The Valentin Series, Book 1: The Valkyrie (Captain America fanfiction)

Chapter 16: Remembrance

A/N: So here's the next chapter. This one is kind of sad, but then all goodbyes, are right? Unless, of course, you don't like the people you are saying goodbye to, but that's neither here nor there. :) I will update soon! Thank you again for reading, and, as usual, please leave a comment, a review, a message or whatever.

Lov love ~A2V~

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Valkyrie opened her eyes and checked her clock, 3:09 am; she groggily looked over at James, who was still asleep beside her, the covers over only half of his bare torso. Turning to her side, she gazed at his peaceful face, and then her eyes lowered to his neck where he wore her necklace. She smiled as she took the pendant in her hand, he never took it off, and she was touched by that. Val knew she would have to say goodbye to him forever, soon. It was fine when she was hunting him down for HYDRA, there was always the "We are never going to make it under other circumstances" thought in her head, so she felt protected. But now, with all this, and the fact that he still wanted her, even if he could have a semi-normal life, it was daunting. Especially since she had to go back in the field to find Vanguard, and everyone knew that was a suicide mission. She played with the pendant; her brother hadn't given it to her to keep her safe; he had given it to her because he knew that they would never see each other again. It was a remembrance, a memory. She inwardly laughed at herself, ah, Valkyrie, of all times to begin to have a heart, it had to be when you knew you were finally leaving the world. It was selfish, what she was doing, still keeping James by her side, she should disappear with Andreana, just go the opposite direction. But somehow, even if she told herself over and over again it was the right thing to do, one look from James' eyes made all her arguments invalid. She was getting soft.

Just then, James' hand wrapped around her fingers, "Morning, sweets," his bedroom voice rumbled.

"Morning, handsome," she whispered, kissing his knuckles, "Looked like you were sleeping well."

"Mmm..." he hummed, still not opening his eyes, and he gathered Val in his arms, and she laid her head on his chest, "You ready for today?"

"Ready to say goodbye to the closest thing I'll ever have to a daughter?" Val mumbled, "No."

James squeezed her reassuringly, "I'm here, Camilla, whenever you need me, I'm here."

But I won't be there for you, Val thought, fighting tears, instead, she raised her head and looked into his warm eyes, "Thank you," she smiled.

James saw the doubt in her eyes and a frown settled on his face.

"Aww, sweetie, you looked so peaceful a second ago," Val chided, "Stop frowning, you'll break your pretty face."

He chuckled, "You used to say that to me a lot."

Val shifted so her body was completely on top of his, "I meant it, you know, you're so... I don't know, I like it when you smile." She admitted as she drew circles on his collarbone.

"That tickles," James whispered to her, trying not to laugh.

"Oh, does it?" Val said mischievously, tickling him some more.

"Stop," James gasped through fits of laughter and he pushed Val off of him, she laughed and tried to straddle his legs so that she could tickle him some more.

"Stop," James said firmly, flipping them over, his hands on Val's wrists, fastening them above her head, his hips on hers.

"Spoiled sport," Val stuck her tongue out at him.