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The elevator doors that guarded the SSR facility opened with a ding, a sound that (Y/N) never thought she'd hear again after she was fired a few days ago. Peggy let out a shaky breath on her right side as they stepped forward into the bullpen, where dozens of their former coworkers were chatting in peace. The sound of their heels clicking against the hardwood floor alerted one of the agents near the door of their presence, and he stopped all his moments to clap slowly. (Y/N)'s first reaction was to frown in confusion and look back to Peggy, who's cheeks had flushed red when she recognized the reason for the gesture. The clapping grew louder as the other agents joined in, making some sort of aisle as the women walked deeper into the bullpen.

"Good work, Dewitt."

"Nice job, Carter."

Men who had never interacted with either of them extended their hands forward for handshakes, something that startled (Y/N) but managed to return the gesture. When she looked in front of her, she saw Thompson at the end of the hall along with Sousa, both men clapping along with the rest of the group.

"Well," Thompson placed his hands on his hips and offered a charming smile. "Good morning, ladies. You're here bright and early. I assume that means you'll be staying with the SSR."

"Haven't decided, actually," Peggy spoke up first. "I just came to pick up my paycheck."

"As did I," (Y/N) clasped her hands together. "If I knew we'd receive a standing ovation, I might've worn a better dress."

"Well, we'll keep the desks for you, just in case," Sousa smiled warmly at both of them.

"They'll be back," Thompson said in a confident tone and tapped Sousa's shoulder.

Before anyone could say anything else, the entire bullpen focused their attention on a group of unfamiliar men entering their workplace, looking completely out of place at the way several of those men looked around the room in curiosity.

"Which one of you fellas is Jack Thompson?" the man with white hair in the center of the group called out.

"That's me."

Thompson stepped forward with curiosity and the man met him halfway through the hallway, already extending his hand for a firm handshake.

"Walt Cooper, United States Senate."

"Walt."

"I just wanted to come down here and personally commend you for the fine work you and your team did," Walt's words made (Y/N) exchange a glance with Peggy, but both remained completely silent to hear what he had to say. "An attack on Times Square could have been a calamity, and what I hear is that you saved thousands of lives."

Those words took Thompson by surprise and yet he did nothing to correct Walt's assumption. (Y/N) pretended not to notice the way he looked over his shoulder to check if she and Peggy were listening, even though she certainly did. Sousa, on the other hand, didn't hide the confusion in his face and looked between both women to see if they had a similar reaction to his.

"The city and the country owe you a great debt," Walt smiled proudly at Thompson, who, despite looking uncomfortable, stayed completely quiet. "We need more men like Jack Thompson fighting for freedom and security. You're all lucky that you work for him."

"I just did what needed to be done."

"Yeah." Walt clasped a hand on Thompson's shoulder and started guiding him away to have a more private conversation. "You play your cards right, son, and you could get a congressional honor out of this situation. The president wants to thank you himself."

(Y/N) watched Walt and Thompson disappear inside the latter's office with pressed lips, trying to contain her words back. She could already imagine the way Thompson was internally beaming at the recognition, despite knowing that he didn't deserve it. Maybe after everything they had gone through together, she hoped to see a change in him, but then realized that was a childish thought.

"How can you just sit there and take that?" Sousa snapped in frustration after the door to Thompson's office slammed shut.

"Daniel," Peggy almost laughed at the anger in his voice.

"I'm gonna tell that senator what really happened," Sousa began, already making his way toward the office. "Hell, I'll tell Truman himself."

"It really doesn't bother me."

"Well, it bothers the hell out of me," Sousa stopped his movement. "I saved that jerk's life."

(Y/N) wanted to say that she had too, but that went against her sworn secrecy to that moment. "A congressional honor is not necessary to me."

A scoff escaped Sousa's lips, still incredulous.

"What I wanted was to be treated equally," (Y/N) decided to further her point. "And you already gave me that. What more can I ask for?"

"I don't need Agent Thompson's approval or the president's," Peggy agreed with her friend's words and merely shrugged at the thought of receiving recognition for her actions. "I know my value. Anyone else's opinion doesn't really matter."

Sousa looked like he still wanted to argue, but when he realized it was no use, he dropped the subject. Instead, he decided to change the conversation into a much lighthearted one.

"Uh, hey, I was gonna. . .grab a drink."

"Right at this moment?" Peggy raised her eyebrows. "It's 9:00 in the morning."

"No, no," A nervous laugh escaped Sousa's lips. "After I clock out."

Peggy let out a sound of realization to his words, meanwhile all (Y/N) could do was look between the two and resist the urge to facepalm over the awkwardness.

"Want to join me?"

(Y/N) saw the glint in Sousa's eyes and knew he was too kind of a soul to invite both of them out when his true intention was to ask one of them.

"Maybe another time," She rejected softly, hoping that Peggy might take the hint. At the same time, Sousa gave her an appreciative smile.

"Me too," Peggy offered a smile of her own, grabbing an old file to avoid looking at him in the eye. "I've got to meet a friend."

(Y/N) glared at the side of her head and Peggy was either too concentrated on the file in her hand to notice or completely ignored the action.

"Sure. Sure thing," Sousa stammered over his words and slowly backed away. "Another time."

(Y/N) watched how Sousa turned around and focused on his own paperwork, which gave Peggy the perfect opportunity to let out a smile without getting caught. Even if she thought she was being discreet, (Y/N) still took notice of this and elbowed her friend in the ribs.

"Wait till I tell Angie about this."

"Oh, you wouldn't."

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Speaking of Angie, both women met up with her right after their shift was over and picked her up by the L&L Automat with the company of good old Mr. Jarvis, who seemed pleased to accompany them. Angie tried to pry the surprise out of (Y/N) and Peggy, but her efforts were fruitless. It wasn't until they arrived at the luxurious penthouse when Angie let out a surprised gasp and allowed Mr. Jarvis to guide them through it without further complaints.

