Chapter Text
18 months later.
“Ey!” Steve called, then whistling to the 10 month old pup that ran in the field with a stick in his mouth “Come on boy!”
Steve then watched as his four year race after him on the field. Steve just leaned against the bottom of the porch and just watched them for a little bit. A smile growing on his bearded face. He could honestly watch them forever, he always thought that being part of the Avengers and being the Captain was what he needed out of life but he was wrong it was this right here. The sun was about to set and he was watching his little girl laugh and play with their dog. That he had to wear Peggy down in allowing him to get, she loved him really. The dog too.
“Steve” Peggy called, Steve stepped forward and turned around to see her stood at the back door, with their nine month old baby boy in her hands. She was softly rocking him side to side to keep him settled, she nodded to inside the house “You need to come in”
Steve turned his head to Grace “Grace, come on inside now”
“Daddy!” She whined.
“Come on honey, promise we’ll come back out later on” Steve said as he took a step to the stairs. He nodded his to inside again “Come on” he then called to the dog “Dodger come on! Grace make sure he comes inside”
Steve walked up the stairs onto the porch, walking over to Peggy as she kept her eyes on him, clearly wanting to say something “You okay?”
“Yeah, we’ve just got company”
Steve pinched his brows together and then followed her in the house. Nick did Steve one more favour, the same thing he did for Clint. Got them a house to hideaway. The same layout and everything, perhaps he has a range in farm houses. It was in North Carolina, much bigger. Talk about favoritism, and only a limited amount of people knew. They had never been happier. Grace had never been happier which was the most important thing. And their baby boy will grow up in a better environment than Grace did, which they wished they gave her. Though she does miss her extended family at times too.
Steve walked in the living room as Peggy went into the nursery to put the baby in his crib. He walked in to find Natasha, Sam, Bucky...and Tony . Which surprised him, he hadn’t seen Tony in so long now.
They came to a compromise with Bucky, after pleading his innocence. With Natasha, Sam and T’Challa fighting his battle. They came down to the amnesty, he went to work for Tony, after they sat down and actually talked. It took a long time. Bucky had only been working with them for around two months. None of them had seen Steve or Peggy for that amount of time. They were in contact, sure. But never face to face. Besides it wasn’t Sam, Natasha and Bucky they were shocked to see. It was Tony.
“Tony...you’re here”
Tony looked down to his feet and nodded as he looked back to him “Apparently”
Peggy then came up to stand beside him. Tony looked to her and briefly raised her brows as he blew a small raspberry “Peggy, you look great considering you’ve got a new little screamer”
Peggy let out a breathless laugh and nodded “Thank you, Tony”
Steve looked to their three best friends, who just looked at him with a face that asked him to just wait and hear everything out. Steve shifted his eyes back to Tony and cleared his throat “Listen, Tony-”
“Everything you needed to say to me was said in that letter. With I was grateful for. I’ve mended things with your boy here. It’s fine, Steve. We’ve all made mistakes”
Both Steve and Peggy gave him a soft smile. Then came in both Grace and Dodger. Dodger bolted straight for Natasha, whilst Grace gasped and grinned “Uncle Tony!”
Tony pinched his brows at her, clearly playing with her as he pointed to her “I’m sorry? I’m looking for Grace have you seen her?”
“It’s me!” She giggled. Tony dropped down to her level and squinted at her, which carried on her giggling. He then grinned “Holy cow, so it is” he held his arms out to her that she quickly jumped into. Tony smiled and closed his eyes as he wrapped his arms around her body and lightly rocked her “So happy to see my little buddy”
“Missed you, Uncle Tony”
“I’ve missed you too. Aunt Pepper sends her love, says she wants you to carry on being the boss of the house” Tony said as he pulled back and nodded to her “Think you can do that for her?”
“Yes!”
