Hello there again! Here's some more WS! Thank you for all the lovely reviews, they truly make my day :D You guys are amazing and I'm so happy you enjoy this story! Let me know what you think of this chapter and any scene from the movie that you would like me to write Steve's thoughts on :) Oh and btw I am stretching the timeline just slightly. You'll see why in the next chapter but it won't be very long and it shouldn't interfere with the movie's plot. Just wanted to let you know ahead of time :)

Steve tried to walk calmly to Fury's office but he was angry. Beyond angry. This last mission had gone to far. Natasha had pulled the last straw and jeopardized the mission. That was the last time Steve was going to stand for Fury's "separate" missions. Steve waited patiently as the secretary announced Steve's presence to the Director. He tried to think of what he wanted to say, organize his thoughts. His main point: the safety of the missions. Yes, he completely understood that his line of work and those who worked with him were always in extreme danger. But there was no reason to exaggerate it further with conflicting missions. The secretary finally nodded, a slight blush to her cheeks. Steve smiled politely and walked quickly to the office. Fury was standing behind his desk, looking out the window. He knew what Steve was going to say so Steve got to the point.

"You just can't stop yourself from lying can you?" Steve asked.

"I didn't lie. Agent Romanoff had a different mission than yours," Fury replied calmly. Steve would keep his anger in check. He would not lose his head.

"Which you didn't feel obliged to share."

"I'm not obliged to do anything."

"Those hostages could've died, Nick," Steve implored, trying to make Fury understand that lives had been at risk. Or at least, he was trying to understand why Fury was doing this.

"I sent the greatest soldier in history to make sure that didn't happen," Fury turned around. Steve frowned, hoping that Fury wasn't trying to kiss-up because then he might blow his top. Heaven knew he wasn't the greatest soldier in history. There were so many men who were better soldiers than Steve.

"Soldiers trust each other, that's what makes it an army. Not a bunch of guys running around and shooting guns," Steve said, stating the real problem. Fury didn't trust him and by the looks of it, he didn't trust anyone.

"The last time I trusted someone, I lost an eye," Fury deadpanned. Well, maybe that was good reason not to trust someone, Steve thought. But it didn't mean you stopped trusting everyone.

"Look, I didn't want you doing anything you weren't comfortable with. Agent Romanoff is comfortable with everything," Fury explained.

"I can't lead a mission when the people I'm leading have missions of their own."

"It's called compartmentalization. Nobody spills the secrets because nobody knows them all." Steve ground his teeth in frustration.

"Except you," Steve met Fury's eye, saw the guarded look, the arrogance. Fury seemed to make a calculation and his mouth formed a thin line. He didn't seem to like his calculation.

"You're wrong about me. I do share. I'm nice like that," Fury walked out from behind his desk and motioned for Steve to follow him.

Steve's eyes widened as he got off the elevator and looked at the activity around him. An ice cold shard of fear was embedded in his stomach. He did not like the look of this operation.

"This is Project Insight. Three next generation Helicarriers synced to a network of tarteting satellites."

"Launched from the Lemurian Star."

"Once we get them in the air they never need to come down," Fury nodded proudly to the enormous metal beasts in front of them, "Continuous suborbital flight courtesy of our new repulser engines."

"Stark?" Steve asked, trying to stay positive about the new discovery. The excessive amount of guns wasn't helping.

"Well, he had a few suggestions once he got an up close look at our old turbines. These new long range precision guns can eliminate a thousand hostiles a minute. The satellites can read a terrorist's DNA before he steps outside his spider hole," Fury looked around proudly, "We're gonna neutralize a lot of threats before they even happen." Steve was horrified to say the least. This is what he'd been fighting for. Weapons. Weapons that would serve justice before it was needed.

"I thought the punishment usually came after the crime," Steve said. Fury looked at him with a touch of disbelief. How can he think this is okay? Steve thought.

"We can't afford to wait that long," Fury replied.

"Who's 'we'?" Steve questioned. Fury turned back to the helicarriers, the hive of people working.

