ladoeza- your review made me so happy to read, thank you! I love that you binge read it so quickly, that's truly an honor. I'm so glad you love Maddi, she is a character I have worked so hard to develop over the years, and it is always so wonderful to hear people love her! I'm excited to give you this next chapter, and I hope you enjoy!

JanaDowneyEvans- Sorry for the wait, it's been a little hectic as my semester finishes up. I'm glad you're still around and are so excited for updates! I hope you enjoy the next chapter and thank you for the support!

Goldenfightergirl- I'm not gonna tell you who will be dusted, but I will tell you I already know exactly who may or may not be dusted, and I've known for a while. Sorry to torture you with waiting, I'm just as anxious to get these chapters out to you as you are to read them. Thank you for the comment, I love seeing people think ahead like that!

We're just getting right into it with this one…

May 18, 2018 (STEVE'S POV)

"Where to, Cap?" Sam asked me as we all were in the quinjet we had in our possession.

"Home," I replied as I solemnly had a million thoughts running through my head. It had been over two years since we were home. Over two years since I last saw Maddi in person. There were very few sightings of her out since she made her final press statement I saw on TV. They were just small trips alone to a grocery store or getting a haircut. They were very rare and very brief, but they were enough for me to know that she was still okay. I knew she wanted her privacy, and I knew she could easily stay in the compound without ever leaving if she truly wanted to. But I couldn't help but hope she took her small occasional and insignificant outings by herself just to indirectly let me know that she was still safe.

I knew now there was no avoiding going home. Tony was reported missing after a recent alien attack, obvious that he had left with that ship in the sky. I tried to stay calm as there were no reports of Maddi being with him. I hoped to find her back at the compound when we got there.

Our first encounter wasn't with Maddi, but with Colonel Rhodes and none other than Secretary Ross.

"Mr. Secretary," I addressed as we walked into the conference room and his image was projected into the room.

"You got some nerve, I'll give you that," he replied.

"You could use some of that right now," Natasha said.

"The world's on fire, and you think all is forgiven?" he asked.

"I'm not looking for forgiveness, and I'm way past asking permission. Earth just lost her best defender, so we're here to fight. And if you wanna stand in our way, we'll fight you too," I told him firmly as I stepped closer in his direction. I was prepared to do whatever I had to in order protect us all from whatever attacked us.

He turned back to Rhodey and demanded "arrest them."

"All over it," he said, before wiping the image of Ross away. "That's a court martial," he said before smiling. "It's great to see you, Cap," he said and I smiled and walked forward to greet him in the friendly manner I was hoping to.

"You too, Rhodey," I said. He gave Nat a hug and I started looking around the room and through the glass to the other rooms nearby, hoping to see some sign of Maddi.

"Wow, you guys really look like crap," Rhodey said. "Must have been a rough couple years."

"Yeah well the hotels weren't exactly five star," Sam stated.

"I think you look great," we heard from the door and as we looked over it was Bruce standing there. "Uh yeah, I'm back."

"Bruce," Natasha said in shock.

"Nat," he greeted back. Before any more of their interaction could take place, Maddi came running into the room from down the hall. She stopped abruptly as we locked eyes.

Almost immediately, she had tears flooding her eyes and the brightest smile I had ever seen across her face. She let out a short and shaky laugh that seemed to take all of the stress from her body with her. I felt the same stress leave my own body as I looked at her face. She ran again straight towards me and wasted no time pulling me into a kiss.

She had her hands on my face and I wrapped my own around her waist. Our kiss was frantic and desperate, trying to make up for the last two years apart. I wanted to stay in that moment forever, but I knew we couldn't. I was the one who pulled away first. I rested my forehead on hers and she continued to cry and keep her eyes closed as we took each other in.

Soon she took a deep breath and stepped back, but not before taking her hand in mine and squeezing tightly. Still without either of us saying a word to each other yet, she first turned to Rhodey.

