Who: Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter Rogers (for one night) Where: Their Coney Island motel room What: Sweetness and light When: Sunday 25th August, night, fairly late Rating: Probably high Open: No Status: Google doc / incomplete
Steve had gotten it all settled in his first trip out, pawning off some gold Maryanne given him and jewelry from around the island to get them the money to reserve a hotel room just off the beach, gotten them each small wedding rings to wear while they were around others, just in case someone got suspicious, and made sure they’d still have enough for pocket money after their day with the kids.
Once they made sure Sookie was okay with the baby and Sarah knew where to go and who to call if she needed help, Steve had brought Peggy back to Coney Island, his mood better than it had been in weeks, holding her hand as they walked along the beach toward their hotel. “This was...a really great idea Peggy.” he told her, leaning over to give her a gentle kiss, admitting softly, “I-I’m feeling a lot better than I would have thought.”
-----
She had had a wonderful time with her family. Even her foot hadn’t hurt at all, having leant on the rather old-fashioned but happily familiar pram and pushed their little boy while Sarah dragged Steve on every ride she could. Peggy had almost cried at the carefree look she saw on him, the genuine smiles and laughter. The baby had laughed with glee every time he was won a new toy to play with and Peggy had even indulged his sweet tooth with cotton candy and gotten her name chanted in applause as her own reward. She was so happy because they were. It was simple, fun, easy to be in this world. And she knew it had meant the world to Steve.
Her hand squeezed his as she walked with him. The ring on her hand felt a little strange but she knew from first hand knowledge that they never would have gotten a room together if they hadn’t pretended to be married. She found the lack of judgement better to deal with and now the kids were settled at home, Peggy and Steve were free to spend time together back in their own time. “It’s this place I think. There’s magic in the air, music, happiness, laughter. Every person here comes to escape normal life. It’s beautiful.” she muttered, leaning up against him a little. She’d even enjoyed being back in her old clothes and wearing that red two-piece that she’d had from her life before the Island. “You look so handsome, my love.”
-----
Steve gave her a smile, letting his thumb brush over the back of her fingers as they walked along, keeping a slow pace to make sure she wasn’t hurting. “And you look stunning.” he told her with a smile. It might not be as wide or bright as it could have been years ago, but it was genuine. “I hope you like the hotel, I just wanted to find one as close to the beach as I could. It’s small but it’s...I thought it looked nice.” he told her, just as they came up on the small, simple building.
He pulled a key chain out of his pocket, the number on it matching the one on the door he led them to, sliding it in and turning it while his other arm wrapped around Peggy’s back, keeping her close while he opened their door.
-----
She just chuckled and smiled, “I’m sure it’s…” Her voice faltered as she saw the inside. Or rather, the view from the window. It looked directly out over the beach and the boardwalk. Lights were still lit up and young couples were still walking and talking hand in hand. “Beautiful.” she finally muttered, immediately walking over to the window and staring out in awe. “You forget, don’t you? How much this makes people happy. Just forgetting their troubles and looking out at the beauty down there.” Peggy leant on the windowsill.
Part of her ached to go and see her family but she knew there’d be no time for anything of the like. It was probably better for her to stay away, anyway. There was another, younger version of her in army training in England and it would cause far too much strife. So she just looked down at the families still milling around, the lights still blaring and the music just about reaching her ears. “I can’t begin to say thank you for doing this, Steve. It’s perfect.”
-----
“Sometimes.” Steve murmured, following Peggy into the room and closing the door behind them, locking it up and then checking the lock again. He was feeling better but some of that nervousness and habit stuck with him. “Sometimes it’s hard to remember how to do that. I’m glad this place showed up.” he murmured, kissing her cheek.
He wrapped his arms around her middle and pressed himself against her back gently. “I should be thanking you. It was all your idea.” he told her with a smile, nuzzling into her hair with a soft sigh that had a happier tone to it than usual.
