Again // The Winter Soldier

prologue.

The hustle and bustle of the Washington streets didn't cease as the morning routine for the small family of two began. Carmen tried to drown it out with her oldies music but it didn't matter. She hummed along to the tune as she set the fresh waffles and hash on the table.

"It looks great Mom" she smiled at the now 11 year old girl.

"Oh shoot I forgot-" she was cut off by Julia as the syrup landed on the table, blue sparks sprouting from its side.

"What would you do without me?" Julia asked and Carmen rolled her eyes as she grabbed it and poured it on her waffles.

"I'd manage I'm sure" she said and the two laughed. The last two years were exactly what they needed. A healthy dose of what life should be like. It only took Carmen a couple days to realize they needed to move to D.C. to be closer to Peggy. She was some of the only family Carmen had left. Everyone was confused to why Peggy was in D.C. and not in her home country but the answer was simple. Free homing for the veterans and Peggy was a historical hero.

"Are you gonna go today?" Carmen looked up and hmm'd in response. She had been to lost in thought and her daughter rolled her eyes.

"C'mon Mom. They've been located here for a year. I think it's time to go back" Carmen shook her head and took a sip of her orange juice.

"No if I go back chaos will happen. I can promise that" S.H.I.E.L.D. had finished relocation about a year ago and of course it happened to be in D.C. of all places. Carmen told herself everyday she'd go back but never did. She wanted to be absolutely sure she was ready so that's why Nick refused to tell Steve her location.

"Mom-"

"Oh would you look at that. Time for school. Let's go" Julia rolled her eyes but nevertheless grabbed her book bag and made her way out of the apartment. Carmen quickly cleaned up breakfast and made her own way out into the bustling city.

"Miss Erskine, good morning" she smiled at the lady at the front desk of the homely building.

"You as well Beatrice" she told the woman who smiled. It had become a common routine for the two of them. Beatrice expected her visit everyday at 8 am sharp and she was never a second late. I guess being 95 makes you quite aware of time.

"Knock knock" the elderly woman turned with a huge smile on her face.

"Carmen" Carmen chuckled lightly at the greeting she received everyday. She moved to sit herself in the chair beside her bed.

"How are you this morning?" she asked worried for her friends health and she shrugged lightly.

"Good as I can be cooped up in this place" Carmen chuckled and shook her head.

"You know it's good for you, don't deny it" Peggy rolled her eyes at her eldest and dearest friend.

"Whatever" she groaned and Carmen chuckled yet her mind wandered to the pressing question on her mind all morning. Was it time to go back?

"What's wrong?"

"Huh?"

"Don't play dumb with me. Something is on your mind" Carmen sighed and crossed her arms.

"I can't decided if it's time for me to go back to S.H.I.E.L.D. or not. I want to but my life has been safer these past two years than it has been the past 90. And then Steve is back. I don't even know if I'm prepared, even after two years to face that" Peggy reached out for her friends hand and Carmen grabbed it.

"Go grab the box in the top of my closet over there" Carmen looked to her confused but grabbed it. When she sat back down Peggy looked to her.

"Well open it" Carmen listened and opened the box. Her eyes widened at the insides.

"I told Howard to throw these away" she said and Peggy nodded.

"Yeah, he gave them to me because he knew you were gonna regret it" and she was right. Carmen did regret it. All of it was her memories. Pictures beyond picture of her, Steve, Bucky, Frankie, Howard, Peggy, even the Colonel were littered inside.

"You see that girl in all the pictures?" Peggy asked and Carmen nodded, looking to the younger version of herself.

"You're still her. She didn't leave she just faded away. All of your feelings never go away. That's life and I know you can feel them. I know inside of you, you love Steve and our agency" Carmen picked up a picture of her and Steve sitting on her bed, reading some story. Who even knows anymore.

"The thing about the past is, you can't recreate it but you do have a pretty good looking future and I suggest you take the path you've been avoiding" Carmen shook her head and set the box down. How was it within seconds Peggy could fix the one thing she had been struggling with over the past 3 years.

"Why are you always right?" she asked and Peggy laughed.

"Because I'm always right when it comes to taking care of you"