A/N: And so we are finally here! Definitely took me a while. And I do apologize for some of the unfortunate events that transpired last chapter but it was necessary. And I know some of you would have liked this chapter sooner but work and everything else just loves getting into the way. And for the fact that October 30 is my birthday and as a birthday present to myself I went to Wizard World Convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma on October 23.

FYI Sebastian Stan is a thousand times more beautiful in person.

I would also like to thank everyone who left me a review I appreciate each and every one of them. They are my fuel.

I would also like to apologize for any and all errors. I am dyslexic and can't see them all.

And so without any further ado, on with the show!

Chapter Twenty-Five: Time Is On My Side

Pain.

If there was one thing he knew with absolute certitude, it was pain. That was all he knew. His body, his mind, his heart and his soul were all in an intense excruciating pain. He did not know why and he did not want to know why.

Unfortunately, fate had other plans for Steven Grant Rogers.

All he wanted to do was remain in the vastly sweet oblivion, completely ignorant to everything that was happening. But the harder he tried to remain in the dark the closer the light came. The moment he opened his eyes more pain enveloped him. In that awful moment everything came back to him. He truly wished that he had remained unaware of the events that had transpired that day.

He numbly recalled Bucky warning him…

"No, whatever pain she has in store for you isn't the kind you can just shrug off, it's the kind that will rip you apart, the kind you can't come back from."

If only he had truly taken heed… Then perhaps…

No, this was all going to happen anyway. Calamity would have ensured it.

He absently became aware of the fact that he was in a cell. A super max design for enhanced individuals. He was bound in chains and with bitter irony realized he was strapped into that steel straitjacket that Fury threatened him with all those days ago.

He shifted in a miserable and futile attempt to alleviate the biting pressure of his restraints. He was in shackles. He noted his ankles bound along with his neck. Now he truly felt like a caged animal, collar and all.

He also noted that his wounds remained untreated. His arm had not been relocated, his hand and wrist were throbbing painfully even more intensely because they were twisted and bound so brutally within the confining jacket. His ribs remained unset, making it incredibly difficult to breathe regardless of the restraints. The stitches were still torn, he could feel his blood still leak minutely. On top of the other torn muscles and fractured bones caused by his efforts to escape the marking on his wrist till burned like fire.

Still, none of that compared to the state of his heart. He was sure if it could have a physical manifestation it would be utterly unrecognizable. The sight of his brother's graphic death was set on constant replay in his mind.

Over and over.

The shot.

The splashes of red.

Then death.

Over and over.

He would never be able to un-see the way Bucky's face contorted or the way the puddle of his blood glistened in the sunlight as it steadily grew in size. But even more disgusting was the fact that he was unable to reach him yet again. He was forever doomed to fail.

Completely useless.

And even more twisted and vile was Tony's involvement in the whole disgusting thing. He could still feel Iron Man's vicious grip on his neck under the cold steel of the restraining collar. Tony held him down and prevented him from reaching Bucky and… and… then…

He couldn't think of it anymore! It was too painful to bear. Fresh tears spilled over.

How had it all come to this?

Just as he was going to go through another round of instant replay in his head a shadow loomed over the thick glass panel of his cell.

Steve flinched as Tony's voice rang out.

"Fitting isn't it?" He said with unconcealed bite.

The Captain wished that his nightmare with just end.

"Honestly, this should have been done from the start. Would have saved a lot of trouble."

Steve swallowed thickly at the edge in Tony's voice, the collar digging into his flesh.

"You know, you had me convinced, Cap."

Steve turned his head slowly to face Tony. He winced minutely at the effort. From what he was able to see from his painful position, Tony was furious. His brow was pinched in anger and his mouth was caught somewhere between a sneer and a grimace.

"You had us all fooled." He stated bitterly.

Steve said nothing. What could he say? What's done is done. That still did not stop trepidation from washing over him like a tidal wave. He knew Tony was just getting started.

"What? Got nothing to say?"

Steve swallowed again. He knew from the burning sensation deep in his throat any attempt to utter a sound would be perdition.

"You drugged Jane and Darcy. You knocked Scott and Colson unconscious and blew up my tower. Not to mention the state I found Natasha in." He began yelling halfway through. "And you have nothing to say!?"

