Steve held the door open for Peggy at the semi fancy place Sam recommended for lunch. Apparently the place had 'The best damn burger in New York'. Today was Peggy's birthday and though she didn't look the part it was her 97th birthday. "Do you think they'll give me the senior discount?" she laughed walking in.

"You should try." He walked to the host and put in their name for the reservation.

"Mr. Rogers, right this way." He picked up two menus and sat them by the window.

Peggy sat down and hung her bag off the corner. Steve started to walk over to push in her chair, "No need." She stopped him.

He sighed, "I'm going to be fast enough one of these days."

"Today's not that day." she smirked.

Steve sat on his side of the table and looked at the menu, "Sam says this place is really good." he leaned forward to share something in confidence, "I think it's where he brings his dates."

"Of course he does. It's nice, and the food is normal. Pepper keeps taking me to these ritzy places with weird fad diets. Sure Kale is good but, do I need to eat it in everything?"

"I like kale." Steve shrugged, "Bruce makes really good kale salad."

Peggy remembered, "Oh yeah, that is good." pregnancy made her hungry. Very hungry, then usually very sick. "Can we get appetizers?"

"It's your birthday, of course you can." He flipped the page over, "Go crazy, have wine."

"I don't feel like wine." she sighed, "But oh god that pasta sounds amazing… and that chicken burger…"

Steve looked up from the menu and smiled. He was so damn lucky.

The waiter brought over the appetizers Peggy requested, all natural Mozzarella sticks. Modern food had a frequency to hurt Steve and Peggy's stomach since their bodies had been altered when food was different… Steve more than Peggy. She crossed her fingers and made a wish that these wouldn't end up a disaster. She dipped one in a dish of ranch and melted, "Good god… modern food… is so good."

Steve tried one, "I'm going to regret this." He laughed.

Peggy could feel an opportunity to bring the news up. "I know it's my birthday… but I have something for you." She cleaned her hands off.

"Peggy," He scolded, "You shouldn't have… it isn't big is it?"

She reached in her bag and pulled out a small white box, "Just open it." Peggy handed it over.

Steve accepted it, and pulled the lid off and pushed the tissue aside. Inside were two small white baby socks. "Oh my god." He looked up, "are you serious?"

"Yes." she watched him for a reaction.

He took a sock in his hands, feeling the soft fabric between his fingers. He pictured a small foot filling the inside, and it clicked. His eyes watered just thinking about it, "Really?"

"Tears of Joy, right?" she couldn't help but worry.

Steve stood up, walked around the table and and kissed her, "I'm so happy Peggy. I'm the happiest I've ever been."

She wrapped her arms around him, "Me too… I think." Peggy pulled her handkerchief out from her pocket and dried Steve's eyes.

He walked back to his chair and sat down looking at the socks, "It's… a bit out of order."

"It going to be 5 months pregnant when we get married." she had another stick of deep fried cheese. "It's going to make wedding dress shopping complicated."

"So?" Steve looked up and saw how worried and stressed it must have made her. "Then let's get married earlier. I'm… are you happy?"

Peggy took a deep breath, "I think so." She took a deep breath, "I never thought I'd find someone to settle down with after I lost you." She answered honestly, "I could be a terrible mother, we could do everything wrong.. our lives are dangerous."

"I know." Steve took her hand, "But we can't not live because we are afraid."

"I'm not sure I could manage… if something.."

"It won't." Steve assured, "I'd take a page out of the Bartons book before I let that happened."

Peggy laughed, "I'm not going to stay on the farm-"

Steve ate another Mozzarella stick, "I would."

"You would?" she let go of his hand and returned the sock to its container.

"Yeah." He nodded like it was no big deal, "The Avengers can handle me taking paternity leave, SHIELD, not so much." He had thought about this before, obviously. "I'm the more domestic one between the two of us."

"You certainly cook better." Peggy agreed, "This can really work can't it? Us, raising a family."

Steve chuckled, "I really want kids. I always had, I never thought I'd live to have them, and I was so sick… it seemed like passing that along would be a recipe for more loss, and more sadness. Seeing a Kid grow up would have been impossible, since I wasn't gonna live too long."

"And there I was, thinking I wouldn't have one." she started to eat more than her fair share of the appetizer. It was her birthday And she was pregnant.

Steve was surprised, "No kids?"

