Steve went up to see Tony before he left for work. Just when he got there, he saw Tony's neighbor, Bruce, leaving to take Jarvis for a walk. He decided he was going to be civil. He shouldered the garment bag that held his suit for the merger event.

"Maybe you should come back later," Bruce said tentatively.

"I only have one thing to say to him," Steve promised.

Bruce lingered a moment before heading out, Jarvis trailing happily behind him.

He took a deep breath and entered the apartment. Tony was sprawled out on his couch, glaring at the television like it insulted his mother. He didn't look much different after his fight with Steve. Maybe just a few more bruises on his face.

"Hey," Steve said softly.

"What do you want?" his voice was flat.

"I just want to let you know that I'm looking for a new apartment. I'm not going to make you move," he set Tony's apartment key on the coffee table. "If I the promotion then I'll be out within a couple of months."

"If Margaret shows up, I'm still going to convince her to go home," he said.

"Okay," Steve shrugged. "I probably wrecked it with her anyway. I'm going to go to work."

Despite how much he pretended not to care, he was dying inside. He wished everything would be stable for once in his life, but nothing ever was. Not even his heartbeat could be constant.

He just wanted to be ok. His future would be determined by the end of the night. He pulled out his phone, considering to go ahead and call Peggy, but decided otherwise. Maybe once he found out if he got the promotion or not.

Once at work, he found that he couldn't focus on anything. The Farmer's Bounty was over, he had more things to worry about: Hasbro, the cereal thing, and he was pretty sure there was a car insurance commercial coming up.

His paperwork blurred together and his phone conversations were almost like he wasn't wearing his hearing aids. He ended up giving Thor information and had him answer and handle the calls.

It was late into the afternoon when Gilmore rudely came into his office, without even knocking. "I got the promotion and me and J.J. are going work abroad. Kate got the Vice President position." he smirked. "Maybe next promotion."

Crushed, Steve waited until Gilmore left before closing all of his blinds, shutting the office door, and slumped into his chair. He buried his face in his hands and internally screamed. He was going to take it with quiet dignity tonight at the event, for sure, but he figured Wednesday he could pretend to be too sick to come in. They'd believe him, he barely misses unless he's been hospitalized.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, he picked up the phone and dialed Natasha's home phone. It rang until it went to voicemail.

This is Natasha Romanoff. If you're selling something, take me off your call list.

He took a deep shuddering breath after the beep. "Hey Peggy, I hope you're there. I didn't get the job… I'm still going to the merger event, I hope you'll still come. I made sure your name was added to the list. If not, then it's fine. I miss you. I know I saw you yesterday, but we didn't even get to talk. I hope you're okay. I don't have anything else to say until we see each other. Bye."

He hung up and spent the rest of the afternoon in his darkened office.

Thor alerted him when it was time to go. He dressed in his office, his hands shook so badly that Thor had to do his tie for him.

"You look nice," Thor commented.

"You don't have to lie," Steve shrugged and cleaned his glasses. "Nobody is going to notice me anyway."

"Good luck at the event anyway, maybe something good will happen."

"Thor, always the optimist," Steve chuckled. "Are you going out with Jane tonight?"

"Aye, she's very excited."

Steve unthinkingly pressed the elevator button and stepped inside. "See you Thursday, I'm taking tomorrow off."

"Good idea."

The doors closed and Steve blinked in surprise and looked around. Tony said the elevators would come back when she went home. He sucked in a deep breath and stared at his reflection in the elevator doors until his vision blurred.

The taxi drive to the building holding the event passed by in a blur. It was nighttime when he made it, he got there at the same time as Kate, she seemed a bit stupefied, probably because of the promotion.

"Hey," he said when he approached her. She blinked and looked at him. "Congrats on the promotion."

"Thanks," she gave him a small smile. They entered together, but went their separate ways after that.

Just as he predicted, he was totally ignored. It felt like every middle school and high school event he'd ever been to. He'd stand just outside the circle of conversation listening in. Any input was either ignored or gained him a look that said why-are-you-even-here? It hurt being shrugged off like that.

He wished that Bucky was there with him. He decided to head over to his dinner table when he was bowled over by Stuart and Kate's brother Charlie.

He slammed into the wall and rubbed his shoulder. What were they doing here? He shrugged it off and sat at his table. He wished he could take pain medicine, but he didn't have any in his pill case.

He wished this night would be over.

He wished Peggy was here. He glanced at the empty seat next to him. He noticed the couples at the table glancing at him and muttering to each other.

J.J. got up on stage and started his speech. Steve couldn't really hear though. J.J. tended to run his words together. All Steve could make out was Kate's name.

He furrowed his eyebrows. Was Kate not showing up? A minute later she ran in, tripping on a bunch in the carpet.

