Lara had zoned out most of the fighting about the Accords. Of course, she didn't really understand what was happening. The only event she had been really present for was Washington, D.C., and the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. Other than that, she had no idea about the events that had taken place. Hell, she wasn't even really an Avenger, Nick had just told her to go there.

She watched, however, as Sam and Rhodey fought, while Steve actually tried to read the pamphlet. Well, oversized pamphlet.

When Tony was brought into the action after Vision said something about an equation that Lara didn't understand, Lara closed her eyes. She didn't want to be here at the moment. The brunette had only just gotten to know these people, and now she was in the middle of a fight. Though, she didn't agree with the Accords. Sure, the Avengers should have a few rules, but they shouldn't have someone tell them to intervene or not. What if they are needed, but the damn panel tells them that they can't go? What then?

When Tony went on about a college student that had died in Sokovia, Lara knew that Steve's statement about the man was true. Tony had already made up his mind about the issue. He was going to sign, and he wanted the rest of them to sign with them.

Lara's ears picked up the sound of someone's phone vibrating. She watched as Steve grabbed the phone, reading the text that had been sent to him. It would have been a lie if Lara hadn't looked over Steve's shoulder and read the message, wondering what it meant. Who was gone?

"I have to go," Steve said, getting up, putting the Accords down, and briskly walking out of the room. Lara looked at all of them, her eyebrows furrowing when nobody got up or moved after him.

With a small scoff, the woman got up and jogged to catch up with Steve, finding him in the stairwell, leaning over the railing. His hand was covering his eyes, and Lara walked up to him timidly. "Steve, what's wrong?"

The blonde man's hand flashed away from his face as he looked at Lara. She noticed that there were tears in his eyes, threatening to fall from his eyes. Lara walked forward and embraced the man, feeling him start to cry on her shoulder. "She's gone, Lara. Peggy... She's gone."

Lara froze at the familiar name, the powerful, brunette woman popping into her mind. She remembered her, she had already established that, but she didn't know the extent of their relationship until she thought. A sob left the girl's mouth as she realized the woman that had helped so much with the heartbreak Lara had to deal with was gone now. Both her and Howard had been a huge part of Lara's recovery, and even had helped get her a job.

Steve and Lara stood there for awhile, embracing and crying at the fact that one of their loved ones had perished. Steve had already mourned so many people, Lara being one of them, but he hadn't been ready for this. Peggy had been his first love, and the girl that pushed him to be the man that he was today.

"I'm so sorry, Steve."

*********

It had been strange to pack everything up and go to London, England. Lara had never been before, but from what she had seen of the city, it was beautiful. The Cathedral that they had gotten for Peggy's funeral was even more so, and as Lara sat in the front pew beside Sam, tears falling freely down her face, she couldn't even comprehend what Steve was going through.

The brunette watched as the Captain carried the casket to the front, his swollen eyes noticeable. It had been from the crying that both Lara and him had done together, both mourning the wonderful woman. After setting the casket down in its rightful place, Steve came and sat beside Lara and Sam, grabbing the female's hand. Lara gave his hand a squeeze of comfort, one in which he returned to the girl.

The priest's words were beautiful, and Lara had to cuddle up to Steve to stop herself from letting out ugly sobs. When the person for the eulogy was called up, Lara almost left due to how many tears she actually had falling down her face. To her surprise, however, a young blonde woman made her way to the podium once the name Sharon Carter had been announced.

"Margaret Carter was known to most as the founder of S.H.I.E.L.D, but I jut knew her as Aunt Peggy. 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 was why I never told anyone we were related," Lara wondered if the fact that Sharon had been staring at Steve like she knew him when she made that quip signified it was aimed at him. And then she wondered how the two knew each other, since she had never seen the blonde before in her life. Narrowing her eyes a little, Lara then realized that she did, in fact, know Sharon. Well, she had seen her around the Triskelion.

"I asked her once how she managed to master diplomacy and espionage in a time when no one wanted to see a woman succeed at either. She said, 'compromise where you can. But 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.''"

