29. It's Been So Long
As the siblings walked into the museum, Mary put a baseball cap onto her brother's head and her own. Even though she wasn't as known as her brother is, she was presumed dead in history books, so she couldn't be seen in crowded places.
Mary's heart was full when she saw all the little kids running around to the different activities, but her heart also hurt knowing that her own daughter wasn't here.
Thor had gotten back to Tony, saying that his friend had spotted her in snowy mountains on a truck. That means she was alive, but Thor's friend also said Becca looked very young, almost eight years old. Which meant that Schmidt's serum had affected Becca as well.
To what extent, Mary didn't know, but she knew her daughter was alive. That's all that mattered, and that her and Tony were just one step closer to finding Becca and bringing her home.
The two siblings walked around the museum, the narrator playing through the speakers above them, "A symbol to the nation. A hero to the world. The story of Captain America is one of honor, bravery and sacrifice."
They walk over to the part of the museum that shows how the serum changed his outward appearance, "Denied enlistment due to poor health, with the help of his sister, Mary Rogers, Steven Rogers was chosen for a program unique in the annals of American warfare. One that would transform him into the world's first super soldier." The narrator said.
Mary was happy they had been apart of history, but saddened that Steve missed it all from being in the ice.
The two walked up to where the Commando's uniform's and her own were placed on mannequins, Mary's eyes watered as she saw Bucky's, it was an exact replica of the one she had designed and Howard had made. Steve held onto his sister tightly, his arm holding her steady around her.
She looked at her old uniform, smiling a bit at it, "Bucky loved me in my uniform." She murmurs as the two of them turn their heads, seeing a little boy staring up at them, Mary chuckles, waving briefly, and Steve places his pointer finger to his lips, letting the boy know not to give them away. Mary smiles as the boy only nods, still in shock to see his hero and the famous World War II Nurse.
"Battle tested, Captain America, their nurse, Mary Rogers- Barnes and his Howling Commandos quickly earned their stripes. Their mission, taking down HYDRA, the Nazi rogue science division." The narrator says over the speakers. Then the two step away, walking over to the Bucky memorial.
The doctor's hazel eyes lets tears fall as she reads Bucky's part of the museum, she came here whenever she wanted to see him, his grave was back in Brooklyn so she couldn't visit his gave like she used too before she moved to DC with Steve.
"Best friends and eventual family, since childhood, Bucky Barnes, Steven Rogers and Mary Rogers were inseparable on both schoolyard and battlefield. Barnes married Mary on January 1st, 1945, and is the only Howling Commando to give his life in service of his country." The narrator says, causing Mary's knees to almost collapse, but her brother held tight onto his sister. If she were to break down, their cover would be blown and neither of them wanted that.
"Lizzie, not here." He whispers to her, pulling her out of her mind, she nods quickly, tears still fall as they walk into a small theater where an interview of Peggy in 1953.
"That was a difficult winter. A blizzard had trapped half our battalion behind the German line. Steve...Captain Rogers, he fought his way through a HYDRA blockade that had pinned our allies down for months. He saved over a thousand men, including the man who would...who would become my husband as it turned out. Even after he died, Steve was still changing my life." Peggy says in the interview. Steve glances down at his compass, Peggy's picture that Mary obtained for him still there.
Mary nudges his shoulder, "Let's go see her." She murmurs, Steve nods, the two stand up and exit the theater room.
Becca was thrown into a new cell, she had never been here before, she'd never left the Red Room until now, but she was being put to work by the evil man. Along with her Papa.
She didn't know where they were, all she knew was that her mind was to be wiped and she was to become another Soldier for them to use to kill people. But Becca didn't want to kill people, she wanted to help them like her Mama did.
"Prep her for the serum." A doctor says, and two guards forcefully grab Becca by the arms, she was sickly skinny, never being properly taken care of in The Red Room.
"Let me take her!" A voice Becca hasn't heard in weeks says, making her smile but barely. Adam Sinclair comes into her line of sight
Becca's eyes widened as she saw a bag full of blue liquid hanging up like an IV bag. She was strapped down harshly and a needle injected into her arm despite Adam's protests. She screamed in pain as the blue liquid went into her body. She tried to get out of the chair, thrashing wildly until it felt as if her body was being torn apart from the inside out, a burning sensation everywhere.
Adam and the other doctors in the room were stunned when they saw the girls limbs and body elongate from the serum, she gained muscles, her body filled out and they could no longer see her ribs, no more bruises. When the serum was in her body completely, the doctors looked her over.