"Well, I don't know. If this was happening in our time, I'd be pregnant. I'd have to quit my job. It would be obscene for my husband to stay home while I worked after. You being the exception but… you weren't around. Worst case scenario I would have been tucked away being a housewife, showing up at Christmas parties."

Steve forgot the way the past really was. "People really romanticize the old days don't they? Inequality, poverty, healthcare… not sure those have really gone away though."

"Awful undergarments." Peggy added to the list. "But anyway, I am happy. I'm happy about this… it would have been better once we were married, just for old fashioned sake."

"The public wouldn't need to know. If we get married right away, it'll be close enough right?"

"I can see the headline, "Captain America and the bastard child."

"Nah, people don't care about that stuff now." Steve assured, "You haven't told anyone else have you?"

Peggy remembered her moment at the cemetery, and figured that didn't count. "No one except for my Doctor."

"Who are you going to tell next."

"Who are we going to tell next.."

"I don't want to take your pregnancy away from you." He stole the second to last mozzarella stick, "Your body, your choice. Once you tell people they'll treat you different and I know you don't want that."

"You're so damn close to being perfect Steve, have I told you that?"

"Not today." He grinned.

Peggy smoothed her dress out as the elevator took them both up Stark Tower. "Okay… we are keeping it a secret." Peggy reminded Steve.

"Right… but they will notice you're not drinking." Steve wasn't certain he could keep a secret from Bucky.

Peggy looked up at Steve, "Should we just tell them? Tony's going to find out. Hell, JARVIS has probably already scanned me."

"I can assure you Ms. Carter, Ms. Potts has forbidden my programming from following orders to scanning past basic security detail." the voice played through the elevator.

"That's not reassuring." Steve mumbled.

"Let's tell them… later in the night. There's no need to keep it from the small group."

Steve chucked, "Yeah, all 12 people who are here."

"Thank god for small parties." she exhaled as the doors opened.

She imagined the party was going to be an elaborate production, something big and loud with more people than she wanted. But no. Pepper had given her the perfect Christmas gift. The music that was playing was straight off of the file in her phone that she loved, Vera Lynn with some new stuff thrown in there (she really loved Sam's recommendations of the funk and jazz groups he liked). The few guests that were going to be there, which relieves all the stress from Peggy's night. Bruce,Tony and Pepper were hovering around where the food was. Sam, Bucky were standing holding some drinks. Natasha was standing on Thor's shoulders trying to fix a "Happy Birthday" banner up while Jane watched the whole thing like it could go wrong at any second. The party was more of a get together.

She took a breath of relief, "This is certainly manageable."

"I'll say so."

"Happy Birthday Peggy!" Sam announced, he'd been drinking already. Not enough to make him unmanageable, but enough to make him even lively than usual.

"Yeah how old are you?" Tony asked, "Are we going to sit around while you tell us what it was like when they invented paper?" He was slapped by Pepper.

"Well…" Peggy put a finger to her lips in thought, "Would you like me to start with Papyrus or just the modern printing paper?"

Tony shrugged, "I don't know, pick your poison."

"It's her birthday, play nice." Bruce interrupted.

Peggy looked around and saw a table with some presents, "You all didn't have to do that." She walked through the party and examined what was from each person.

"Of course we did!" Pepper insisted, "Here come get some food, I tried to piece together what I thought you would like." She hooked her arm in Peggy's and pulled her around the party looking at the food and the cake- which was a British Flag. There was hot water ready for Peggy to make as much tea as she wanted, and the food was good old fashioned sandwiches.

"This looks amazing." Peggy picked up a square of a roast beef sandwich and started eating. "And I'm starving apparently."

"I have to say, it was one of the easier parties I've ever thrown." Pepper put her hands on her hips.

"That's good." Peggy looked around, "An evening with friends is just what I need."

"I hate to be a child about this." Peggy spoke to get the rooms attention, "But can I open my presents yet?"

Pepper waved her forward, "There's no agenda to this party. I figured you all were just going to have a foosball tournament like usual, or something else childish."

"What is this foosball?" Thor asked as he piled on more sandwiches to his plate.

Jane scratched her head, trying to explain it, "It's a game, and you turn these bars to hit a small ball around. It's like a little tiny version of soccer or something."

"This sounds most entertaining." Thor nodded, "But please Lady Carter please open the gifts. I can assure you there is no goat. I have learned my lesson from the last time."

