Steve was sitting in his car and driving to the west coast. He was so deep in his thoughts that he was startled when Natasha spoke next to him.
"What are you thinking about?"
Steve almost jumped.
"Just… thinking. Sorry, I am not used to having anyone in the car now."
"Yeah, being on the run takes its toll. How do you cope with it?"
"Mostly it's ok, I prefer the…"
"… loneliness?"
"The solitude. I am not used to this century."
"Still?"
"Still and forever, Natasha. I do not know what to do. I do not know where I belong and if I can live in this world."
"You have no other choice. And right now… you belong to the places where the government do not search."
"Yeah, true."
Another silence settled.
"Have you talked to him?" He asked.
"To whom?"
"To Tony."
"He can't, he does not have our numbers."
Steve hesitated.
"What have you done?"
"I have him our numbers. And a special cell phone."
"Why would you do that?"
"Because I thought that maybe… maybe he would come to his senses and… would want to call us?"
"And for what reason would he want to do that?"
"I do not know… but you never know."
Right at that moment, Steve's phone started ringing. They looked at it and it read: Tony Stark.
Steve answered the call by touching the button which allowed them both to hear Tony's voice.
"Captain? Are you there?" It was always easier for Tony to call him Captain.
"Yes, Tony. I am." He looked at Natasha who nodded. Tony did not need to know that they are together. All in all, they were on the run from the government and Tony was on their side.
"Something happened. My dad did something you must see."
"What is it?"
"It's… it's hard to explain… but it's not a trap, trust me."
"So, tell me what is this all about."
"Well, my father… he knew Peggy Carter."
There was silence. Steve could not speak. He stopped the car on the side of the road and was breathing deep, looking at the cell phone, Natasha did not dare to do a sound. She did not know Steve like that. He looked stressed, almost panicking. Tony continued.
"Did you read about her? Do you know where did she end?"
Yes, Steve did know. He read about it just a month ago. He found out that Peggy had a car accident. No other reports after that. That could mean only one thing.
"Yeah," he answered hoarsely.
"You read about the accident, right?"
Steve first nodded, then he answered "Yes, I did."
"But she did not die."
"Tony, what do you…"
"My dad came up with a capsule which could let her live, but… frozen… something like when you were frozen, but it was controlled. She had broken her spine and they did not know how to operate it, but he thought that in the future the doctors will be able to help her. He was about to thaw her, but then… then they themselves had the accident. But my dad wrote it in his diary. And I let Jarvis scan all of them and I found out about it. I am going to the place where she is stored to check on her. Cap, there are not going to be policemen, I am not doing it because I want to trap you. Are you in?"
Steve could not breathe. Peggy. His Peggy. Was maybe alive all the time.
"Why are you doing it?" he had to ask.
"I owe something to my dad. And I think that by this I think we will be equal."
Steve was on his run for six months. He had no home, no safety, no relationship. He wanted to believe Tony so much it actually hurt him. Natasha was looking worried but did not shake her head to indicate what she thought was the best. She was just watching the process of his decision-making.
"Tony?" Steve's voice was almost hoarse.
"Yeah?"
"You promise it's not a joke?"
"Yeah, I do, Cap."
"Ok, then. Where will we meet?"