At the usual meeting spot, I sat at the table outside the coffee shop waiting for T'Challa. My heart was racing, I wanted him to get here sooner. I wanted to get to Wakanda, I wanted to see him. I wanted to see Bucky.

"Your foot is tapping," T'Challa's voice spoke behind me and I turned in my seat.

"I'm getting anxious," I stood up, grabbed my bag and we walked down the sidewalk. "How is he?"

"We brought him back a week ago, he's adjusting quickly," T'Challa answered. "The children have grown fond of him."

"How cute," I laughed. "Does he know I'm coming?"

"Yes, he's anxious too," T'Challa smiled.

When no one was looking we stepped off the sidewalk and into the trees. Ahead of us was T'Challa's jet. The back ramp descended and we stepped up onto the jet. I took a seat and Okoye, the Wakanda General, stood at the front, eyeing me.

"Hello," I smiled.

We had met previously, but she was still needing some time to warm up to my presence. She was good at her job of protecting the King. 

Okoye nodded in reply, crossed her arms over her chest in an 'X' to greet T'Challa, the common Wakandan greeting, and turned to the front of the jet. She spoke to him in another language, he replied, then spoke in English.

"Eleanor, when we arrive Shuri will be greeting us, she will be with Barnes."

"Alright, thank you," I nodded.

~

"You're tapping your foot again," T'Challa pointed as he walked past me.

"Either you deal with the tap-tap-tapping or I freeze the jet, make your choice," I replied, smiling up at him.

"I prefer the tap-tap-tapping," Okoye spoke from the front of the jet.

"She's smart," I pointed.

"I apologize for the hot climate we have in Wakanda, I can't imagine that it brings you much comfort," T'Challa said.

"That's why I'm wearing a tank top and shorts, and sandals," I replied, looking down at my outfit.

I was not prepared the first time I had been in Wakanda, I was wearing a long sleeve and pants, big mistake; almost had heatstroke. This time, that would be avoided.

Within a few hours, the jet arrived at the borders of Wakanda and I stood at the front of the jet. I stared out the window at the beautiful mountains, greenery, and humble villages. Then came my favorite part, the palace in all it's beautiful glory. I glanced down at the main entrance, my eyes caught the distant figure of Shuri, and standing a few feet back from her was a taller figure and my heart raced even more. My breath fogged the glass of the window and Okoye clicked her tongue.

"Sorry," I backed away from the glass as the jet began to land.

I stood next to T'Challa at the back door and folded my hands in front of me, but my fingers still fiddling. I felt the jet hit the ground and the back door opened. The heat from outside hit me like a train against the air-conditioned jet. Wisps of hair fell out of my braid and danced in front of my face. I tucked them behind my ear and squinted against the light from outside and once my vision readjusted, T'Challa placed his hand on my back and escorted me off the jet. Shuri stood with her hands behind her back. She was biting her bottom lip with a smile on her face, and bouncing on the balls of her feet. T'Challa and I reached the ground and walked forward a few paces before stopping. Bucky was now standing next to Shuri, he was draped in what looked like a toga, which gave him the appearance of a Grecian. One cloth covered the empty spot on his shoulder where his left arm had once been. On his feet he wore sandals and his hair had been pulled into a half up half down style. His eyes were on me and still trying to decide whether he was dreaming or not, the last time he had seen me was on the floor of the HYDRA bunker, covered in my own blood.

Shuri looked at him, at me, then back at him and playfully pushed him forward. "Go on, Lover Boy!"

Bucky stumbled forward before taking control and striding towards me. I stepped forward as well but he reached me first and wrapped his one arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his chest. I pulled my arms out from between us and wrapped them around his waist and he squeezed tighter, almost taking my breath out of me. I inhaled deeply, taking in his scent before breathing out and relaxing into him. I felt his lips press against my forehead and I smiled lightly. This was always a nice feeling.

"Why are you so skinny?" He whispered.

"I didn't think you would notice," I whispered back. 

"Well, compared to the last time I saw you, yeah, I did," Bucky replied.

"I'm working on it," I said. 

Bucky kissed my forehead again and lingered. I could have stayed like that forever. 

"Aw, brother, they're so romantic," Shuri spoke, breaking our moment.

Bucky slowly pulled away, but kept his arm around my shoulder.