Peggy smiled and said as she put her hands on top of her daughter's soft blonde locks “I’m glad that you and Pepper worked things out”
“Yeah me too” Tony said as he stood back up “She’s stupid enough to give me a second chance”
“I’m fairly certain if there is one thing Pepper isn’t is stupid” Peggy smirked, rubbing his arm. After the brief catch up and warm moment. Tony slapped his hands together and looked to the two of them as Grace went over and got some fuss from Bucky, Natasha and Sam. Bucky lifted her in the air with a grin, his nose all scrunched up and kissed her cheek, then just holding her against his hip and listening to what Tony was about to say “So, we’re-I’m not just here for a social visit”
Steve and Peggy looked to each other, Steve sighed and nodded “Kind of figured that”
“Look. Steve, Peggy. We need you. Not just us, I mean the whole damn world. You guys are the glue in all of them. Well you are” Tony muttered as he looked to Peggy, who gave him a small amused smile. Tony then looked back to them both and got back to being serious “You’ve been gone for a year and a half and that shield is just lying there. I was wrong when I said it didn’t belong to you. It does”
Peggy looked to Steve, who took in a deep breath. She put her hand on his back and rubbed it. Steve pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed his eyelids. In the end he just shook his head, dropping his head down he rubbed his lips together and shrugged “I’m sorry Tony. I can’t...I won’t. Not anymore”
Natasha sighed “But Steve-”
“It’s not our fight anymore. And I’m tired. We’re both tired” Steve sighed and he body rested more against Peggy’s, who’s face said it all. She was in total agreement, she gently placed her hand on his stomach and added “We have our children to think about, this fight made us realize that we cannot put them through it” he eyes shifted to Grace for a moment, who had her arms wrapped around Bucky’s neck as she said “We almost never saw one child again, we cannot do that again. Especially with Noah now being here”
Tony tutted under his breath and tucked his hands in his jean pockets “You said in that letter. You’d be here whenever I needed you”
“Yeah I did. But you don’t need me Tony, I’m not your Captain anymore”
“And I’m not your Director anymore” Peggy gently added, shaking her head “We’re sorry...but we’re happy here, we needed a sign to let us know when to step down...what happened last year was that sign”
Suddenly. Noah started crying in the other room. Steve gently kissed the top of her head and walked into the nursery to go and see him. Peggy looked to Bucky. Who knew that was coming but was still hopeful they’d change their mind. The four of them understood though. They just couldn’t come to terms that this was the end of Director Carter and Captain America. Bucky gently put Grace down and followed Steve to talk. Peggy crossed her arms and sighed, she looked down to her feet for a moment and said “I...I recently got in contact with Hill. I’ve offered her my job with immediate effect. You’ll be taking orders from her now”
Bucky walked in the nursery, looking at the paintings of children’s characters that Steve had painted. He forgot how good he was, Bucky picked up one of the teddy bears that was on the side and held onto it as he walked towards Steve who was giving Noah his bottle. Bucky took a breath and leaned against the drawers “You sure? Really?”
Steve looked to Bucky and just gave him a firm nod “I’m done” he looked back down to his son, who had his eyes closed but was still taking in the milk from the bottle, he let out a small smile and shook his head “I can never go back, I can’t even imagine leaving here”
“But can’t just be it for...him”
“Who?”
“Captain America. That suit, that shield. He can't just go away”
Steve looked to him and then took a breath, then nodded and said “Then you be him”
“What?” Bucky said with a light laugh “Me?”
Steve shrugged “You and Sam? Who’s to say there can’t be two? Both get a shield”
“Steve come on get real” Bucky said, putting the bear back on the side and looking back to Steve as he said “I am being serious. You and Sam can fight just as well as me. Instead of just working for Tony work with him. Take my place, carry the torch”
Bucky seriously began to consider it. What Steve was saying actually made some sense. Why couldn’t he take his place? In fact it all seemed kind of perfect, Steve would retire to be a dad and husband. He wouldn’t be abandoning it. He would just be handing it over. Steve smiled to him and then lightly kissed his son’s forehead “Trust me Buck, I know I’m doing the right thing. And Tony seems to be alright with you now, Nat will certainly back you”
Bucky blushed and smiled as he crossed his arms “So... if I did go for this, you’re giving me the green light”
“Buck I’ve made the green light for you” Steve laughed, he then put the bottle back on the side and held Noah against his chest with both hands “Just gotta promise me one thing though”
Bucky raised his brows “Hm?”
“Keep the outfit” Steve smiled.
Whilst Natasha was gushing over her new godson in her arms whilst Grace sat next to her and was chatting away to Tony. Bucky was messing around with Dodger.
Steve was getting himself a glass of water, where he felt Peggy’s arms wrap around his waist and kiss his back “I’m proud of you”
Steve turned himself around, with Peggy still having her arms wrapped around him, she rested her chin on his chest and looked up to him “I know it’s hard turning that life down”
“No...it’s not. I thought it would be, but now that I’m in the moment. Now that the offer was staring at my right in the face...it wasn’t hard to turn it down” Steve gently put his palms to her cheeks and softly smiled “You’re my life. Our family is our life. And that is what I can't live without, not a shield or a uniform”
Peggy smiled and said in a delighted sigh as she rubbed his back “Steve Rogers you are the complete love of my life” she took her overwhelmed smile and pressed her lips against his. Loosely wrapping her arms around his neck. Running her fingers through the back of his hair. Steve tightened his arms around her waist, pressing their bodies closer together.
