Cap took a moment to place his shield on his back before they traveled the Atlantic. In about a minute or two, Cap found himself from the Vanguard Tower in New York to the Royal Free Hospital down in London, and feeling weird due to having just crossed an entire ocean. They were both at the front desk, and Cap was confused as to why Jay didn't give them time to put on civilian clothes (not that Cap really had any clothes now). The brunette lady at the front desk looked at the two in complete shock, her eyeliner-covered eyes wide as she struggled to find words.
"Um, uh, M-Mr. Jay Garrick. Hello, sir." The lady said, and Cap just looked at Jay in confusion, particularly about how she recognized him.
"We're here to see Margaret Carter. I'm an old friend, and, um…so is he." Jay replied.
The lady looked a little nervous. "Uh, uh, yes. Let me look her up. Sorry, I'm just a little overwhelmed right now." She went and looked it up on some device unlike anything Cap had ever seen before.
He tapped Jay's shoulder. "Hey, what's that thing she's working with?"
"That would be a computer, Steve. They're big in today's society. I'll tell you more later."
"Alright, she's in Room 3302. And um…" She particularly eyed Cap, looking very confused. "Forgive me for asking, but why are you dressed as Captain America? I know he and Peggy had a thing during the war, but…"
Cap sheepishly rubbed his neck. "I…I am Steve. Well, I mean, I'm Captain America. Got thawed out from ice by the 'Vanguard of Justice' group a few weeks ago, and woke up from that like ten minutes ago. And trust me, I haven't come close to adjusting to this new world."
The lady just paused, looking even more baffled now as she struggled to find words. Jay merely chuckled.
"He really is Captain America. It should be on the news very shortly. And we're very sorry for making you so confused like this. Have a good day, ma'am."
Jay placed his hand on Cap's head to prevent the whiplash effect and super-sped away with his friend. Cap wondered about the lady, but moreso, he just wanted to see Peggy.
It was barely a few seconds before they found Room 3302, and when they did, Cap took a moment to breathe. He thought about what this would be like for Peggy. To see him again, after presuming him dead for 70 years. And especially at the young age he was in the war. He had no doubt that she still looked wonderful, though.
He and Jay looked into the room, and Cap took notice of the young lady in the room. She was a blonde woman who looked to be in her mid-to-late twenties, and she wore a tan trenchcoat with tan gloves, jeans, and boots. And she bore a worried look on her face.
Cap and Jay walked into the room, and the lady noticed them right away. "Hello, Garrick." She said with a smile, a smile that faded when she looked at Cap. "Um..." She looked to be at a loss of words.
"S-Steve?" An elderly voice cried, and Cap turned to the hospital bed. And that's when he saw her.
It was Peggy. Her brown hair had turned silver, and her face had several wrinkles, with arms more boney that she bore during the war. But Cap didn't care. She was still beautiful to him.
"I-is that you?" She added on, looking very confused.
Cap smiled. "It's me, Peggy."
The blonde lady looked very confused, and Jay looked at her and nodded.
Peggy now looked completely overjoyed, and had a very big smile on her face, with a few tears streaming down from her eyes. "I…I don't…how…"
"I was frozen in ice the last 70 years. Just…just got thawed out."
The blonde lady still confused as all hell, and Peggy smiled. "Steve, this is my niece, Sharon."
Cap took a moment to note how many people he had met today before walking towards Sharon and shaking her hand. "My aunt's told me a lot of stories about you, Captain. I..I…I just don't get this."
Cap felt his hand with his right hand. "Yeah, trust me, I'm still wrapping my head around it."
He looked at Peggy again, and there was a moment of silence as the two eyed each other – and smiled.
Peggy began shaking her head. "No. I must be seeing things. You're not really there, are you, Steve?"
Jay adjusted his helmet. "It's him, Peggy. Trust me, he's really there."
Peggy sighed, and there was a long pause as she simply looked at Cap with a content and peaceful look on her face. It was after about a minute that she broke the silence. "I could never fall in love again after you came along, Steve. I just couldn't."
Cap looked down at the ground and sighed. "I'm sorry about that."
"Don't be." She replied with a reassuring tone. "No man could ever replace you."
