Here We Go

8: The Day He Would Remember

It was the day. The day Steve would have to watch his first love be forever mixed in with the earth. The day he would remember for the rest of his chemically-extended life, and who knows how long that could last.

Steve and Sam were once again dressed up in their black suits and were once again at the funeral home. Sam stayed near Steve this time, as he knew his friend would probably need the emotional support.

Steve did end up speaking during the ceremony, but he only said a few words. He had a lot to say about Peggy, but most of it was for her to hear and her only.

"Peggy Carter was the best woman I have ever met," Steve began. He was standing in front of the crowd, all eyes focusing on him intently. "She knew me when I was younger, and smaller." He added the last part quickly, making a few people laugh. "I only know a few of you, but I know one thing for certain: all of you made an impact of some sort on Peggy's life and for that I am forever grateful to you all." He smiled and fought the tears, waved, and even bowed just a little bit before walking back unto the group.

Next it was Sharon's turn to talk. "Hello. My name is Sharon Carter," she introduced. "My aunt was never married, but she always had the most wonderful stories to tell and she treated my late brother and I like her own. I remember Michael always asking why she never married, but she always said the same thing. She always said she was waiting for the right parter. I never figured out what that meant, but I think she's found that parter." Steve couldn't help but cry. It wasn't loud sobbing, no, it was the worst kind of crying.

He stood his ground and stared at the grass beneath his feet as tears rolled down his face and fell to the ground. The thing is, he was completely silent. Silent crying is the worst kind. In this case, Steve was too upset to even attempt to make noise. He could just feel his mouth drying up and his throat becoming tight and that uncomfortable knot in his stomach growing bigger and more twisted. Sam put a hand on his shoulder and rubbed circles with his thumb. It didn't help much, but Steve appreciated the thought.

A few other people said some wonderful things about Peggy, and she was lowered into the earth. Sharon, as the only present family of Peggy Carter, was the one whom tossed in the first handful of dirt. Before she did that, however, she let one of her close friends speak as she went off to find someone.

"Steven Grant Rogers what are you doing all the way back here?" Steve raised and eyebrow and she smiled at him. "I'm not an idiot. Aunt Peggy never shut up about you. She told me that when she died, her "right parter" was the one who had to toss the first handful. Come on." She grabbed his sleeve and walked with him back up to the front where he stood in front of everyone awkwardly.

"Ladies and gentleman," Sharon began; "my aunt was a wonderful woman. She always talked about a skinny young man from Brooklyn who grew up to be the very best soldier out there. Before she died, Aunt Peggy requested that the "right parter" she always talked about should be the one to do the honors." Sharon bent down and scooped up a small shovel-full of dirt.

"I strongly believe that this man, Steve Rogers, is that parter my Aunt was always looking for. Steve, if you will." She handed him the small shovel and he smiled weakly at her before looking up at the crowd and smiling weakly at them as well. With the shovel in hand, he tipped it over the hole. The dirt cascaded from the shovel and landed on the shiny wooden casket along with one of Steve's tears.

"To Peggy," he mumbled.

"To Peggy," Sharon repeated from beside him.

***

Peggy's funeral was one of those that was followed by a banquet. Everyone gathered at a nearby hotel and filed into a large room. Large tables were spread out across the room and along the sides were buffets of food and drink.