Steve Rogers yawned and pulled the obscene amount of mail out of the mailbox. After making a pot of coffee, he settled down with his favorite mug and began to sort through it. Bills went to Tony, this one had his name on it, this one was Bruce's... Eventually, he had seven neat piles. He set aside Peter and Clint's piles to forward them to their respective addresses, and put Tony, Nat, Thor, and Bruce's in their cubbies. He poured himself another cup of coffee and began to go through his pile. It was mostly letters from fans, but there was one from Sharon Carter. He hadn't heard from her in a while.

Steve tore open the envelope and pulled out another one addressed to him and a small note. He read the note first.

Steve,

I found a box of Peggy's stuff about a month ago and went through it. I found this letter for you. Call me when you read it.

-- Sharon.

The envelope was dated about eleven years ago, around the time he first emerged from the ice. When he opened it he found a thick piece of paper written in neat cursive.

My dearest, Steve,

I heard that they brought you out of the ice today. I don't know if I'll ever see you again. As I'm sure S.H.I.E.L.D has informed you, I've been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and will be gone in a few years. So, I'm writing this letter to share an enormous secret I've been carrying for years.

About three months after you were frozen, I found out that I was pregnant. When our child was born, I immediately knew that they were yours. They reminded me so much of you, even as a baby. I named them (Y/N) Rogers. I heard you tell Bucky that you've always loved that name. When they were three years old, I turned my back for five seconds to talk to the neighbor, and then they were gone. I couldn't stop searching for them until I was diagnosed and moved into a retirement home. Sometimes, I wonder if they're still alive somewhere, and who they became if they are. I'm afraid I won't live to find the answer.

If we've seen each other by the time you're reading this, I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. It still hurts to think about them even years after they were taken. I want you to know that I love you more than anything and not a day went by that I didn't think about you or (Y/N). I hope you won't hold the fact that I built a life without you against me. I found happiness and some semblance of solace with my family, as I hope you eventually will when you meet all the wonderful people you'll share the rest of your life with.

All the best,

Peggy

Steve noticed the wet spots on the paper before he realized he was crying. He had a child. They'd be about 77 now. It was strange to think that they'd be physically older than him. He had missed so much in the years he'd been stuck in the ocean. He wondered if they looked more like him or Peggy. If they were happy. If they had a family. Did he have grandchildren or even great-grandchildren? Steve was going to find them. He knew that much, at least. He just needed a place to start.

***

It was just Loki's luck that tonight happened to be Family Dinner Night. Once a month, the Avengers and their families met at one of their homes and ate a meal together. And, since Thor was an Avenger and Loki was his (adopted) brother, he had to take part in the frivolous event. At least it was Barton's turn to host. The family may not be thrilled to have him in their home, but Barton and his wife made the best food in the group. Still, he'd rather be home. All he could do was listen to the Midgardians' dull conversation and pick at his food. He was counting the seconds until he could hold his darling (Y/N) again...

"Hey, Cap, you're pretty quiet. What's up?" Stark asked.

"Nothing," Rogers muttered. "Just thinking." Loki perked up a bit. Now, this was interesting.

"Well, spill, it's Family Dinner. We toss around ideas, catch up, all that jazz." Rogers sighed.

"Okay... Do any of you know a (Y/N) Rogers?" Loki froze for a split second before forcing himself to eat like nothing was wrong. How did he find out about them? And, more importantly, how could he derail the search? Hopefully, no one would be able to answer and they could stay hidden a while longer.

The rest of the group thought for a moment. "Yeah, I think so," Barnes said. Well, shit. Hopefully, it was someone else. (Y/N) Rogers was a common name, right? "We went through Hydra around the same time. They were a lot younger than me. They got out before I did, though." Loki's heart sank. "Why?" Rogers was quiet for a moment.

"Peggy and I had a child. They were kidnapped when they were about three." No. It wasn't supposed to happen like this.