"I'm gonna bring him upstairs first. Would you mind telling them why while we're gone? We need to save time so, It's best if they know when we get back," she said and I frowned, confused about what she was talking about.

"Of course," Rhodey replied, sincerely. She thanked him and then promptly led me out of the room the way she came in.

She didn't say a word until we were in the hallway where our bedrooms were held. She then turned back to me and smiled. "I missed you," she said. "I'm sorry, that's the biggest understatement of the century, but I don't know how else to say it. I really really missed you."

I placed my hand softly on her cheek. "I missed you too. So much."

"I like the new look, it's a good look," she smiled wider and I couldn't help myself but smile back. My hair was longer and I had grown out full facial hair for the first time. Her smile quickly faded and she looked down. "We have a lot to talk about, but I know we don't have enough time. I want you to know first that I got your letter. I've practically memorized it at this point. I'm really glad you sent it, I wish I could have sent you something back to tell you that I still loved you, that I was on your side."

"I knew," I said quickly. "I knew you loved me, I know you love me. Don't worry about that, I knew." She smiled sadly this time. She paused in thought for a moment and I knew she had something bigger to tell me but I had no idea what it was. I tried to think of what it could possibly be and I worried that it could be bad news.

"I don't know where to even begin with what I'm about to tell you, so I think I just need to open this door and show you and then explain." We were standing in front of one of the designated guest rooms in the hall and I got even more confused than before. Before I could possibly imagine what she was going to show me, she squeezed my hand again, took a deep breath, and then opened the door.

Inside was a beautiful room filled with toys and stuffed animals. In the corner right across from the door was a large crib. I felt like my heart had stopped, I barely registered that Maddi was pulling me inside. We got closer and I saw a little girl probably no older than two fast asleep. I looked back at Maddi.

"This is Margaret," she whispered and I knew I had a look of shock on my face as I saw her own filled with worry. "She was born on September 20, 2016. She's our daughter." I let out a breath I hadn't even realized I was holding in.

"What?" was all I could say.

"On our honeymoon trip, that's when it happened. I knew in February, before you were gone. It's why I was acting weird for so long. I was scared and I didn't know how to tell you, and not telling you was the biggest mistake I've ever made. I should have told you as soon as I knew. I was scared that it wouldn't last, my doctor didn't know if the pregnancy would last, and I didn't want to put you through it if I had another misscarriage. But that was wrong of me, I should have told you. And then you were gone, and I had to decide if I should let you know and risk you coming back and getting put in some underwater prison or keep it a secret to keep you and Margaret safe. I don't know if I made the right choice, but this is the choice I made."

I tried to process everything she said, but it was a lot to take in at once. Our daughter was almost 20 months old. Maddi knew she was pregnant before I was gone and she didn't tell me.

"How is this possible?"

"My powers are dying," she said. "I don't know exactly how, and right now it's very minimal. But it's enough for me to be able to get pregnant again."

We stood in silence as I looked into the crib.

"How are you feeling?" Maddi asked me cautiously.

"I don't know, it's so much to take in. I didn't think we'd ever have… and now we do, and she's so big already." I stopped talking because I knew tears would follow if I didn't. I ran my hand over my face, trying to compose myself.

"I talk about you all the time. She knows who you are, she recognizes you in every photo I've shown her. She loves hearing stories about you, and she knows you love her." I squeezed my eyes shut at her words. This time I couldn't keep the tears away. Maddi knew exactly how to read my mind because one of the overwhelming thoughts running through my brain was fear that I let down my own daughter by not being there for her. Even though I had just found out about her, it was still my fault for being gone in the first place. I couldn't bear the thought of her thinking I didn't love her or didn't want to be with her just because I couldn't. Maddi rubbed her hand on my back to provide some comfort.

"You said her name was Margaret?" I asked.

