𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚛𝚜 𝙱𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑

If it's the Last Time

(She finds Peggy in that nursing home/ care center and says her goodbyes before leaving. 2014.)

Blaire's POV~

It took me a lot longer to figure this out. And to be quite honest, I'm disappointed in myself.

I'd managed to find where she was living, and I snuck past security to get to her room, but she looks so much different... it almost feels surreal.

"Mum, I want you to know I'm sorry. And if I could turn back the clock, I wouldn't hesitate to, but I can't. No matter how much I wish I could."

Those were the words I wish I could get out of my mouth, but they were stuck in there. My throat ran dry as I felt myself get slightly dizzy.

She was asleep. Her soft snores letting me know she was still alive and breathing. My chest felt so heavy it felt like I was about to get crushed by the feeling.

I wanted to hug her, so so badly, but I wasn't the daughter she once knew. The one she loved.

I don't even know who I am anymore. The shell of the girl I used to be? Hydra's Tyranny. They all get blurred together. 

I stood in that corner for what seemed to be hours. But when I stared back at the clock, I'd seen it had only been a few minutes.

I sighed and was about to leave by exiting the window, but somebody's voice caught me dead in my tracks. "Blaire, darling, is that you?" The woman's voice was shaky, but I could remember her British accent any day. She sounded like she didn't know if this was real or if it was something she was imagining. 

I didn't turn back to face her. Too scared that if I did, I'd somehow only make things worse. "Blaire, honey, is it really you?" I felt the tears begin to stream down my face, and a quiet sniffle left my mouth. She then said something that almost made me cave in. "What's got those silly tears running down your face?"

It shouldn't have had any effect on me. I had been trained not to let things like this bother me. But my voice spoke for me. "Mum...I'm sorry. I don't even know who I am anymore." I used the rough sleeve of my combat uniform to wipe the tears off of my face.

I could feel her eyes on me. "You have nothing to be sorry for, darling. You were only a child." I clutched my fist and was about to walk away when she spoke once again, "Come here, Blaire. I can tell there's something on your mind."

I stopped again and turned my head over my shoulder. Her brown eyes locking onto my blue ones. She didn't look scared, no, she looked saddened. She motioned her hand for me to come over towards her. I was cautious, so I took my time walking over to her. 

When I was finally close enough, she signaled me to get down a bit. So, I got down and sat on my knees. She slowly, but steadily brought her hand to my face and cupped my cheek in it. Her hand was much skinnier and more calloused than I remembered, but it still brought tears to my eyes when she brushed her finger up and down like how she used to comfort me after nightmares. "You'll be alright, darling. You're strong, just like your mother. "

I gently grabbed her hand, making sure I didn't injure her, and brought it up to my lips, kissing it. I then brought it back down to her side, getting back up again. "I love you, mum. And if it's the last time I see you, just remember that I'll always love you." I mumbled something at the end. "And I'm sorry that this was how you had to see me."

I walked back towards the window, despite her protests, and leaped out onto the vacant streets of Washington  D.C.

(Same place,  a few days later, Steve's POV~)

I walked into the room with some assistance from Bucky. He was a little hesitant to walk into the room with me, but I assured him that it would be alright. "Hey, Peg." I walked over to her and put the flowers I had brought with me into a vase that was on her nightstand. 

"Well, aren't those lovely? I see you brought a guest along with you." She turned her head towards Bucky. "How are you, Sergeant Barnes?" He looked surprised that she recognized him. He shuffled his feet before quietly saying, "I'm doing okay."

Peggy then turned back to face me. "Oh, Steve, you won't believe the craziest dream I had. I had dreamt I'd seen Blaire." Both Bucky's and I's attention perked up. Peggy looked both happy and sad with the dream. "I swear, Steve...it felt so real. Like she was actually here. She looked so grown up. Where did my little girl go?" She sadly smiled. 

I looked up at Bucky and then pointed my head at the security cameras in the corner. There might've been a chance that it caught her on tape. 

We spent more time talking to Peggy until, eventually, our time ran out. We left her room with goodbyes, and we promised that we'd be back. 

When Buck and I got to the front desk, I requested that we could see footage of Peggy's room from a few days prior. It took some convincing, but Buck and I managed to convince the lady to let us look at the footage.

When we got to the security room in the building, the guy who was at the desk looked appalled at what he saw on the footage. What we had was a potential lead. There, in the room was Blaire. Just like Peggy said. 

"Bingo." I heard Bucky quietly say. I turned to him. "You knew her best. Where do you think she'd go?" 

He paused to think for a moment before he turned back to me and smiled because he knew the answer.

"Europe."

A/N: I had started this idea and left it in my drafts forever. So, I finally decided I would finish it. I guess you could say that this is the prequel to "Please Come Home."

Love you all,

-KK