I closed my eyes, just feeling the burn of the alcohol down my throat. It was a welcome distraction from the pain in my heart. Logically I knew I should not be this affected, heck I barely even knew the guy yet he managed to capture my every attention, my every thought, and even my heart. Something I held very closely, tried to never give away. To show such emotions and girlish attributes would have had the general and soldiers laughing at me all the more, solidifying their belief that a woman had no place in the military.
I opened my eyes and stared into the amber liquid that filled the crystal class, swirling it around I tried to change my line of thought to anything else that would make me forget.
Shaking my head I opened my small purse and pulled out the small picture I held onto. With shaking hands I pulled it up and rested my hands holding the picture on the table as to stop the shaking as I gazed longingly at the man in the photograph. The man I love.
I felt a pain in my chest as I struggled to fight back the urge to cry. Pulling the picture close to my chest I allowed a few silent tears to fall. After all, that's what I came here to do. I came to the Stork Club to help myself let go of him. Quickly I wiped away my tears and gently placed the picture back in the safety of my bag. I pulled my small compact out and checked my makeup, I wanted to stay looking presentable in public.
While I was looking in the miniature mirror I saw a flash of an army uniform and medals in the mirror. For a second I thought it was him, my Steve. I was frozen in place for a moment before I snapped it shut and dropped it into my bag again before I began to turn to look very discretely over my shoulder.
Out of the corner of my eyes I saw a tall, blonde, soldier being thanked and greeted with a warm welcome. Just from a glance he reminded me of Steve and I felt a pang in my chest again, barely stopping myself from crying again.
Taking a deep breath I turned around slowly, so that I might fully see his face before I thanked him for serving as well. But when I turned around my breath was caught in my throat, I felt like I couldn't breath.
He stood there right before me, cleaned up in his uniform holding a small bouquet of flowers. He was graciously thanking the people for both thanking him and welcoming him. "I'm actually looking for someone, I have a date. Do any of you know if Peggy Carter is here?" They shook their heads, some of the girls obviously thought him handsome from the way they were looking at him.
"Steve?" I barely call his name, my voice cracking as his name passed through my lips. His eyes shot around and located me in the busy club.
"Peggy." His smile grew, though he looked sheepish as he approached me.
"You're late." my voice cracked again as I fought to compose myself.
"I'm sorry, I got caught up. Uh- these are for you." He smiled nervously at me and I can't help but smile back.
He set the flowers on the table and I quickly wrapped my arms around him. "Steve." I began to cry into his chest, only for a few moments. "I thought you were dead!"
He rubbed his hand on my back slightly in a comforting motion.
"I'm here now Peg." I pulled myself back, my eyes still watery. "I love you Steve. Please don't scare me like that again."
"I love you too Peg. I'll try not to." He leans down and kisses me; this is different than our last kiss before he took down the Valkyrie, this is slow, soft, a promise to a new beginning, to our future.
I hear clapping and hollering as we break apart slowly, and glance around to see they are applauding us. They are applauding Steve, that he came home- came home to Brooklyn and to me.
I feel my cheeks heat up slightly and glance up through my eyelashes to see Steve is probably redder than I am.
He clears his throat, "Shall we?" He offers me his arm and gestures to the floor. I let him lead me out to the middle of the floor filled with other happy couples. He carefully holds me close, his hand on the small of my back and the other holding my hand. My free hand came to rest on his arm close to his shoulder. We sway to the slow music, slowly I lean closer and lay my head on his chest. Closing my eyes I let myself forget the world, let it fade so that it is just us. Finally together.