The Capitol had already succeeded in scaring Steve away from Peggy once. After Erskine's death, Steve had pulled back, had retreated to the relative safety and security of District Eight, where he had neighbors, people he liked, but no one who really meant something. Bucky wasn't around, and Clint and Peggy were both in the Capitol or other Districts, and for awhile, Steve had played it safe, not wanting to get anyone else hurt. But Clint and Peggy had both been insistent, had refused to let him cut ties completely, and he didn't have words for how thankful he was for that now. It meant the future was frightening, yes, but he still believed it was worth it, to have such wonderful people in his life. And he had Bucky back now, too, which - that was more than he'd dreamed of, these past few years.
And maybe that was making him greedy, but damn it, he wanted this, too. He wanted Peggy.
The reminder of Peggy's made him laugh outright, which he would have assumed a complete impossibility at the beginning of this phone call. "Nowhere to go but up," he agreed, voice warm, unbearably fond. "You let me know what day is good for you, all right?"