Author's Note: Hi everyone, here is the next chapter. Hope you all enjoy it, I have plans coming for Rhea!

Chapter 21: Bluer than most

Rhea sat on side of the bed her head in her hands, what could Peggy possibly know about me and my past? Thoughts ran around Rhea's head, just when she thought that thing were finally going right her past had to rear its ugly head. She felt a weight beside her on the bed, an arm wrapped around her.

"It's gonna be ok," Bucky's voice vibrated in his chest.

"So now I get the speech?" She smiled into his arm, then reached over and fished his phone out of his pocket to check the time, "Ugh Steve will be here in twenty minutes, we have to meet him down the lobby." She went to break from Bucky's hug but he held her.

"Nope you need to calm down," Bucky said to her.

"Let me go Buck," Rhea tensed her jaw.

Bucky shook his head, "I can't let you Rhea. Literally I can't let you go, when you were panicking you kinda got all cold and with it you've lock my arm so I have to wait until it thaws out." Rhea stifled a laugh in his shoulder and kissed his neck.

As soon as the doors opened on the elevator Rhea looked across the lobby for Steve, she spotted him and waved. She walked over and smiled down at her brother, "Hey there," She poked his shoulder.

He jumped slightly, "Oh hi, sorry." He stood up and hugged her. Rhea smiled, Steve always smelt the same; washing powder, aftershave and that cleaner that he used to polish is shield.

"You ok?" Rhea looked up at him, "Everything alright with Nat?"

"Yeah everything is great, we got the twenty week scan and everything is perfect," He reassured her, "I'm just worried about Peggy."

The realisation hit Rhea and she wanted to punch herself. Steve loved Peggy and if he hadn't been frozen then they would have gotten married and started their own family, but of course things hadn't panned out that way. "I know, but I'll be there."

Steve nodded, "Where's Bucky?"

"He'll be down in a minute, he's just getting changed," She told him, "Oh do you and Nat know what the baby is?" She looked up trying to read his expression.

"We do," Steve grinned, his chest practically swelled with pride.

"And? Or do I have to beat it out of you?" Rhea raised her eye brow.

Steve paused, "We're having a boy." Rhea clapped her hands and wrapped her brother in a hug.

"I'm so happy for you," She grinned.

"Whats going on now?" Bucky asked as he walked over.

Rhea spun on her heel, "Steve and Nat are going to have a boy!" She grinned.

Bucky pulled Steve into a hug, "That's great man, I'm sure he's gonna be just like you."

Steve thanked his friend then looked at his watch, "We better get going, Sharon wants us there for two."

The taxi took them out of the hustle of the city to a quieter part of the suburbs, Steve sat in the front of the taxi while Rhea and Bucky sat in the back. Rhea couldn't help but notice that the driver was giving Steve the occasional glance. They turned into a gated house and up the drive, trees lined the driveway and a large stately home awaited them at the top. Rhea read a sign, 'Tranquil Hills Retirement Home', and as she looked around the ground it was definitely tranquil. Rose gardens and fountains littered the property and the resistants sat enjoying the good weather. Rhea stepped out of the car and she felt Bucky standing really close behind her, she reached back and took his hand. While Steve was settling the the driver she looked up at Bucky.

"I'm fine," He said quietly, she raised her eye brows. Bucky sighed, "Its just strange, I should be in this place." He looked around.

"Well I hate to say it babe but if you were I don't think I'd be here," She gave him a cheeky grin and a nudge in the ribs.

"You guys ready?" Steve asked.

They walked in and saw Sharon waiting for them, Steve went over and hugged his friend, they talked for a second and Sharon turned to Rhea and Bucky, "Hi, thanks for coming. Rhea so nice to meet you," She shook her hand, "My aunt is looking forward to meeting you. But Bucky, em, would you mind waiting outside my aunt doesn't know that your back so to speak."

Bucky nodded, "Of course, no problem." He squeezed Rhea hand and gave her a kiss, "I'll be out here."

Rhea smiled up at him and followed Steve and Sharon. They made their way down the corridor and stopped outside the second last one. Sharon gestured for then to go in. Steve took Rhea's hand and lead her inside.

Rhea looked around the room, it was bright and airy with white washed walls. She cast her eye over at the bed and there was a woman sitting up looking at them, she was old give or take 97 or so. Rhea realised that Bucky would be just like that if he had lived normally, it made her shudder.

"Steve?" Peggy asked.

Steve nodded and sat on the chair beside the bed, "Yeah it's me how have you been?"

"I'm alright," She said coughing, "These old bones aren't what they used to be." She gave him a weak smile.

Steve's expression soften, "Peggy, listen," He put his hand on her arm, "This is Rhea," He gestured over to Rhea, who was standing awkwardly at the end of the bed, "Rhea Rogers, my…. my," Steve coughed.

"Your clone Steve," Rhea finished, "I'm your clone."

Steve stiffened at the word 'clone', Rhea knew he hated it, but he nodded and looked up at her then back at Peggy, "Yeah she is, you wanted to meet her."

