Before she could even reply, JARVIS broke in, informing them, "Captain Rogers is currently in the team's private infirmary."

"Who's speaking?" Margaret demanded. "And why is Steve in an infirmary?"

"I'm JARVIS, Agent Carter, Mr. Stark's personal artificial intelligence butler, ready to assist tower residents whenever they require. As for Captain Rogers, he's only sustained very minor injuries after taking down a HYDRA base; he's technically there for Sergeant Barnes' sake."

"Bucky?" she gasped, tears instantly springing to her eyes. "He's here?"

"Apparently so," Loki muttered under his breath as JARVIS answered, "He appeared in the middle of the battle and is currently being examined by Dr. Banner."

"Take me to them," she ordered sternly, trying and failing rather gloriously to hide the fact that she was shaking with nervous excitement.

"Of course."

Seconds later, the elevator doors slid open to reveal the Avengers all clustered around an exam table upon which sat Captain Rogers with Sergeant Barnes.

Steve was having a surprisingly good afternoon considering the fact that two hours ago, he'd been facing the idea of having to order his team to retreat. They had been victorious though, and now he was sitting safe at home with Bucky at his side – granted, they were in an infirmary and Bucky obviously had serious issues that they were going to have to work through, but Bucky was here!

Then the impossible happened.

"Steve? Bucky!"

Bucky, who had curled uncertainly into Steve's arms a long while ago, stiffened with shock, as did Steve, as both of them whipped around towards the woman racing off of the elevator at speeds so fast they couldn't really confirm who she was until she was wrapping her arms around both of them in a death grip.

"Peggy?" Bucky asked uncertainly, him and everyone else in the room looking just as confused as Steve felt.

She nodded frantically and lifted her head from where she'd buried it in Steve's neck, beaming at Bucky as she offered carefully, "Hi."

Bucky squinted a little at her, trying to come up with why that was important before recognition flashed across his face – along with a happy half-smile – and he replied predictably, "Ma'am."

Their soulmarks for one another – and as inept as the words had always been, they were the perfect ones in the moment. It spoke to happy times and even new beginnings, which was exactly what they needed. There were still a lot of issues that they had to face between the three of them – problems that needed dealt with, questions that needed asked (why did Peggy look 32 would be a nice place to start), conversations they had to have – but what they needed above all else was a new beginning, a fresh start. It wouldn't come easy, but they were soldiers, they knew how to fight for what they wanted, and this felt like as good a place as any to begin again.

"I can't believe your both here!" Peggy whispered in awe, taking Bucky's metal hand fearlessly in her own and cradling Steve's hand as well.

Steve chuckled, "I second that," as he held Bucky's flesh hand, completing their circle.

Peggy grinned, leaning into kiss him, and then – slowly, carefully, giving him time to back away if he wanted to – Bucky.

But the world around them inevitably came sharply back into focus. The other Avengers, Dr. Foster, Darcy, Miss Potts – all standing there in various stages of confusion and shock.

Tony looked to be stunned beyond words for once in his life, so it was Bruce who eventually managed to stammer carefully, "Aren't you supposed to be older, Agent Carter? You are Agent Carter, aren't you?"

"I am," Peggy nodded, turning to someone who'd remained unnoticed on the edge of the room as she said. "As to how I look the way I do – ask him."

"Loki," Steve growled, his arm tightening protectively around Peggy's waist as he glared at the god who hadn't bothered to inform them that he was back in town. "What did you do?"

Loki strode towards the group, looking completely unconcerned as he asked, "Idunn's apple – have you heard of it?"

When Steve shook his head it was Dr. Foster who said, "Youth-maintaining apples from the Norse goddess Idunn. They would've returned Agent Carter to the appearance of being in her thirties but left her with all of her memories of living into her nineties."

"Correct," Loki nodded at Dr. Foster approvingly, asking her, "Are you Jane?" She nodded, eyeing him suspiciously, but he just fished a second Idunn's apple out of his overcoat and tossed it to her, declaring, "I thought you might like to age at the same rate as my brother… and presumably at least Captain Rogers, if not Sergeant Barnes as well."

"Since when do you care about us mere mortals?" Darcy snapped, cynically eyeing the food Loki had given to her boss.

"It's in my mission requirements I'm afraid," he drawled evenly.

It had taken Loki a surprisingly long while to realize that, but now he recognized it for the truth that it was. In order to complete the mission the All-Father had given him, he had to learn to care for these people at least a very little bit. It had required him to have something of a heart-to-heart with Barton, to attempt to understand Dr. Banner's thought processes to some extent so he could decide what needed done.

He'd ruled Asgard for two years so that his brother could remain with his Jane and that… that had been a surprisingly life-changing experience in a way that was much more positive then he'd anticipated. He'd gained an actual appreciation for leadership, and he'd… become friendly with Heimdall, Sif, and the Warriors Three. In order to be a truly good king, he'd had to remind himself that he was capable of feeling things like compassion, pity, consideration for others, and trust.

He'd even felt a bit of gentle pity over Agent Carter – before the apple had turned her into a knife-wielding force to be reckoned with, that was. Now he was simply beginning to wonder if she might not be someone that he might like to be friends with.

And something told him that was a part of Odin's plan to begin with.