Chapter 21: Misunderstanding

Agent Carter walked slowly to Steve and Bucky. "Captain." She smiled and greeted Steve.

Steve stood up and greeted her back. "Agent Carter."

"Ma'am." Bucky also greeted her.

"Howard's got some equipment for you to try. Tomorrow morning?" Agent Carter informed.

"That sounds fine." Steve replied.

The Howling Commandos start singing again. Terribly.

"I see your crack squad is prepping for duty." She observed.

"You don't like music?" Bucky asked.

"I do, actually." Then she eyes Steve. "I may even, when this is all over, go dancing."

Bucky grins and nods at the dance floor. "Then what are we waiting for?"

"The right partner." Agent Carter smiles at Steve and heads out. "08:00, Captain."

"Yes ma'am. I'll be there." Though feeling awkward, Steve politely replied.

Bucky stares, puzzled. Steve pats him on the shoulder. "I need your help."

Steve started to narrate to his best friend all the things that happened to him since the day he met Yumhee until to the news of her being pregnant and that she, with her father, was abducted by Schmidt. He also asked for Bucky's help regarding with the issue with Agent Carter. At first, he dismissed the idea that Agent Carter has feelings for him. But ever since that day he returned with the P.O.W.'s, he had confirmed that Agent Carter do have an interest in him. Though he and Yumhee became public with their relationship, only a few people actually knew about it. But he really thought that the military is aware of it, especially those within Colonel Phillips' close group. Besides, they're the ones responsible of handling Dr. Erskine and his daughter's safety.

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS - STARK'S LAB

Robot claws handle the cube cartridge inside a blast chamber. Outside, Howard examines it as his engineer takes notes.

"Emission signature is unusual. Alpha, beta and gamma ray neutral. Though I doubt Rogers picked up on that." Mr. Stark commented.

He gently removes a glowing pellet. "Hmm. Looks harmless enough." Mr. Stark steers the robot claw, extending a sparking wire. "Hard to see what all the fuss is ab—" He touches the wire to the pellet then BOOM! An explosion blows out the windows of the blast chamber and sends him slamming against the far wall. When the dust settles, Howard looks over at his engineer and instructed "Write that down." The engineer writes it down.

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS

A pretty W.A.C., Pvt. Lorraine, reads STARS & STRIPES: "P.O.W. CAMP LIBERATED, MIRACLE TREK ACROSS ENEMY LINES."

"Excuse me, I was looking for Mr. Stark?" Steve asked.

Without looking up, Pvt. Lorraine replied "I think he went to look for a broom." She looks up. The real-life Steve stands over her. She slips into a smile. "Of course, you're welcome to wait."

Steve sits, hesitant. Lorraine swivels in her chair. He watches her legs cross.

"I read about what you did." Pvt. Lorraine said, still smiling.

"Oh, I was just doing what needed to be done." Steve politely commented.

"Sounded like more than that. You saved nearly two hundred men." Pvt. Lorraine debated.

"Really. It wasn't a big thing." Steve still humbly replied.

"Tell that to their wives." Pvt. Lorraine said.

"I...don't think they were all married." Steve joked.

"You're a hero." Pvt. Lorraine seriously said.

Despite himself, Steve smiles. "Well, maybe. Depending on whose definition—"

"The women of America owe you their thanks." Then glancing around, she continued "And seeing as they're not here..."

Steve's eyes go wide as she leans in and tries to kiss him. He stiffens...then put his hands on her shoulders and push her gently.

"I'm sorry...but I already have a wife. And I very much love her and our child." Steve softly said to her so she won't feel that embarrassed if anyone walked in on him rejecting her. Though he and Yumhee are technically still not married, but for him they already are. Especially now that they are having a baby.

After declaring that, they noticed Agent Carter standing by the desk. Pvt. Lorraine leaps back, flustered. Agent Carter just stares coldly.

"Captain. We're ready for you...if you're not otherwise occupied." She stalks out the door and clicks down the hall.

"Agent Carter. Wait a second." Steve wanted to talk to her and clear everything between them but she doesn't break stride. Steve catches up to her.

"Looks like finding a partner wasn't that hard after all." Agent Carter snapped.

Steve was confused. "What?... Nevermind." He shakes his head and continued "We really need to talk." He looked at her in the eyes, his tone gravely serious.

"I don't think we need to talk about anything, Captain. Not one thing." She continues toward a metal door at the end of the hall. "You wanted to be a soldier. Now you are one. Just like all the rest."

Steve stops, confused and frustrated. He really doesn't have that much experience with ladies. It never even crossed his mind that he would one day be rejecting women. He can only think of directly explaining the truth. "I don't really understand what you're on about right now, but I would just like to let you know that Yumhee and I are together. Way before I became 'Captain America'. And just as I said to the woman back there, I'm sorry...but I very much love her and we're actually having a baby already."

Peggy whips around, cold. "Are you bloody serious right now? Are you telling me that all this time, it's just my imagination that you're flirting with me?"

Steve was stunned. He was clearly at a loss for words. He really wanted to ask 'When have I ever flirted with you?' but seeing her expression, he opted to just apologize. "I'm really sorry Agent Carter if I led you to believe that something can start between us. Please believe me that it never was my intention to do so."

Agent Carter storms down a corridor without saying anything. Steve watches her back, at a loss.

"Wow...I never knew that you and Yumhee..." Mr. Stark was surprised.

Steve turns. Howard Stark stands in the now-open metal door.

"Anyway...I advice that you don't go near her for now my friend. Seeing how mad she is, I'm afraid that she might kill you." Mr. Stark laughed.