"Wanda, what happened? How could this have happened?" The two women were alone in the room. Wanda gently stroked Anya's hair as she sobbed into her chest.
"Pietro, why him? Why did this happen, I was suppose to be with you two. Why did they leave me in there?"
"Shhhh…." Wanda let a tear slip down her cheek at the mention of her brother's name. The two were the only ones left, the only one's from the horrible experiments that had forever changed their lives.
Anya glanced up, her eyes red with tears. "I won't let anyone else die." Her jaw hardened. "I can't lose anyone else. You are my family, Pietro was my family as well. Please, no one else."
Wanda looked away. "I can't promise you that, my sparrow. But the Avengers are our family now. We look out for each other and always have each others backs."
Many people attended the funeral of Margret Carter. Anya sat quietly next to Sam as Steve slowly carried the coffin down the isle with a small team of others. She didn't even have to see the hard lines on his face to know that he was hurting. When she had first came out of her hibernation, Steve had shared his similar experience of waking up a certain time later to see people he loved and cared about gone. It was comforting to hear how he still had Peggy, it had brought a certain relief to hear that not everyone was gone. But it also allowed her to realize how much Peggy meant to him and how her being alive was one of his main reasons for fighting.
Sam had flown out to London when he heard about the funeral. He wanted to support Steve and with the situation going on back at headquarters, he wanted to make it clear whose side he was on. As Steve set the casket down on the display, he made his way back to his seat. Anya quietly slipped her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze before leaning her head on his.
The pastor began his eulogy, offering comforting words to the members of the audience of the life and successes of Margret Carter. Finishing, he tapped the microphone before saying, "And now, I would like to invite Sharon Carter to come up and say a few words."
A beautiful young women came up to one of the side podiums and gave a nervous breath. Sam quickly reached over Anya and tapped Steve's shoulder. When he noticed the young women, Steve raised his eyebrows and tilted his head, nodding as if something made sense. Sam gave Anya the 'I'll explain later" look to catch her up.
"Margret Carter was known to most as a founder of SHIELD, but I just knew her as Aunt Peggy." Shanon briefly made eye contact with Steve before continuing. "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."
Anya widened her eyes. Well that made sense why Steve was acting all nervous, but it didn't explain the nervous tapping of his leg whenever he looked up at her.
"I asked her once how she managed to master diplomacy and espionage in a time when no one wanted to see a women succeed at either. She said, compromises where you can. 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.""
Anya squeezed Steve's hand again, knowing exactly how much he was absorbing these words that once belonged to his first love. Being at Peggy's funeral was first and foremost out of respect and love, but Anya also knew it was Steve's chance to get away from the rest of team and take his own stand against the Sokovian Accords.
The rest of the funeral proceeded quickly, everyone slowly leaving until it was just Steve standing at the isle with Anya sitting down next to him. Sam had gone to talk to an important government official outside of the room.
A lone figure walked down the isle towards them. Dressed in black, Natasha Romanoff approached the two as a friend, and not rivaling teammate.
"When I came out of the ice," Steve started, " I thought everyone I had known was gone. Then I found out that she was alive. I was just lucky to have her."
"She had you back, too." Natasha leaned back against the pew next to Steve.
"Who else signed?"
Nat crossed her arms over her chest. "Tony, Rhodey, Vision."
"Clint?"
Natasha smirked. "Says he's retired."
"Wanda?" Anya shifted in her seat besides Steve as he spoke.
"TBD." Natasha paused. "I'm off to Vienna for the signing of the Accords. There's plenty of room on the jet.
Steve sighed and lowered his head as Natasha continued.
"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."
Steve looked her in the eyes. "What are we giving up to do it?"
Natasha didn't answer.
"I'm sorry, Nat. I can't sign it."
"I know."
Steve looked up at her. "Then what are you doing here?"
Nat tilted her head and exhaled. "I wanted you to know that I'm your friend. And I didn't want you to be alone."
She pulls Steve into a hug, embracing her old friend.
"Anya, you are also free to choose which side you are on."
The Sokovian gave a tiny smile before standing up. "Thank you, Natasha, for allowing me to make the choice. There are others that want to take that freedom from me. But I will also have to decline. Steve and Sam will look out for me."
Anya walked over and gave Nat a hug.
"Take care of him." Nat whispered.
"I will." Anya tightened the hug before releasing her mentor.
As Romanoff left, Steve and Anya stood in a comfortable silence. The large chapel was empty, the hundreds of people who had filled it not an hour ago had departed to carry on their lives. And one grieving man and one lost girl were left standing.
"What now?"
Steve looked over to Anya. 'What do you want to do?"
She looked up at him with big eyes. "I don't know. Is it wrong of me for missing them? I've only been part of the team for a short while but they have become my family. I don't want to be separated from anyone like I was because of the experiments. It feels…wrong."
Steve put his arm around her a pulled her closer. "I know. I miss them too."
"I know what we are doing is right. If we don't take a stand, we will never get a say in our own lives. But, this is hurting our family. And I can't bear to lose anyone else."
Steve paused. "Anya, I keep hearing you say anyone else, but you've never mentioned the people you've lost. You've always kept that part of your past a secret. Who do you mean?"
Anya stiffened. "I didn't think you'd pick up on that."
"Of course I would. I've been with you almost every day for the past several months. I've learned when something is bothering you."
Anya sighed. "I suppose you're right. I did lose one person very dear to me. Someone you actually know very well."
Steve raised his eyebrows.