"Did you say their name was (Y/N) Rogers?" Stark asked. Rogers nodded. "Alright. After dinner, we'll start searching." Thor turned to Loki.

"Are you alright, brother? You look pale. Slightly more so than usual, of course."

"Y-yes, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" Everyone turned to Loki, and he suddenly felt like he was about to faint.

"You have something you wanna tell us, Reindeer Games?" Stark asked.

"Of course not." Romanoff glared at him, and all he could think was, she knows.

"Listen, god or not, if you're hiding something, and I have a feeling you are, I won't hesitate to shoot you where you stand," Barton threatened. Loki did his best to give him his signature sarcastic look but felt himself just miss the mark.

"Do you really think so little of me?"

"Brother," Thor chided him.

"Yes," Barton said. Loki sighed.

"I suppose I'll take my leave, then. I have other matters to attend to, anyway." With that, he calmly stood up and walked out of the Barton house. As soon as his foot hit the grass, though, he ran to his truck and, after magically scanning it for a tracker, drove away. He was suddenly very glad he'd learned how.

The Barton farm was about three hours away from Arcadia. Loki stopped there to get gas and pick up (favorite pastry) for (Y/N), then drove up the mountain a few more miles. Finally, around 11 PM, he made it home.

The cottage in the St. Francois mountains was one of the few places Loki felt like he belonged. Though, honestly, as long as (Y/N) was there, even Asgard could feel like home. His spouse was the light of his life, and he'd do anything to keep them safe and happy. Which was why it killed him to have to break the news to them.

Loki took a deep breath and walked up to the door. He stepped inside and called, "I'm home." (Y/N) ran into the living room and threw their arms around his neck. They pressed a kiss to his lips, and he couldn't keep himself from smiling. He put an arm around them and kissed them back.

"How was Family Dinner?" (Y/N) asked, still holding him. Loki groaned.

"Dreadful. I wish Thor would stop forcing me to go. Then I could spend all my time here with you and we could eat the (favorite pastry)s I got."

"Is that what's in the bag?!" Loki grinned and nodded. (Y/N) practically dragged him to the kitchen, and the couple sat down at the table and opened the box. They sighed happily as they took a bite of the pastry. "So, what happened over there? There's clearly more on your mind than the usual mundanity of Family Dinner." Loki smiled softly at them.

"Always so perceptive." They shrugged.

"Nah. I just know you. So, do you want to talk about it, or is it something you'll have to stew over for a while first?" Loki took a deep breath.

"I should talk about it now. It concerns both of us." He took their hand. "Please, promise you won't freak out." (Y/N) frowned.

"You're scaring me."

"Your father found out about you and is looking for you." The look that spread across his spouse's face shattered him.

"How?"

"I'm not sure." (Y/N) closed their eyes.

"We need to move. We need to get as far away from here as possible." Loki didn't think his heart could break any further. (Y/N) stood up and began to pace. "We should start packing now."

"Or, we could stay." (Y/N) shook their head, flapping their hands helplessly.

"No, no, he'll find me then. I can't risk that." Loki stood up and took their hand. They stopped abruptly and turned to look at him, tears shining in their eyes. "I'm not ready to see him yet."

"I know. You won't have to until you're ready, I promise." (Y/N)'s face crumbled, and Loki pulled them to his chest as they began to sob.

***

Loki parked in front of Barton's house and looked around. The QuinJet was still there, so he got out of his truck and knocked on the door. The youngest child, Nathaniel, answered it. "Hello, Mr. Loki," he said cheerfully, hugging the god's leg quickly. Loki smiled softly and patted his head.

"Hello. Is Steve Rogers still here? I remembered something important I needed to tell him." Nathaniel nodded and led Loki through the house.

"Uncle Steve, Mr. Loki wants to talk to you," he yelled. Loki grimaced at the lack of subtlety. Rogers walked up to him, Romanoff in tow.

"What do you want, Loki?"

