Author's note: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, read, favorite this fic so far! I don't know what your feelings are towards this story until you do one of the following that I listed above. I have to amend my previous statement, there's probably 3-4 chapters left.

The instant Tony walked away from his door Steve unlocked it and started pacing around his room. Peggy was due to call soon and he wouldn't allow anything to interrupt their conversation. He stopped in his tracks once his mobile phone rang; he answered it on the second ring.

"Hello?" He asked anticipating the sound of her voice.

"Hello Steve," her voice was weak but still had that undeniable soft smooth accent.

A small breathe escaped his lips as he sat down on the bed, "Uh..it's good to hear your voice again."

"Likewise. I never thought I would."

A brief quietness passed filled the gap until she spoke again.

"I saw the news footage. My family, they're really protective and concerned for my health so they tried to hide it from me."

"What's wrong?"

"..I'm afraid that my heart isn't strong enough."

With a doubtful shake of his head he remarked, "That doesn't sound like the gal that I know."

A gentle laugh came from her, "I see that you've learned how to speak to women."

He smiled, "You taught me well."

The conversation eased into how he was found, the Chitauri invasion and how he had spent his vacation.

"Apparently blond females are still can't keep their paws off of you, literally," she joked.

"You're a real laugh riot." He dryly said to her.

"That I am. At least you have Stark there and it sounds like he's everything I imagined."

"He is but despite how annoying and cocky he can be, he's a good guy."

"It's must be in his genes, Howard was a brilliant but…colorful man."

"He has the Stark charm that's for sure."

With a small laugh she said, "My grandchildren asked me what it was like to work with his father the first time they saw him on the telly as Iron Man."

Even though he knew that it was bound to come up, he was still unsure of how to talk about her family and the life that they could had together.

"Yeah..Emily sounds like a nice kid-woman."

"She is but so are my other four grandchildren."

She went on to tell him about her late husband and their life together. He was happy for her did his best to sound like it. Although he was grateful that she couldn't see his face.

"Steve?"

"Yes?"

"I'll have to rest soon."

"Of course, it was great catching up with you."

"It really was..there's one more thing.."

"What?"

"…I-I love my husband and my family, I do but I'd be lying if I claimed to never have imagined what our life would have been like. I thought that part me of that waited for Howard to call was gone…until I saw you on the news."

He swallowed the gasp that almost escaped his mouth.

"For some time, before I met my husband, I did wait for you-a year actually. Then I saw what I had, friends and family who loved me and that I was given a chance to live the life that I wanted. It's all because-because of your sacrifice Steve," her voice quivered.

Pushing his lips together he kept quiet and felt his eyes become wet.

"I can't imagine what it was like for you to come back seeing all that's changed and everything you've lost. But you…you have a group of people who care about you and will fight for you, not everyone is that fortunate. Cherish them like you did us."

His free hand gripped the edge of the bed as he held back a sob.

"We all lived beautiful and tremendous lives and so should you because you deserve it and you've damned well earned it. We're grateful for the second chance you give all of us, don't-don't waste yours. Understand?"

He managed to keep his voice steady while tears fell down his face, "Yes and I won't Peggy, I promise."

"Good-goodbye Steve."

"Bye Peggy."

Placing the phone on the nightstand, he rested his elbows on his thighs letting his tears fall onto his hands. He held them back ever since returning. It was foolish of him to believe that taking out his anger, grief and angst on punching bags would help. Hearing her voice, someone who knew him when he just a sick skinny kid from Brooklyn and not Captain America, it comforted him. Unlike the SHIELD'S therapist or anyone else who has tried to assuage his feelings, Peggy knew how to reach him like no one else could. Knowing that she had in fact waited for his return and that she lived a full happy life, it gave him what he needed.

The sound of Tony arguing with a woman wasn't a foreign to Bruce but seeing someone other than Pepper being his sparring partner was. He stepped down the stairs and headed towards kitchen where Tony and Malia were.

"Hey, what are two baking?" Bruce asked as he opened the large refrigerator to retrieve a bottle of water.

