Sergeant Barnes. A sticking point. A death which makes even this kindness feel more like cruelty. Peggy breathes deep. She takes control, firming up her grip on his hand and turning her body with precisely the right angle to seem more...assured. More certain.

It pains her to colour their reunion with a lie. To deny herself the opportunity to tell him about New York and the SSR and about the vaulted heights of his heroism. Then again, perhaps it would only put him ill at ease to hear such praises sung.

"When I saw you last, you were off to do battle with Schmidt. A...a great deal had happened. I'm afraid, Sergeant Barnes..."

She trailed off. Lump in her throat.