Steve could feel the rage and desperation rolling off of Tony in waves. He licked his dry chapped lips and tried to make amends.

"S-sorry." He barely managed out, his voice broken and torn.

"Bullshit!" Tony shouted making Steve flinch yet again.

"You betrayed us and for what!? A fugitive, a murderer."

"H-he's my f-friend." Steve rasped.

"So was I!" Tony countered roughly.

The genius took a deep breath and sighed heavily.

'Here it comes.' Steve thought.

"You know what? I'm done. You are so utterly useless! I don't even know why we even tried."

What little jagged pieces were left of Steve's heart began to crumble.

Tony shook his head.

"She was right. You're not worth it." The genius turned abruptly intending to leave. Instead he paused for a moment's turning slightly. "God, I wish they hadn't dug you out of the ice. You should have been left there." He stated finally before walking away leaving our dear Captain completely and utterly devastated.

Tony had just single-handedly delivered the finishing blow to Steve's already broken heart. Of all the things he could have said in that moment Tony had uttered the very things that had always plagued and haunted his soul since he could remember. That he would be useless, worthless, expendable and unwanted to those who he cared about most.

A burden.

His deepest and most profound fears had come to pass.

Were once his pain had been excruciating and unbearable now receded to numbness. He could not feel his body nor his emotions. He could not feel anything at all. Somewhere he knew he should be afraid of the numbing sensation but he could not be made to care.

He had become unfeeling.

Even the burning of his wrist where Calamity's mark had been prominent had begun to recede. That too he could feel no more. He almost eagerly awaited his return to oblivion. He was most the way there any way.

"My dear, dear Steven. Look at what they have done to you." Calamity's soft voice flitted across his consciousness like a soothing balm.

He could not see her but he could feel her fingers traced down his face. Her touch felt like fire against his sensationless being. He leaned in almost as if he was desperate to feel again.

"The time has come, my love, are you ready?"

Steve thought for a moment. A small spark in his soul, utterly resilient that refused to be extinguished, begged for a modicum of reprieve.

"I w-want f-freedom." He whispered.

"Where do you wish to be freed to?"

"Ocean…h-home…" He whispered, and age old desire from his childhood resurfacing. "T-the sun…rise…"

"For you, my love, I can do that."

Steve noticed that his restraints were being removed by her invisible hands. She swiftly unshackled, unchained, and unbound his various restraints. She lifted him easily in her arms, as if he were a small child. Steve could hear his blood to drip onto the steel floor.

"Do not worry, my love, you will be free of your burdens soon enough."

Just as she finished speaking a red alert started blaring.

"Oh my, that was quick." She said with a hint of amusement. "Well, my love, we must not dally any longer."

His surroundings changed from his prison to the vast freedom of the night starry sky. The stars twinkled brilliantly and the crisp cool air filled his lungs soothing the crushing tension in his chest. He relaxed in her hold and watched as the dark scenery passed them by. They were up high, way way up. The ocean was a vast void on the horizon. Buildings, no, cities were mere specs below them.

It was incredible.

He absently wondered how he was even capable of still feeling such emotions of grandeur even after everything. Calamity became visible once more and laughed lightly.

"Love, with sights so grand even a stone would quiver." She mused.

Before he even knew it, Rockaway Beach manifested into view. The sandy shore was illuminated by the somber light of the moon. From their viewpoint, the moon's reflection on the surface of the water was breathtaking. Steve also saw the soft glow of dawn's early light just on the edge of the water over the horizon turning the sky a brilliant array of oranges and violets.

They descended steadily and gracefully. As soon as Calamity landed smoothly on the shore she gently sat Steve down on the cool sand. He sat silently watching the warm colors bloom across the sky banishing the darkness away from yet another day. It was at this time that his mind began to wander. And because he was a hopeless and tragic fool his mind settled on Tony. He desperately wished that things had turned out differently. Not just because of the things that have transpired the last several hours or the last several weeks or even months. He just wished… Well, he didn't really know what he wished anymore. Everything was just so messed up it's difficult to make heads or tails of anything.