"Thanks, Shuri," he said sarcastically. 

Clearly they had spent a bit of time together if Shuri was brave enough to tease him like that. 

T'Challa gave Shuri a warning look and she grinned at him. I had to laugh at her confident energy and Bucky rubbed his hand up and down my arm. Okoye stepped off of the exit ramp with my bag in her hand.

"Oh, thank you," I reached out as she handed it to me.

"What's that?" Bucky asked.

"My clothes," I answered. 

"You're staying?" His face lit up and I smiled.

"Of course, I wasn't going to show up for an hour and then leave," I said before looking at Shuri. "Why didn't you tell him?"

"I love it when he gets surprised, his eyes get all big..." Shuri opened her palms in front of her eyes and twinkled her fingers.

Bucky narrowed his eyes at her and she giggled, then turned to me. "Well, you are here now, and we'll have to show you where you are staying."

"My place?" Bucky joked. His old 1940s-self was showing.

"Actually, that's what we had planned," T'Challa nodded.

"Really?" Bucky didn't realize his joke would come true. 

"We figured if anything went wrong, or if you had an attack in the middle of the night, the best person to be with you would be Eleanor," Shuri explained.

"So that she can knock me out with a lead pipe?" Bucky asked and I began to laugh really loudly.

Bucky grinned, pleased with himself and T'Challa, Shuri, and Okoye all stared at us, confused.

"If it comes to that, perhaps," I added.

"It won't," Bucky then looked at Shuri for clarification. "It won't, right?"

"So far during the week, it hasn't happened... Yet," Shuri shrugged and he inhaled deeply. 

"Shuri, let's show Eleanor where she and Sergeant Barnes are staying," T'Challa spoke up and Shuri nodded.

She waved her arm for us to follow and as she turned away, she spoke. 

"Come on now, Senior citizens get a discount at our bed and breakfast." 

"How many jokes like these has she made?" I asked Bucky as we followed Shuri across the courtyard.

"So far..." Bucky looked up to the sky as if he were counting. "A lot. The first one she made was when I came out of Cryo, it had been maybe an hour and I didn't remember something..."

Shuri turned around with a big smile on her face. "I said don't worry, dementia is common with old people."

I laughed and shook my head. "Do you have a veteran's discount, too?"

Shuri laughed again and pointed at me. "I like her!"

"Yeah, me too," Bucky looked down at me, his eyes catching the dog-tags around my neck. "Are those..."

"My dog-tags? Yep," I stuck my thumb behind the chain to hold up the tags. "Howard Stark kept them."

"Oh..." Bucky nodded then looked forward. I got second-hand awkwardness from him by hearing that name. "Your stomach doing alright?" He changed the subject.

"Yeah," I replied, looking down. "Tony took me to a hospital. I got stitched up, and I'm staying at the compound. Always my stomach, isn't it?"

I glanced up at Bucky, he pursed his lips and breathed out. Don't mention the stomach. I reached over and took his hand in mine. I laced our fingers together and lightly swung our arms back and forth in a lighthearted manner. The marble flooring beneath our feet turned to grass as T'Challa and Shuri led us towards grassy fields and rolling hills. Clay and stone huts were scattered about, sheep and goats roamed in front of them. Bales of hay were stacked neatly, children ran around the huts and stacks. A smile spread across my face, having rarely seen a place that was as happy and peaceful as this.

"Do you live in one of these?" I asked, nodding to the little huts.

"Yeah," Bucky nodded.

"Which one?" My eyes scanned the fields.

Bucky moved his left shoulder, forgot that he had no limb to point with, then let go of my hand and pointed towards a hut that sat under a tree next to a lake. It was a little ways away from the other huts, secluding itself to its own private spot. It seemed convenient for Bucky to have his own space from the other people of Wakanda, to give him time to adjust and recover.

"That's cute," I said. "It's like a little Hooverville!"

"Hooverville..." Bucky muttered under his breath, trying to remember what that was. When he did remember, his eyes widened and he nudged my shoulder. "Ellie! That hut is much more luxurious!"

"You'll just have to show me!" I nudged him back and we continued towards the hut.

As we came nearer to Bucky's humble abode four children, two boys, and two girls, came running from the neighboring hut, laughing and jumping around Shuri. She laughed as well and gave them all hugs before the bright-eyed little ones turned their attention towards Bucky and me.

