So, this is just a short little ficlet that I couldn't help but write. It plays off of Tony and Pepper's engagement (I had to put some Pepperony in!) so it's kind of a sequel to Yes or Spelling, but it's kind of not. I know. I've managed to confuse even myself. Go figure. But it's in the Avengers category because of the mentions of Stark Tower and Tony and Pepper, in case anyone was wondering.

I finally figured out how to do a proper em dash! Woo-hoo!

Disclaimer: I do not own The Avengers or anything else Marvel. :'(

He still thinks about her. He always will—he can't help it.

Most of the time, it's easy deal with. He can push the remorse away for the day and focus on the task given to him by Director Fury. Other days it's harder.

Like the days when he goes to Stark Tower. He'll walk in and see Tony and Pepper—happy just to be near each other—talking, laughing, or even just planning something. Sometimes they'll be kissing and he'll walk out of the room in embarrassment. Sometimes they'll just be sitting on the couch, holding each other while Pepper soothes away Tony's most recent nightmare.

While all of this gets to him, the thing that hits him the hardest is the ring that sits on her finger. The ring that will soon have a brother and sister—one Pepper's hand and one for Tony's. Whenever he sees that ring, it makes him wonder if they would have made it that far—him and Peggy.

Sometimes, it makes him almost regret putting the plane in the water.

What if he hadn't? If they had both lived through the war, would they have gotten married? For a moment, he'll think that it would have been worth it. Then he'll be made at himself, mad for even thinking that endangering innocent lives was worth his happiness, happiness for something that might not have lasted.

I had a date. He was so, so late to that date, but he'd do almost anything now just to make it. He still can't dance, but that hardly matters.

Sometimes, when he's alone and it's quiet, he'll imagine how the date might have gone. They would have gone dancing, that was the plan. It would take place back in his time, definitely. He couldn't even think of taking someone like Peggy—or anyone, for that matter—to a twenty-first century club. No, they would've gone to a nice little place. They would've danced the night away to the smooth music played by the band. Of course, he would've spent the entire night tripping over her feet, seeing as he couldn't dance, but she wouldn't have cared. She would have laughed at the sight—a super soldier, unable to do something as simple as dancing—and would have attempted to teach him.

God, how he wishes he could have made that date.

What do you guys think? Love it? Hate it? Leave a review, let me know your thoughts! Stay tuned, I've got a legit Iron Man story in the works, and per some reader requests, I'm working on a Pepperony wedding! Since I'm kind of running out of ideas, though, if anyone's got a one or two shot related to Iron Man, the Avengers, or just any Avenger movie character(s) that they'd like to see written, shoot me a message! I'd love to give it a shot!