Steel Hearts

- 20 -

The next few days were spent in relative silence. I had decided to give Steve his space to grieve, knowing this was going to be incredibly hard on him. We had traveled from the compound to London by way of quinjet, as per usual. The weather when we had arrived was overcast and grim. The general mood of the church matched perfectly.

I hadn't ever met Peggy, but from the stories I had heard about her, she was an incredible woman. Touching everyone she met deeply in one way or another. Steve had gotten Sam and I seats in the front row to sit with him. He had also been asked to carry the casket as well.

He hadn't allowed my hand to leave his grasp the entire trip to London nor had he let go once we arrived, needing the support that I could offer him. Before the funeral had started, I pulled him aside; leaving Sam at the front near our seats. He was attempting to put on a brave face, trying to hold back his tears as he did so. Tugging him into a secluded corner in the back of the church, I made him look at me.

"Steve, you don't have to put on a brave face," holding one of his hands in my own, I ran my thumb across his cheekbone, "It's okay to be upset. We're all here to honor her and to remember all of the good that she did. You're not alone in this."

"It sure feels that way," his smile was humorless and sorrowful. My heart dropped at the sight.

"I promise you that no matter where you go in life she'll never be far. You have her right here with you always," my voice fell to a mere whisper as I dropped my hand to his chest, poking where his heart was, "She's a piece of your home and you won't forget her any time soon. No matter how alone you feel."

Tears finally fell down his cheeks as much as it saddened me, I was glad to see them instead of him holding them back. A young woman had interrupted us briefly, letting him know that it was time to start. I ran the pads of my thumbs across his tear-stained cheeks, wiping away stray tears before placing a benevolent kiss onto his forehead, "I'll be right there." Slowly, he trudged away to the doorframe and I returned to my seat next to Sam.

"Is he okay?" Sam asks, slinging his arm around my shoulders to pull me into his side.

"No. But he will be with time," I tell him quietly.

"Are you okay?" he asks with a raised brow, clearly concerned.

With a deep sigh, I rest my head on his shoulder, "I think so... I never met her."

Sam nudges me for me to glance up at him as he offers me a smile, "You don't have to be strong for him. You can have your moment too. "

"I know. But he needs us now more than ever."

Our hushed conversation ended just as quickly as it had started once the choir of children began to sing. Their voices enveloped the church like a warm hug. Those who were able to stand did as Pegg's casket was escorted to the front. Steve's eyes were fixated on a point in front of his, unwilling to move his eyes elsewhere; knowing that if he did he would shatter into thousands of pieces in front of everyone. Once he had returned to Sam and me, his hand promptly found mine as his chin dropped to his chest in sadness. The pastor started to speak and I squeezed his hand tightly.

Steve's leg started shaking anxiously. He was getting annoyed, frustrated, with the pastor who hadn't known Peggy. Only when the pastor invited a woman named Sharon Carter was when he ceased the anxious tick. She was related to Peggy, but it didn't matter. He still didn't look up until I pat Steve's arm to gain his attention. The woman in question was his previous neighbor, Kate. Agent thirteen. I only had known of her through S.H.I.E.L.D. and didn't realize she never told Steve her real name. Both men on either side of me shared a look, minority shocked at this new information. It was unsurprising.