The day finally came when Dr Gale allowed Lily to leave the facility. Steve had planned to visit Peggy straight away, and had gone out and bought Lily some modern clothes especially.
When he gave them to her in the morning, a look of bemusement came across her face.
"What on earth are these?" the teenager asked, holding up something blue and stretchy. Steve grinned.
"They're called jeans. You'll love them, I promise. All the girls your age are wearing them."
Lily raised an eyebrow, then couldn't help herself and burst out laughing.
"I'm in my sixties."
Steve couldn't help but laugh. "You know what I mean."
Lily's devious smirk didn't leave her lips, but she smiled at him more genuinely.
"Thanks."
"No problem. Come on, get dressed, and I'll meet you in the hall in ten minutes."
"Yessir."
Bang on ten minutes later, Steve was pushing Lily down the hall to the small foyer Dr Gale had been waiting in. Once the young man had signed the last of the paperwork, he looked across at lily with a grin.
"Ok, you're all set."
Lily was so excited, she leapt out of her wheelchair and hugged her doctor, who was very surprised but humbled.
"Now, Lily, you'll improve over time, but not if you insist on jumping at people," he chuckled, hugging her back. Lily grinned from her place on his shoulder.
"I'll keep it to a minimum," she promised, pulling away and looking at him. "Thank you," she said honestly, all humour leaving her. Dr Gale smiled, and touched her cheek.
"You're welcome, my dear. You will always be my grandfather's greatest inspiration, and my greatest success."
Lily grinned at him, then went to hug her nurse. Steve watched her, then stepped forward to shake the Doctor's hand.
"I can't say how grateful I am, Sir. You are the reason I got to meet my little girl."
The doc smiled.
"It wasn't just me. My grandfather couldn't have done it without Director Carter. She was the one who let us turn her child into a scientific investigation," he said gently, his honesty not ill intended. Steve smiled.
"Sure."
Lily insisted on walking out of the facility, much to her father's amusement. Dr Gale happily offered to have her belongings shipped back to the States, so Lily could enjoy being outside and walking for as long as possible. They made their way down the street, Lily's arms looped through his, and Steve couldn't stop grinning.
"I'm taking my baby girl home," he chuckled softly. Lily laughed.
"Yes, I suppose you are." She was quiet for a moment, then tilted her head. "What will the others think of me?"
"The Avengers?" Steve asked. Lily nodded, and he smiled. "They can't wait to adopt you into the family. They've been waiting to meet you since I first found out about you."
"And when was that?"
"About six weeks before you woke up."
"Over a month?"
Steve nodded, amused. "Yeah. I visited you every few days, sometimes stayed over. Eventually I just moved in here for the last couple weeks. They wanted to know why I kept disappearing," he laughed. Lily grinned.
"You had a good reason," she chuckled. Steve nodded and looked at her.
"That I did."