Peggy stood outside the SHIELD laboratory practically pacing as she waited. It had been almost a day since she went in for her physical tests and the two scientists, Agent Fitz and Agent Simmons, were still consulting. Without seeing other people doing the same tests with her, there was really no way to know where she ranked. They were different tests than she put the men through in training. She was hooked up to machines and monitors as she followed their instructions. Finally she was done with waiting and went into the lab. "How is everything coming along?"

Jemma jumped almost dropping the vial of blood in her hand, "Everything is fine!" she answered too quickly for Peggy's liking.

"What are you keeping from me?" Peggy tried to get a look at the paperwork and screens in their work space.

"Nothing bad." Fitz brought up two sets of data collected by physical exams on the holotable. "What we've found is actually extraordinary."

Peggy looked still not sure what she was looking at, "I am not sure I follow."

"Your results are far superior than we anticipated. Since you were the only subject of Howard Starks tests there is no other data to go off of. It seems as if he was very close to recreating the same Serum used on Steve Rogers." Fits moved to the screen pointing some things out. "What we've decided is that you and Steve have the same possibility of strength."

Jemma focused in on certain graphs that Peggy wasn't exactly sure how to read. "He's had a few years of training to be ahead of you and your body types and history of training will affect your future results. It's fascinating. Super Soldier Peggy Carter- though you really don't need the help to be super-" Fitz gave her a look like she was being a tad unprofessional which stopped her blabbering, "But anyway- completely manageable."

Peggy crossed her arms, "Who needs to know?"

Fitz and Jemma were caught off guard, "Uh-" Fitz scratched the back of his head, "No one I guess-"

"Alright." She nodded, "Keep this between us for a few days alright?"

Jemma nodded, "We'll classify the files." The tone of the room shifted with Peggy's hesitation. "Is there something we can do?"

She shook her head, "Just classify the files. May I have a copy of them?"

Fitz nodded, "Of course. Some light biological reading." he tried to be funny.

Peggy walked down the hall fishing her phone out of her pants pockets. The addition of pants into acceptable work attire thrilled her to no end. She maneuvered around the phone until she got to Steve's contact and dialed; Pepper insisted it was easier than a pocket book, and Peggy was starting to believe it.

"Hey Peg," Steve answered with Sam shouting in the background.

"Are you busy?"

"Uh- not really. Kind of the opposite." He sounded like he was distracted by whatever was happening with Sam. "Sam is trying some new tech for Tony. It's not going well."

"I'm coming back early." She walked down to her office in The Playground- that was still being constructed. Plastic tarps were laid around and everything seemed like a mess. A mess Coulson promised would be gone the next time she arrived.

"Is everything okay?" Steve's voice perked in concern, "Is something happening?"

Peggy put a hand on her forehead trying to think, "Everything is fine… I just need to figure something out. I'll explain when I'm there. I'm not going to interrupt anything am I?"

"No of course not…" He was quiet, "Why do I feel like this is something complicated."

She laughed, "Because it's me. Everything is complicated. I'll be there soon darling."

"Love you." Steve said followed by an automatic reply coming from Nat and Sam.

"LOVE YOU PEG." Nat shouted.

Sam took it from there, "I love you more than the stars and stripes that run through my blo-" Finally, the call ended.

The remodeled warehouse that was the Avengers base always triggered the same memory as she walked in. The memory of trying to convince Howard to turn his plane around before he unknowingly destroyed New York City. Both of them had mourned Steve so greatly that she was always doubtful either of them would ever move on. But poetically enough Steve and the Avengers inhabited the warehouse, training to do what Peggy knew Howard would have wanted. Not that she would ever bring that up to Tony.

Peggy exited the plane and saw Steve standing outside the doors. His hair combed back like he was trying to look his best for her. "Are you going to wait like that every time I come by?"

Steve shrugged, "I don't know. It was better than listening to the team give me a hard time." Once Peggy was close enough he pulled her in for a kiss, "They even got Wanda in on it."

"Think of it this way," She rested her head against his chest, "It's uniting them."

"Peg, what's wrong?" He said quietly.

She moved out of his arms, taking a deep breath. "It's the serum." She turned looking at the building then back at Steve, "It did to me what it did to you."

They were sitting on a bench close to the facility. Peggy explained everything that had been explained to her. The Serum, the tests and the effects.

Steve waited until she was finished, "Can I ask you why this is making you so worried? It's been a few weeks and everything seems fine."

"Is it that obvious?" She looked up trying to think until she could put it into words. "The day before Dr. Erskine chose you I went to him and asked him something that I almost wish I hadn't. I asked him why he didn't choose me for the serum." Peggy laughed like she was being ridiculous, "I mean it was rather obvious the SSR was after leaders and soldiers, and I wasn't that. I was lucky I wasn't being used as a secretary." She took a deep breath, "We had become some sort of friends after dealing with Colonel Phillips, and he knew what I was capable of. So I said to him, 'why not me?' and he said 'Ms Carter, I did not pick you for the reason you suspect. It was not your gender but your anger.'" She paused, "It's just bringing up old worries."

"You're going to be fine Peg," Steve said after a long pause. "The only reason I was the icon I was… that I am, is because of you...I think…"

Peggy watched him thinking. It was a very special look that only came about when he was planning something big. "What?"

He shifted, "I think you're what the world needs."

She rolled her eyes, "Don't be ridiculous!"

"I'm serious Peg!" He lit up, "Why not turn SHIELD into this public icon. Something that's actually doing good for the world. You're in charge, you're unbiased. Things with Inhumans are only going to get people in a panic."

Peggy narrowed her eyes, "I'm not turning into the "Star Spangled women with a Plan", absolutely not!"

He laughed, "That's not what I was suggesting… a figure like.. Pepper."

She took a deep breath, "I was never the face of SHIELD… it didn't have a face. And if it did it was Phillips or Howard… but it was easier to keep things a secret back then. And Secrets is what got SHIELD into this mess, and myself. Howard never told me he was working on a new Serum."

Steve shrugged, "I'm glad he was. It's the reason you're here with me right now." He lifted her chin up to look at him, "I know it's a lot Peg,

. But the serum makes good great. And you've always been great."

"This is why I needed to talk to you." Peggy smiled, "Thank you Steve."

He stood up and pulled Peggy with him, "Now we have some work to do."

She followed, "What work?"

"Are you saying you're not curious to see what you're capable of?" the way he phrased it seemed like a challenge. The perfect challenge for Peggy.

"Well when you put it that way.."

Authors Note: I'd really like to have some feedback from readers. They'll be action eventually but.. happy Steggy is just too cute.