The soft voice of Peggy Carter resonated in the air. At this moment, the Captain set aside all his doubts and concerns.
Whether this was an illusion or an enemy's scheme, it no longer mattered.
Nothing was as important as this one dance in front of him.
"Heh!"
With tears in his eyes, the Captain let out a light laugh.
"I remember telling you before… I don't know how to dance!"
"And I remember telling you that I'd teach you. It's fine!"
*Click!*
Another spotlight illuminated the Captain from above. As the two of them drew closer, the beams of light slowly merged into one.
Just like Captain America and Peggy Carter, the two embraced gently, as if nothing in the world could ever separate them again.
When the music ended…
It was a long, long time before the two, locked in a deep kiss, slowly parted.
*Click! Click! Click!*
The sound of spotlights turning on echoed continuously.
Suddenly, the entire club lit up, bright as daylight.
A group of people in military uniforms cheered as they rushed toward the two.
It was only then that the Captain noticed the faces of the people at the forefront—Blake, Tony, Banner…
They were all familiar faces. Among them were also the widows stationed long-term at the floating city. The people who had been there earlier seemed to have disappeared.
"What's going on?"
The Captain still held Peggy Carter's waist tightly. He was utterly convinced that this Peggy was real—her appearance, demeanor, and even her scent. She was the Peggy Carter he had always yearned for, the Peggy Carter from all those years ago.
But then there was Blake and Tony in front of him...
"You want to know what's happening? Today is your birthday, Captain. Before cutting the cake, there's a video that will explain everything to you."
Blake snapped his fingers, and suddenly, a 3D holographic video appeared on the stage.
On the screen was none other than Peggy Carter lying on a hospital bed.
"Let's start! Ready!"
Blake's voice was the first to appear, followed by Peggy Carter nodding toward the camera.
She began to speak slowly.
"I never dared to believe that I'd see you again in my lifetime, Steve! I'm so grateful that you came to visit me today, giving my life the perfect ending."
"The doctors told me that I'd have to stay on this hospital bed every day, receiving constant care from a medical team, just to barely survive another four or five years."
"For me, that was a form of torment. I often thought that instead of wasting resources on an old, useless woman like me, those resources could be used to help people who truly need them."
"But I always believed that one day you'd return. Today, it finally happened. Originally, I planned to return to my manor and wait for God's call, but just as you left today, your friend arrived!"
"He told me he could give me a chance to choose my life again, to restore my body to what it was in 1945. At first, I thought he was a fraud. But then, right in front of me, he turned an apple core—one I had just bitten into—back into a whole apple."
"Steve, I've thought about it for a long time. Instead of just waiting for death, I'd rather start a new chapter in life—yours and mine… *cough, cough, cough!*"
In the video, Blake appeared and quickly poured Peggy Carter a glass of water.
After a long pause to recover, Peggy spoke again slowly.
"Steve, do you remember what you told me on the plane? I begged you not to go, but you said it was your choice. Now, I want to say—this is *my* choice!"
"Happy birthday, Steve. And blessings to you and the new 26-year-old Peggy Carter! Best wishes to you both!"
This video was recorded by Peggy Carter before Blake reversed time for her. There were two versions: one for Steve and another exclusively for Peggy, explaining everything that had happened.
The reversal of time using the Time Stone didn't just rejuvenate Peggy's aging body; it also reset everything about her, including her memories.
Even with the video and extensive documentation, it still took Peggy more than a week to adapt to everything.
Blake once mused that for the newly reborn Peggy Carter, this experience might feel like suddenly waking up 60 years later, much like Captain America's own ordeal.
He was unsure if Peggy could truly adapt to everything or if she was willing to abandon her own era and familiar world for Steve.
But the elderly Peggy had assured Blake that she would give up everything for Steve.
With her words in mind, Blake made his decision and went through with it all.
After watching the video and understanding everything, Steve turned to Peggy and asked, "Chasing this date across 67 years—do you think it was worth it?"
Peggy Carter smiled sweetly. "This was my choice, wasn't it?"
Under the gaze of everyone, the two, now fully understanding the situation, leaned in and kissed again.
*Pop!*
Tony grabbed a bottle of champagne and popped the cork.
"I declare this birthday party officially started!"
He then sprayed champagne toward Steve and Peggy.
The doors swung open, and the Air Force recruits who had earlier posed as World War II soldiers—taken out earlier by Rhode to maintain secrecy—rushed in, kicking off the grand celebration.
The party continued into the late night. Rhodey took the soldiers, who were from a nearby Air Force base, to their temporary accommodations that had been arranged earlier.
After all, Rhodey had come under the guise of touring the floating base with his men, and he'd still need to submit a report to the military justifying the necessity of establishing such a base.
Yes, this was the floating base. Tony had indeed renovated it, but he had cleared out everyone beforehand just to give Steve an unexpected surprise.
To heighten Steve's emotions, Tony even went so far as to craft a bio-electronic face mask and recruited a widow with a build similar to Peggy's to trick Steve at the start.
For the party, Yelena had also come back to join the fun. Meanwhile, Blake, whose woman had been "commandeered" by her younger sister for the night, was sitting on the aircraft landing pad outside the floating base, chatting with Tony over beers.
"Wakanda's business is almost wrapped up. Your Vibranium suit might finally become a reality. I brought it up to them once when we discussed the partnership, and they didn't reject the idea," Blake said, nudging Tony with his elbow. Blake had been eyeing Vibranium for a long time.
But Tony didn't respond with the excitement Blake expected. Instead, he looked serious as he spoke.
"Blake, if—just if—an even more advanced cosmic civilization invades Earth, what should we do? Our world isn't safe, Blake!"
"We stand united and fight together!"
Steve's voice rang out behind them.
"Cap? For God's sake, why are you out here already?" Tony glanced at his watch.
"It's only been two hours! I left *two full boxes* of 'raincoats' in your bedroom!"
Blake gave Tony a surprised look, then turned to Steve and asked, "Yeah, why are you out so soon? I left a whole box too!"
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