Begin Again | Sam Wilson

Chapter Seventeen

The morning of Brianna's mother's funeral was the most difficult day of her life. She had lost her once before. She had grieved for five years, but then they brought everyone back. Three months. She had three months with her mom. That was it. She would have rather lost Tony, Vision and Natasha again as well as lose Steve than lose her own mother. The past two days had been a fever dream. She wasn't fully present as she made decisions regarding her mom's funeral.

She had shaken so many hands. She had met so many people that she never knew. She had stood next to her mother's casket, taking peeks at her every once in a while so she would remember what she looked like. Sam had been her saving grace. In fact, he had been everyone's saving grace. He made sure everyone was eating and taking care of themselves. He would cook. He would comfort complete strangers. He had even taken Brianna's brothers out for lunch just to give them a break.

Brianna stood in front of the floor length mirror situated in the corner of the guest room as she put a pair of pearl earrings in. Pearls had always been her mother's favorite jewelry to wear. Her was slicked back into a low bun. The only make up she had on was concealer on her bags from lack of sleep and waterproof mascara. She wore the same black dress she wore to Tony and Nat's funeral. It was a tea length dress with three quarter sleeves.

She glanced out of the corner of her eye while still looking at the mirror to see Sam standing there. He was leaned against the doorframe with his hands in his suit pants pockets. She looked beautiful in an effortless, classy way, but Sam stopped any more thoughts about her. She was about to bury her mother. He shouldn't think about anything else other than being supportive of her.

"You know," he said as he walked inside the room. "In the South, people normally bring casseroles to the family for the funeral. You know your grandfather has a whole catering team downstairs?"

"He can be...extra." Brianna admitted.

She turned to grab her bag that contained her eulogy. She had been up half the night trying to figure out what to say during the service. She wasn't exactly happy that she had been chosen to do it, but she would suck it up. She shouldn't doing this. She was thirty years old. She was suppose to have years and years left with her mom, especially since her mom was so young when she had Brianna.

She felt a sob forming and she brought her hand to her mouth as she tried to stifle it. Sam had of course caught on.

"You can cry." He spoke softly. "I swear I won't tell."

"And ruin my makeup?" She asked. Her voice wavered as she attempted to joke.

Without asking, Sam drew her in for a hug. It was the first time he had ever did it and she admitted it was nice feeling the touch. One arm was wrapped around her mid back. The other hand was resting against the back of neck. She rested her head against his chest, inhaling his cologne. She let on tear slip out, but that would be it. She pulled back without saying a word.

She walked down the stairs where cars would be waiting for them to take them to the funeral home. After the service, they would drive to the family cemetery where her mother would be buried. She was in an SUV with Michael, Liam, Owen and Sam. Sam had volunteered to drive them.

"Can I ask you a question, Bri?" Liam, the younger of her two brothers, asked.

"Sure." She said.

"We know that Steve is gone, but what happened to his shield? Like who is going to Captain America now?" He asked.

"Liam? Really? That's the question you want to ask right now." Owen shot at his brother.

"I'm sorry. I hate silence. Especially today." Liam said.