Notes of the Past

A/N- First, a huge THANK YOU to all those who read, review and follow Peggy's Letters. I never expected it to generate that many chapters! I troll for spoilers about the upcoming season. From what I've read from SDCC and merging Avengers Age of Ultron with what little I know about Captain America 3, I give you Peggy's Letters Season 2. I've switched up AoU a bit to mesh with my fic more, but hopefully stayed true to the theme.

Boxes were strewn across the small Brooklyn apartment like a tornado had just visited. Packing paper alighted upon almost every surface making it look like an origami experiment gone horribly wrong. "Steve! Where's the tape?" Bucky's voice called from his bedroom with the sound of crumpling paper.

"Last time I saw it, you had it." Rogers replied from the dining area where he was wrapping cups and plates. Frowning he continued, "You know, for a guy who's not been in the present for very long, you sure have accumulated a lot of…. Junk."

The brunette head of James poked out from the doorway of his room, hair sloppily pulled up in a bun, glowered back at his best friend. "At least my "junk" is useful." He shook the butt of the pistol in his left hand at Cap for emphasis, "And this is coming from the guy who just had to have that… whatchacallit… Apple watch?"

Cap blushed slightly and then glanced away embarrassed, "Well, hanging around Tony has made me appreciate… technology."

"Hmph. You sound like some Baby Boomer." Barnes replied and resumed packing his room.

A soft knock on the apartment door surprised Rogers, who turned quickly and put the coffee cup he was wrapping down. Curious, he approached the door.

Sharon stood on the other side, a file box in her hands and one at her feet. She looked very tired in her grey pantsuit with her CIA badge hanging lopsidedly from the collar. Cap concluded it had been a long day at work. "Hi, 'neighbor'. Is this a bad time?"

"Sharon! No, not at all. Let me get this for you." Steve took the box from her, stacked it upon the other and carried both in. "C'mon in."

Stepping through the threshold she stood near the boxes, hands clasped before her, gazing out from the kitchen at the bachelor pad in the process of packing. "You've certainly been busy. Moving out to Stark's country estate?"

Cap shrugged and smiled depreciatively, "Not much holding me here in the city." Except memories, he added silently.

Sharon approached Steve and took his hands in hers. Her exhausted brown eyes met his; "I wanted to say thanks for … everything. I know she would have appreciated your help."

Rogers noticed how much Sharon's eyes looked like her great Aunt Peggy's as the memories of the funeral, only a few days past, lay between them. The Union Jack draped upon her casket and the multitudes of flowers were fresh in his mind. The coffin, so light, as if Peggy was made of air was like lifting nothing, but in his mind held the weight of the world as he helped bury his first and only love.

Swallowing uncomfortably, he recalled his words to Tony standing outside the new Headquarters in upstate New York. That man who wanted a family, stability, went into the ice 70 years ago. I think a different man came out. I'm home. "It was the least I could do. She meant a lot to me." He covered his grief quickly, a skill he learned from Black Widow.

Sharon blinked and glanced away just after barely glimpsing the man her aunt Peggy saw for a nanosecond. Clearing her own throat, she said, "These boxes. They were hers and there were some explicit instructions to give them to you instead of my cousins. I think you really made an impression on her at the nursing home."

Steve recalled the moments when Peggy was lucid and how it seemed nothing had changed between them and how much it had hurt. But then the Alzheimer's got in the way and took the woman he loved with it.

"Thanks." was all he could muster, realizing he was still holding Carter's hands and actually how nice that felt.

"STEVE! Where is the goddamned tape!" Barnes bellowed from his bedroom in frustration.

"Language!" Sharon reprimanded, looking to the door.

Steve cut his eyes toward Agent 13 and grimaced, "Not you too."

Sharon gave him a mischievous look, "Of course. Word gets around, Cap."

James's head popped out again and saw Sharon for the first time, holding Steve's hands. "Oh sorry. Did I interrupt something? Anything? Any hint of anything?"

"No." Steve dropped Sharon's hands quickly. She stuck them in her pockets.

"Well, then, introduce me!" Bucky climbed over boxes, packing peanuts and paper scattered over the living room, his silver arm glinting from its morning polish.