"Could I speak to you privately, please? It's urgent." Rogers frowned. Loki leaned closer and murmured, "It's about the matter you brought up last night." Rogers' expression shifted, and he nodded, gesturing for Loki to follow him. He obliged and shut and locked the door to Barton's guest room behind him.

"Is this some elaborate trick to try and stab me?" Loki shook his head.

"No. You should sit down. This may take a bit." Rogers did as he was asked. "I wasn't entirely honest with the group last night."

"When have you ever been?"

"That's fair. I wasn't lying to cause you any pain, however. I feel that's important to clarify. I lied because the truth wasn't mine to give freely."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Loki held up his hand.

"Please, Rogers, let me finish. I'm sure you'll have many questions, but first, you need to let me talk."

"How do I know I can trust you?"

"Because there are only three people I truly love. One is dead, one could be any day, and I'm trusting you with the one thing that could destroy the third. And, I must warn you, if you do use what I'm about to tell you to harm them in any way, there is nowhere in the nine realms where you will be safe. I will hunt you down and make you feel every ounce of pain that you inflicted upon them. Do you understand?" Steve nodded. "Good. Please, bear with me while I'm telling this story. It's just very... emotional. First, tell me everything you know about (Y/N)."

"They're my child, Peggy had them after I was frozen, and they were kidnapped when they were three." Loki took a deep breath.

"Okay. We'll start from the very beginning, then. (Y/N) Rogers was born to Margaret Carter on (your birthday), 1946. She raised them until they were three. They don't remember much from that time, just Carter's face and a few odd events. When they were about three and a half, Dr. Arnim Zola went to the house and gave (Y/N) candy laced with some sort of sedative and took them to one of HYDRA's bases. They were raised on various bases and trained to be a Winter Soldier. It was brutal. They were beaten, starved, and suffered many other tortures that they haven't even shared with me. They were sedated and moved many times, and eventually cryogenically frozen, to keep them young.

"They were thawed around the same time your friend, Barnes, was. No one expects a twelve-year-old to be a trained assassin. They took out several important targets, though they didn't gain a huge reputation the way Barnes did. Director Fury went after them personally when he realized who they were and managed to capture them, though not without obtaining a few injuries. He took them back to S.H.I.E.L.D's base and began running through experimental protocol that would release a Winter Soldier from Hydra's grasp. Much to his surprise, it worked, though he was aware they could be switched back at any moment.

"After they were... deprogrammed, Director Fury gave them the citizenship test, which they aced, of course, and registered them as (Y/N) Carter. He helped them enroll at New York University and they got a job and an apartment in the city. They studied art and engineering and took the opportunity to do everything they'd ever wanted. When they were in their sophomore year, they put some of their abstract work into an art show and people loved them. They began to paint more and take commissions in addition to preparing work for shows. That's how they earned enough money to buy a cottage across the country almost immediately after they graduated. They moved out to Missouri--"

"Wait, they're in Missouri?" Shit. He'd said too much. "Where? How far away is it? Can I drive there now? How come Clint didn't know?"

"Rogers, I thought I told you to hold your questions. I haven't finished yet, and there's still more to this than you know." Rogers' face flushed, and he nodded.

"Right. Sorry." Loki sighed.

"It's alright. I understand that you're curious. Now, where was I... Right. (Y/N) moved to Missouri after they graduated and, as part of their agreement, Nickolas Fury covered their trail and made sure no one would know where they were or how to find them. They began to focus on their art and living the life they wanted. They kept to the cottage and the village below them for the most part. They still took a yearly trip to New York to sell their pieces at the art show. They entered a very happy relationship in 2013 and got married two years later. They had some hardships, though. In 2016, Agent Carter died, as you know, and they went to the funeral. It was very difficult for them. They visited Carter twice before her death. The first time was about a year after you were thawed out. She thought they were trying to play a trick on her and insisted that her child was gone. The second time, she didn't remember (Y/N) at all. So, you can imagine the guilt they must've felt. They tortured themself for almost a year, insisting that they could've been a better child, they should've revealed themself to their mother as soon as they were safe, they should've stayed in New York until she passed. Nothing anyone could say to them could've ever helped.

