What Are We? Romanogers

Steve was throwing punch after punch to the hanging sandbag in front of him nonstop. Well, at least his frustrations was coming handy here.

His mother.

His bestfriend, Bucky.

And...Aliana.

He's missed out on everything he'd adored, lost everything he wanted.

Sometime he wandered if it would have been better had he died in that iced ocean. Thirty years. Thirty years! He's thirty years late in his life. His life took a thirty years leap. His time stopped, and the world moved on till thirty long years.

He knew nothing major had changed, except some modern technology. But in other side, he'd lost. He was lost in the new unfamiliar crowd.

He groaned when the punching bag bursted with his massive blow as piles of sand scattered on the floor. Well, he guessed the super serum went waste, just like his life.

" I was hoping you'd be sleeping. "

He turned around. And God didn't he feel relieved. Finally seeing a familiar face.

" Glad to see you, Captain. "

He chuckled as he realised he hadn't said a word till now. " I'm glad too, Agent Carter. Or should I say Director?"

" Peggy would have been fine. " She smiled and hugged him. He hugged her longer than she'd expected. She smiled and patted his back," Missed me, Captain?"

He pulled away shaking his head," Not much. Just feels like a week. "

She nodded with a smile. " Let's sit down."

He nodded and both sat side by side in the dusty looking bench of the gym.

" Congratulations. " She looked at him in confusion. He smiled and nodded at her ring. " Sorry for a late wish. "

She laughed shaking her head," Thanks." Then the air became silent. " I'm sorry. Couldn't give the closure your mom desperately wanted. Couldn't find you a little bit earlier. "

He shook his head," Don't say that. Please. You've nothing to feel sorry about. If anything, I should be thankful. I'm thankful. I'm grateful of you. "

She reached to her jacket pocket and pulled out a paper. It seems like washed and wrinkled at the corners. She looked at it for some time. " Sorry. I didn't mean to, I didn't want to intrude here, but...I had to..." She held that paper out towards him. " You've treasured this letter so I couldn't let any staff throw it away. "

Steve reached for it slowly and opened it very carefully, as if he's afraid to touch it, afraid because maybe this paper would torn apart just by his mere touch. He opened it gently and saw the cursive lines was fading away from the edge of this paper. But the contents were there.

As soon as his eyes landed on the bottom line, that name itself shook his shoulder and a tear dropped from his cheeks.

Peggy looked at him in pain. She understood later, why he'd been desperate to save them. Then suddenly realisation hit her like a rock. But a happy one. " Don't lose hope, Steve. The world is not ending tomorrow. Maybe fate will collide you with her someday. You're not going anywhere soon, not even Aliana. "

He looked at her. " You believe...I can meet her someday?"

It broke her heart. He sounded like a five year boy who's lost in an impossible crowed. She nodded placing her hand on his shoulder," Yes. I believe. You'll definitely see her again. " He smiled gratefully at her.

Don't lose hope. Hope. He reminded himself.

After a month, Natasha and Clint returned from their mission. " So you heading home?"