"White Wolf! White Wolf!" They began to chant as they ran over and jumped around Bucky.

I am a short person in general, so Bucky towers over me when we stand next to each other, but standing next to these kids he looked like a mountain.

"White Wolf?" I repeated.

"Yeah, that's what they call me around here," Bucky gave a genuine smile and looked around at the kids, trying to keep track of where they were running as they circled around him. "Better than Winter Soldier in my opinion."

"Snow Angel?" One of the boys pointed up at me.

Bucky turned a light pink and glanced at me. The children got even more excited and all grouped in front of me, staring at my face. I looked at Bucky, raising one eyebrow and squinting my eyes suspiciously.

"I may have mentioned you and your abilities more than once," he scratched the back of his head guiltily. I chuckled, kneeling down to stand at their height.

One of the girls took my left hand and stared at the light purple hue, then pressed my palm to her cheek, her face changing from curiosity to amazement at the cold feeling. She removed my hand and held it out to the boy standing next to her, he took my hand and pressed it to his face as well. The children continued this assembly line of pressing my hand to their face before letting go.

"Well, now you gotta show them, Snow Angel," Bucky said.

I looked up at Shuri and T'Challa for permission, this was their country and I was about to possibly put snow everywhere. T'Challa nodded and I looked down at my hands.

"It's been a while, and it's hot out here, so if it doesn't work..." I pressed my hands together, then opened them back up like a book. Snowflakes lifted up from the palms of my hands and floated around like a little flurry. The children stared in awe and one of the boys reached forward timidly. "It's okay," I nodded and he held his hand above mine, allowing the snowflakes to swirl around his own hand. Behind them, I could see Shuri staring at my hands as well in complete amazement.

The boy quickly jerked his hand back and giggled. I laughed as well then blew across my hands, letting the snowflakes fly towards the children and float around them harmlessly. They began to laugh again and danced around the snowflakes. I stood back up, smiling down at them, and memories of sitting in my old bedroom window looking down at the kids in the back alley came to my mind.

"Ellie, you alright?" Bucky touched my arm and I looked at him.

"Huh?"

"You're crying, doll," he reached up and wiped his thumb across my cheek.

"Oh, yeah, I'm good, I'm good," I nodded and looked down, wiping away the rest of the tears.

A red curtain served as a door on the entrance to the hut. Shuri held the curtain aside so that Bucky and I could walk in, Bucky had to duck down so that his head didn't hit the top of the door, I could just walk right in.

"Home sweet home," Bucky held his arm out to the round room.

It was pretty empty all except for the sleeping mat on the floor. Its covers were thrown to the foot of the bed and the pillow was sitting at an angle, perhaps he turns a lot in his sleep. On the floor next to the bed was a small notebook, the same one that Steve had found in the apartment in Romania, laying beside it was a pen. Next to the door was his black backpack, zipped and slumped to the ground, having not been moved from its place for a long time. A chair was placed against the wall as well. More togas and cloths were folded on the seat.

"That's new." Bucky pointed to a second sleeping that lay on the opposite side of the room from the first mat.

"That's Eleanor's bed," Shuri stepped in behind us.

"Yeah, did you think I'd sleep on the floor? How rude," I joked.

"No, I- I don't know," Bucky stuttered, taken aback by my abrupt accusation.

"I'm playing," I lightly pushed his arm.

"Once you get yourself settled, we're going to the lab," Shuri said before she left the hut.

