Disclaimer: I don't own Steve Rogers, Peggy or any other thing in the Marvel universe. Not even the snow. I'm also not trying to make a profit of this...*stares at diminishing bank account with a sigh*

A Compromise

Snow blanketed the ground. The sky was black, but if she looked at just the right cloud, a familiar shade of blue could be found - his blue. She sat there, curls as prim as ever but dotted with snowflakes, observing the mostly vacant skyline.

She made herself wear the red heels but allowed herself a coat, which was open to expose the red dress that had made Steve look at her in a way different than before.

Bucky, too, but in a respectful manner – Bucky, who was also cold, many miles away, but dead...unlike Steve. She hoped, because she recognized that there was no possible way of knowing. People whispered behind her back, calling her crazy, and Col. Phillips had given her the day off when she requested, most likely to give her time away.

Luckily, Howard also hoped, funding and directing the search party himself. He was a very rich man, however, so he was called determined instead of crazy.

"I'm the weapons developer. I'm looking for my best one." So he had tried to play it off, characteristic Stark devil-may-care attitude shining through, but she knew his heart was in the right place.

It was Friday night and long past eight o'clock sharp, but still she remained. A date with Steve would have lasted hours, with him returning her late but having not so much as tried to lay a hand where it shouldn't be. He would have kissed her, and that was all – first dates should not lead to more than that, if they had a chance of doing this right. And it would've been the best shot she would have had.

This night was also a compromise, because they would not have stayed outside in the cold. They would be dancing, or more like swaying, inattentive to anything but the music. Without a doubt, he would be trying not to step on her shoes, slightly stiff in his movements, until he finally relaxed.

It took Peggy a second to realize she was smiling. Which was absurd, given that Steve wasn't actually here, but this, this was the compromise. She would stay out on Friday night, but in the cold, thinking of the only possible "right" partner. She would bear it with an occasional smile, instead of an ear-to-ear smile and lots of laughs, as thoughts of him kept her warm.

It also made her frown, to think that she could at all be warm, but it made her smile because perhaps, wherever he was, thoughts of her were keeping him warm. She wondered what became of his compass with her picture inside - was he clutching it tight? No, his hands would be occupied; he would have had it propped open perhaps. Or tucked in his pocket, close to his heart.

It was 10 p.m. She would stay out in the night for another two hours. She finally buttoned her coat, the knowledge that she would still be cold giving her comfort.

They had a date, after all, and so she was cold because he was too, wherever he was. At the moment, it was the closest they could be.

© JeanieBeanie33, 1/15/2012.

The ending to this movie is the first one in a long time to make me cry, because I'm so very Steve/Peggy. Also love Hayley Atwell and Chris Evans. I don't believe a superhero movie has ever made me cry – Iron Man, Thor, Spider Man, The Dark Knight, etc. – so this really says something.