Steve pulled his lips away and whispered “You’re everything to me...and for the record I know it wasn’t exactly easy for you either to turn it down. No matter what you say, you’d miss it too”
“I can’t fool you” Peggy muttered with a smile as she looked to his lips and then back to his eyes, still stroking his hair “It was a difficult decision. But it’s like you said. You and our family are my life, so it wasn’t as hard as it was anticipated to be”
“I told Bucky and Sam to take my place...carry on the Captain America legacy I guess”
Peggy looked at him, surprised, but glad to hear that “Sweetheart that’s marvelous! A brilliant idea”
“You think?”
“Yes. Good thinking”
“You don’t have to sound so surprised” Steve laughed, the getting the same action out of her. Peggy shook her head through her giggles “Sorry. The person who usually with those sort of ideas is...well me” she flashed him a grin.
“True” Steve muttered with a smirk, kissing her again. Peggy then had Dodger jump up and hit her leg with made her lose her balance for a split second. She glared down to the pup but then noticed he had a chew dog in his mouth, she then looked to Bucky who sat on the floor with an innocent grin from hitting her leg with Dodger’s toy. Peggy raised her brows to him and then ran her fingers through the pups hair as if to let him know it was okay. He then just went off back to Bucky and resumed playing. Peggy looked back to Steve and muttered as she took her lips back to his “That bloody dog”
“You love that bloody dog. Unless those lipstick kisses all over his face the other day were from Grace”
Peggy pursed her lips and cleared her throat, she shook her head and sighed “Shut up”
He laughed and kissed her again, gripping firmly onto her waist and keeping her close.
Grace leaned to Tony and Sam and said quietly “Mommy and daddy do that a lot”
The pair of them both nodded to her as Tony said “Believe me, we know” Tony leaned back and muttered under his breath “Felt like we were gonna see you conceived a few times”
Luckily Grace didn’t hear him, even if she did. She wouldn’t have known what he meant, though Sam found it funny.
Natasha and Peggy soon went outside. Peggy having Noah sleeping in her arms, they sat at the porch swing, the sun still setting. The sky was orange which was Peggy’s favourite, she found it very peaceful to look at. Apparently so did her son, Natasha lightly rocked the bench back and forth with the foot and then said to Peggy “Are you sure this what you want?”
Peggy smiled, taking her eyes to Natasha “What do you think? I have my husband, my children and that bloody dog running around. We don’t even have to work anymore, Nick has given us this as a solid bargain with this house. We can both be here full time and be with them every part of the day...and when the time comes, Grace can go to a normal school and have a normal life”
Natasha remained silent for a moment, she then scoffed “Well, when you put it like that”
Peggy let out a small laugh with her lips against the baby’s head and then said “You just don’t want us to this because you’ll be missing me giving you marching orders. But believe me, love, I’ll still be giving you them. Just about different things, like what to bring and what not to bring when you come and visit”
“I look forward to that. You seen Sharon?”
“Yeah she’s still working things out but she’ll be fine, drops in whenever she can”
They suddenly heard Grace run on the porch and stop in front of them “Mommy! Daddy said we can go to the lake tomorrow! Can we can we?!”
Peggy squinted her eyes to him “Did daddy ask you to ask me because he knows I can’t say no to you?”
Grace waited in thought for a moment and then just nodded “He said you like me better”
Peggy let out a breathless laugh and nodded, patting Noah’s back to keep him settled “Alright, darling, we can go”
Grace shot Natasha an excited smile, who exchanged the same expression, then ran inside. Peggy and Natasha then heard her say “Daddy! Mommy said yes” then to hear the sound of a high five.
