2014

Memories both sad and wonderful rushed back to him in that Smithsonian exhibit. He was a part of history and a symbol of hope to many, according to what the museum narration said. If only they knew it wasn't all heroic at times. Despite the many victories, he could never get past the loss of his best friend on the mountain. Even seeing Peggy's face on a few displays pierced his heart a bit.

"They make war seem glamorous," a woman's silvery voice scoffed next to him.

When Steve looked towards the source, a young woman with long, chocolate brown hair dyed bright red at the ends stood next to him. She was a fairly tall woman around five foot nine, and her skin was as fair as porcelain. Her eyes were the most beautiful shade of green as if they were made of emeralds, and a few of her features reminded him of Peggy. Her outfit was styled both in comfort and chic. What stuck out to him were her deep red lips, so perfect and blossom-like. Just seeing her there made him smile from ear to ear.

"By the tone of your voice," Steve chuckled a little, "you don't seem too pleased with the exhibit."

"The exhibit's great," she defends herself, "it just seems like it's putting the concept of war into some fairytale."

"I know what you mean."

"Because you were there?" she lowered her voice.

"I think we both know the answer to that," he smiles and gently pecks her cheek.

Elsie Walker. Twenty-two years old, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent in training, a college graduate with a Bachelor's in Mass Communications, and the kindest heart Steve had ever known, she had captured his heart in so many ways after meeting her at NYU where he had spoken at an assembly. He was lost and needed directions to the auditorium since things had changed within the last seventy years, and she happened to be hanging posters for a theater production coming up. Something about the graduating senior just fascinated him, and after their first date to a '50s-themed diner, the two were practically inseparable when he wasn't on hero duty. However, the two had to keep the relationship secret, even from the other Avengers. There was a reason why Steve had turned down offers to go on blind dates Nat tried setting up, but she took it as him not being interested or too busy with his job.

"Sweetheart, we're in public," she pushes him off of her playfully as her cheeks blushed a bright pink.

"A kiss to the cheek isn't PDA," he argues with a laugh.

"Fair point," Elsie giggles before noticing a short film playing and hears Peggy's voice.

She had known Steve had loved her, but she wasn't jealous. Not because Peggy was now old in age, but rather she understood how much she had meant to him and to S.H.I.E.L.D. If given the chance, she'd shake hands with her and thank her for being an inspiration to change the world.

"Come here," she pulls Steve by the hand and leads him towards the movie.

The couple sits down and listens to all Peggy had to say back in the early 50s. It was adamant she missed him, but she praised him for his bravery and mentioned how Steve was still changing her life.

Steve then pulls out the compass he carried with him and opens it, Peggy's old picture still tucked inside.

Elsie noticed the picture and smiled softly. "She was beautiful," she whispered.

"I've been meaning to replace it," he says, shutting the item again. He wasn't expecting his girlfriend to react so positively.

She shakes her head. "No. Don't."

When the short film ends, the two leave the museum on his motorcycle and head back to their apartment. Steve's head was still swimming with thoughts of his past love from the movie they watched. In his heart, Elsie was the girl he wanted to be with now he was given a second chance, but he still had a place there for Peggy. He just needed to see her again.

"Hey, do you mind if I go see her?" Steve asks after Elsie gets off the bike. "Peggy?"

Elsie softly smiles and nods. "Go," she says. "Tell her hello for me."

"I won't be long," he presses a loving kiss to her lips before speeding off again.

She then heads into the apartment building and heads up the stairs. The two had moved to D.C. together after she graduated about four months prior, so they both had their own set of keys by now. There wasn't too much going on as far as decor went, but they still made the space their own. There was a large flatscreen for them to watch their favorite shows, some nature paintings hanging around the walls, and sitting on a small shelf by the recliner was a record player Elsie gifted Steve for Christmas. While they didn't have that much time to add more, it was home.

However, there was a little problem as far as neighbors went: Sharon. Everyone else at S.H.I.E.L.D. knew Elsie was living with her boyfriend, but she never gave his identity. Not even Sharon knew Elsie was neighbors with her as she avoided being seen by her. To Sharon, Steve was the only one who lived in the apartment down the hall. Sharon wasn't a mean person at all. She and Elsie actually knew each other from S.H.I.E.L.D, but they were more acquaintances at work rather than friends. Elsie knew the blonde woman was trying to flirt with Steve whenever she could, however, Steve never caught on to what she was trying to do. And for whatever reason, Steve knew her as "Kate", but Elsie figured maybe she was trying to keep her identity secret as most veteran agents did when undercover. Steve once asked why Elsie avoided being seen by their neighbor, and her answer was always, "You never know who could be an agent."

Thankfully, Sharon wasn't home, so Elsie could peacefully head inside the apartment. She turns on the record player for some music to relax while she does some work on her laptop while she waits for Steve to come home.

Normally, she wouldn't turn on music without putting her headphones on first (as to avoid Sharon) or if she and Steve had a night where they would just dance together (Elsie taught him how), but she figured since she was home alone for a little while, why not? They had a healthy record collection of all kinds of music of varying genres from different decades, including the soundtrack to Dirty Dancing. After watching the movie one time, Steve insisted on learning every dance from the film.

