He hadn't been sure whether or not the note had been good enough, having considering it countless times before writing it out several more in an effort to make it perfect. Steve knows things have been difficult, stressful and strange, but he's doing his best to accept them as they are. It's like waking in the future all over again—except the past is his future, and he doesn't know how to tackle it this time. Still, he waits on the observation deck dressed in the nicest thing he has here - the Moira's formal uniform works well enough for the occasion - and feeling anxious. Incredibly nervous considering the deck is empty save for himself and the record player he's carried from his room into the open space. For a moment, he's reminded of Wanda's first touch, of the emptiness that had awaited him when he'd finally met her for that dance, and it's harder to shake when she shows up, when Peggy smiles at him and says his name.

But eventually, slowly, he smiles too, and how he remembers the dress isn't exactly how he remembers seeing her wear it for the first time. It looks nice though, looks nice on her, and it's a bittersweet thing to reach out and offer her his hand.

"Thanks for coming." The words are soft, genuine, and he glances down at her fingers, letting his thumb sweep over the knuckles gently before giving them the slightest squeeze. "Happy birthday." Steve isn't sure what it means considering where they are and when she'd last celebrated, but it reminds him of the ones they'd had together before he'd lost everything to the ocean and time, when they'd been with each other through thick and thin and all the moments in-between.