"And, right when they were beginning to recover, their husband, the complete wanker that he is, was called back to his home on business and never returned. They assumed he'd died in the Blip, but in reality, Thanos killed him before he got all six stones, so when he didn't immediately return, their mental health took an even bigger blow. When that idiot finally returned from a place beyond space and time, they could barely get out of bed. But, lucky for him, they forgave him. It was more than he deserved, to say the least. But, they're very happy together, and they've managed to rebuild their life. Things are still difficult for them, but they're getting better every day. They started painting again, their garden is heavenly, and I swear, they make the best apple fritters you'll ever taste.

"The scars inside their heart haven't entirely faded yet, but they're going to be okay. I have faith in them." Rogers was silent for a few moments, Loki assumed because he was processing everything he'd just heard. "I'm sure you have questions. Whenever you're ready, feel free to ask anything, and if I can provide an answer, I will." Rogers took a deep breath.

"How... how do you know all this?" Loki laughed nervously.

"Funny story... I'm actually their husband. Well, sometimes. Sometimes I'm their wife or their spouse, but um. We're married." Rogers nodded slowly, not saying anything. "Surprise?" He turned and glared at Loki. The god laughed nervously. "Listen, I know I probably should've told you, but as I said--"

"I want you to take me to them. Now." Loki shook his head.

"I'm truly sorry, Rogers, but that's the one thing I can't do."

"Now, unless you want me to call Romanoff. I want to see them."

"Do you think I'm trying to hide them from you? Why do you think I told you their story instead of just kidnapping you and bringing you to our home? They told me to talk to you because they're not ready to see you yet, and I refuse to do anything that would harm them in any way, not after I was stupid enough to get killed and then kidnapped by a group of bloody time-travelers when I tried to get back to them." Steve's face fell, and he sank to the floor.

"I just want to see my child," he said, his voice breaking. Loki sat down beside his father-in-law.

"I know," he said softly. "And you will get the chance. Someday. But for now, I can give you their phone number. They said that would be fine, as long as you communicated through text only. They find the distance somewhat comforting." Steve opened his mouth to say something, but all that came out was a sob. He took a deep breath, but when he tried again, all he could do was cry. Loki rubbed his back carefully. "It's... it's alright. I know this is difficult. But, just because they're not ready to even hear your voice doesn't mean they don't love you. It's quite the opposite, actually. They were so worried you'd hate them, but--"

"Hate them?" Steve barely managed to get out. "How could I possibly hate my own child?" That was a punch in the gut. Loki couldn't hold his tears back anymore.

"I... I don't know." At that moment, his cell phone went off. Loki scrubbed at his tears a bit before picking up the phone. "Hello, love."

"Loki? Are you okay?" He could only sniffle a bit in response. "Oh, Norns, it went horribly, didn't it?"

"No, it's alright. Rogers is just--"

"Is that them?" Loki inhaled sharply.

"Is that him?" (Y/N) asked.

"Yes." They were quiet for a moment.

"Put me on speaker."

"Are you sure, darling? You don't have to do anything if you're not ready."

"... Yeah. I think I'm sure."

"Alright." Loki tilted the phone away from his mouth and covered it with his hand. "I'm going to put (Y/N) on speaker now, Rogers. Please be careful not to bombard them with questions. They're already overwhelmed." Steve nodded. Loki moved the phone from his ear and clicked the button. "Alright, (Y/N), he can hear you now." (Y/N) took a deep, nervous breath.

"H-hey... Dad?"

"(Y/N)?" he asked. A beat of silence passed, and they both burst into tears. Loki leaned back and sighed. This was going to be a long, emotionally draining afternoon. He handed his phone to Steve and left to go find a box of tissues. Allfather knows they'll need it.