Juliet
He was glad Director Fury had told him about this. It wasn’t necessarily protocol, but Steve appreciated it nonetheless. This was his only chance to say goodbye to the people he had once known, to the life he once had. So he had donned his old military uniform, the one from World War Two that had somehow miraculously made it perfectly preserved through the years, and took SHIELD’s private jet to the senior’s home nestled away in the English countryside.
The staff were falling over themselves to accommodate him as he entered the large mansion-like home. A lot of the women were ogling him, he could tell (living with Tony, unfortunately meant he actually could tell when it was happening now), and he forced himself not to blush under the attention. Instead, he followed the male orderly up the wide staircase and down a hall where a couple elderly folk were sitting and talking quietly together. The old men looked up as they neared and did a double take, jaws dropping. Steve tilted his head respectfully at them, murmuring a greeting before scurrying after the orderly. The last thing he wanted right now was two gossipy old men who wanted to talk to a hero they remembered from their youth.
The orderly stopped in front of a plain white door at the end of the hall and turned towards him, “She’s been having a few good days, but still hardly recognizes anyone. Even her own kids and grandkids. Don’t feel bad too bad, alright.”
Steve nodded, “I understand, sir. I have to try.”
The orderly looked him over for a long minute before nodding and knocking lightly on the door. He stepped in and told the inhabitant that she had a visitor, stepping back again to leave Steve with her. The Captain nodded in gratitude, taking off his cover as he entered the room, the door clicking shut quietly behind him.
Peggy sat in a rocking chair beside the window, looking small and frail in her old age, with a record player nearby softly playing Glenn Miller. Her hair had turned thin and wiry, starkly white compared to how it once was. Her skin was aged and wrinkled, her eyes clouded with years or hardship. But despite all this, she was still the most beautiful woman Steve Rogers had ever laid eyes on. Kneeling down at her feet, Steve looked up at her withered face and distant eyes before lying a gentle hand on her clasped ones. Slowly she turned to blink down at him, her expression remaining blank.
A small smile graced his features, “Hey, Peggy. I’m sorry I’m late.”
Gradually recognition began to light her eyes and she raised a shaky hand to his cheek. He covered it with his own much larger one, leaning into the touch with a sigh. Gently he took her hand away from his cheek and stood, “I believe I promised the lady a dance.”
She smiled weakly, not speaking as she rose unsteadily. He took her arms to help, guiding her to stand closer to him so he could carry her weight, placing one withered hand on his shoulder while the other stayed cradled against his chest. He was secretly pleased that Pepper had shown him to dance months ago when he needed to learn for an important gala event thing that Tony was hosting. At least now he knew he wouldn’t step on Peggy’s feet. He hummed along to Moonlight Serenade as he carefully maneuvered them in a small circle.
Peggy sighed, laying her head on his chest, “I’ve missed you Steve.” Her voice was small and brittle, a little breathy, lacking the fierce edge it once held while commanding troops, and it made Steve’s heart break a little for the woman he used to know.
He pressed his lips to the top of her head, “I missed you too, Peggy.”
As the song drifted to an end, she gazed up at him with remarkable clear eyes, “Stay?”
“I’m not going anywhere,” he promised, continuing to turn them in their simple dance, ignoring the fact that it no longer matched the music.
Two days later, Peggy Carter (she’d been married, had taken a new last name, but to Steve she’d always be Peggy Carter) died in her sleep, Captain America at her side, holding her hand. Her family had been surprised to say the least. Even more surprised when the Avengers (plus Pepper, Jane, Betty, and Coulson) showed up in support for their leader. Tony gently took the reins from the family and organized a funeral fit for a queen, calling Peggy an honorary Avenger.
The day of the funeral was cloudy, but not raining. The attendees found the Avengers in their Sunday best (Thor wore his usual armor, still not used to Earth’s clothing). Steve once more donned his uniform and stood solemn in the background with his friends, not wanting to invade in a private family moment. He moved forward only to place a single white rose on the coffin, inclining his head to Peggy’s family in respect before retreating back to the SHIELD cars waiting just outside the graveyard for them. It was time to leave the past behind him and move on. He was just glad he wouldn’t have to do it alone.