All the Time in the World
Chapter 37
Upon returning from their walk, Sarah and Amanda stepped in through the doorway of the house and wandered into the living room. Still in the midst of their chat. One that promptly came in to end, when they laid eyes on the empty room.
Where they had last seen Steve and Peggy, watching the news together when they left for their walk. But now, they were nowhere to be found.
Amanda then spun around and looked down the hallway and called out: "Hello, we're back."
After waiting a moment for an answer, the young woman spun back around to her mother with a puzzled look on her face.
"Hmm. Maybe they're out in the backyard," Sarah suggested.
"I think they're up to something."
At this, the older woman let out a chuckle. "What makes you say that?"
"Lots of things. The mysterious gift they have for you. And Grandma seemed thrilled that we left for our walk."
"She was, wasn't she?"
"Or they're…" Amanda suggested a wink.
Remembering their hilarious if awkward conversation from that morning, Sarah then pointed a finger at her daughter as they settled down on the two couches, facing each other. "Don't start."
"What? I didn't say anything?"
"Amanda."
"Okay, okay. I'm totally kidding, Mom. Don't worry," the young agent said. "They wouldn't…Unless."
"Oh Mandy. Why do you delight in messing with your mother so?"
"Because it's working."
Upon hearing her daughter's reply, Sarah let out a laugh and continued to gaze adoringly at her child. And for a moment, she could picture a younger Amanda smiling back at her with a toothy grin.
She truly hadn't changed at all, Amanda was still the person she'd always been. A light-hearted person who didn't take herself too seriously, unless she had to. Which was obvious from moments, like this one of her being a bit of an instigator. A part of her that Sarah supposed was an asset to Amanda in her spy work. But as her mother, it was also nice to see that adulthood and being agent hadn't changed her daughter too much.
"Ah I see."
"Yup," Amanda said, pausing briefly. "Mom?"
"Hmm?"
"Why were you staring at like that?" Amanda asked, having noticed the adoring look her mother was giving her.
"Oh that. I was just thinking about how much I love you. My little pot-stirrer."
The young woman then laughed as her mom tossed a pillow at her. With quick reflexes, she caught it. And looked back at Sarah with a heartfelt expression. "I love you too, Mom."
"Never change, Mandy."
"I won't."
"Good," Sarah said. Right before a little smirk played on her lips.
"Uh-oh. What it is?"
"Oh nothing…I was just thinking about a date I had with your father back in college. Where he and I somehow ended up in the backseat of the car during a drive-in-movie."
An exaggerated gasp then escaped Amanda's lips at this comment. "Mother!"
"Sorry, honey. I couldn't resist."
Her mother had gotten back at her. And from the amused look on Sarah's face, the young woman could tell just how much she was reveling in this.
"Oh god. Why would you even tell me that?"
"Well, I have to have my fun too."
Amanda then let out an exasperated sigh. Before she centered herself and gave a nod. "Okay. I suppose I had that coming. Well played, Mom. Well played."
"Why thank you."
"Let's not speak of this again though. Please."
"Deal."
Cause…" Amanda started, as she shifted position. "Really? A car?"
"Yup," Sarah replied. "That was the '60's for you."
"Oh geez."
Sarah chuckled as she watched her daughter bury her face in the pillow. "There, there. You'll live, trust me."
"I better," Amanda said. While moving the pillow back down to her lap. Before taking a deep breath, shaking off the remainder of her little freak out. "Seriously, where are your parents?"
"Good question….Mom! Dad!" Sarah called, giving it another try.
A moment later, they heard a door open, followed by the sound of Peggy's voice, coming from down the hall. "Sarah?"
"Hi. We're back. Are you in your office?"
"Yes. We'll be there a minute, darling."
"And we have contact," the twenty-five-year-old said.
"Okay. We're in the living room," Sarah replied. And then turned her attention back to her daughter.
"So…What do you think the gift is?"
"I honestly have no idea."
Sarah had spent the afternoon wondering, imaging the gift she was about to receive from her parents. And she still had no clue what it could possibly be.