Peggy rolled her eyes and then heard Natasha say “Where the hell is there a lake? You guys are pretty secluded”
“South-port is only a fifteen minute drive from here, it's not a lake it's a harbor. And to be fair it is lovely, it’s just...Steve really tries to act like a local”
Natasha then let out a fit of giggles and said in the midst of it, motioning to her cheeks “Is that why he has the beard? So people won’t know who he is”
Peggy laughed “It wouldn’t surprise me”
Natasha settled a warm, fuzzy smile when the laughter died down and just looked to Peggy for a moment, watching as she was looking out to the sky, kissing Noah’s head “I’ve never seen you this happy”
Peggy looked to Natasha as she nodded and added on “It’s nice”
“You’ll get it too eventually no doubt” Peggy said, glancing to Bucky through the window. But didn’t comment any further. Whatever happens between them two happens. To be honest, Peggy doesn’t even think that Natasha and Bucky have figured it out. He’s been concentrating on getting his life truly settled and she’s been helping him. But things certainly seemed to be falling into place for the two of them, which settled Peggy’s worry about her. Peggy rested Noah in one of her arms as she put her other hand on Natasha’s leg and assured you “You know, no matter where I am. I’ll always be here for you”
“I know” Natasha slapped her hand on Peggy’s “Same here”
“Besides. New York is only an hour and a half away. It’s hardly as if we are on the other side of the country or the world”
“You raise a fair point on all accounts, Carter” Natasha muttered with a smirk. Peggy the looked through the window again and said “I’m happy to see that Tony is doing so well, he and Pepper worked things out. He forgave Bucky and they actually seem to get on, on an okay level”
“They do actually get along, bit like the way Steve and Tony were. There’s still some small tension, not in a bad way or anything but it’s just there y’know?”
“It’s bound to be, Tony was in his right to react the way he did...it’s just...it wasn’t Bucky’s fault”
“Yeah he’s comes to terms with that which is the main thing” Natasha nodded.
Peggy then too nodded. That was the main thing that mattered, Tony found inner peace with everything. It proved how much of the bigger person he really was to accept what had happened, forgive and move on. Peggy took in a deep breath and sighed out “It is a very surreal feeling though, I must admit”
“What?”
“Knowing that it’s over. I’ve been an agent for...putting aside the time travel years. Fourteen years. Director for what? Nine? It has been everything that I’ve put my blood sweat and tears into, it just feels odd knowing that it’s all over... but I’m excited for this new part of my life, of our lives”
“Good. You should be” Natasha put her hand on the baby’s back and gently stroked it with the back of her finger “Because this part of life seems pretty damn great”
“Yes” Peggy held Noah up in both hands for his head to be at level with hers and smiled softly “Yes it is” she brought him to her and kissed his nose.
Steve took Tony to the side, he took in a deep breath, with his palms pressed together “Tony, listen I-”
“Steve, you don’t have to say anything to me”
“Yes I do because I went too far” Steve quickly said, holding his hands up for a moment, he nodded and then echoed his own words “I went too far. I know this...and I am truly sorry, I said to you that the reason I did all this was because Bucky was my friend but you were right, so are you. You’ve been a good friend to me, Tony over these past years and even though we clashed and lot, had our differences, you were still my friend and I’m sorry I let things get so outta hand”
“You panicked. Not just for your friend but for your wife and for you kid. I can’t blame you for that, we’ve both come to terms with what happened over these past eighteen months, I forgive you and hopefully you can forgive me”
“For what?”
“I didn’t hear you out either Steve, not near the end of it all” Tony shrugged, taking his hands out of his pockets “Both of us had our points, both valid and both of us made mistakes. We move forward, yes?”
“Yeah, that’s what I want” Steve nodded. Tony then doing the same, after a small silence. Tony squinted his eyes as he looked to him and shrugged “So what now, a hug? I feel like we don’t hug”
Steve laughed and held his hand out to Tony, which Tony slapped his into and shook. Steve then pulled him close and slapped his other hand on Tony’s back. Just for a brief moment. But it helped finally build that bridge.
“It all worked out in the end though when you really think about it. You’ve got a snazzy house out of it and worked things out with everyone” Tony raised his brows to him.
“Yeah. Suppose there’s nothing like a good family feud to bring everyone together”
When it got dark, Tony, Sam, Bucky and Natasha went to their jet that they had in the middle of the field, it was fine, there was no one around to even see it. Steve and Peggy promised to visit them too when they were really give the green light to step foot near the Avengers base.
Up until that, the four of them said that they wouldn’t be strangers. Steve and Peggy would get visitors rather than be the visitors for a little while. Steve and Peggy waved them off from their porch, Grace being held up in Steve’s arms. Noah was tucked up in his crib, officially and hopefully down for the night. Steve looked to Grace “That was a nice surprise huh? Your Aunt and Uncles coming to see us?”