"Yeah." Sam looked over not too pleased, "I had to get rid of my good sheets because of that stupid thing."

Thor walked over to the couch, "As I said, I am sorry."

Peggy sat closest to the table and picked up the first medium sized bag that was heavier than it looked, from Jane and Thor, though she would bet money that it was more Jane than Thor. She pulled the tissue out and uncovered a stack of books that filled up the whole bag. "Wonderful!" Peggy started picking them out and looking at them. Some were fictions, some mystery novels, some dramas from the years she missed. Some of the titles she recognized from the lists of things people recommended her; Stephen King, Lord of the Rings, To Kill a Mockingbird and a few others that she knew to be fiction. Then there were others that were non-fiction informational books, Science essays, books about politics, and social structure. The last book Peggy picked up had the title of "Peggy Carter and other Feminist icons." and she was on the cover.

"Good heavens." Peggy laughed, "Thank you. This should get me caught up."

Steve got up and handed her the next presents, getting ready for his future career waiting on Peggy. Everyone had picked out amazing presents for her. Books and movies were in abundance, but there were some other things also like the desk plant Bruce gave her and the record player and records from Sam. Her favorite might have to be the mug given to her by Natasha that said "Keep Calm and Wear Lipstick".

"Thank you for the gifts," She said to the room then looked at Steve, "Darling could you get the envelope for Bucky out of my coat?"

"For me? It's your birthday-"

Peggy held her hand up, "Don't argue with me Barnes."

Steve walked back and tapped Bucky's good shoulder with a white envelope. "Do as Peggy says."

Bucky chuckled and took it, "Okay." He pried his finger under the lip of the envelope and tore down the edge to get the card out. The outside didn't really give anything away it only said, "read out loud" He cleared his throat and opened it up, "You may be wondering why you're reading this card. But it's because we wanted to tell you that you're going to be…" He stopped and looked up at Steve, "Uncle Bucky?" The rooms reactions were all mixed, but all pleasantly surprised. "Really?!" He grinned.

"Yes." Peggy grinned and looked up Steve who as expected was starting to tear up. Bucky got up from the couch and gave Steve a bone crushing hug.

Sam laughed, "I guess Steve's super swimmers work!"

Pepper had her hand over her mouth, "Oh my god!" She looked at Peggy, "You're pregnant?!"

She blushed, "Wedding plans might have to be adjusted slightly." Peggy stood up since she was done with presents. "Hopefully this isn't too much of a scandal."

Pepper gave Peggy a hug, "No, no scandal. We'll talk about it later." she laughed, "A baby!"

"I know!" Peggy said with whisper then looked around the party that had gone back from being formal and regulated. People giving both of them the congratulations Steve having most of the boys attention, with slaps and cheers. "Now please tell me you didn't put a candle on my cake for every year."

Pepper laughed, "No, don't worry. Just the numbers."

"I'd like to eat the cake, not watch it catch on fire." Natasha came over and gave Peggy a hug.

"How kind of you Natasha," Peggy rolled her eyes.

"How long have you known" Pepper looked down at Peggy's stomach that was months away from showing.

"About a month, I went to my doctor 2 weeks or so ago when I was off.." Peggy didn't know how much detail to go into, but they were all women, and if they weren't they should shut up and listen anyway, "I'm supposed to go in a week for a more in depth examination for the whole thing. An ultrasound or something? I don't know what that is though…" Peggy sighed, "Oh lord, I'm out of my depth."

"Don't ask me, I'm the wrong kind of Doctor." Jane held her hands up, "Don't ask me about Babies."

Natasha laughed and put her hand on Peggy's shoulder, "You should call Laura, she has all the answers."

"Yes, Laura will be useful." Peggy nodded, "Now if you'll excuse me, there's some more food with my name on it."

The party was finished and most everyone had gone home except for Peggy and Steve who were hanging back. Steve helping pack away leftover food whole Peggy was reading one of the technical books Jane gave her.

"A Brief History of Time.." Tony walked around the couch, "Some light reading for the night?" He said casually.

Peggy turned the page and looked up, "I suppose.. Jane is over estimating my knowledge of whatever is happening in this book."

Tony tossed a folder in her lap, "Try this."

Peggy looked down at an old Stark folder with her full name on the top, written in Howards penmanship. "What is this?"