Malia folded her arms before answering him, "Well we're trying to make banana bread and pound cake but Tony thinks he can improvise the ingredients' measurements."

"I've watched hours of Food Network where all their chefs/cooks use eyeball and use their hands instead of cups and spoons," Tony defended himself.

"Unlike you, they have years of experience and sound judgment to rely upon. Baking is different; it's more of a science which I expected a man like you to appreciate!"

Bruce interjected, "She's right Tony. Baking is more of a science where measurements matter because they affect the chemical reactions and overall results."

With a proud grin she thanked Bruce and said to Tony, "Told ya."

"Way to have my back Banner," he rolled his eyes and threw an apron at him.

He tied the apron around his waist and opened binder that was on the counter, "We'll prove it to you. Are these recipes yours?"

"Yep, from both my grandmas. Take your pick."

"The fudge chocolate cake looks good." He opened the binder to the recipe and leaned it against the raised countertop.

"It's the best you'll ever have," she mashed bananas in a metal bowl.

"And you call me cocky?" Tony asked her.

"…Valid point but it's not bragging if you can back it up which this recipe can," she then turned to Bruce, "please tell me you can bake. Nana Maggie would roll over in her grave if someone screwed it up."

Nodding he assured, "Being on your own you have to learn your way around a kitchen. But I'm a not burner unlike some people."

Tony protested, "It's not my fault that the toaster's10 setting was calling out to me!"

Bullit immediately went to the couch where Natasha sat.

"Hey you," she petted his head and chest and asked Clint, "how'd it go?"

Putting the leash and his coat on the rack he replied, "He wasn't too bad, he cried a little bit during the last shot but other than that he was a good sport about it. How about you?"

"Stark dropped by, we talked."

He looked around, "Nothing's broken, I assume it went well."

"..You could say that. Malia's at his place teaching him and Bruce how to bake. I told them that I'd stop by for lunch and be their taster."

"Sounds good, my money's on Malia. What are you watching?" he sat down at the other end of the couch.

"Sixteen Candles, nothing else was on and I haven't seen it." She moved closer to him.

"I'm in," he noticed the lack of space between them.

She pulled the thick gray throw blanket off the couch's backrest and covered both of them with it.

He offered, "I could turn up the thermostat if you want? The fireplace is out because of the rain."

"No, I'm good..unless you want to?"

"If you're fine then so am I."

"Ok."

Five minutes later she rested her head on his shoulder and in response, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. It was clear to him that his previous forwardness was the wrong approach. She wasn't like any woman he had pursued before because unlike them, being in a real relationship was unknown territory for her. He didn't know what she and Tony talked about it while he was gone but he appreciated him for it.

"Well done, Bruce," Malia put down the plastic spoon after inspecting the batter's consistency with it.

"Thanks, it's nice to know I'm not screwing up your grandma's recipe." He gave her a small grin.

"Seriously? I have to let this mix for THREE minutes?" Tony folded his arms watching the mixer do its work.

"Patience is a virtue Tony," Bruce told him.

"Wrong, it's a waste of time. If I turn this up to the max then it'll be done in the half the time."

"Don't, you'll screw up the consistency!" Malia warned him.

"Stokesy stop being so dramatic!" He moved the mixer's speed setting to six.

"Take cover!" Bruce put his arm around Malia bringing her down to floor then moved both of the other side of the cabinets.

Cake batter splattered onto some of the upper cabinets, countertops and Tony's entire face.

After a few seconds the billionaire playboy said as the battered dripped from his face onto his shirt.

"Banner; I think you were onto something about patience being a virtue."

"Ya think?" Bruce answered before he and Malia started laughing.

Tipping his nose into the air Thor stood up from couch.

"What is it?" Jane asked not masking the odd look she was giving him.

"There's an enticing scent coming from the…"

"Kitchen?"

"Yes! We should see what it is!"

She turned off the television and linked arms with him as they left the room.

The god's blue eyes became big with delight when he saw what Tony, Bruce and Malia had made.

"You owe me a game of boxing Banner." Tony said with a smirk on his lips.