She had also gotten the sense that her parents really wanted to surprise her. So she would put her imagination on hold and let them.
"Me either," Amanda said. "They're being especially secretive about this, aren't they?"
"They are."
It was funny to her, just how hush-hush her parents were being about this. Especially her mother, who insisted she didn't care for surprises. But she had long since figured out that for Peggy, she preferred being the giver of the surprise. There was nothing more she loved than surprising someone she loved with someone special.
"It's sweet though. What they're doing."
"It is."
"Just think, Mom. This is the first present you're getting from both your parents."
"Oh I know."
This was indeed the first time in her life, she was receiving a gift from both her parents. Her mother and her father. Just the thought of it, made her tear up. Her thoughts then drifted to the first Christmas she could truly remember. Where she had written to Santa, asking for him to bring her father back to her. Back then, that would have been the best gift she could have gotten. She even kept the little ornament she had made that year for him with Angie's help.
That gift had become a reality. And now she was about to receive a new gift.
As her eyes connected with her daughter's again. Amanda gave her a warm smile, sensing how truly wonderful this was for her mother.
She didn't want her to have to wait another minute.
The young woman then turned around to the hallway. "Come on guys! You're keeping your daughter in suspense over here."
"Oh Mandy," Sarah said with a chuckle.
A minute later, the two heard footsteps coming down the hallway. And then finally, Steve and Peggy entered the room. As they did so, the other two's eyes immediately landed on the wrapped gift in Steve's hand.
"All right, all right. We're here," Peggy said.
"Ah finally. About time."
"Oh Amanda. What did I tell you this morning about patience?"
"I think I've had enough patience. And so has Mom."
"In this case, I couldn't agree more," the older woman replied. As she gently squeezed her granddaughter's shoulder as she passed by. On the way over to where her daughter sat. "Darling."
"Mom," Sarah said with a breath, once she was standing.
With a smile, Peggy then glanced back at Steve who had remained by the doorway.
"Steve, aren't you going to come join us?"
"I will in a moment," he said, gesturing for her to proceed. While he continued to look on from his vantage point. Where he had a clear view of his best girl and their daughter.
Peggy then smiled back at him and gave a nod. Having figured out his possible reasoning for remaining by the doorway. Before, returning her gaze to their child.
"Sarah. As you know, your father and I have something we want to give you. It's something that I've had in the back of my mind, ever since your father came back. I know you always dreamed about having your mum and dad here for you. I'm so happy that now you do. More than happy really," Peggy said, taking her daughter's hands. "We love you so much, my darling. Steve?"
Upon hearing his name, Steve finally wandered over to them and with a smile, he handed the gift over to their daughter. "Here you are, Sarah."
Sarah then reached for the gift and took it in her hands. From the weight of it, she thought it felt like a record or something. But there was no way, her parents would make such a big deal out of it, if it was.
Steve then put his hand on Peggy's shoulder, as she learned closer to him. The two then eagerly watched their daughter open her gift. Once the wrapping was stripped off, leaving nothing but what was inside. Sarah then promptly froze in place as she stared at her own birth certificate. As her eyes scanned the writing, it didn't take long at all for her to spot what had changed from the last time she saw it.
A gasp then escaped Sarah's mouth as her eyes welled up with more tears. And she sniffled a bit before returning her gaze to her parents, who were looking at her in a way that only a mother and father could. The way she looked at her own children.
"Mom, what it is?" Amanda inquired.
"It's my birth certificate…Dad, you signed it."
"I did."
"Wow," Amanda said, truly amazed by this whole thing. That was some gift to be sure.
"Darling, what do you think?" Peggy questioned.
Sarah then opened her mouth to speak, but no words came to mind. All she could do was take a step forward and fall into her parents' arms.
"Thank you," she whispered.
The next day, Steve and his granddaughter sat in the living room with their eyes fixed to the screen. And a minute later, when the end credits starting rolling, Amanda reached over for the remote and turned off the TV.
"Congrats Grandpa. You've officially seen every episode of Friends," Amanda said, pausing for a minute. As she shifted her position on the couch so she could better see his face. "So…What did you think? Tell me."
