To Infinity and Beyond

Konstantine ended up being a big, black, curly-haired dog who spoke Russian. "Steve, this is Konstantine. My dog," Amy explained, carrying over her duffel bag and the big dog who was attacked to a red, white, and blue leash. 

"You got a dog?"

"Well, my friends got me a puppy for Valentine's Day as a joke because they were worried I was lonely. But we fell in love. Come on...I suckered Nick into a town car." 

Steve followed his sister out into the busy street. He was glad that New York was still as popular as ever. He sat in the back next to his sister as the big dog got the window seat, gladly sticking his head out to feel the wind in his fur. "See? Not so bad, huh?" she asked, smiling at her brother's amazement. 

"It's louder. What is that woman wearing?" 

Amy laughed as Steve blushed at a woman wearing too short-shorts, and a crop top. "Welcome to twenty-first-century fashion. Booty shorts."

"There so indecent." 

"I know, but when it's hot, it's more comfortable than wearing pants or jeans. We'll have to get you some clothes eventually. But let's get home first. I'll make you some dinner and we can talk if you want."

"Okay," Steve muttered. 

The car pulled up to a very decent and abandoned apartment building. Amy got out, waving to the old doorman as they made their way up. "Nobody really lives here. Too old, and has a lot of code violations. I had the top apartments renovated into a loft so I could have my privacy. Kinda like a safe house." Amy got into the elevator, pushing the button so they could go up. Steve followed and waited patiently as she pulled the gate shut and leaned back as the elevator slowly rose up. Amy turned her head to the side and smiled at her brother. When they got to the top, she slid the door open and motioned Steve to follow her. Unlocking the door, she let go of Konstantin's leash and motioned Steve in. "Make yourself at home," she said, dropping her bag and rifling through her mail. Steve wandered around the living room, seeing a modest-sized kitchen with different kitchen gadgets. Steve sat on a large sectional couch, staring at the massive TV. It was like looking at a theater screen. "So, I figured we can order something in tonight so you can get used to everything. And maybe tomorrow, we can go get you some clothes from this century." 

"Okay..." Steve said, still overwhelmed. 

Amy sat next to him and grabbed his hand. "Hey...Don't worry. I know everything is different, but it's gonna be okay. We're together again."

Steve nodded, clearing his throat as he looked over at the pictures she had framed on the mantle of the fireplace, and walls. Steve got up, feeling restless, and looked at a couple. One of them was the Howling Commando back in the 40s. One of her and Bucky on their last New Year. One was of her and Steve. As he glanced at them, he realized that she had timelines of her own life. As he went closer to the present, he saw a picture of a man that looked strangely familiar. "Who's this?" 

"That's Tony Stark...Howard's son."

"Howard had a kid?" Steve asked, surprised. 

"Yeah. Tony's a fucking genius, just like his dad. Howard got married in the late seventies to a lovely woman named Maria. She didn't take his shit. They died in a tragic car accident." 

Steve heard the bitterness in her voice. "What happened?"

"I don't know. The police on the scene said that he must have swerved. But their injuries...I saw their bodies. I don't think it was an accident. Howard was my rock after you and Bucky died. But after Tony was born, I saw a new side to him. He never stopped looking for you, which caused him to be a neglectful parent. I resented him for how he treated Tony. But the week before he died, I fell and dislocated my shoulder. He came and took me home. It was around Christmas. I wish I was nicer to him."

Steve sucked in a breath as he saw a picture that hurt his heart. Picking it up, he gently stroked the picture of Peggy Carter in a white wedding dress next to a smirking Amy. "Peggy? Is she..."

"Oh...She's still kicking and feisty as ever. She's not herself though." Steve relaxed a bit but was still tense. "She has Alzheimer's." 

"What's that?"

"It's a disease that affects the brain. Her short-term memory isn't there. She remembers some things, mostly in the past. She has her good days and bad days. I still go see her every chance I get. She never gave up hope." Steve nodded, his throat tight. Amy saw his watery eyes and moved to hug him. "It's gonna be okay. We'll get through this together. Let's order some food. We'll work through it." 

TWO WEEKS LATER

Steve glared at the gadget that Amy slid over to him. It's been two weeks since he woke up and those two weeks have been filled with more stress and headaches than he's ever been through. And he's been through a war! "Steve...It's not that hard. I even bought you the easiest one they had until you get used to it. Then we can upgrade you to a smartphone." 

