Every day is the exact same when you are confined to a senior care home. Day in, day out, it's all the same, but she can hardly bring herself to mind. She's grown so old, her body no longer able to power her mind, she isn't sure she could handle more excitement on a regular basis. Things are exciting enough with Steve back.

With Steve back. She'd given up on ever saying that again years ago - no, it had been decades - before Howard died even.

Howard. He'd never given up looking for Steve, not really, even when Peggy had. She'd dismissed his perseverance as the insane ramblings of a man so hopelessly in love he couldn't even realize the futility of his efforts. While she still believes that had been his motivation, she also sees proof in front of her regularly that his efforts were not as futile as she once believed.

Steve Rogers and Howard Stark, the tragic love story the history books never tell. They all want to act like she was the one in love with Steve. Ridiculous. Queers just flock together, and the three of them were quite protective of each-other.

She thinks the term now is "bisexual", for her and Steve. Howard, she isn't certain.

It must be difficult for Steve, being in the same space as Tony. Even more so because Tony has no idea.

No point dwelling on it, she supposes. Howard's gone, and Steve's so trapped by the people around him, and she's so weak, she can't set him free, she wants to set Steve free-

"Aunt Peggy?" a voice cuts through Peggy's increasingly frantic thoughts. A glance towards the door shows it to be Sharon, Angie's granddaughter who had taken the Carter name for a few reasons - some personal, some political. She's a sweet girl, really, but Peggy is unconvinced that she's doing right by Steve. Her stories about living across the hall from him ring hollow - these are stories about Captain America, not about Steve.

Well, Peggy supposes she ought to respond. "Yes, Sharon?"

"I know you're tired, and it's short notice, but Steve Rogers should be visiting you today - he's been given a mission, and leaves this afternoon. I don't think he'll leave without saying good-bye."

Peggy feels like rolling her eyes, but she refrains for the moment. Sharon doesn't need that. "Thank you, Sharon, for telling me," she somehow manages to keep her frustration from coloring her voice. "Would you care to stay for a minute, spend some time with a lonely old woman?"

"Ah - no, Aunt Peggy, I can't. I'm going to go visit Grandma," Sharon gives Peggy a sad smile and backs out of the room. Pity. At least she pretended to have a reason, this time. Peggy knows that truly, Sharon just wants to avoid talking to Steve about her family, about her SHIELD connections.

She's making a mistake. Secrets are no way to gain Steve's trust. And if Steve thinks you're keeping secrets… if Steve doesn't trust you… if you make Steve mad…

Well, Colonel Phillips wasn't all that pleased with Steve for quite a long while, mostly because Steve had an impressive tendency to put on that Captain America mask when speaking to Phillips, only with more "earnest" obliviousness than usual. Or at least, more than was usual at the time. Now, that seems to be the entirety of the Captain America persona.

Peggy's left alone in her head a lot now. There's not a lot there that isn't older. They don't really play the news in here, so she is effectively trapped in the recent past, with no knowledge of current events other than what her visitors denine to bring her. Steve is the best at telling her things, but that's not saying a whole lot, because he doesn't really understand current events.

Bah. She doesn't have anything to do except wait for Steve. There's a television, dark because the movies on there are never any good. She's got a couple of novels, but not many because she has no bookshelves, and she's read them already. She isn't reading Great Expectations again, she just finished it yesterday! Maybe she can ask someone for a new book…

Oh, who is she kidding? Who would she ask? Steve? Steve already has enough to do, why give him anything else to worry about? He needs to not worry, he needs to be safe… He needs SHIELD to leave him alone.

"Peggy?"

Oh, he's here. Well, at least she has something to do now.

"Steve!" She turns to face him, a bright grin forming on her face. "I feel like I haven't seen you in ages!"

Steve nods as he moves to sit down in the little armchair beside the accent table. Peggy didn't have a roommate (benefits of having once been in charge of an intelligence organization), but the room still wasn't all that large. Also, Peggy wasn't allowed to decorate directly, she had to delegate. And her children and grandchildren liked to see her make faces while still trying to pretend to be gracious. They'd made it a game, trying to see who broke her. She refused to give them the pleasure. Regardless, the room was small and ugly, but Steve still spent time here with her often.

"It can't be Saturday already, can it?" she teases, watching Steve grin sheepishly.

"Sorry, Pegs. It's Friday, but I won't be able to make it tomorrow, so I came by today."

"Whyever won't you be able to make it tomorrow?" Peggy asks despite already knowing.

Steve flushes, averting his gaze, refusing to meet her eyes. "SHIELD asked me to do another mission. I know you said to tell them to fuck off, but I… I don't know how to say no?"

"That's not what you were going to say," Peggy raises an eyebrow.

Steve slumps in the hideous armchair. "I don't know who I am anymore, Pegs."

"You're Steve Rogers."

"Yes, but Peggy, who is Steve Rogers? Really? I don't…"

"If you weren't Steve Rogers, how would you describe him? Tell me about Steve. In the third person, I know it's odd, but try," Peggy sighs. He gets worse every week. He's the one who needs the most attention, but even in here, she knows he doesn't get even half of what he needs.

"Steve Rogers was born on July 4th, 1918. He is… bisexual?" Steve pauses and shakes his head. "He is queer. He was once on his way to loving a man, but instead spent a long time frozen over. Now he works with the son of the man he was once with, and doesn't know what to do. Steve Rogers once loved to draw, but now his artwork is full of bittersweet memories. He struggles to acclimate, not to the technology but to the people around him. There is only one person left from before, and she makes him do weird things like talk about himself in the third person," he quirks a small smile at the end.

"Hmph. I wouldn't have to do that if you'd make some new friends," Peggy sniffs.

"Peggy, come on. I can't talk to Sam about everything, and everyone else looks at me weird if I so much as sneeze!"

"That is nonsense. Force them to look at you like a normal person."

"Peggy…"

"Don't you 'Peggy' me, Steve Rogers! I'll find this Sam's number and tell him all about your moping myself if I have to!"

"Well, that'll have to wait," Steve looks sad again, damnit. What now? "I'm leaving this afternoon, after I have lunch with Sam."

"You're in love with this Sam fellow, aren't you?"

"Peggy!"

"That's a yes! Now I definitely need to speak to him…"

"Peggy, no… Please don't…"

"You can't tell me what to do, Rogers. Never could."

Steve sighs, and stands. "I have to go now, Pegs. I'll come see you as soon I get back, okay?"

"Oh no you don't. You better go see your Sam first, you understand?"

Steve rolls his eyes, but he smiles, and it's a real smile. "Yes, Peggy," he pretends to groan as he heads out the door.

Well, what do you know. It turns out smiling is contagious.