"Oh, it was really good. Thank you for watching it with me."
"My pleasure. Now you have something else so check off that list of yours."
"So I do," Steve said with a nod.
A moment later an excited expression appeared on Amanda's face as an idea came to her. "Ooh. You know what we should watch next?"
"What?"
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer…Or Full House…And you so need to see I Love Lucy."
Steve then reached over and put a hand on his granddaughter's leg. "I'm sure we can find time to watch them all."
During which time, Peggy wandered into the room. Just in time to witness the cute grandfather-granddaughter moment.
"Hello, you two."
"Grandma. Guess what?"
"What darling?"
"Steve and I just finished watching the last episode of Friends."
"That's wonderful. A 90's classic."
"Yes, I see why Amanda loves it so much," Steve said.
"Amanda, have you introduced your grandfather to I Love Lucy or Bewitched yet?"
"Not yet. But it's on the list," she said, before turning to Steve. "Bewitched is Mom's favorite actually. You should probably watch it with her."
"Ah really?"
"Oh yes. I remember her first summer home from university. No matter what we were doing, Sarah just had to be in front of the television when the network was airing reruns. You see, Amanda, back in those days you either watched the shows live or had to wait for reruns."
"Ah yes. The dark ages," the young woman joked. "I see why mom watched it so religiously that summer."
"Indeed. It was quite cute really," Peggy said. As she traded a glance with Sarah's father.
"Ooh. I have an idea," Amanda said, drawing the attention of her grandparents back to her.
"Yes. What is it, darling?"
"We should watch the first episode of Downton Abbey. I know how much you love that show Grandma."
"Oh yes. Maggie Smith is wonderful in that."
At this, Amanda turned to Steve to elaborate. "She plays the Dowager Countess/grandmother who lacks much chill, that's why Grandma likes her."
"Well, she's hilarious. How could I not?"
The twenty-six-year-old then let out a laugh. "She is. Though there was that one episode where you yelled at the TV. Remember, she said the thing about how her granddaughter wasn't allowed to have opinions until she's married. And then her husband tells her what her opinions are."
"You did," Steve questioned, fully amused by this.
"I couldn't very well sit back and let that stand now could I? Honestly."
"Oh Grandma. I do appreciate the sentiment though, of course."
"Of course."
"So what do you think Grandpa? Are you game?"
"Sure, Mandy. Whatever you two want to watch."
A bright smile then appeared on Peggy's face upon hearing this. Though she had long since noticed how sweet Steve was with both Sarah and their granddaughter. It never ceased to warm her heart.
"Oh look at you. You really are such putty when it comes to our grandchildren. Not to mention our daughter," she teased.
The Captain then let out a chuckle. "I don't know about that, Peggy. I just like seeing them smile. And you."
"See, complete putty."
She then moved to rest her hand on his shoulder. And upon feeling her touch, his skin tingled slightly in response. As he reached up for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Okay, maybe I am then."
"Uh-huh. And we adore you all the more for it." Then after a quick glance over to their granddaughter, Peggy nodded. "Although, I would keep an eye on this one, Steve. She may wrestle you into paying off her student loans."
"I would never!" Amanda said. "I'm putting that energy to Tony Stark."
"Amanda," Steve exclaimed.
"I'm totally kidding. I take care of my own student loans."
"Atta girl," Peggy said. "But…Maybe Grandma will consider contributing a sum, just to help you out a bit."
"What? Really?"
The young woman then watched her grandmother's face intently, wondering if she was serious about this offer. Which was confirmed when Peggy gave her a wink.
"Of course."
"Oh Grandma you don't have to do that."
"I know, darling. But I do like to spoil you sometimes as well. And I'd prefer that my granddaughter not be in debt until she's my age."
"Wow. You're amazing!" Amanda said. Still, completely blown away by all this. "Thank you."
"There's no need to thank me."
"No need to thank you, I want to hug you for all eternity."
A comment which earned a loving chuckle from her grandparents.
"You're welcome, darling. Of course, I'll have to offer the same to your brother and sister."