Peggy nodded, "Come closer dear," She extended her hands towards Rhea. Steve moved out of the seat and Rhea sat down. Peggy just looked at Rhea up and down, she reached forward and cupped Rhea's cheek, "Wow you are beautiful, those eyes so blue, and you kind of look like Steve," She smiled.

"Thanks," Rhea replied, not really knowing where to look.

"It was just a simple idea, I didn't want to live without him," Peggy said still looking at Rhea.

"What?" Rhea asked her.

"It was a simple idea, I could have him again, I could see him again or at least a part of him," Tears began to well up in Peggy's eyes. Rhea looked at her and took her hand, "I'm sorry Rhea, I'm so sorry."

"I'm confused, what are you sorry for?" Rhea leaned forward.

Peggy took a breath, "It's all my fault, after Steve 'died' I thought that I couldn't go on without him." She looked over at Steve, he was leaning against the wall staring at the pair of them, "I broke into the lab at SHIELD and I found what I was looking for, Steve's DNA. My plan was to encode it with mine and then create a new life with it. I was almost ready to start the process, but others had a similar idea. I don't remember what happened but I woke up on the floor with lab assistants and Howard Stark was there too. I remember him asking me what had I done. He explained to me that Hydra broke into the lab to steal Steve's DNA, but they found me, they tried to take me out and took the DNA that I had been preparing. They took it back to Germany, and they used it…. used it to create you." She stopped at looked at Rhea.

Rhea's heart was going at a million miles an hour, "But I was born in 1989, over 40 years after the time you're talking about."

Peggy nodded, "I know, but they had to wait for the technology to catch up with what they wanted to do, they kept the DNA on ice until they were ready."

"So are you my mother?" Rhea asked quietly.

Peggy shook her head, "No, you are a true copy of Steve's DNA, just not male, and I would say Hydra weren't please with that."

Rhea nodded, "Yeah, Buc- yeah I was told that I wasn't what they wanted, but Fury made sure that there wasn't anymore of me." She almost said Bucky but didn't want to let Peggy know.

"I just wanted to fill in the last piece for you," Peggy patted her hand, "I'm so sorry for what I put you through."

Rhea took a breath and thought for a second, yes what Peggy did was selfish and could have created something that would have been a huge threat to the world, likely that did happen, but Rhea did realised that she wouldn't be alive if Peggy didn't make the mistake she did. She took peggy's hand, "I forgive you, you have nothing to be sorry for. Nick Fury recused me, my life was as normal as it could be until about four years ago." She smiled at the older woman, seeing her expression change. Peggy relaxed and sighed with relief.

"Thank you Rhea. thank you. That mean a lot, I am so sorry for any suffering that I've caused you," She leant in closer to Rhea, "And I'm sure that our dear Sergeant James Barnes will look after you, I'm sure he loves you."

Rhea froze, "How did you…?"

Peggy smiled at her, "I know more than they think I do, I heard them talking about him awhile back, and I know that Sharon was worried about him coming in here, she thought I was asleep when she was talking to a nurse."

Rhea shook her head in amazement, "You are one amazing lady Peggy." She squeezed the older woman's hand.

"Em, any chance I could see James?" She asked and looked over at Sharon and Steve, who were both staring wide eyed at her.

"Em, yeah, sure," Steve nodded and left to get his friend. A few seconds later Steve reappeared with Bucky in toe. Bucky looked at Rhea and saw tears in her eyes, he immediately went over to her and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Peggy smiled, "Well you haven't changed that much then have you James?"

Bucky looked down at her, he looked nervous, "I wish I hadn't Agent Carter but unfortunately time got me too," He rolled up his left sleeve and showed her the beginning of his arm.

Peggy nodded, "I wish we could have done something. But you wouldn't have met Rhea I suppose," She gave him a wink.

Bucky smiled as Rhea stood up and he put his arm around her, "You have a point." He grinned down at Peggy.

"Promise me one thing James, look after her," Peggy said to him.

Bucky nodded, "Of course, always." He kissed the top of Rhea's head.

Peggy nodded and smiled at the protective stance that Bucky was doing around Rhea. She then glanced over at Steve, she smiled at him and gave him a knowing look. Sharon walked over and took her hand, tears brimming in her eyes. Peggy's eyes began to close, her breathing softened and became shallow. Rhea looked up at Bucky and nestled back into his chest. Peggy took one last look around the room, and smiled. Then she was gone.

Sharon began to cry into the bedside and tears flowed down Steve's face. Suddenly Rhea just couldn't take it, she broke from Bucky's embrace and ran out of the room.

"Rhea! Crap," Bucky swore and ran out after her.

