Avengers: The End of Family

Chapter 3: The Wrong Push

Steve and his good friend Sam traveled to London to attended Peggy Carter's funeral. Steve wept quietly as he helps carry Peggy's coffin, the soft signing of the choir.

Everyone was back in their seats as the priest steps to the altar. "And now, I would like to invite Sharon Carter to come up and saw a few words," he said and steps away, then Sharon, agent 16 of S.H.I.E.L.D steps out and stood in front of everyone. Sam nudges Steve's arm, he looks at him then up at Sharon as he was surprised.

She looks down at him, sighing and back at everyone else, "Margaret Carter was known to most as a founder of S.H.I.E.L.D...but I just knew her as Aunt Peggy." she states and looks down at Steve. "She had a photograph in her office. Aunt Peggy standing next to JFK. As a kid, that was pretty cool. But it was a lot to live up to. Which is why I never told anyone we were related." she informs people of the short story.

Steve just kept looking at her "I asked her once how she managed to master diplomacy and espionage... in a time when no one wanted to see a woman succeed at either." she said as she looks back to everyone She said compromise where you can. But where you can't, don't. Even if everyone is telling you that something wrong is something right. Even if the whole world is telling you to move... it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree... look them in the eye and say No, you move." she said as those worlds moved Steve's soul.

~8~8~8~

Standing in the church alone, Steve was pondering over his thoughts, Peggy's funeral, and Sharon's words. There was a sense of right in those words and he knew what choice to make about the accords.

But his was snag from his thoughts as he heard the door and looks back, seeing Natasha walking into the church. He sighs and leans back against the chair bench and looks at her as she stops in front of him. "When I came out of the ice, I thought everyone I know was gone," he states and looks over to Peggy's photo. "Then I found out she was alive. Millie was thrilled, the first friend she ever made," he states then remembers that Millie was gone.

Then he looks back to Natasha, "I was lucky to have her, both of them." he states, Natasha just smiles at him. "She had your back, too. Both of them did," she informs him, he nods and looks away, momentarily. "Who else signed?" he asks her. She sighs and crosses her arms "Tony, Rhoedy, Vision." she answers "Clint?" he asks her, she smacks her lips "Says he's retired." she informs him, "Wanda?" Steve asks again. "TBD." she answers again.

He nods at her, "I'm off to Vienna for the signing of the Accords. There's plenty of room on the jet." she offers him, with a smile, but he just sighs "Just because it's the path of least resistance... doesn't mean it's the wrong path." she states and he looks at her, "Staying together is more important than how we stay together." she tells him as she didn't want Steve to continue down his path. "What are we giving up to do it?" he asks her.

The smile immediately fall as she sighs and looks back at him, "I'm sorry, Nat. I can't sign it." he tells her and she just looks at him, "I know, and I know if Millie was here, she would agree with you." she states, Steve smiles a little at her. "Then what are you doing here?" he asks her.

She smiles bitterly to herself, "I didn't want you to be alone." she answers him, he sighs as the tears began to cloud in his eyes, she grips his shoulder and pulls him in, "come here." she whispers and pulls him into a hug. And he allows himself to relax in her embrace.

But unaware to them, a hooded woman was watching them from the top window, her face concealed in the shadows of her hood, as her clothing conceals her figure as well.