Then her breathing became more erratic as it seemed to become a struggle for her, and Sharon jumped, that worried look returning to her face. Cap walked up to her hospital bed and reached for her hand, making sure not to hold it too tight due to her fragile and ailing state. Cap now frowned at the reality before him.
Peggy then took a few moments to breathe heavily, before she made eye contact with Steve once more. "Y-you…you…you missed out on…so much, Steve."
Cap gave Peggy's hand a slight squeeze. He was worried about accidentally hurting her, but he had to do something. He felt so helpless.
"Peggy, no!" Sharon cried down, tears flowing down from her eye as she gripped onto the bar of the hospital bed.
"It's…it's alright, sweetheart." Peggy said in a comforting voice. Meanwhile, Jay had a solemn look on his face, and Cap sighed again as he knew the hourglass had almost run its course with Peggy.
Peggy then looked at Cap. "En…Enjoy the world, Steve. Enjoy your live."
Cap smiled back. "I will, Peggy. I will."
Then Peggy's hand lost all feeling. And then the hospital monitor, which Cap did not recognize, showed a flatlining sign. But he could already tell that Peggy was gone.
Cap closed his eyes and looked down. Jay placed his hand on his shoulder. Then Sharon started to cry, and Jay moved towards her, giving her a comforting hug. Cap simply placed his hand on his head. He hadn't even woken up from his 70 years in the ice half an hour ago, and he had already lost the love of his life. He looked down at Peggy's dead body, and finally let go of her hand. A nurse came into the room, and upon seeing what had happened, placed the blanket over Peggy's body.
Cap turned around and pressed his head against the wall, and let out one more sigh.
By the time of Peggy's funeral, the news of Captain America's revival had made headlines all around the world. Thus, there were many eyes and faces on him during the service, which had dozens of attendees. Cap ignored all of them, however. He stood with his fellow Brigaiders, Joan – who Cap noted had aged remarkably well, looking to be in her late 60s when she was actually in her 90s -, and Aquaman, and watched as Peggy's coffin, with the Union Jack covered onto it, was lowered down towards her grave.
A few hours later, after the dinner, Cap returned to Peggy's grave, with Sharon standing next to him. Cap wore a grey suit with a blue tie while Sharon donned a black dress with dark red lipstick, and eye makeup that had worn from her tears. They didn't say a word to each other. They just looked at Peggy's grave for a few seconds, before Sharon broke the silence.
"I want you to know…you don't disappoint, Steve. You really seem like the man she always spoke of."
Cap turned and locked eyes with his fellow blonde. "Thanks. It means a lot."
Then they turned around and saw Jay, Joan, Alan, Namor, Aquaman, all dressed up appropriately. With them was a brown-haired man in a tux and a red tie that Cap recognized from the funeral, but had not properly met yet.
The man walked up to Sharon. "I spoke to Director Fury, and there's been no change of plan regarding Wellington."
Sharon sniffed. "That's fine."
The man turned and faced Cap, a sudden smile forming on his lips. "Captain America…man, I am just the biggest fan. I can't believe you're standing right in front me. I'm Phil. Phil Coulson."
Coulson held out his hand, and Cap paused for a moment before shaking it, having gotten used to shaking a lot of hands over the last few days. But then he felt a little odd when he tried to pull away, only for Coulson to keep shaking while sporting a big grin. Cap let out an 'eh', but Coulson wouldn't let go of his hand. He still grinned, and they shook hands for much longer than Cap thought any regular person would be comfortable with. Jay and Sharon both chuckled, and Cap finally had to say something.
"Um, Phil –"
Coulson's eyes widened and his smile disappeared as it finally seemed to click into his mind. Coulson quickly let go of Cap's hand and blushed. "I am really sorry, Cap! I just…I-"
"Just don't worry about it." Cap assured, and Coulson stood silent after that.
Then Joan approached Cap. "You really haven't aged a day…"
Cap rubbed his neck. "I've been told that a lot these past few weeks."
Joan looked at Cap and smiled for a moment before adding on, "And hey, if anything happens, you're free to stay with me and Jay."
"Actually, I wanted to talk about something like that." Aquaman interjected, and he approached Cap. "We have spare bedrooms back at the Tower, for when one of us is making an extended stay. As a Vanguardian, you're welcome to stay there until you get an apartment."