She was no longer a seven to eight year old girl, she now looked fourteen years old. The doctors quickly began writing things down, they had no idea this would happen. The serum had never aged someone before.
Becca's breathing was ragged, her eyes hurt and stung as she opened them, seeing everything a bit clearer, she still felt the pain of the liquid, but she felt stronger, better.
But the clothes she was in did not fit her anymore, they were too tight, ripping in places on her torso and legs.
She couldn't talk, for she was afraid of repercussion from the doctors, so she laid there in the chair they had strapped her to. Going crazy in her mind, trying to figure out what exactly had happened to her.
The other doctors had left, their duties were complete once Becca transitioned. But Adam was by her side, "Rebecca." He says, trying to get her attention. "Don't speak, i know it hurts." He adds softly, "I wish i had known they were going to do this. They know i'm your doctor, that's why they left me out of this."
"It- It's okay.." Becca stutters out, "Y- You didn't know.." She whispers, slowly losing her consciousness.
"Damn them." Adam snaps under his breath when he sees Becca's eyes roll into the back of her head.
Mary and Steve were sitting next to Peggy's bed, she had pictures of her friends and family on the nightstand next to her bed that the siblings were looking at.
"You should be proud of yourself, Peggy." Steve murmurs.
Mary nods, "You accomplished so much in your life." She adds.
Peggy nods, smiling softly, glancing at her pictures before turning to look at the siblings, "Mmm, I have lived a life. My only regret is that you didn't get to live yours." She mutters back to Steve, then taking Mary's hand, "Becca would be proud of the life you've lived for her, Mary." She reminds her, "Bucky too."
Mary's hazel eyes could, nodding, "Yeah, they would be." She murmurs. Then both women notice the solemn look on Steve's face.
"What is it?" Both women ask.
"For as long as I can remember I just wanted to do what was right. I guess I'm not quite sure what that is anymore. And I thought I could throw myself back in and follow orders, serve. It's just not the same." Steve explains what's on his mind, Mary knew he wanted to just accept what happened to him, and he tried, but deep down they all knew that Steve wasn't ever going to fit in in this era because of what happened.
Peggy smiles, "You're always so dramatic. Look, you saved the world. We rather...mucked it up." She teases, causing Mary to smile back.
Steve smiles, shaking his head, "You didn't." He tells her, "Knowing that you and Mary helped found SHIELD is half the reason I stay."
Mary places her hand on Steve's shoulder, smiling at him as Peggy takes his hand into her own
"Hey. The world has changed and none of us can go back. All we can do is our best, and sometimes the best that we can do is to start over." Peggy coughs out, Mary is by her side instantly, helping to get her cough under control as Steve turns around to get Peggy some water.
Mary and him both already know what's going to happen. Mary placed Peggy into the home center she's in because her friend had developed Alzheimer's.
She had noticed it when Peggy would forget things that she could normally remember so easily, Becca's birthday, the day the war ended. Dates and memories were soon lost to Mary last remaining friend of the time they all grew up in.
It broke Mary's heart to put Peggy into a home for the elderly sick people, but her best friend assured her that it was for the best.
When Peggy turned back to look at Steve holding the water for her, Mary's heart broke, and she knew Steve's did as well.
"Steve?" Peggy whispered, the tone of her voice indicating that she did not remember that she was just talking with the two siblings.
Steve gave her a small, broken smile, "Yeah?"
"You're alive!" Peggy shouts, breaking down into tears, "You.. You came, you came back!"
Steve's eyes begin to water as he puts on a smile for Peggy, "Yeah, Peggy."
"It's been so long.. so long." Peggy murmurs out through her tears.
Steve cracks a smile, "Well, I couldn't leave my best girl. Not when she owes me a dance." He tells her, causing Mary's heart to break even more. Steve deserved to have been given a shot at being with Peggy. They were more than perfect for each other. But God had different plans for the siblings.
When Steve and Mary exit Peggy's room, they both pull each other into their arms, each of them grieving for what they've lost, who they lost, the time they can never get back.
Mary breaks the hug first, "I'm going to go talk to Fury, okay?"
"I'll check out Sam's VA meetings." Steve suggests. Mary nods, "I'm sure Sam'll appreciate that."
They kiss each other on their cheek, then walk in different directions, Steve heading for his bike, and Mary for a taxi.
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