"After New York, I convinced the World Security Council we needed a quantum surgeon threat analysis. For once, we're way ahead of the curve," Fury explained. He's afraid of another alien attack. Another attack when Earth is caught off guard, Steve thought. Well, no kidding aren't we all? That doesn't mean I'm going to use all of my technology on weapons. There are other ways to fight, Steve thought. He could see so many problems with this "project," so many ways it could go haywire. What damage and destruction could these monstrosities cause if controlled by the wrong hands?

"By holding a gun at everyone on Earth and calling it protection," Steve challenged. Fury turned to him, his eyes narrowed and cold.

"You know, I read those SSR files. Greatest generation? You guys did some nasty stuff." Steve bristled but kept his emotions in check.

"Yeah, we compromised. Sometimes in ways that made us not sleep so well, but we did it so people could be free," Steve clarified. He motioned around at the huge helicarriers and massive amount of guns.

"This isn't freedom, this is fear." Fury's gaze hardened further and he took a step forward.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. takes the world as it is, not as we'd like it to be. It's getting damn near past time for you to get with that program, Cap," Fury said. But that's not what you're doing, Steve thought. You're making the world be how you want, not how it is. Charlie's words echoed in Steve's mind, We live in a fallen world. The important thing is to keep fighting. But whose fighting was right? Steve's or Fury's?

"Don't hold your breath," Steve replied quietly. Fury's face was unreadable but Steve turned and started walking away. The helicarriers towered over him, mocking everything he stood for. Steve barely paid attention to anything as he walked out of S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters. He was angry and afraid. The helicarriers were not a solution to the problem, they were the beginning of the problem. Steve didn't like it, not one bit. But Fury did have a point. If the helicarriers did what they were designed and idealized to do perfectly, which wasn't possible, then it would eliminate a lot of threats. Terrorist attacks wouldn't happen. Assassinations were stopped before they even started. Coups wouldn't even be a possibility. It sounded great, amazing, brilliant even! But it was wrong. The punishment was not supposed to be given until after a crime was committed. If it came before the crime, people would be afraid to do anything. Steve didn't know how the DNA scanner or what not was supposed to work but how did you know whose DNA to scan? What if this was placed in the wrong hands? How many innocent lives could be taken?

Steve nearly slammed his door in his anger, but he restrained himself. He took a deep breath and tried to think of what to do. Talk to Charlie, he thought. Charlie always made him look at the problem a different way. She made him think of all the angles instead of just his angle. He sent her a quick text: Can you talk? She replied a few minutes later with: Working at diner. Can talk this evening. You alright? Steve sighed and ran his hands through his hair. He needed to walk, to think, to calm down. Steve replied back to Charlie: I'm okay. Does 8 sound good? Charlie replied: Yes, sounds good. Hang in there. Steve set his phone on the table and went to shower. He didn't know where he was going to go but he wanted to get out of his suit. A few minutes later, he was driving down the street in his motorcycle with his jacket and baseball cap. At first, he just started driving. Anywhere, he just needed to drive. As he was waiting for a signal to change he saw a poster for a Captain America exhibit at the Smithsonian. Maybe he needed to be reminded of what he was fighting for, who he was.

Steve pulled into the parking lot of the Smithsonian, paid for his spot, and walked inside. He wandered through the Paleolithic age, the dinosaur age, and the Victorian age. Soon, he turned a corner and was heralded by huge posters with his face on them. A sign reading: NEW Captain America Exhibition draped across the entrance. Steve hesitated for a moment, suddenly unsure if he should look at a huge presentation of his life. But he needed a distraction, even if it was worse than the helicarriers. Steve stepped into the exhibition, with his baseball cap pulled down low.