Bucky stopped outside the main door and looked around, Rhea was nowhere to be seen. He took a breath and blocked everything out, he hated calling on in Winter Soldier side but he needed to find her. He heard crunching and foot steps running. He opened his eyes and looked down, frosted foot prints lead out to the rose gardens. Bucky picked up a jog and followed them. They wove in and out of the rose bushes and soon Bucky noticed that they were slowing in speed, he heard a sniff from the other side of a large rose bush. He peered around and there was Rhea, Bucky gasped at what he saw. He exhaled and his breath was like smoke, he took a step and the ground crunched with frost, in her panic and upset Rhea's powers had gone into over drive. She was standing in a clearing of rose bushes but from her ice creeped out and crawled across the ground, it wound its way up the rose bushes causing them to freeze over like something out of a Disney movie. Bucky took another step towards Rhea but he stopped dead, "Oh my god." He breathed.

Rhea's golden hair looked like it was shining, she looked up at him, her eyes were iced blue, almost glowing. But her normally beautiful sallow skin was pale, but so pale that it looked like a block of ice. Tears flowed down her face, the warmth of them causing steam to rise from her cheeks. Bucky shook the feeling from him and walked over to Rhea, he opened his arms and she rested her head on his chest, he flinched at the coldness of her body but wrapped his arms around her. "Breathe Rhea, breathe," He said to her.

"What's happening to me?" She asked him, her breathing hitching with tears.

"I don't know, but relax," He said and began to rock her back and forth.

Bucky had no idea how long they were there, but soon Rhea's body temperature began to return to normal. Her eyes went back to the normal blue, her hair went back to the lightly duller golden brown, and her sallow skiing began to appear. Rhea moved in his embrace and wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry Bucky," She sniffed.

Bucky looked down at her and kissed her softly, "You have nothing to apologise for."

"Its all too much, I mean, Peggy's dead. I only just met her and she is practically the reason I'm alive. And Steve, poor Steve," She shook her head.

Bucky nodded, "Peggy has a good life and she wanted to see you before she went. I know it was hard to hear, but she wanted to create you and she had the best intentions. It was Hydra that decided to ебать everything up."

Rhea gave a small laugh, "I don't think I've ever heard you swear."

"Only when things are really bad," He grinned.

Rhea broke from his grip, "I need to talk to Bruce, what happened was like nothing like I've ever felt before, I have to see if the serum is mutating."

Rhea walked through the double doors of the lab looking for Bruce. She spotted him over at a machine as he was putting a group of test tubes in. "Bruce?" She called.

He looked up, "Hi Rhea, whats going on?" He put down his glasses.

Rhea took a breath, "Long story." She explained about Peggy and her part in her creation, then she told her what happened after.

Bruce scratched his head, "Wow, ok, well lets run some tests and see whats happening."

Hours later and after needles, bloods taken, tests, tests and more tests, Bruce stood scratching his head at the pieces of paper in his hands, "Rhea everything is totally normal, nothings wrong."

Rhea looked at him, "Are you sure? It's never happened before."

"Well then, lets do it again," Tony suddenly appeared, he saw that Bruce was about to fill him in on what was going on, he held up his hand, "JARVIS told me."

"Tony I can't do it again," Rhea shook her head, she was already feeling uneasy.

"Sure you can, what ever you were feeling before, recreate it." Tony shrugged and opened a packet of blueberries.

Rhea got off the chair, "No Tony I can't, I'm going home."

Tony blocked her, "Focus kid, think about what you were feeling." Rhea tried to get past him, but he pushed her back.

"Tony, don't," Bruce tried to stop him.

"No, you are going to go full Ice Queen Rhea, I know you can do it." Tony stared at her.

Rhea felt herself getting annoyed, "Move."

"Make me," Tony taunted her, "Think about something that makes you upset, feel it." He took a step towards her, "Think about Bucky, think about him in Hydra's control, in the freezer that they left him in for years, the chair that they strapped him in to torture and wipe his memory. The way they took his arm and fixed on the metal one with no anaesthetic. They sawed away at the remaining part of his arm and painfully fixed on the metal one, he probably passed out with the pain and they tied him down if he tried to break free…."

"ENOUGH!" Rhea shouted. Before Tony's eyes her skiing went pale like snow, her hair illuminated and her eyes went the icy blue, she shot a blast of ice at Tony, firing him clear across the room and he crashed into the wall, "Don't you ever speak like that about Bucky again, or I swear to go you'll be a pin cushion of ice." There was venom in her voice.

"Well that's what I was looking for," Tony groaned and picked himself up off the floor.

Rhea suddenly realised what Tony was doing, "You asshole!" She shouted at him.

"Hey we got the desired affect," Tony rubbed his back, "So this is the true Arctic Blue." He gestured to her.

Rhea looked at herself, she looked so different, she felt powerful. But she stared at Tony, she was so angry with him and Bruce looked terrified. She took and breath and began to walk out of the room and shot a blast of ice at the doors opening them.

She ran up to the apartment, but she felt herself come back to normal. She opened the door and saw Bucky walking out of the kitchen, she ran over and hugged him.

"What's this for?" He asked smiled down at her.

Rhea looked up at him, until Tony had put it into words she never realised how much the guy she loved had suffered. She pulled him close and sighed, "I'm just so glad you're here Buck."