I've enjoyed writing this little story but I'm afraid this is the last chapter. And as was previously stated, this one is going to be a little on the sad side. Avengers…assemble for reading!

Got Your Back

"Eight o'clock on the dot. Don't you dare be late. Understood?" Peggy Carter

He sat next to the bed, holding her frail hand in his, heart breaking in two. Her kids had all come and gone, knowing that he needed this time, that after all these years he deserved this time. They'd all heard about him growing up, of their mother's first love. They had warned him before they left that she was just about gone, she probably wouldn't know him and she had been in and out of consciousness the past three days. It didn't matter. He had planted himself there yesterday afternoon and hadn't moved except to go to the bathroom. He hadn't even gone out to get food, and his enhanced metabolism was feeling that one.

He glanced down at the small, wrinkled hand in his big, smooth one. It wasn't fair. He had lived without aging. He had saved the world countless times. But now he held the last piece of his former life in his hands and it was slowly slipping away. And no amount of super-serum produced strength would help him hold onto it. Glancing at the pale form on the bed he found himself musing sadly, And I still don't know how to dance.

"You look thoughtful Rogers." The voice was weak and broken, not the same voice that played over and over again in the more pleasant part of his dreams, right before they turned to nightmares. But she recognized him, and that was a plus.

He gave her a small smile and stroked her hand. "Good morning Sleeping Beauty."

"Guess it's my turn…for a long nap, hmm?" she smiled back at him and wiped the traces of tears off his cheeks. "Stop that nonsense."

"What? The sun is too bright."

Peggy's chuckle turned into a coughing fit. He held her hand tighter. "The shades are closed Captain. And lying doesn't become you."

"Enhanced vision," he whispered but his voice cracked. "Don't do this to me Agent Carter."

"This is life Captain; here one moment and gone the next. But you know that better than anyone else, don't you?"

"Yeah, been through this a time or five."

"Do I hear the skinny kid from Brooklyn who didn't like bullies feeling sorry for himself?"

Steve looked away. "It could have been so different."

"Yes, we all could have died that day."

"That's not what I meant."

"I know," Peggy closed her eyes wearily and then reopened them, tears appearing. "We couldn't have done anything differently Steve. It just…couldn't be."

Steve took a deep breath, fighting to control his emotions. "You had a good life though?"

She smiled and took his face in her hands. "I've had a lovely life Steve. I…I don't remember it much now, but I was happy. I know that. And I know it was because of you. I've lived a good life. And now it's your turn Steve."

"My turn?"

"To have a good life Steve. My life ended the day yours did…but then something brought me back to life again. One day it's going to happen for you; you'll wake up and realize the past is behind you, and you have a bright dawning future before you. You'll fall in love; with a delightful young lady, with life, with the world around you. And someday Stephen Rogers, I promise you, you'll go dancing."

"I wanted to do all that with you," he couldn't keep the tears from falling. She shook her head. "It wasn't…meant…to be. Life has been unfair to you Steve, but I know that kid from Brooklyn will find a way to make it…because…he never…gives…up."

Bright blue eyes met fading brown ones. "I love you Stephen Rogers."

Those were the last words Margaret Carter spoke. Three hours later her breathing ceased, her hand held firmly in that of her former love's.

"Peggy just died," the call came over all their Avenger's ID cards from Natasha. Without a word and regardless of where they were and what they were doing, they stopped and headed for the Avengers Tower. Their leader needed them.

"I thought you were in Brazil," Clint stated casually when he arrived at the mansion the same time as Tony.

The billionaire shrugged. "Weren't you freelancing for Fury?"

"I thought it was more important to be here…where is he?"

"Not here yet," Bruce Banner was at the elevator waiting for them. "He didn't come home last night, and she only just passed away."

"He's not at the nursing home either," Natasha said as she and Sam emerged from the kitchen.

"A grief-stricken super-soldier…should we be worried?" Clint asked, cracking his knuckles.

"If it was anyone other than Steve Rogers…probably." Tony headed into the kitchen and the others followed. "What's the old man's favorite thing to eat?"

They all looked at each other and shrugged. Sam crossed his arms. "Fried chicken, mashed potatoes with lots of gravy. You guys have known him longer; how do you not know that?"

"I guess we just…never noticed?" Natasha looked down at her black boots. "He probably knows what we like to eat."

Tony pulled a package of chicken out of the freezer. "Anyone actually know how to cook?"

"Can't be that hard…got any shake n bake?" Clint asked and Tony threw him a box from the cupboard. "Have at it."

"I'll mash," Natasha declared as she grabbed way too many potatoes for a normal group of people and began to peel them.

"What about dessert?" Bruce asked, rummaging through the cupboards. Four voices spoke at once, "Apple pie."

They finished their meal preparations and stuck it in the oven. While it was cooking Natasha put on The Wizard of Oz.