"A symbol to the nation. A hero to the world. The story of Captain America is one of honor, bravery, and sacrifice," a speaker narrated. Steve almost scoffed at the description, uncomfortable with the compliments. He walked to each display, seeing old photos and film reels. That's who I was, Steve thought as he saw an old picture of himself before the experiment. He really did look sickly; no wonder the army didn't want him. Steve tried to recognize himself in that picture and the most striking feature were his eyes. His eyes had stayed the same. Steve moved on, the helicarriers slowly slipping from his mind and a type of melancholy settling over him. As he passed another picture he caught the wide eyes of a boy with the symbol of the shield on his shirt. Steve smiled slightly and held up his finger, signaling for silence. The boy's mouth was slightly open in awe but he nodded. Steve moved on, perfectly at ease that the boy wouldn't say anything. Steve passed his old motorcycle, some old footage of him in the war. It felt like yesterday he was tearing away on his motorcycle, fighting the Nazis, destroying Hydra bases.

Steve walked to a row of mannequins wearing the old uniforms. He barely heard the narration. The uniforms looked old and worn, just the way they should be. Steve felt a pang of longing as he looked at the Howling Commando uniforms. What he wouldn't give to have those men with him right now. Steve pulled himself away and walked a little farther. He caught sight of a display of Bucky and Steve couldn't help himself from walking over.

"Best friends since childhood, Bucky Barnes and Steven Rogers were inseparable on both school yard and battlefield. Barnes is the only Howling commando to give his life in service of his country," the speaker blared. Did they have to add that? Steve thought painfully. He was more than just the only Howling Commando to die. He was so much more. Steve felt like he might cry if he looked any longer so he tore himself away and entered a little room. Oh great, Steve thought as he saw a video of Peggy on the screen. He sat down and decided that visiting the exhibition wasn't the best idea, but it had distracted him.

"That was a difficult winter. A blizzard had trapped half our battalion behind the German line. Steve...," his heart squeezed when she said his name, "Captain Rogers, he fought his way through a HYDRA blockade that had pinned our allies down for months. He saved over a thousand men, including the man who would...who would become my husband as it turned out. Even after he died, Steve was still changing my life." The Peggy on the video seemed to look straight at him and Steve's breath caught. How he missed her. The fire in her words, the ferocity in her eyes, her warmth. Steve missed Peggy and he knew that she was never going to be the girl he once knew. He looked at the compass he still carried everywhere he went, Peggy's picture inside. The picture had been preserved in the ice and Steve couldn't part with the compass. It meant too much to him. Suddenly, he had a deep longing to see her, to remove himself from the past and realize the present. Even if it hurt. Steve walked out of the exhibition and drove to the Care Facility where Peggy was staying. He said his name, followed the nurse to the room, and watched her walk away. He stared at the door, his heart heavy with the memories that had resurfaced. Yeah, visiting the Smithsonian was a bad idea. Steve took a deep breath and walked in.

"Steve?" Peggy's eyes widened like they had so many times before. Steve couldn't stop his heart from stuttering painfully.

"Hi Peggy," he smiled.

"Y-You came back."

"I came back."

"It-it's been s-so l-long, so long," Peggy cried. Steve went to her and stroked her hand.

"Well, I couldn't leave my best girl," Steve repeated the words every time he saw Peggy, "Now when she owes me a dance." Peggy laughed and a tear slipped from her eye. Steve wiped it away gently.

"Well, why are you visiting these old bones?" Peggy joked. Steve chuckled, sitting back in a chair.

"Who else would I visit but you?" Steve asked.

"I guess everyone else is gone, aren't they?" Peggy laughed. Steve smiled in return but couldn't force himself to laugh, not when it hurt so much.

"Oh Steve, I'm sorry we're leaving you."

"Don't be sorry Peggy. I left you first."

"But you didn't Steve, not really," Peggy gripped his hand, "You were always in our hearts. You were the reason we kept fighting. We knew it was what you would do."

"Thank Peggy," Steve smiled. Peggy smiled back but her eyes searched Steve.

"What's wrong?" she asked softly. Steve sighed, amazed that Peggy could still see when something was wrong.

"My work…it's just not the same. I miss my team," Steve said. He didn't want to admit everything he was feeling. He didn't want to see Peggy sad. Peggy smiled sadly anyways, patting his hand.