Steve thought back to a day when they were at their most peaceful. Before the Calamity case had even started. If Steve thought back far enough it must have been his favorite day with Tony. The day was fair and cool with a slight breeze. There were plenty of those big white puffy clouds in the sky and Steve had amused himself by taking photos and seeking out hidden images within their round curves. It was one of those rare days where everybody had some precious time to themselves where they can unwind and breathe freely.

As Steve was engrossed in the movement of the clouds Tony bounded up to him in excitement.

"Cap! Cap, you gotta see this!"

Steve was shocked out of his daydream at the sound of Tony's voice.

"Geez Tony, how many cups of coffee had you had today?" Steve asked amused at Tony's childlike excitement.

"Uh, I don't know, however many three pots is? Anyway, it doesn't matter. You gotta come see this!" Tony could barely contain his excitement as he grabbed Steve's hands and hauled him to his feet and began to drag him to his personal lab.

As they crossed over the threshold Tony initiated a startup program. "Jarvis! Start her up!" He turned to Steve abruptly, "Okay! Stay right there."

Steve smiled warmly as he watched Tony prepare whatever it was he was excited to show. He watched as Tony cleared off the platform that had various devices located at what he assumed were key points. He noticed Dumm-E in the corner of the room with a fire extinguisher handy. Steve learned a long time ago that he should be mildly concerned when Dumm-E was on fire control.

"Okay, just watch." Tony said as he put on a funny looking pair of glasses that had strange wires that curled around his head.

Tony stood off to the side as the lights dimmed. The specially located devices Steve learned were holographic projectors as they began to project a display. He couldn't quite tell what it was at first but the image started to become clearer. He could see Tony off to the side making adjustments on his handheld device. Soon enough the holographic display began to depict a lovely golden haired woman playing a piano. Steve realized with awe that he could hear the woman play and recognized the tune as Beethoven's Fur Elise.

Steve looked over at Tony questioningly but the genius gestured for him to continue to watch. The Captain looked back at the display thoroughly intrigued.

There was something familiar about the woman that Steve couldn't quite put his finger on. But she seemed kind and humble. Suddenly she stopped playing and looked over to her right.

"Anthony, come here darling." She said gently in sing song voice.

A small child manifested into view and hobbled onto the piano bench next to the woman. Steve realized with a start that the small child was Tony.

"Come darling, play something for your mother." She smiled down at him.

Then the small child Tony began to play Moonlight Sonata. The whole thing was so shocking and beautiful it nearly brought our Captain to tears.

"Tony? What is this?" Steve whispered lowly.

The display disappeared and the lights came on.

"A memory. That was one of my favorite memories of my mother, Sarah Maria Stark." Tony replied quietly.

"Did this… Is this all coming from your mind?" Steve inquired gesturing to the odd glasses on his face.

"Yep, it's bi-neuraly augmented retro framing. By hijacking the hippocampus I have access to a variety of stored memories. This is still very much in the beginning stages and this is the first time that I've really had an honest to God breakthrough with it. What I'm hoping in the future I'll be able to use it to potentially clear traumatic memories." He explained almost with a hint of uncertainty.

"You're going to change memories with this?" Steve asked hoping for some clarification.

"Well I won't be able to actually change the memories themselves but with this," he gestured to his makeshift stage with the holographic devices. "I'll be able to tweak the memories and have them play out differently for therapeutic purposes."

"Wow Tony! That's amazing. This could help so many people." Steve almost gushed.

Tony's expression perked up. "Yeah?" His tone almost hopeful.

"Yeah, definitely Tony."

After that Tony decided that it was time for a well-deserved break. He said that it was still a major drawback because of the electromagnetic headache the device caused. He was definitely going to look into that a bit more later. So, as they settled down into a well-worn and immensely comfortable leather couch in Tony's lab the genius put on the third film of the original Star Wars trilogy insisting on rectifying Steve's pop-culture ignorance. Ten minutes into the film Tony was out like a light leaning heavily on Steve shoulder. Twenty minutes in and Tony had found his way onto Steve lap and the Captain didn't have the heart to move him.

Steve found a peace he hadn't felt in nearly a century as he watched Tony's sleeping form. The couch was close to a window so he could still see as the clouds lazily drifted by. But despite the epic sci-fi action film and the enchanted clouds out the window Tony held Steve's focus completely.

