Chapter 3: Let Go

He had imagined this moment hundreds of times. Maybe even thousands. He had thought about all of the things he would say to her if he had gotten the chance. How he had never known someone so intelligent, beautiful, and steadfast. How she was perfect in every way. How he would have married her in less than a heartbeat.

But now that the opportunity was right here in front of him, all of the beautiful words he had so carefully constructed had crumbled to pieces. He wasn't sure if he even remembered how to speak.

"Why didn't anyone tell me she was still alive?" Steve asked softly, trying to fight back the stinging tears in his eyes. He would rather return to his ice prison than cry in front of Tony Stark.

Tony's voice was gentle, but his expression had hardened. "Pepper arranged all of this. I didn't know until the receptionist told me. I'm not sure anyone knew for sure."

"I can't do this."

"Look, you said you missed her, right? This is your chance to say the things you never got to say. This is your chance to say goodbye. You're going to hate yourself if you don't take advantage of this opportunity." Tony's voice was low and level, and his words hung heavy in Steve's chest. Because he couldn't be more right.

So with a confidence he didn't really feel, he reached out to knock on the door. A soft "Come in," followed, and he took a deep breath before pushing the door open.

She was lying in a bed near the window. The russet curls were white and the lips no longer red, but he knew it was her. Those fierce and searching eyes he knew all too well were now directly focused on him, causing him to stop dead in his tracks.

"You're late, you know." Her voice was old and frail, but he cherished the sound just the same. Her smile hadn't aged a day.

"I know. If I had known…I would have come right away." His throat was dry and his voice sounded strange to his ears.

Peggy smiled weakly, and held out a wrinkled hand to him. "Come here, Steve."

He crossed the room to her and immediately grabbed her hand, kneeling down next to her.

"I'm sorry, Peggy. I'm so sorry I'm so late," he said as he bowed his head and tried to fight the tears he knew couldn't be stopped.

Her small frail hand gently squeezed his. "There's nothing to apologize for. When I saw your face in the paper, I was overjoyed. You get a second chance to live your life, Steve. This world needs more heroes like you, especially now. This is your destiny."

"My destiny was supposed to be you," he murmured, keeping his head down.

Tears that he couldn't see were filling Peggy's eyes. "I considered myself so lucky to have met you, Steve Rogers. But I want you to know that I lived my life and it was a good one."

He lifted his face to look at her. "Were you married?" he asked, somewhat hesitantly

Peggy nodded. "Yes. To a wonderful man. He reminded me of you sometimes," she paused, smiling at the memory. "I lost him a few years back, and decided to go back to my old name. Good thing I did, too, or you may not have been able to find me."

Steve was quiet for a few moments, just looking at her. Somehow, beyond the wrinkled face, he could see her. He could see his beautiful girl.

"I'm glad you were happy," he said softly, holding her hand in his like a precious treasure.

"Thank you. And now it's time for you to be happy. We've finally been gifted with this chance to say goodbye. There's nothing else for you to do now but go out and live your life. Be a hero. Save the world. It's what you were born to do, Steve."

"It's hard, Peggy. I don't know this world. I feel like a fish out of water. I can't… I can't breathe here."

Her gaze softened. "You'll eventually adjust to this world, and you'll thrive. I know it."

"I missed out on seventy years of my life."

"And now you get the chance to live seventy more years. Don't look at it as losing time. Look at it as the chance to live in a different time, with different people. A fresh start."

Steve shook his head, smiling fondly at her. "You always did have a way with words."

She laughed loudly at his comment, which unfortunately led to a rather frightening coughing fit. His hand tightened on hers as she struggled to regain her breath.

When she finally calmed down, she looked at him with hard eyes.

"I want you to leave now, Steve. I want you to leave and I don't want you to come back. We've had our goodbye. But before you go, you need to promise me one thing."

Steve swallowed hard. He didn't want to leave, but he knew it was time. "And that is?"

Peggy raised her hand, placed it on his cheek, and looked steadily into his eyes. "I need you to promise to let me go. Let me go, let Bucky go, let Howard go. And don't look back. Just walk out that door, take a deep breath, and carry on."

He opened his mouth to protest. What was she saying? He could never do that. He could never let go. He could never stop mourning the life with her he'd lost, or the death of his best friend he felt he'd caused.

"I… I can't," he croaked, the tears finally spilling down his face.

"Steve, listen to me. I know you. You're strong enough to handle this world, and you're certainly strong enough to do it without me. You need to make this promise. If not for yourself, do it for me."

A long silence extended between them as he bowed his head and contemplated what she was asking. She waited patiently, stroking his soft blonde hair and smiling sadly at him. Finally, he raised his head to look at her.

"I promise… to let you go." Each word hung as heavy as an anvil in his chest, but he said them anyway. He said them for her.

"It has been an honor, Steve Rogers." Her eyes were shining with tears, but she had never looked so happy.

He leaned over and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. "It's been a pleasure, Miss Carter."

And with that, he got up and left the room. He didn't look back.

Tony had been mentally steeling himself for what his teammate would look like when he came back out of the room. He had overheard snippets of the conversation, but not enough to truly understand what had happened. He had no idea what he was going to do or say, or if he should even do or say anything.

But when the door opened and Steve's face appeared, he knew. And after he had calmly closed the door behind him, Tony was there just in time to catch his comrade as he fell to the floor.

Tony Stark wasn't a hugger. Tony Stark wasn't a comforter. But Tony Stark wasn't a complete asshole, either.

Captain America was crying on the white tile floor of a nursing home like a small, heartbroken child. And when an American hero was crying on the floor in front of you like that, you did not just walk away and leave him to his misery.

You stayed, placed a hand on his back, and told him, "Just let it all out."

So Tony stayed.

Author's Note: Thanks so much for all of your wonderful reviews! I still can't believe how popular this story has gotten in such a short time. You all are so wonderful! Your reviews keep the story alive!

More Stony moments to come! I can't wait!