Conclusion [Four Years Later]

[Brooklyn—Rogers' Flat]

[A/N: For those of you who like me wished this could've happened, we're about to get it! J]

The sun shone down warmly on that summer day. As it was Sunday, people took a respite from their usual routine to worship and smell the roses so to speak. Birds nestled in Central Park's trees in midtown Manhattan.

War had been put off for a few more years at least. The Korean peninsula and Eastern Europe, future flashpoints to be sure, still smoldered. The Soviets and Chinese still consolidated their territories away from American eyes.

But for one couple, they'd earned a spot of normalcy.

And so it went….

Steve straightened his tie and combed his hair carefully. He inspected himself in the mirror making sure that nary a ripple in his appearance would offend the eye. For several minutes he eyed his reflection anxiously. Then he took a deep breath and nodded. "You'll do, Rogers."

"I should say so, Captain."

He smiled and turned to see the former Agent Carter watching him intently from their bedroom door. "Just want to be perfect for you, the Stallones and Starks, Peggy."

She chuckled with a bit of wry humor as she strode across the room. To her, he fretted too much about such things but that's what made Steve what he was as far as she was concerned. "It's going to be all right. It's a picnic for Heaven's sake."

"They're family, Peggy. Besides you're you too." He gazed into her dark eyes and felt himself floating as if on a warm breeze. His heart slowed its nervous dance choosing a ballroom rhythm rather than the rap/jazz mix previously in its system.

She smoothed her burgundy blouse and dark skirt. "And you're you. I'll take you as you are. I've done so before God, remember?" She let her hand wander in front of his eyes.

On its ring finger, a diamond's sparkle in its golden setting assured him yet again that things were well in hand.

"I don't want to take anything for granted, Peggy," he admitted.

"You never do, Captain." Her lips brushed his for a brief second. Her eyes returned his glare with their usual intense purpose. "That's why I married you." She arched an almost mischievous eyebrow. "Happy Anniversary."

"Happy Anniversary," he chorused with all of his heart. He grinned with affection….It had been two years…the two most wonderful years of his life….The time since the Japanese surrendered in the Pacific. The time since she'd chosen to return with him stateside….

…the time since they'd stood in the old church down the street and joined their paths together forever….

"You are my present every day, Peggy," he assured her letting his eyes shine into hers.

"And you are mine." She released her embrace and walked across the room. Her thoughts had centered much of that week as to when to give him her gift. "I know we agreed to wait until we came back to exchange gifts."

"Yeah so?" He could tell that something had been on her mind for much of that week. In the evenings following his shifts at Emilia's, she'd confined herself to small talk rather than the usual Peggy-esque straight-ahead truth. "So what is it?"

"What's what? Steve, I have no idea of what you're talking about," she hedged.

He saw it at that moment. He knew when the slight wrinkle in the corner of her eye. He clearly recognized the slight shuffling of her feet; the hesitation in that step. "There's been something on your mind for a couple of days now. Is it something I did?"

"Captain, please! If you did anything, I'd tell you," she assured him.

"Then what's going on? Is everything okay?" he wondered.

She sighed and rolled her eyes. She leaned against the bedroom wall and glared at the ceiling. "You were always too perceptive for your own good." She managed a smile. "I may have to give you your gift early."

"A gift isn't that big of a deal, Peggy. We can deal with anything," he asserted with all of his heart.

"Isn't it?" She smirked at him.

"Isn't what? I…." He saw the nervous energy shift to a happy relaxation in her eyes. And somehow at that moment, he knew…

He knew…..

His jaw dropped.

"You're pregnant, aren't you?" he gasped.

She smiled at him. "Dr. Henderson confirmed it last Wednesday. Two months along now. I wanted to wait until today to tell you."

His heart skipped a beat to a happy tune. He felt as if he was truly lighter than air. He embraced her once again. "A baby! Oh, Peggy! I can't believe it!"

"We're going to be a family. Enough of us being orphans. We're going to give this child a home to be remembered," she vowed. "You belong to us, Steve Rogers. Both of us." She rubbed her belly in emphasis.

"And I promise to be the best for you both," he promised her. "Always." He sealed that concord with a tender kiss of his own onto her lips.

"I know," she affirmed; the usual set glance now returned to her eyes. She took his hand and squeezed it. "Shall we give them the news?"

"Lead on," he agreed.