Steve really should have known then…

The moment the sun broke over the edge of the water in a spectacular and dazzling burst of light Steve took a shuddering breath. The numbness was receding as the overwhelming shock of everything that has happened in the last few weeks began to ebb away. All of the pain began to return in sharp constricting tendrils. Despite everything, Steve managed to deeply enjoy the glorious and magnificent sunrise. It was even more heavenly than the one he witnessed yesterday morning through the dirty window of the lonely forgotten warehouse. Only after the sun was seated upon the glassy surface of the sea did he finally speak.

"W-what's going… to h-happen now?" He asked softly in a strained whisper, his eyes never leaving the sky.

Calamity regarded him as he continued.

"I'm s-still in one p-piece," His voice broke painfully. "I k-kinda expected you …to d-drop a building… on me …or s-something." He croaked out of breath still desperately trying to breathe.

"Or tear you limb from limb?" She supplied.

The Captain nodded subtly and Calamity gave a light chuckle.

"My dear Steven, 'tis true that I needed you to experience more pain but you must have realized by now," She looked down sideways at him with a smirk. "Not all pain is that the physical kind."

Steve finally looked up at her.

"I needed you to reach your breaking point so that I could have full access to your soul."

He nodded. This whole time he assumed that she intended to tear his body apart. They all kind of assumed that. He and his team had been so frayed and on edge that they hadn't considered the alternative. And because of that they had all played into her hand beautifully. He had a feeling that Bucky knew exactly what she really meant, however. He tried to warn Steve but our dear Captain wouldn't listen.

"S-so, uh… how is this… g-going to go? A-are you… g-going to p-put… me… in a c-coma or… or…" He couldn't finish his thought.

He did not know how this whole thing worked but knew there was a possibility that he needed to die for her to achieve her goals.

"If that is what you desire, I could put you into a sleep like the others. However, as I said before, I have something extra special planned for you. Yet, I would not begrudge you your right to choose."

"What s-special plan?"

"Considering all that has transpired I came up with something I think you will appreciate."

He looked at her face expectantly, wholly unconvinced.

"Now, now do not give me that suspicious look, love. I have decided to give you the most precious of paragons."

"What… is it?" He asked hesitantly all too ready to get this over with.

"Time, love. Or in this case to give you back the time you lost when you were frozen for seventy years."

Steve's got twisted painfully. Urgency suddenly bubbling up to the surface.

"What do you m-mean?" He whispered harshly. His first thought was that she was going to turn back time. But that wasn't possible, was it?

Could it?

He had no idea what Calamity was truly capable of.

Could she really do it?

That would mean… Peggy.

No!

What was he thinking? That ship had sailed…

Had it?

"I can take you back to a time that was once lost to you. Or I can simply put you to sleep as I did the others. The decision is yours."

Steve was so confused.

But what does it all mean? He was the keystone. Why send him back? It made no sense. The confusion was rolling off of him in waves and Calamity sighed.

"Make no mistake my dear, as my keystone your purpose in my plans has already come to fruition. I felt it imperative to at the very least give you a modicum of peace while I fulfill my purpose of laying claim of every soul on your little planet." Calamity's demeanor shifted to dead serious. She approached Steve and grabbed his chin making him look her in the eye.

"Believe me, offering you such a gift is merciful beyond comprehension. You do not want to be aware of the harvest, love." She said never breaking eye contact. "Your role as keystone is a brutal one. I suggest you take my offer."

"H-how… does s-sending me… back… aid you? I don't… understand."

"You are not meant to understand, love. Time... Is fluid, you will not be beyond my reach."

"And those are my only two options? To be put… to sleep or to be sent back?" He asked, his voice surprisingly steady despite the profound damage. Steve tried to his hardest to comprehend the situation.

"Yes. Those are your only two options."

Steve thought for a moment.

"When Tony succeeds in s-stopping you I still belong to you? Will I remain where I c-choose to be or do you have other p-plans for me after that?"

Calamity's face contorted into a feral grin.

"You are a sharp one, insolent even, despite being in such a desolate state of existence!" She laughed. "You never cease to amaze me! I am immensely happy to have chosen you." She took a deep breath. "That my dear, Steven, is for me to know and you to discover later. Now choose." She demanded.