"Oh my god. They will be so happy. Especially Jenna, given vet school."
"Oh yes. I'm sure she will."
All of a sudden, a buzzing sound coming from the end table on the other side of Amanda, filled the room. Which promptly put the conversation on hold.
"That's me," the young agent said. And as she moved to answer her phone, a huge smile appeared on her face upon seeing who was calling. "Hey babe. Yeah, I can talk. Excuse me guys. I'll be back in a bit. Then Downton Abbey."
Steve and Peggy then replied by giving their grandchild a nod, letting her know it was okay with them. The show could wait.
"All right, darling. Take your time."
"Thank you."
With that, Amanda stood up and as she passed Peggy, her grandmother reached out for her arm, making her pause in her steps. "Give Trip my regards, would you?"
The young brunette then gave her grandmother a nod. "You two behave yourselves when I'm gone."
"Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on him," Peggy said while glancing over at Steve.
"Hey!"
Amanda then chuckled at her grandmother's remark, before finally leaving the room. "He's all yours…..Hey, sorry, I'm back. My grandma says hi by the way."
Once she was out of sight, the former director turned around and met Steve's eyes. "Well, it looks like we're on our own for a while."
"Looks like."
"Well, in the meantime. Would you mine helping me with something?"
"Of course," he replied with a nod. "I'd be happy to."
"How are you doing up there?" Peggy asked. As she leaned against the pull-down ladder stairway that led to the attic.
Where Steve currently was, retrieving some old boxes for her. And second later she heard a thump, and a small chuckle escaped her lips. As the image of Steve moving about her low-ceilinged attic surfaced in her mind.
"Peggy?" Came Steve's voice.
"Hi. Are you all right up there?"
"Yeah. Occupation hazard. I'm okay. I'll be down in a minute."
"All right. I'll meet you in the study."
With that, Peggy made her way back down the stairs to the main floor of the house, pausing briefly when she heard the creaking sounds as Steve came back down the ladder.
Once she was satisfied he made it down okay, Peggy continued on to her office and made herself comfortable at her desk. As she did so, she glanced down at the pictures Steve had found the other day. Her lips then curled upwards as she stared at the picture of Sarah and Daniel once again, before moving to pick up the entire stack. She then proceeded to flip through the images, taking a quick peek at each one of them. The last being a picture of little Sarah's first time riding a pony.
Just then, her attention was drawn to the door at the sound of footsteps in the hallway. And a moment later, Steve walked into the office, carrying the two heavy boxes stacked on top of each other.
"Here you go, Peg. Where do you want these?"
At the sight of him she shook her head slightly. "Over here is fine. Thank you, darling."
"You got it," he said with a nod. Before he made his way over and placed the boxes down on the desk so they were right beside each other.
"You know you could have brought these down one at a time."
"Ah. It's okay. I managed just fine."
"Mhmm," Peggy said. As she stood up, and moved to open one of the boxes. "Showoff."
"Peggy!" he said, before laughing.
"Oh I'm only teasing. And thank you for going up there for me. How's your head?"
"Oh that's right. You heard that."
"I most certainly did. Who knew even Captain America bumps his head?"
At this, Steve let out another laugh. "Now you do, I suppose. And to answer your question, I'm fine."
"Good. Well, let's see what we have in here, shall we?"
And with that, she took a box-cutter and ran it down both of the boxes, unsealing them. While Steve looked on with a very curious expression.
"So what are you looking for?"
Peggy had been very vague about what she was looking for when she asked him to go up to the attic. All she had given him was the location of the boxes she wanted and their labels, which read: Peggy- 1945-1950, but nothing more.
"No idea," the former agent admitted with a bright smile. "That's what makes this such fun."
At this, The Captain let out a chuckle. Though he suspected that there was more to this than she was saying. And there was something specific she was looking for. But he'd play along. After all, it gave them a change to spend some time together. And maybe an opportunity for him to learn something new about his best girl.
There was still so much about her life while he was in the ice, which was still a mystery to him.
"An adventure. I see now."
"Exactly."
"You and me on an adventure," he reminisced. "Just like old times."
"Minus the bullets."
