entire life. A longing that had grown ever since she learned her father was alive. Sarah closed the gap between them and practically fell into his arms.
"Sarah," Steve whispered. As he felt his daughter's body fold into his arms, so perfectly. And tears immediately welled up in his eyes.
Through her own tears, happy tears though they were. Sarah then tighten her arms around him, feeling like if she didn't he would disappear and whispered.
"I've missed you."
Sarah Carter is finally home! Surprise!
I'm so happy to have finally gotten to this moment. It is one that I've been looking forward to since I started writing this story. And I'm sure you guys have been eagerly awaiting it as well.
I totally will admit to crying while writing it. It's just Steve has met his daughter and Sarah has finally met her father. Can you guys imagine how emotional Peggy will be when she sees them together?
Also, I'm sure you're all relieved that Amanda is okay. And in case anyone picked up on this. Amanda having "Angel of the Morning" stuck in her head when she woke up is a reference to the opening credits of Deadpool. I couldn't resist.
Thanks for reading as always. Lots more to come soon!