Steve glared at her this time as he picked it up. Technology was so complicated these days. Like how did a stove get so complicated? And how does one determine the perfect time to cook popcorn? Why does a television remote have so many buttons instead of a dial? He barely knew how to heat up a frozen pizza, hot pocket, and how make Kraft Mac-N-Cheese. Now she wanted him to have a cellular phone? "Why can't I use the landline?"

"Because you can't carry it with you outside. And you need to go outside. Being stuck here is making you depressed. And I gotta get back to work. So, this way we can keep in touch and I can find you."

"You mean babysit me." 

No, I mean, track you. I nearly lost you for seventy years. I'm putting a tracker on you so I can find you. Look...I already programmed my number in there for you. All you have to do is press one and then the green button." 

Steve did as she instructed and her smartphone instantly rang. "See? Easy!" 

"Okay," he nodded. 

Amy smiled in encouragement, but her anxiety was at an all-time high as she got ready for work the next day. She made sure Steve had plenty of food, her spare laptop (he now knew how to Google things), and the cell phone. Waving goodbye, she left and headed to the Smithsonian. It was good to be at work but she constantly checked her phone and see where Steve was. Finally, it was time to head home fo the day and when she came home she saw Steve eating Chinese food. "Hey. You ordered Chinese?" 

"Better...I went out and got it." 

"Good for you!" Amy smiled, grabbing a container of dumplings. "Maybe tomorrow when I get home we can to go the grocery store." 

"Okay," Steve nodded, smiling a bit. He finally mastered something. Going to the grocery store the next day was an experience. Amy had a pounding headache. Steve's eyes widened at the massive store and wandered like a child. "Three dollars for a loaf of bread?!" 

"Shh! Keep your voice down!" she whispered. 

"But...That's insane!" 

"That's inflation, my friend. You wanna do something different tonight?"

"Sure," Steve shrugged. For the past two weeks, their nighttime routine was watching TV shows that Amy liked or watching a movie to get Steve caught up on pop culture. "Like what?"

"You'll see," Amy smirked, pushing their cart to check out. After they got back home, Steve took Konstantin out for a walk while Amy put the groceries away and began the meal prep for the week. Steve returned and saw Amy wearing a tank top and a tight pair of spandex pants. "Go put on a pair of shorts or sweats." Amy grabbed two water bottles, filling them with ice-cold water her mind drifting to her day at S.H.I.E.L.D. 

"How's Captain Rogers settling in?" Nick asked as Amy read a report on the Tesseract. 

"Good...Things frustrate him but within reason." 

"I need you to start training him." 

Amy turned to Nick, narrowing her eyes. "Excuse me?"

"He needs to start training."

"What he needs is to get used to this world. He can barely go down the street without getting lost. The last thing on his mind is training and getting back out there. What's really going on, Nick?" Fury sighed, sliding the file towards her. Amy recognized it. "Seriously..." 

"He would be a good fit." 

"Of course, he would, but he's not ready. None of them are ready." 

"Not yet...That's why we need him to get ready. He's a soldier. From the stories you've told me, he was always ready to right." 

Amy unlocked the door, waving at the owner. "That's Sal. He runs this gym and lets me use it after hours. More privacy, fewer gawkers."

"Gawkers?" Steve asked as Amy set down her duffle bag. 

"Yeah. This is where I go and work out when I'm here and not in D.C. It's more private. Nobody to stare at me while I punch a punching back. Let's spar." 

"Spar?" 

"Yeah," Amy grinned, stepping into the wring. Wrapping her hands in tape, she bounced on her bare feet, feeling the power accumulate under her feet. 

"Ames," Steve sighed as he stepped in after her. 

"Let's go!" Amy urged, swinging at him. Steve dodged and stepped back, causing Amy to roll her eyes and clap her hands together. "Come on! Are you scared you're going to get your ass kicked by your baby sister? Or is it the fact that you're gonna get your ass-kicked by a girl?" Amy swung her foot, kicking Steve in the side middle of her foot. Steve staggered back in pain. Amy sent a punch in his direction, blinking out of his view to arriving behind him and kicking him in the back. 

"Stop...Amy...Stop!" Steve shouted as she blinked in and out to punch and kick him. Finally, he blocked and punched her in the face. Thirty minutes later, they were both full of bruises, cuts, sweat, and blood. Panting, Amy grinned as Steve collapsed down on the mat and lay down next to him. "That...kinda felt great."

"You need to start doing this more often. Sal will let you in here whenever you want. Things are different, but you're the strongest person I know. I need you, Steve. Don't let me down."