"Kate McCay!" J.J. said, clapping.

She stood at the podium and hesitated. She stared at her notecards and looked up at the audience. She then went on about "wanting things".

Steve looked around to see if anyone else was confused by her speech or if it was just him. He felt a surge of relief when everyone tilted their heads and scrunched their eyebrows.

"I have to go," Kate flew off the stage and out the door bumping into another woman wearing a sky blue evening gown.

J.J. stood there unsure of what to do since Kate basically turned down the job. "Uhh… one minute please."

"Hello," a warm voice whispered in Steve's ear. "Sorry I'm late, I didn't realize the event was at the Duke of Albany's house."

He started and looked up at Peggy with wide eyes. She frowned and sat down.

"What happened to you?" she pressed a cool hand to his cheek.

"I'll explain later," he promised. He noticed that the people at the table were staring at him incredulously.

"Um…" J.J. coughed and tapped the microphone. "Is there a Steve Rogers in the house? Congratulations, you are the new Senior Vice President."

"Huh?" He wasn't sure if he heard correctly.

Peggy gently shook his shoulder. "Steve, that's you."

Shocked, he stood up. Peggy pecked him on the cheek and nudged him to the stage. He carefully made his way up the steps, his body aching and creaking, and set himself up at the mic.

"Wow," he chuckled. "I wasn't expecting this. I don't think anyone was. I don't think even Kate expected to leave like she did. Wherever she went, I hope it's what she wanted and that it will bring her happiness.

"I started off at this company as a graphic artist for cereal boxes and billboard advertisements. As I will repeat what Kate said, "We bring people what they want." We bring people what they want, even if they don't realize it. It's not just about the client. It's about the consumer. It's about the people who create our products. I don't want to be the person that is the people pleaser. I want to be the person that puts the best possible product out there and that means leading a team of people, who work just as hard on the minute details that create our advertisements. I hope I can live up to the expectations set ahead of me.

"Thank you." He exited the stage and went back to his seat.

"Did you write that?" one person asked.

He flushed. "It just came off the top of my head."

"Very lovely," Peggy said, taking his hand. "A bit halting at the middle, but a wonderful ending."

The evening went on. After dinner, some people danced or chatted with the other guests. Steve just rested his head on Peggy's shoulder, enjoying her company.

"I thought you went back to 1876," he murmured.

"Of course not," she kissed his temple. "I did see Tony, yes. As it would turn out, Duke Leopold was the inventor of the elevator and it was he who stopped the machines. I was meant to come forward and that woman, Kate, was meant to go back. It only makes sense to trade a person for a person."

Steve grinned. "I guess things turned out okay, then."

"Yes, they did indeed."

"I thought you said you weren't sleeping with her," Gilmore accused, turning a few heads.

"Excuse me?" Steve scowled. While he did sleep with Peggy, that wasn't how he found her for the job.

"Why'd you lie about sacking with a hot babe like her?" It was obvious by this point that the guy had been drinking.

"Because, it's none of your business," Steve snapped.

Gilmore scoffed and leaned in a little too close to Peggy. "Why don't you ditch this guy? I can show you a few more moves than wheezing and a lot more than… that." He gestured to all of Steve, then rested that hand on her thigh.

Peggy smiled sweetly. "You want to show me a few moves?" she asked in a honeyed voice.

He looked a little too far south of her chin. "Yeah…"

"Alright right, step back please." She stood up when he did. "I want to show you my favorite move."

A small crowd had gathered.

"What's that going to be?" he smirked.

Like lightning, Peggy's fist slammed right into his nose, knocking him down to the ground.

"Keep your hands to yourself you cad!" she said, making sure she was loud enough for everyone to hear.

Gilmore sniffled and put a hand to his bleeding nose. He noticed the people staring at him and whispering judgmentally and looked a bit embarrassed. He gathered himself together and slithered off.

Steve snorted and clapped his hand over his mouth. He counted himself lucky that he found a strong woman like her. Frankly, it was a bit of a turn on for him, strong brunettes with a sense of justice. There was a bit of a pattern there.

Oh, Peggy was saying something to him.

"What?" he cupped a hand to his ear.

"I said," she made sure he was looking at her. "That we should leave now. I'm rather tired."

"Oh, yeah sure," he stood up and checked his pockets to ensure his wallet and keys were still there. Peggy looped her arm in his and led him out.

"Peggy?"

"Yes?"

"I know it's kind of sudden and we don't know each other well, but… do you want to stay with me? At my place I mean. We can even have separate rooms if you want to. I don't know… it's probably stupid."

She shut him up with a soft and sweet kiss. "I'd be delighted."

With a brilliant smile, he embraced her and kissed her.

The future was looking pretty bright.