"Margaret Sarah Rogers," she replied softly. I smiled at the ceiling as I silently cried some more. Named after our old friend and my mother, I couldn't have thought of a better name myself. I looked back at Maddi and she was also still crying. Soon our daughter started stirring in her crib and I held my breath. "Are you ready to meet her?" Maddi asked me. I nodded quickly and she placed her hand on Margaret's head to push back her hair. It was a light blond color, and as soon as her eyes opened, all I saw was the deep blue they held. "Good afternoon, my darling. I have a surprise to show you." Maddi spoke as she lifted her up and into her arms.

"Surprise?" Her small sleepy voice replied and my heart clenched.

"Yes, there's someone here to meet you," Maddi said. "This is daddy, he's home." She turned her body slightly so that Margaret could get a better view of me and I immediately tensed in nervousness as she looked directly at me for the first time.

"Hello," my daughter said quietly to me before turning back to Maddi. "That's not daddy," she immediately added and I got worried.

"Yes it is sweetheart, that's daddy," Maddi kept a level head and responded kindly.

"That's daddy," she pointed behind Maddi's shoulder and we looked to see her attention at at photo of Maddi and I from a few years ago.

"That's a picture of Daddy and Mommy, but just like in real life, I'm mommy, this is daddy in real life." Maddi had a look of realization on her face as she spoke. "Remember when I cut my hair short. It was to here and then it was at my shoulders and now it's to here?" she motioned to show the lengths of her hair to Margaret. "That's why daddy looks a little different than all the pictures I've shown you. He has extra hair on the top of his head and on his face now. You like Uncle Tony's beard right, you think it's funny?"

"Yeah," Margaret let out a giggle as she spoke. "It's scratchy!"

"Well now daddy just also has a scratchy beard, but I promise he is the same daddy I've told you stories about and you've seen in pictures and videos." Margaret looked back at me with hesitation and I smiled at her.

"I'm Margaret," she told me. "You're really daddy?"

"It's so nice to meet you, Margaret. And yes, I'm your daddy," I smiled more as I held back the tears of joy from my words.

"Okay," she accepted as she rested her head on Maddi's shoulder. I looked back up at Maddi, not really sure what my next step should be.

"Is it okay if daddy holds you, Margaret?" Maddi asked her and she nodded yes. Then before I knew it, I was holding my daughter and she was leaning back to look at me up close. She brought her small hand up and touched my beard.

"Scratchy," she said with another giggle and I chuckled with her. "Daddy's staying?" Margaret asked as she turned back to Maddi.

"Yes, I'm staying," I spoke quickly and she turned her attention back to me. "I'm so sorry I've been gone, Margaret, but I'm home to stay." I promised her. I didn't care what this fight would bring us, my new motivation was entirely for Margaret. I knew we would have to go out there and fight, but I would protect this world for Margaret and I would do everything I could to come home again for her. "I love you," I added. "I know it took a while for us to meet, but I've loved you since the day you were born and I'll love you forever, okay?"

She smiled and I smiled back. She motioned with her hand to come closer so I leaned in slightly. "I love you," she whispered in my ear. She then wrapped her little arms around my neck in a hug and I squeezed her a little tighter in response. I looked back at Maddi and she wiped the tears on her face. We shared the same expressions of relief, gratitude, and love that Margaret was taking my arrival as well as she was. I never thought I would get to hold a child of my own, and now I had one who was a few months away from being 2 years old, and she was hugging me and telling me she loved me. I was a dad of a daughter who loved me, no other thoughts were even capable of running through my head in that moment.

A/N: I was so nervous but excited about writing this chapter! I went back and forth about how I wanted their reunion to be. I felt like it was a little unrealistic to have Margaret immediately accept Steve into her life, but I also really wanted it to be a happy chapter. I really have no idea how a young child would react in this situation, so I decided with this. I hope you all liked it, let me know if you have any suggestions, thoughts or predictions on this chapter and future chapters! Thank you to old and new readers for continuing to read and reviews on my chapters! You guys motivate me to keep updating as regularly as I can!