"It's always hard losing the ones you love. I've learned that, growing older. The war helped too," Peggy coughed slightly.

"Yeah, you'd think I would be used to it by now," Steve looked at Peggy's desk. It was lovingly cluttered with pictures of her and the children, small mementos, and a pair of reading glasses.

"Steve, no one gets used to death. There's a problem if they do," Peggy pulled the sheets higher.

"You're right, you're always right," Steve smiled. Peggy rolled her eyes but laughed. They fell into easy conversation except when Peggy forgot. And forgot again. And forgot again. That was the most Peggy had forgotten when Steve was there but he still wasn't used to it. He would turn away or look down for a second and the Peggy he'd been talking to was gone. Steve pushed away the aching throb of pain where he thought his heart should be and focused on his present conversation with her. They had just said their "hellos" again and had ventured into the topic of family. Steve looked once again to the photos, smiling slightly.

"You should be proud of yourself, Peggy," Steve said. Peggy turned her head and looked at the photos.

"Mmm…I have lived a life," she turned back to him, "My only regret is that you didn't get to live yours." Steve looked down, memories of what could have been flashing through his mind. He compared them to what was happening now and he didn't like what he found.

"What is it?" Peggy asked. Steve thought about it for a moment, trying to think of a different answer than he'd given before. He'd given something different each time. It made Peggy forgetting better because he felt like it was different conversation each time.

"For as long as I can remember, I just wanted to do what was right. I guess I'm not quite sure what that is anymore. And I thought I could throw myself back in and follow orders…serve. It's just not the same," Steve confessed.

"You're always so dramatic," Peggy chuckled, "Look, you saved the world. We rather…mucked it up."

"You didn't. Knowing that you helped found S.H.I.E.l.D. is half the reason I stay," Steve said sincerely. Peggy grabbed Steve's hand and pulled it close to her.

"The world has changed and none of us can go back. All we can do is our best, and sometimes the best we can do is to start over," Peggy coughed last the few words. Steve got up to get her some water, knowing she was right. Knowing that he needed to change as the world changed. He just wished it didn't have to be this painful.

"Peggy," Steve said, catching her attention. Her head had been turned and she listened to his voice. Her eyes widened.

"Steve?" she whispered.

"Yeah," Steve answered, not recognizing the signs immediately.

"You're alive! You…you came-you came back," Peggy cried. Steve had to fight the sudden on rush of tears. He swallowed the lump in his throat and plastered a smile to his face.

"Yeah Peggy."

"It's been so long…so long."

"Well, I couldn't leave my best girl. Not when she owes me a dance," Steve said. He watched as tears streamed down Peggy's face and he brushed them away for the fourth time. Steve stayed a little longer but excused himself shortly. The pain was becoming too much and he didn't want to make Peggy cry again. He promised to return soon and walked out the door.

Steve raced as fast as the speed limit would allow down the road. The thrum of the engine felt good beneath him and he tried focusing on where he was going instead of how he was feeling. Instead of feeling better, he felt angry, hurt, and conflicted. He didn't support the helicarriers but did that mean he left S.H.I.E.L.D? The organization that Peggy had created? How could he fight for something he felt was wrong? Steve eventually slowed down and stopped at a café. He needed to eat and be in a place that was new. Maybe that would inspire new, different thoughts. He ordered a tea and coffee cake. Steve took a seat outside and took a deep breath. Still unable to quiet his thoughts, he took out his journal and began to draw. Maybe Charlie could help him figure it out.

Two hours later and Steve was still doodling at the café. The waitress didn't mind, she kept refilling Steve's cup and throwing him a pretty smile. Steve smiled back politely but made sure not to lead her on. Suddenly, his phone buzzed and Steve looked down to find a text from Margret. It read: Good news! Mom remembered you I swung by today and she gushed about your visit. She's been coherent ever since and it's been an hour! Doctors say this is a good sign Steve smiled and leaned back in his chair. Maybe things weren't all that bad. Miracles still happened, right?