Captain's Hart and Soul

Chapter 18 Unexpected

April 21, 2016

London, England

Arianna stood in the front pew beside Sam, watching as the church choir sang a beautiful, sorrowful song to mark Peggy's passing and Steve held the front right-hand corner of the coffin, carrying it with stiff steps down the center of the church. Tears shone in her eyes and she bowed her head when the coffin was laid out in the front, trying to swallow the pain as she stared at the union flag wrapped carefully around the coffin.

Steve moved back to stand beside Arianna, taking her hand as he too stared at the coffin and the picture to one side of the coffin. It showed the Peggy he had known, back in her army days, and standing exactly as he remembered her- tall and proud as she stared out into the distance and towards the brighter future she believed in.

He swallowed as they all sat down at the end of the song, Arianna squeezing his hand. He pulled her slightly closer to him, and she rested her head slightly against his shoulder as the tears finally fell, slipping down her face. Arianna made no effort to stop them, glad to be able to weep for the loss of a near and dear friend.

Steve just sat in silence as the funeral went on, barely moving until it finally came to an almost close.

"And now," the priest said gently, "I would like to invite Sharon Carter, to come up and say a few words."

Arianna looked up, while Steve didn't react. She nudged him gently, and he glanced at her before looking up towards the speaker pedestal at her nod. Steve blinked as he recognized the blonde woman, Agent 13 and his ex-SHIELD neighbor. Steve glanced back at Arianna, completely taken aback and noting the lack of surprise on her face.

How did she know? Steve wondered, before turning his attention back to Sharon as the woman began to speak, after smiling a little at Arianna and giving Steve a rueful look.

"Margaret Carter was known to most as a founder of SHIELD." Sharon began, sounding nervous. "But I just knew her as Aunt Peggy."

Steve blinked before glancing at Arianna again. Arianna just gestured quietly towards Sharon, and they listened carefully as Sharon continued: "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 barely told anyone we were related."

She glanced at Arianna again, and the brunette woman gave a rueful smile. Steve glanced between them questioningly, but refocused on Sharon as she went on: "I asked her once how she managed to master diplomacy and espionage at a time when no one wanted to see a woman succeed at either."

Sharon swallowed before she continued, her voice becoming stronger: "And she said, 'Compromise when you can. But when 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."'"

Steve's face was pensive as the words hit home. Arianna's face was harder to read as she looked down, hiding her eyes from Steve while her stomach twisted and her heart clenched.

**********

"How'd you know?"

Arianna glanced up at Steve as he finally spoke, breaking the silence. She then turned back to stare at Peggy's picture, still at the front of the church. The ceremony had ended a while ago, but the pair had stayed behind. Sam had left them to have a moment in privacy, and they had used it to say their silent farewells to one of the greatest people they had ever known.

"Sharon told me... sometime before our wedding." Arianna answered quietly.

Steve glanced at Arianna from the corner of his eye before he turned back to staring at Peggy's picture, and Arianna continued softly: "She came to tell me about Peggy's worsening condition and to deliver the message about her RSVP to the wedding. Said Peggy wanted to do it herself, but that she never had the chance to before she forgot about the wedding again. So she came in Peggy's stead."