Her words pierced through Steve like a bullet. He hated everything about this situation. How was he meant to choose? Of course he'd choose to go back but it feels like an awful trick somehow. His mind and heart were in shambles. He could not think straight. It was hard enough to even remotely function through the excruciating pain that was his very existence.

But before the hysteria could grow within him he picked up on a very familiar sound in the distance. He stood up quickly and flinched harshly as his body protested his effort. The sound of the flight stabilizers of Stark Industry repulser technology grew faintly louder as Iron Man came closer.

"Tony's coming." Steve groaned out miserably.

"Choose!" Calamity shouted, her eyes honing in on Iron Man in the distance.

Steve's mind came to a grinding halt before slowly starting back up. Tony was here to take him back.

Back to be chained up.

Back to being imprisoned.

Back to all the pain.

Back to a place where Bucky was dead all over again.

Back to where he failed and betrayed his team and back to a place where Tony hates him.

How was the answer not simple before?

He turned to Calamity quickly.

"Send me back!" He rasped out violently the best he could through his torn voice.

Calamity's face lit up in delight.

"Finally! Oh my dearest love, I wish you all the luck in the world!" She said before grabbing Steve's face and pressed a kiss to his lips.

The moment Calamity's lips came in contact with his own the entire world shifted. He felt Iron Man's cold armor wrap around him before an impression similar to traveling through the Bifrost overcame him. This time, however, it was not painless. He could vaguely hear Tony's voice. Steve cannot understand what was said, he only recognized the sound.

Suddenly he could no longer feel or hear anything like he was floating in a dark and eternal void. The last thing he could feel before he completely fell into the welcoming piece of unconsciousness was the all-too-familiar sensation of ice then he was gone.

*~0~*

The first thing Steve became aware of was the warmth of the sun on his face. He did not want to wake up. He was too comfortable. The second thing he was aware of was the scent of freshly cut grass and the sensation of the individual blades brushing his skin. When he finally opened his eyes he saw the leaves of the large maple tree dancing merrily in the light breeze. He smiled wistfully at the sight.

The tree was large and he noted a rope swing with a rough plank of wood swaying gently with the wind on the other side. Upon the next breath he took he detected the sweet scent of roses. There must be a blush nearby.

He sat up slowly. He noted that he felt oddly sore but nothing too terrible.

"Steve!" He turned swiftly to the familiar voice. He got a glimpse of Peggy's smiling face before he got an arm full energetic child.

"Daddy!" The little girl in his arms squealed merrily.

"What?" He looked up at Peggy who was still smiling widely.

"The doctor said everything is perfect. Just one more month my love." She said happily as she wrapped her arms around her middle. Her very large, round protruding middle…

Oh!

Oh…

"Isn't it wonderful, Daddy? I'm going to be a big sister!" She exclaimed excitedly.

"Eleanor, darling, Daddy is right in front of you. You do not need to shout." Peggy admonished the child.

Steve was so utterly lost and confused. The last thing he remembered was…

Was…

Why couldn't he remember? It felt like it was just right there.

He thought harder, the last thing he definitely remembered was… Crashing the Valkyrie into the water.

He made it?

"Steve darling, are you all right?" Peggy asked concerned.

Steve couldn't help but to think that he probably looks like a lost puppy.

"I don't… Know?"

He really didn't.

At the very least, he mused, he must of had that dance.

End Chapter Twenty-Five

A/N: Yes! Finally! Finally he gets sent back in time. For the longest time I seriously thought we were not going to get here. It is definitely something of a load off. Now all I have to do is play with this situation and at the same time show everybody what's happening on the other side with Tony and the others, no pressure… I hope this was satisfying enough. This was actually going to end up being one of my shortest chapters ever but I felt it needed an extra scene. The extra scene was Steve's flashback it fits well and it also will lead into various key points I have planned for later on.

So the first time I watched Civil War I swear up and down that in that movie Tony's mother was also called Sarah as well as Steve's mother. I figured they were trying to do a spoof on the Batman versus Superman movie. But then I go back and watch it and I can't find it. And I think other people thought the same thing that I did because there were a few fanfiction that I read around the time Civil War came out that had that element, so whatever. It's kind of important that their mothers have the same name in my story so I'm just going to roll with it.