Scared To Be Lonely

Chapter 10: You've Got A Big Heart

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LONDON

A few days later, Nick was standing beside Sam in a cathedral that was packed with people. She was in a black skirt, a black t-shirt that had some graphic design but her black jacket was zipped to cover it up. That, along with her black combat boots, was all that she could find in her closet that'd be appropriate for a funeral. 

The 15-year-old had her hands folded in front of her, her right hand still wrapped in a bandage since it had only been about three days since she had punched the wall, but her mind wasn't on that or anything else that'd been going on. At the moment, she just wanted to be here for Steve. 

The soft choir that was singing Nick couldn't help but think was beautiful as she looked back, watching Steve - along with five other men in suits - carry the coffin that had the Union Jack flag on it and big white flowers. Nick wanted to hug Steve when she saw that his eyes were red, since he had been crying, but she held back as she wrung her fingers together and glanced to Sam, who placed a hand on her shoulder. 

A bit later and Nick was sat between Steve and Sam on the bench as people went up and spoke about the great woman that Peggy had been, and Nick had her hand on Steve's arm, since he just had his gaze on the floor - feeling the loss of not only the woman he loved, but also his last link to who he used to be. 

"And now, I would like to invite Sharon Carter to come up and say a few words." The Priest told the room full of people, and when Sam saw the familiar blonde woman step up to the stand, he reached across Nick's lap to give Steve a slight nudge. 

Steve looked over at the two beside him, so Sam nodded over, causing Steve to look up... and he definitely seemed surprised, but Nick had no idea why. 

Sharon looked at Steve, before looking down and taking a breath, then she looks up at the room. "Margaret Carter was known to most as a founder of SHIELD. But I just knew her as Aunt Peggy."

Seeing Sam look towards Steve, Nick also looked, seeing that Steve looked still surprised but more like he just realized something. 

"She had a photograph in her office." Sharon continued, so Nick looked back forward. "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 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"."

It was a couple hours later when the funeral was over and the cathedral was empty except for Steve and Nick, since Nick refused to leave him for right now, since she also knew that soon she'd be going to Vienna for the Accords thing - which she'll also have to be in the same outfit as she was in right now. 

They stayed in silence before the sound of heels approaching made Nick look over, and she couldn't help a small smile as Natasha was walking towards them, which also made Steve follow her gaze. 

He then sighed and leaned against the edge of the bench they were beside, as Natasha got to them, and he spoke up while looking at the ground. "When I came out of the ice, I thought everyone I had known was gone. Then I found out she was alive. I was just lucky to have her."

"She had you back, too." Natasha told him with a small smile, and Steve nodded, before finally asking. "Who else signed?"

Nick looked over at Natasha with a frown, since the girl already knew before she had gotten on the flight to here with Sam and Steve. 

"Tony, Rhodey, Vision." Natasha answers with a breath and shrug of her shoulders, so Steve looked up. "Clint?"

"Says he's retired." Nick answered as she looked at the ground, suddenly finding the shininess of her boots very interesting. 

"Wanda?" Steve asked, and Natasha shook her head. "TBD."

Steve looked down, before Natasha glanced to Nick, then back to him. "We're off to Vienna for the signing of the Accords. There's plenty of room on the jet."

Steve heavily sighs and closed his eyes, not giving an answer. But that made Nick look up at him, placing a hand on his shoulder, before she looked over when Natasha said. "Just because it's the path of least resistance doesn't mean it's the wrong path. Staying together is more important than how we stay together."

"What are we giving up to do it?" Steve looked up at her, and Natasha sighed as she looked down, before looking up as Steve shook his head. "I'm sorry, Nat. I can't sign it."

"I know." Natasha smiled at him, causing him to look at her for a long moment, before asking. "Then what are you doing here?"

"I didn't want you to be alone." She told him, before stepping forward and pulling him into a hug, which made Nick crack a smile. "Hey, where's my love?"

Both adults chuckled as they pulled back enough to have her join them, before they all finally pulled apart and Natasha nodded at Nick before heading to the doors. Nick didn't follow her though, as she looked back to Steve. "You've always got me, just know that. I'll always be with you - All of you guys."

Steve smiled sadly but proudly at the girl in front of him, "You've got a big heart, Nick."

She shook her head and looked down with a smile, before looking back at him. "I just care about my family."

Then she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his torso, causing him to wrap his arms around her - accepting the hug from the girl, since no matter how old she had been, her hugs had always been the warmest and the most comforting. 

She definitely had the best hugs of the entire team.

"I'll see you later." Nick finally breathed out as she stepped back, before turning and meeting Natasha at the end of the walk, so that Natasha could place an arm over the girl's shoulders as they headed out.