"Pietro Maximoff." A line of moisture filled her eyes.
"Wanda's brother?" Steve was shocked. "He was with you in the experiments…"
She nodded. "Pietro, Wanda, and I all signed up together because we all shared the same interests, but my relationship with the twins started long before the experiments. Pietro was…my first love. We wanted to get married when everything was over. And then we went into hibernation together, and when I woke up…he was gone."
Anya let a small sob release and leaned into Steve.
"I had no idea. Why haven't you told anyone?"
She wiped her eyes and shook her head. "It was Wanda's and I's burden. In order to move forward with my life, I had to let Pietro go. Wanda has been helping me, but it hasn't been easy. That's why I can't lose anyone else. You are my new family. I can't bear to lose another person I care about."
Steve gently rubbed her back. "Unfortunately I can't promise that, Anya. But I can promise that everyone cares for you and loves you. You are an Avenger, despite anything SHIELD or Secretary Ross says. You are one of us."
In that moment, Sam reentered the room and Anya stepped away from Steve, composing herself.
"What's the plan, Cap? The rest of the team is arriving in Vienna to sign the Accords."
Steve nodded slowly. "We're gonna lay low. The world can worry about the Accords, we need to worry about ourselves. Sam, I need you to keep an eye on the situation. Please inform me if anything else happens."
Sam nodded. "Will do. And speaking of situations, there's a certain someone waiting for you out in the lobby. She wanted to talk."
Steve punched Sam in the shoulder for his ridiculous face before exiting, reassuring Anya he would be right outside.
"They know each other, right?" Anya asked Sam once Steve had left. "Before he knew she was Peggy's niece."
Sam gave a light grin. "They've had their run ins a couple times. She was actually stationed to spy on him before they became friends."
Anya smiled. "Well that explains his nervous behavior. He obviously has a thing for her."
Sam laughed, shaking his head. "Nothing gets by you, does it?"
She smirked. "Not usually."
"Things are gonna be different around here. Are you ready for that?"
Anya grew sober. "I have for awhile. I've always known the dangers I could face."
"That we'll face," Sam corrected. "You still have Steve and I, and the rest of the team for that matter. Even though we're going through a little rough patch, there will always be greater things happening that will bring us back together."
Sam's phone suddenly lit up and he grabbed it.
"Shit."
"What happened––" Anya called after him as he raced out of the room.
"A bomb hidden in a news van ripped through the UN building in Vienna. More than 70 people have been injured. At least 12 are dead, including Wakanda's King T'Chaka. Officials have released a video of the suspect who they have identified as James Buchanan Barnes, the Winter Soldier. The infamous HYDRA agent linked to numerous acts of terrorism and political assassinations."
Anya stood in the surveillance room with Steve, Sam, and Sharon as they watching the headlines share of the tragic accident. It was already nationwide news that Bucky was the assassin and Anya could see the obvious pain coming from Steve's stature.
"I have to go to work." Sharon had ended her call with SHIELD.
Steve just nodded and met her eyes, relaying the message to stay safe.
As she left, the three were left to discuss their options.
"What should we do, Steve." Sam crossed his arms.
"Is there even another option? We go to Vienna."
Anya pursed her lips. "You're going to find Bucky, aren't you. And try to reason with him before SHIELD can find his whereabouts."
Steve threw on his jacket. "That's the plan, but first we have to get to Vienna to make sure the team is okay."
A few short hours later, Anya watched in stealth as Steve called Nat from across the street. Nat was fine, just shaken but was pleading with Steve not to get involved.
Shifting around, her eyes focused on a lone man on a bench. He was covered in blood, slumped shoulders, and expressionless face. Anya recognized him as the crown prince of Wakanda, the same prince who had just lost his father. Standing up, he began to falter down the sidewalk, and Anya could not ignore the strong amounts of pain radiating off of his back. Moving swiftly, she raced over to his side, being careful not to show her face. She sent a small pulse of her energy out which will confuse the crowd long enough to ignore the direct place where she was standing.
"Are you okay?"
The Wakadian prince was shocked as he looked down at the small women in front of him.
"And who are you suppose to be?" His accent was thick and powerful.
"A concerned bystander." She looked at him with pleading eyes. "I know the face of a grieving man and I know the face of a man wanting revenge."
He stiffened. "I would not concern yourself with my troubles, little one. I have a path laid out for me which I must follow. My father will not have died in vain."
She grasped his arm, staring firmly into his eyes. "Remeber what your father stood for: peace. Do not let his name go down in blood and revenge; never forget what he stood for."
Sensing that Steve had ended his call, she sent out another pulse of energy, moving away from the Wakandian and down the unsuspecting street until she was back at Steve's side.
"Anya, where did you go?" He cupped the side of her face, checking for any cuts or scrapes.
"Please, Steve." She lightly pulled away from his grasp but still remained close. "I had a certain matter that needed to be taken care of. A certain conversation that could not be left unsaid."
Steve tilted his head and opened his mouth to speak, but Sam suddenly appeared in their group.
"Sharon found him. She's meeting us at a drop spot with the information."
"Perfect." Anya quickly wrapped her hands around Steve's arms. "Wouldn't want to keep her waiting."
The three disappeared into the street as the people around them all searched for any trace of evidence that could lead them to the assassin: Bucky Barnes.
*Sorry for the less dramatic chapter, but a lot is revealed in this one. The next chapter will be posted shortly and we will finally meet Barnes! Please review, it keeps me motivated.