"No bullets is definitely a plus."
"Indeed. Makes things go more smoothly, I would say?"
"You miss it, don't you?"
"Well, I dare say, I might have had my fill," she said, pausing for a moment. "All right. I miss it. Sometimes…What do you say, Captain. Do you care to join me on another adventure?"
At this, Steve met her brown eyes once again and replied. "Always."
"Perfect."
The two then each took a box and began to riffle through them. Just to see what interesting mementos they could find.
"This is quite the collection you've acquired here."
"Oh I know," she replied. "How I've managed to accumulate all this, I'll never know."
"Yeah, I never took you as someone who was especially sentimental."
"Neither did I," Peggy said. "Well, perhaps it depends on the sentiment."
At this, the Captain nodded and let out a little chuckle. "The life of Peggy Carter."
"Hmmm. Intrigued are you?"
"With you. Of course." Steve said. "You've clearly led an amazing life. I don't know…I feel there's still so much I don't know."
The ninety-one-year-old then gave him a smile. "Indeed. It has been quite something, as we've discussed. Though I will say, I'm quite certain you know all that truly counts, Steve."
"That I have no doubt," He replied. The two did know each other better than most. He knew her heart and she knew his. "Still, there has to be something more you could share."
"I'll think on it." And then a moment later a gasp escaped her lips as she came across something. "Well, Steve. I believe I just found something that will interest you greatly."
Steve's eyes then widened as she held out the envelope to him. And after a few seconds, he reached out to take it, sensing its importance. As he studied it, his eyes landed on the address scribbled across the front. And then Steve saw something, which made his eyes snap back up to meet her gaze once again.
It was the royal seal.
"Peggy. This is…"
"Indeed. A letter from Her Majesty herself."
"You met the Queen of England?" Steve questioned. Though he wasn't sure why he was surprised. Or if he was actually surprised.
After all, Peggy had contributed so much to England as well as the SSR during the War. It only made sense that she would have encountered the Queen at some point in her career.
"I have."
"Wow," Steve said, still reeling from this new piece of information. "That's incredible. Of course, you would have though. With your service record and all."
"Thank you, darling. Well, now you've learned something new. I hope it was to your liking."
"Very much so."
"Remind me to show you the medal of honour I received from Her Majesty later. It's upstairs."
"Oh I will," Steve said. "When was this?"
"1952. The year she was crowned. Your daughter was so excited to meet her, might I add."
"I bet. You took Sarah with you?"
"Mhmm. It would have been her second trip to England. After meeting the Queen, we went to stay with my parents for a week."
"It sounds like an amazing trip. I'm so proud of you."
Upon hearing his sweet words, Peggy looked at him with a loving expression, before she nodded in his direction. "Back to work, Captain."
"Yes, ma'am."
Then after a brief moment of silence, Peggy resumed their conversation. "Speaking of Sarah. Are you planning on visiting her at the school today?"
At this, Steve stopped digging through the box and met her eyes. "How did you know about that?"
"I have my ways," Peggy said with a little smirk.
"Did you by chance happen to overhear my conversation with Sarah this morning?"
"I might have done," Peggy admitted, making him raise his eyebrows up for a moment, followed by a laugh.
"To answer your question, I was thinking of going either today or tomorrow yeah."
"Well, I see no reason why you couldn't go today. I'm sure she'd like that. And no time like the present as they say."
"Are you sure?" Steve asked.
"Of course. We still have another hour yet before you would have to leave."
Steve then thought about it for a moment. Though he didn't really need to carefully consider it at all. Having lunch with his daughter, just the two of them sounded like the perfect thing to do.
"All right then. I'll go. Then when I get back, you, Amanda and I can watch the show."
"Sounds perfect."
Just then, as Peggy continued rummaging through the box, she came across an old tin box. That no doubt contained more photographs.
"Ah-ha! I believe I just located more photographs from 1945-1950." The former agent then moved to sit down in her chair. "Come. Sit."
Steve then sat down in the chair directly behind him and pulled it as close to the desk as possible. While Peggy started flipping through a few of the pictures. Before her expression softened upon seeing one particular photograph.
