Disclaimer: I don't own anything Marvel, I just own Anna.

Chapter 37

Debt

Anna needed a break. There was far too much on her mind that she really needed a break from it all. A trip to England to retrieve her storied personal items that she had handed off to Agent Peggy Carter was her way to get that time away from home that she so desperately needed.

After the kidnaping, and the rescue from the unknown savior, Anna really needed to reevaluate things. She had seen Bucky, but passed out and woke up in a hospital with nobody giving any detail on how she had gotten there. Chances are she had lost so much blood that she had imagined the whole thing.

When Anna had mentioned what she had hallucinated to Steve, he jumped right into action and asked her for every detail he could get out of her, which wasn't much. After all, she didn't believe that it had happened to begin with. She was still convinced that the whole thing had been one big dream that came from her nightmares, and loss of blood.

Anna couldn't blame him for the way he was reacting, but right now, it was just too much for her to deal with. Of course she wanted Bucky back, but it was clear he didn't want to be found right now. And if Bucky didn't want to be found, they weren't going to find him. It wasn't like they had the resources of SHIELD anymore. Tony had a lot, but this was Bucky.

Maybe he needed some time to remember things on his own. Pressuring him was only going to make him retreat faster. He needed to remember, and then they could go find him. He'd be ready to be welcomed back into their misfit family with open arms. All they could do was be as supportive as possible, but there was only so much you could do for someone that didn't want help.

Anna wasn't going to stop Steve and Sam from looking for Bucky, but right now she needed to focus on healing, and then she could figure out what else she needed to do. She was putting off thinking about SHIELD anymore, because if she thought about it, she'd have an anxiety attack on what she was going to do with her future. After all, SHIELD had been her everything for her whole life.

But today wasn't the day to contemplate the rest of her life. Today was a day to address the past.

Peggy Carter was not in a state that Anna had expected to find the woman in. Peggy obviously had aged quite a bit, and she was no longer the spry, beautiful spunky woman that could outshoot almost anybody they met. Peggy was bedridden, and her mind going on her. The alzheimer's drastically affecting her and her way of life. She's be lucid one moment, and a minute later she'd forget everything that had been said in the conversation she was having.

Anna had gone to her, and at first, Peggy had been confused. She sat up as much as she could in her fluffy bed. Anna smiled and sat on the edge of the bed, taking her boney hand as she greeted her old friend.

"Peggy."

"Anna Barnes, I never thought I'd see the day…"

Anna chuckled. "I know, odd situation. But I was telling the truth. I didn't lie."

"I see that. You haven't aged a bit…"

"And you've aged extremely well. I wasn't aware you could be so beautiful and youthful looking at such an don't look a say over sixty."

"You've always been very poor at flattery," Peggy laughed. "I suppose you've come for your things."

"I have, and to talk to you. I've missed you. And I own a great deal to you."

"I've watched you over the years," Peggy said. "You've grown so much…"

"I am the person I am today because of your influence, Peg."

"Thank you," she said. "You've been a good friend. Even if it has been such a long time."

"I know. I'm sorry," Anna said.

"Now, your things are in that closet, dear," Peggy said, nodding to the closet across the room from the bed.

Anna got up and retrieved her trunk from the closet. From the weight of it, it still had all of her things, so she felt no need to check it right then. Right now, talking to Peggy while she still could was far more important.

"Tell me, do you miss it?"

"The forties? I guess," Anna said. "I miss how all of us were together. Not the war, of course, but just the people."

"I understand that," Peggy agreed. "Most of us are all gone now. Our friends."

"Being alone is never ideal," Anna said. "I don't know how you've done so well. Family, I suppose, and other friends. I have to remind myself that your life didn't stop when I left."

"No," Peggy said. She sighed and closed her eyes.

"I should let you rest. I'll talk to you more soon, alright?" Anna said, getting off the bed.

"Alright," Peggy said. "Be well, dear."

Anna got up and left with her trunk. Once in the hallway, she sat on it and sighed. That was the fourth time she had to go through that with her. It took a while to get her to reveal where the trunk was as she kept forgetting that she had been talking to Anna, and that Anna had actually been there. Anna didn't mine. She was patient with her, but it was still hard to see her friend like that.

Look, I remembered to post today! lol Again, another short chapter, but I'm just trying to wrap up some loose ends before the next section starts. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed!

Thanks to the following for their review on the previous chapter:

Thunderstrike16 - It is! But whether or not he actually wants to do something about it once he remembers is a whole other stories.

zikashigaku - I had so much fun writing that chapter, that's for sure. I loved going back to writing with Bucky being the main center of it all.

abstract0118 - No problem what so ever! I know how it is. I've been swamped. Sick, one more week of classes left and then finals, applying for a new job (fingers crossed).

Jedi Jelsa777 - I know. It was so exciting and fun to write for Bucky again. I used to find it so hard to write him, but now it's just so fun. I was going to go see it on Sunday with my boyfriend, but he thought I said Saturday, and he has a tournament to go to on Sunday, so now we're trying to figure out when we can go. I have to work Saturday, but not til 3 so hopefully I can go to the 11 'o clock showing. Friday he doesn't get home until 6:15 from work so I didn't want him to feel too tired to go. My mom and uncle want to go see it tomorrow, but I'd feel really had going to see it without him first. :'( But I reeeeaaally want to see it.