A cathedral, packed with mourners. A choir is singing. Steve is one of six pallbearers carrying a coffin draped with the Union Jack. His eyes are red - he's been crying. At the altar, a candle burns by a framed photograph of Peggy Carter in a military uniform. The label reads "Margaret 'Peggy' Carter".The priest addresses the mourners.
"And now, I would like to invite Sharon Carter to come up and say a few words." The priest said.
Agent 13, Steve's "neighbor" from DC, steps up to the podium. Steve sits beside Sam and me in a pew at the front. Steve is looking down and doesn't see Sharon walk up. Sam is watching and nudges Steve. He looks up to see Sharon, who glances at Steve and takes a breath.
"Margaret Carter was known to most as a founder of SHIELD… but I just knew her as Aunt Peggy."
Steve realizes who exactly Sharon is, and takes a surprised breath.
"She had a photograph in her office. 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." She looks directly at Steve.
"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. And 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." She said Gazing at steve and me.
"We spent the best time together over the last few years. I asked her, out of all her achievements which one she was most proud of. She patted my hand, smiled and said: "Dear I'm afraid that's classified."
•••
Later, Steve stands alone in the aisle, still dressed in black. Natasha And I come to him and he turns to us. He begins to speak without any introduction
"When I came out of the ice, I thought everyone I had known was gone But Luna. Then I found out that she was alive. I was just lucky to have her." Steve says.
"She had you back too," I said to him.
"After what happened with SHEILD, After my little Hiatus. I went back to Russia And tried
Finding my parents. Two little gravestones by a wired fence. I pulled some weeds and left some flowers. We have what we have when we have it." She said And I smiled at it.
"Who else signed?" Steve asked.
"Tony. Rhodey. Vision. Jaden." She said to me as I nodded.
"Clint?" He asked.
"Says he's retired," Natasha replied.
"Wanda? Alvor?" Steve asked.
"TBD (To Be Determined). I'm off to Vienna for the signing of the Accords. There's plenty of room on the jet." Natasha says.
"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."
Natasha almost seems to be convincing herself.
"What are we giving up to do it?" I asked She sighs. He shakes his head, unconvinced.
"I'm sorry, Nat. I can't sign it." Steve says and she nods.
"I know." She said
"Just didn't want you two to be alone." She said, Hugging Steve.
•••
"Cheers to an honorable discharge," Sam said As Steve and Him clinked glasses.
"Sure you're okay with this?" Steve asked.
"Nah I'm not worried about me. I make a great civilian." He said.
"You could too," I said Referring to Sharon