A/N: This is the second to last chapter. This one and the next are also very short. I apologize for this. I would have combines them, but they didn't quite belong. Anyway, hope you enjoy this.

Chapter 14

Steve sat on his bed, reading Fahrenheit 451, a book Bruce had suggested he look at to catch up on his twentieth century reading, by dim lamplight.

Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or–

There was a sharp knock at the door. Setting the book on the nightstand, Steve answered the door.

"Captain Rogers, may I have a word?" Coulson stood in the doorway, hands folded in front of him.

"I–yeah, sure, come in." He waved Coulson to the chair at the desk, as he took a seat on the edge of his mattress. "What is it?"

"I wanted to apologize."

"What?"

"I would like to apologize for my behavior. You are a fearless leader and an important part of S.H.I.E.L.D and the Avengers Initiative. You have proven yourself as an incredible role model, and it was wrong of me to take out frustrations from my childhood on you, when you could do nothing." And, I can't blame my mother for loving you. I'm sure most women and maybe some men who met you felt the same. "I am sorry for treating you as anything less than the hero you are."

"I–" Steve stared dumbfounded. "Wow, uh, it's really fin–"

"And," Coulson stood suddenly, "I'd like to make it up to you, if I can."

Confused, Steve furrowed his brow, "What do you mean? You don't need to…"

Coulson was already out the door. From around the corner, Steve heard, "Pepper, hold the door, will you?"

Steve's eyes went wide, and he abruptly stood, as Coulson pushed an old woman in a wheelchair through the door.

"Mom? Do you remember this man?" He whispered.

"Of course, I do, Phillip. I'm old, not senile." Peggy Carter looked up at Steve, carefully running her eyes over his face. She smiled softly, "You look good."

"I–so do you…"

Peggy laughed a self-deprecating chuckle at the compliment, but she did. Her once reddish brown hair was all white, and her face was deeply lined, but her skin still glowed, and her eyes shone bright, even in the dim room lights. Steve felt his heart pounding through his chest, as if it were their first meeting all over again.

"Well, I'll leave you two to catch up."

Steve snapped his attention to Coulson and Pepper in the doorway. Pepper's arms were around Coulson's waist, with her chin rested on his shoulder. She was smiling fondly at Steve and Peggy like they were a pair of fluffy kittens.

"Thank you, Phillip." Peggy waved at her son, as he exited.

"I–uh, thanks…" Steve stammered.

Once the door closed, Peggy laughed, "Steve, you may sit down, you know."

Instinctively, he bent his knees. He almost missed the bed but managed to right himself.

Peggy was grinning. Slowly, the grin faded to a sad smile, as Steve continued to stare at her in awe. "I know I've gotten older. You've stayed the same, but I'm not as I once was–"

"No, no!" He held out a hand to stop her, "I–you're older…but, God…"

"Steve, you needn't say–"

"Really, Peggy," Shyly, he reached out and covered her hand with his, "You're–you're still beautiful…I wish…I would have loved to have grown old with you." He looked from their hands to meet her eyes, which were filling with tears.

She ducked her head, "I missed you…Howard did, too. We talked sometimes about it." She turned her hand over to properly hold his. He squeezed it, while she used the back of her free hand to wipe her tears.

"Sorry…" Steve mumbled.

"'Sorry'?"

"Your son said your husband tended to resent me. I'm sorry I caused that pain."

She shook her head. "No. If anything it was my fault. I shouldn't have married a man, when I was still very much in love with you."

"Well, I'm still sorry…"

"For what?"

Steve thought for a moment. "For missing our date." The corner of his mouth quirked up, sadly.

"Yes…wait. Bring me that radio, darling."

Steve did. He watched in fascination, as she pressed buttons that flipped the sounds from Caribbean Island music, to metal, to jazz. She then settled on a station, playing "Moonlight Serenade." She handed the radio back to Steve, who set it on the desk, and held out her arms, "Help me up, please?" She requested.

Steve's jaw dropped. "Peggy, are you sure you can–"

"The chair is really for speed and convenience more than necessity."

He still looked hesitant, but he took her hand, wrapped one arm around her slim waist, and carefully pulled her out of the wheelchair.

"Besides," she whispered, "not many women my age can boast of dancing with a young thing like you."

"Peggy, I'm the same age as you, older maybe…" he chuckled.

"Perhaps. But, you don't look it."

She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he firmly held her waist.

She could not dance as she used to, and he had still never learned, but they swayed to the music, in the hotel room, seventy years late.