AN: I'm so sorry it took me so long! I got busy with college and so I kinda abandoned this for a while. With the quarantine still in effect, I've got a bit of time tonight after finishing some tasks for uni. I hope you guys are doing okay, please stay safe. Let me know what you think about this…don't worry it's not covid-19 themed, I need an escape from that too. Enjoy!

December 1948

Steve felt himself dropped to the ground. He coughed as the air was pushed out of his lungs from the impact. He didn't know where he was or how he got there. Using his elbows for support, he raised himself up, groaning in discomfort as his muscles protested against his movement. He felt the shiver that ran down his spine as the scene in front of him unfold, this has to be a dream.

He was back in 2023, his friends fighting against Thanos' allies. The blaring sounds of scream and explosion went straight to his brain and he readied himself to fight. He began to move but before he could charge towards the war, his body stiffened and he was immobilized. He looked down and saw nothing out of ordinary, he tried to move again but it was like there was something preventing him to do so.

He struggled against himself, frustrated at his unfortunate situation. He looked back up towards the battle and he watched as bodies fell to the ground one after the other. Anger built inside him and he screamed out of helplessness. Suddenly, a voice boomed through the battle, he knew who it was.

"Thor!" He shouted, hoping that he would be heard. He tried a few more times but it seemed that the god of thunder was already preoccupied.

He saw Thor ran with the Stormbreaker in hand, he swung it to the enemy and Steve's eyes widened when his friend crouched down to the ground next to a limp body. He squinted his eyes, dread washed over him as Thor bowed his head, his hands cradling Rocket's body.

Out of the corner of his eye, Steve noticed Scott in his enlarged form, carrying Peter's body. His eyes immediately searched for Tony and knew that his friend would be devastated if he found out. Filled with a new wave of despair, he screamed and struggled to break loose. As his strength decreased, he breathed heavily and closed his eyes, it's only a dream, wake up! He thought to himself. Nothing happened and he knew there was no other choice but to watch in horror.

However, when he opened his eyes, his friends were gathered around him, battered and bruised, carrying the fallen ones in their arms. He swallowed the lump in his throat, ready to apologize, but as he opened his mouth, no sounds came out. Instead he heard Sam's voice, "why did you leave Steve?"

He was about to answer when Bucky cut him off, "you said you'll be there till the end of the line."

"I thought I was your friend?" Tony came next.

Steve didn't know what was happening, everything became blurry and the sounds muffled on his ears. A pang of guilt went through him as his teammates gathered around him, nagging him for not helping them beat the war.

Another voice stood out and it felt like a stab to his heart, "do you think you can punch your way out of this?"

He turned his head and saw Natasha tilting her head with her arms crossed. His eyes were unfocused and began to feel heavy. The others continued to gather around him. Steve felt suffocated, "please…enough! I'm sorry! Please…stop!"

Peggy was sleeping soundly until she felt a nudge on her back. She tried to ignore it but then another came with more force. She opened her eyes and turned towards Steve, her eyes scanning his face and saw the restlessness on his features. She sat up and stroke his hair, "Steve?" Somehow it did not soothe him from his nightmares and she knew she had to wake him up.

She placed her other hand on his arm and shook him lightly, "darling," she whispered. He was whispering in his sleep, each word getting louder. She tried to wake him again but it seemed that he was very deep into his nightmare that he couldn't get back to her.

She tapped his cheek while pressing a delicate kiss on his forehead, "you have to wake up darling, I'm here." She focused on whispering to him, trying to calm him if he wouldn't wake up from his bad dream.

Peggy felt him shift a little and pulled back just to get a look at him. Slowly, Steve's eyes opened and he immediately reached for her, his arms wrapping around her waist, nuzzling his head on her neck. She sighed and raked her fingers through his hair, peppering his forehead with kisses. "Do you want to talk about it?" She asked quietly.

Steve was silent for a moment before he brought them in a reclining position against the head board. "I-I was back in the war in 2023. My friends were there and…I tried to help…but I couldn't move. I saw Nat and Bucky, Tony, they all looked at me with such fear and sadness, I've let them down, Peg," he shared.

Peggy's heart broke for him, after months of being back together, she was accustomed to these sleep interruptions. She didn't know how to help him, all she could do was be there when he woke up and provide him the comfort that he needed. It seemed to work well since his nightmare didn't occur twice in one night. "I'm sorry you have to endure that," she whispered. "You didn't let them down Steve, you've won the war, you made it. Don't let this bad dream ruin the good outcome of all your efforts. Your team looks up to you and trusts you. And I'm sure, Natasha, wherever she is, she'd be proud having you as her family. Dedicate your victory to the ones you've lost, honor their memories. It is not a crime to live your life after all that you've gone through."

Steve took a deep breath and let her words sink in, he turned his head and brushed his lips against hers. He kept their foreheads resting against each other and brought his hand to her cheek, "thank you for staying with me."

Peggy smiled at him tenderly, "thank you for coming back to me."

AN: I actually have no idea what to do when someone's having a nightmare so if it's inaccurate please forgive me lol. Anyway, if yall are still reading this, you guys can leave me a prompt, just drop them in your reviews/comments, I'll try to write some of them if I have time, during this quarantine or some time after that. Hope yall are safe!

~kingdomficationalia