"Find anything good?"
"As a matter of fact, I have. Here's our daughter learning to stand on her own."
As he took the picture in his hand, his heart warmed at the sight of a then little Sarah standing up with the help of the ottoman she was holding on to. As she looked back at the camera in what appeared to be mid-giggle.
"Look at that," Steve said, smiling brightly. "What a sweetheart. So determined as well."
"Oh she was," Peggy said, remembering just how determined Sarah was when she was learning how to stand and then walk. Not even falling would slow that child down. After the moment of reminiscing passed, she started going through the photographs again. "Ah. Here's one of me, Howard and the boys."
Steve then took this picture as eagerly as the first. Then as he studied the photograph intently, he noticed their smiling faces. And that behind them a celebration seemed to be taking place. As evident by the people waving British and America flags in the background.
He had seen images like this before. In the various books about the War he had read over the last year. Then as he swallowed, he met Peggy's eyes again.
"Peggy. When was this taken?"
"V.E Day."
He had been right. Upon hearing that his suspicion had been correct, Steve gave a nod and went back to studying the picture that was taken just over a month after he had disappeared. "Looks like you guys had a good time."
"We did. We missed you though. Dugan had three beers that day, two for him and one for you."
"That's thoughtful of him."
A laugh then escaped Peggy's lips before her expression shifted as her mind drifted to what event occurred soon after that. "Come to think of it, that picture was taken about two weeks before I found out I was expecting our daughter."
"Really?" The Captain inquired. Though he remembered that Peggy had told him just as much last year.
"Mhmm."
It was so strange to think just how fast her life changed towards the end of the War. It felt like everything had happened in blink of an eye as she looked back on in. The two were then silent as he studied the picture again with this piece of information in mind. As he focused on Peggy's image smiling back at him, he began to wonder something.
"Did you know? Or suspect anyway?"
"Hmm. I might have suspected then, I can't remember exactly. After all, it was a long time ago. I'm sorry."
"No, no. It's okay. I was just wondering. That makes sense."
"I would certainly suspect very soon thereafter though, when certain signs became hard to ignore, shall we say."
"That would do it, I imagine," Steve said. "Peggy?"
"Yes, darling?"
"Do you happen to have any pictures of you, when you were…?"
"What?"
"You know….Um. Further along with the pregnancy I guess?"
At this, Peggy raised her eyebrow at him. "Steve. Are you asking to see a picture of me when I was fat?"
"No…Well maybe," Steve said. "I just want to see you. I don't know, does that sound silly?"
"No, it's not silly at all," she replied in a soft voice, followed by a sigh. "I'll see what I can find."
That afternoon, Steve got a visitors pass from the office at the school where Sarah was currently working. And as he walked down the 3rd grade hallway, he heard voices coming from the classroom he knew he'd find her in.
When he got to the door, he peeked in and caught sight of Sarah sitting on her desk as one of her students gave a book report to the class. Not wanting to disrupt them, Steve leaned against the door and watched.
"And that's my favorite scene from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," she said, finishing up her presentation.
"Well done, Megan," Sarah said, clapping with the rest of the students. "I love the colors you used in your diorama. That's one of my favorite scenes too."
After exchanging smiles with the little girl. Sarah glanced up at the clock and saw that it was just about lunch time.
"All right, kids. Time for lunch. When we get back, we'll be starting with Avery," Sarah said. As the kids practically shot up from their chairs and began gathering their coats and lunch boxes. "Don't run in the hallway, please!"
Then as the kids filed out into the hallway, Steve stepped aside, allowing them to pass Fortunately most of the kids didn't pay him much mind, except for the couple quick stares from some as they went by. Apparently, the prospect of lunch was more exciting to them than trying to figure out why the man standing outside their classroom in a baseball cap looked vaguely familiar.
"Mrs. Harper?"
"Yes, Megan. What's up, honey? You did such a good job with your presentation."
"Really? I was kinda scared."
At hearing this, Sarah sat down and rested her arms on the desk. "I know, honey."
"You did?"