-----
Peggy leant back into his hold and ran her fingertips up and down his arms as she looked out onto the boardwalk. It was perfect and she wasn’t about to ruin it by bringing up bad things so she chuckled happily, “Jake found the door, you went through to see what it was. Maybe being here is a gift. We should make the most of it.” she linked her fingers with his and squeezed.
She hadn’t planned on much other than staying with him in his world, giving him the reign to be free and happy again. Peggy was just happy to see his smile back but she missed him holding her and feeling so deeply in love with him that it didn’t matter about the past or future. “I love you.” she said quietly but strongly. “That will never change.”
-----
He hummed softly, closing his eyes. He knew how beautiful the boardwalk was, what the shoreline looked like, but he was happier to focus on her. The way her fingers felt against his arms and the gentle warmth of her resting against him. It’d taken this place to bring him out of the bad mindset he’d been in, but having her there, having spent the day with his family, was what really made him happy. “I love you too Peggy, even if I don’t remember to show it enough sometimes.” he whispered, kissing her temple.
-----
Peggy revelled in the moment for a second, sighing happily as the lights outside twinkled. Her eyes drifted closed as he pressed his lips to her head sweetly and she knew it was this she missed the most. The wordless, happy moments in which they were just themselves. “You don’t need to show it.” she turned her head and looked up at him, “Not always. I know you love me, Steve. We have a family, we have a good life. Yes, there’s bad times but there’s so much more good. I wouldn’t trade what I have with you for anyone else.” she leant up and kissed his cheek. “I feel like I’m on the top of the world right now.”
-----
Steve gave her a small, honest smile, leaning in to catch her lips gently. She always had a way of knowing just what he needed to hear to let that guilt that he wasn’t good enough for her go away for a little while. “Good.” he whispered, standing up again. “You should always feel that way.” he told her with a light blush, worried he was being terribly cheesy. He gave her a soft hug, still being a little over-careful with her sometimes, and kissed her again, sighing softly and feeling finally content, at least for the moment.
-----
She kissed him back and turned to look at him, “There’s the thing, though. If I always felt like this then it’d never be special. It’d be ordinary and that would be boring.” Peggy looked back out over the view. “Like the roller coaster rides Sarah loved. They need ups and downs . Just going up never gets you anywhere to go except a terrifying down.” she laughed a little, “Okay so I’m terrible with analogies….” she shrugged, “Point is, my life with you is the best life I could hope for or want. I love every second, good and bad.” Peggy turned and kissed him once more.
-----
Steve let his hands rest at her hips lightly once she turned, sighing softly and giving her a small smile before closing his eyes and letting his forehead rest against hers. “Sometimes I almost forget how much smarter you are, then you go and say things like that.” he teased lightly, kissing her again. He found one of her hands with his and started backing in to the room, pulling her with him. “I got you something.” he smiled, letting her go to grab a box on the side table next to the bed. “It’s not much, but sweets were always so hard to get when we were kids and then we couldn’t have sugar during the war and...yeah.” he rambled softly, holding out the box that was printed with a simple beach scene and labeled ”Handmade Salt Water Taffy”. He’d tied a ribbon around it (badly) and even scratched off the price label, though he knew it wasn’t much anyway. “I...I don’t know if you’ve ever had it but it was Ma’s favorite.” he gave her a small, slightly sad smile and looked down at the box, “She always had a few pieces hidden away in the house, we’d share one whenever...things got bad.”
-----
Peggy beamed at him and took the box with delighted glee, running her fingers over the sweet but wrongly tied bow which she just found adorable. It was hard to imagine those fingers successfully tying ribbon gracefully since he was Steve. “You didn’t have to buy me anything, Steve. Thank you.” and she kissed his lips tenderly. “The box beautiful, I’ve never had this candy before.” She eagerly untied the box and pulled out a piece, licking her lips.
“Wait,” Peggy muttered and snapped the candy in half, offering it to him, “Let’s keep your mother’s tradition going, share it with me.” Sweets had been non-existent in most of her life; a few toffee apples, maybe a piece of chocolate if she was lucky. That had been a perk of the island, in the abundance of treats. “Please.”