Life of the Rogers #1

Chapter 8

Alice sat in her room, her blanket wrapped around her as she stared into the void. It's been a few days since they've been back from that unfaithful mission, and the news of the passing of Bucky Barnes had travelled through all of the base. A ceremony was organized to honour the fallen soldier.

Wanda and Natasha had been called to the base with the letter informing them of the death of Sergeant Bucky Barnes. Wanda had been hysterical when she had walked into the base and seen her father holding Bucky's ring, the one he had left back in his room for no apparent reason. She'd wailed and sobbed as her family had failed to console her. It took her hours to stop hiccuping and another to breathe normally.

Natasha had kept a strong upfront seeing the state of her husband and her family, but she'd broken down crying once Alice had made her way to her dorm, her eyes blood red, tears smeared across her face. The two had held each other that night, needing comfort.

Wanda and Natasha had been granted to stay at the camp for a few days before they had to head back home.

The ceremony had gone smoothly for the fallen soldier, Wanda shared a few words for her late husband before laying him to rest, in an empty coffin.

A knock brought Alice out of her thoughts, the door opened to reveal Chase dressed in his uniform his eyes red and puffy, "I was headed to a meeting, thought I'd check up on you before I went."

Alice smiled making space for the boy on her bed, "Thanks," her voice was hoarse from all the crying, but it's been a few hours since she last cried, she counted that as manning up for Bucky.

"Do you need anything before I go?" Chase asked, "Your father has been in a meeting himself since morning, I met up with Mrs. Maximoff on the way up and Mrs. Romanoff is with the Captain and I'm pretty sure Sergeant Maximoff is with Agent Carter. "

Alice nodded, "Did Wanda seem okay?"

"Apart from the same puffy eyes? No," Chase shook his head, Wanda's appearance flashing his mind, the usually well-kept auburn hair had been pulled back in a messy bun, strands falling all over her face, and her face had been red and puffy from all the crying, her lips chapped and voice hoarse, there was nothing anybody could do to lessen her pain.

"I should check up on her," Alice said, she's locked herself in her room since the ceremony only ever going out for necessary meetings and food. She stood up pulling her hair in a ponytail she reached for her jacket, "I'll walk you," Chase got up too.

Alice shook her head, "Go attend the meeting, I'll be fine," with a sip of water she walked out of the room leaving Chase standing in the middle of it.

Chase sighed, they had a long road to travel.

___

Alice took a deep breath, she stood outside Bucky's dorm, Wanda had taken residence in it for the time being and also packing his stuff, after another breath she knocked waiting for a few seconds before opening the door.

"Wanda?"

"In here," Wanda replied from the chair she had pulled against the cupboard, her voice rough.

Alice walked inside, wiping her palms on her pants, "Hi."

Wanda looked at Alice, she wasn't doing any better than her, "Hi," she smiled inviting Alice to sit with her.

Alice walked to the open chair, took a seat, "I'm sorry," she apologized, feeling a need to do so.

Wanda frowned turning to her, "Why are you apologizing?"

Alice shrugged fidgeting with her hand, "I didn't visit you once, I've just been cooped up in my room."

Wanda shook her head, "No, no, you've been mourning, so have I. We're allowed to mourn on our terms."