"Yeah." With years of teaching under her belt, it was of course, very easy for the sixty-six-year-old to tell when a student was nervous. And then given her own kids, who all hated giving presentations. Especially her son who had been quite inventive at coming up with reasons for not going to school on those days. "It's okay though! You got through it. That's what counts."
"I guess so," Megan said. "So I didn't seem dumb or?'
"Oh no honey. You did great. Why do you ask?"
"I don't know. I just didn't want the other kids to know I was scared. I thought they would laugh."
"Hmm," Sarah said, sympathizing greatly with her student. "Well, none of them laughed, right?"
"Right."
"See. There you go. And want to know a secret? A lot of them were just as scared as you were."
"Really?"
"Of course. Everyone gets scared sometimes. You got through it. That's certainly something to be proud of."
"Yeah!"
"And you know what else? I could tell that you really had fun with the project."
"Yeah! It's my favorite book."
"And that probably made it a bit easier, didn't it? Talking about something you love."
"I guess so… Yeah!"
"See. That's pretty cool," Sarah said. "For what it's worth I think you're going to fine. You may not ever like giving presentations. But I have no doubt, you'll get up there and do great, every time."
"I'll have to do this again?"
"I'm afraid so, Megan. But there's no need to worry about that right now."
"Okay." The little girl said. And then her eyes got wide as she thought of something. "What if the next time, I mess up and the other kids laugh. What then?"
"Oh sweetheart. I highly doubt they will. For this and all scary things. Always… Never forget your value, okay? Let me tell you, you are one amazing kid."
Upon hearing this. The little girl gave her substitute teacher a big smile. "Know my value."
"Hmhmm. See you're going to be just fine," Sarah replied. And then quickly glanced over at the clock again. "Go on sweetie. Enjoy your lunch. I'll see you in bit."
"Okay! Thanks, Mrs. Harper."
"You're quire welcome, Megan."
Then as the little girl skipped out of classroom, she locked eyes with Steve, who gave her a smile and waved as she went by.
Once she had disappeared down the hallway after her classmates. The Captain finally moved from his place and wandered into the room and over to Sarah, who looked up slowly as he came closer.
"That was amazing what you did for that little girl, Sarah."
"Dad!" Sarah greeted. As she stood up and went over to give him a hug. "I didn't know you'd be coming by today."
"Well, here I am."
"Here you are."
"So would you like to join me for lunch?" Steve asked.
"Of course. I'll just need to get my purse."
"Sounds good."
Then after retrieving her purse, she paused briefly to close her laptop. With that, the brunette turned around, ready to go to lunch. Only to find her father staring at her with a particularly adoring expression. One that made a little smile appear on her face, reflexively.
"What?"
"Hmm. I'm still just thinking about the little girl, Megan. She's very lucky to have you as her teacher. If only temporarily."
"Oh. She just needed some support, reassurance. That's what I'm here for," Sarah said. "Besides imparting knowledge, of course."
"It sounded like you imparted a lot of knowledge there."
"Oh. Know your value. That's something Mom would always say. Least to say, it's stuck with me."
"I figured," Steve said, knowing Peggy's words when he heard them. "Well, I think it's safe to say it will stick with that little girl. You were her hero today, Sarah. Truly."
Sarah then gave her dad a big smile as they walked out of the room. And Steve offered his arm to her. Then once their arms were linked, she spoke again. "So how has your day been?"
"Good. Amanda and I finished Friends. We're planning on watching Downton Abbey when I get back," Steve explained. "And your mom finally told me that you two got to meet the Queen."
Thanks for reading!
Wow! This chapter really did make me explode with feels while working it. It's just pure Steggy and Steggy fam fluff and cuteness. A nice lightness before some craziness ensues next chapter.
I hope you guys loved the part when Sarah echoed Peggy's words from Agent Carter of "know your value." That was honestly one of my favorite things to write. Besides all the pop culture references. Thank god Steve has Amanda to catch him up to the 21st century!
Until next chapter! You guys are wonderful. Please send me good luck writing vibes, I'd really love to get the next chapter posted in exactly two weeks.