She urged him out of the bedroom and out their door. With a turn of the key, she locked their space. Then they headed for the stairs and their afternoon activities.

[Brooklyn Bridge Park—an hour later]

As with most post-service affairs of that nature, the picnic had the best of everything. Sublime Italian fare graced the Stallones' careworn checkerboard cloth. A spirited stickball game lightened things up more. The company made it more so.

Howard Stark leaned back while relaxing. For once, even the energetic inventor could let his hair down a bit. Since coming stateside with Maria, he'd negotiated several promising government grants with the Defense Department. His new Number Two, Obediah Stane, ran everything smoothly.

Maria made sure he had some home life at least. She wouldn't allow her husband to retreat into a Gatsby-esque mental retreat from the world in their Long Island estate. Since their 'I-Dos', she'd insured that he had the best of everything. Now she sat next to him while leaning her head on his shoulder. "This is the life, Corazon."

"Definitely." He saluted her deftly with his glass of red wine and savored its vintage. More than the money he'd amassed and the possessions acquired, he treasured this paradise that Steve and Peggy had introduced them to. He wanted to improve the lot of these people. More so, he wanted to give his raven haired muse the best of everything. "We earned this through our sacrifices."

"God gives what he will," Maria agreed.

"Indeed he does," Peggy agreed while joining them. "Forgive me for intruding. Sure you don't want any fondue?"

Howard chuckled in spite of himself. "It's the middle of the afternoon not a night break from a war zone, Peggy." He shrugged at his wife who didn't get the gist.

"The mission where we met the Commandos, Maria. Howard offered to do some late night fondue. I had my mind on someone else," the former agent clarified while shooting Steve a look for emphasis.

"And glad you did," Maria agreed with a pleasant smile. "Especially given your news and my happiness with my inventor." Seeing everyone congregating around the blanket, she presumed, "It is time to eat, no? Come."

"Never deny good food or the wife for that matter. Take that down," he conceded willingly.

Peggy rolled her eyes at his little joke. Still, given the festivities, she could allow him his reference to their days at High Command and their missions….

…such as the one where he'd pulled her dreams out of the deep freeze literally….

"There you are," Louisa declared. She and Antonio spread their wares across the checkerboard. Almost like checkers, a different bowl had some exquisite delicacy. Her eyes shone warmly at the approaching trio. "The best for you all." She opened the top on a rather large casserole dish to reveal a richly crafted lasagna.

"Such art." Maria's mouth watered at the aroma and the promised taste of the dish in front of them. "Gracias, Señora Stallone."

"We share food and love, Maria. It's the way, no?" Louisa replied with a hearty smile. "Mama and I watch for Steven. I can watch for you all and the new baby." Her eyes shone on Peggy. "You are familia."

The promise of generations watching out for each other lightened the hearts of those concerned. "You give Steven gift of family, Peggy. And you, Howard and Maria, brought him back to us." Louisa looked at each one in turn. "Thank you for search and care. Now manga!"

Steve smiled as his wife and their friends were being 'reaffirmed' by the Italian matriarch into their family by choice. He couldn't wait to add a cousin or two to the menagerie rummaging around them. Meantime he set the cannolis and cake down that he'd brought to Emilia's on the previous day. He turned to his boss. "This is the life, isn't it?"

"Now you see why Papa told you to believe, Steve?" Antonio reminded him. "Si. This is life at its finest. We work for each other. We help each other. We stand by each other. Formula not make you who you are. You always have been that." He pointed at the Captain's heart. "Never forget."

For a brief second, Steve could see Erskine's ghost watching them with a gentle smile. I never forgot. I never will….. Then he shrugged. "I never will, Antonio. Never."

"Not that I'll let you," Peggy insisted as the others joined them.

"Can't have that," Maria chimed in. "For now, Capitan, the war is over. Es un tiempo para familia."

"For family." Steve sighed with contentment. He knew the former nurse was right. The war was over for the present; its appetite temporarily satiated for that day at least. For the present, he could enjoy the embrace of family, the pleasures of life and the promise of what was to come…

…especially when it came at the side of his beloved and their growing bundle of joy….

And for the Captain, that's all that mattered. True there was still duty but now it was to more than just country. It was to life and love as well.

No longer just trapped in the ice…Now free to serve all…

More than that. To be free to soar and roam…

An eventuality his friends had brought about….

An eventuality that they could enjoy….

And that was something to be treasured….

THE END