"I found it buried in paperwork." Tony pointed to the file, "You were supposed to read that when you woke up if something happened to dad, but everything got complicated when SHIELD went capoot." He sighed, "But there's other stuff I found."

Peggy opened the file seeing letters and pictures from Howard. "Goodness Tony." She put a hand over her mouth seeing his terrible writing again, and some pictures of moments she'd completely forgotten. Envelops with dates to fill in the decade gaps between her death and Howard's, "Thank you." She picked up a picture of She and Howard at the SHIELD creation party. It wasn't a picture that would be missed since it was a picture of Howard and Peggy bickering over something. She laughed, "Did you read the letters?"

"Nope." He crossed over his arc reactor, "Scouts honor, but I was never in scouts. Take that as you will."

Peggy closed the folder, "Thank you Tony." She stood up and walked around the couch, "Now you're going to give me a hug, young man."

"Before you get huge and I can't." Tony muttered and let Peggy force him into a hug.

"I'll let you know if there's anything juicy in the letters." Peggy pulled away from the hug, and saw the similar features of Howard on Tony. They made the same face when they knew they were being genuine and sweet.

"Please don't." Tony requested.

Steve walked over holding boxes of food and the condensed bags for her few gifts, "Ready to go, birthday girl?"

"Yes I am." Peggy held the folder and went to take a box of food or present. Steve moved away, "Steve let me take something!"

"No." He said to be stubborn, "You're pregnant and it's your birthday!"

"So you should let me have what I want." She insisted.

Steve laughed and shook his head, "You will not win this fight Peg,"

Her glaring didn't turn out in her favor, "Fine! You arse." she walked over and gave Pepper a hug good bye, "I'll call you when we figure out wedding things. "

"I'd usually say take your time…" Pepper pointed to Peggy's stomach, "But you to have a time crunch now."

Peggy sighed, "I suppose I do. Nothing in my life can ever be conventional, something has to confuse everything."

Pepper shrugged, "At least this curveball isn't Steve being lost in the ocean, or you dying."

"Fair point." Peggy looked back at Steve who looked ridiculous holding everything, "Thank you for the party."

"Happy birthday." Pepper called out after she walked with Steve to the elevator.

Peggy was laying in the bed with the new pajamas Trish had sent to her that were made out of the softest material she'd ever worn. The comforter over her puckered on the edges where the binder of wedding things were sprawled out. "Are you looking at the wedding stuff?" Steve scolded her as he walked in from the bathroom.

"Yes I am." She said in a matter of fact tone, "We need to decide if we're going to do this before or after, because I really don't want to get married when I'm huge.."

"And waiting even longer doesn't sound good either." Steve changed out of his clothes, choosing to sleep in just pajama pants. He could see in the corner of his eye Peggy glancing up to watch him. "Well… then I guess we just have to get married now."

Peggy closed the book, "Not now."

Steve nodded, "Right." He pulled the blanket up and climbed in, laying on his side next to Peggy, "Tomorrow?" the side of his mouth curled up, "Yesterday?"

She tossed the binder aside on a chair in their room, turned off her light and curled up with him, "I just need a dress." Peggy remembered what Pepper had told her, more like shouted at her; to have their wedding be what they wanted. "Which couldn't take too long if I just bought something simple… I'm sure Pepper could pull strings for me."

"You are the Peggy Carter. I'm sure designers would jump off buildings for the chance to design you a wedding dress in record time." Steve couldn't help but smile, "You're making me the happiest man in the world... "

Peggy curled into his chest and closed her eyes, "I'm just glad I don't have to spend another birthday without you darling."

"Never again." He kissed the top of her head.

Authors Note: Hello everyone! Don't worry this isn't a "This story is ending" message or anything! (as of 12/13/15) but I just wanted to let you know that there's an issue with the ratings for stories for some people. Me being one of them. Which is why it's taken me so long with this chapter because I wasn't sure how the recent plot twist has been received by number statistics. SO to combat this it would be great if people could leave replies just so I know that it's being read and people are responding well to it. There have been great reply questions that I loved answering and I'm really curious to see what everyone things.

To spread the word about the stats being down and to compensate for this anxiety for some writers it would be awesome for other people (I imagine... I don't speak for all other people) if you would leave replies to the stories you love so creators are getting the feedback. Happy Holidays!

~Becky