“Yeah!” she exclaimed. Making her parents grin. Steve put his hand on her stomach and gave her a playful shake “Well, missus, let’s get you to bed”
“Daddy”
Peggy shook her head with her arms folded “No, Gracie. No daddy , you’ve already gone past your bedtime. The quicker you get to bed, the sooner tomorrow will come and remember we are going to the lake tomorrow”
Grace gasped as she suddenly remembered. Peggy let out a small laugh and nodded “Yes, so get to be little miss” she kissed her daughter’s cheek and added “I love you”
“Love you mommy”
Peggy put her hand on Steve’s back and rubbed it as he walked into the house. Peggy turned her head to see Dodger jumping in the air as he tried to catch one of the fireflies in his mouth, she clapped her hands together and whistled to him “Dodger, come on”
Dodger stopped jumping and looked to her, Peggy smiled and crouched down, holding her hands out and slapping her legs to encourage him, then speaking to him like she speaks to her children “Come on, sweetie, come on”
Dodger came bouncing over, Peggy shook the fur all over his face and kissed the top of his head. Damn it, once again she left a kiss mark on his head “Crap” she tried to rub it, which he liked but it just made it worse and more smudged “He’s going to get another kick out of this”
Peggy stood back up straight and walked back into the house with the dog behind her, shutting the door behind her. Steve walked back into the living room after tucking Grace to bed and raised his brows as Dodger came in front of him, a gracious laugh then forced it’s way out of his mouth. He’d want to hold it in but he couldn’t. Peggy pointed to him “Stop it”
Steve carried his laughs back over to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of wine whilst Peggy put the fire on. He sat himself down on the sofa, arm resting on the spine of the couch after pouring the red wine. Peggy grabbed the blanket that was on the floor and pulled it over the two of them, she tucked her feet under her legs, resting her body against his. Being all snug. Steve wrapped his arm around her and rubbed her back “That went easier than I thought”
“They couldn’t have put up some big fight, could they? We weren’t going to change our minds” Peggy said as she nuzzled her head against his chest “And I think they knew that”
“Good of Tony to come”
“It was, probably took a lot for him to come but it’s been long enough, what happened isn’t as raw” Peggy said, then drawing on his chest with her finger. She looked up to him and softly smiled “He’s finally found peace...and so have we”
Steve pressed his lips against hers, her hand went to his jaw and pulled his face even closer together, their tongues gently brushing together, she let out a pleased sound and then slowly dragged her lips away, Steve looked into her warm brown eyes “You ever thought we’d get here?”
“By get here do you mean living in the year 2018 with our two children, in a cosy farm house secluded from the world and job we knew? Not even for a second”
Steve let out a small huffed laugh, pressing his lips against her forehead “God, y’know I thought getting accepted into the army was the only good thing in my life and it was because it led me to you and you…” he smiled and shook his head “You are the greatest thing in my life”
“Steve-”
“No. When I woke up in this world all those years ago and I thought even for that second that I had lost you I...well I just couldn't even imagine what I would be like if I had to go through all of this without you being here by my side. You’re my soul. Not just my soulmate but you are my soul ”
Peggy smiled and then slapped his chest for making her eyes fill up, she wiped her tears and laughed at herself “You always do this”
“Sorry”
“No it’s one of the reasons I married you actually, it’s like you vomit poetry” Peggy said as she wiped her eyes, Steve looking at her with a grossed out face. She rolled her eyes and confessed “It sounded better in my head”
“Mm hm” Steve nodded with a teasing smirk, Peggy looked to the fire whilst he just stared at her “Baby are you happy here, honest?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” she asked as she looked to him, her hand running through the fur of Dodger as he came up and lay beside her. Steve shrugged “I dunno. I mean none of this was part of the plan”
Peggy raised her brows for a moment as she agreed and shook her head to his point “No. It wasn’t part of the plan. But it is so much better, better than I could ever have anticipated”
He smiled to her, feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. Gently nodded, he whispered “Me too”
“Everything else will fall into place soon enough regarding being able to one day step foot near the Avengers base, to step foot in New York again without being arrested” she laughed, then softly bit her lip “But I'm not complaining, nor do I really want that part to hurry up, because I am so happy here. In this bubble ”
“I know what you mean, we didn't know how much we needed this until we got it”
Peggy leaned forward and grabbed their glasses of wine, handing one to him “I'll drink to that”
Steve lightly laughed and clinked his glass his hers. Peggy brows gently pinched together, shaking her head and then saying as she moved the glass to her lips “I love you”
Steve took a sip of his wine, took hold of her hand and kissed the back of it, still holding onto it “I love you”
Peggy was right, although they were going to miss their life, the life they had lived for so long now. All that mattered was being here. Back in 42’ they never thought they would actually get married, settle down and have two beautiful children. They hoped and dreamed but there was a big difference in it actually happening.
If it took fighting another war to get them where they were at now, well, dare they say it was worth it.
I recently felt unsatisfied with the way I ended this fic so I have written this finale in giving them the ending that I find the nicest way for them so I hope you enjoyed this very last chapter!