Bender [s.r.]

0.3

The music from the choir sang sadly through the church, the hymn was beautiful. The church was beautiful. 

But even though I did not know Peggy other than from picture, I could feel the emotional impact she left on others. 

The room held a depressing blanket over top. I watched as Steve carried the coffin down the aisle with the British flag draped over top. 

From a distance he looked like he was keeping it together. But when his eyes met mine at a distance, a tear slipped from my own eyes.

~~~

I could feel the pain he felt as it began to impact me. The emotional drain he carried I could now see. Only a minute passed before he was seated beside me in the once empty area.

"And now, I would like to invite Sharon Carter to come up and say a few words." The minister of the church spoke out. 

She stepped up to the podium and Sam on the other side nudged Steve to pay attention. 

I knew her name was Sharon Carter, but I never clued in that she was related to the Peggy Steve knew. Sharon exhaled shakily before speaking out.

"Margaret Carter was known to most as a shoulder of S.H.I.E.L.D....but I just knew her as Aunt Peggy." No way in hell. What's happening? 

"She had a photograph in her office. Aunt Peggy standing next to JFK. As a kid, I that was pretty cool. But it was a lot to live up to. Which is why I never told anyone we were related. 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, 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.'"

~~~

Steve and I waited in the church to pay our respects and just have sometime to mourn the loss. Just as footsteps sounded I heard my phone buzz.

"You had your phone on in the church?" The voice of none other than Natasha Romanoff sounded as she walked up to us. I pulled out my phone out of my pocket. 

Only to see the caller display show the area code which locates to the south of Romania.

"It only buzzes if it's important. I have to take this. Excuse me." I muttered, unlocking my phone and answering the call. "Hello?" I spoke, making my way out to the lobby of the church and locking myself in the bathroom.

"Andie?"

"Buck." I whispered into the device. "How are you holding up?"

"Andie, I just wanted to call and say everything was alright. I read up on foods that help memory." He explained to me.

"And what did you find?" I asked the man on the other end of the line.

"Plums are good for people with Alzheimer's disease, so I might as well give it a try." His words making me laugh.

"Why not give it a go?" I chuckled lightly.

"How is Steve?" He wondered, his voice stone cold.

"He is holding in there. Peggy Carter, the woman from the military. A woman he loved - she just passed away. He's taking it pretty hard." I was interrupted by a knock at the door. "One second." I opened up the door to see Natasha.

"I just want to know if you are coming to Vienna with me." She asked, her brow raised but expression soft.

"I think you already know my answer." I sighed, running a hand through my hair.