"Sharon, this is my best friend, James Barnes." Steve said neutrally, trying not to roll his eyes at Bucky attempting to make an impression, "And this is Sharon Carter, former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and Peggy's grandniece. "

"Once a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent, always." Sharon corrected.

"A pleasure to meet you. Call me Bucky. Please." He extended his right hand for a shake. Steve watched the act, trying not to snort derisively. "Say, do you have anything happening-"

Sharon shook it firmly and then looked at her watch suddenly cutting Bucky off. "I need to be going. I really just wanted to drop these by." Bucky shut his mouth with a click.

"Ok. Well then, thanks." Steve motioned to the door with his hand. They stood there for a moment at the threshold, uneasily.

"I'll be stopping by HQ when I can. I miss you guys." Sharon said with a hint of sadness.

"Maria and Natasha complain about not having enough gals about the place." Steve chuckled.

" I bet." Sharon smiled and leaned up to peck Rogers on the cheek. He stood there for a moment as if frozen. "Thanks again. We'll be in touch."

"Ok. Bye." Steve managed as she closed the door behind her.

"What the hell was that all about?!" James fumed from his spot arms crossed over his chest. "My God! You become Adonis and I'm second fiddle. I can't believe this! History is repeating itself. Just like her great aunt."

Steve exhaled, "Yes, she sure is."

Sighing in resignation, Bucky waved a hand at the boxes, "What's all this?"

Steve looked at the containers and replied quietly, "Some things Peggy wanted me to have."

"Oh. I'm going to get back to packing." James excused himself from the delicate subject of Peggy and her recent passing.

Rogers stared at the top box for a moment torn between letting the past go completely. He was a new man now, right? No need to dig up past feelings or anything. But why did she want him to have these? Was there something important she wanted him to see? Curiosity won out the better part of him.

Lifting the lid, he saw several file folders holding various affects. Lifting out a folder he paged through it. There were newspaper articles about him or the SSR becoming S.H.I.E.L.D. He found photos of the Commandos during the war Peggy had taken when they were in the field and some post war as well. A few photos had pictures of the Commandos at their respective weddings and children's birthday parties. Rogers felt himself smiling broadly at these happier times and marveled at the images of the Commandos' happy families.

Something fell from the folder and hit the floor. Rogers looked and saw a notecard with an image of the iconic Hollywood sign printed on the front. Picking it up, he saw a note written in Peggy's impeccable hand. A sad smile stretched across his lips.

January 1947

My dearest Steve,

Yes, I am writing, again, although if anyone at the office knew, I'd be sacked for insanity. After all, who writes to someone who can never read the letters?

I missed it to be honest. The ability to put my thoughts and fears on paper helped so much last year as I worked to clear Howards name and earn myself a spot on the team. Sometimes I would go back and re-read my missives and reflect on how I've changed and the people around me have changed. They are very therapeutic.

Steve noticed her penmanship perked up.

Enough drivel. I have exciting news! Howard is opening a movie studio in Hollywood California because as he said it best, "Why not?" He sees great things in film and since he is a free man, he can do as he chooses. I am not sure what kind of stories he will tell, but if he does a biography on you, I will make sure he gets all the details correct.

Steve chuckled. Imagine, movies about him. There were better stories to tell!

Edwin is there now, preparing the house and I am bringing my friend Angie with me. She's hoping to obtain some roles since Broadway has not yielded any promising work. I think it will be nice to get out from the gloomy New York scene for a bit and enjoy some sunshine.

Our assassin is still at large, but I am confident if we meet again, I'll take care of her just fine.

I'll be sure to keep you abreast of any new developments. The world is moving forward in new directions.

Love,

Peggy

Steve tucked the notecard back into the folder. Apparently Peggy had more to say about her work at the fledgling S.H.I.E.L.D. He recalled the film at the Smithsonian where Peggy stated in an interview that even after Steve was gone, he was still affecting her life.

Closing the box, he thought, Back at you, Peggy.

"For Chrissakes Rogers! The tape?! Did you eat it or something?" Barnes whined from his room.

"Bucky, if you don't watch that mouth of yours " Steve walked toward his bedroom to help him look for the packing tape.

Glancing back over his shoulder, he knew he had some reading to do, but for a later time.

A/N SEPTEMBER…..