Cap nodded. "That's good to hear. Thanks. It helps me out a lot." He then looked down at Joan. "Thank you, too, Joan."
Aquaman then reached into his pocket. After a moment or two, he held out his hand towards Cap, with a white little device that Cap had learned the first one to be an ear comm, but the other was."The ear comm will allow you to communicate with the rest of the Vanguard at any time. This red button on the bottom will allow you to teleport in and out of the Vanguard Tower. Clark wanted me to give these to you. He sends his apologies for not being able to attend the funeral."
Cap looked at Aquaman for a moment before taking the devices out of his hand. "Thank you. And I'll tell Clark he doesn't have to sweat it."
Aquaman nodded, and Cap turned his head and looked at Peggy's grave once more before walking away with Aquaman and Namor.
After about a few seconds, Cap decided to break the silence. "So, Namor...how's Atlantis?"
Namor merely grumbled, to which Cap furrowed his eyebrow.
"We...we were forced out of Alantis a long time ago." Aquaman explained.
"Oh..." Cap said nothing else in response, feeling too awkward to say anything, figuring he could inquire Namor about this at a better time. He turned around and looked at Peggy's grave one more time before continuing to walk away.
Even with all the spare bedrooms the Vanguard Tower had, Cap woke up, back in his outfit, at the roundtable the Vanguard had at the top floor. They added an extra chair, since he had joined, and he wasn't exactly sure how he ended up sleeping here. Upon returning to New York, he spent the rest of the day exploring the Tower, and was at the roundtable very late at night.
Cap decided not to worry about it, though he chided himself for sleeping in his superhero outfit. He wanted to get out the Tower as soon as possible, so that he could explore modern New York.
He traveled through the Tower, to the bottom floor where the teleporter was located, both anxious and excited to see what Manhattan had in store for him.
"You slept in your outfit?" Manhunter asked from behind, and Cap jumped in surprise as the Martian approached him. Banner and the Manhunter both lived at the Tower, so Cap would have them as his roommates for the time being.
"Yeah, yeah, I know..."
Manhunter smiled as he ate the oreo he had in his hand.
Banner then walked up to the two, clad in regular gray pajamas. "J'onn, it's morning. Why do you eat oreos in the morning?"
"What can I say, Doctor Banner? They're quite delicious."
Cap looked at Banner, and scratched his head. "Hey, uh, Banner. I wanted to ask…how does that whole thing with your pants work? You know, when you turn into the Hulk?"
Banner looked at Cap sheepishly. "Stark and Bruce made me special pants. I have to wear them all the time."
Cap replied with a 'ah' before a beam came out of the teleporter, and Superman emerged. He walked up to Cap with a smile. "So, Captain. How did you sleep?"
"Well. I slept well."
Superman let out an 'hmm'. "That's good to hear." Then Superman's smile faded, and he looked somewhat concerned. "Hey, are you doing alright? With Peggy and all?"
Banner and the Martian Manhunter had both left at this point, leaving Cap alone with Superman. He merely let out a sigh. "It's all just so crazy. Seeing her kicking Nazi ass wasn't that long ago for me. And then just like that, she's gone."
Superman patted Cap's shoulder. "It'll be okay, Captain."
Cap made eye contact with Superman. "You know, you can just call me Steve."
"Right, right." Superman looked down at the ground for a moment before looking back at Cap. "I'm glad you took up my offer. I figured you could use some people by your side while you tried to adjust to this new world."
Cap nodded. "I've only scratched the surface. First thing I learned was that there was an entire cold war that I missed. And the Soviet Union collapsed, Africa has like a hundred countries, visual mediums are a thing, and this 'Internet' has change the game everywhere."
"Yeah, Steve. You still got a long way to –"
Then sirens began acting up, and Cap and Superman both looked surprised to hear them. They saw Banner, all transformed into the Hulk, running through the Tower, with the Martian Manhunter flying up with a distressed look.
"S.T.A.R. Labs is being attacked!" He yelled, out, before phasing through the Tower – Cap had no idea he could do that.
He, Superman, and Hulk all went to the teleporter and teleported out of the base, with Cap wondering what 'S.T.A.R. Labs' was.