"Oh my God. You're kidding me."

Mr. Jarvis guided the ladies to another one of the numerous rooms inside the penthouse, which in this case was the drawing room. Angie stood by the door with her jaw open as she took in the large space, the clean furniture and the famous paintings hanged on the walls.

"I know what you're thinking, Miss Martinelli, and, yes," Mr. Jarvis nodded in the woman's direction. "The drawing room has recently been refurbished in the neoclassical style."

"On the small side, isn't it?" Peggy turned toward the butler with raised eyebrows.

"Well, it is one of Mr. Stark's quainter residences, yes."

"'Quaint'," Angie scoffed at the description and walked toward the center. "You could fit the entire apartment where I grew up in this room."

"Six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a rooftop terrace for al fresco dining, and the library had a sufficient collection of first editions."

Angie snapped her head back to Mr. Jarvis. "And you're saying we can stay here for free?"

"Since the unfortunate incidents at both your home and place of work, Mr. Stark has offered this residence to you, Miss Carter and Miss Dewitt for as long as you might require it."

"It's a bit far from the theater district," Peggy pointed out at the sight of Angie's glimmering eyes.

"I'll live with it," Angie decided firmly. "You got a phone? I have to call my mother."

"Naturally," Mr. Jarvis smiled at her enthusiasm. "There's a telephone in every room."

"Oh, my God! Are you kidding me?"

Angie ran in the direction of the hall in search of the telephone and disappeared out their line of sight.

"How refreshing to meet someone who appreciates the finer things."

"I appreciate the finer things," Peggy jumped to defend herself at his accusation. "I just don't want to know what's happened in and on the fine things."

Mr. Jarvis, who had picked up a cushion just as Peggy started talking, stopped all his movements when he realized she had a point and dropped the cushion back in its place.

"I imagine you're looking forward to some peace and quiet," Peggy set her coat on a chair. "At the very least, having both feet on the ground."

"Yes, I've allowed several of my duties to fall by the wayside of late," Mr. Jarvis smoothed the wrinkles of his suit as he spoke. "My next project is, quite engrossing. A complete and total overhaul of the kitchen spices."

"How intriguing!" (Y/N) let out a gasp.

"But should you find yourself in need of my services, I would be honored to assist you at a moment's notice."

Her expression softened at the sincerity of his words. "Thank you, Mr. Jarvis."

"Uh, where is Howard?" Peggy crossed her arms over her chest. "I haven't heard from him."

"Presently attempting to negotiate the return of his property from the SSR."

"Let's hope he builds a better vault for next time," (Y/N) commented with a hint of a laugh.

"Actually, he decided to destroy everything."

"Really?" That sounded so out of character for him, since she could recall how protective he was about his stuff. "Well, that's a shock."

"He continues to believe that no government, even our own, can be trusted with those particular inventions."

(Y/N) let out a hum of agreement at those words, but her mind couldn't help but wonder back to that one invention. She thought if Howard had already decided to destroy the sample as well, especially without even consulting with her first.

"Especially," Mr. Jarvis snapped her out of her train of thought, and he reached to grab something out of his breast pocket. (Y/N) felt her heart stop when he held it out. "This."

The last sample of Steve's blood was held delicately in Mr. Jarvis's hands, and he extended it for her to take. (Y/N) wanted nothing more than to reach out and take it, but she glanced beside her to check for Peggy's approval. All she did was offer a nod of her own, her eyes growing teary at the sight of the sample too.

"Howard wants to give me this?" (Y/N)'s voice nearly cracked when she asked.

"He is under the impression that the sample of Captain America's blood was lost when he was under Dr. Fennhoff's control."

(Y/N) couldn't help but smile at Mr. Jarvis. "So you are giving me this?"

"I owe Howard Stark a great deal, but he does not own my integrity," he responded with a firm tone. "I am quite certain there is only one person in the world who knows what to do with this."

She swallowed the lump in her throat at those words. She removed her gaze from Mr. Jarvis's form and stared at the vial in her hand, which had begun to shake the moment the sample touched her fingers.

"You, Miss Dewitt."

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There was only one place in her mind where she wanted to go and clear her head, and that was the Brooklyn Bridge. She thought it was the most appropriate place — after all, it was his hometown and where they spent the entirety of their childhood together. When (Y/N) had asked Peggy to come with, the brunette had slowly shook her head and said it was her who needed the sample the most. There was no room for argument after that. (Y/N) walked close to the railing of the bridge with her arms wrapped around her figure to protect herself from the cold breeze the day had to offer.

Once she found the perfect spot, (Y/N) slowly pulled the vial from her coat and with shaky hands took the glass lid off. A single tear slipped down her cheek as she extended her hand out of the bridge's railing. With a shaky breath, (Y/N) closed her eyes and poured drop by drop Steve's blood out of the vial and into the river. She could barely see how the red mixed in with the murky water below, but that didn't matter.

She could hear the words she had said to Howard as she tried to snap him out of Fennhoff's control — he made a choice and we just have to find a way to live with it — and realized she wasn't taking her own advice. Steve had been a huge part of her life for a long time, and his death along with Bucky's left a large void in her heart. It wasn't until this moment when she realized that she wasn't going to spend the rest of her life drowning in 'what-if's' or waiting for a miracle — she had to let them go no matter how much it pained her. They would've wanted that for her.

"I'm with you 'til the end of the line'."

i'm back !!
we finally ended the first season!

people i hope you're ready for the second season, because things are going to get better and crazier from this moment forward if you know what i mean (howard and y/n content)

- see you soon, bex <3