Thor hadn't received the call about Peggy, but on his usual flyby he had spotted Steve standing by himself on a quiet bridge. The rain came down heavily and Thor landed next to his friend. "Captain?"

"I'm not going to jump," the voice said bluntly, devoid of emotion.

"Aye, a good thing. The water looks cold…the rain is cold as well. Perhaps you should get in from the elements."

"Peggy just died."

Thor felt a wave of sympathy. "I am sorry, friend Stephen."

"She was the last of us…besides Bucky, and who knows where he is." Steve rested his elbows on the bridge rail, blonde head dropping wearily onto his hands. His body shivered, but whether from cold or grief, Thor wasn't really certain.

"We should go," Thor said kindly but firmly. "How long have you been outside."

Steve shrugged. "Couple hours, I guess. Right after it happened; I-I didn't know where to go."

"Well, now you do," Thor tried to make his voice sound cheerful. "I shall help you home, and then you shall go to bed and tomorrow the world will seem less bleak."

Steve smiled wryly. "Peggy said something almost like that."

"A wise woman." Thor grasped Steve by the shoulders and guided him towards the Tower, a good mile away. "You can walk?"

Steve shrugged out of Thor's grasp. "Of course, I'm fine…just…have you ever been world weary Thor?"

The Thunderer frowned. "I do not understand."

"Never mind," Steve sighed. Of course he didn't understand. Five minutes into their walk Steve realized he was really, really tired. In fact, he was downright exhausted and weak. Skipping meals had caught up to him; never wise when you're metabolism worked way faster than a normal person's. "Ugh."

"Are you well?"

"I think I'm going to pass out…" the words had barely escaped his lips before his eyes closed and Thor easily caught him. Alerting the Avengers via ID card he took to the air with the unconscious Captain.

"He ok?" Clint asked as Thor laid Steve on his bed.

"Jarvis?" Tony asked and the AI replied, The Captain is exhausted and it would appear he has skipped several meals. He also spent 3.5 hours in the rain. Energy levels low but the super-soldier serum is already working on healing his body.

Natasha smoothed back a wayward lock of blonde hair. "Do you all get the same feeling that we sometimes take our Captain for granted?"

Nobody replied but inwardly agreed. Clint spoke up, "I've been trying to do better, we all have."

"Maybe we just need to try harder, be more observant and…sensitive."

"Agreed. It's time we took care of the old man for a change." They were all surprised to hear those words escape Tony's mouth but they all left solemnly.

The next day the sun was streaming through his window when Steve awoke, which was odd. He never slept in. But then again, he didn't always feel like he had been hit by a truck. With a sigh he sat up…and realized he wasn't alone. Tony sat in a chair next to the bed, head resting on chest snoring lightly. Weird.

Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he hit something. Glancing down he saw Clint sleeping soundly on the floor. Shaking his head, he got up on the other side of the bed. And saw an air mattress at the foot of the bed containing the sleeping form of Natasha Rominoff. The only one's missing were-

"You missed our run," a breathless Sam stood at his doorway with Thor and Banner, a grin on his face. "Doc over here made a lousy partner, and Blondie cheats."

"What's going on?" Steve asked indignantly.

"Brought you breakfast," Sam tossed him a brown paper bag. Steve's stomach growled and he peeked in the bag. Two onion bagels with cream cheese and a donut. Feeling like he was half starved he dug in. "What's with the campout in my room?"

"We thought you could use some company. You don't need that donut," Before he knew what was happening Tony had snatched the donut out of his hand. He snatched it back. "Actually, I do."

"Actually, I want it," Natasha piped up. She snagged it and took a bite, smiling victoriously knowing the good boy scout wouldn't take it back from a lady. "How are you feeling?"

"Confused. And hungry," he said pointedly. Clint rolled his eyes. "You just polished off two bagels in like two minutes. I think you just beat the Hulk and Thor's record."

"Is that a challenge?" Thor raised his eyebrow. Steve held up his hands. "No, not really; seriously guys, what's going on? Come to think of it, how did I even get home…"

"We met at the park last night…you were not yourself. You passed out and I brought you home," Thor explained.

Steve suddenly felt embarrassed. "Sorry."

"You don't have anything to be sorry about, except that you messed up our dinner plans last night." Tony declared.

"Dinner plans?"

"We made you dinner…your favorite, according to Sam here. Better luck next time."

"Why did you make me dinner?" Steve rubbed his temples. A bad headache was forming. "And WHY are you all in my room?"

"Because we wanted to show you that we care," Natasha said quietly. "We heard about Peggy…you're not alone Steve. We're here, and we may not always show it like we should, but we've got your back."

"We're Avengers," Clint piped up. "When one of us is hurting, we all are."

"But we don't do group hugs," Tony interjected and Steve had to smile. He was alone, but not really…he had a new family, and someday he would show Bucky that he could too. And maybe, just maybe, he was experiencing what Peggy had wanted for him all along.

THE END