compelledtoprotect

[Steve didn't look on most of his memories with anything but pleasure. Sure, there'd been hard times, but they'd pulled together and survived. That was what mattered. Not the pain or the hunger or the cold. He'd had family and friends and that had made everything bearable. Well, he'd had his mother, Bucky and Bucky's family, and that had been enough.

He gave her a soft smile, glad they could pretend things were mostly normal. It was one of the ways Steve coped. Taking full advantage of the calmer times.]


We were pretty naughty, that's for sure. Definitely did all the things they tell kids not to. And it's . . . I hate to say it, but it's a real gift to have him again. I don't really wish anyone here, but I can't say I'm sorry to see his face every day. Or yours.


[He did wish her home, and safe, but Steve was also selfish enough to take advantage of having her in the hotel. As long as she was there, he'd want to be around and available. It wasn't just the romantic potential. Peggy had been a friend before anything else, and that would always be important to Steve. True friends were worth anything.]


How . . . how was Howard? When you left I mean? Was he still doing his thing?