After the funeral, Lara and Steve stood looking at the alter of the Cathedral. It was still set up from the funeral, as everyone had left for the reception, the one that everyone got to give Sharon their condolences. When the door closed behind them, and Lara saw Natasha making her way up the aisle, Lara patted Steve on the shoulder before leaving the two to talk.

Outside, Sam was standing awkwardly by the front door. When he saw Lara appear, he gave her a sad smile. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"Don't be," Lara told him. "She was a good friend, and an amazing woman, but don't be sorry that she lived a full life. It was her time to go. We're just here to honour the memory of a fallen legend."

"Wow, that was deep," Sam stated, and Lara looked over at him, a laugh falling from her mouth. She was smiling widely at him, and he noted with her tear stained cheeks. Lara was strong, and he was actually glad to have met her.

"I try sometimes," Lara said, and Sam let out a snort. He liked Lara, he really did.

"I wonder what Steve and Nat are talking about," Sam said, looking back at the church doors. They were beautifully decorated with stained glass, and Lara revelled in the beauty for a second, before she turned back to look across the crowds of people.

"Probably the Sokovia Accords," Lara said, her voice distant. As she looked around, she found herself back in 1943, looking through the crowd, trying to find Bucky. Because even though she had gotten that damned letter, she didn't believe that he had died. He promised he was going to come back to marry her. He promised.

"Who are you looking for?" Sam asked, looking across the crowd as well.

"Bucky," Lara answered without thinking, before freezing. She looked down on her ring finger, spotting the ring that she always on her finger since she could remember. Well, in all of her clones' memories. She had not taken off the ring since it had fallen out of that envelope on the day she was visiting Bucky's grave.

"You mean Barnes?" Sam seemed taken aback. "You know Barnes?"

"Haven't you ever visited the Smithsonian? I'm the Lara Roth they talk about. The fiancé," Lara explained, giving up her search. She knew he wasn't here. It was just a habit to search the crowd now.

When they had stayed at the reception long enough, and Sharon decided it was time to leave, Lara found herself walking with the two of them. Well, walking slightly behind. She kept her eyes on her feet, listening to the clack of the heels on the cement. She was lucky enough to have owned a pair from working at S.H.I.E.L.D, needing to look professional sometimes.

When the brunette found herself standing by an elevator, Sam saying that Steve needed to see something, Lara was worried. The four of them piled up into Sharon's hotel room and flicked on the TV, Lara's hand covering her mouth at what she saw.

Vienna, where the Accords were supposed to be signed was up in flames. The footage showed rescue teams and firemen trying to put everything out, and Lara listened carefully to the audio. It was saying that a bomb that had been hidden in a news van had went off and injured/killed people. The brunette stood in shock watching, hand now down at her side.

"-release a video of the suspect, and it has been identified as James Buchanan Barnes-" the news anchor said, and Lara's hand went to her mouth again as she let out a gasp. No. This couldn't be her James. Her James wouldn't do this. He wasn't terrorist, or the villain. James was this soldier from Brooklyn who just wanted freedom.

"That's not Bucky," Lara whispered to herself, as she felt Steve wrap an arm around her shoulders. He was giving her a side hug, trying to comfort her about the fact that the person looked almost exactly like her Bucky. "It can't be. He wouldn't do this."

"-the Winter Soldier, the infamous Hydra Agent linked to many acts of terrorism-" Lara's eyes widened at the information, turning to Steve. She opened her mouth to ask the question, but instead was cut off by Sharon telling the three of them she had to go to work.

Steve looked at Sam and nodded, before they were heading towards the exit, Lara hobbling in the heels behind them. Sick of the damn things, she took them off, holding them in her hand as she ran to catch up. The three of them had ran all the way to the quin-jet they had flown to London, but before Steve could get on Lara stopped him by putting a hand on his chest.

"What was that about Bucky?" Lara asked, her tone deathly serious.

"Lara, I'll tell you on that jet, okay?" Steve said, a sigh in his voice.

"You better."

__________

n.e.

bucky next chapter woooo! my little smols are gonna reunite soon yes. i can't wait omg