A few hours later, she comes to a stopping point and goes to change into some more comfortable clothing. When she comes back into the kitchen, she can hear voices outside. Steve was home, but of course, Sharon was out there, too.

"Oh, I think you left your stereo on," Sharon is heard saying, followed by the sound of a door closing.

"Damn it," Elsie whispers under her breath.

Rather than opening the door, Steve sneaked into the apartment through the window and grabbed his shield. He knew Elsie was home and liked to turn on the record player for some music, but not whenever Kate was home.

"Hi, sweetheart," Elsie smiles when she sees him in the small hallway, causing him to jump a little. "Why are you coming in through the window?"

"Hi, angel," he greets her before kissing her cheek. "Why is the record player on?"

"I needed background noise for some work. Was Kate home already? I heard voices outside the door."

Steve nods and relaxes, but when they were about to round the corner to the living room, neither of them was expecting to see Nick Fury sitting in a relaxed position in the recliner, causing Elsie to jump a little.

"I had no idea he was here," she says.

"I didn't want to disturb you while you were working," Fury says before looking over at Steve, "in the captain's home."

"Fury, I can explain."

"That's a matter for you to speak with your uncle about, Miss Walker."

Steve kept his guard up. He wasn't sure why Fury would just show up unannounced, but whatever it was, it couldn't be good.

"I don't remember giving you a key," he says, clutching his shield.

"You really think I'd need one?" Fury says, sitting up with a pained grunt. "My wife kicked me out." He pulls out his phone and begins to type something.

Wife? Fury? Everyone knew he was single, so something was definitely up.

"Didn't know you were married," Elsie replied, being quick on her feet to use her training. Seeing how Steve was standing, she quickly moved behind him.

"A lot of things you don't know about me."

"I know, Nick," Steve sighs and turns on the lights as the couple walk into the living room. "That's the problem."

Fury gives him a look and hand gesture that tells him not to turn any lights on. This left the two confused, but it confirmed Elsie's suspicions that something was up.

He then shows them what he had typed: EARS EVERYWHERE

Yep, they were in trouble.

"I'm sorry to have to do this," Fury breaks the silence, "but I had no place to crash."

"Who else knows?" Steve asks.

Fury types something else and shows them: SHIELD COMPROMISED

"Who else knows about your wife?" Steve asks, his tone more serious now.

Another message: YOU AND ME

"Just my friends," Fury answered as he stood slowly.

"Is that what we are?" Steve spat.

"That's up to you."

Loud gunshots broke the tense silence, Steve grabbed Elsie and used his shield to help them dodge the bullets puncturing the windows. Fury cried out in pain as he was injured by them. Finding her pistol inside one of the large fake books on the shelf, Elsie rolls Fury over and points it towards where the bullets came through in case more were fired. The couple then dragged an unconscious Fury into the kitchen so he was away from the windows.

Before they could investigate, Fury grabs Steve's arm, coughing and struggling to breathe as he did so. He handed him what appeared to be a giant thumb drive.

"Don't…trust…anyone," he wheezed as he slips into unconsciousness.

Three bangs on the door rang out before it was broken open.

"Captain Rogers?" a woman's voice called out.

"Stay with Fury," he tells Elsie before going to peek through the shelf that separated the kitchen from the living room.

Kate was tiptoeing through the apartment still dressed in her pink nursing scrubs and wielding a pistol as Elsie had.

"Captain Rogers, I'm Agent 13 of S.H.I.E.L.D. Special Service," Kate reveals to him, keeping her gun at the ready.

"Kate?" He was confused.

"I'm assigned to protect you."

"On whose order?" Steve asks her.

"His," Sharon says, looking straight at an unconscious Fury. She immediately drops to her knees and checks his pulse before pulling out a radio. "Foxtrot is down, he's unresponsive. I need EMTs."

"Do we have a 20 on the shooter?" an agent on the radio responds as Steve prepares for battle.

"Tell them I'm in pursuit," he says before jumping out of the window to chase the mysterious assailant.

Elsie watched him go, the worry she felt each time he left for a mission creeping up on her while she looked at him with admiration. She was proud of him, regardless, and she hoped maybe one day she'd get to fight alongside him.

Sharon looked towards her, and her eyes grew wide in shock at the site of a trainee in the home of Captain Rogers.

"May I ask what you're doing here, Agent Walker?" she asks with an arched brow once Fury is stabilized.

"Nice to see you, too, Sharon," Elsie shot back in a sarcastic manner. "But if you must know, I live here."

"With Captain Rogers?" the agent scoffs in disbelief.

She nods. "I told you I live with my boyfriend."

Sharon double-takes and rubs her temples. "You and the captain are a couple? Captain America is your boyfriend?"

"Are you done?"

Sharon looks at her and exhales sharply. "I just don't believe it, yet. But is this even allowed?"

Elsie tilts her head confused. "Suddenly dating Steve is forbidden because he's an Avenger?"

"No," Sharon shakes her head. "I just… does your uncle know?"

She shrugs a little. "Kind of. He knows I'm living with my boyfriend. He just doesn't know it's Steve."