He shrugged, "Ok, I really thought Erik would be the first one down here."

"Try my banana bread," Malia offered Thor a small dish.

He took a bite and gave her nod of approval, "This is marvelous! You made this..banana bread?"

"I did, my grandma knew how to make without adding so much sugar unlike the store bought kind."

"Oh I hate that, it taste so..artifical," Jane briefly scrunched her face.

"You're up Foster," Tony pushed a small plate towards her.

Although she had never tried to Tony's cooking she had yet to hear any praise about it but he was her boss.

Tony searched her face and said, "I'm not gonna fire you if don't like it although I must say it's better than these two lame cakes."

"Mine is banana bread Tony, not cake."

"It's a carbohydrate that can't make up its mind. Now come on Foster, woman up."

She took a small piece into her mouth, "Mmmm, this is actually really good!"

Pepper walked in and headed for Bruce's fudge chocolate cake, "Hey everyone, oohh I knew something smelled good."

"Too slow Stark," Bruce handed her a piece of his cake before Tony could.

"Thanks Bruce," she kindly smiled at him.

Tony grabbed another plate and headed for the stairs, "I'm taking this piece up to Old Man Winter."

After finishing a fourth bite Thor casually asked Malia, "I don't understand how a divine woman such as yourself is not yet married."

Everyone awkwardly paused and he was confused as to why.

"Thor…" Jane shook her head.

"What? Was that an inappropriate question? I mean, you're kind, you can cook, and you're beautiful." He looked at the everyone hoping for an answer.

Malia spoke up, "Oh, um-uh, no..no it's not. I just-uh..I just haven't been asked by the right man yet, that's all. And thanks for the compliment."

"That's probably lunch." Bruce stated as the door bell rang.

Jane hooked her arm with Thor's and put his dish down, "We'll get it! You all just relax!"

He quickly grabbed the last piece off the dish before being dragged away.

She spoke once they were out of earshot range, "Thor I know you didn't mean anything by it but you just don't ask a woman about her marital status."

With a blink he said, "Why not? I meant no offense."

"I know but it can be a sensitive issue for a woman who wants to get married and Malia does. It doesn't help that she just brokeup with her boyfriend."

"She had a companion and he let her go? What a fool!"

"Keep your voice down and…yes. But it was for the best."

"Well then, I shall apologize to her."

"Maybe you shouldn't, she seems ok and sometimes it's better not push something like that. Now come on, I think the delivery guy will break the doorbell."

After three quick knocks on Steve's door Tony walked in, "Room service!"

Steve stayed on the bed and kept his back to the door, "Not now Stark."

"Yeah..not gonna happen especially since I brought this awesome cake that reflects its maker..me, obviously. Try it."

"Tony, thanks but I'm not hungry."

"It's cake, everyone loves cake!"

"… I just wanna be left alone." He barely hid his irritation.

"And you will be, after you try my awesome pound cake."

"I told you, I don't feel like eating. Now please, leave." he briefly turned his head.

Tony saw how red his blue eyes were and knew what it meant but he was undeterred.

"Look big fella, I know that you can't drink your problems away so why not eat them?"

He finally sat up and faced him, "I'm really not in the mood for this. Get out of my room."

Setting his jaw, he put the dish on the dresser by the door, "Your room, in MY house. If you haven't notice, I'm actually being nice to you despite being in your words, a 'cad.' Since you're from the so-called 'polite' era common courtesy dictates that you respect me, your host. Now, take a bite!"

"You have no idea what kind of morning I've had and the last thing I wanna deal with is you! So get the hell out!"

He folded his arms, "I don't know what's gotten your long johns in a bunch but get over it! I've tried the whole brooding, lone wolf act and believe me, it gets old real FAST! There is a house full of people who actually give a damn about you…but you're too busy sulking and snapping at me to realize that..you prehistoric prick!"

Tony exited the room slamming the door behind him. A second later he poked his head in, retrieved the dish and said in an odd accent.

"And no cake for you!"

In stunned silence, Steve sat on the bed letting Tony's words sink in his mind and heart.