"Okay," I tossed my bag onto the bed then turned to Bucky. "Done."

~~~

"Other than Captain Rogers, you know him best," Shuri explained. In her hands was a tablet. "When Captain Rogers does visit, he'll help Bucky with a lot of his memories, you just need to follow up and... You also know his Winter Soldier side, you know how to get him out of it and what happened in HYDRA."

Bucky sat at a chair, staring at a monitor that showed a zig-zagging, green line and a zig-zagging, red line that jumped up and down the screen in a loop. I stood with Shuri and T'Challa, listening to what they had to say. Two Dora Milaje stood at the door, one of them I recognized as Okoye. I had yet to meet the other one. 

"I'm like his therapist," I glanced over at Bucky.

"Pretty much," Shuri nodded. "What we're most worried about, is his brain's activities in the night." She swiped her finger across the tablet and the image on the monitor that Bucky was looking at appeared on the tablet. "The green line represents his mind right now, the red line is the HYDRA part," she pointed as the lines began to move.

The green line keeping a steady flow of up and down, like his thought, the red line traveling in a straight path, every now and then jutting up or down before falling back in place. 

"This is just throughout the day, but at night when he's sleeping..." Shuri scrolled through the graph and the lines began to crisscross over each other, the green line wavering as it traveled and the red line zig-zagging up and down.

"Nightmares," I muttered.

I looked at Bucky, he was still watching the monitor, his lips pursed and his eyes broken. His brows curved upwards, forming wrinkles in his forehead. The guilt and frustration in his face were all too familiar to me, he was witnessing something that he can't control.

"Would you be able to pull him out?" Shuri asked and I looked back at her.

"Have there been any incidents?" I asked, quietly.

"Not yet," Bucky replied, a little loudly. How did he hear me?

"I'll be able to pull him out," I nodded. "Hopefully without a lead pipe."

Bucky's lips pulled into a thin smile at my joke but disappeared when he looked back at the screen.

"Is there anything we should know that you can tell us about HYDRA? The more I know, the easier it will be to extract all the brainwashing," Shuri explained. "Sergeant Barnes can only remember so much, the both of you witnessed first hand accounts of HYDRA, so together you can probably remember all of it."

"I only know what they did to me, well, most of what they did. I'm still trying to remember things myself," I replied, placing my hands on my hips. "Bucky started a few years before I did, as well as the experimenting they did on him during the war. The most I can tell you right now is Arnim Zola was really good in the psychological fields. No matter how badly he treated us, we still trusted him, he was an expert in manipulation." 

"Did they wipe you using electrical currents, too?" Shuri asked.

"No, the electrical currents were only used on me for punishment. They had this serum of some sort that would wipe my memories and replace them with HYDRA's own, it lasted 24 hours at the most," I answered. "That's how I was able to come back in 2001 so easily." 

"I always kept a syringe on me during missions," Bucky spoke, his eyes still on the monitor. "In case we had to be away from HYDRA overnight, or the serum wore off." 

"Well, since both of you don't have all the answers-" Shuri moved to leave.

"Don't get it," Bucky turned in his seat. 

"You won't even have to look at it," Shuri said.

"What?" My head turned back and forth to look at them.

"She has the book," Bucky said in an exasperated tone. 

"Wait, what?" I turned to Shuri in shock.

"When T'Challa arrested Helmut Zemo he took the Red Book. It may have answers, but none of us read Russian, and when we scan it, we don't understand what any of it means, so..." Shuri began to explain.

"You want us to explain HYDRA's entire database?" I finished.

"It may help," Shuri said.

She was right, it will help, it has all the answers. But both Bucky and I want to stay as far away from it as possible, not read it. 

"Hold off on the book," I said. "Please. We can figure it out on our own."

Shuri hesitantly nodded, I glanced back at Bucky, he was currently rubbing his left shoulder. In time, he hopefully wouldn't need to do that anymore.

~~~

"Is the mat comfortable enough?"

Bucky knelt down by his own mat, fixing the pillow and covers. The evening had reached us, the only light in the room was coming from the setting sun that seeped through the red curtains along with two lit candles. It made it feel like we were back on the war front.

"Better than the ground in Germany," I adjusted myself as I sat on the mat. 

"Yeah," Bucky nodded in agreement with a smile on his face. "It's not too hot in here is it?" He stood up and looked at me.

"Bucky, I'm fine," I assured him. "You nervous about having a girl in your room?"

I sat crisscross, propped my elbows on my knees and rested my chin on my hands. I stared at Bucky, intending to make him feel uncomfortable.

"Well, it's the first time in..." Bucky furrowed his brow. "I don't know how long at this point."

"Quick, the last year you had a date with a girl," I challenged.

Bucky looked up, closing his eyes to think. "Uhh, 1942? '41?"

I looked down at the ground, drawing my finger on the stone floor, writing down the numbers. "2017-1941... 77 years. Wow, makes you a little rusty in the field of women."

"Nah, I think I still got some skills," he shook his head.

"Oh, really?" I leaned forward.

"Yeah, who could resist this