Recollection ★ Bucky Barnes

I'll Always Be With You

Leaning back in the passenger seat, Marlena stared out at the night sky while the hum of the radio nearly lulled her to sleep. As the evening had grown colder, snow had resumed falling, and Marlena couldn't help but smile while watching the fluffy snowflakes hit the windshield. She couldn't help but wonder if Peggy was watching the snow from her bedroom window, as well.

Steve and Marlena had spent the whole day with Peggy, and all had been well until Peggy began repeating questions that had already been answered. At one point, Peggy had to be reminded of who Marlena was again, and though she knew it was supposed to be frustrating, she was more than happy to talk with Peggy for hours. She'd known from stories that Peggy was a strong woman, but after meeting her and talking with her, Marlena was sure that Peggy was the strongest woman she'd ever met.

"Steve," Marlena said softly, her eyes still focused on the window, "I can't thank you enough for today."

"Peggy really enjoyed your company, Marlena. I haven't seen her that happy in a long, long time." Steve smiled, glancing over at her.

"Can I ask you a question?" she asked, finally turning her attention to him.

"Yeah, of course."

"What does it feel like?" she asked, waiting patiently for him to answer.

"What does what feel like?" Steve kept his eyes on the road, but his attention was solely on Marlena.

"Loving someone who. . ." Marlena faltered with her words, ". . .who you can never be happy with. You'll never get to have the life with Peggy that you wanted."

Steve's lips parted as she spoke; he was a little surprised by her words. He knew she hadn't meant to evoke any sadness, but that was exactly what she was doing.

He choked back a tear or two before speaking, "I always will love her, Marlena. She. . .she was—is—an incredible woman. I won't have the life with her that I wanted, but I can be the part of her life that she wants me to be. And that's what means the most to me," he finished, looking over at Marlena who stared back at him, a soft expression on her face as she noticed his watery eyes.

"You know," Marlena shifted in her seat, pulling one leg up and turning her body to face Steve in the driver's seat, "I think you're far more incredible than Captain America."

"What does that mean?" Steve chuckled, though his eyes still held that sadness he felt when remembering the old days.

"What I mean is, the world thinks Captain America is so amazing—which he is—you are. But I think Steve Rogers is the real hero." Marlena smiled gently.

Her words touched his heart, and he pulled his right hand off of the steering wheel to squeeze her hand, "Thank you, Mar. That means a lot to me." He smiled, his eyes fixating on the road ahead. "I don't mean to sound too sentimental, but you really are the sister I never had."

"I love ya, Rogers." Marlena smiled, squeezing his hand back before he took hold of the steering wheel again.

"Yeah, yeah. Love you, too, Claire," he replied, a low chuckle escaping his lips.

Marlena returned her attention to the window, finally realizing that they should have been back at Steve's apartment by now. It hadn't taken nearly this long for them to get to Peggy's, and she was sure that he wasn't taking some long, backroad—not in DC.